I’m so jazzed (hands and all) to tell you about this rad project I’m a part of! The Refashion Swap is a very cool collaboration of sewing, refashioning, men’s dress shirts, and talented sewing bloggers. There is some serious talent in this group, and I was thrilled to be asked to join in the fun.  The swap works like this: myself and 9 other bloggers have all paired up with a partner–each one of us sewing for another in the group.  We all began with the same blank canvas that is your very basic yet versatile men’s dress shirt. We then worked our individual refashion-sauce on it,  and then sent it on over to our partner. Today we’re all posting the shirts we sewed, along with a tutorial so you can make your own version of our dress shirt refashion, and then next week we’re doing a blog hop wherein a couple of us will post each day a picture of ourselves modeling the shirt that was sewn for us (see below for schedule).  This is just some classic F-U-N fun, and I’m just as excited as you to see what everyone came up with. Here’s a list of the bloggers participating; make sure to check out each of their blogs today to see their refashions!

Jennifer of Grainline Studio
Krista of Lazy Saturdays
Liz of Cotton & Curls
Megan of Megan Nielsen Designs
Melissa of I Still Love You
Miranda of One Little Minute
Kate of See Kate Sew
Sunni of A Fashionable Stitch
Suzannah of Adventures in Dressmaking

The Swap Hop schedule (where we model what was sewn for us!)will go as follows next week: (Liz sewed for me, and I love it!)

Monday, May 21st: Lizzie of Cotton & Curls, Krista of Lazy Saturdays
Tuesday, May 22nd: Sunni of A Fashionable Stitch, Kate of See Kate Sew
Wednesday, May 23rd: Suzannah of Adventures in Dressmaking, Miranda of  One Little Minute
Thursday, May 24th: Me, Melissa of  I Still Love You
Friday, May 25th: Megan of Megan Nielsen Design, Jennifer of Grainline Studio

I got to sew for the lovely and so talented Megan Nielsen, who many of you know from one of her rad blogs Design Diary and  DIY Maternity,  or maybe for her amazing clothing collections and patterns. Megan is beautiful and talented, and such a peach to work with. You may remember I did  the Turn About The Room maternity dress tutorial for her last year when I was with (child).  And here, folks, is what I came up with for her! Along with her measurements, I knew that Megan likes pretty and feminine (and that she has an itty bitty waist!) I wanted to play up all those lovely features, so I decided to work a peplum into the design.    The pleated sleeve detail you may recall from this shirt, which has incidentally appeared several times in my sewing projects, due to its very flattering fit.  The pleat detail down the front was just me not being able to resist a bit of subtle embellishment.  I did not use a specific pattern, but based it on something I had so that you can do the same should you feel so inclined to attempt your own version.  I really really love the way this turned out, and can’t wait to see Megan model it.

The Coquette Peplum Blouse

Rangle up:

-a men’s white dress shirt–the larger the better I always say. I thrifted this XL one for 3 bucks.

-your sewing gear i.e. sewing machine, thread, seam ripper, seam guage, measuring tape, etc. Do I still need to list this stuff? I’m assuming you guys know by now.

-fabric dye and matching  buttons should you choose to change the color.

-a basic bodice pattern. This could be any shirt (preferably not knit) or dress that fits,but is not fitted.  In desperation you could use a t shirt, just make sure it’s not super fitted, and give yourself a generous seam allowance as your dress shirt will not have stretch. To give you an idea, I used the bodice from this dress. You of course could use any pattern that you have that fits the bill too. However you jive, honey.

*I think it’s always a good idea to make things a little bigger than you think you’ll need, because you can always take in.

Cut it all up: remove the collar, sleeves down the seamline, and cut along  the sides. Press out any pleats.

Measure from the nape of your neck down to your waistline, or where you want your peplum to begin, + a seam allowance.  Mine was 14  and a 1/4″. Measure down from top of buttoned piece to this measurement, mark, and cut a straight line across.

Working again with  just with the buttoned piece, carefully arrange your pattern (or shirt/dress whatever) over it as close to the top as possible, and following the seam lines of your pattern, cut your shoulder, armhole and side. BE SURE TO ADD A SEAM ALLOWANCE! I serged mine, so I added a quarter inch or so.

Fold all the way down the center and cut other side using your first side as a guide.

To your satisfaction, cut your back neckline.

Now place your buttoned bodice piece (now the back) to the front and copy your pattern, cutting all the way around it.

Find top edge center piece of front (no buttons), and mark. Measure out 2 1/4″ to the right and left and mark. Repeat on bottom edge. Using a quilting ruler, remove this middle section.

Using this panel as your pattern, place it on the top edge of the bottom half of the front (no buttons–you just cut the bodice from it), and cut a strip the same width, but the length of the entire shirt’s width (no pic).   This will now be your center panel. The remaining bottom piece of front is your peplum. Arrange the front peplum to the back remaining bottom half and cut to the same size.

Before cutting the sleeves, measure around the fullest part of your upper arm. You want your sleeve to measure 1.5 inches + seam allowance more than that. With that measurement  in mind, use your pattern to cut a sleeve pattern, following the seam line, and again, don’t forget a generous seam allowance (you can always cut more off later! Cut to be fairly rectangular with only the slightest taper. Cute the length however long you want your sleeve to be–mine was about 13″.

Measuring down 2″ from the top of your center panel, and mark. Now alternate marking first 1/2″ down, then 1 1/2″ down, repeating all the entire panel (sorry you can barely see the marks).

Now create the pleats by pressing first back on the first line, and then forward on the second, repeating all the way down.

Topstitch on top edge of each pleat to secure, and then baste down both sides.If you’re not in the mood for pleats, you can embellish or fold this center panel any way you want.

Sew shoulder seams of bodice front to bodice back, RST, and then pin the pleated center panel, RST, to bodice front right and left side. At this point try it on yourself or your dress form inside out, and adjust the fit but taking in and pinning the side seams or front bodice sides to get a fit your happy with.  Sew, and then trim any excess of bottom.  Cut your front neckline deeper to your satisfaction.  Topstitch along panel sides, catching the seam allowance and sewing towards the sides.

Try on once more inside out, and pinch mid sleeve opening to create a dart (if needed for a nice fit).  This isn’t a very scientific way of creating a dart (don’t judge me!) but it worked fine. I measured down from the shoulder on the first side, and then matched that to the other side, taking care to mimic the angle down. Pin and sew. The key to a nice dart is to take the angle in gently (not sharply) into the side.  Instead of back stitching, tie of your threads by hand.  Press dart seam allowance down.  *Note: this is a super ghetto way of putting in a dart, and I’m kind of embarrassed about it. The dart isn’t necessary, but if you, like me, try it on and find that it could use one to improve the fit, then don’t be afraid to throw one in. It isn’t hard, and it did a lot to ensure a nice fit.

Finish and hem ends of sleeves.

From the center point of your open sleeve, measure one inch from bottom edge, draw a three inch line, and then move up 3/4″ and draw another parallel 3″ line. Repeat once more.

RST, fold along each line, and with a  scant 1/4″ seam allowance, sew the length of your marked fold (3″).  Repeat with each marked line.

Repeat on other side.

Sew two rows of basting near the top curve of the sleeve, making sure one row of basting is exactly on your planned seamline.

Sew underarm seam.

Set your sleeve in your armhole, matching your underarm seam allowance, and the center sleeve point to the shoulder seam.  Adjust gathers to add ease, but not puckers.

Finish neckline by pinning 1″ bias tape along neck edge, sewing in the 1/4″ crease, folding over and pinning again, and then sewing again very close to folded edge. Fold the ends under so you get nice folded, finished edges on the button opening.

Sew peplum back to front at sides, and then double baste the top edge, again making sure that one row of basting is exactly in your planned seam allowance.

Pin bodice to peplum, RST, matching side seams and back opening.  Pull basting threads to fit, make sure you get a nicely distributed gather.  I always pull threads the amount needed, and then secure threads at side seams with a figure  eight around pin, so that I can evenly distribute the gathers with out pulling them out any.

Sew and then topstitch near seam, securing the seam allowance up.

add a button hole at bottom edge (or anywhere else) if needed.

You’re done, and isn’t it pretty?

Now, if you want, which you probably do, dye according to manufacturer’s instructions. I used Dharma fiber reative dye in Seafoam green.  Supposedly (and in my experience so far), this dye doesn’t fade at all, and is completely permanent.

The finished result and color was perfectly minty.

I added matching buttons down the back,

as well as a hidden snap to secure the very top.

If you followed along with me, then great! Hope it turned out! Let me know, like always, if you have any questions! If not, then may the world of white men’s dress shirts be your canvas!

Don’t miss the Refashion Swap Hop schedule (when we each get to model what was sewn for us! See the top of the post for the schedule!)

The Button Up Refashion Swap

otherwise entitled: A Good Camera Does Not a Good Photographer Make.

Have I mentioned that I got a new camera? The SLR of my dreams? Well I did. I saved for a long time for this treasure, and as soon as Allan got a job, I finally made the plunge. I’ve had a lot of fun playing with it, but I’ve learned a sad truth which is: I still don’t know how to take good pictures. Bummer, right?

I had been planning on doing a little photo shoot with my kids in their sweet Easter get-up I made them, and when we moved into our house I found the perfect location. Across our street there’s a lovely little house that has this mini field of poppies in happy bloom, with a tiny little glade complete with deer statues.  I asked my very nice neighbor if I could take pictures there, and then I waited til Saturday when Allan could help. In my mind it was going to be just brilliant, and I was already printing large beautiful copies of the fantasy photos in my head. It turned out a huge disappointment. As soon as I got out there I realized that  A) Harper was tired and cranky, and in no mood for pictures. and B) Neither was Merritt and C) the lighting was awful. But I didn’t even know what time of day would be better (it was like…2 pmish). Or what equipment I need to buy (one of those light diffuser thingies?) I’m lost! And half the pictures aren’t focused, and my kids aren’t really smiling in any of them. I didn’t get a single really good shot, and I’m kinda bummed. I mean, it’s something, and I’m glad about that, but I can see that I have a lot to learn. My fantasy photography skills aren’t just going to blossom overnight.

So I’m asking you. Where did you learn how to use your SLR? Any ebooks/courses or books you’d recommend? What are your camera must-haves? What time of day is best to take pictures?? Where should I start?

(For all the mad sewing details of their outfits see here——> Josie:cardigan and tee. sundress. Merritt: vest and skinny shorts. Harper: dress)

The Easter Poppy Shoot

Hey thanks to everyone who entered!

Inkodye Giveaway Results

Two of my cousins had a baby today.

One of them, my cousin Rob and his wife Marseille, called me tonight to let me know that their sweet daughter was born with a cleft pallet.

As you can imagine, I have a lot of thoughts and emotions going through my head. I couldn’t believe it. They said to me, over and over, that it was like lightening striking, and it could happen to anyone. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that Anyone was our family 10 months ago, and now again,  my cousin’s family.  I’m sure that everything will turn out fine with them, just like it has with us–that they’ll slowly get used to all that will come their way, and that it will become simply their life, and they will joy in it just like they have thus far. I certainly have. Harper and her little package of experiences have changed and shaped my life in a way that I treasure. She has sent her sweet tendrils deep into my heart, and I’ve been blessed with so many precious experiences that I wouldn’t change for the world.

I have been thinking about a blog post I read somewhere about how having special needs children is a lot like planning a trip to Europe and instead, landing in Holland. I can’t find the post I read, but here’s the same idea  (maybe the original?)  This analogy couldn’t be more spot on, and more than anything tonight, I want to hug my cousin and his wife and say along that same vein: Holland is more amazing then you can dream of, and you’ll love it. Just be patient for a while during the learning phase, and allow yourself any emotion that turns up–you’ll find all the peace you need in the end. 

After 10 months, 4 almost 5 surgeries, and 9 months (and counting) of a feeding tube, we’re still learning about Harper’s condition ourselves.  She obviously has had more problems than just the cleft, but in the end I consider myself one of the lucky ones. And I’ve come to be okay with whatever her future might be.  I know now, that it will be a happy one.  She will be happy, because she has a strong spirit and a family who loves her.

My heart is with Rob and Marseille and their family tonight. I know how much it can be to take everything  in, and to try and make sense of it all. I feel certain that our girls must have been friends in heaven, and I hope that we can help her and her family by offering them whatever support and help we can–having so recently tread the same mile.  I know that this special little girl couldn’t be born into a more wonderful family.  I’m sure, like my Harpsy, that she’ll knock their socks off with spirit and sparkle.

thoughts during a thunderstorm

Ahhhhhh.

The was me getting the internet again. We’ve been without since we moved last weekend, and I pined for it like Buttercup for her Wesley. Thanks everybody for such great moving tips, they really did help! I ended up deciding Friday night at about 6:30 pm that I wanted to move the next day, so my mom and sister came over, and we just attacked that beast. It was totally nuts, but I’m so glad we did it. And after a week I have TWO rooms unpacked, and we have internet! Woo hoo!

Now onto the coolest stuff you’ve ever heard about: Inkodye! I could barely wait to get my hands on this stuff, and have had a blast experimenting with it. It is so rad. It’s got endless applications–you can use it on lots of different surfaces, but as a seamstress, I was so excited to play around with dying fabric according to your projects structure and design.  I decided to start by doing a project that I could play around with the design as it fit into the construction, as well as something that would be fun and show off the vibrant colors that Inkodye produces. Josie has a birthday right around the corner, so I thought an Inkodye wallet would sufficiently rock her world.

For all of you that haven’t heard about this stuff, I’ll sum up: it’s a dye that only develops its color when under the magical powers of the sun. This is particularly cool, because you can arrange whatever object or design (object, picture negative, etc) you want on the fabric, and when exposed to the sun, it creates a silhouette of the object.  Is your mind exploding with the possibilities?? I know mine did.

So tell me, what would YOU do with Inkodye? Inkodye and I are super pumped to give away an Inkodye Tricolor Kit to one lucky reader! To enter the giveaway, take a looksy over at Lumi, and tell me about some of the cool things that pop into your head. We’d love to hear about them! You have until next Thursday (May 3,)  9 pm MST, at which point I’ll pluck one of your lovely names from a hat. I’ll let ya’ll know on Friday. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Inkodye Button Wallet Tutorial

You’ll need:

-Some inkodye. Enter the giveaway, already!

-about 1/4 yard of fabric. I used a simple white cotton.

-some interfacing

-measuring tools like a medicine syringe are handy

-something to apply the brush like a foam brush or paint brush.

-a button

-a bit of cord elastic

-lots of cards and money to put into it, very important.

1. Cut out your fabric:

-2 outer pieces 8″ x 4.5″

-2 pieces interfacing 8″ x 4.5″

-2 lining pieces 8″ x 4″

-3 pocket pieces 8″ x 2.5″

2. Apply interfacing to outer pieces (no pic). Finish one long edge of each pocket piece by serging/zigzagging, then turning under 1/4″ and top stitching

3. Round up subject matter for Inkodye: think big! I used everyday objects (buttons, beads, dominos), but check out Lumi for more ideas. You can also use Lumi’s super great resist for writing or hand drawing designs.  I pored some in a fine tip applicator bottle (found at JoAnn’s) to write Jo’s name.

4. Mix up your Inkodye (I used 2 parts dye to 1 part water), and then paint your pieces. The color doesn’t show inside, but I will say that less is more with Inkodye; there’s no need to over saturate.

5. Arrange your objects in desired design, and then take outside to expose. It takes just a couple seconds to change colors, and then a few minutes to fully develop. SUCH a fun thing for kids to see. My kids LOVED desiging their own prints!

(I used a mirror to reflect light directly over the buttons to make sure light got into the tiny holes—not sure if this was necessary or helped, but it was kinda fun all the same)

Bring inside and rinse thoroughly, and then allow to dry.  Lumi recommends rinsing with warm water, then with detergent, and then again with water. I just rinsed thoroughly, and it left the fabric a little stiffer which was ideal for this project. Admire your handiwork!

 6. Assemble your wallet:  Place your top pocket 1 1/8″ down from the top of an outer piece (hemmed side up), and sew near bottom edge.  Place second pocket 5/8″ down from top and sew at bottom edge, and then remaining pocket 5/8″ down from that, sewing bottom raw edge aligned with outer bottom edge.

Measure and mark center point, and then sew down the middle to create two rows of pockets.

Baste side edges (no pic), and then sew a knotted loop to center side and secure the heck out of it.  Clip knot off.

Sew anything you want to on the outside (like my little name tag) and then sew outer pieces, RST, around sides and bottom. Clip corners. (you’ll note that I had to UNpick this step because I forgot to sew the name tag on first).

Flip to right sides out.

Sew lining pieces RST around sides and bottom, leaving an opening at the bottom edge for turning. Place outer wallet RS out, INSIDE lining (WS out) and sew around top edge.  Turn right sides out by pulling wallet through lining hole, and the sew up hole, and stuff the lining inside the outer wallet.

Sew outer wallet to lining by topstitching top opening, and finish by topstitching through all thicknesses around sides and bottom.  Press flat and then middle crease.

Sew your button on, being careful to only catch that outer piece and not inner pockets. Press once more for good measure.

Done! Such a fun piece, that is so unique and vibrant.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with–don’t forget to enter the giveaway! Have a great weekend!

Inkodye Wallet + giveaway!

So for all of you who just scan through the pics of my posts (don’t we all?) and missed it, we’re moving!  My boy Allan got a sweet job in SLC, and we found a great little place and are trying to get outta here in the next week. I hate moving. Well, that is–I’ve never really done it as a grown up married woman who has a family. Last time we moved we were three month old newly weds, and had a car full of stuff. Now we are literally bursting at the seam with crap, and I don’t even know where to start. Of course I’m trying to dejunk as I go, but it’s all so intimidating! Thus far I’ve had a HUGE mental block preventing me from getting much done, but I think I finally busted through the barrier tonight as I tore into our bookshelves.

Anyway, things will be kinda quiet around here until we get settled again. I may or may not slap up a few posts here and there, but no promises.

If you have any killer moving tips, do share, because I am a lost little lamb in this see of junk and boxes…!

Moving!

Woo hoo! Allan finally finished my new theme! This time around I had to compete with Master Thesis for Allan’s time, so I’ve been waiting for. ev. er. it seems, to go live with this sucker. This was another collaborative design (I did the design, he did the magic), and I love how it turned out! Allan’s so talented, and I keep telling him, if he learns wood-working he’ll be the PERFECT man.

Along with a new face, I am planning a couple new series for mad mim that I’m really jazzed about. More to come soon on that!

So FYI, Allan has a little side business making websites (depending on his time and demand).  If you’re like me and want to do the design yourself (or have a designer who doesn’t program), you can come up with a design, and Allan can make it happen. I just create a mock up in Illustrator complete with images and fonts etc, and he does all the dirty work.  He also has experience switching blogs over from Blogger to WordPress, and is great to work with.  But a word to the wise: DON’T make any hasty trades with him involving dish-duty, because you’ll probably end up regretting it. I’m just saying. Email him at allan@atomrockets.com if you’re interested and to find out more about pricing etc.

Also, take note that I’m now on facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Mostly I post just photos of whatever I’m working on in my tireless and prolific craft life, but it’s likely that they’ll all have basically the same content, so just pick your poison.

So how do you like?? There’s actually still a lot of little things I’ll be adding/tweaking over the next few weeks, but I just wanted to slap it up and go from there. Pardon any glitches that may occur.

PS: ten points to anyone who can find my name (or nickname) subtly and maybe semi-secretly integrated into the design….!

New Theme for the Old Blog!

It don’t matter if yo’ black or white…stripes don’t match up. Mine don’t.  I guess my cut must have been off grain, because I just couldn’t get those side seams to align without warping the fall of the dress. At least I nailed the chevron down the front.  Knocked off from this Anthro dress, it proved to be like unto a cloud as far as comfort goes. I just floated along while we had a long day searching for apartments in SLC (any great leads??) and taking ALL THREE of our kids to Harper’s Drs appointment at Primary Children’s Hospital (don’t you LOVE it when your almost three-year-old wets his pants but you forget to pack back up so you have to shove his little fanny into your nine-month-old’s diaper without any pants? I do!)

I used the same basic cut as this top, and then just a simple a-line for the skirt. I also zigzagged some elastic at the waistline so it cinches with or without a belt.  I think I’m going to at least ten more maxis (ok, maybe just two), because they’ll be a dream through the hot summer. That and skirts. I’m planning on living in skirts. I hate how frumpy I feel in shorts (I was blessed with major dough-knees), so skirts and dresses win.  What are your summer staples?

Black and White Chevron Maxi Dress

Yeah, so Merritt’s really pulling in a haul this Easter. This is originally what I wanted to make him, but then when I saw that big pile of handsome suit all sad and forgotten in a thousand little pieces getting crumbled and lost in my current-project basket, I took pity on that sad mess and decided to force myself to finish it before I got into anything else. This was my reward project. The vest was a cinch, but those shorts! Whoa. The pattern was great, but you really do have to know what your doing to follow the more technical Ottobre patterns, because there aren’t any pictures and I had to read and reread to make sense of it. And I still ended up taking a few shortcuts. And here’s the bummer: they won’t fit him for long! I didn’t know I had to add the seam allowance to the pattern, so once I realized it was way too late, and I was out of fabric. They do look amazing on him RIGHT now though, and I’m grateful for his skinny little bum.  Hopefully I’ll be able to conquer the pattern more easily next time. Bring it, Welt Pockets.

(I used vintage simplicity 8116, and Ottobre’s Slim Leg Pant pattern)

His Easter Best: Vest and Skinny Shorts

Are you sick of me sewing for Easter? I am. I’ve got one more thing left, but I just don’t know if I can make it to the finish line. We’ll see how tired I get tonight…I usually don’t sew during the day, but I’ve totally been cheating a little this past week, and well, I am ready to just read a book or something. Or pack. I could do that too.

Ok, so this little set to go under and over her jumper were both modified versions of Ottobre’s puffed sleeve tee (obviously the cardi was really modified–I think I might do a tutorial on that later).  Anyway, I love these. The fit is pitch perfect, and I just love them all together. I think Josie is getting a tad spoiled though, because, bless her heart, she barely mustered an eyebrow lift when I showed them to her this morning. She’s like yeah, whatev, Mom. You sew something new for me like everyday. And…. I do. How can I get her to maintain a level of receiving-enthusiasm to match my vivor for production?

Easter Best: Her Cardigan and Tee