meleliza

I made this recently and found those steps a little OTT. You don’t need to stop at the dot, just pin the straps in and sew all the way around. I finished the yoke lining with Hong Kong seams I think and covered all the raw edges. Still, the finished product is lovely and a huge hit.

My daughter wants one like that too. Really, it’s simple – just eliminate the waist band from garden party and you’ll have the same dress/tunic. The waist band is only top stitched on. Just skip it.

I just snuck into sleeping baby girls room to find the pink Liberty blouse I made last spring. Of course it’s all French seams and it’s lovely. I lined the yokes. The pattern didn’t call for it? Strange, it’s much easier and more comfortable to line a yoke.

Linen really does need good finishes. You could also use flat felled seams or a…[Read more]

But sure, I’d love to send them to the farm! 😉

I have seen the slack lines. Those are cool!

With the boys in school today, we spent the whole morning doing full pedicures. So relaxing! And now we have matching pink toes. 🙂

To be more clear: I just need ideas for getting rid of the boys. Maybe I could sell them to the gypsies?

yes, dates are great! I’m trying to squeeze in as much time as I can before she starts school. The boys just suck every ounce of attention and energy.

It’s hard to say how much it will shrink now, but generally, yes linen will soften after it’s been washed and dried a few times. It tends to only get softer over time too.

The usual family Easter for us. My cousin is hosting. They have 2 little ones, my other older cousin has 3 and with our 3 it makes for a jolly egg hunt. My aunt and younger (20 somethings) cousins usually hide the eggs. I think it won’t be too fancy. My kids typically look the nicest, but I just love Easter finery.

Kitty still fits in last years…[Read more]

This Drew has a wide neckline. Does it really need a full button back packat? Or could you do a small keyhole at the back instead. Then, you just make a lining skirt and stress skirt separately with French seams. Then baste then together at the top to attach to the yoke.

Yes, that is an ambitious stack. Timing is everything in this, because these original pattern are summery ones. And they go through several sizes a year at this age, so we’re lucky to hit sizes 5 in the summer. Realistically, I’m sewing/buying 6 for everything else so they last longer, but size 5 fits so I’m doing a couple of these for sentimental…[Read more]

The popover sundress with straps instead of ties. In fact, that’s how I’d alter the class picnic – use bias to bind the armholes and creat straps all in one. That would be simpler.

I think badminton would be great too, if you have that pattern. But it would also be pretty easy to add cute ruffles to the popover dress.

A super pretty nightgown…[Read more]

I can’t wait to see them!

@sosew I’ve been there and remember not having any girls to sew for. 🙁 But you know, boys really just wear pants and tshirts. There’s a lot you can do with the existing patterns to change them up. I like sewing costumes for my boys and pjs. Recently, I’ve also started making them ties for special occasions.

Or, you…[Read more]

Anyone else sewing size 5?? It’s still freezing here, but today I’m working on a Liberty swingset blouse. I have some yellow linen cut for the skirt, but I need to order lining for it. The Puppet Show blouse and shorts are done, but it’s still too cold to wear. I’ll have to layer it like the recent blog post, which I totally copied.

Basting will still be your friend, as Nicole says. Also, for a hand picked zipper, a 1/2″ seam allowance isn’t really enough. I widen the center back seam allowance to 1″. I prefer the YKK lightweight or children’s zipper to the coats and clark ones. It’s more flexible and interferes less with the natural drape of the fabric.

You know, I tried all kinds of clever gadgety stuff popular in the blogosphere, but when I took Susan Khalje’s couture class, I learned how to use dressmakers carbon and a tracing wheel. My life was changed! So efficient, so precise. Except for sheer fabrics, it’s what I use for everything. There’s a tutorial on the oliver and s blog and they sell…[Read more]