Pattern Testing and Blog Touring

Ever since Rachael got me started on pattern testing and sewing kids clothing at the same time, I have been on a roll with both.  My kids are loving my newfound skills, and I love testing patterns because I always learn something new.

The tumble tee pattern test was no exception.  Here's a little sneak peek at the dress version of the pattern, coming soon from imagine gnats.  Her included tips on finishing seams in knits made me pull out my sewing machine manual and learn the overlock stitch, which is pretty darn close to a serger stitch.  Who knew?!  It's pretty obvious that my girlie loves the dress.

Thanks to the afore-mentioned first pattern that I tested for Rachael, the roly-poly pinafore, I'm a stop on the roly-poly-along blog tour that is going on right now!  Stop by on May 28 to see a new version of the roly-poly that I made, and check out the other stops on the tour for lots of fun ideas. I'll even have a copy of the pattern to give away!

Indie Quilt: Finished!

Finally.  After much procrastination, it's done.

I put off the backing and binding for weeks.  It's my least-favorite part of making a large quilt. It's just so hard to get the fabric completely smooth.  At least the front was already quilted, so I knew that part would look wrinkle-free.  I don't recommend the use of quilt basting spray.  Yikes.  What a mess.  Just ask my poor husband, who really tried to help me with that part.  By the end, our socks were sticking to the floor, and the quilt was crooked and creased.  But we emerged victorious!

This came out exactly as I envisioned it, which nearly never happens to me.  I kinda made it up as I went, with the intent of having large enough pieces of the prints to be able to fully appreciate them.  I just love this fabric! (Indie by Pat Bravo, in case you missed that part.)  I sewed up the strips first, and then quilted as I sewed them together into rows.  The top corner has a blank navy rectangle, which adds  a fun bit of asymmetry.

I detest hand-sewing binding, so I wrapped the edges of the backing around to the front and machine stitched the whole thing.

The backing is a couple of large pieces of my favorite prints from the front.

Kids Clothes Week

I took a little detour from finishing my quilt this week.  Who am I kidding--backing and binding are my absolute least favorite parts about making a quilt.  So, the towering stack of fabric on the floor next to my sewing desk and the Kids Clothes Week buzz inspired me to procrastinate a bit more.

First I made a raglan tee.

 Then another pair of No. 9 Trousers, with woodgrain-print pockets and orange contrast stitching.  My little guy loves to match stuff, so out came the orange shirt.

Then I saw the Prefontaine Shorts pattern test request from ThatMoxieGirl.  I couldn't resist!  I love testing patterns because I always learn something (or things) new.  My kids think I'm nuts because we are still wearing winter coats, but they will need shorts after our move south this summer.

This pair is not quite finished because I ran out of elastic.

Flash Sale!

I'm having a flash sale on my Facebook page, starting today.  I need to clear out some stuff that is filling up my guest room.  View the whole album of sale items RIGHT HERE!

Pattern Testing: My First Garment

With all the sewing I have done, you'd think I would have made some clothes for my kids by now.  Nope.  None at all.  I don't know why, but the idea has always intimidated me.  Maybe because everything has to be exact to make it fit correctly.  Bags and accessories are a little more forgiving.  But I have intended to try out garment sewing.  I even ordered a Renfrew pattern and several knits (because I had no idea what kind I was supposed to use!) last fall.  It all still sits in a pile in my guest-turned-storage room.

So, when Rachael at imagine gnats asked me to test a pattern for a girls' pinafore shirt, I knew the time had come.  If she thought I could do it, I probably could.  She sent me the pattern in a .pdf, with no photo of what the final product was supposed to look like.  The mystery made it fun!  And for such a simple top, I learned several new skills.  Pockets set in the side seams.  Fully lined.  AND---I had to learn to make buttonholes.  Yet another skill that I have avoided thus far.  It turned out rather fabulously, if I do say so myself.  I used some fabric from the bottom of my stash, in case it turned out to be a disaster, so it's not my favorite.  But my girlie loves it.  And has asked for matching pants.  Oy!  What have I done?!

Want your own chance to test patterns for Rachael?  Head on over to her blog and sign up to be on her tester list.  She also has a pattern shop on Craftsy, where I suspect you will find the finished version of this pattern soon!

Pockets at the sides, buttons at the shoulders

I had a lightbulb moment when I realized that it crossed in the back!  Silly me, not knowing what a "pinafore" was!

Her best model pose!

What I'm Working On: Indie Quilt

I have been hoarding my stash of lovely Indie fabric by Pat Bravo ever since it arrived in my mailbox many months ago.  I knew I wanted to make a quilt for my bed with it, especially after seeing Maureen's.  But I wanted to take my time with it, making sure that I think it through enough beforehand so that I love it in the end.  The fabrics are a mix of florals and geometrics in gorgeous jewel tones. To ground them (and make it a bit more "manly") I am pairing them with a navy Moda Bella solid.

I've been saving ideas on a Pinterest board and collecting some fun coordinating accessories to tie the quilt in to the rest of the room.  The hard part is that I don't know what the room itself will look like--by the time I get this project finished, we will be moving to a new house/town/state thanks to the good old US Coast Guard.  But I want to have it ready to go when we get there, wherever there may be.

Birch-inspired prints by Alaskan artist Katie Sevigny

I snagged two of these awesome wall hooks in the clearance room at Blackbeary Bog in Homer.

I started cutting the fabric this week.  I don't want it to look too planned, but I am just not the type of person who can dive in with no plan at all!  I am basing my design on the Uneven Coins quilt in Block Party.  But I want my "coins" to be large enough to showcase the large-scale prints of the fabric.

 I'm going to try out a method for making the strips that I found in my new book from Tula Pink.  I think it will be a real time saver.

The plan is to make 5 columns of "coins", each column quilted as I go using the method I learned in Rachael's stocking pattern.  Wish me luck!!

Handmade for Newtown

I am proud to be participating in an online auction to benefit the families of Newtown, CT.  Organized by imagine gnats and casa crafty, and hosted by From the Heart Auctions, 100% of the funds raised will go to The Newtown Parent Connection.  
To bid, just comment your bid amount under the photo of the item you'd like, and be sure to leave your email address associated with your PayPal account.  The auction runs NOW through January 18.  The item donor will also be paying for shipping.  There are some really awesome items to bid on.
I donated by linen and cotton nesting bowls.  Here are a few of my favorites donated by other crafty bloggers:

Sunset Birds by Jenny Bartoy

Pillow cover by Cori of Let's Eat Grandpa

iPad cover by Kelley of casa crafty

Color Me Crayons quilt by Fat Quarter Shop

This is the direct link to the auction photo album.  Click here and get bidding!