Yes, actual sewing, not imaginary wishful thinking sewing. Yesterday's meeting of the Brooklyn Burdastyle Sewing Club got me so revved up I actually opened my sewing cabinet for the first time in four months, dug up a few of my many unfinished objects, and... sewed! (Z was taking a nap on Masheka's chest at the time, in case you were curious).
Thankfully I still remembered how. By the time Z got up from her nap, I had almost finished two dresses for her, and it felt great. The polka dot one just needs hemming and a back neck closure button, and the medallion-patterned one needs the same, plus the skirt.
The pattern is Simplicity 3765 (full project details here). I actually cut these out in March, the same week I started this blog. I was visiting family in Massachusetts for my baby shower and my cousin's bar mitzvah, so my mom and I took a quick trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics, bought some cheap quilting cotton and a baby pattern. I cut out the fabric pieces, started to sew... and promptly got the flu and never touched them again.
Luckily I decided to make a 12-month size (since we got so many gifts in smaller sizes). Z is already wearing 9 and 12 month sizes in ready to wear, but these dresses are HUGE and probably won't fit her til spring.
A few lessons learned so far:
- I still suck at gathering. Four months off has not given me the magical ability to make it even without the help of way too many pins and measuring. Grrr.
- I won't sew clothes from Jo-Ann's brand quilting cotton again, even baby clothes. The patterns and colors are great, but it has no drape at all and the prints are totally off grain, so I had to give up on matching them in any way. I know quilting cotton is not meant for adult apparel, but I figured it'd be ok for a kid... and I may have figured wrong.
The other unfinished object I may finish in the next month is my chartreuse wrap cardigan (last seen here as a muslin) which is all cut out and 75% sewn. I'm almost pre-preggo size again, but I think it will still look nice belted/wrapped.
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Looks really cute. I love those colours!
ReplyDeleteThey're very cute!
ReplyDelete(I can add some words of wisdom for you, which you can heed or ignore as you like: 1) quilting cotton only works for kids' clothes if it's high-quality, in which case it's fab and 2) Big4 kids' patterns are HUMONGOUS. Just overall. HU-MON-GOUS. Which works out great if you're sewing ahead, but not great if you're trying to make an Easter dress the day before Easter.
Don't ask how I know that.
this is a great gathering tutorial that makes things a bit simpler:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/gatherfabrictutorial.htm
the dresses are still adorable w/o the patterns matching, great to see you sewing again!
Those dresses look lovely! I love the colours you picked and the patterns.
ReplyDeleteI think the dresses are gorgeous! Like you, I have vowed not to use quilting cotton from Joanns for the same reasons you stated. Drape IS important! Thanks for sharing your dresses, and I hope to see more of the projects you work on!
ReplyDeleteI love them, they are super cute- the colors and the pattern. I hate it when the fabric is not up to par. The good thing is that the dresses are miniature size so it isn't as big a deal. Baby Z has to be the best dressed baby on the block! :)
ReplyDeleteSo cute!! I love that pattern. My little princess has a couple of those dresses, too.
ReplyDeleteI have to echo beangirl's words of wisdom. Good quality quilting cotton is great for kids clothes, and Big 4 baby patterns are drafted for GIANT babies!
Beautiful! Love hearing the delight in your writing about getting to create again with the sewing machine.
ReplyDeleteI've used that pattern before. It makes great outfits. However, I've had to tack the ties at the side seams to make them more manageble. Z is very adorable, and will look lovely in them :) congratulations for such a beautiful baby!
ReplyDeleteI ADORE POLKA DOTS! i'm pretty chuffed ive found your blog ^^ nice designs ^^
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