A little bit of sewing...

This week i finished up one class sample (class is next saturday at the quilt barn!). This is the Pretty-as-a-picture Dress from the Handmade Beginnings book by Anna Maria Horner. 

the front (sorry the picture is a little wacky, but it has a lovely bodice!)

the back with some lovely gathers at the waist. I must say that I am in love with this pattern, if I had a little girl I would probably fill up her wardrobe with these. The size for this one is 18-24 months, I think that the sizing is fairly generous and could easily work as a tunic over leggings or the like to extend the life span of the garment. The pattern was super simple and took me probably 2 to 2 1/2 hours from start to finish (tracing the pattern and everything) and the instructions were very clear.

I also made a little more progress on this:

and of course no week would be complete with out starting a new project (i actually started it last weekend), but I finally caved and started the Single Girl quilt:

One of my most treasured sets of fabrics (my 2 plume charmpacks) are being used for the rings. I only have enough to make 4 rings (that is the baby quilt size) however I plan on adding a large border and making it into a throw for the couch or a fun little picnic blanket. So far, I have almost all the pieces traced and just need to start cutting them out. I am really excited to see how this one is going to come out plus it gives me a little something to work on while watching the real housewives.

Boston Lounge Pants

I finally managed to get a few more sizes of the Boston Lounge Pants finished up, along with a new instruction sheet. (these were formally known as Xavier's Holiday Pants and were only available in sizes 2T-6) I taught these fun pants at the Quilt Barn. Even though these are really basic pants, there are plenty of ways to dress them up by adding pockets, ribbon trim, or almost anything you could think of adding. My son loves these pants and I also make them into shorts for the summer, it has become one of his wardrobe staples. Enjoy!

Basic Size Chart

Boston Lounge Pants Instruction Sheet

Boston Lounge Pants Children's 7-14

Boston Lounge Pants Misses 0-14

Boston Lounge Pants Women's 16-26

Please keep in mind that these patterns are for your own personal use, thanks!

A few things from the studio last week...

I spent a couple hours cleaning off my work table:

I also started quilting a quilt sample for my Beginning Quilting Class. (*I only have the outside border left to quilt, it's not perfect but I love it anyways!)

The binding also got made and wrapped up on a piece of heavy chipboard to keep it nice and neat and easy to unroll: 

And I finally finished up two more shirts for X. I still have one more to go to be completed finished with the button up shirts. (The pattern is the Kai's shirt from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross)

 *size 3T, I left the pocket off, fabric: print from Amy Butler solid Kona solid from Robert Kaufman.

*size 3T, I left the pocket off, fabric: print from Michael Miller 

A few more things also got worked on: hemmed a shirt, worked on a stroller cozy for X on our morning walks/runs, and traced off a few patterns for upcoming projects. For the month of October, I am trying to conquer my list of works-in-progress, so I can really start working on some holiday projects and clean out some space in the studio. (I wrote out a master list and there are 29 projects on it of things that I either have all the stuff for or traced and cut out or partially sewn.) Do you have a ton of things that you are working on or have you already started your holiday projects?

A few finishes from last week...

Even though my schedule is somewhat crazy and I am still adjusting to trying to fit everything in since starting my new job. I managed to finish up the mug rug. Somehow instead of being used for it's intended purpose, the mug rug has become Bentley's (the cat) favorite thing to sleep with.  

the front

the back

I also finished up the Sleep Sack from the Handmade Beginnings book. (this is a class that I am teaching in October at the Quilt Barn. It turned out really cute and was fairly simple to put together. 

The quilt is coming along and I am hoping to have it done by Thursday night to take to quilt guild for show'n'tell.

 Alright, I better get back to finishing cooking dinner and the try to squeeze in a little bit of sewing before bedtime.

This week is just flying by...

and I still feel like I haven't finished up much on my to-do list for the week. This is going to make for a busy weekend. On Tuesday, I spent time finish up a few samples for the classes I am teaching in the next couple of weeks. (next week I will share all the projects) This also called for another photo shoot, which is what I spent Tuesday afternoon working on. I have done a rough edit of the photos and now I need to pick the final ones. 

I did have time to make X his first superhero cape (sorry for the lame photo of it not in action, but getting a almost 3 year old superhero to get his picture taken is not an easy job and that it is sideways, blogger keeps rotating it... totally annoying):

So far he likes it only for a few minutes at a time and really enjoys it when I wear it and run around. It seems to really crack him up. This is part of a flat sheet that I picked up at the thrift store for $.50 or so, I added an applique X with orange stitching around the edge and the tie is a piece of blue twill.

In other random news, I got a sunburn yesterday from working outside all day. Today,  I am busy baking a birthday cake for mom (its a spice cake, first one of the season!!!). Along with trying to put the finishing touches on a handout for my beginning sewing class that starts on Tuesday night (mostly just proofing and writing up one more section). My other goal is to work on the project for the Sketchbook Projects for next week (it involves chiffon!). Alright, time to go frost the cake and grab a bite to eat before I head up to the sewing machine. Hope the rest of your Friday is really great!

Mondays...

I think are my busiest/most productive day of the week. Today has been filled with laundry, cleaning, pattern writing, working on a tutorial for Friday's new weekly feature, and planning some new classes (a few fall/winter and then some for spring), so far and the day still isn't over yet. Yesterday, I did manage to get all of X's underwear finished up, washed it today, and now its put away in it's new home in his drawer...

I ended up making about 15 pairs for now (hopefully enough to make potty training go somewhat smoothly), next month I plan on making a few adjustments to the pattern, grade it and make the next size up. (They are made out of t-shirts and 1 1/2" knit elastic.) That was the only sewing that I squeezed in over the weekend plus a little trip to Joann's for the latest issue of Threads magazine. Now its time to relax a little, watch some reality tv and work on a few more projects. Have a good rest of the night!

A few completed projects...

in total only about three things actually made it off my project list yesterday (a few had multiples to be completed before I could cross them off).  First up is another Kai's Shirt from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross:

 *the front

*the back

It should work well for fall and hopefully make it through the winter. (size is 3T the largest size of the pattern)

3 pairs of lounge pants- I tried out a new waistband technique, (that I really like since you save time not having to make a casing for the elastic), but I am waiting for them to go through a little real life testing before add the variation to the lounge pant tutorial. 

This wall hanging was a single wonky star block that was used for a demo at one of the Magic Valley Modern Quilt Guild meetings. The back is a Kona solid (Tarragon, I think) and it uses two layers of natural batting. It was a simple project and now the block isn't just sitting around on my design wall taking up space. As an added bonus my mom likes it. ;)

I also finished up another variation of the Summer Blouse from the Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross book. This time I made a yoke (mainly because I was short on the floral fabric) and I did a different finish on the neckline. Overall, this one fits better than the first and I really like the dots/floral combo. I think if I was going to make it again and with sleeves I would choose a shirting or fabric with slightly more drape than quilting cotton. 

I also managed to finish up all the topstitching on 15 pairs of underwear for the little guy; 14 pairs need elastic waistbands added and the 15th was worn for about 1 1/2, in which X decided he loved them! My goal for tomorrow is to finish up all the waistbands and sketch out the blazer I am planning on making for X. Meanwhile, I am busy working on illustrations and instructions for my upcoming patterns and classes. Here's to the beginning of a busy but hopefully productive weekend.

Updates

I think I finally got my little blog redo to a great spot and I added a tutorials page. Here you can find all the free tutorials (sorted by categories), I am hoping that this makes it easier to find them and I also updated all the links to a new site for downloading the pdf files. By the way a huge thanks to Craft Gossip for featuring my bookmark tutorial on Tuesday.

In other news, I have been busy sewing a ton of new things. Here is my giant to sew list:

One of the my many sewing to-do lists is filled with nothing but personal projects a.k.a the list of projects that I really wish would get done but always get pushed to the back burner. As a goal, I try to spend at least 2 or 3 days a month working on projects of that list. Mainly, so I can add more to it. They are not in any particular order (I tend to start/stop and jump around the whole list) but these are the things that are currently in progress (*note the x's are for my son's name Xavier, its just easier to write x):

X Blazer- I have an idea for this (its based on a vintage blazer that x loves but he already outgrew it) and already picked up the materials

Rocket Quilt- The top is pretty much finished (its a wall hanging, but I can't decide what I am doing for the backing)

X Underwear- since he is in the potty training phase and I really dislike the boys underwear choices (plus the cost) that are out there on the market- I made my own pattern. I have 15 pairs in progress they just need some topstitching and elastic on the waist. They are made out of old t-shirts so the only cost I have in them is the elastic. *sorry that the picture is sideways blogger is doing something weird to it

Study Hall Skirt- the Anna Maria Horner pattern, it is cut out and ready to sew and I finally picked up some ivory thread for it, but now it just sits in the to be done pile.

Summer Blouse- again its all cut out (the pattern is from the Weekend Sewing book by Heather Ross) and is sitting on my table

X Shorts and Pants- I have 3 pairs of pants that just need to be hemmed and elastic added to the waist, 1 pair that just needs the elastic finished up. (the pattern is the lounge pant from my tutorials)

Slippers- from the Handmade Beginnings book by Anna Maria Horner my goal is to get these made before fall really sets in since my other slippers fell apart in the spring- I have all the materials just need to make them.

Skirt Redo- I finished this skirt by doing an online sew along (that part was the fun part) but I don't like the way the skirt looks on me so I want to make it in to a dress by sewing it to a tank top

*The giant pile of in progress projects and this photo is uploading sideways the wrong way too...

X Tops- I have 4 of the kai's shirt cut out from the Weekend Sewing By Heather Ross book, 1 is actually almost finished up

Wonky Star Quilt- I recieved all of my blocks from the  Magic Valley Modern Quilt Guild Wonky Star Swap and now I need to make the quilt top. 

Houndstooth Cape- I have the fabric and the pattern cut out to make a cape for fall- yeah that was last fall so hopefully this year I will get it finished up.

X chair- I found a pattern for one of those small plush chairs for toddlers and have most of the pieces cut out   

Do you have a crazy list of projects that you want to make? And if you made it through reading that giant list of projects- here is a little photo of a flower on my computer:

X has really been into picking and surprising me with flowers, that was the latest one! 

Um... weekend, where did you go?

Last weekend went way to quickly, which leads me to think that August will be over before you know it. The weekend was filled with pattern writing (4 are ready for illustrations, which I am hoping to get started on today), 

sewing more wonky star blocks (only 12 more to go), 

making another pair of lounge pants for little guy, 

reading (just picked up a copy of The Handmade Marketplace), 

plus sorting out a few other projects that are upcoming.

So now that it is Monday (probably my craziest/one-of-my favorite days of the week), I am back to my regular Monday routine.  Mondays are filled with the morning/everyday workout, laundry (I almost always do all the laundry on Monday, so it is a most of the day task), run any important errands, blog, make my plan for the week, paint my nails, clean X's toys, playing a million+ games/reading books/cars with X, and so on. It is probably my busiest day of the week, but I usually accomplish enough tasks that which the rest of the week be a little more flexible.

Next week, I am going to be sewing X a new fall wardrobe (he went from a 4T to 5T with his latest growth spurt *he doesn't even turn 3 until October... ). Since he is tall and thin, it is easier to make his clothes most of the time, plus I enjoy doing it. If they turn out well, I am planning on doing a boy's week showing you all the clothing I made along with different ways to style the outfits. Along with what I think is essential for a boy's wardrobe. 

Here's whats on the list:

•Underwear (he just started his potty training adventure, here's the pile...) 

•T-Shirts & some button downs (all the button downs are already cut out)

•Shorts/Pants (mostly more lounge pants and if I can find some denim maybe some jeans)

•A blazer  (if I have time I am going to try and make a zip-up hoodie, too)

•At least one hat (maybe two since he always seems to misplace them....)

Alright, I better get some sewing done... 

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

Noah (my sewing machine, Xavier picked out the name) and I have been spending some quality time together as usual...

a little sneak of something new...

all the points for the wonky stars are trimmed up...

drafting some new patterns (working on the floor since my table is covered in several projects right now)...

Here's the finished test of the children's lounge pj pant (this one is size 10), today I am going to be spending time grading (to add sizes 7, 8, 12, 14).  This is the same pant style has the Xavier's holiday lounge pant pattern. One of the reasons I love this style of pant is the nice wide legs and elastic waist makes them super comfy, plus they are super easy to make. I still need to work on a juniors size. I will be teaching these at The Quilt Barn on Tuesday morning! I have plans to start working on how to add some more decorative elements to the pattern like pockets, make them to shorts, adding trims, and a drawstring, but that won't get done until September at least! Have a great rest of the weekend! 

I have been a little busy...

I have spent has much time as possible sewing away parts of the day. First, I am in the process of making underwear for the little guy since potty training is underway. Today, I am going to be cutting out as many pairs as possible. (I have made two test pairs to get the fit right and am working on a pattern for them in the near future.) It seems that the little guy has been growing/wearing out much of his wardrobe so shirts are in progress:

* the sleeves, collar, and pocket are finished, buttons have been chosen and interfacing has been cut for the placket, so I am about half-way on this one. 

My wonky star blocks are due at the next Magic Valley Modern Quilt Guild meeting, so I have been busy working on them (my nephew helped me put these together and I must say it really helped speed up the process):

*I chose to make mine really scrappy, but I ran out of white fabric when I started cutting all the squares so only 5 have been finished up. All the centers are cut and I have a large stack of scraps for the points, I am hoping to get some time today to work on a couple more since I finally picked up some more white fabric the other day. 

Still a few undercover projects that will be revealed in awhile (I still have a ton of sewing to do for them), but here is a sneak of one:

Yesterday was a fun outing (a little fabric shop hop), I had a ton of fun (thanks to all the fun ladies who came) and the little guy came on the adventure, too. He really enjoys going to fabric stores especially if after there is a park across the street. Our first stop was The Gathering Place: 

I ended up with just 2 fat quarters and 1 yard of some Patty Young's Bees in the black colorway (its going to be a shirt for x, big surprise there!)

Then we went to lunch just a couple of stores down from The Gathering Place:

It was a pretty yummy lunch and the ice tea was good. From there we went to Mill End Fabrics in Burley. That place was awesome. I would really make a trip out there again because they have a huge variety of fabrics (especially for garments) for great prices. It reminded me of shopping for fabric when I was in fashion school and that might have made me like the place even more. This is what I ended up with:

*5 yards of lingerie elastic (I'm working on some intimate apparel patterns), three zippers, some waistband elastic, 1 yard of suiting (this is going to become a blazer for x, and a navy/white striped knit which is going to become a shirt for x. 

For the rest of the weekend, I will be working on some of my "work in progress"  sewing projects and doing some computer work. I better make some more ice tea to keep me going! Have a fun rest of the day!

 

Besides cleaning, a little bit of sewing has taken place...

I still have some organizing to finish up in the studio, but here is what it is looking like so far:

I still have a few piles to go through on the big white table, along with my desk and scrapbooking desk. The large white table used to be turned 90º, but I love it this way so much better. From this view you can't see the closet (it still needs just a tiny bit of sorting) and my other 3 tables along with bookshelves and such.  Hopefully, I will get it all finished up this weekend. 

As for sewing goes, I made up a little crayon roll as a quick birthday gift for one of my high school friend's whose son was having a birthday. 

and I made another one of these Spiral Notebooks to go with it:

It's just blank on the inside which works great to keep all of the scribbles together or take on a car trip or to a restaurant. Not only that, I keep several them around my studio and my downstairs office area to keep my notes for various projects all together (I like to add in some lined paper, too). I also made a small dent in making some new clothes for X. Here's one pair of shorts, I finished up:

*the front

*the back

This is actually the Xavier's Holiday Lounge Pant (Pattern) just shortened to make shorts. These are my go to pants, super fast to make, really comfortable and X loves them. Instead of adding anything extra to these, I just left them plain- but you could had pockets or other embellishments to change them up. The shorts are on the long side just so they last for a little longer. Three pairs of the lounge pants are also in progress, I am hoping to get them finished up in the next couple of nights.