Oh boy, what a busy week we had. Last week we entertained at our house three nights, had dinner at another friend’s house on Saturday, and then everything that happens in between. The kids had lots of fun playing with their little friends and we had some good adult time, too. I was lucky that I had any time to sew! I did manage to squeak some time in though, and that was after I got my serger serviced.
I dropped it off at the sewing machine store, and the old guy was prepared to take it for a week. I don’t think he was going to let it get out of his grasp without a good cleaning. Yeah, I know it needed it. I asked him how long, and he gave me a long look, and said, “Is it a rush?”. Well, yeah! I told him I had a school project for my son that I needed to get done. He took it for a day and called me on Saturday morning when they opened to let me know that he got it done. I quick took a shower and booked on over there. I walked in, and said “I’m here for my serger!”. He looked at me a bit confused, and said, “I didn’t think you were serious.” Ah, how little he understood how much I was!
It enabled me to finally get these folder pockets done for Kai’s classroom. I dropped them off bright and squirrely this morning, and his teacher was pretty happy with them. I made 25 of these little suckers in a heavy denim. They should be sturdy. They don’t really look hard to make, but they were time consuming. I had to serge most of the edges prior to putting them together. Talk about time consuming!
Next was some stuff for me. These comfy pants I actually made the previous week, though. I love to browse etsy to see what other crafters, seamstresses and fashion designers are churning out the masses that love handmade. I came across this seller and love the fun stuff she makes. These pants are so cute, and yet look totally comfortable. Thus, inspiration has hit me and I needed to make my own!
I had some panne velvet left over from this skirt, so I made up my muslin from a template design. I used a pair of straight leg leggings that fit me pretty good and used it as my pattern. I brought it out a little bit at the knee for a slight flare and then cut the ruffle. The waistband I put up higher than hers, because…well…I’ve had CHILDREN. This came out a little too tight, so I added a bit more room to the second pair. Here are my two pairs of fun pants, one in a burnished brown lightweight panne velvet and one in a plum stretch velour:
Then I made another shirt like the black ruffle top. I was asked to please, please make a tutorial for it several times. I took pictures during the construction, so I will get to the tutorial. Probably not anytime in the next few weeks due to the photoshoots I have coming up.
The key with this shirt is to use that really, really light knit. Featherweight, is how I usually see it called. Anything heavier and the ruffles will get too bunchy and you won’t want that at your hips. This is a really light white knit with an embroidered pattern in it. I had a little over a yard and it wasn’t enough fabric. I had to search high and low to find some more featherweight white. I was so frustrated, but finally, FINALLY, I found some remnant yardage that worked.
Then I had taken the day off of work on Friday, and took advantage of it. After I dropped off my serger I took a trek up to the big fabric warehouse store that is a good half hour away. I was in search of boy knits since it is really hard to find them in my local store. I found some great knit fabric for some shirts for Kai for summer. I tried to do a stripe or solid for the body and the themed knit for the sleeve. Too much themed is just too much! I know he will just love the robot shirt. I really tried to buy just enough so I didn’t have a bunch left over. I hope I didn’t shortchange myself. Some of them seemed to have shrunk a bit after I prewashed them. As you can see, I also got some stuff for Anya and for me. Like I needed to! I think I’m well set for fabric, now I must get to sewing! I have grand plans to make myself a tried and true trouser pattern. They cost so much in the store to get a good fitting pair, that I really should just figure out how to make my own.
My “must sews” for this week is an Easter skirt for Anya (it is pink with painted Easter eggs on the fabric) and a purse for my Grandma. The kids will be at my parents this weekend, since I have the wedding to shoot and Brian has a friend coming into town for some male bonding (i.e. a hockey game and copious amounts of beer). The kids will get some much needed quality grandparent time (and dogs!! and horses!!). We will be picking them up on Easter, and my Grandma might just be there for Easter dinner. The purse is a belated birthday present for her. I can’t sew this weekend once Troy is here and using the guest bed in my sewing room, so it must all get done this week. I’m sure I can manage it. 🙂
*sigh* I always love looking at all your creativity. It is like a smorgasbord! That first pair of pants may be a bit tight but boy oh boy they look HOT!!!!!! So cool with the boots. What a great stash of material. I have such difficulty finding ‘boys’ material…especially as the boys get older and more picky 🙁
Look forward to seeing these turned into summer shirts.
My friend the Quilting Doyenne took her machine in for a service recently and was TOLD off by the serviceman for letting it get into ‘such a state!!!!’ He told her she didn’t deserve to own a machine 😀
I love that shirt! You get so much done, I don’t know how you do it. Are you self taught at sewing or did you take classes?
Those pants are SO cute. I am not sure I could pull them off, but you look spectacular in them. Can’t wait for the ruffle shirt tutorial. That will definitely go on my to do list. Looks like you have a good fabric stash to work from now.
OH…love, love, love those pants. Seriously, they look amazing on you – I’m with Jen, I don’t know if I could pull it off with my “birthin’ hips” and all – but they look oh so soft and comfy.
You continually amaze me with all you get done each week! And if anyone can get it done…I know you will.
Cute pants! Yeah well I understand about the waistband issue. 😉 Those ruffles around the bottom those are adorable and really set off the look for you. Great to wear with a pair of boots. Hope you guys have a happy easter. We’ve been traveling so much that I’d almost forgotten about it this year. It will be very quiet for us.