Completed: Jenna Cardi

Last night,  it cooled off a bit after some thundershowers, I was able to get a few photos of my new Jenna Cardi. I can't tell you how much I love this pattern, it has many options for customizing.

This is my second version so far. For this one I chose the cropped length, 3/4 sleeves, and gathered yoke. I had thought before this design would be a good chance to use my embroidery machine, and I think the embroidery came out very well! I embroidered the design first then cut out my yoke pieces so the design would be right where I wanted it.

The fabric used is a navy blue ponte knit, and my buttons are standard white plastic buttons. I know there will be many more of these cardigans in the future, so other options will be snaps, and other embroidery designs. I think I'll make one in every color! I love cardigans, and since I don't knit this is the perfect solution.

My embroidery design is from none other than Urban Threads, my favorite source for embroidery files!! This design was only one from a design pack I bought called Toile Noir, it was so hard to decide which one to use. 

Completed: Cascade Skirt

Hello! The weather has been wonderfully warm here in New Hampshire. I'm still keeping on track with my Me Made May Challenge. Looking at all the creative outfits people post each day in the Flickr group has really been a motivator in kicking my SewJo into high gear. It's also caused me to buy a few new patterns and more fabric, oops! 

On my last order of fabric from Fashion Fabrics Club, I had ordered this "linen look" fabric and was quite disappointed it was actually thin polyester. Since it was a nice muted lilac color and it draped nicely I decided to make this Megan Nielsen Cascade Skirt. The rest of the fabric from my order was excellent!

I've had this pattern around my sewing room for a few years now, so it's nice I found a fabric drapey enough to use for it finally, and I really like purples lately. I chose the version with two buttons at the front, and I made no alterations. I did add a partial lining since my fabric was so thin.

I know many others chose to take length off the back, which I may try on a future version, but I thought I'd try it as-is in the pattern. I like it! It feels a bit fancy, but I'm okay with that! I'm a full-time mom, and pretty much always overdressed by American standards. I like nice clothes, what can I say?!

So I'm wearing this today for Me Made May with my Nettie bodysuit!

completed: Gingham Cambie Dress

Do you ever have an idea for a sewing project, buy the materials, then for some reason it sits on your shelf for a few years?! That's what happened with this brown gingham Cambie dress. I finally did get around to making it!! It's exactly what I had in mind, hooray! I cut out this dress 6 days ago and finished hemming last night.

I did make a test version last summer, but then went on to other projects. The fit was fine but on this version I widened the waistband by 1/2 inch. Other than that, I moved the straps in just a touch to eliminate a little gaping at the neckline that I had.

The whole dress is lined in brown cotton voile, and the skirt is very poufy! I like that on this dress, it goes with the sweetness of the gingham fabric.

And one of the back:

I love brown gingham so much, I can't believe it took me this long to make this dress happen.

Now I'm off to the movies with my family.

Have a great week!

Friday Roundup

Hi everyone! We are coming up to a relaxing 3 day weekend, Memorial Day. I guess it's time for me to finally do some yard work. The best time of the year is on it's way and the kids are looking forward to a summer of fun outside.

This week I kept on my plan of wearing handmade clothes every day! I also did a lot of sewing this week. This is the perfect time of year to do it. My sewing room isn't too hot or too cold. I finished a cardigan and a new dress is almost done, which I'll be showing off soon.

Friday:

Today was a theme day for Me Made May, Animals! I have plenty of those. I decided to pose with our puppy, Freya.

She's a German Shepherd mix, 4 months old. We found her through our local shelter, Canine Commitment. Lately she's in that adorable but exasperating devil phase where she gets into trouble non-stop. She's too cute to get angry with though. My dress is my Owl Belladone, completed last spring. I have 4 Belladones currently and it's a dress I keep returning to because it takes very little fabric, has fun contrasting bias tape, and a back cutout. I also love the skirt style, it's casual and flattering.

Thursday:

My Nettie Bodysuit and Deer & Doe Chardon Skirt

Wednesday:

Jalie Scarf Top and Sewaholic Hollyburn Skirt

Tuesday:

purple sateen Francoise dress 

Monday:

Sewaholic Cambie Dress

This is a "wearable test garment". I ran out of gauze fabric and had to get creative. The fit is good, so version 2 is in the works!

Sunday:

I'm digging purple lately. This is an Emery Dress made from a bed sheet. I like the fit on this one too. I'm going to make this one again soon too.

And finally...Saturday:

Colette Macaron, one of my favorite dresses of all time!

If you're still with me, I've learned I need some more casual clothes. I do like to wear dresses often, but I could use some good fitting jeans and pants. That would really round out my handmade wardrobe. I have made 2 cardigans this month as that was something else I was lacking. But it's time I put on my big girl pants and sew some pants. Dresses are so much fun to make, by fall I hope to have some pants. Then I can truly stay out of clothing stores!!

Competed: Belcarra blouse

I love making skirts, but sometimes when I'm done I have NO idea what kind of top to pair with it. Another reason I love dresses, never a problem, just grab and go!

When I saw this double gauze, I knew I had a winner to match my pink Kelly Skirt!!

Here's a close up, my camera's not focusing as well since my remote died...

It's the Belcarra Blouse by Sewaholic. This is my second version so far. It's very quick to sew!

Me Made May Day 14:

Belcarra blouse in double gauze with Kelly Skirt in pink twill.

Check out all the amazing handmade outfits in the Me Made May 15 Flickr group!

Me Made May round up

Hello! I'm still sticking with my plan of wearing something handmade every day for the month of May. This has been even more fun than last year! The only problem is I have no camera remote so my photos can be a bit blurry. I ordered one about a week ago on Amazon but it still hasn't arrived, and I'm not sure it will before the end of the month. Oh well!!

Here's the latest wrap up:

Friday was the first "theme day" of the challenge. Everyone posed with their machine or in their sewing areas. My real sewing area, the Mom Cave, was too dark and compact to photograph in, so I took my favorite machine, my Bernina 530, out to our little family crafting area. I usually make a point not to clutter this area with my stuff, the kids love to draw here!!

Made by me: Jalie crossover top and kelly green Simplicity cargo skirt

Saturday's dress: Jamie Christina Mission Maxi. I could have 100 of these dresses.

Sunday, Mother's Day, I wore this Flora Dress, By Hand London. It's made in cotton linen fabric by Amy Butler. I made this dress at the tail end of last summer. I really like this design with the pleated circle skirt. I've seen so many gorgeous versions of this dress.

I guess it's blue and green week here. Didn't even notice that! 

Monday I wore another Lady Skater Dress. This one is in a very lightweight, drapey knit. The drape of the fabric actually stretched lengthwise, and the dress is longer in the torso and hemline. It's kind of a different look. It's very comfortable!

Tuesday I wore my green Bronte Top and Sewaholic Crescent Skirt.

And lastly, my Out and About Dress.  I may try this with a wide belt next time or turn it into pajamas. The gathers seem to hit in a bad place and I just don't like this dress on me for some reason. You can't win em all!

Doing this challenge has motivated me to sew up some new things. Next I have a new blouse and dress to post about!

More Me Made May...

I've been keeping up with posting each day! Playing catch up, here are the last few days Me Made May:

Belladone by Deer and Doe

You will see more of these. I'm crazy about this pattern. I've made 3 of these already!

Bonus: this pattern takes very little fabric.

 Hazel Dress, Colette Patterns

Made from stretch poplin

Bronte top, Jennifer Lauren Vintage Patterns

and

Shadi knit skirt by Named patterns

made in scuba knit

These are both staples in my wardrobe. I've made two of each so far and expect to make many more in the future!

Completed: JLV Felicity Dress

Today for day 4 of Me Made May, I have a dress completed this morning, hot off the press! 

Felicity Dress, pattern by Jennifer Lauren Vintage.

 The fabric is pretty special!! It is a Japanese double gauze from Miss Matatabi and if you look close, you can see my dog among all the sheep! I really DO love my dog!!

This pattern was a pretty easy make. It did require more fabric than I had. I was being cheap and only bought 2 yards. I was skeptical that the pattern called for 1.64 yards, but I just made it with 2. I used plain green bias tape and tucked it behind and topstitched instead of letting it show as instructed.

I'll definitely make this one again, probably the circle skirt version!
This was my first time using double gauze. I love how soft it is!! I'm thinking this dress will be perfect when it gets very hot mid-summer.

Me Made May is here again!

I'm back! I was so exhausted from last year's challenge, taking photos and updating my flickr account and blog, that I sort of fell of the face of the earth. But crazy as I am, I'm going full steam ahead for May 2015 because it's here again...

This year for the month of May I pledge to wear at least one handmade piece of clothing per day. I'm already off to a good start!

May 1st chambray Bruyere Shirt 

May 2nd Comino Cap Dress, fabric from Girl Charlee

May 3rd

One of my favorites this winter,

Lady Skater dress, fabric from Girl Charlee

Today I'm wearing a dress hot off the sewing machine, will get a photo later! Many more to come I hope. I'm also looking forward to seeing what everyone else is sewing up.