Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Rainy Day Sewing : :

Yesterday was the best sewing day I have had in awhile! It rained all afternoon and the kids didn't mind one bit. We all worked on our own inside projects, which of course for me meant sewing!

I finished up my niece Sylvia's birthday crown and decided rather than making her a pillow, I would try to make her a little dress. YES!

The Charlotte Apron Dress Pattern by The Cottage Mama

Did you see, I joined in The Cottage Mama Pattern ~Blog Tour~ that my friend Lindsay, The Cottage Mama, is hosting all month to launch her three new amazing sewing patterns, The Ruby Ruffle Dress, Charlotte Apron Dress and the Run Around Romper. Now you're probably thinking, "What, Maureen you don't sew clothes??" And, you'd be right! I have only ever made one skirt for my daughter. But once I saw the Charlotte Apron Dress, I just had to make it! This was both my opportunity and the push I needed.

I had planned on making a dress for Haila, but like I mentioned the other week -- all the half yd fabric stashing I have done throughout these last two years hasn't been good when it comes to backing quilts and now for garment sewing. So, I decided the perfect answer was to try my dress-making skills out on a special outfit for my little, soon-to-be one years old niece Sylvia.

I'll be sharing more on Monday with a Pattern Giveaway!! But here's a little peek. I wanted to make something fun and colorful. Little Sylvia does live in Hawaii after all, lucky kid!!

Dress Details

I learned so much making this dress! First, that I can actually do this -- that's a big one! Lindsay's instructions were so well written that there wasn't a single point during the making when I thought or yelled out, "Wait...what???" And, I got to try out the Gathering Stitch on my Janome, which is amazing!

Gathering Stitch

and another, beautiful leafy stitch detail as a top-stitch on each strap.

Leafy Stitch

I think this pattern was such a success, that I may have finally caught the "clothes sewing bug" and I'm pretty sure my daughter's on board!

I also received some happy fabric mail recently -- have you see LillyBelle by Bari J. for Art Gallery Fabrics? It's the first stack of fat quarters that I get to turn into a tutorial for The Fat Quarter Gang. I'm so excited! This is the Cool Sunrise palette -- it's so pretty!

LillyBella by Bari J. for Art Gallery Fabrics

Just look at how perfectly my favorite Garden Rocket print goes with my Blogger Bundle, Sweet Summer Dreams, that I put together for Pink Castle Fabrics. I love it! This WILL become a quilt, just as soon as I can get some yardage of this Garden Rocket in turquoise.

My Bundle for Pink Castle Fabrics + My very favorite LillyBella print = LOVE!

Today the sun in shining bright! Happy Wednesday, Friends!   Maureen

34 comments:

  1. Love the dress you made!!! Love the fabrics you chose, and love that you are sewing!!! :) Sylvia will look adorable in this new apron dress. I am always inspired with good color combos!!! :)

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    1. Thank you so much! I am beyond thrilled that I pulled it off! I think this is the beginning of a whole new sewing world for me, which has me so excited today!

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  2. Oh can't wait to see the full dress! Looks adorable:) Love your blog! Such an inspiration:)

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    1. Thank you! I took so many pictures, but like I said -- it was a dark and rainy day, so I might have to do a re-do on those. Be sure to stop back Monday!!

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  3. you are a tease only sharing that much! your sneaky peaky pics reveal such a cute dress and it looks like you are getting along very well with your sewing machine! i want a gathering stitch on my sewing machine! can't wait to see what other clothes you make! xo

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  4. I've just recently started following your blog and liked you on fb. I'm loving your creativity!!

    I love, love, love the speek peek! I can't wait to see the fabric you used on the dress and I'm sure Sylvia will look precious. You'll need to post a full picture. So smart of you using the leafy topstitch, looks good!

    As for the gathering stitch, you're making me wonder if I have one on my machine. I do sew clothes (not as much as I would like) but I've always just used the basting stitch for gathering. Now, you've got me wondering. Also, does your gathering stitch make a knot at the end so that the thread doesn't slip? How exactly does it work?

    Is almost a post rather than a comment. Sorry for the rambling!!!

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    1. Thank you SO Much!!! Trust me, it was really hard not to reveal the whole dress, but I'm scheduled to share on Monday, so I have to wait!

      Honestly, I think the basting stitch does the same. It didn't knot the end for me, but it is still such a nice feature to have. I just simply pushed buttons and it did all the work. :)

      I do love my Janome!!

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    2. So the first thing I do when I get home, I look to see if I have a gathering stitch, I don't. I d have alot of fancy stitches and a leafy type stitches. You've really got me wanting to try every single stitch on a project!!!

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  5. Cute dress pattern Maureeen!! I love the fabric combo you chose. Looks very happy! I started out sewing clothes and still love to, even though I also enjoy home dec sewing and quilting. I think sewing clothes gives you a really good sewing background as there are so many techniques that you need to learn.

    Today is officially my first day off of work for summer - and yes, that means I'll actually have some time for sewing...yay!!

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  6. It will be fun to see the final results on Monday. The preview sure is cute. I love how you combine colors and how it all works. You have quite the eye!

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  7. Cute, cute dress! Hooray for you! Hope you and your daughter can team up on a sundress project.

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  8. Ohhh I bet the dress is going to be gorgeous! I've never seen a leafy stitch before, but that is amazing too!! Your so GOOOOD!

    Paula

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  9. So pretty! Can't wait to see the entire dress! Thanks!

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  10. So, so cute Maureen!! Sylvia is a lucky little girl! =D

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  11. You're forgetting about that super cute Halloween Little Red outfit you made Haila this year! Remember silly? When I saw that, I remember thinking that you should be making clothes. I hope that this is the beginning of a new fun sewing adventure for you!

    Carrie

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    1. How could I forget that!! That was actually more of an apron, which I LOVE to make, you may have noticed!! I just finished tracing and cutting pattern pieces for a size 6 -- cannot wait!!

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  12. I love Lindsay's patterns, so cute, and those details you added are fab, such a great way to use fancy stitches!

    Loving the new pile of 'soon-to-be-quilt'

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  13. oh the colors! love them all.

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  14. SO excited to see it!! I got a bunch of LilyBelle at Sample Spree at market......I LOVE it! I got the more mustard colorway but I love them all :)

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  15. I love the stitching you used on the straps! I need an updated sewing machine LOL. I can't believe this is the first dress you've made! I can't wait to see the entire thing, and to see the rest of the patterns...going to check those out! The new fabric looks great too!

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  16. That is the cutest little dress. I love sewing clothes! I made most of my clothes for many years, and sewing for my daughter was such a joy. Now I sew for my granddaughter.

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  17. The dress is precious. Especially love the decorative top stitch. Oh how I miss having a little girl. I keep some of the jumpers I made her in my stash. Can't wait to see more.

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  18. Love the little peak! The colours and fabrics look great together. Soon you'll get the bug and be making clothes like crazy =D

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  19. Hurray for you, Maureen! Glad your clothes experience was so smooth sailing. Now we both just need to keep on trying these things =)

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  20. Umm, I am drooling over ALL of the above. Every time you show something cool your Janome does, it makes me wish for one a little bit more. And that fabric bundle? Gorgeous!!

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  21. Amazing Maureen! I'm blown away by the leafy stitch detail! I can't wait to see it on Sylvia. Thanks for thinking of her!!!
    Love,
    corey

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  22. Dress details look wonderful - the button is just perfect!
    Fabrics are lovely too :)

    Hugs,
    Tatyana

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  23. I love the little leaf stitch, and I'm so impressed with this little dress! Ooh, and your bundle with the LillyBelle print is awesome! That will be a fantastic quilt!

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  24. That is one incredible dress! Too bad I only have nephews, I would try to make this for a niece in a heartbeat. :-)

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  25. That's so cool! I love your dress. And your machine... *swoon* I need a new machine so badly. I know you did a post on it, but what machine is it?

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  26. This is so beautiful! You inspired me to make some dresses for my daughter (mine aren't nearly so pretty) you did a really beautiful job!

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