Back at it!

Whew! After a week away in Cuba and an all-nighter travelling, I am finally energetic enough to be sewing again!!! One of my sisters had a baby about 6 weeks ago (I know--I'm super late to be finally sewing a baby gift!) and it was high time to sew a gift for my newest nephew.

It's from the book, 'Sewing for Boys'--the Raw-edged Raglan Tee. I love this pattern--it's one of my favourites from this book. It's nice and quick plus great for trying out new applique ideas!

The fabrics are a Stretch Ottoman Knit Turquoise and a Rayon blend Baby Rib Knit in Heather Grey. Both were bought from Fabric.com. The turquoise knit I had bought quite a while ago in the hopes of using it for cuffs and a neckband for a pair of pjs for my daughter. I've never made those yet....

The Heather Grey Rib Knit, I used previously for a t-shirt for myself. I don't think I posted about that yet. I might just have to do that yet.

Here is a close-up of the applique--a cute little dog that I found here. And, no, I did not applique it the wrong way--the fabric is opposite of a rib knit in that the stretch goes the opposite way! I had to get used to that while sewing it, but it added a neat 'dimension' to the shirt.  

And, for those who are like me and like to inspect the seams, etc. Here is a close-up of the neck-band (note the way the fabric is 'ribbed') and the exposed seams.

Now, just to mail it out to my sister for her newest little (or not-so-little--he's bigger than my 3 month old) man!

Oh, and when we came home from Cuba, we found this:

Cute, eh?!

An Award

I found out that I've been given an award, or better said, my blog has been given an award. Deanna from Little D and Me awarded it to me. And, from what she said on her blog post, it is awarded to blogs with less than 200 followers. This blog definitely falls into that category!

So, now what I'm supposed to do is,

1) award it to 3-5 other small blogs

2) thank the person who awarded me with it (Thanks, Deanna :) Oh, and I have no idea how I manage to get as much sewing in as I do!!)

3) Display the Liebster Blog Award somewhere on my blog...

So, to these blogs goes the Liebster Award:

1) Jess from Gracious Threads. A brand new blog run by my friend, an awesome sewist, Jess!

2) Stacey at Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy. Stacey is currently hosting a Sewing For Boys Sew-along. She has some awesome creativity!
And, last but not least,

3)  Tammy at Happy is...what Happy Does . She has done an awesome tutorial on reverse applique--go check her work out!

So, that is the Liebster Blog Award.

Bright 'n Bold Bag

Quite a while ago, my sister-in-law had asked me to sew her a bag and had given me a picture of what she approximately wanted. That picture hung on my bulletin board for quite some time until recently, she came by and looked through my lovely fabric stash. I love the fabric she chose--it's bright and bold and I was super excited to combine two fabrics I would never have thought to put together!

The outer fabric is an outdoor type fabric that I managed to pick up at our local second hand store.

The inside is a repurposed pillowcase--pink and orange, also from the second hand store.

I had been hoarding these fabrics--thinking the pink and orange would make a pretty dress sometime, and a pillow case dress just wasn't going to do it. Plus, how was I going to incorporate such different and yet awesomely matched colors in a dress so that they'd both stand out? This bag is perfect for that--both the pink and the orange get to be shown off--one on each strap.

Well over a year ago, I had made a similar bag, but with a much shorter strap. If I remember correctly, I got the tutorial from the Sewing Dork, here.

Super easy bag and again, I love the colors my SIL chose! I would've probably been boring and put a blue with the blue...sigh...I think I need to get more daring...

Oh, and because these fabrics have been in my stash for who knows how long, I'm linking up!

Easy Linen Shirt and more....

So...the sewalong for March from Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy was the Easy Linen Shirt pattern from the book, Sewing for Boys. And, I whipped one up last night for my oldest.

 I don't love this pattern, I have to admit. It's pretty wide and the sleeves are quite a bit too long--I have to roll them up for my son. Plus, I'm not sure if I like how the neck is open so low. But, either way, my son loves the shirt. He woke up this morning asking, 'Where's my new shirt? Is it done? Can I wear it?'

The pocket in the front was my addition. It needed something and what better thing than a pocket? It's perfect for storing Lightning Mcqueen and Mater, plus a few other cars!

I'm quite pleased how the stripes all matched up at the shoulders and even the collar in the back. It's a very thin (I believe cotton) fabric that I bought off an older lady who was getting rid of her stash. I believe it was around $1.50 a metre!

Now, I have to sew a shirt for my second son...

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And, another project I had been working on and finished is a big pack of washcloths or reusable wipes that my mother-in-law requested I make.

They're perfect for little baby gifts!

 And, they're so easy to make! I took two 8"x8" squares for each, sewed them right sides facing, using 1/4" seam allowance, turned them right side out, pressed, and topstitched. The first couple, I ended up topstitching too far in (1/4"), so I didn't close the opening. This was easily remedied by adding a lovely fancy stitch along the side where the opening was. The rest, I topstitched 1/8" from the edge.

Perfect quick gift!



Seam-ripped project....

Ever try sewing when you're tired? Or, quickly try to do a step in the pattern while the baby is letting you know he is hungry? I did that last night...and I paid for it. Last night, I started sewing my Jalie 2793 pattern again--the Empire-Waist Tunic pattern. I absolutely love this pattern!! And, I was super excited to break out some fabric I had put aside for this pattern.

While trying to sew the neckband to the bodice, I goofed. The privacy panel was not between the bodice and the neckband--it was in front. And, I had sewn it with a great stitch on my machine that is meant for knit fabrics, and I cannot for the life of me think of the name, but it is a straight stitch and at the same time, a zig-zag on the edge. I usually love that stitch as it provides a nice clean finish and looks professional. I did not love it last night. It took me well over an hour to seam-rip that small section so I could take the privacy panel off and stick it between the other two pieces. Sigh....

But, after putting it together the right way last night, and doing some more sewing this morning, I finally finished:

The fabric is a stretch matte jersey knit from Fabric.com. It's a very easy fabric to work with--just not an easy fabric to seam-rip!

I made it a size smaller than the previous one I made, here. I'm glad I did, as the privacy panel actually works, rather than having to wear a tank top underneath.

Thankfully, it doesn't look like a seam-ripped project anymore!

I really need someone to take the pictures rather than trying to take them in the mirror or using the timer...sigh...

I've entered in the Spring Top Sewalong at Made By Rae!

"Don't Feel Sorry for Her..."

My husband and I took our four kids to Rona the other day to buy a new kitchen sink(!) and we were heading into line to pay for it. As our 7 week old was getting fussy, my husband gave me the keys and I headed to the vehicle, manuevering the 'cadillac' of a stroller around the others in line, and trying to keep my 4 and 3 year old from running out the door onto the street. After strapping three of them in, I plunked down in my seat and nursed the 7 week old, all the while fielding questions from my 4 year old. A couple of minutes later, my husband came to the vehicle, loaded the sink in the back, and sat in the driver's seat, waiting for me to be done nursing and changing another poopy diaper. He told me of a conversation he had had with the lady that was in front of him in line. Apparently, as I was heading out, she told him that she felt sorry for me for having four kids. My husband's awesome response was, 'Don't feel sorry for her--she's happy!'
I am. I am happy to be the blessed mother of four beautiful children. Children are not something to feel sorry about having--'blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.'
Yes, they fight, they make a mess, they wake up at crazy hours at night, they break things I once thought were precious, I can't do all the things I might have done if I didn't have them, and there are days where I have to remind myself that they are indeed a blessing. But, when I look to Christ, and remember how He loves us, how He lay down His life for us 'while we were yet sinners,' how can I not love the children God has given us? How can I not show my children that I love them, that I am indeed blessed, no matter how hectic or busy my day gets.
To all the mothers out there, whose 'hands are full' of little blessings, continue on! Look to our dear Savior for the strength and patience needed to raise these blessings in the fear of His name!

70's Pants...

A good friend of mine recently held a sewing class to teach people how to make a pair of pants. Needless to say, I joined--not because I didn't know how to sew or know how to make a pair of pants, but I love to sew and this was a great excuse to sew with a bunch of other ladies. Plus, the proceeds went to the Pregnancy Care Center. I'm all for giving support to pregnant ladies, especially when abortion is a go-to 'treatment' to get rid of unwanted babies during and even right after (!) pregnancy. (So, if you're reading this and are thinking of having an abortion--it is not the only option--it shouldn't even be an option to kill your baby.)  

Anyway, back to the sewing class...

Carla from the Scientific Seamstress had donated the Easy-Fit Pants Pattern for us to use. I made those at home for a gift. Instead, another lady and myself worked on the Dortje Trousers from the book, Sewing Clothes Kids Love, by Nancy Langdon.

My husband thinks they look like 70's pants but I love them:

Giraffes for my little girl--a Premier Prints fabric that I bought at Fabric.com and same with the white fabric--another Premier Prints twill. The denim fabric I bought at a local second hand store. And, the grey shirt is from Wal-mart--I just added an applique to make it match.

A great project to play around with fabrics and appliques. And, in action:

Yes, they were quite muddy after this, but what else are pants for then to go outside and splash in the mud?!