It might be somewhat surprising, but my son's pre-school classroom at the Google Childcare Center doesn't have computers for the children's use. Instead, (and among many other awesome features, like a real woodworking station) they have a sewing station, with two regular sewing machines, an iron, fabric cutting table with a large Olfa mat, and… Continue reading Starting ’em early!
At the suggestion of several readers (thank you for rescuing me from indecision!) for uses for this striped canary ponte knit from Mood , I went with the Vogue. Here's a refresher of the pattern (Vogue 8663) envelope, now out of stock:What is most distinctive (and worth sewing, in my opinion) is the pleated neckline.… Continue reading Last vestige of summer dress–Vogue 8663
My family and I just returned from a nearly two week vacation to Homer, Alaska to visit my husband's parents. It was lovely and peaceful, and we did a million things a person can't do in Silicon Valley: digging for clams, picking rhubarb, wild raspberries and blueberries (I made jam!), fishing for halibut, salmon, dolly… Continue reading Return from Alaska and sewing indecision
After exposing my bra to my friend (and most likely many others) while wearing my original Myrtle top out for drinks the other night, I decided to reduce the depth of the cowl for my second Myrtle. If you are less well-endowed than the C cup Colette designs for, this might be a good adjustment… Continue reading Tutorial: reducing the cowl neckline on the Myrtle dress
After making my wearable muslin top of the Myrtle dress by Colette Patterns, I immediately geared up for making a second version. I made some pattern adjustments: reduced the depth of cowl (tutorial up tomorrow!), as well as some petite adjustments of the bodice at the waist AND the upper bodice to shorten the armholes.… Continue reading Myrtle dress in stretch silk
I guess it's a little silly since I just drafted and released my own (free!) cowl-neck pattern, but I just had to buy Colette's newest release, the Myrtle dress. It was like a black hole, just pulling me in: I couldn't resist! I love a casual dress, and this pattern looked like it would be… Continue reading Cropped Myrtle dress and pattern review
Kids Clothes Week was just the thing I needed to get my mojo back. I've been sewing a little bit, but I haven't felt like it was going well--lots of struggles, some unblogged failures, that darn washed fabric. For me, kid sewing is like down-shifting: the sewing is fairly easy and the pay-off is pretty… Continue reading (Another) perfect polo for my littlest man
I'd like to say that I needed a new bag to haul all our towels to the beach, but the truth is, I haven't been to the ocean yet this summer (insert sad face *here*). No, this bag is the result of falling in love with this navy-gray canvas with silhouette birds (Birch Flight in… Continue reading Poolside Tote by Noodlehead
I miss my Grandpa--living clear across the country from my entire family, I don't get many opportunities to head back east to visit him. So while watching the episode of the Great British Sewing Bee where they made men's pajamas (which, incidentally has been removed from YouTube and now I can't watch any of the… Continue reading PJs for my Grandpa
No, no awards were won for this dress--hope I didn't misrepresent myself there! However, the fabric (Anna Maria Horner's Flower Circuit in linen) is what I bought with a gift certificate as part of the prize for my winning skirt from Skirt Week 2013! That counts for something, right? Mostly the print just reminds me of… Continue reading Blue ribbon dress
Bea & Lucille 