We punched a bunch of hearts out of last year’s birthday cards… now what?

Pattern: McCall’s M5684, Easy Stitch ‘n Save, size 4
Fabric: lightweight cotton denim and some corduroy I can’t find the details on. Sorry!
Mods: I used the top from View A and the skirt from View B. I am proud of myself for not following the instructions to the letter! I’m really starting to get it. Yay! Anyway, I sewed the skirt sides and then sewed the top front and back to their facings at the top edges, wrong sides together. I turned them right side out, pressed and sewed the front to the back at the sides. I top stitched all around the top and then gathered the skirt to fit and sewed it on, right sides together. Then I pressed the skirt to the top and top stitched around the bottom of the bodice. Since I didn’t have enough fabric for the skirt I shortened it a bit. I did a very narrow hem to compensate, but it’s still a little short when compared to the width. I think I’ll make the next one a bit more narrow and longer.

Hopefully I’ll get a better photo in the near future. She’s sort of a blur these days…

Less thinking, more doing!

Here’ what I’ve put up so far:

Looking forward to some “out of the house” shots when my little girls are all better from random fevers. Winter. Ugh.

I also got to use my fancy grommet tool, yay! This thing has proved to be very handy indeed.

I used up a lot of fabric making these and it felt GOOD. Not to mention they are very quick. I could knock off four in an hour. Highly recommended!

The snowflakes are freestanding lace that I did on my embroidery machine. Very cool! I used Solvy heavyweight water soluble stabilizer, hooped tight and stitched with a size 11 needle. Each one took about a hour to stitch out–not the quickest when you are making groups, but not too bad in small batches.

Pattern: AntiFreeze by Jenna Adorno
Yarn: Cascade 220, i skein
Needles: sz 5 and sz6
Mods: I chose to rib around the face s it could be easily pulled down under the nose

Pattern: my own. cast on 80 and go go go in 2×2 rib.
Yarn: one 50g ball of something black with no label. It had some cashmere in it, but wasn’t Debbie Bliss. Sorry!
Needles: sz 6

I used the tutorial from Bored and Crafty. There were a couple of details omitted, but the bag produced is great! I took the extra step of basting the lining to the bottom of the bag so it won’t pop out when the mat is removed.

Details
Project: Yoga Mat Bag (via Bored and Crafty)
Dimensions: fabric cut to 29×17, circle for bottom cut to 5″. I would do more like 32 x 19 next time around. Measure circle via your own mat rolled up, then add 1/4″ all the way around for seam allowance. Stitch the liner to the inside of the seam allowance so it won’t show.
Fabric: Dogwood by Michelle Engel Bencsko. Desperately seeking more of this fabric!

The knitting:

The sewing:

The life:

There are some pleats at the top to suit your womanly shape…

and the whole thing is reversible. I chose to back each one in a gingham and change up the other side to suit each recipient. I’ve had the gingham in my stash for quite a while, but the quilting cottons are all new from the Brooklyn General Store.

I used a fancy stitch at the bottom of each apron, just because I can.

Details
Pattern: Reversible Apron from Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing
Fabric: stash gingham, ummmm, i knew I should have written the rest down. I’ll try and find out.
Notes: Buy 1.5 yards of fabric if it has a nap. I had to cut my strings against the nap and was a little annoyed. For the apron strings, sub twill tape if you are in a hurry. If not, sew together strips and then turn to right side, press and top stitch. Trust me, it will take less time than trimming all the edge and turning them all right side out.

One thing I love about these fabrics is how well they go together… I’m going to try to use the scraps up on something.