Very Busy

Grad school is keeping me so very busy but I did grab time to make these pajama pants for the kids. They picked out their own fabrics. I just folded a pair of pants in half, laid them on top of the fabric (outer pants edge along a fold) and cut around leaving 1/2" for seams and an extra few inches at the top and bottom for hemming and elastic. About a half hour total for the two pairs.

Reversible Pinafore

With the warm weather finally here, last night I decided to whip up another pinafore for Clara. It is based on the pattern by Heidi and Finn. Very similar patterns can be bought from a number of vendors and I think I have even seen directions for drafting your own pattern for free. I did make some modifications to the pattern and construction method for this version. First I made the pinafore a bit longer and adjusted for a little more coverage in back. Then I attached the front and back pattern pieces together at the side and cut the pinafore as all one piece. Then I sewed the two sides together and turned through the top straps. I finished it off by folding in one side of the shoulder strap and placing the other side inside an topstitching. I found this method to be much quicker and simpler. You could still cut the front and back pieces separately to use a little less fabric if you needed to.

Boxy Pouch and Sweater

I finally got around to finishing my second Owlet sweater for Clara. Like the first time the pattern called for much more yarn than I ended up using. I think I have enough left over to make a second sweater. This time I decided to make it short sleeved because spring is upon us (and I got tired of doing sleeves). I also decided to cast on extra stitches at the yoke and pick up those stitches to make the sleeves rather than make the sleeves first. This work much better for me and I did not get the big holes at the armpit that I did last time.

Today I felt like I needed a nice quick sewing project so I could feel like I accomplished something, so I decided to make another try at the boxy pouch. This time I used interfacing and I like the product SO much better. I used heavy interfacing with the outer fabric and lightweight with the inner. Using the interfacing also seemed to make construction go much more smoothly in addition to giving the product a lot more shape. I used a combination of tutorials. I used the dimensions from Indie House's tutorial, I attached the zipper in a similar manner to Jane's, I sewed the bottom seam of the lining and outer fabric separately and then turned the pouch inside out and sewed the rest of the seams with the lining and outer fabric together. I made the corners similar to this tutorial.

Using this combination I can make a lined boxy pouch from start to finish, with minimal exposed seams in less than a half hour and still be happy with how it looks. I prefer no exposed seams but when I have used that method it has doubled the amount of time it takes me and doesn't really look much better. In fact I think the pouch has a little better structure this way and the one seam is only visible if you go looking for it.

blinds and matching pants

When I found this fabric at JoAnn Fabrics I knew it would be perfect for roman blinds in our bedroom. So I bought all that was left and luckily it was just barely enough. I used this tutorial, which was great. My one hold up was that I didn't tack the rings through both layers and I had to go back and fix it, otherwise it was easy. I think you might be able to get away with just a few weights in the bottom rather than the full bar across the bottom. The metal ended up costing as much as the fabric for me. I have this window done and I should soon have the other two done. By then, hopefully, I will have found my camera battery charger and I will be able to post better pictures.

Clara is getting bigger, or at least taller and is need of some new pants so I picked up this pattern for some cute pleated pants and whipped up a pair with leftover curtain fabric. That pattern was clear and easy to follow and seems to run the tiniest bit small. They also don't really work for cloth diapers, don't quite come up high enough.

The stripes were a bit of a pain to deal with when making the pleats so I think the next pair will be a more solid fabric. I think I will whip up a few more pairs, probably in the next size up.

Brown Owlet sweater

Finally here is a picture of Layden's Owlet Sweater which has been done about a month now. The sleeves seem a bit tight and the neck a bit loose but maybe some blocking would help? I haven't decided yet whether I will add the button eyes.

Raveled.

More knitting

I have been on a knitting kick and I have gotten a few more small projects done. First I knit up this shawlette for my friend Lisa. She bought the yarn close to a year ago on a trip to the yarn store together, it is Jojoland Melody superwash (fingering weight). Sadly since then something has gotten into my stash and a good bit of my yarn seems chewed up. This shawlette would have been a bit bigger but the last quarter, at least, of the yarn was unusable. I used the same pattern as in this shawl but I think I much prefer it with the lighter weight yarn. I also made a few changes, half-way through I got tired of dropped YO's so I knit the rest using a size 11 needle for the YO rows. You can't tell the difference. Pattern. Raveled.

I also made this mini danish tie shawl for Clara. She seems to like it fairly well. I used a superwash worsted weight yarn for this shawl and size 9 needles.

Raveled.

Right now I am working on my first lace project, a Dandy Neckerchief. It has a leafy look to it and I am using some worsted weight Ultra Alpaca that is a bit more foresty green looking than this photo shows. I have also done a few more repeats of the pattern since the photo was taken. The start was a bit rough and the first night my cat got into it and I had to unravel 10 rows to get it fixed but otherwise it is going well. I think I have finally figured out how to ssk and I think I will have to try another lace project soon. Raveled.

Red Mittens

We drove over to the in-laws for Thanksgiving this year and I decided to take advantage of the long car ride to finish knitting up these mittens for Clara. I knitted them up with a worsted weight red wool that I had laying about so I am not sure exactly what it was. I used this pattern from Drops and it turned out quite well. Tonight I finished getting them felted down to size, unfortunately her hands are so small and she is uncooperative so she just sticks her whole hand in and doesn't use the thumb part. I may have to knit up a set without the thumb so she doesn't go around looking as if she has severely double jointed thumbs. She was very happy with them at least and insisted on wearing them for a bit even though they were rather damp.

Pinafore and Sweater Blanket for Clara

I finally managed to squeeze in some time for a little sewing today. Looking at my last post it would seem it has been over a month since I did much of anything crafty, so sad. This is my tester version and I still have to finish of a couple of seams in the lining but first I need to find some matching thread. I used this pattern from heidiandfinn on etsy, and it went together smoothly and quickly. My mom says that she has seen the same little top many times over the years and I think it might be in a pattern book she has as well. It is technically reversible but I just made the lining from a plain thrifted sheet so I don't think I will be reversing this one. I made the 2T size and it seems to fit pretty well and should continue to fit through next summer I would think.

We are currently in the process of downsizing our belongings and that includes my crafty stuff. At first I had packed up some felted sweaters that I figured I wouldn't have time to do anything will but then I changed my mind and I have cut out enough 9.5" and such to make a little blanket to go in Clara's crib to keep her warm. I haven't figured out exactly how I will sew them together however. I think they may need to be stabilized but I don't know that I feel like messing around quilting each to a square of fabric so we shall see what happens. Maybe I will try hand sewing them together.

More purses and another pair of wrap pants.

I finished these two purses on Tuesday but my camera only just came home with my husband so no pictures until now. They are both the Phoebe purse. The blue one is quilted to give it some structure because I didn't have enough interfacing handy. I made the pink one after I had got more interfacing. I am pretty happy with them so far, Clara keeps stealing them so I guess she is happy with them too.

This afternoon I made myself another pair of wrap pants, this time with pin striping. This time I actually took time to figure out my rolled hem foot and I love it. It is the best invention ever, these pants went much more quickly and smoothly. I made this pair the same as the first except for some minor changes in dimensions. I cut the "U" 10" tall rather than 11", made them full length (32" from the bottom of the U for me) and made the straps about 2.5" wide rather than 1".

Wrap Pants

While pondering what to do with a few yards of linen I came across this tutorial for making wrap pants. Since the hot weather of summer is already here I thought these looked nice and cool. I was right. These are super comfy and very cool, they feel more like a skirt than pants. The diagram to the left shows the finished dimensions, not including fabric for hems, of the pants. The fabric is folded on the right. If you check out the tutorial the diagram will make a little more sense. The pants hit my legs at about mid calf and tie at about belly button height. My ties were about 12" long. Please excuse the bad picture, it was done without a timer, using the chairs as a focus point after much trial and error.

Infinite Top mark II

I whipped up another version of the infinite top/convertible shirt. The fabric is a cotton/bamboo blend from Fabric.com and I really like it. It is nice an thin with just a bit of shine to it. Please excuse the poor quality of this picture but be proud of me because I am actually in it. I prefer to be behind the camera rather than in front of it.

Too big slippers

I finished off some slippers for my brother but sadly they ended up a couple sizes too big so I need to find some one with feet about 12" long. I was using the same pattern as previously but I decided to use a double strand of worsted rather than single and I over compensated with the length.

I picked up some fabric recently that I hopefully will get around to turning into some clothes. The top two fabrics are linen and I think I will use them to make a couple of skirts. The third one is a fairly thick knit and I am thinking maybe some pajama pants. The bottom is a thinner bamboo/cotton knit and I am planing on making an infinite shirt but there will be left overs and I am not sure what I will do with those.

McCall's 5050 muslin

I finished this muslin of McCall's 5050 this evening and I am glad I did a muslin of it because it is just not flattering at all on me. I am happy because it fits but I don't think I will be making it again. This one might get paired with a corset for a pirate costume this Halloween.

Convertible Shirt

Today I decided to experiment with a new kind of shirt. It is modeled after this dress, which can be worn, they claim, an infinite number of ways. I utilized this tutorial but I also made some changes. There is also tons of good advice to be found at Craftster.org. The first big change is that mine is a shirt rather than a dress, mostly because I didn't have enough fabric on hand to make a dress and I wanted to give this a try before buying fabric. I think I am going to like it and might have to buy some nicer fabric in a solid color.
The fabric is a knit gauze that I got a while back and I would have to say that a print like this would not be my first choice for this shirt/dress. The fabric only stretches one way (width wise), which is, I think, important unless you are fairly flat chested. The original has the ties attaching to a skirt (shirt bottom) with no upper tube, however since I am fairly chesty I thought that an upper tube could help to keep the girls contained and I was right, I definitely recommend the upper tube for the well endowed.

So here is how to make one for yourselves. To make my size (42" bus, 32" waist) you will need a knit fabric, preferably one way stretch of at least 30%. My straps are about 2.5 yards long by 12" wide. The upper tube piece is 32" x 8" and the bottom tube piece is 32" x 18". The two straps overlap by about 4" in the center. Layer your fabrics like so: shirt bottom right side up, straps rightside down, shirt top (optional) right side down. Sew them all together then sew the tube together in the back and you are done!

Here is my second version, which I actually wear in public, it is a bit less crazy without the print. I think this may also be my favorite way to tie it. Please excuse the poor quality of the photo.

Tablecloth to skirt.

While I was visiting my parents I took the opportunity to visit some larger thrift stores and picked up this tablecloth.

About a half hour of sewing later and I have this skirt. I have been wanting to try out a circle skirt but I have not been motivated to piece together that large of a piece of fabric. This was definitely quicker. I just cut out a circle from the middle with a radius of 7" (maybe a little big). Then I made a casing for the drawstring using a different tablecloth left over from some curtains. The second photo is closer to the actual color.

Some patterns and fabric.

Today I picked up a few more shirt patterns at $.99 each. I also picked up a few yards of this brown fabric so maybe some day I will actually use one of my patterns. I also picked up some other sale fabrics, Layden picked out the WALL*E fabric and I am going to use it, with some other Layden friendly fabrics, to make him a play quilt to drag around outside, probably with back it with denim.

      

Kilt

This morning I whipped up this kilt for Layden. I need to move the velcro so it can be a bit tighter but otherwise I am very happy with it. I really like the pleats, not sure why, but they make me happy. He seems happy with it also and has been wearing it this morning. It went together surprisingly quickly and easily. If it works out well in use and he likes it I may be making a couple more.

Cute baby pictures and some fabric

In honor of our upcoming visit to Oli's parents here are a couple of, better, photos I took of Clara's eggplant hat at their house. I think the scary orange carpet makes a very nice backdrop.

Also here are the meager results of my shopping trip today. I took advantage of a 50% off at Joann coupon to get 5 yards of nice quality white muslin for quilts. I also picked up some red tag tartan. I will be making Layden some kilts I think. He is curiously resistant to my potty training efforts thus far.

Green Striped slippers

I finished and felted my slippers yesterday, finally. I think they turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. They are a nice light weight slipper that stays on well. I used one 50 gram ball each of Knit Pick's Wool of the Andes in Fern and Avocado. With the wonderful price of this yarn these slippers were very affordable. I actually needed a tad over a ball of the darker green, but only because I did not stripe the heel. I used the striped slipper pattern from Knit One, Felt Too. It is well written except that there seems to be an error in the instructions for how long to knit the foot, that or I was just reading it wrong. I knit the large size and ended up just knitting 12" from the back of the heel before I started the decrease at the toe. This my first attempt at turning a heel and I am pleased with how it worked out.