The Real Washi Dress

Here it is! The real Washi Dress, not from muslin this time. Though I do love the muslin one. This beautiful dress has the feel of a super casual dress but looks like a million bucks! This one will work for a wedding, interview, or just everyday. I loved this fabric when I walked into Bolt, it just lended itself to a dress and to be a true any occasion dress. The vertical vines just pull the eye down the dress

I spent a lot of time testing out the pattern on my "muslin" and was able to get the fit just right before chopping up my good fabric. I was so glad I spent all that time and waited for the tracing paper.

The fit of the original pattern Washi Dress from Made by Rae was very good. I just added in lower bust darts and moved the pleats out so it hung straighter down the front. I hope to try more of her patterns.

So glad it finally looks and feels like spring here in the Pacific Northwest. I've had enough of the grey rain for now.

Those sweet tiny sleeves and bit of shirring are the best details of the dress!

Kuma approved of those pockets in hopes I will fill them with her treats!

Such a cute little keyhole neck, I loved the simple ease of creating this detail and the yoke behind it so it will stay smooth and crisp.

I am now thinking this pattern would make a fabulous skirt with some altering. Well, now that I have successfully made my first clothing item from pattern after following every instruction, its only fitting that I would want to make it my own! Oh well. I loved the techniques this pattern forced me to learn. I stepped out of my comfort circle and I love it! Even if I make this exact dress again it will always be different fabrics and handmade by me!

Adorable Baby Sweater

Don't you just love this sweater. Well, I adore it, and you should too.  I started off really wanting to crochet something and challenge myself all while making a baby gift. Ive never crochet much more than straight rows for scarves and blankets or spirals for hats, bowls and eggs.  I watched a few YouTube videos and settled for this one by Mickey. I liked there was room for a bit of creativity and I didn't need to count stitches much past the second row.  I loved this pattern and and see how easy it would be to size up. Ended up not being so challenging but, more eye opening. Here she is with no trim/border:

Looks so much cleaner with the white trim. I am flipping out I love this so much. I think my dear friend will too.  I want to make another one out of cotton yarn a bit bigger. This is out of acrylic from my stash. I went for the green I had on hand, since they want to go with gender neutral baby items, even though they know they are having a girl. 

I am over the moon also that it only took two evenings while trying to cool off in front of the T.V. Good thing it's a baby sweater since I would be melting while trying to finish this project up. Hopefully it will keep the little one warm in Fall. Maybe Hat to match? I think yes.

Fun Skirt

I had searched for straight shorter skirt that weren't made out of knit. The body con look is not for my hips but, I wanted more of a mini skirt look. I shopped for the better part of a year with no luck. I had a super basic solid skirt black skirt that was out of a rayon. I basically copied its construction. I love love love this bold zig zag Brandon Mably fabric. I had used it in my Mom's quilt and purposely purchased too much. I recently realized it was enough to wrap around my hips. I think that the high quality cotton fabric will be nice for the spring, summer and even the fall with tights. I like the brown & black paired with bright teal and orange. Yum!
Here's how I made it-
I took three measurements:
1.  H- Around the widest part of hips/ buttocks
2. W- Around the smallest part of waist or where you would like to wear your skirt (dont suck in if you want it to fit!)
3. L- Start at point you took measurement W, measure down as long as you would like your skirt to reach (if you are going much past your knees you will need to add in a slit into the hem.)
4. Cut a piece of skirt fabric H+2 x L+3
5. Hem bottom longest side 1 1/2 inch
6. Cut piece of Elastic 1 1/2 width x W-2(or 3 if you want it to have a tighter feel)
7. Cut piece of coordinating band fabric H+2 x 5
8. With a simple fold over 1/2 inch hem the band fabric along both of the longest sides, hem both sides to same side (this seam will show at the top of skirt).
9. Fold the band in half on the longest side, with hems to inside, sew along the fold with a 1/4 seam allowance, Creating finished binding
10. Tack elastic onto the inside of one end of band, make sure the elastic fits tightly into the binding pocket.
12. Take time to pin in the piece of skirt fabric making sure keep the raw edge of the fabric into the binding, matching up seams onto one side of binding.
13. Fold over binding and sew paying attention to outside seam, use piece of elastic to keep straight line. don't sew into the elastic (your just making a pocket over the elastic).
14. Find the unattached end of elastic in the binding pull tight and attach to end of binding.
15. Match ends of the binding and hem of skirt and sew 1/2 seam allowance
16. Roll over seam allowance and sew again (creates a more finished inside)
17. Turn right side out and ENJOY!
This skirt took me 45 minutes , including fabric brainstorming time at the beginning.
 I can't wait for this cool weather to move on and I can test it out!

Rainy Spring Day

Today was a rather cold gray spring day. I chose not to leave the house. Instead, I slept in, payed bills, did laundry, watched basketball and planned a graduation party for my hubby getting his Masters. I wanted to use this day to be crafty. I never get as much done as I want to but, I did put yellow edge on a few more granny squares. I love the first two rows that I put together way too early. There are other blocks I haven't even began, I generally don't move forward in my processes until the last task is finished. However, I always have multiple projects going on at once. I think that habit actually holds me back in creative exploration sometimes..I'll finish this someday!

I also found time today to make this skirt out of fabric I bought last summer. I had always pictured a skirt like this when I first laid eyes on this fabulous print. This fabric is way out of my general clothing color scheme. I tend to lean towards natural colors. for summer I will venture out of that box. I made it a bubble hem, It makes the hem look a little crazy in the photo. I used a heavier black fabric as the lining and cut it 5 inch shorter than the print.  The waist line band is cut from a super thick stretchy knit. I have used this black knit for multiple clothing applications, this was the last scrap. Looks like I might have to take a trip to Mary Jo's to get more. I look for any reason to go to Mary Jo's!

More Sunflowers!

One of the mammoth sunflowers is trying to open up. I am super excited about how big and beautiful these flowers are going to be. We have had a very hot spring and even hotter summer. I know we have had some afternoon down pours. However, the real credit to the success of these flowers goes to the hubby who waters them twice daily. They add something lovely to the chain link fence.

This is one of the lovely crape myrtle trees in my yard. Even thought the little pink flowers are all over my path and car I still love it. So pretty! I do have to say that it seems a bit early for the blooms. I love our little home, too bad its not ours.

Yellow Summer Skirt

I have been wanting to make more clothes. I went through a phase in High School where I made clothes. I mostly made summery tops and a few skirts. One of the skirts I still wear and get many complements on. I think that is much simpler to make skirts than most think. I have a 4-paneled skirt that my great-aunt made years ago. I think it is most comfortable thing I own. I wanted to make more like it. I found this beautiful yellow poplin and decided it was destined for a skirt. I bought too much fabric of course and will have to decide on another item to make with it. I found simple instructions years ago to make a 6- paneled skirt. I had copied them down in my notes. I ended up making a template and cuting six from the poplin and six shorter ones for the lining (an old yellow bed sheet) and sewing them together. My waist measurements were a tad big so I added elastic waist band and gathered it mainly in the back so that the front would be smooth. I wanted to add pockets but totally forgot until it was all stitched together. I will make another soon, but with pockets. I have not hemmed the skirt yet. What do you think?