Current Progress and Planning Ahead

Happy Canada Day!

Current Stats
As it is halfway through the year, I thought I'd figure out where I was on my sewing goals...

Yardage In	27.6m
Yardage Out	53.9m
Number of Projects Completed	76
Mending or Alterations	44

Of the Yardage in is 28m given to me from my mom and mil. So I figure I've done really well on my fabric budget this year only purchasing 9.6m!

Planning Ahead
I have a few projects on the go that I need to finish before moving forward with any large projects. The following are items that I have cut out or waiting to go:

• Alter a dance costume to swimsuit
• OD 3/09 #1 top in size 92
• OD 3/09 Bert shorts
  
• Triangle Bag for my mom (it was her 2008 birthday present)
  
• Remake of a Ladies XL Tshirt into a Nightie
• Embroidery on a RTW Sweater for my Mom
• 2 Handprint Quilts for Father's Day (ok I know that's past, but my dad is out of town)
  

Then I'd really like to get ahead on holiday giving this year - and yes I mean starting to sew for Christmas! I'd like to sew Quilts for each kid! So that is 3 Quilts to start and finish this year...

Teacher's Gifts

This year I didn't sew for our teachers, but I did some crafts with the kids. Using the idea from Appreciation 7 Days a week from Skip to My Lou. Instead of using the pill box we used craft tubes and place items and sayings into them.






We made the magnets using crayon printed ribbon & glass gems...





We made 5 tubes of supplies for the gifts. 3 teachers got the tubes with some teacher sticers, the other two teachers also received a painted box with some stickers and a pencil holder filled with pens and pencils. The pencil holder is a plastic cup with stickers and then applied mod podge.

Using an older pattern

I pulled an older pattern out of the drawer and tried it... It is McCall's 4827 Pinafore & Blouse Pattern from 1975. I just made the Pinafore.



I used a size 2 for my 3.5yo daughter - her measurements were spot on for chest and waist. There was only a single size in the envelope... I did lengthen the bodice an inch and added wide eyelet trim to the hem. I was hoping the fit would be better than current patterns. This pattern has about 3.5" of ease at the waist, which would probably be fine in the winter with heavier tshirts or blouses underneath, but with a light tshirt or nothing underneath in the summer, it really is too much ease. Some of the ease can be taken in by the ties. In the drawings on the envelope, the skirt looks much shorter than actual length, but my daughter prefers a longer dress. I solved the length problem by adding the eyelet. And I sewed the bow on so it ties in the front (oops...)

Some more photos

Photos from my flickr stream The majority of these patterns are from Ottobre, the other few are self drafted.

Sewing With A Plan - Photos

Sewing With A Plan (SWAP)

For the past 6 weeks I've been working on a Sewing With A Plan (SWAP) for my older daughter (at SewingMamas.com). Here was my game plan of items to complete...

From My Sewing and Crafting

And my fabrics:

From My Sewing and Crafting

Current Status One item still to make
Did I follow the plan? Sort of ;)

More of an update later... off to sew the last item...

My Gramma

Here is a photo of my Gramma after the girls dance recital. She is wearing the suit I made her for Christmas.

Ottobre 2/08 #4

Ottobre 2/08 #4
Originally uploaded by leahholland

The athletic tank from 2/08. Modifications - used elastic instead of binding the arm & neck to provide more support for the built in bra. The built in bra is made from powernet and has sewn-in bra cups and 1 1/4" wide elastic under the bust.

This is made using swimsuit (nylon/lycra) for this summer at the beach

Not sewing...

OK I haven't been sewing much this week... BUT thought I'd share... The family got together today as my brother is heading off for RCMP training on the weekend. Here are some photos of my Gram (she turns 93 this month) with my brother & with my kids.