Bowling Shirt

This pattern is one of my fav's!  I've made it twice so far and have another ready to cut out.  I love that you can customize it to your hearts content.   It's another Scientific Seamstress pattern (can you tell I'm addicted?)  The bowling shirt really is awesome.

With this shirt, my four year old picked out the fabric for himself.  He's one of those opinionated types.  I actually love that he knows what he wants to wear.  I wish I was more decisive like that.

I tried to talk him into cute robots, but when he started noticing the skull/crossbones fabric I realized we were good with flames and I better stop trying to debate the issue.  It's Alexander Henry fabric and we found it at JoAnns.  The black is just kona cotton.

 Yep.  I would consider that a win.

Shana Tunic

  

I made another Sis Boom pattern this week.  I decided to try the Shana tunic and I love it.  It was tons of fun to sew.  I must somewhat selfishly admit, that I like sewing for myself.  Especially since discovering the Scientific Seamstress/Sis Boom patterns.  They fit right for me every time. 

 

Carla's instructions are impeccable as always.  I made the XS and it still plenty roomy making it very comfy to wear.  The pattern gives you plenty of options to customize.  I made the 28 inch length.  I did modify the sleeves because I didn't want the pleated sleeve in the pattern.  I taped all the sleeve pattern pieces together and then folded it so that the piece tapered down.  I found the fabric at JoAnns.  Hello 50% off!  Whoot!  Love those deals!

The neckline does take some time, but it isn't hard.  I thought it looked intimidating, but it went together just fine.

Rosie Crossbody Bag

 One of my most favorite things is to make bags.  Love, love, love making them.  As a result, I often give away bags for presents.  This bag is one I made for my niece. 

The pattern is the Rosie Crossbody bag by Swoon (affiliate link) .  Alicia at Swoon patterns is great!  She comes up with new designs often and they are always reasonably priced.

The hardware on this bag comes from one of those hefty, vintage, soft-body, overnight type bags.  The hardware was glorious.  I love re-purposing and the vintage bag that had this hardware was no longer in usable condition.  Seriously, you can't find hardware that amazing anymore. 

 The fabric on the flap and the interior is by Alexander Henry.  I took my breath away when I first laid eyes on it.

I was terrified to cut into the fabric.  Almost paralyzed that I would make a mistake.  So I let it sit on my table for weeks before I was brave enough to try.  I finally decided that what would help was to cut out the flap pattern out of parchment paper so I could see through it and then place the parchment pattern piece on the fabric, moving it around until I found the placement that was just right.  I still second guessed myself several times.

 I kinda think I need to take time to make one for me.

Jamie Dress

I've recently discovered the pdf pattern world. 

I learned to sew in a cool, upstairs room of my high school with Mrs. Lewis our wonderfully patient home ec teacher.  We all gathered together to giggle, gossip and try to sew sweatshirts as a first project (I made mine this HUGE, gray thing because the style at the time must have been to wear ginormous shirts and see how poofy your hair could get),  and then we were able to pick projects of our own.  Mrs. Lewis carefully taught us what the elusive instructions meant, and if you came to her with tears in your eyes, she would even help unpick your mistakes. 

If you don't have a Mrs. Lewis in your life, learning to sew can be frustrating.  Enter the  pdf designer.  Many pdf designers give tutorial-like instructions and many, many pictures so that a beginning seamstress can follow along and learn new skills.

Not all pdf pattern designers are equal, but I have fallen in love with the designs and expert instructions of Carla Crim, the Scientific Seamstress who also designs patterns for Sis Boom.  You seriously can not go wrong with her patterns.  I have been sewing for at least 25 years and I learn some new construction technique every time I have sewn one of her patterns. 

This dress was supposed to be my Easter dress, but I didn't have time to finish it in time for Easter after working diligently on my girls dresses that week and I had been busy procrastinating the weeks before that.  I decided to sew the Jamie dress for me. 

On thing that makes Carla's patterns so great is that the sizes aren't nested together.  She gives you the pages you need to print for your size.  So while the pattern may have an enormous amount of pages with fantastic instructions, you only need to print the pattern pieces for your size and then just read the instructions right off the screen.  Saves a ton on ink which is one of the downfalls of a pdf pattern.   

  

I bought fabric, thinking I would go with a different length of skirt, but then spontaneously decided to go with the maxi length.  I wasn't able to follow her hemming instructions as I was trying to squeeze as much length out of of the fabric as I could and I kind of wish it was maybe just a touch longer.

I did add one pocket.  The side zip goes down too far to add pockets to both sides, but I love a pocket in a dress so I added it.  I used the pocket pattern piece from another of her patterns, the Angie.  A mom needs a pocket for taking snotty Kleenex or for  hiding the matchbox car all the kids decided to fight over right in the middle of church.

Another change I will most likely make when I made another one for me, is making the skirt a little less full.  That is just personal preference.  My daughter is already begging me for a dress of her own like this and I think the fuller skirt will be perfect for her. 

I'm loving this dress this summer because it is very wearable and easy.