Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XVIII

[Janis]

Carolyn, you are a sewing inspiration.  I just love the way you put fabrics together.  You always look beautiful.

[Diane P.]

Carolyn - lovely as always.  Seeing your post reminded me that I need to check out your blog.  I've misssed seeing your work here also so it is nice to have you back.

[Diane Egelston]

Carolyn, what an absolutely beautiful dress. I love the color and texture and fit. Just lovely.

[fzxdoc]

Carolyn, what a pretty dress!  I've gotten behind in my 'blog reading, but I will be heading over to yours as my first 'blog priority. I want to see more!  Reading your 'blog is always such a treat.

Thank you Ann, Karen, Diane, Marcia, and Lisa (Remnant) for your compliments on the little tote bag gift that I made. Of course it's the Urban Threads machine embroidery design that steals the show, and I'm hoping my friend will like it as much as I do.

Ann, I really want to write fiction, so no autobiographical works for me, unless some experiences sneak into my fiction writing. And a novel?    I'll just be happy to finish up my final exam creative essay! 

Kathryn

[cmarie12]

Thank you everyone for the very kind comments but especially for the warm welcome.    I will probably be around more since I am going to participate in SWAP this year.  Its just with a demanding job, keeping up with the blog and still having time to sew, I just didn't visit as often as I use to...I will remedy that!

Kathryn - I think its wonderful that you are taking a creative writing class and how awesome that you combined an old love with a new love for a new friend.

[movinon]

Remnant, love that skirt with the way you've accessoried it.  I hate when I'm on the fence about something like the topstitching because, while it would be gorgeous, it could also be more limiting to what to wear with it.  You could also think about topstitching in matching color for a little more detail/texture yet remain as flexible colorwise for other tops/accessories.

Kathryn, you are truly a master of many (diverse) trades!
The gift bags are (slowly) getting me thinking about holiday sewing, I really haven't made holiday gifts in years for various reasons...  but I'm thinking more now about how can I paint the living room before Thanksgiving.  I actually have a professional painter/artist offering to work on the color and painting with me but it is truly like letting Picasso help you paint the plain wall...

Carolyn, we  know when you've disappeared that fine things are to come out of your sewing room!  Beautiful dresses, I esp. like the cardigan look with the b/w dress, and texture of the rose (on my screen) tweed dress featured here. Great collar!

[vtmartha]

We were expecting a new grandchild in the family on December 1, and I wanted to commemorate his birth with a gift.  On PR, I recently saw a review of an adorable 'onesie' made from an Ottobre 5/06 pattern with fabric from Chez Ami.  I got my act together and ordered the Ottobre magazine and some fabric.  After what seemed like forever, the Ottobre and the fabric arrived and I busied myself by tracing the onesie pattern in a variety of sizes.  I figured I would begin with a small size and work my way up until the baby appeared. Well, the patterns were traced, the fabric washed and three of the smallest sized onesies cut out when the call came on Nov 13!  The baby had arrived.  This was last Friday, so I went into high gear and began sewing them up.  Then my younger daughter decided they needed matching pants and then one more onesie and then it would be great to have a shirt for his older brother to have for his birthday on Tuesday.  On Monday, I had everything sewn up, packaged and mailed.  Whew!  I thought these were really cute and wanted to share.


     

[BetsyV]

Martha those are adorable!

and congratulations on your new grandson 

[marciae]

Oh Martha - how adorable.  Love the details on the neck!  One suave little DGS!!

[fzxdoc]

OMG, Martha, that is such a cute little set! And what a good idea to include a matching outfit for big bro'.  Where did you get your fabrics? Did you pre-wash them in Ivory Snow or is there nowadays a more acceptable soap to use for baby? 

You did such a great job--did you break out that coverstitch machine for all the binding?

Congrats on that new fella in the family!

Kathryn

P.S. and thank you Carolyn and movinon for your compliments and encouragement!

[vtmartha]

Thanks, everyone.  Kathryn, the fabrics are from Chez Ami.  I used Eucalan to wash them but have no idea what anyone uses these days.    And, you know, I was in such a rush that I didn't even want to futz with my CS machine as I don't use it that often.  I just zigzagged the binding and it worked out fine.  I used a zz stitch for all the construction.  I find that I'm not very good with my serger on tiny little things with curves.

[Janis]

Martha, those are so adorable!  And congratulations!

[Stephie]

Very lovely little sets Martha. Love the fabric and your trim.
Terry

[Diane Egelston]

Martha, those little onesies and the little tees and pants are the cutest things ever. Fantastic gifts.

Your creative productivity is staggering!!

[Madrona]

OMG Martha - I wish you were my baby's grandma too.    They are simply adorable. 

[Carolyn]

Martha, congratulations on the new grandbaby!  the onesies are adorable.

Carolyn, good to see you back on the site.  I went to your album to look at your dresses again.  Every time I do, I'm so inspired to go home from work and just sew, sew, sew.  I always love what you make.

[Karendee]

Martha,

Congratulations on the new baby and baby clothes. They are really darling. You will adore this new baby.

Karen

[stashpanache]

Congratulations, Martha

Your onsie outfits are darling!

[Carole]

Martha, those are adorable.  I can' imagine sewing on such tiny things, but your work is impeccable.

[Ann]

Kathryn, I love the bag you gave to your friend. It is so appropriate. And congratulations on taking a course on writing.

Martha, what cute onesies for your new grandbaby. I am sure they will be truly appreciated.

Ann

[sdBev]

Martha

Those are such cute onsies.  I usually don't comment when several other people have done so first, a bunch of me too's are boring really, but those are so charming.  Congrats on the new baby too.

[cmarie12]

Martha - what wonderful onesies and they will mean so much to your children because you made them with love!

[movinon]

Wow, talk about production sewing!  You turned out that perfectly matched coordinated set of baby goodies FAST!  And now you're done before the holiday!  Congratulations!

[vtmartha]

Thank you so much for all your kind comments on the baby clothes.  They really mean a lot to me.  It was a fun project and one of the best parts was that there was absolutely no fitting involved. 

[Remnant]

Martha, such adorable clothing! I love them!!! Great job.

And, I hear you about sewing without the need to fit. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't try my hand at making wallets or satchels as well as garments.

[Ann]

This is the latest gift bag I made today. It is for my husband's stocking stuffers. Yes, it isn't Christmas fabric, it is cowboy fabric and I love it.

Ann

[tumblina]

That was a very intense few months - I've missed you all! As soon as I get these pictures up, I'll get a tea and start catching up (I figure if I do the catching up first, the pictures will never get posted, it's been so long!).

I needed to unbury my sewing table, so the stuff that got interrupted last August was first on the block: brown linen drawstring shorts and pants. Apologies for the horrific pictures - north facing windows in November are really hard on my little HP camera - must figure out some kind of external light set up!


(surprisingly my favourite shorts pattern - this time I did some major changes to the shape based on my fitting pants pattern, but I don't know how much of a difference it made with the drawstring styling anyway)


(not that I wear anything tucked in, but otherwise you can't see the shorts)




(mystery pattern: I have no idea where or when I got this - for the longest time I thought it was one of my sister's, but it's not!)



When I pulled them off the sewing machine, I was shocked at how "big" they were. But I knew I was used to fairly slim pant silhouettes, so I thought I'd wear them for a bit first before I made a final decision. I don't know if they look/act too big for me, but I can tell you they are very, very comfy! Hey, it's going to be too cold to wear them outside until May, they can be comfy-slouchy in the house all they want  .

I also got a t-shirt and a nightgown done this morning, but no pics of them yet!

[fzxdoc]

Jenna (tumblina) welcome back! I've missed you! 

It looks like you've unearthed your sewing machine in fine style, with linen shorts, linen pants, and a t-shirt and nightgown on the way.  Hooray for you!

I really love the color of your pants and shorts , and they look very comfortable indeed.  I think they're very nice-looking on your figure--not overwhelmingly large at all. It's always great to have a nice-looking pair of drawstrings in the closet ready for a cozy moment's notice.  Enjoy wearing them.

It's going to be fun to see how your next projects turn out.  Happy sewing!

Kathryn

[Rosemary]

Hi Jenna,
My favorite type of pants, drawstring and linen, perfect.

[sdBev]

Tumblina

The pants look fine on you, not big, just a loose style.  Like your shorts too, but it looks to me that the side seam is pulling towards the back?  Could be just the photo. Congrats and welcome back!

[KathrynT]

Tumblina, both shorts and pants look great and Kathryn's right, they are a nice shade of brown.

Ann, that's my favourite bag so far!

Oh, and the onesies: How cute are they!

[mardel]

Martha, what darling onesies!  And congratulations on the new little grandson as well.

Ann, lovely bag.

Tumblina, it is so nice to see you back here, and the new pants and shorts are just lovely.

[tumblina]

Thanks everyone!

Like your shorts too, but it looks to me that the side seam is pulling towards the back?  Could be just the photo. Congrats and welcome back!

Yes, most of the gathers from the drawstring ended up at the back (much of it would anyway to pull in against a sway back), which pulled the top of the side seam backwards. I think I've finally got my side seam issues solved .

[Carole]

  Lest you think I've not been sewing, here are some of my latest projects.  I sewed the sweater and pants at my recent ASG sewing retreat, and covered the headboard and pillow, as well as painting the room myself.  The hem on the sweater knit is awful, can someone recommend a fix?  Thanks.

[Diane Egelston]

Carole,  here are some random thoughts -- these are things I'd try if this were my top. First, I'd lay the top flat and try giving the hem a shot of steam to see if it shrinks up a bit. If you have any fabric left, you could try that on a sample first. If you pick out the hem, will the fabric recover with gentle washing and drying? (again, try a sample). If so, you could re-hem by sewing while gently pushing from behind the presser foot to keep the fabric from stretching ("ease plus" technique). Another sample might be in order, first.

If you try samples and it still stretches while hemming, I'd forget about it and enjoy wearing it. It's very pretty and so are you and no one will notice the hem