The Julia Cardigan - palooza

There is a really great promo that rears up on the Internet from time to time at Perfect Pattern Parcel

It's a package of patterns that you buy en masse at your self-determined price.

Recently, Parcel #6 was available and I splurged:

Mostly it was the first 3 I wanted, but now I regret not paying a little more to unlock the bonus pattern.

The Bronte Top and Hudson Pant became a wonderful pair of matchy match PJs - I don't think I want to share a body shot photo.....  The fabric is an adorable silky knit (to which velcro on baby bibs absolutely ADHERES...)

I do want to make more of both that I might wear for public consumption - I need to do a FBA on the Bronte Top - I made the size that matched my measurements, but I am not fully thrilled with the fit, I think I will go down 1 size and then do a FBA.

The Hudson Pant is comfy and fits exactly as all the images on Google portray - I find them a manish, low rise, and sloppy - BUT COMFORTABLE!

Now I am making a bunch of The Julia Cardigan

It suits a lot of testers, so I am giving it to people for Christmas (shhhh!)   I had some great vintage fabric that made a wonderful bohemian in the capped sleeve version, and another in two fabrics in 3/4 length, I have 3 more cut out that I am whipping together this weekend.  I'll post photos of the finished objets once they gifts have been unwrapped.

Fabric Fairy

Yes, Carmencita there is a Tweed Fairy - a member of a wonderful sorority of fairies who bless us occasionally with awesomeness at the Thrift Shop:


Evidence 1:
I just Bedazzeled for my very first time! I am not thrilled with my technique, but in the interest of fooling the 2 year old that it is a Frozen dress... or maybe a North Pole dress.... the bedazzeler came out of my "try this" pile. 


The bedazzler was a deal at my local Value Village recently - components in separate grab bags - it took me a bit to track down all the parts, it was like a 1990s scavenger hunt. I managed to score 3 packs of rhinestones in the dig along with the machine and it's components. 3.97 total.

Evidence 2:

See that stripe in the shot up above?  Value Village - $1.99 for 1.8m

A fuzzy Sweater Knit - perfect for the above mentioned 2 year old.  Also note the quilted, double faced jersey - awesome.

Evidence 3:

I have been wishing and praying for the perfect fabric for a project that will remain nameless for a few more weeks (check back after Christmas)

CHECK. THIS. OUT:

$5.99 for 2.5m  Can you hear the Hallelujah Chorus?

The [finished] Dragonfly Handbag

This was a exercise in developing my tenacity for powering through that mid-project minute where I begin to be disappointed in my product.  I like a great deal about this bag - and I dislike some aspects of this bag.  Who will be the recipient of this gift?  Not the gal that inspired it, that's for sure - it's way too red hat for her.  But seriously, look how beautiful it is!

This was a lot of disciplined work

But it turned out great - just not my style.

I have aunts who appreciate things - but now I have three possible recipients!

I'll have to contemplate.  (or make more)

I want a grey one.

Kenneth Cole Reaction 4 Easy Pieces Flannel with Crocodile Satchel,Grey/Pewter,One

Dragonfly Handbag for the Handbag Contest

I using another contest to drive me to work on a Christmas present.  I am making The Blossom Handbag by Amy Butler Designs that was on the Sew Mama Sew Blog forever ago.  It's from this book: Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags by Amy Butler

This is what the bag should resemble when I am done:

I have this adorable Olive Green fabric with a repeat of gold and red dragonflies on it.  That's the starting point.

Me Made Monday -DH installment

My honey has a new sweater!
The Finlayson Sweater from  Thread Theory Designs.  I'm thrilled with the results.

My biggest kudos go to the instructions and pattern markings for the neckline.  I was so thrilled with how perfectly everything lined up, and how easy it was.

I followed the Finlayson Sewalong and completed the sweater in 1 evening (cutting was complete the day before). 

This is a great project.

Autumn Koan

Suburbia Fall
Trash cans are our tumbleweeds
Dogs wear warm sweaters

Thrift Store Fabric and Findings

Several weeks ago, on one of my Value Village foraging expeditions I passed over a chunk of faux leather.  Hey, I thought as my hand ran over the yellow and brown mass, There's a Dinosaur costume waiting to happen!  And I moved on to some pink ribbing.

Overnight, I kicked myself for balking at the $5.99 price tag, and finally 2 days later I broke down and rushed over on my lunch hour to buy the fabric.  I reasoned that my 10 month old was someday going to be a 3 year old who would want a dinosaur costume.

And, the fabric became a part of my stash.   It was stacked on top of the bin that holds the remnants of my prom dress fabric (26 years ago) and some Nova Scotia tartan that I bought at a garage sale 5 years ago.

My stash in recent years has been augmented by thrift store, garage sale, and kijiji finds. I have been having fun with the penny fabric and making lots of little outfits for my niece.  I am severely limited in my disposable income, and my foraging provides a satisfying shopper's high.

Just a few weeks ago Patternreview.com announced a contest on their site that will run for 4, 1 week sessions.  Each week participants will have a set number of days to produce a project identified at the start of the block of days. I signed up for the challenge and when the first week's project was announced, an A line skirt, I started researching and pinning until I found the right combination of information and felt I could draft a skirt pattern from scratch.

Just before the contest project #1 announcement I spent a day shopping with my best friend, and dragged her to Danier and had her try on a bunch of outfits so I could vicariously experience the fashion I loved.  (Remember, I have a 10 month old).  When she caught her flight back home, a beautiful pair of leather pants in her baggage, I sighed sadly for more than one reason.

So I decided I needed to come up with something special for Project #1 and I was surveying my stash for a winning fabric.  Something unusual.  Something not too conservative. Something....

I wonder a little if the dinosaur skirt was meant to be:

My favorite new word is findings  and I have made it a game lately of buying up bags of buttons and zippers from the wall at Value Village.  I must have bought a bag of zippers from the same lot that the dinosaur fabric came from: there were two exact match zippers in my stash.  One is a perfect 20 cm invisible zipper.

48 hours until the submission "review" is due.  And I have a lovely dinosaur skirt.