Happy New Year!

So 2013 seems to have sneaked up on me!  I can't believe how fast time flies by.  During December my daughter hit the big SIXTEEN and we had a great relaxing Christmas!

I need to get caught up and show some of my recent projects.

I'll start with the big one!  A quilt for my mom for Christmas. 

This quilt was done to match my mom's quilt collection.  I seem to make one for her every 3 years or so.  This improvisational pattern I got from Craftsy's free Block of The Month class.  It is the block for May, Modern Frame Log Cabin.  I love Craftsy and you can't go wrong with a free class.  Check it out!

The quilting was done on my Bernina 530.  It was my first time free motion quilting and I was nervous but I'm glad I went for it.  I really like the texture it gives this quilt.  If you can't see from the photo, I used a loopy all-over design.  I was on the fence about whether to purchase the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) which helps you get even stitching when free-motion quilting.  I finally decided against it because A) It's outrageously expensive and B) I almost never make quilts!  I did fine without it, so it all worked out!

After that was done, I felt the need to do some quick and easy projects.

So naturally I needed a new pincushion.  This is also a free pattern by Anna Maria Horner.  It's available on Better Homes and Gardens.  For some reason I can't link to the page, but if you go to bhg.com and type in "wild flower" you can find it.

Next I made this cute doll for a friend's baby:

Pattern available here: Dot Dolly by Herbst on Etsy

then this Doodle Jump Guy:

For this one I made my own pattern on butcher paper.  

I used fleece from JoAnn's because of the wide range of colors you can find.

I think I can fit one more project into this post,

A skirt for Maura's birthday!

 Maura worked at the snack bar for her brother's basketball game, what a nice helpful teenager!

Exactly the kind of skirt I would have rocked at her age!

It's drafted using panels and bustled using elastic sewn into each seam.  I got the directions from a tutorial I purchased on Etsy, but it's since been removed.

That's it for today.

I hope you all had an excellent Holiday and New Year!

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!!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.