Sew a Straight Line

The Country Mouse Sun Suit

2013-06-18T08:03:00.001-06:00

My mom gave me this vintage McCalls 1330 Toddler Sun Suit pattern she had, in turn, been given by her mom. I have been hanging onto this pattern for a couple of years now, wanting the perfect fabric that would do justice to the design. I picked up the Heather Ross for Kokka Nursery Versery at Michael Levine while I was in LA. It’s a fabulous, soft linen in pale pink colorway.

Fabric Weekend 2013! WOOT!

2013-06-14T11:22:00.001-06:00

**scroll to the end for an amazing giveaway. There’s a serger involved!!** I started trying to do type out a travel-log type post for Fabric Weekend 2013. But there’s just too much. What I most want to express and document is how incredible the women are that I was able to spend 3 days with, and how much fun it is to gorge myself on fabrics from amazing shops. If I could sum up

Summer of Jo-Ann: Treasure Boxes

2013-06-11T10:27:00.001-06:00

We’re already on Week Three of Summer Vacation around here. Crazy. I love Summer Vacation. I love having my kids home with me all day, and I always try to come up with fun and enriching activities for us to do together all summer long. When Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores contacted me to participate in their Summer of Jo-Ann “Cape Discovery” promotion, I was seriously giddy. This is stuff I

Girl's Night Out Giveaway!

2013-06-07T16:58:00.001-06:00

I had a great time in LA shopping and hanging out with some amazing women. One of the highlights of the trip was a Girl's Night Out that Jessica from The Sewing Rabbit organized. As an extention of the fun, you all can enter to win some awesome prizes! The fabulous Sponsors of the Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Girl's Night Out Event have teamed up, and are offering eleven

the Seafarer Top two ways

2013-06-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

I have this thing where when I like a pattern a lot, I kind of just want to make a million of them all at once, in as many different variations as possible. The Seafarer Top by Sew Much Ado is my latest obsession. Easy to sew, great range of options, and flattering, the Seafarer is an indy pattern worth your money and your time. I actually have plans for at least two more Seafarer Tops, I

Fabric Weekend 2013 here I come!!

2013-05-29T11:34:00.001-06:00

So the other day I was procrastinating laundry by going through everything I’ve blogged so far this year, and pinning the things I’ve made (my “I Made This 2013” board HERE). Organizing everything into one place like that is always gratifying. I counted 47 items sewn and blogged, 43 of which were clothing for myself and my children! Unless I’m forgetting something, I’ve also made another nine

play it smart: Creative Writing

2013-05-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Good morning! I am so happy today to be playing it smart with Delia from Delia Creates and her series:Delia is one of my most-admired bloggers. She’s the real deal, total package. She’s sweet and genuine, insanely talented, and always coming up with amazing things to do for yourself and with your children. One of the first posts I ever remember seeing of hers was a little outdoor table and

things to do, people to see

2013-05-21T14:35:00.001-06:00

Hey! Have you checked out the totally rad ‘80s looks over at Project:Sewn this week? I’m actually considering whipping up the designs I had in mind for this theme, I’m so inspired! Maybe just toned down a bit since I don’t have to go all out now. Go check out the looks and vote HERE Skirt Week at Crafterhours is one of my most favorite sewing series of the year. Now through June

I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly

2013-05-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

So my time as a contestant on Project:Sewn has come to an end. I am disappointed to not get to share my other design ideas for the next couple of weeks, but I am so happy to have gotten to participate at all. And now I have five new pieces added to my handmade wardrobe, all of which I really love. I so admire the other contestants Terra, Caroline, Jess, Andrea and Sophie. Such talented

Knock it Off!

2013-05-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

I’m so excited to be a part of Elegance & Elephants’ Knock it Off series! This is quite possibly one of the most exciting kids’ sewing series around, with a month of amazing commercial looks knocked off for a fraction of the cost, and a lot of times with even more style than the original. For my Knock Off, I went with one of my favorite European women and kids’ clothiers, American

Project: Sewn…Solar Flare Sundress

2013-05-14T05:00:00.000-06:00

Project:Sewn Week Two is here, and the theme is “Sundress”I made a jersey knit maxi dress with bleached contrast-color detailing, and a simple layering tee For the dress I started with a vintage lingerie pattern, Buttterick 6288. I’ve had this pattern for a couple of years, with the intention of turning View C into a dress. I kept mostly to pattern for my dress. I did make some

I got my tight pants on!

2013-05-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today’s the final day of voting for Week One’s Black and White over at PROJECT:sewn. Thank you all so much for your support and kind words about my B&W look. As a thank you, please enjoy this little gem that I’d like to dedicate to my own white tight pants. warning: there is a swear at about 1:42, so watch with caution at work or around kids and stuff. It’s

Project:Sewn…black on white with birds all over

2013-05-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Today’s the day! Week One’s looks at Project:Sewn are live and up for the voting! This week’s theme was Black and White: “Design a look for yourself based on the current trend of combining black and white.” So. What I made. Let’s start from the top down. The Jacket. I started off with this XL black leather trench I’d

PROJECT:sewn

2013-05-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Big news, friends! BIG NEWS! I’ve been invited to compete in the first ever season of PROJECT:sewn. It’s an online sewing contest run by the Elizabeth’s over at Project Run and Play. It’s very similar to Project Run and Play, ‘cept this one is for women! Like grown up ones. As in sewing for ourselves and celebrating the importance of the Selfish Sew. The season officially starts next week

Zig Zag Dress by See Kate Sew

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

Have you seen the Zig Zag Dress by See Kate Sew? It’s kind of adorable. See Kate Sew has such a classic, beautiful style in her designs. I really love that about sewing patterns put out by independent artists: you get a much better and fun variety of aesthetics. The Zig Zag dress is a fairly simple sew with pretty details: faced button placket and neckline, pleats along the skirt,

A Pair of Parsleys

2013-04-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

It’s Kids Clothes Week!! YAY!! Only, I’m really not doing much this week as far as kid-related sewing goes. However, I do have some freshly sewn kid clothes to share, that I’ve completed recently. I was lucky enough to get to test Made By Rae’s Parsley Pants a couple of weeks ago. The Parsley Pant is a really straight-forward, basic pant. Quick and easy to sew. But like so many

Easter-, uh, Spring Clothes!

2013-04-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

I had big plans for Easter clothes this year. Big plans! I was making new clothes for all of us! Make all the clothes! I think my list was something like 15 items total. Kind of insane. And then life happened, and we ended up traveling over Easter anyway, so no need for fancy-schmancy clothing. And then it was two weeks after Easter when I finally finished up item 12 ,and I just called

later, Skater!

2013-04-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

I have become a big fan of Amanda from Kitschy Coo. She sews the most fabulous kid clothes in the absolute most amazing knits ever. When she started posting teases of her Skater Dress pattern, I totally asked her if I could be a part of its release. Amanda took pity on me and let me join in on the tour. So I sewed a Skater Dress for Ivy. And then I quickly followed with another two.

Alpha Beta Parking Lot

2013-03-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

So, our computer crashed. Not the most fun thing ever. We’re crossing fingers that we’ll be able to salvage documents and pictures, but won’t know for a few days. While I try to get things sorted out with that so I can share some other fun sewy stuff with you, please enjoy this little ditty I shared over at Melly Sews with her and Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy’s Sew In Tune series last month. **

You Can’t Judge a Pattern by Its Cover Challenge

2013-03-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

Oh, those Simple Simon and Company girls! They are always so much fun. Seriously, I adore them both and have so much respect and admiration for everything they do. They’re just good people. They are currently running a series, You Can’t Judge a Pattern by Its Cover, the idea being that even the ugliest of pattern-ducklings holds within it some promise of beauty. You have to click that link

Sun & Surf Tour: coastal cargos

2013-03-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

I’m incredibly lucky to get to associate with some of the most talented women in the Kids’ Sewing World. Andrea from GoTo Patterns, Kate from See Kate Sew Patterns, Shauna of Shwin Designs, and Melissa of Blank Slate Patterns have joined forces to produce an amazing pattern shop, Pattern Anthology. Their debut line, Sun and Surf was released just yesterday, and is kind of completely amazing.

Easter Bunny Blog Hop: Easter Egg Block Pillow

2013-03-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

I’m so happy to be part of the Easter Bunny Blog Hop this week. All week long Easter-themed patterns are being shared by some really fabulous sewing bloggers. And best of all? All the patterns are free. And really, there are some seriously fun ideas! Here is the full week’s line-up Monday, 3/4 Melissa from Lilac Lane with a patchwork bunny Tuesday, 3/5 Nanette from

Film Petit: The Big Lebowski

2013-02-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

I don’t know that words can properly express how excited I am to be doing Film Petit with Jess from A Little Gray and Kristen from Skirt as Top this month! And then they chose one of my husband’s favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. So awesome. I’m pretty sure I scared Jess and Kristen with my level of enthusiasm, giving them a crazy long list of all the things I wanted to make. I get a

mmmmm, Cake

2013-02-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Join me over at Melly Sews today as part of the Sew In Tune series. I’m sharing details of the look I created for my 10 year old, inspired by a ‘90s Cake classic. Can you guess which one? Click over and see if you’re right! and also to check out the pants, because they’re seriously awesome. Like, really. And tomorrow? FILM PETIT!!!! Yes, I just yelled that; I’m a little

Jeans! Round 1

2013-02-01T09:39:00.001-07:00

Ever since making my boys’ pants for KCWC this past fall, I’ve had “sew myself jeans” on my To-Sew List. I used Jalie 2908, reputed to be The Women’s Jean Pattern across the sewing blogosphere, before Christmas, and finally got around to working on it last week. Before leaping in with anything of quality, I wanted to make a trial run pair. Not really a true muslin, since I included all