- Khaki twill skirt for me. This is the same fabric as the short skirt I made last fall. I wore it a lot over the summer but I really wanted something longer for cooler weather. I didn’t have very much fabric to work with due to the first skirt being bias cut, so I decided a yoked skirt would be my best bet for getting as much length as possible. I used the skirt from Ottobre 5/2007 (#3-4-9-18 all use the same basic pattern) and added 8″ to the length (I sliced my pattern in 2 different places). I would have added a little more but I had to work with my yardage.
- Bible cover, blogged about here. I forgot to link to the basic directions I followed; in case you were wondering you can find those here. We’ve covered a number of composition books this way (the kids use them for assignment books) and I tweaked it a couple years ago to cover the three ring binder I use for my school stuff.
- Olive twill skirt. This was not your run of the mill cotton twill, it was a rayon-cotton blend with hint of lycra: it drapes beautifully! I drafted my own pattern by hand for this one, six gores, plain jane waistband, side zipper. I have all sorts of ideas for dressing this one up for church and down for everyday wear.
Archive for the 'Ottobre' Category
- Fall apron, blogged here.
- Fall tablecloth–We now use 2 leaves in the table even without company, so I only had one fall cloth that kind of fit. So I bought some extra wide fabric (meant for backing quilts) in a dark brown tone on tone and finished it off with a rolled hem on the serger.
- Wool gabardine vest & pants for Drama Boy. The pants are Ottobre 4/2004 #25, size 158 with no alterations. They turned out really well except I got the waistband flipped somehow so that the nicely finished end is under the not-so-nice end. I might have fixed it but was running out of time by the time I realized my mistake. I like the cuffs; as he grows they can be untacked for added length. I originally planned to make a jacket as well, but discovered the Ottobre boys blazer stopped several sizes too small. So I pulled out my trusty old Simplicity 7030 to make him a vest but he is right between the boys’ large and mens’ small. I ended up taking in the mens’ pattern to fit him, again allowing length for growing.
- Totebag for a gift.
- Cotton interlock nightgown for me, using the girls gown #18 from Ottobre 4/2005 sized up to a 170.
- Half a dozen flannel panty liners.
Next up: a couple new skirts for me and a wool jersey cardigan. It seems like these were also on my October to sew list, but I am pleased with what I did get sewn.
I seem to be in a bit of a sewing funk as it really did take me all month to sew this cute little linen sailor suit for Baby Boy’s 2 year old pictures. I hope it still fits next spring when warm weather returns to Wyoming!
The linen fabrics, white trim, and sailboat buttons were purchased in a bundle from Farmhouse Fabrics. The shirt is from Ottobre 3/2009, #13 (“Skipper” sailor shirt) and the pants are from 3/2006 #12 (3/4-length pants), both in size 86. My only alteration was to add enough length to make full length pants instead of 3/4 length; I also omitted the side leg pockets and inserted trim in the side seams.
Added bonus: picture of Bouncy Boy’s shirt for his 7 year old picture, sewn in August.
While wearing my Stream dress this morning, I realized that while I blogged about it, I had never shared a picture. Time to fix that!
I actually wore a yellow sash to the wedding, but was in a pink mood today. If you want details about the construction and my changes, follow the link above; the only other item of note is that I do find it helpful to pin the front facing to my unmentionables. This keeps the shoulder seams from drifting to the back.
It’s true: I spent most of August procrastinating on the Swing dress. But it is finally done, along with a few quicker projects!
- 4 pillowcases which are gifts for some of my favorite children.
- Navy sweatpants, a “because I can” sort of project. We require the boys to wear long pants for their lawn mowing jobs, and all of Drama Boy’s pants were dirty one morning. He had a half hour wait while Larry got his allergy shot, so I told him if he watched Baby Boy I would make him sweatpants from a piece of french terry in my stash. He did and I did. I used the pants pattern from Kwik Sew’s Sewing for Children. He needed the largest size, and I added a bit of length just because he’s a 12 year old boy. I laid the front and back pattern pieces together to eliminate the side seams, and used ribbing cuffs at the hems. Voila–half hour pants.
- 1940s swing dress, already blogged about here.
- Plaid shirt for Bouncy Boy’s birthday picture, using Ottobre 1/2003 #26 (size 104 with added length in the torso). It’s almost done, as soon as I make button holes and sew on the buttons I picked up in Casper yesterday.
September plans: linen sailor suit for Baby Boy’s birthday picture. Then. . .I don’t know. Start thinking about fall/winter clothes, I guess. A nightgown without nursing openings would be nice, and I’d like to finally sew up that piece of wool coating before the snow flies. I also have a pattern that I think would make a good knitting bag for bigger projects. We’ll see!
(I know, this is incredibly delayed–I forgot I had this picture on my camera until I uploaded the banana bread picture Saturday night.)
Here are Twirly Girl’s blue ribbon fair projects. The orange and yellow floral denim and white rick rack are from my stash, both well-aged. Her bag is actually a beginner project from Nebraska 4-H’s sewing materials (thanks again, Diane!). Her skirt is from Ottobre 4/2004, design #10, which has a yoke and six gores. She made size 122 with length added. I traced the pattern, figuring most girls would use a pattern that did not need tracing. She did the rest herself. She finished her seam allowances with zigzag as she’s not ready for the serger yet; some of the seams are pressed open but most are pressed to one side and topstitched. I already blogged about her matching top, which I sewed although she added the applique.
She’s full of ideas for next year’s projects, including pajamas for Baby Boy. . .but I notice she hasn’t been in the sewing room since she finished sewing the trim on her skirt.
I can’t remember how many summers I’ve had this piece of tan gingham stretch shirting in my stash, but I do remember that I’ve always intended to make it into a short sleeved blouse. I finally did it! Part of the procrastination had to do with not wanting it to be a maternity or nursing blouse, but a lot of it had to do with not being able to decide on a pattern. I played with my Boutique software several times, but never hit on the right design.
Finally, I decided that the “vintage blouse” (#1) from Ottobre 5/2007 was close enough. I traced off a size 38, shortening it 2″. This pattern has long sleeves, so I substituted the short sleeve pattern from the linen blouse I made from 5/2008. The sleeve caps weren’t a perfect match, but since both had some gathering/easing I was able to make it fit. The main change I made, however, was to replace each of the four waist darts with a trio of pin tucks (matching the center tuck to the center of that dart). I like this placement on the back of the blouse; I wonder if I should have moved the front pleats a bit closer to the center front. I do wish I had tried my blouse on before making buttonholes. The top button seems a bit high on me, but it must be buttoned unless I am wearing a camisole.
Hopefully you can see enough of my blouse to get the general idea! Baby Boy woke up unhappy, and I figured it was better to pick him up than have him wiping his eyes on my skirt. I’m especially happy with the fabric; I needed to iron my blouse after machine washing and line drying, but it doesn’t wrinkle at all while being worn.
Twirly Girl is working a skirt for her 4-H project. She will need to model it later this month, so I thought she might like to applique a shirt to match. Of course the sensible thing would be to buy a white t-shirt for this project, but instead I found some soft white interlock in my stash and turned to Ottobre. After all, it would be easier for her to applique a flat piece than an already constructed top! My first inclination was to grab the tried & true t-shirt patterns from 1/2003, but instead I picked up this summer’s issue, 3/2009, and decided to try #29 (the yellow t-shirt with button “necklace” pictured on the front cover).
This is a size 122 with no alterations. Hems are all lettuce hems using the serger, and instead of the buttons Twirly Girl appliqued a square of her skirt fabric near the hem. I probably would have put it front and center, but this is her project. I love how the bound neckline and puffed sleeves elevate the simple t-shirt to a sweet, girly top.
Edited to add: I realized I did not clarify, I made the shirt and Twirly Girl did the applique. She’s a decent seamstress for a 9 year old, but she’s not ready to tackle knits yet.
This was the month for “vacation sewing”: all those little last minute projects you think of sewing right before going somewhere.
- Gifts for my nieces: a cotton batik dress and bloomers for the baby, and a blouse for the 4yo. Ottobre 2/2005, #3 in size 62 (the petal dress, minus the petals) and #11 in size 98. Having this issue open makes me want to make the drop seat romper for Baby Boy; I had made it for Silly Boy but Baby Boy outgrew it before last summer.
- Another Flirty Skirty apron gift, this time for a friend we’ve stayed with on our trip.
- Something for me to wear to the wedding tomorrow evening, Ottobre 2/2009 #14 (“Stream” dress). I used cocoa brown bamboo-cotton jersey from fabric.com; my only alteration was to add 2″. I deliberated some time whether to make it knee length or long, knowing that one would be more flattering and the other more comfortable (for me). I finally went for comfort: I don’t mind looking short (I AM short!) and I will be relaxing with my family and friends. I made 2 sashes to wear with it, one bright pink and the other yellow; you’ll have to wait for pictures to see which one I decide to wear. This dress was very easy to sew and I recommend following Pam’s tip for the draped neckline (sorry I couldn’t get it to link directly; you’ll have to scroll down to Fold & Flip Facings).
- A quick pair of cropped pj pants for Twirly Girl, because her favorite nightgown is now tunic length (I only made it 4 years ago! LOL). I used some lavendar cotton jersey and trimmed the legs with the same decorative elastic I had used on the gown. I used an Ottobre pattern but can’t remember which one
- Two new slips for me, cut from old tricot nightgowns. I use the pattern from the Kwik Sew lingerie book.
- A quick sundress for Twirly Girl, using that fabric that already has elastic shirring on one side (purchased on clearance last fall, of course!).
Sewing plans for June:
- Start on Christmas gifts.
- Another blouse and/or skirt for me.
- And maybe that summer purse that didn’t get sewn before vacation!
And you thought I forgot. . .well, actually I did! Larry had district convention last week so I was a little swamped keeping up at home.
- 2 yellow bowties for the big boys (see our Easter picture), tried & true Big 3 pattern (Simplicity I think).
- Blouse for me (Ottobre 5/2008, #3), already blogged about.
- Finished my hoodie (Ottobre 5/2007, #19). . .thanks again for the zipper, Mom! No picture yet; I used a natural colored cotton sweatshirt fleece with brown jersey for the hood lining and pocket binding, which will go well with my summer clothes on cool mountain evenings (or in over-air conditioned buildings).
- Two quick totebags from a home dec remnant: one was a gift for my LWML prayer partner, the other one is currently holding the dishcloths I’ve been knitting.
- Hemmed an outgrown pair of sweats into shorts so Twirly Girl had something to wear for soccer.
Next up: Gifts for nieces. Dress to wear to a wedding. Another short sleeve shirt or two for me. A new summer purse would be nice too. . .why do I always have more sewing ideas than time?
