More Christmas gifts

I so love this pattern.  It is so well drafted and I believe it gives you great results. 

Previously, I made the hippo and decided to give it another go as every little girl needs a giraffe.  

Just because this is a giraffe, there isn't any rule that he/she can't be a floral giraffe, right?

Both fabrics were in my stash.  For the eyes, I used plastic snaps.  I reinforced the area with interfacing, lined up both sides of the head and used my awl to punch tiny holes, both in the same location, so the eyes weren't wonky.

How cute are the proportions on this?  

 

Sorry, but the above photo won't let me turn it. 

As with any sort of pattern like this, cut and sew carefully and don't forget to press as you go.

I didn't stuff this one as tightly as I could have as I was hoping Elaina would want to sleep with it and I tried to make it somewhat cuddly.

I can foresee making the flamingo.  Why not?

Thanks for reading!

Sue 

Dinosaurs for little people!

I love making Christmas gifts for people I love and this year I decided to make some stuffed animals for my four grandbabies.  I like how these turned out, but this isn't the best drafted pattern in the world.  

Its cute, but I don't feel like you can get a result that looks anything other than home made.  

I made all three dinos.  The brontosaurus is for grandson number 2.  Elliot is 2 and he will hopefully love that the legs coordinate, but don't match the body.  For the eyes, I used a plastic snap layered on top of a scrap of felt.

This T-rex is for Simon who's five.  I thought he'd appreciate the scary face the most.  I really love this fabric and wish I had more to cut all three from.

His spikes are from some Riley Blake fat quarters I had in my stash.  

The Stegosaurus is for Leon.  He is just about 2 months old.  

I really thought about redoing the brontosaurus' legs but my daughter said Elliot will love it anyway.  He's two, he probably will and won't say anything.  I am probably being too critical.   

My pet peeve about this pattern is in the drafting.  I pride myself on cutting, stitching, and carefully sewing.  No matter what I did, the bumps on the face and legs wouldn't disappear.  Ugh.

I guess tho, that these aren't for me but for three precious little boys.  I really hope they love them to pieces!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

having fun mixing and matching fabrics

How cute is this tunic?  I love view A, with the asymmetrical side seams.  

Sorry about the indoor photos as it is dark before I leave for work and after I get home.  

I used a stretch velvet for the outer layer and wool knit for the inner layer.  The sleeves are a lightweight ponte.

Black is so difficult to photograph indoor but you get the idea of the shine and design of the fabric.  

This is such a great length for leggings, even for my 5'7" frame.  Everything is covered, both front and back.  Gotta love that!

I am showing you the underlayer here of the wool knit.  All three fabrics are washable.  

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Finally jumping on the Kimono train

Happy December everyone! 
I wanted to share my latest post from Fabric Mart--I finally made a Kimono.  Everyone around me has been wearing super cute ones so I finally decided to create one. 

I just LOVE This fabric!  It is a poly woven and those colors are so vibrant!  This fabric came from Fabric Mart.  It is from a famous dress designer.  

Here is the pattern I used: 

McCall's 7200 (image from Sewing Pattern Review).  As you can see, mine is longer with longer sleeves.  There are some variations with the pattern.  

I chose to keep this super simple to really show off that fabric.  I can't tell you how much prettier this is in person.  

For fitting, I know this is a loose-fitting garment, but it still needs to fit in all the right places.  I lengthened from the shoulder to the apex and lengthened the bust curve.  

On the back of the garment, I added 1" total between the shoulder blades at the intersection of the neck and the shoulder.  I also added an inch at shoulder blade level.  

For the length of this Kimono, I added 6 inches.  

I decided to hand sew the facings in place along with the hems.  Hand sewing can be so very relaxing.

That's it!  A fast and easy make but make sure you fit it to you so you look fabulous!

Thanks for reading!

Sue 

Sewing flannel

Every once in a while, I have to pull this pattern out and play with it.  It's such a great basic. 




I love how this fits me with minimal alterations. 

My fashion photographer was making me laugh.  Such a goof sometimes, but in a good way!

As you can see, I lengthened the sleeves by 2.5 inches.  I cut the collar, stand, and cuffs on the bias.  I also added bias pockets.

I eliminated the side slits as I am hoping to wear this with leggings and I don't want any extra flesh poking out of those slits.

Here are my alterations: 

1.  I lengthened from mid-shoulder to the apex by 1 inch.

2.  I lengthened the bust curve by 1 inch.

3.  I lengthed between the shoulder blades and waistband.

That's it!

This isn't my most precise plaid matching I've ever done, but it is certainly passable and wearable.

I can't even describe to you how luscious this fabric is on your skin!  It's warm, weighty, and so very soft!  I purchased it from a quilt shop when I was in North Dakota for a business trip.

Playing with which pieces were cut on the bias was great fun!  It added a bit of creativity to a simple pattern.  

I used my Kam snaps and pliers to attach my plastic snaps.  I love these.  I promise, the snaps are lined up precisely.  They look uneven here, but aren't.  

Thanks for reading and I hope you are making some weather appropriate garments!

Sue 

More unselfish sewing--Elliot gets a new coat

Hello and Happy Holidays!

This past week, I finished a winter coat for grandson #2.  This one is Elliot, he is VERY 2, and he has my heart wrapped around his little finger.  All the way around.

Isn't this little monkey cute?  I made his coat a bit differently than the one I made for his older brother, Simon.  

Again, I used Jalie 2108 or the Puffer.  

The most notable difference is that I used fleece to line part of this jacket: hood, collar, pockets.  I like how it matches with the gray contrast fabric.  

I also decided to insert elastic at the waist of the lining.  

Yes, this coat is big on him.  I made the size G (2nd to the smallest size) based on his height and tummy measurements.

I didn't have him here at any time to try this for fit.  I am thinking it will fit next year as well.  :) 

These water repellent fabrics are from Mood.  I so highly recommend them!  Great to work with!  Just watch the temp of your iron and test the heat levels.

I was hoping to find a gray zipper but my local JoAnns is very limited on its selection.  Argh.  The plaid lining or flannel also came from JoAnns.  That blue was the closest I could get to the cobalt blue.  They didn't have a gray plaid as a choice.  It works.  

I do like this pattern, except for the wrist bands, but I haven't thought of a better way to put those together yet.  They will work well over mittens and then you can cinch them up.  

Of course, Jalie patterns are well designed and drafted and Elliot didn't want to take his new coat off.  That little monkey.

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Butterick 6418

This pattern; it's been in my stash for a while and I keep picking it up and putting it back.  Until...

I was in North Dakota, of all places!  A gal there was wearing a super cute gray sweater and it looked like she had a half shirt on underneath that was plaid.  It also had plaid elbow patches.  Of course I thought to myself, I can do that!

Both fabrics were in my stash.  The pattern was also in my stash.

This pattern whips up easily.  It is well-drafted and goes together without any issues.  I added the plaid at the hemline and the elbows.  

View C has an overlay as the design and at first I thought I could just use that view, but duh, this is made in a knit and my plaid is a woven.  

I cut the plaid in the shape and length I wanted, hemmed it, and attached to the hemline.  

For the elbow patches, I played with the placement and size and sewed them on prior to constructing the sleeve.  

Super easy, right?

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Meghan Jacket by Style Arc

This jacket--so simple but so much fun to create and wear!  This is a fast and easy sew and if you use the correct fabric, no hemming is required!  

See what I mean?  Here are the deets: This jacket has long sleeves with cute little ties, felled seams and a wide, floaty collar.  You can choose to put buttons/snaps at the front.  

This pattern calls for a stable knit or a fabric that doesn't require hemming.  I had a beautiful faux suede that my Daughter-in-law purchased from Mood.  This is such lovely stuff to work with!  I really love the color as well.  It just screams fall/winter to me.  

I made just a couple of alterations, mainly to adjust for a non-stretch fabric.  I lengthened the bust curve and added a bit across the shoulders.  I also added to the sleeve tabs as they seemed rather short to me.  

That's it!  This whips up quickly.  I can see making this in a ponte--a suggested fabric.  I can also see making one for spring/summer in a white or light colored ponte with short or 3/4 sleeves.  

I also made the tee that I am wearing underneath the jacket.  This fabric was from my stash.  It isn't the best quality (JoAnn's is printed on the selvage) but the colors work.   I used the Jalie newest Tee for it.  

Thanks for reading!  

Sue