Wild Flower Top

The boys and I stopped at Jo-Ann’s to browse the clearance section. Their clearance fabric was 50% off the clearance price this visit. I know I shouldn’t have stopped, but I couldn’t help myself. This is the only time that I buy knit fabric new, when it is 50% off the clearance price. $3.00 a yard is golden for me!

I have been buying patterns when they go on mega sale, but have not had the time to sew them. All of those sales, and packages get me every time.

This pattern is the Wild Flower Top by Blank Slate Patterns. (affiliate link) I purchased it through the last Pattern Anthology pack; Just Add Jeans. (Yes, that means I have three more patterns to sew up!)

I had planned on making myself some more clothing, so I picked out a few fabrics and had the boys pick which one they liked the most. They picked out this brown, purple, teal and gold fabric. Not really my favorite, but they liked it, so I obliged.

The colors and print are starting to grow on me.

The Wild Flower (affiliate link) has an inner bodice in the pattern (so you don’t have to layer it with a tank, perfect for summer). I choose not to add it this time, only because I didn’t have fabric to coordinate with this print. But I do have a few tanks that go with the fabric okay.

I made one more modification to this pattern. I sewed up the V about an inch. Now I can wear this top sans tank on date night with the hubby. (If we ever get a date night…)

Melissa includes instructions to custom fit the top to your body. I love this feature because I have a long torso, medium top, and large bottom.

This pattern went together very quickly. The only step that took me a little extra time was pinning the pleats, this fabric is a bit slippery, and I had to re-pin a few times.

I always enjoy sewing up one of Melissa’s patterns. She has a knack of simplifying the sewing process, yet yielding professional results. I always feel like a sewing rock star after sewing a Blank Slate Pattern. (affiliate link)

This pattern also features three different sleeve options, long, short, and bell. I already have dreams for future projects…solid top, sleeveless..or modify it to a dress, maybe bell sleeves?

Are you missing the boys? Here are a few photo bombs:

*Links are affiliate links, meaning that if you click through the links and make a purchase I receive a small compensation. Pattern was purchased by me, and all thoughts and opinions are mine.

Sewing For Mama; Centerfield Raglan x4

Good day! I have a few weeks off from school, so I figured now’s the time to get some sewing and writing done.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love PDF patterns? No, oops sorry- I LOVE PDF patterns.

I love the fact that you have the opportunity to connect with the designer on personal level (through their blogs, face book, twitter, etc.). This also means that you have a means to ask questions if any arise. I like that the patterns are designed for real people to wear, not a model or mannequin. PDF patterns usually cover a wide array of sizes. And my favorite feature; they usually have many variations. So you can be certain no two items will be the same.

A great example of a versatile pattern is the Centerfield Raglan by Green Style Creations. A while back I had the pleasure of testing this pattern. Let me tell you; WOW! These ladies have thought of it all; multiple sleeve lengths, different torso lengths, scoop neck or regular neckline, and optional elbow patches are a few modifications this pattern offers. This pattern comes in sizes XXS to 3XL, how’s that for size range?

The first Centerfield I sewed up was extra-long sleeved with a regular neckline…in March. (and I am just now blogging about it?)

This shirt sits perfectly at the waist, so no embarrassing muffin show when I play with the boys. It also features an extra long sleeve length. This is by far my favorite feature (I have monkey arms).

I have been seeing “Selfish Sewing Week” all over the web this week, so I decided to add a few more raglans to my wardrobe. These next three are all short sleeved, scoop neck.

This fabric has been in my stash for a very long time, like more than a decade. Have you noticed the 30+ pound weight gain? No (I’m hoping you said no)? That’s because the Centerfield has the perfect hourglass shape. Every top I have made seems to hug in the right place, and cascade beautifully over my problem areas.

This next one was the same fabric I used for the Sheer Top I sewed in February. Umm, I am glad this fabric is almost gone…I hate these stripes! I was so careful to match up the stripes, and they still didn’t match. I almost chucked this shirt right into my refashion pile. But I remembered a few testers tried ruching the sides, so I sewed about 3 inches of elastic on each side. I can still tell the mistakes, but nobody else notices. In fact my 12 year old step-daughter has mentioned a few times how much she likes this shirt. That’s a win in my book (or a lose, because I know she will be the happy recipient…)

Last but not least, my FAVORITE one:

Check out those sheer sleeves! I cannot take credit for the idea, my inspiration came from Melissa Esplin. The day I saw her post I happened to find myself at Jo-Ann’s. This cute little cheetah print chiffon was sitting in the remnant bin begging me to take it home. I have never been so glad to have such weak willpower in the fabric store.

The only thing I strayed from the pattern on was hemming the sleeves. I choose to do a rolled hem, to try and keep the sleeves a bit dainty. Otherwise, another successful Centerfield!

Have you been sewing for Selfish Sewing Week? If so, leave me a link, I would love to take a gander. I have plans for a few more tops this week and maybe a dress. We’ll see…

Basic Leggings for Boys!

This post should have been posted a few weeks ago, but life precedes over any other obligation –so here i am.

It has been a long cold winter here in Michigan. It actually snowed yesterday! Usually we make it a point to get outside most days, but this winter has been so cold, we have been cooped up indoors.
On the days we have ventured out to play, I found myself wishing that we had long johns (or long underwear) for the boys.

*I understand long johns may not be a common thing, they are tighter fitting waffle knit clothing worn under regular clothes to add warmth.

Mama Nene to the rescue. If you don’t know, Mama Nene is the woman behind Serger Pepper. The blog is full of useful sewing tips, tricks, and tutorials. She has also started writing/publishing sewing patterns. (Remember my Sheer Top?) I am so fortunate to be on her pattern testing crew.

This time around she needed testers for Basic Leggings. I almost passed on this one because the boys in this house don’t wear leggings. But then the wheels in my head started turning…leggings look a lot like long johns!

I started by digging through my refashion pile.



I found a few castoffs that the older kids have outgrown.



I used the Basic Legging pattern. I choose a size 4, in hopes that they will fit the boys next winter too. (Because winter will end soon, right?) The pattern is sized from size 3 to size 14, so this is another pattern that will grow with your child.

This pattern was so easy to cut out and sew, and Mama Nene’s instructions are very clear. This pattern would be a great confidence builder for a beginner.



This pattern has two features that I feel make it a must have to any pattern library.

#1 Long leg length. I love that my boys can run and play (in the huge mountain of snow we still have) without the legs riding up. This feature also makes this pattern perfect for comfy pajamas.

#2 High waist. My boys hate when their butt is falling out of their pants. And honestly, while I’m talking about it does it really cost that much more to add an inch or two to the waist height? Too many of our store bought pants barely cover the boys’ tushies. I couldn’t imagine if they were still in diapers. Okay, I’m done ranting.

This pattern covers their rump, and keeps it covered while they are playing.

Head on over to Craftsy and get your pattern. New to Craftsy? It is quick and easy to sign up, then grab your Basic Legging pattern!

pattern was given to me to test, but all opinions are mine
Craftsy links are affiliates, I receive a small bonus if you sign up or make a purchase through my links.

What would you make with this pattern? I have plans to whip up some pajama pants from my t-shirt stash. There were so many cute girl versions too. The possibilities with the pattern are endless.

Plaid Footed Pajamas

Two posts in one week, what the?!!

This past fall I may have bought a huge mess of sewing patterns at a deeply discounted price…
One of those patterns is the Classic Footed Pajamas from peek-a-boo pattern shop. (affiliate link)




It is so hard to keep these little guys to stay still for very long. Needless to say, they like their jammies.



I would call this pattern an advanced beginner, borderline intermediate sewer. While the pattern was not hard, there were a few more advanced techniques. Fortunately, there are detailed step-by-step instructions for said techniques (zippers anybody?).

I made these late at night (and any of you who have followed me for some time, know I tend to make mistakes when the sun sets), so there were a few spots that I had to re-read the instructions.

                   

Both pairs are made from fleece, and the sleeve cuffs and neck binding are made from t-shirt scraps. The sleeve binding was a little tricky, but patience paid off.

The only problem I have had with these pajamas is that the zipper irritates the boys at times. This is not the fault of the pattern, I choose to skip the zipper facing. Next time I will definitely add the facing.

I love that this pattern (and most of the patterns in the shop) comes in sizes 3 months- 8 years. I have been thinking about making all of my nieces and nephews pajamas for next Christmas, and this pattern would have them all covered.
Have you made footie jammies before? I am not sure that these are actually cheaper than buying pajamas from the store, but they sure are cute! And I love that little sense of accomplishment I get seeing the boys run around in footed pajamas that I made for them.

Sheer Plaid Top Review

At the beginning of January I was asked by Mama Nene to be a part of the Serger Pepper pattern testing group. I was beyond excited, because the first pattern was a woman’s top. (This mama needs a few additions to her wardrobe.)

The pattern, Sheer Plaid Top, is simply amazing. For starters, it is extremely beginner friendly. Secondly, it features professional finishing techniques (French seams). Third this pattern is so versatile.



The first top I made was in a jersey knit from my stash. I almost backed out. Seeing the fabric laying on the floor waiting to be cut, all I could see was an adorable maxi skirt or dress. Obviously I rose above my fabric cutting fears and dove in.

No regrets, I have wore this top once a week since I finished it. Here’s a glimpse at the hi-lo hem (and my stripes match!):



The top is designed to be a loose fitting and flowing top (which is perfect for me, since i have been eating my stress away…). The kimono sleeves, a cowl neck, hi-lo hem, and oversize fit make this one of the most versatile tops in my closet. It can be worn over a long sleeved top, a turtleneck, or a tank in the summer.

I loved this top so much, I had to make another.



First, I want to explain why the first top was not sheer. One of the first sewing projects I tried to tackle was curtains. Sheer curtains. It didn’t go so well. Every time I pushed the foot pedal, my beautiful sheer green fabric disappeared. My borrowed machine was eating my fabric! After many swear words and fighting with the machine, I packed it up and promptly returned the machine to my mom. “I’m buying my curtains!”

Recently I went to Jo-Ann’s. They had fabric 50% off of the clearance price. That is bad, real bad. (If you haven’t realized, I am a fabric hoarder, and a clearance junkie.)

I found this beautiful sheer fabric for $2.00 a yard, and 50% off that is…$1.00 a yard! That my friends is when I made the commitment to sew sheer. I was only losing $2.00 if things went the same route as the curtains, right?



(So sorry for all of the awkward remote pics.)
I beat the sheer!

I omitted the cowl on this top, and did rolled seams instead. I added three inches to the length, and kept the front and back hems the same length.

I also timed myself. About one hour, start to finish, French seams and rolled hems. You can’t beat that!

Mama Nene is offering the pattern for only $2.90 right now. So I suggest you head over and get your very own Sheer Plaid Top pattern quick!

What have you been creating? Leave a link, I would love to check it out.

Posting my project here:

Sweater to Slipper Refashion

It seems that most of my projects these days are necessity projects. Today’s project is no exception.

Yesterday I debuted our new space (sewing space for Mama, and play space for the boys). Since our new space is in the basement, the floors tend to be cold (a bonus in the summer, but gives you shivers during a Michigan winter). Another problem with the floors….when in a sewing frenzy, Mama tends to drop pins. I’m getting better, but I still do not to risk one of my little guys stepping on one.

I had a solution.

Slippers.

My husband had chucked a wool sweater into the donate box. I quickly pulled it out knowing I could do something with it, it was wool. Unfortunately I don’t have a before picture because I cut into the sweater pre-blogging days.

I used this tutorial and template from Leafy Treetop Spot. The slippers in the tutorial are made with fleece. I have plenty of fleece, but I was envisioning something warmer and a little bit sturdier.

The outside upper slipper, and inside sole are cut from the felted sweater.

The bottoms are made from Blue Jean Buttercup leftovers.

I used some red fleece left from the boys’ Halloween costume to line the slipper uppers. The Velcro is also from my stash (which is why it doesn’t match).

I made size 10/11. They are quite big on the boys right now, but they’ll grow into them. The tutorial is very easy to follow, and would make wonderful last minute Christmas gifts.

Do you dive for wool sweaters? If so, what are your favorite wool projects? That sweater barely touched the donation pile before I snagged it up. It seems like wool sweaters are a little harder to thrift these days.

My New Haven

Things have been productive around here. Well, maybe not whole house productive, but craft/sewing space productive.

It all started when I posted my 4 Simple Goals. Remember the state of the basement and my sewing space? Hmm, well take a moment and click back to that post because I am too embarrassed to post those pictures twice.

Sadly, it took me less than an hour to get both spaces back in tip-top shape. (And for the record, I am not talking about shoving everything to the side so I could take a blog picture. I mean everything in its place and a place for everything!)

A couple shots of the clean basement:



Why yes, there are a few more appliances. We were given a “new to us” refrigerator and dryer. The old fridge is for our overflow, and hubby plans on fixing the dryer.



Spacious enough for some toddler exercise! After cleaning the basement, I brought in the boys’ tricycles. Now they love doing laundry!

Lets check out my space. Drum roll please…. (just kidding, please don’t expect anything spectacular.)



Now before you scoff at my pride and joy, I fully understand that this is not anything to share with Martha (as in Stewart), pin to Pinterest under great spaces, or post to BHG fan page. But this is what I have to work with, and it works wonderfully for me.

Want to see my favorite part?

Let me give you a little back story first: Hubby came down and looked at our newly clean basement. He was impressed. Yet, he was a little concerned that I wouldn’t be able to use my space often, you know since I am the Mama of two and a half year old twin boys. Who.Destroy.Everything.

So he took action.



We had an old television in the basement that just got shoved from corner to corner. It had not been turned on in at least ten years, and I may have occasionally begged my husband to take it out with the garbage.

Boy am I glad he didn’t take it to the road! He set up the television and a DVD player in the corner opposite my sewing table. I brought the art easel down, and a basket of toys. The boys can watch a movie, play, or create while Mama sews them up a new wardrobe. Win-win!



The chair was a more recent addition. We had to move it to put up the Christmas tree,and if the boys have anything to say about it; the chair is staying!

What challenges did/do you face with toddlers? I personally love this stage so much, all of the learning and imagination these little guys display. But sometimes it seems impossible to get anything done. This stage really helps us to stretch our parental creativity (like including a space for them in my space.)

Thanks for stopping by!

DIY Thing 1 and Thing 2 Costumes

Lately I have been feeling spread thin. There have been so many demands, but not enough me. It is so weird to hear myself complain about this, in my younger days I strived on being busy all the time.

Now, as a thirty year old wife and mama I long for a slower pace.

Enough whining.

Growing up, my mom always made our Halloween costumes. (She did a pretty darn good job, too.) She was amazing, we would tell her what we wanted to be, and she would fabricate the perfect costume. (You should see the Ninja Turtle costume she made for my brother, AMAZING!)

Making my kids’ costumes is something I also look forward to every year (even if some years they are simple).

This year the holiday sort of crept up on me. I have been busy with school and other areas of life, I just forgot how close the holiday was. Sunday night I had a mini-breakdown, “I am a horrible mother…I don’t even know what my kids are going to be for Halloween…”

The hubby suggested going to the store and buying a costume. GASP! Can you believe it! What was that man thinking?



Monday I stopped at Wal-Mart on my way home from school. I had to figure a costume out now! (Thinking about it, I bet my family would have appreciated it if I had also figured something out for dinner.)

I found a pattern (I have looked and looked, I cannot find a link to this pattern anywhere) Simplicity Sew Simple 0892 ($0.97). It is actually a bear costume, I just omitted the hood, bow, and footies.

I grabbed three yards of red fleece (at 2.97/yard), two blue hats ($0.87 each) four skeins of blue yarn ($2.97 each) and two pair of red gloves ($0.87 each). I had the notions in my stash. For about $25 this is what I came up with:



I used this tutorial as inspiration for the wig. My sewing machine was not very fond of this method. Instead I looped and stitched (by hand). So sorry I didn’t take pictures along the way, maybe in the future…

I downloaded the logos from here. I printed them on printable fabric (because I had it in my stash), and sewed them on.

I am so glad I decided to use fleece. It was a cold and rainy night for trick-or-treating. The fleece helped keep my little guys dry.

This year was so fun watching the boys figure out Halloween. They were very polite saying, “Trick or treat,” “Thank you,” and “Happy Halloween costume.” Yup, you read that right. Happy Halloween costume, we may need to work on that one…



Anyways, so sorry for being MIA lately. (I still cannot promise regularity.) I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

Mama Carries Lunch In Style

Something glorious happened today. Right now, as we speak I write.
I would climb our rooftop and sing praises to the heavens, if I wasn’t afraid of violating the peace. (One thing this mama should never do in public is sing!)

So what is all this celebration for?

My sweet little boys are taking a nap! (They are sweet right now, because they are sleeping.) They haven’t napped in over a week. This mama was getting tired.

Anyways, wish me luck that they are back into the groove. In the meantime, I have some hats to catch up on. So to hold you over, I wanted to share a sewing project I finished last month.

Mama’s Lunch Tote



As you know, I start school soon. Buying lunch is out of the question. Not only does our budget love when we take our lunch, so does my waistline and energy level.

The fabric, a corduroy, is from my stash, and has been in my stash for at least seven years. Oops. The lining is made from a vinyl tablecloth (bought on clearance from Target last summer). The Insul-Bright is also from my stash. I bought a zipper and webbing for the handles.


Isn’t it so bright and cheery in there?

I used this tutorial from Zaaberry. The pattern is well written and easy to follow. It would be really easy to change the dimensions to fit your needs.



I have been using this tote daily for over a month, and it is holding up great. I absolutely love how much this tote can carry. I easily fit four Sippy cups, a sandwich, applesauce, and a couple of ice packs.

I do need to make a couple more lunch bags this month, so stay tuned.

Are you doing any back to school crafting? Lunch bags are my top concern right now. Having a child with a food allergy means that I have to pack the boys’ lunch every morning too. (It gives me a good excuse to try out some other tutorials I have pinned.)

Sharing here:
Whatever Goes Wednesday

Ending Refashion Month with Tanks, a Tote, and a Wristlet

Today is the last day of July Refashion Month. I didn’t finish 31 refashions like I had intended (one of my 31 by 31 goals, but I still have 10 more months). I did manage to whip out a few more projects. Today I want to show you a couple refashions I finished, but haven’t posted yet.

First is two more muscle shirts for my boys.

These were made from two men’s 2XL t-shirts. I was able to cut two tanks from each shirt. I had completed the first two shirts in June, and mailed them off to Sewing to Rebuild. The other two sat on my sewing table cut out and ready to sew for way too long.

The next one was a super quick project.

The boys’ preppy shorts left me with two sleeve cuffs. (Which had adorable pearl snaps.) I kept looking at the cuffs, trying to decide what to make of them.

I stitched the cuffs together using a wide but short zigzag stitch. Then I covered up the stitching with ribbon. The ribbon also helped the project look a little less masculine (the ribbon has sparkles!). I cut a piece of ribbon for a strap. Then I folded the rectangle into a pouch, tucked in the ribbon, and topstitched along the original seam.

This last project is also one that has been sitting on my sewing table, cut out, for way too long!

I have made so many of these bags. They are made from bed sheets, and can be made in any size.

I use these as my reusable shopping totes, beach bag, overnight bag, and just about anything you can think of bag. These totes are my favorite for three reasons. 1. They hold so much stuff. 2. No need worrying about getting them dirty. Just toss in the washer. 3. They fold (or in my case roll) up super small.

*I know it is hard to tell, but the bag rolled up is smaller than a soup can.

Did you participate in Refashion Month? If so, share a link. I would love to see your creations.

Do you have projects that have been sitting in your to-do pile for a long time? Seriously the tote has been cut out and waiting to be sewn for a couple of years. I know the reason this project sat so long (my machine was acting up and I gave up and packed her away for a few months), but I have quite a few other projects that I do not have an excuse for.

My Take on the T-Shirt Dress, another refashion

Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE summer dresses?

I love how a dress can instantly take you from sweaty and frumpy to polished and presentable.

The more a dress feels like a t-shirt, the more I like it (and the more I wear it). I have one such dress that gets worn at least once a week. The colors are fading, but it is comfy and mama appropriate. I didn’t want to mess with the faded dress though. I had a fear of messing it up, and not having my summer staple anymore.

But alas, I did the next best thing….I made a new t-shirt dress.

This was a simple refashion. The base was a men's 2XL yellow t-shirt. (No, I didn’t get this one from hubby. I had to buy this one at Goodwill for $0.49!) The contrasting band was made from the sleeves leftover from this project.

First I carefully unpicked the pocket. Then I cut off the sleeves. I drew a trapezoid from the bottom hem to just under the neckline. I sewed these two pieces together at the sides to form the skirt.

Next I cut up the sleeves and sewed them into a tube. I did the same for the contrasting strip. Trim the excess from the tubes so they are even. Now, just sew the three tubes together, matching the side seams.

The straps aren’t my favorite. The only fabric left from the yellow tee was a long skinny strip. I cut a strip the same length from the grey shirt. Then I gave both strips a tug, to make them curl. Next I cut them in half.

I tried the dress on, and pinned the front of the straps over my bra. Then I sewed them down. Next twist the straps a few times, pin in the back, and sew.

Like I said, the straps aren’t my favorite. (Despite what it looks like in the picture, the straps are twisted evenly. I actually just went and rechecked.) I may change them down the road.

Now I have a second favorite summer dress.

Maybe I should do something to fix the faded one…..

What are your summer wardrobe staples? Like I said, nothing is more comfortable to me that a light dress in summer.