Pandora's New Coat

I finished Pandora's new coat right as it warmed up againt here. So, I threw the outfit on her quickly for a couple pictures! She doesn't mind wearing clothing at all though - and was a handful!

Clover Muslin

So, here are some not so great pictures of me in my Clover muslin. I haven't been feeling well, but I am determined to at least get my final two fall palette challenge items done before the end of the month - even if they are the only items I sew.


I did make some minor adjustments while getting to this point. I ended up only doing half inch seams in the hip area on the pants legs to give a little bit more ease in the hip area.

I am still thinking maybe I need to shorten the crotch area in the front just a tad? What do you think?

Let me know if you see anything that stands out to you! This just might be a wearable muslin when I am finished!

Sewing Helper gets a new coat

Even after last week's post about finding my productivity again - I don't feel as if I have accomplished much lately!

I did start a little coat for my sewing helper, Pandora! I chose version B of the Simplicity pattern pictured above, but of course removed the fringe and changed some of the construction details.

She is so tiny and gets cold easily so I just wanted something she could wear when she goes outside for a walk etc. I was half afraid though that she wouldn't take to wearing a coat. I was wrong! During her numerous fittings I had to pry it off of her to get it back!

It should be finished tonight and I'll post pictures of her in her cute new coat later this week!

In other news I have traced both the Jasmine and Clover patterns and will be cutting my muslins before the weekend! So, there has been progress just not as much as I would have liked!

October Goals - Finishing the Fall Palette Challenge

My life has been pretty busy the past few weeks - mostly with work. But I am determined to be back on track this week with normal activities: sewing, knitting, and my back is finally feeling better so, it is back to the gym for weight training, cardio, and yoga! I can't wait to get back to regular fitness - it increases my energy allowing me to spend more time in the evenings moving between chores and crafts!

My goals for this month are pretty light, but I hope that you will enjoy following along! The first is to finish my fall palette challenge which includes a Jasmine blouse and a pair of Clover pants (both from Colette patterns). Colette patterns is hosting a Sew-Along which I am participating in to help us get the right fit on our pants. It is a month long process!

I will also be sewing a beautiful flowered linen dress from Vogue V8725 pictured here: http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8725-products-14164.php?page_id=856.

I also need to select my fabric and get going on my circle skirt from Casey'e Sew along! And then lastly, finish taping together the pattern for my Bombshell Dress from Gertie's- Sew Craftsy class.

And that is pretty much all for sewing - seems kind of light, but with the multiple fittings and adjustments on the pants - I am guessing I'll still be pretty busy!

Then for knitting I'll be completing the Crafty course Knit Lab and making a Lacy Key-hole scarf!

Any spare time from these projects will be going towards Christmas gifts and since the family follows along - I can't mention them here! I'll have to save pictures for a post Christmas review!

Stay tuned - later this week I'll be showing off my Ice blue Georgette Pendrell! I absolutely love it, but I need some sunshine to photograph in!

Fall Knitting, Fall Challenge and a Busy Week

September has been a pretty eventful month - starting the blog, sewing 3 out of 5 of my Fall Palette Challenge items, and starting the knitting project above!

We are having our semi-annual sales meeting at work. So, I have been very busy with things unrelated to sewing!

I will be starting on the Jasmine Blouse for the Fall Challenge over the weekend. I have a pretty star patterned voile that I am going to use. And of course I'll be starting the final item, Clover pants mid next week when the sew-along begins in a cream courdoroy!

For now I have been very lazily working on an ice blue silk georgette Pendrell. It is going to be gorgeous - and I can't wait to blog about the experience of sewing with this fabric.

I have also been knitting! I first started knitting when I was a pre-teen. I remember knitting colorful booties to wear around the house by my early teens I really wasn't knitting anything anymore. So, this really isn't my first project, but my first project back. This time I am determined to learn how to cast on (something I never did for myself previously) and hopefully gain enough experience to make a lovely owl sweater I saw while looking at everyone else's plans for the Fall Challenge.

Do you knit and sew? It seems like the two go hand in hand!

Vintage Finds

Do any of you shop Estate Sales? I haven't in the past but I was so inspired by Mena at the Sew Weekly's post about her vintage finds that I decided to give it a try.

I was really excited to find a vintage lazy susan, just like ones I had been admiring on Etsy but for much cheaper than the Etsy price! I also found a couple nice pieces of jewelry.

I also came home with a nice sized box of vintage sewing notions (bias binding, hem lace and tape, vintage lace, and some silk threads). As if all of this wasn't enough I also found an old Singer Golden and Touch and Sew from the Late 1960's. It had the user manual, an accessories box, and two button holers - all in original packaging! This machine while a lot older than what I currently use has so many more feet and functions (decorative cams etc.). I can't wait to sew with it!

Fall Palette Challenge - Garment #3

Pattern: Peony from Colette Patterns
Fabric: Kona Cotton Sunflower Yellow
Styled with: Zoya shoes from Just Fab.

First, I have to say I am totally in love with the Peony pattern!  The pattern sewed up so nicely and the instructions were amazingly clear.  I pretty much started the actual sewing on Friday and had a finished dress other than the belt by Monday. I have another lined up already, in a black pique.  The one thing I really want to change for this dress is the bodice facing.  You have a facing which you tack down to the armholes but other than that pretty much hangs freely.  I think I would prefer to line the bodice completely enclosing in all the darts and preventing the facing from potentially popping up.

I have to tell you I was somewhat skeptical of the fabric.  This was initially an online purchase gone wrong.  First they didn't have what I wanted in stock, and then when I went online to quickly pick out a substitute on my monitor the color looked like a nice buttery yellow.  It was named Sunflower yellow, so if I had really paid attention I probably wouldn't have made the mistake.  I ended up not using it for the intended pattern and added it to my somewhat small stash.

Since I am newer to sewing and on a budget I don't have an incredibly large stash, but when putting together my challenge ideas - I really tried to pick where I could from the stash and save the allotted spending money for must haves (like the new Colette patterns).

I realized Peony was a perfect match for this fabric because of the removable cummerbund style belt!  The belt serves as a perfect way to tone down the yellow fabric.  While pictured above you see only the yellow with and without a yellow belt.  My plan is to make a chocolate brown and/or a black belt that can be worn with the dress to hopefully tone the look down some.

I am not completely convinced this dress will get a whole lot of wear. But I do work for a Solar Panel manufacturing company and yellow is one of our signature colors - so perhaps a great motivational work outfit?

(PS this was supposed to be tomorrow (Thursday's post) but I am putting it up early)