It all fit in one bag...

This was fun. I went over to JoAnn's around noon to pick up a couple things, and here is part of what came home with me :-) I didn't even know I needed all this! Especially the Spiderman thingies (you put them in water, and they make small towels. Of course. Spidey is my grandson's super super hero - he will have a blast with these).

The purple thread is for this pretty calico, destined for wide leg pants like the cocoa dots I sewed last summer.

Vogue 8584

I also wanted self-threading sewing needles. They actually come as a pack of 10 on this cute pink magnet. It is perfect for keeping my basting needle and a couple sewing needles at hand as well. I can't stand to have them on the pin cushion with my straight pins because I knock them off or they fall off into the carpet - and I have a horror of sliding one into my bare foot. 

Back to the self-threading needles - Dan R. ( Piece and Press) mentioned in a post reply at Male Pattern Boldness that he uses them when he is pulling through his thread ends, knotting and sinking them. Brilliant! I've been using a regular sewing needle, licking the thread ends together, hoping they both go through the eye. This needle makes the process so much easier and faster. Thanks, Dan!

Confession time. I did not make it out of the store without fabric. I tried, I really did. But I remembered that I needed to look at faux fur, feel it actually, because I'm planning a jacket this fall. I don't want anything that too static-y or sticky or stiff. Faux fur is tricky and expensive! Fortunately I had a coupon for 40% off...

So pretty - very soft, deep brown, a little swirly, about 5/8" long, 100% poly. The knit backing is very well done, and the selvages are even. I gave it the fluff test (it didn't give up any) and the static test (no shocks). I do plan to use a cotton lining, both for comfort and to minimize static potential. And I already have my pattern, Simplicity 2150. I'm pretty sure I'll leave off the collar and raise the neckline slightly to compensate.

Felt like Christmas. BTW, the Spiderman goodies are from the Dollar Store next to my JoAnn's. Where I also got this 2013 must-have windmill to go out in the garden... Ciao! Coco

McCalls 6291 Walking Shorts Version

Summer means shorts, even for a maxi lover like moi! Last year I made oodles of Simplicity 1852 Low Rise Shorts  and I love them. But a post by Scruffy B. showing off her cute cute culottes got me thinking...how about a new look for summer 2013?

I started with McCalls 6291, which has three variations on cargo pants. Love the deep pockets, elastic waist, front pleats, and belt carriers.  My first version was a pants combo of Views B and C, done in a navy weavers cloth, great look and lots of fun.

For the shorts, I took advantage of all the features of the pattern and just changed the lines to give me the fullness I was after.

I traced my new front and back pieces to a length of 22". The lines of the outseam and inseam are continued straight down, parallel to the grain.

The changes didn't effect the pockets or pleats in any way. I did add a belt carrier at the center back.

The finished inseam is 8 3/4", the outseam is 20", measured below the waistband.

Loving this look! I used a 55/45 linen/rayon fabric from JoAnn Fabrics in Calla Green. Finally got on board with the green trend, I'm just a few months late :-) I washed and dried the fabric 3 times on warm before I cut it, and it is so soft. It has a nice tropical rumple, but doesn't wrinkle. What you see in the pics is really all the wrinkle it has.

And we are walking, walking...

As I was walking back to my tripod someone else came out to pose. My buddy Ms. Squirrel. She is feeling much better now that the kids are weaned and off bothering the neighbors.

She was compensated for this photo shoot with four peanuts.

Ciao! Coco

McCalls 6747 Long sleeve knit maxi

Oh, what a cute knit summer dress! 

I get cold everywhere I go...and love having long sleeves instead of taking a wrap. I did not opt for the henley look, with placket and buttons, but other than that, I really made only one change to this pattern. It was based on a discovery from sewing so many knit dresses the past 6 months...

    My dresses (another one below) are done in a light-midweight 7 oz. cotton jersey knits from Girl Charlee ( I 

    looooooove this knit fabric store). I've found in sewing this weight knit that a center back seam takes a lot

    of punishment, particularly if you are sitting on it...the knit pulls out at the stitches. 

    I have 3 versions of the  Kwik Sew 3703 maxi dress, which has a CB seam. Originally, I serge/sewed them all

    but after a few wearings  I went back and reinforced the CB seam with an elastic knit stitch. The CB seams

    were pulling out like crazy!

End of story: I cut the back of this dress on the fold, rather than with a center back seam. I'm happy with the fit as is, but someone else might want to add side darts for shaping if this approach is taken.

Sizing-based info:

• I'm a bit over 5'7.5" tall, 140 lbs.
• Sewed a size medium.
• Added 2" to the length.
• Dress hem is 2".
• Sleeve hem is a scant 5/8".

Version two, a tribal animal print, in orange of course!

And the gratuitous envelope cover photo...or something near it.

I really love this dress.

Ciao! Coco

Burda 05/2013 #102 panneau print dress or...

Oh la. This pattern is perfectly sized for a dress in a panel print in satin, rayon, or silk - but I've done it in a featherweight cotton jersey from Girl Charlee. Like a wisp ...

I've been looking for months for a simple gown - something feminine. Love this.

--------------------------------------------Edited May 28 2013------------------------------

I've just realized how new this pattern is! I don't get the Burda Magazine, so I downloaded this pattern from Burda's online site. After the pages are taped together, the pattern is the same - no seam allowances - but tracing off one size is easy, since all the lines are black :-)

Here is my second version, done in a mid-weight cotton jersey (yes, just like the bubble pockets shorts!). More a summer shift than a nightie...

Both of these dresses were sewn with remnants from the stash - the pattern only requires a 40" long x 60" wide piece of fabric for the front and back panels. And a little something for the straps and bindings. 

And Burda is so nice - the pattern is marked for 05/2013 #101, the short version of this dress. Cute top for jeans and shorts...

I feel better - my first post was so short, lazy me... Ciao! Coco

Bubble pocket shorts and ruffled skirts...

Did that title make you wonder what's up? These are the cutest shorts I've ever seen. And they're not for me, they're for my almost-3-year old grand-niece :-)  I came across the pattern one night at Elegance and Elephants, and just had to get it.

I made the size 4 in a mid-weight cotton jersey knit from Fabric  Mart. The pattern suggests wovens, but the knit worked fine. And I like the idea of knit shorts for little ones, so comfy.

Just a few little changes:

I used 3/4" elastic in the waistband instead of 1". Seems more reasonable for such a small garment and body.

The pattern suggests cutting the waist elastic so that it finishes 1.5" shorter than the child's actual waist measurement.

I checked with mom: J.'s waist is 19.5", but her rtw size 4 shorts have a waist of 20.5".  hmmm. A lightbulb - I found a great resource on the web,  childrens size chart. It has everything - all sizes, all kinds of garments, for boys and girls. And it confirmed that the waist on a size 4 is 20.5". I compromised at 20".

The pattern suggests sewing the cuff on as a band, as one would sew a neckband. However, that would leave a kind of bulky seam on the inside. 

Instead, I sewed the cuff to the outside, right sides together. Then I folded it to the inside, and stitched in the ditch on the outside along the seam line. The inside is nice and flat and smooth.

All the seams are sewn with an elastic stitch, then serged. These little shorts will hold up to lots of play!

Since I had so much fun with the shorts, I went looking for a little skirt pattern. And look what I found! This adorable ruffled skirt is free as an online tutorial from Tanya Whelan at Grand Revival Design.

It's made with four bands of fabric of varying lengths and widths, and is super-easy to cut out and sew. What a nice tutorial - good illustrations and instructions.

Fabric measurements are given for size 5-6. I reworked the numbers for size 4 with a length of 8.5" (above the knee). My numbers assume .5" seams, 1.5" waistband allowance, .5" hem allowances, and 3/4" elastic:

1 @ 4.5" x 25" Tier 1 band and waistband

1 @ 4.0" x 44" Tier 1 ruffle 

1 @ 2.5" x 25" Tier 2 band

1 @ 5.5" x 44" Tier 2 ruffle

 

It doesn't take much to think of ways to use this skirt pattern - applied ruffles, lace trims - oh, my :-)

So cute. I used fabrics I have in the loft, not terribly girly (although the green in the skirt is a pretty lime green, not sage the way it looks here). I'll ask J. what she might like for her next shorts and skirt. Birthday in June!

Ciao! Coco

Two dresses & an early morning garden

What a nice Mother's Day weekend. Ashley and her companion spent Saturday (her birthday!) and Sunday with me, and my son slipped in on Sunday night ahead of a business appointment in the area on Monday. Such a treat. The sewing plaque is a made-by-Ashley, her altered media work is so pretty and special.

We stayed busy! Of course we headed off straight away to IKEA. I got out with most of my Mom's Day money intact :-) since most of the fabrics were canvas - beautiful, beautiful prints, but not what I need. Then Ashley and I were treated to dinner at a lovely little Italian ristorante near my house.

Back home and we girls got down to business!  First was fitting a dress I just finished, McCalls 6073 maxi dress. This is the second time I've done this pattern for her, and it was perfect! All we did was mark the hem. It's in a beautiful ITY from Fabric Mart.

McCalls 6073

Next we pulled out fabric bins and patterns and played 'what if' for a while. She loved the fabric I had picked out for her Butterick 5744, a chocolate and turquoise calico from Holly Lobby. A peek of the bodice below, which has a single ruffle running down the right side.

The dress is actually done now, except for hemming, and it is beautiful. It is fully lined in dark brown poly/cotton lightweight broadcloth and feels wonderful.

Butterick 5744

We also went online so Ashley could shop fabric for a mini-dress to wear over capris and leggings. Keeping in mind that she and companion go to pop culture events like comic-con throughout the year - check out the awesome Alexander Henry fabric she found on eQuilter.com!

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This morning I slipped out just after sunrise to turn on the sprinklers for my little patch of grass at the front of the house. Then I wandered around in the back garden, so peaceful and pretty. 

These two very active little guys are the first babies for a squirrel who has kept me company for five years. She is worn out :-)      Bye for now - Coco