Get it right now

With less than two months left it's no use in sewing maternity. I did luck into getting some hand me downs from my cousin to get me through to the end. (Thanks cousin B!)

So at the moment I'm thinking postpartum fashions, (oxymoron!) things that will be easy to wear and clean while nursing and getting pooped on, but still look cute ;) I spent my last maternity leave shlumping around in sweats. I think stepping it up in the wardrobe department could possibly help out with any baby blues I might encounter.

I'm not sure how I'll be able to fit any sewing in once baby arrives, so I'd better make what I can now. Naturally I can't try these on now because of a certain protrusion :)

These items were made little by little over the past few weeks...

McCall's 5624

2nd try. in cotton/poly interlock. I did my first FBA!!!!
It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and the fit turned out great. I did one mod and narrowed the midriff to make it look more like the current hi-waist maxi dresses. Oh and no zipper since this is in knit. I didn't hem it since it's just a kick around dress. With the leftover fabric you see on the hanger I'll wrap my hair.

Simplicity 2642

This is made with a cotton found in the quilter's section of Joann's.
They have some cute stuff don't sleep.
I made a combo of view B's bodice and view D's tiered skirt - no ribbon.
No mods needed on this there is lots of ease built in on top and as depicted on the pattern cover the neckline is not extremely low! I plan on wearing this as a nursing gown since it's pretty easy access to the food supply & easy to make. I'll try to make a couple more if possible.

I also made some super easy
Burp Cloths

from a gifted quilt kit, some remnants and a package of Gerber burp cloths.
This was a nice mindless project to do on a Friday evening.

...and will soon finish (& photograph) two
Nursing coverups. They just need to be hemmed, boned & strapped :) ...see tutorial


I have cut out Vogue 1052 pants in a plum colored linen but we'll see how that goes. To wear with the pants, I have the fabric & pattern for Butterick 5084 - this should be easy enough to plow through.

Award Tour

I got blog award from Stormee. Last week and it's kinda on time cause I just made a camera case from a place mat, some fleece remnant and bias tape - all from the stash of course. Since I got a new camera. I needed a spiffy new case instead of the old $0.94 plastic Walmart special I've been using.

The cute colorful ones sold at Target were too expensive for my budget, especially when I can make something just as cute. I used the Walmart case as template and drew up my pattern (just drew up the measurements.) Took no time at all since there were just two pieces.
OK now I have to nominate 10 folks... Not that I don't wanna, but my brain is on overload at the moment so I'll come back to it later cause there are some folks who constantly make lemonade really refreshing lemonade too!! that I want to acknowledge.

Easy Button

Happy Friday!!

I've been taking it easy on my arm this week. I decided to just rest. Studied up Just Pockets bookmarked a ton of resources (more to follow) and re-read one of my fave fiction books. and I got a chance to do some minor on and off site fabric shopping and rediscovered my fabric stash!

I was hanging out in Joann's earlier this week and longingly stared at the pretty sari fabrics - for a while. I wanted to buy YARDS upon YARDS but had no idea what to make, they were just too fancy for my wardrobe. To appease myself I bought only a yard of a beautiful hot pink & gold print and decided it could be a neck wrap. A couple of weeks ago little sis and I discussed how we'd like to incorporate more neckwear into our wardrobes as she picked up a pretty scarf in her fall shopping travels.

Got the piece home and serged a narrow three thread edge in shiny gold, hot pink & yellow, working with what I already had, they all blended perfectly. While I was playing around with the neck wrapping, I had a moment of clarity. Those one & two yard "wonders" I've purchased can become neck wraps! AND from now on I don't have to pass up on any impulse fabric!!! Now why didn't I think of that before, so simple right? Now I have permission to cancel my fabric buying fast and Little sis, you are about to make a come up on some scarves, on your next visit.

The biggest benefit though is having a warm, yet stylish neck.

I didn't want to be "sari" I passed up on such pretty fabric :)

Yay for stash busting!!!

TuBeContinued

Here's my hook case, made from a place mat, bias tape and a shoestring.

my yarn stash

I can't stop crocheting!! I'm not to worried though, the newness will wear off in due time. I did get a handle on my yarn stash in these early stages. I have relegated myself to only what will fit in the chest. Which I plan on keeping full. To the brim.

The only thing that worries me about my new hobby is which direction I want to go in as far as "projects".

I spent a few days consumed with printing free online patterns and have collected a 3-inch binder full - organized by type - lol! I have also been to three libraries looking for crochet books to preview for purchase. So far I want none, which is good, because I already have 5, plus 3 crochet-related magazines. I also have joined Ravelry (I'm narcissaqtpie there too), but I am taking that site in very small doses because there is sooo much info and inspiration there.

My main problem is that, though I can read a written pattern with no problems, my stitch count and gauge are always way off.

I know I am supposed to make a swatch (which = muslin in sewing terms) but I totally am not with that idea. With crochet/knit swatching you create a portion of the pattern's stitches with the recommended yarn in order to measure and figure out what size of hook/needle to use. This is to ensure you get a properly sized item. What happens if your stitches don't match the pattern's guage? you have to unravel the whole thing and try a different sized hook/needle. No sir-ree, not for me. I need results/gratification. At least with sewing you get to try on or wear your muslin.

I think I crochet too loose and sometimes too tight but so far the projects I have completed have all turned out fine - which I attribute to my sewing math.

I am just extremely wary about trying to use anymore patterns. I really want to try hats, amigurumi, some of Debbie Stoller's projects, and PURSES!!! but I have a feeling, that I won't be so successful.

My latest project, "That Girl" from GYCO II turned out decent, but after I made the ribbed waistline with almost double the rows recommended because I was stitching too tight - I pretty much did my own thing. Which I had no clue what I was doing, but I liked it >:)

Another lesson from this project was to buy yarn according to dye lot. I bought 3 rolls/balls of Sugar n Cream in cornflower blue, one of them I discovered was a different hue! I recovered by adding "stripes" of the off color.

If I scrap pattern usage, then I can just freeform while learning the different decorative stitches and see what I come up with --- BUT there are so many cool patterns! I'll just have to take it day by day.

On the sewing front... I need to get on it!!! The garden party is three weeks away. I am "in progress" but not motivated. I'll probably do the last minute sprint sew and cross the finish line by a nose hair.

I did hustle up a quickie stash busting dress though. No pattern, just zig-zagged some rows of elastic at the top and underbust of this border print.