Baby Sweater

As I've said before, I usually have a few projects going at once.  I realize that isn't the most efficient way to work, but I like variety.

After an intense week of pulling the sister outfits together I was ready for a change.  So I pulled out the baby sweater I had been working on.  I'm using the matinee jacket pattern from Easy Baby Knits by Claire Montgomerie.

I like the pattern because it is simple-just a basic stockinette, seed stitch and a garter stitch- but I wanted to add a design to it.  My favorite color is red and I wanted to incorporate a snowflake into the body of the sweater.  I found a snowflake that I like which I have randomly added. 

I wanted a yarn that was easy to care for, but warm and easy on the skin. I don't think the acrylic yarns or a straight wool fit the bill.  I chose Baby Cashmerino by Debbie Bliss. It is a washable wool/cashmere blend and oh soo soft.  I found the yarn on ebay at yarnbow.  They have great customer service, nice variety and I received the items quickly. http://stores.ebay.com/yarnbow

I also like to do away with seams whenever I can, so the body has been knit complete.  When I came to the bottom of the bodice I have added four solid rows of white and then continued in a seed stitch that alternates with red and white.

I'm almost finished with the body of the sweater and haven't quite decide what to do with the sleeves.  I'll keep you posted.



Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

Fini

It has been a good week...several projects are completed and I am ready to move on.

  I found the buttons I needed to complete the white smocked top.  I am glad I found a four hole buton so that I could add the bullion rose to it..  All the extra details are what make garments unique and that is what I always liked best about being able to sew.  It would be very unusual to see another person in what I had made.

 The buttons on the straps can be moved to help extend the life of the garment.  If you are going to pay for good quality clothing, it is nice to be able to wear it for more than one year.









I also finished the Humpty Dumpty Dress.  This dress came together so smoothly.  Which is a good thing because a person can only handle so much frustration at once ;0)

I really like the fabric--sunshine yellow with small white flowers.  It set Humpty Dumpty's shirt off and draws your attention to the smocking panel.  The sleeves are puffed with a narrow band.  The dress also has a white peter-pan collar with whipped stitch piping and is closed in the back with small flower buttons.

The fabric is from a quilt shop-so it is has a higher thread count and is of good quality.  I put a 4in. hem in so that it could be let out.  That way your little girl could wear the dress again the following year. I want customers to feel that they will get their money's worth.  It is a whole lot easier to spend $50 if the quality is great and you think that your child will be able to wear it again the next year...as well as a hand-me down or be able to re-sell it. 

Shabby Chic Capri Set

I was recently reading a blog post by a seamstress where nothing seemed to be going right.  I could feel her pain and at the same time was glad that I wasn't the only one who had that problem.  Some projects just don't come together easily.  But in the end, if I persevere, I am usually glad I did.  Sometimes I think God sends us the little annoyances just to see if we really want  ____ (you fill in the blank).

So not only has my sewing machine been in the shop, but the outfit for the smocked top has had some bumps in the road.  

While I like the bird fabric, I just couldn't seem to get comfortable using it with the top.  The more I looked at it, the more it wasn't right.  So the hunt for new fabric commenced.  The top has a shabby chic feel and I finally found something!

I found the floral online and the polka dot ruffle at a local quilt shop

To help eliminate frustration in determining the front from the back, I added a ribbon tab to the back.

I'm pleased with how it is coming along.  I've made a size 3T, and plan on making a 4T also.

All that is left are the buttons.  And, yes, there has been difficulty there also.  Who would have thought it would be hard to find a white button with four holes?  I need four holes because the pattern calls for a bullion rose to be added to the button.  I've been through my button box and a local fabric store -what they had was the wrong size.  The button rose may become a casualty of the hunt.   Overall it is such a cute pattern it has been worth the annoyances.

Not all projects go this way.  I needed a break from the aggravation and started the next dress.  So far it is coming together beautifully. 

My Posies Monday: Sew Serendipity Bags

If you're interested in improving your bag making skills or getting started for the first time, Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt is a good place to get started.

I made the Laptop Messenger Bag and chose the floral and accenting circle patterns from the  Chelsea collection  by Whistler Studios.  I tied the two together with a brown marble from Moda Fabrics.  I purchased these from my local quilt store.






I found the pattern to be easy to follow with good diagrams and clear directions.  The author has added several technique pages which I found helpful. 

I must confess that I have never sewn anything that was this thick and heavy...so be sure to use the right needle and that you have a sewing machine that can handle the thickness.  I have two machines, a Singer Futura and a Bernina Bernette.  I wanted a basic machine for my girls to learn to sew on and the Bernette has been a great machine.  I have been very pleased with it, but this project was not a good application for it because it ended up in the repair shop.

At times I felt like a Sumo Wrestler.  The thickness can be awkward and the bag is large.  The body of the bag is a 16" square...which is great for books etc., but it will give you a workout!

All in all, I would make the bag again.  The book is a great investment.  It has a nice variety of bags.  Sometimes you get a book and only end up making one or two of the projects.  Not the case here.  The girls already have a list of other projects they are gathering fabric for.

The end result was a great gift and a happy recipient.

Problems

My sewing machine is in the repair shop ;0(

I did want to be more consistent in posting but life is full of these little annoyances. 

I was working on a birthday present for my youngest daughter- a bag from the book Serendipity Bags- and I didn't get the right needle for all the bulk.  So the needle struggled to get through the fabric and the timing went out on the bobbin. My daughter was very understanding because she opened a present with the half finished bag!

Thanks to those of you who have checked back.  Another few days and I'll have a finished project to show you.

~Nikki

My Posies Monday

I don't know about you, but I can only stitch (any needlework or knitting) for so long and then I need a break.  So I will have a couple of projects going-right now I'm smocking the little top I've shown you, knitting a red baby sweater and just finishing a top for one of my posies.  Because I have several things going I don't know if I can fill a blog space with just sewing for my etsy shop.  Since I still sew for my girls (not always clothes),  I thought it would be a nice feature to share some of the projects I'm working on for them, so Mondays will be My Posies Mondays.

This first project is a cute summer top that can be worn with jeans.  I used quilters fabric that we found at our local JoAnn's.

So here are my supplies.  I'm making view A-the black and white top.

Overall the top was easy to make...I put it together in an afternoon.  The only alterations I made was to the bottom band and the tie- both of which I shortened.

End result...

~Nikki

Making progress

Been a busy week but I'm making good progress on my smocking project.
So far I've finished the back stabilizing stitches and have gotten the geometric design on the top two rows.

I've also found some great fabric for the capri pants.



It has a flower feel and I think I'm going to see if I can incorporate a bird in the smocking.

~Nikki

New Projects

So we added a couple of new items to the shop...



Both are made from Moda fabrics so the thread count is higher and the garment feels nice against the skin.  Nothing worse than being hot and wearing something that makes you itch ;0) 

I am drawn to brighter colors ...I usually walk the fabric rows and wait for something to reach out and grab me. And I liked my girls to be girly, so many of the patterns I choose would be classified as such.

I've also started a smocking project. I was working on a picture smocking panel awhile ago, but I was rusty and put it aside.  I thought I'd start with a geometric design.  I chose a sundress styled top.  It will have 3 rows of smocking, an open, gathered space followed by 6 rows of smocking.  The smocking will be a simple design and I can add bullion roses and flowers to it...maybe even a silk ribbon bee.  I'm almost done with the stabilizing stitches and should start the design today.  To complete the outfit I'm planning on adding floral capri pants with a ruffled hem.

 Both my girls wore this dress.  This was my first picture smocking project.

Lots of hand-me-downs.  Both girls wore this also.  The dress was for Christmas and the smocking is on velour.

Here is a question...Do you like patriotic clothes for summer holidays?  I was thinking of adding an A-line jumper and or a sundress made in a  red, white and blue color combination to the shop.

Please let me know what you think

~Nikki

Hello...

Thomas Edison said that he had not failed but found numerous ways not to do something. I love that thought, because you never truly fail until you give up. So in an effort to learn and improve I decided to put a bit more effort into my etsy shop and see what happens. One suggestion was to blog about what your shop sells.
I have always enjoyed sewing, especially children’s clothing. First you don’t have to worry about darts, hips and bust size. The most you do is lengthen or shorten. Many of todays patterns allow for alot of creativity. You can combine fabrics, make rick-rack flowers or smock and embroider. Maybe even combine a couple patterns, add trim or an extra ruffle.
I have many outfits I would enjoy making and one way to feed my habit is to sell what I make. I hope that you’ll enjoy following along and adding your input when I can’t seem to make up my mind or maybe even suggest a pattern that you’ve been wanting to see made.