“Any boy would like that Mom”

            

(you can click on any photo for a larger version)

Here are photos of this weekend’s project.  A robe for my nephew Cass.  It has one of those great big boxer-robe-like hoods.

He is 6 months younger than HBI so I let him pick out the fabric and of course be my try-on model…(little does he know that I’ll be making a second one of these for him..!!)

Last night after the final hemming, I asked him “so do you think Cass will like it?”…and his oh-so-sweet-make-yer-momma’s-heart-melt response was “I think any boy would like that Mom”.

What I learned:

1)  be careful not to catch multiple layers of cloth under the needle….(!)

2)  When the pattern doesn’t make sense, just make it up.  The whole neckline/attach the hood / front facing part was a bit of a nightmare.

3)  I can do this in about 6 hours from cutting fabric to finishing hem.  I found out sewing is one of the few things that I can keep my eyes open past 10 pm for.

Something New for a Pretty Little Girl

(you can click on any of the photos to make them larger)

Now I know why I don’t like to follow patterns.  fyi…anything with a gathered shirring should not be listed as ‘EASY SEW’.

I started with this oh-so-cute flannel fabric .

 

I ended with a nightie for my beautiful niece Eva.

 

Project Highlights: 

1) repositioning the pattern FIVE TIMES.  I have forgotten alot about patterns….plus the fabric I bought was 107 cm and the pattern was made for 115 cm.

2) I didn’t like the idea of bias ply tape for the elastic casing so I made my own little tubes (man, that took forever to turn those inside out…but I love the result!)

3)  For a size 5 it looks really big.  I had HBI try it on for me (!!) and the neck is pretty big on him, so on a 4-year old…..hmmm.  All you sewers out there can tsk tsk now…I didn’t prewash the fabric.  I know I know, but flannel never looks as nice as it does before that first wash does it?  So…maybe once it goes through the wash it will be more like a size 5. (????)

I’ve got some pretty nifty ideas for my next repurposed project…stay tuned…I don’t think I can keep churning them out one per day, but we’ll see how it goes.

I so rock, and had no idea…

(you can click on any of the photos and see a larger version)

ok, ok

 What do you get when you take a corduroy skirt with a funky leather laceup, a logo t-shirt and a webbed belt?

Only the coolest REPURPOSED bag that the coolest auntie will probably give to her coolest niece this Christmas.  (of course at the risk that I have NO idea what cool is).  Denise:  if you are reading this, don’t say a word, or show her…

Check out how cool the tshirt lining turned out…

Other than the belt strap stitching, she may even choose to carry it inside-out.

I grabbed a scrap of the corduroy and zig-zagged the inside back of the shirt to it…I love the pocket..!!! 

It’s a little big ( I think the skirt was a size 16) so maybe next time I’d look for something  a bit smaller, but it’s still a good size for schoolbooks.

What I learned: 

#1 my sewing machine is not strong enough to go through 8 layers of corduroy….I broke one needle and bent one.

#2 I can do this (!) in an evening or less…

#3 I think I need to set up a corner downstairs…I went to the vintage shops today and picked up some really cool funky retro fabrics.  I might even try to follow a pattern for those.

#4 D-Rings are stupid expensive.  Buy webbed belts at the vintage shops for a quarter and cut’em off.

I rock.  Who knew?

Santa Stars

These little guys were made pattern-less.  I also made white ones, but they didn’t make it on to this string. 

The cat really likes to play with them.I went a little crazy and madea  few dozen.  Now I have a bunch left that are faceless….I got tired of the hot-glue burning my fingers.

 Cute little fellas…

Fun & Funky Stockings

Take a pile of scrap fabric, a sewing machine I hardly know how to use, and an evening with my son, and what do you get??

Some pretty fabulous teeny tiny stockings!

These are about 6 or 7 inches tall and I just have to add a loop for hanging.  They will probably be stuffed with candy and be used as gift tags this year. 

What fun!