Sewing With Knits with Meg McElwee

Hello!  I don't know if anyone is still following along.  My new Mac computer has been giving me a run for my money.  I love it, but it's confusing me in regard to blogging.  I'll get the hang of it eventually!!

*********

A few months ago I enrolled in the Craftsy class, Sewing With Knits.  I've been sewing with knits for a few years and really enjoy it.  This class comes with a goldmine of basic patterns: a hoodie, v-neck and scoopneck t shirts, yoga pants, a skirt, and my favorite, the Surplice Dress.

This is what I've made so far with the patterns...

(FYI the links will show you more info/photos on each project)

Surplice dress in rose jersey

Surplice Dress in Gray

Stripey scoop neck tee

lace front scoop neck tee

mythical monster tee for Maura

I highly recommend the class!

********

Since I was in the mood for sewing with knits already, I also completed this short sleeved top,
  Jalie 2921:

It's made of this lycra jersey from Girl Charlee, which is very soft.

Now it's a little too cold for short sleeved shirts, too bad!!

back to school backpack

Recognize this guy?

Yep, he's off to pre-K this year!  Not a minute too soon for him either.  He's been watching his three older siblings head out to school forever and he wants in on the action.

Here's his new robot backpack:

I'm sure everyone recognizes this as the wildly popular

 Made By Rae Backpack.

This backpack pattern even has it's own flickr group!

It only took me 2 years to get around to making it.  Luckily Rae also included instructions on how to enlarge it from toddler sized to school kid size.  

This fits his folder and lunch box perfectly.

---

He's already informed me that he doesn't miss me at all.  Ouch.

Well, let's hear it for 10 hours of sewing time per week!

Last minute vacation dresses

Recently we returned from a relaxing cruise to Bermuda. It already seems like a dream, it was the perfect week with our family.

Commissioner's House, king's Wharf, Bermuda

Snorkel Park Beach, Bermuda

Here are two dresses I made and wore on the trip:

1. Jamie Christina Sunny Day Dress

This is made in AMH pastry line voile. This has been in the works since last summer and even though my attic sewing room was hot and stuffy, I knew I had to get it done to bring on the trip. I was glad I did too, because it was hot, hot in Bermuda! Don't ask me why my back was all red, wicker chairs?
I lined the whole dress in lightweight white cotton because the voile was so sheer.

2. Sewaholic Lonsdale Dress

I made this in an unknown cotton blend from JoAnn's red tag apparel section. I had a little trouble, the bodice was way huge, so that's why I tied it so tight/weird. I'll have to figure that out before making another one. I think it would be great in red. - - - When we returned from the trip our computer, TV and phones were all fried from a lightning strike.  That is why I've been scarce around the blog!  We replaced everything now, but it took some negotiating deciding which computer to get.  More on that later!

Quick summer projects

Ah, summer..It's been a very nice summer so far! 
                                We've been getting tons of use out of our pool.  

I haven't been able to sew very much with the heat. 

 Maybe moving my sewing area into the attic wasn't such a good idea!!

Anyway here are a few of the projects I have managed to do!

A Robot sun hat for Travis.

He wears this every day, which is great since this fella sure doesn't need any more freckles.

The pattern is Sunny Day Hat by Tie Dye Diva

Pretending to be a lifeguard and "saving" his brother.

---

The other short and easy project I made for Travis were these recycled T-Shirt boxers:

These boxers are so soft, and work well for summer pajamas too!

Pattern for these is the Undercover Bottoms Boxer Briefs.

--

Earlier in the spring, I bought all 3 Alabama Chanin books, including the latest, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, and wow, what eye-candy those books are.  I want to make so many things from those books.  Because I don't need a machine for these projects (or be locked in a sweltering hot room), I made a few things from the book, I'll show you those next!

Colettefest 2012

I must be addicted!  Here are two more projects made using Colette Patterns.

First up, because I have a mortal weakness to sew-alongs, the Hazel Dress:

I'm very happy to be taking part in Sew Colette 2.0.
I watched with intent interest while they made each item from the Colette Sewing Handbook this spring, making mental notes about future projects.  Check out the Flickr Group for the sew along.  I have the book and plan on continuing my personal Colettefest by sewing some of those patterns.

This is really a first draft for this pattern, a wearable muslin.  I've got some floral gauze ready to go for version #2.  I cut a size 10 as usual for Colette Patterns.  The bodice was a little big so I took a little of the excess fabric out at the side seams and zipper.  Maybe I'll cut a size smaller next time.

Next I give you the Jasmine Top:

I took this photo today after spending hours having my car worked on, I'm surprised it's not more wrinkled!  I ran into another mom I know at the store and she asked me if I'm substitute teaching, and she gestured to my outfit!  Too funny.  It must look teacher-ish!

Here's today's very "blue" look, with my denim ginger skirt.

Travis helps with my camera remote.
---
Speaking of cameras, I snapped this photo early this morning:

I think he's adorable, even though he's caused me so much misery.  
My poor dog, Angus was quilled just about 5 days ago.  This definitely could be the culprit!  Angus is doing fine now, but had to be taken to the Vet Emergency room, and it cost us close to $500!  I just hope Angus has learned his lesson, but that was his second time being quilled, so I'm going to try real hard to keep him in the fenced backyard if he insists on going out at night!

Jalie 2921 and Ginger

My latest outfit for summer.  Jalie 2921 and Colette Ginger Skirt.

 I've been trying hard to look at the gaps in my wardrobe and stay focused.  I have a dark denim mini skirt that I wear quite often and thought I could really use one a little longer this summer too.  This is my 4th Ginger skirt, and I'm still tweaking the fit.  This one is a bit lower on my waist and about 3 inches longer, which I probably needed due to my height.

 One of my mom's friends was cleaning out her apartment and had this piece of denim lying around.  It was meant to be! (and free)

This shirt was a long time coming.  Jalie 2921 has been on my wish list for a long time, and it didn't disappoint!  I made this on a Saturday morning while the kids watched cartoons, then wore it out to the park that afternoon.  The instructions for the scarf collar were unusual, but I just followed what it said and it was a breeze.  I also got to practice using my coverstich machine for all the hemming.  
The fabric feels like interlock.  I got it for $1!  Anyone local to Manchester, New Hampshire should check out this store, Fabric Fix!  They have a limited selection, but oh the bargains!  It's hit or miss, I usually swing in once every few months, but I should be going there instead of JoAnn's.  Most fabrics are on wide rolls and are $1-$4 a yard.

I was so glad for a successful outfit.  

Check out this mess:

Poor unfortunate Ginger skirt #3.  I chalk this up to poor fabric choice.  If it shows every lump and bump on my dress form, just imagine someone who has birthed 4 children. 

 Nuff said.

Wiksten Tova Dress

I finally made my Wiksten Tova Dress, just in time for Mother's Day!  It turned out to be a beautiful day (and weekend!), perfect for this summer dress.

Fabric Used: navy and white poplin from Fashion Fabrics Club.  

After searching through the Wiksten Flickr Group for way too long one night looking at all different versions of this pattern, I decided on a short sleeved version with cuffs.

I had previously made a 3/4 sleeve version for my 15 year old daugther, Maura.

I have a feeling I'll be making this dress/shirt pattern again, it's very comfortable!  I can see why it's so popular.  

There was an excellent Tova sew along which I missed, but the posts have all kinds of great inspiration for anyone making this pattern.

the only photo that shows my new Timberland shoes.

Liam and Me

I hope all you Moms had a great Mother's Day yesterday!  We had such a fun weekend.  On Saturday we went to Canobie Lake Park.  Then on Sunday I did some sewing, put a blanket out in the yard and relaxed with the kids, and then had a very nice dinner at a restaurant.

Maura with the first snake of the season, Ronald.  He was tiny!  Maura's wearing the skirt I just finished for her, I can't seem to locate the pattern, but it's your basic See & Sew A Line skirt with a back zipper.

-------

Next up:  in search of the perfect skirt pattern!  Anyone found it?  Summer's right around the corner and I need skirts.

Don't forget to enter your skirts for Skirt Week 2012!

April Vacation week (formerly known as Kids Clothes Week Challenge)

It's already over, but I did participate in Elsie Marley's Kids Clothes Week Challenge again.  I didn't have as much time as in the past because my kids were ALL HOME for that week.  The schools should know not to schedule April vacation during a sew-along.  Geez.

So with my one hour a day in my sewing studio, here is what I made:

Patterns used: Charlie Tee and Sailboat Pants

These pants are so cute I want to make them in every color.

I also worked on a skirt for Maura, which, as of now, has been devoured by her room.  Will it ever be seen again so I can photograph her in it?  Time will tell.

It's time for Skirt Week 2012!!

I'm so excited!  Crafterhours Skirt week is back! 

This year I'll be helping with the judging!!

You can start entering your skirts right now in the flickr pools!  You can even enter any skirt made between July 1st, 2011 and the last day to enter is June 8th 2012 so there is no reason not to give it a shot.  There are 4 categories and you can enter up to 3 skirts per category.  Think of the prizes!!  Last year I almost died of awesome when those amazing prizes started to roll in. 
Check out last year's skirt week here.

Skirts are my favorite thing to sew for summer,
and I can't wait to see all the inspiration in the flickr pools:

A Line Skirts
Straight Skirts
Full Skirts
Children's skirts

Happy skirtmaking!

Switchin' up my sewing area

Previous sewing area:

On one hand, I loved having my sewing area in this sunny area of my room, as long as it looked this organized, which was never.  Notice my ironing board was neatly put away even! Ha!  This picture was when my house was for sale last summer.

I recently got a new Brother Coverstitch machine (yay!), and that was when my bedroom was officially taken over by my sewing studio.  So I moved everything into it's own room in my upstairs storage room. 

So this is the new set up.

Now at least I don't have to worry about cluttering up my bedroom with all this stuff, and if I'm in the middle of a project, okay several projects, I don't have to look at it all in my bedroom.

I even brought Travis' play table in so we could work side by side.

Storage

This is the dresser where I keep my favorite patterns, to left (unpictured) is another cabinet (a DVD cabinet) where I keep even more patterns.  It's a sickness.

So I've been using this room for a bit, and while I miss the natural light it seems to be working out fine.

Now I just need some ideas for what to do with this...

???

spring tops 2 & 3

My goal this year was to make 4 tops for Made By Rae's Spring Top Sew Along, and I'm almost there!  Not sure whether I'll finish all 4 in time, but it's been fun trying.

This one was made using the LBB Pieced Tunic Pattern.  The fabric is Modal knit, like spandex.  It's very lightweight.  I shortened it to more of a shirt length, I only had one yard of this fabric and I used it all!

This was very quick to make!  I'm not sure why this project didn't get done sooner.  I've made this pattern before for my friend, Sharon, and it looks great on her!  I highly recommend this pattern.

This version is very light and seems like it's even moisture-wicking.  This is my new favorite shirt for working around the yard!

--------------------------------

Here is Spring Top #3:

 It was made especially to match this skirt that I made last summer.

The pattern I used was the basic T shirt pattern included in the book Sew U Home Stretch.

I followed the directions for altering the pattern and making it a tank.  

Then I decided it needed something so I put it on my dressform and stared pinning pleats at the neckline.  Once I liked the arrangement, I just sewed it on.

The fabric is interlock from JoAnn's I had laying around.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So those are my spring tops so far!  The first one is here.  Check out the flickr group for some great inspiration.  There's still time to enter!