Weekend Sewing Project #4

The Flower Girl Dress

I must admit that I am very happy I didn't try to make this dress right after Weekend Sewing first came out. Then I wouldn't have had the benefit of the experiences of all the people who made this dress before me, got really frustrated, and then blogged about it (or discussed their experiences here.) Gosh all their comments were helpful!

I knew the dress ran quite small and that I would need to measure my daughter and not trust the sizing and I knew it would be really hard to get on and off so I added a side zipper. I however didn't know it was going to be almost floor length!

I took up six inches in the hem and it still almost hits the tops of my daughter's feet. When I have some time I'm going to shorten it, but then again, some grow tucks might look cute, too.

I also knew that making the straps adjustable might be a good thing. (Anything to extend the length of time a garment is wearable.) Unfortunately I'm really frustrated about something today (we're all fine and healthy, so don't worry) and decided to take my aggression out on the poor little pearl snaps as I installed them. Oops.

Despite the cracked snaps, I think it is pretty cute. The fabric was from my stash; leftover from an exchange student who gave up on the quilt she was making her dad after she discovered boys. I suggested she take it home with her. She didn't want it, so it has been sitting in my cupboard for a little over three years. The zipper was in my stash too. I think I cut it out of a sweater I felted...

The butterfly fabric was going to be her backing fabric so I have lots of it. If you've got any cute ideas for me on other ways to use it, I'm all ears!

Weekend Sewing Project #3

The Everything Tote

I love how big this bag is! It fills my entire bike basket plus the purple paisley just makes me happy.

When I make another one I plan on doing the handles differently. I didn't really do them the way the book suggests and I'm not thrilled about the way mine turned out They aren't exactly "shoulder friendly" but that's OK - live and learn. (Could it be that I skimmed the directions and thought I understood? Not me.)


I didn't line my handles either. I checked Heather Ross' errata page so I knew I needed one yard of each fabric (instead of the .5 yard listed in the book) but even that wasn't enough. I had to piece my handle pieces, which was a bit of a pain since they were cut on the bias. But, since it was corduroy the seams don't really show. When I make this bag again (and I probably will) I will buy 1.5 yards just to make sure I don't have to piece the handles again. Oh yeah, and I'll pay closer attention to the directions.

Weekend Sewing Project # 2

Fat Quarter Napkins

I didn't use fat quarters. I bought yardage and cut it instead. Except for the backs; those are made from a curtain I made to fit a window in a house we lived in a very long time ago. (Which the pack rat in me knew would come in handy someday. So what if we moved out of that house six years ago and I still had the curtain in my basement.) Of course, I didn't buy enough fabric to make the eight napkins I need for the party, so I ended up with six peppermint ones and two blue ones. Somehow I don't think the birthday boy will mind. He'll just have fun choosing which napkin he wants to use.

I love the weight of these napkins. Since they are two layers of fabric they are heavier than you expect when you pick them up. They ended up taking more time than the ones I make by just rolling the edges on my serger, but I do like how these turned out. They would have been twice as expensive too if I hadn't already had the backing fabric, so I probably won't make these again for myself due to the extra cost. But, they would make a nice gift.

I love making a set of napkins for my son and daughter's family birthday dinners. They look quite festive sitting on the table and every time throughout the year we reuse them, the kids end up reminiscing about their birthday. I get to hear their memories from that day. It is wonderful I tell you, to hear their thoughts pour out. Often they are things I wouldn't have expected them to remember. Plus, this set will be perfect to use around Christmas...

Weekend Sewing Project #1

A skirt for my daughter...

The pattern in the book actually makes a sundress like this one. (You can find its maker here.) It just isn't warm enough to wear something like that on Mackinac, so I made K a skirt instead. The skirt took less than an hour from start to finish. I just love projects like that...

I measured a skirt that K already had and cut my fabric one inch longer. I just cut across the width of the fabric so it ended up being about 44 inches wide. Using my serger, I sewed up the side seam and rolled the top edge. Then I hemmed the bottom and followed Heather's directions to shirr the top. Easy as pie!

I'm pretty happy with the result. Although when I make the next one I will probably go with a smaller width of fabric - maybe 35 inches. This one shirred just fine and will stay up around her little tummy, but I think a tighter waist would be better. I would hate for her to lose her britches while she is running and jumping on the playground at preschool; how embarrassing.

This will be her first year of school. My baby girl is growing up. High school graduation will be here before I know it, won't it. Sigh...

Sew Along

About a month ago my friend Maggie suggested I buy Heather Ross' book Weekend Sewing. I've learned over the years to listen to Maggie, and as usual, I was not disappointed. After I told her how much I liked the book, she suggested we do a "sew along."

So throughout September and October Maggie and I are going to work on some of the projects from Weekend Sewing. Though you know me - I probably won't make things verbatim from the book; I am certain to alter them just a bit. Plus I'll be working on a Candy Land birthday party as well as Halloween costumes, so things won't be 100% Heather Ross around here.

You'll join us, won't you? C'mon, you know you want to! Grab the image above and the button on my sidebar and use them. (If you need help adding it to your side bar email me and I can walk you through it - it's super easy.) Let me know you're in (via comment or email) and I'll include you in a list of participating blogs. Then, as you finish a project from Weekend Sewing, post about it. In two months you might finish one project, or maybe you'll finish three. It really doesn't matter - just be inspired and have some fun. That's what this project is all about.