Missing a fabric store

Just over a month ago the local Fabricland store closed (the only chain fabric store around) due to a lease problem (landlords upped the rent 40-50%). They opened one up across the river, meaning I have to cross the bridge to get there - so I can't easily drop to the store while the kids are in school. And the way evenings and weekends have been recently - I just haven't had time for the trek! And even though I have some time today, it is really out of my way....

So instead I have been visiting the local independent stores. Before Mother's Day I went into the local Quilt Store and had great help and found exactly what I was looking for. I've bought a few things at Fabricana a local family owned store. Today I'm headed into Sundrop Textiles to get bra cups. There is also a sewing machine store that has quilting classes and may sell fabrics as well - I haven't been in recently but may have to check it out soon.

I am so lucky I have such a large selection of independent stores, I haven't been doing any impulse shopping as prices are a little higher for some things, especially notions. The only other difficulty I'm finding is some of these stores have shorter store hours and aren't open when I have time to get there so these trips need to be planned.... something I'm not always so good about doing.

New shorts for me

Since I've been loosing weight, I really want to sew myself some new pants & shorts as most things I have are way too big. Today I traced Ottobre 2/08 #5 Jazz Pants and choose a small piece of fabric from the closet to make shorts. They turned out a little big - I choose based on my hip size and the waistband sat higher than I thought it would. The band folds over nicely just above the elastic... Depending on the fabric I choose for the next pair, I may need to go to a smaller size, and will definitely need to fix the waistband area to make it smaller.

Sorry about the extreme close up but my 3yo took the photo... that's about all she included - which is better than the picture of 1/2 my leg or the ceiling :)

Another dozen flowers

Flowers for our teachers...

On Wednesday we are hosting a Teacher Appreciation Lunch at our school and the kids are asked to give their teachers a flower. Here are the flowers we've made for our teachers using the pattern at Rounded Petal Flowers. I still have some more to make....

Sleeping Bag Straps

After much frustration while camping this weekend, I decided my sleeping bags needed new strings, elastics or straps. The strings on one of the sleeping bags was TOO SHORT to tie together, the other they had fallen off... So I added twill tape straps with connectors and sliders to both sleeping bags used this weekend. I did consider elastic, but because these are used by my kids at camps and sleepovers, I was a little concerned about circles of elastics attached to the bottom of the bag, and if they weren't attached, they'd probably get lost.

A skort

A ruffle skirt attached to OD 2/05 #8 capris... with an elastic waist. I love the ruffler attachment on my serger!

Basic Sweats

So my daughter is going camping with Sparks (Girl Guides) this weekend and she doesn't own any pants!!! The kit list said to bring 3 pairs of pants... now I found her a pair of her brother's old black sweats, and packed her a pair of leggings & a skirt, but figured she'd like a basic pair of PINK pants. So I made these sweats - its using a capri pattern from Ottobre 2/05 #18. I left off the bottom details & lengthened them 10" to get the correct outseam. Now why this pattern, I'd recently traced it because she wants the dress and pants (OD 2/05 #17/18) so figured I might as well try out the pattern.

Camo Tshirt

Camo Tshirt
Originally uploaded by leahholland

A basic raglan tshirt for my son. Ottobre 2/05#21

A baby gift...

A baby blanket and drawstring bag.

Swimsuits

Swimsuits
Originally uploaded by leahholland

Swimsuits for the girls. 2/04 #3 for the tops - lengthened only 1" - I really should have lengthened a little more....

1/07 #17 plus a circle skirt for the skort - Leggings shortened, took 2" off the top and applied a yoga style waist instead of elastic.

Swim Skort Progress

The other night while at a friend's house for a sewing night, I got some items cut out including rashguard tops and skorts for my daughters. Here is the first skort... Pattern is Ottobre 1/07 leggings with yoga waistband and attached circle skirt.

Sisters on a sunny day

RoseDress
Originally uploaded by leahholland

Two versions of Ottobre 1/08 #20 Rose Dress... the older daughter's is made with the pattern (made some time ago) and for my youngest, the dress is made with elastic in the casing and FOE at the neckline.

Only other modification is both dresses were lengthened.

A rose dress

rose
Originally uploaded by leahholland

A simple spring dress... Ottobre 1/08 #20 with no zipper, FOE on neckline and elastic inserted under the trim around the waist.

Tshirt Conversion to a Bolero

I found this tutorial and thought it was cute. My youngest had a tshirt that was too short and wide on her... so I thought why not...

I did stitch the ribbon near the CB so it didn't slide out of the casing. I may stitch the ribbon near the end of the casing so the gathers stay in as she is continually pulling the bow open...

Butterflies & Fairies

Originally uploaded by leahholland

Last Handprint Quilt

This one is for me!

Button Tshirt

Button Tshirt
Originally uploaded by leahholland

From Ottobre 3/09 #29

Another Quilt

I finished the 3rd quilt today just before heading out to dinner. Only mine left to complete and I think I'll make one for my dad too (for Father's day).

Mother's Day

Here are the first two quilts I did for Mother's Day for my mom and Gram.

The poem reads:

My Hands

These little hands can wave Hello
Or put smudges on the wall
They can fold in prayer, throw a kiss
Or reach up so very tall
They'll clasp your hand for a little stroll
Or shape a ball from clay
But most of all, they'll stay with you
When I'm grown up and far away

Curtains

Why does my sewing room have blankets hanging instead of curtains? Well I just hadn't gotten around to sewing them up... so when the kids needed an activity last weekend I decided we could paint my curtains. Here is the first one finished and ready to hang on the wall. The other curtain is still waiting fabric paint....

Dragonflies

Dragonflies
Originally uploaded by leahholland

Ottobre 4/05 #3
My youngest wanted a pink skirt.... The pink baby cord was a scrap larger enough for the waistband/yoke and the pockets. The skirt panels are made from gingham embroidered cotton. I chose this pattern because it was simple to stitch up :) and the waistband was simple to put on - serge then topstitch.

And it has a waistband!

OD 3/09 #23 Shorts
Originally uploaded by leahholland

Ottobre 3/09 #29 -- I added contrasting fabric to hem, pockets, waistband as well as two butterfly embroideries (they are built in on my machine).

I did the waistband as the pattern suggested and fought it all the way. I would do it differently next time! It took nearly as long to sew the rest as apply the waistband!!!

Ottobre 3/09 #18 Three Way Dress

Ottobre 3/09 #18 Three Way Dress
Originally uploaded by leahholland

A simple sundress that's quick to sew...

I think when I make it again, I'd use bias tape to hem the underarm seam instead of making narrow seams.

(it only looks wonky on the hanger... and sorry no model when I finish sewing at 11:30pm )

3 days in a row!

I've sewn 3 days in a row!!! And here I am posting some photos... Wow!

When my oldest daughter saw the swimsuit in the latest Ottobre magazine, she wanted it as a bodysuit.



A friend's daughter had her first communion today, so the kids and I made a bookmark and a small bag as a small gift.




I also completed a pair of shorts for my husband (black & grey to match the pair I posted yesterday), and they do fit, but they are slightly too skinny. They are definitely "at home" shorts.... back to modifying the pattern.

An afternoon of fun and a find that fits my 6yo!

We had fun painting a curtain for my sewing room, and painting Mother's Day gifts. Sorry no photos until Mother's Day in case my mom reads this...

And in my container of painting was a pair of PJs I made for my son that I was planning on adding some fabric paint as they are made from a white with light blue horizontal stripes. I made these when ds was 2 but they were WAY too big for him. The pants I've labelled as from Butterick 5164 size 2, but the top isn't labelled, but since it was made at the same time its probably a 2. Here is a picture of my 6yo daughter wearing them, who wears a size 122 in Ottobre.

Now the pants are capris and the top is a crop top!

BUT the top is still wide...




The Black shorts are Simplicity 9449 Size Small in black and grey knit with drawstring elastic. The pink ones were leggings with holes in the knees - now they are shorts!

A new swimsuit....

swimsuit
Originally uploaded by leahholland

A swimsuit...

Leggings for dance
Originally uploaded by leahholland

Leggings for dance

Yes I've been sewing

Wow! Its been nearly a month since I posted... I have been sewing. Today I completed an armband for my ipod...