Hope your Labor Day weekend was grand! My hubby had to work at his second job, so we just stayed around here. Did a tiny bit of housework (quickly to be ruined) and I managed to watch a couple movies, sew a few things and so forth. It was relaxing.
Anyway, in an effort to balance the scales a little, I’ve added a couple boy kits to the store! Alright, who am I kidding?!?!? This won’t come close to balance, but it at least puts some weight on the boy side, which was previously empty!
Festive Vests pattern with Pure Argyle print
Spiro Blaster Boxer with the Louey Boxer pattern
Both Kits have multiple fabric options and can be found here. (Along with some dang cute girl kits.) 
I’ve also added 15 new Fat Quarter Bundles. I made 2 of each set – and once they’re gone, they’re gone. There are some great combinations – if I do say so myself!
Find all Fat Quarter Bundles (including new lines) here!
I have some info for Tucson people that I’ll try to get posted later on today or tomorrow! For everyone else, I’ll see you back again soon with a new pattern review! Yay!
Would it be odd to move somewhere cooler just for fall clothing? Seriously? September and October are the hardest months for me in Tucson. I don’t mind the hot hot summer at all, but I do miss autumn weather. Then I’m happy again come December when we’re eating outdoors and our families further north are snowed in. Anyway, right now I miss fall days that are cool enough to wear long sleeves but warm enough to not require heavy clothing. The shirt that Jen made is perfect for nice fall weather!
This was Jen’s first time working with voile – and the shirt she made is amazing! You can read more about it on here on her blog!
Thanks for everyone who voted on the August features. Congratulations to Erin, the maker of the adorable drawstring bag! I’ll be emailing you a $25 gift certificate to the store!!!
Be sure to add your pictures to the flickr group too!
Can we all agree to pretend like I never said anything about Basics week? Okay! Good then! Moving forward (I will get to it, but it’s Thursday, so clearly it’s not going to happen this week!) Rachelle sent over a review of the Lil Leggings pattern from Lil Blue Boo. I was so happy Ashley agreed to let me carry her patterns in my shop!
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My little girl LOVES skirts, which is good for me, because I love making her cute skirts out of fabulous fabrics. But when fall rolls around, she wants to keep wearing her skirts and its a daily battle to get her to wear anything else.
Enter “Stretchy pants”. It always reminds me of “ Chancho. When you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It’s for fun. “– Nacho Libre
She loves her stretchy pants. This year I couldn’t help but order some delicious knits to make her some pairs. Melanie suggested the Lil Leggings pattern by Lil Blue Boo.
I ordered 1/2 yard of 3 different fabrics.
I really prefer working with ePatterns because its such instant gratification to get your pattern so quickly. Also having it saved on the computer is a bonus. I printed my pattern and pieced it together with ease. Just lining up the dots and taping.
Then I used the freezer paper method to trace the patterns. Since I am doing 2 different sizes- I just had to trace it twice rather than printing it out twice. Also next fall when I want to make the next size up( and the next and the next… all the way up to 8 years!)- I don’t have to re-print and tape it all together.
Out of the half yards I was able to make 2 pairs of pants per print. One for my daughter (3-4T) and one for my niece (24mo-2T). The 1/2 yard was just the right height for 3T-4T. Any longer and you’d have to get a larger cut of fabric to keep the pattern in the correct place.
The directions were very well written and I was even able to open the .pdf in the Books App on my iphone, which was very handy while I was working at my sewing machine to be able to flip through the instructions.
I used my serger for all the inside seams and to finish the edges. Then a zig zag on the bottom hem. The pieces all fit together perfectly. Sewing with the knits was very nice. I have heard it described as sewing through butter and I agree. It seemed to melt as I worked with it.
Now in the pattern- she calls for a ribbed knit to be used for the waistband-which seems that it would be a very comfy feel. Well I didn’t have ribknit on hand and I just couldn’t wait to make them- so I improvised. I had some wide band elastic that I used for the white pants.
For the Pink Striped and Blue polka pairs- I ended up using the waistband guide (piece B) with my regular knit, and then reinforcing it with an elastic band on the inside. This added some extra steps to the original pattern, but turned out just as cute. If you go this route- you might have to adjust the height of piece B to accommodate the width of your elastic.
I loved all the variations and tried both the rutched pair and the ruffled bottom pair. However, decide BEFORE you start the pants what variation you are going to use. After the leg is sewn closed its tricky to get in there to add anything. In the instructions for the variations- it does say to add any embellishments first. I was just hasty in putting my pieces together and then decided after to add the ruffle and the rutching.
Also, another tip. If you are going to add the ruffle at the bottom, make sure to accommodate in the length of the leg. Ours ended up being more of pants with the added length of the ruffle- which is just fine for winter. But they were just a bit longer than the others.
I tried the leggings on the little girl and she was thrilled with them. She wanted to try doing a kart-wheel in them right away! She tried on all 3 pairs without any tantrums, which is HUGE for us. She has been wearing the striped pair all day. I really recommend this pattern to any one who wants a good starter project with knits for some “Stretchy Pants” for particular girls.
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Thanks, Rachelle! I can’t wait to try these out for Haley too! And I’m dying to make the Sienna dress for her as well.
You can find all Lil Blue Boo pattern downloads here!
Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. I have in my mind that I really wanted to do a video blog….which has proved to be more difficult than I anticipated. But you have to know that once I have my mind set on something, there ain’t nothin that can change it. 
(Oh my! Wouldn’t my English teachers would be appalled I used ain’t?)
SO as I continue down this video blog path – I’ll get the Flickr Friday vote up! You get to decide who will get the $25 gift certificate to my store, Above All Fabric, this month!
Holly and her pup
Courtney and her adorable daughter
Nina and her scrappy towels
Erin and her cute drawstring bag
August Flickr Friday Winner
- Erin's bag (43%, 29 Votes)
- Courtney's daughter (25%, 17 Votes)
- Holly's dog (21%, 14 Votes)
- Nina's towels (11%, 8 Votes)
Total Voters: 68
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Be sure to add your pictures to the flickr group too!
Last month the learning series was Sewing with Knits. This month, I decided to go back to the basics! See you tomorrow!
Bags! A lot of times I think of bags only for myself – but check out this adorable drawstring bag! My kids would LOVE this!
Erin also made a hat and some bibs for her cousin. I LOVE them all! You can see them on her flickr account.
(Fabrics use were denim and 2D zoo in pool.)
I’ll set up the vote on Monday for the August $25 gift certificate! Have a great weekend! See you next week.
A goal this past year has been to make more things for myself, and I’ve done a marvelous job, if I say so myself. Having been sick recently (I’m getting my daily calories via throat lozenges…the coughing is way down but it still hurts to swallow), I wanted to take time last weekend to sew something for myself.
What to make? What to make? Don’t you think deciding what to make is sometimes the hardest part? This was kinda my process:
- It’s too hot.
- It’s so humid
- It’s nearing fall
- Fall doesn’t really exist in Tucson
- I should make a summer shirt
- *AHA* the Cabo Halter from Amy Butler
- But I want to kinda look fall-ish…even if it’s summery
- I love Origins by Basic Grey
So that is how I settled on the Cabo Halter in Aromatherapy (Brown Sugar).
I used the last pattern I had in stock (Pure genius when it comes to marketing…let me tell ya!) But I do have the beautiful fabric in stock. And for those of you that don’t live in an oven…you could make a real fall shirt! Plus, I do think that if you had the right shirt underneath, this would look super cute layered.
Here’s a quick review of the pattern:
Yep, I would make this pattern again!
It was a quick one day project. The bodice is fully lined which makes for such a great finished product. I did top stitch the bodice, because it just gives it a more finished look plus it helps the garment maintain it’s shape after you wash it! The zipper is the only part that may be a challenge – but fear not! The instructions are clear and don’t leave you guessing! Don’t let a zipper scare you off!
This top is a bit more revealing and lower cut than what I imagined, so I will definitely have to wear the cami underneath for peace of mind. The nice thing about the design, however, is that it’s not restricting at all, so it’s perfect for quilting cotton…which isn’t always the case when it comes to women’s tops.
Now here is a “I’m such a squinty dork” picture for you all to enjoy!
Have you added your photos to the flickr group? I’ll see you tomorrow with August’s last Flickr Friday…and then we’ll vote next week for the $25 gift certificate winner!
