KCW Spring 2013... Days 4, 5, and 6...

Boy has my week been crazy... and KCW is almost over!  I just can't seem to get a free moment to myself... let alone sew!  Oh well...  I managed to get something done(I suppose that's the point... even if it's not as much as I had planned to do).  Here's how the last couple days have gone...

 Day 4... sewed the lace to bib front...

 Day 5... Sewed the bottom panel too the shirt...

 Day 6... I finally had more than 15 minutes!  The shirt is done!

I am glad I took the time to add the bib front... It is a nice detail...

Well, tomorrow is the last day... and I hope to finish this week with a bang!  Also... I plan to pin my daughter down and take some pictures of her in her new spring clothes!  Wish me luck!

***Jennifer 

KCW Spring 2013... Day 3...

Another hectic day... before I could get my KWC hour done...

Yesterday I drafted this shirt pattern for my daughter... and today I cut it out of some vintage Dotted Swiss... I also managed to sew the darts, shoulder seams, and the side seams...

After a quick fitting on my daughter... I decided it was to short, and cut a panel to lengthen the bottom...

Tomorrow I hope to sew on the front bib, facings, sleeves, bottom panel, and hem it... phew... just saying it is making me tired... Oh wait... I mean... Yes I can... Yes I can...

Happy KCW Week!

***Jennifer

KCW... Spring 2013... Day 2...

Ok... So far the KCW challenge seems to be more about finding the time vs. actually sewing... My week is soooo busy... and I see no end in sight... All right enough whining, on to the clothes...

I did finish the sailor shorts, and I have to so say they are pretty stinkin cute!  Although I had no time to put them on the girl(another thing to add to my list...sigh)... I did fit them to her once, for a split second, so I can tell you that they looked good!  Look for a photo in the near future...

In the time I had left, I quickly drafted a shirt pattern(again using The Perfect Fit).  Hopefully tomorrow I can cut it out, and start sewing...
Wish me luck!
Happy KCW week!
***Jennifer

KCW Spring 2013... Day 1...

Phew... Between school projects and baseball... Day 1 almost didn't happen!  Luckily I squeezed it in, before we were off and running again...

 As I was racking my brain, I realized that The Perfect Fit that I have been making patterns for me out of... would also work for my daughter(who's now in tween sizes)!  So excited, because so far everything I've made with it has been right on size wise... I figure why not try?

 I quickly drafted out a pull on short pattern...

 ...And quickly got to work...

 Not wanting them to be just Plain Jane shorts... I added some front plackets with piping, to hopefully achieve a sailor inspired look... Fingers crossed... Tomorrow I hope to finish the waistband and bottom hem...
Happy KCW!!!
***Jennifer

My Latest Knitting Project...

To knit... Or... to sew?  That is always the question when I find myself with free time...  Although, if I am being honest, most of the time I sew during the day and knit at night.  No sleep for the eternal crafter!  This weekend though, with the end of my knitting project in sight... I decided just to knit...

Here is the pattern I used... From Vogue Knitting Magazine(spring/summer 2011)... View 3

Super cute!  I did change the yarn weight from a [4] to a [2]... so I also had to go up two needle sizes.  I find by doing this... I can create the same look without the bulk, and the garment lays on the body better...

I love the detail around the neck and sleeves...

Today I wore it layered with a denim shirt... cute and comfy...

I think this sweater might just need a twin in a different color... I don't usually remake something, but this sweater was pretty easy... and a good fit!

Happy knitting!

***Jennifer

KCW... Spring 2013!

Kids Clothing Week(Sewing one hour every day on clothing for kids) is starting on Monday over at Elsie Marley!  I know you have been waiting for it to come around again...  So... raid your fabric stash... get out that pattern you've been wanting to try... and come sew with me(and a bunch of other talented crafters).  This will be my 4th time joining in, and I've got to say it has been a huge motivator.  I am always amazed at how much I get done(even when things don't go so well)... and it always feels good to cheer each other on.  Here is a peek at what I've done in the past...

Ruffle Top and Pink Skirt...

Rocker Sweatshirt...

Vintage Skirt and Shirt pattern...

I can't say that I am prepared for next week yet... but I am ready in spirit!  When day1 comes, if I have to spend my hour coming up with a game plan... and cutting things out...well that's still working on kids clothing... Right?(I can't be the only procrastinator out there...).

See ya back here on Monday... and I'll give you a report on the progress...

***Jennifer

A Tisket A Tasket... A Blue Quilted Jacket...

***** UPDATE!!!*****
I am super excited to share with you that my Blue Quilted Jacket was picked from the Sew-Vivor Flickr Pool as a winner!  Just goes to show even if you take awful pictures... A well made garment can speak for itself...(Thank goodness... because I fired the model and the photographer)  You can check it out here, and you should because the actual Sew-vivor winners are amazing! (And they take great pictures)
*****
SO... I don't know if you've heard... but Rach over at Family Ever After... Has been hosting her Sew-vivor competition(You've got to check it out!).  She has presented her contestants with three different challenges... and I thought it would be fun to play along with this weeks challenge...  Something Quilted...  I have never, ever, ever... Quilted or worked with quilted fabric!  I thought this would be the perfect time try it out...

For my first attempt... I'm pretty pleased...

 
Using my Perfect Fit pattern maker... I drafted out a jacket and shortened it to a cropped length.  Since the quilted fabric I was using was double sided... I decided to bind all the seams in a bright yellow...

Time consuming... yes... but well worth it...

I also made some bias tape out of a striped fabric for the raw edges... If  I was going to cover the seams... I might as well go all the way around!  And I used these lovely yellow vintage buttons...

The fit of the jacket is great, and not as bulky as I thought it might be.  However... taking a decent picture of me in it... nearly impossible...

 Hmm... is that a cobweb in the corner...

 Or... was it that corner?

 Yup... definitely some dust bunnies on the floor...

Surprise! ...Pop of color...

All buttoned up... and apparently my lips are too...

The back view...

 But wait!... I think that might be a ghost of a smile...

So... yes, I think the jacket is a keeper... The model... definitely should keep her day job...
Happy Sewing!
***Jennifer

Friday Thrifting...

I love Fridays... It is the one day, that I let all of the hustle and bustle of the week go... and after dropping the kids off at school(because a Mom is never truly "off" the clock)...It Is Me Time!!!(until I have to pick up the kids... sigh...)  I start off with coffee and a fresh bakery treat... and then I'm off to thrift...  Lately, I have been finding the coolest stuff... so I just had to share...

I hit the jackpot on vintage patterns... 5 for $1.00...  I find it amusing that while I was digging through them, I kept saying to myself ... "Oh! I've got that"... I may be developing a small pattern hoarding problem...

Ahh... I just love vintage fabric... It makes me giddy!  The two on the left are knits I found for $2.00 a piece, the red is a dotted swiss($1.00), and the white is an eyelet($1.00)...

This fabric deserved to be photographed all by itself... I was absolutely gaga over it... at a mere $2.00 for 4yards!  My biggest dilemma is what to make out of it.  I know it will be a dress... but it has to be the perfect one!

I saved the best for last... I found this vintage fan for $7.00!  It works perfectly... but there was a loose nut... a problem that was easily solved by my handy husband.  I have wanted one for sooooo long, and can't believe the price I paid for it!

I can't wait for friday to get here... I'm ready to go out again!  There are treasures to be found... Items to discover... And prices to be bargained with...

Get Thrifting!

***Jennifer

P.S. I found this during my travels... I didn't purchase it, because it was wwwaaayyy out of my price range, but the saying struck a chord with me... It is so true, and I thought it was worth sharing.  The wheels are turning... as I ponder ideas to recreate it...

Until then, it's definitely taken up residency in my heart...

***(In case you can't read it)***
THIS BRIGHT, NEW DAY...
COMPLETE WITH 24 HOURS OF
OPPORTUNITIES, CHOICES, AND
ATTITUDES.  A PERFECT MATCHED
SET OF 1440 MINUTES.  THIS
UNIQUE GIFT.  THIS ONE DAY.
CANNOT BE EXCHANGED, REPLACED,
OR REFUNDED.  HANDLE WITH CARE.
THERE IS ONLY 1 TO A CUSTOMER...

Spring Purse...

A few weeks back... I saw this bag on Pinterest...

And knew it had to be my purse for spring...(click here for Bend Beanies free pattern)

I of course made a few modifications...  It needed to be bigger, so I added 20 increase rows to both ends...

After I finished crocheting the body of the bag... I wove 1inch strips of vintage fabric along the top...

Here is how I started(secured) each woven row(from the back side)...
1- cut a small slit in the end of your strip(you will thread your needle with the other end)
2- from the backside insert your needle where you want to start your row... and come back through... placing the silt end of your strip on the needle...
3- pull needle through the slit in the fabric... until the end is snug up against the backside of your work... now you can start weaving...

I also used the fabric strips to crochet matching flowers...

After I wove in the strips, added the flowers, and finished the straps... I cut out lining for the inside of the purse.  To do this, I pinned the front and back together... and after getting it as flat as possible traced the shape onto the fabric... then I added a half inch seam allowance on all sides...

I also added a big inside pocket... to hold all of the loose stuff that otherwise ends up on the bottom and is hard to find...

Then came the not so fun part... pinning and hand sewing the lining in place... Make sure you clip the curved edges... It will make your life easier...

I love the end result!

I am glad I made it bigger...

I tend to lug a lot of stuff around...

Now I'm ready for spring!

Happy Crafting!

***Jennifer