Sew a Straight Line

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

When the lights go out

2013-01-29T21:59:00.001-07:00

My oldest turned 10 (!) earlier this month. He really wanted a Laser Tag party. But his mom is cheap and weird, and decided we could totally just do it all ourselves. No need to rent a Laser Tag facility when you can just use the church gym for free! I don’t know that any of this would fly for most kids over the age of, well, ten. But the party was totally perfect for my son, his

All American Boy

2013-01-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

It’s Boy Week at Project Run and Play. Wahoo! If there is one gender of child I’m comfortable sewing for, it’s the male variety. I feel so much more in my element sewing Boy than I do Girl. My muse for this week is Jonas, four year old, and lover of all things football and tigers and wrestling and bodily functions. I decided to just focus on the first two of his passions for this week

stripe, stripe, dot

2013-01-17T23:38:00.001-07:00

Whew! Got this one finished just in time for this week’s Project Run and Play. The theme this week is Stripes and Polka Dots. My hope for participating in this season of PRaP is to incorporate items for my children I’d like to add to their wardrobes anyway, as much as possible. My oldest has been in need of new church clothes for a few months now. I would have made most of this outfit even

Handmade for Newtown

2013-01-16T07:39:00.001-07:00

Rachael of ImgineGnats has put together an amazing online auction of incredible handmade items and supplies with 100% of funds raised being donated to Newtown Parent Connection, where all funds will go directly to those affected by the shooting. I’m donating a set of three wet bags. They’re made of Babyville PUL and measure 9.5*10 inches. Wet bags are awesome for wet swim suits, cloth

fascinating tales of frozen family fun

2013-01-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

It seems blogging about projects found on Pintrest is kind of the thing to do. And it just so happens my preschooler and I did a fun little Pintrested activity just last week. I forgot I took pictures of it until going through some stuff last night, so now I’m going to totally do a Pintrest Post. Lucky you! Okay, along with half the blogging-moms in the world, I’d pinned this awesome

Party Romper

2013-01-08T15:23:00.001-07:00

I’m just going to apologize now. I have a ton of kid-sewing in the works. I’ve really made it a goal to sew more of my family’s clothing, and with the kids growing fast, they’re in need of some new clothes, like yesterday. I do have some fun things for myself, and even my husband, on the back burner. But most of my t0-sew list is full of kid stuff. Sorry. Since I need to sew for them

Handmade Holiday: Gifts Received

2012-12-31T10:15:00.001-07:00

My family received some really amazing handmade gifts this year. I know when I am making something for another person, I think about that person the whole time I’m sewing and creating. Even if it’s for someone I don’t know, or an undetermined recipient. I consider who will wear it, use it, love it. I think about them the entire process. So when someone takes the time and energy to create for