Redemption

So I felt like I needed to redeem myself from the "unflattering dress" from yesterday. I saw this tutorial a while back, when it was still summer (http://sewastraightline.blogspot.com/2010/03/domesticated-skirt.html). I really liked this skirt. Today I thought I couldn't go wrong with this. I was so right. It is awesome.It is so comfortable, adjustable (for skinny days and fat days) reversible (it's impossible to keep my clothes clean with a snotty nose toddler) and there is so much room at the bottom! It is easy to squat down to pick up toys or run after my toddler. This is one of my favorite things I made. J said it looks like an apron. uuuhhh that's kind of the point, it is called the domesticated skirt after all.

My sister helped me pick out the fabric. I really like the color combo. Too bad it is too cold to wear it outside now, but I fully intend on wearing it around the house all the time. I also plan on making a lot more of these babies. Maybe Christmas gifts?  And now that I have made it, it would probably only take me about an hour to make.

Failure

I remembered why I despise making anything from pattern. For those who have never done it, let me break it down for you. First, you have to cut out all these pattern pieces out of this material that is thinner than tissue paper. That takes me about and hour. (I have a toddler running around my house, blowing the pieces everywhere) I was so frustrated that I gave up after that for the day.

Next day, cutting out the fabric pieces. This task is even more annoying. I bought the recommended amount of fabric, which is also the minimal amount of fabric. So I spend forever trying to puzzle these pieces on my "recommended" amount of fabric. Then cut out the fabric pieces. This takes me an hour and a half.
I gave up after that for the day.

Day three, the most annoying day, figuring out the instructions.  This entails seven one line sentences to make and complete the entire dress. Yeah right. I make up most of my own instructions on my own. Four hours later the dress is done........and it looks horrible on me! The dress itself turned out great, but not flattering at on me. I mean I took 12 different pictures of me wearing it, none of which was postable. So this was the only picture I got.

This is the final annoyance. I am over store bought patterns....over it.

Then just for fun.... since I complained this ENTIRE post... I will leave with the most adorable girl in the world.

a spin and a twirl

Here are the pictures of my little model...



Dancing!



The dress, I thought, was way cuter on the hanger. The sleeves were just too puffy. I might go back and fix it later but for now she loves it and that's all that matters. Today we are going to the pumpkin patch to pick out one more pumpkin together as a family and maybe do some carving. Last year we so busy we didn't even carve one, this year we are staying ahead of the game.

Next project is a dress for me so stay tuned. I have yet to finish a wearable garment for me.

a dress

Wow where have I been? Working...blah. It was a long weekend, (J and I both worked) and I missed my Sunee bunny. It made me want to make her a dress. Like I have said before, making dresses is my real passion. Some time ago, Sunee and I took a trip to JoAnn's Fabric. After I was done doing all my shopping, I let her pick out a fabric. She immediately said, "Mommy, are you going to make me a dress?" Of course I was! This is what she picked out....

She picked the one on the bottom. See Sleeping Beauty hiding down there? Peek-a-boo! The dino fabric was for a little girls 4th birthday party. I used my own pattern, and it turned out like this.....

Anyway, Sunee has been waiting patiently for me to have the motivation (and the time) to make her this dress.  I have been working all night on it. I can't wait to show it to her in the morning! I used this pattern http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-shirt-dress.html.  

Maybe tomorrow I will post some pictures of her wearing it!!!!

a princess kind of day

Sunee is obsessed with princesses. Last Christmas she received this OVER-sized princess-castle-tent (thanks aunt mandy). We put it back up today, after being on closet shelf for months. She had so much fun, just like the very first time she played with it.

And later before bed, we cuddled up and watched 'Little Einteins' of course the 'Glass Slipper Ball' episode.

So not much sewing today, just fixed and finished my very first "boy shirt". I just hope it fits the little man.



boys shirt

We had good day, enjoying the autumn weather, playing at one of our favorite parks. But I did get some good sewing in today. I finished, or so I thought, the little man's shirt. I used the "90 minute shirt" tutorial fromhttp://www.dana-made-it.com/. Well it took me a lot longer than 90 minutes, and after I thought I was finished, I realized there were some big mistakes that will have to be fixed another day.





you can see the hole in the armpit and the brown edgeing didn't get completely sewn in

I wasn't too upset, because I can tell its going to be really freakin cute. I also manage to squeeze in J request to alter his police uniform.... I always feel weird altering his uniform, like it should be illegal for me to cut, pin and sew a police uniform. But J promised he would not arrest me, so I did it.

Stay tuned I will for sure have some dresses and skirts coming soon!!!!!



boys pants.....

I have be fabric shopping like crazy and....no projects. And now that I have all of this fabric, I was had a hard time figuring out what project to start first. Sunee has been asking me to make her a dress and honestly, dress are my passion. But one of my very best friends son has a birthday coming up, so this project took priority. I used a combination of my own idea and one of my favorite blogs  http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-knee-pad-pants.html to make these very special pants.


sewing top of pants (with my AMAZING new machine)

The legs of the pants ended up being wider than I wanted but, the little man they are for is wild-man and probably could use the wiggle room. 

 I added some frayed back pockets with a zig-zag stitch. They turned out so cute!

This is what Sunee does to keep busy while I sew and sew

 So the pants are complete! But he still needs a shirt.... here is a preview of my next project.

To be continued.....
~sam