dress up days for a 3 year old

Someone turns three today.  And it's kind of killing me!  Her birthday always make me feel so nostalgic for some reason.  Partly because her birth coincided with our last move and by her turning 3 it signals that it's time for us to pick up and leave again.  Ugh.  Leaving is always the hardest part - yes, I am excited for our new home and another adventure.  But it breaks my heart every time I have to say good bye to friends and a place I've come to love.  But more on that later...

Look who's three!!

I don't know what it is about her, but she breaks the tension, makes me laugh and smile and soothes my frazzled self when I need it. I don't know if that comes with being #3 or being doted on as the baby or what. But she's been a bright spot in the past year full of deployment stress and all of that fun stuff.

Shari from Doohikey Designs for Riley Blake sent me some of her darling Dress Up Days fabric to make babylouwho a dress. I love this pattern so much (Simplicity 5695) that this is the 3rd dress I've made with it!  It comes together so easily and is so comfortable to wear!  And easy to adapt to whatever fabric you might have on hand!

I just love the bicycles and the flowers and the chevrons and the tiles!  It was the perfect fit for this pattern.

I left the elastic out of the sleeves on this one, just for a change and I really like the way it looks!

I told her a few weeks ago that she wasn't allowed to turn 3. She looked at me very seriously and said, "OK mommy. I won't turn 3". A week or so later one of my friends asked her how old she would be on her birthday and straight faced replied, "I'm not allowed to turn 3."

So excuse me while I mourn the loss of my newborn and celebrate her spunky 3 year old self!

throwback tuesday - serger edition

I know, it's usually Throwback Thursday but with all of the serger love I've been feeling from making the skirt from yesterday's post I thought I would bring back a post I wrote almost 4 years ago when I got my serger!  It's a bit of a fun story, I think!

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May 2009
Did you know you can turn this:

into one of these?

I have an old friend who I've recently reconnected with and she found out I was sewing again. She said to me one day, "Do you have a serger? I have one I hardly use and I was going to sell it on Craigslist. I will give it to you in exchange for a bag..." I didn't really have to think twice about that one. Now I just need to learn how to use it.

I mean really, did you know this fabric was THIS gorgeous? I didn't. And the more I work with it the more I want to plaster it on my walls. Which I found out you can do! But that's a story for another day.

When I finished it I told my friend I might need to just give her the serger back. I mean, c'mon!! She looks so pretty on my blue chair! It's okay though, I bought some more - maybe I'll make a little bolster for my chair.

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I remember her telling me she'd rather give it to me because she knew I would appreciate it and actually use it. And I have!!! Every time I make a new dress or skirt and serge up those frayed raw-edged gathered seams I get giddy.  It's true. I definitely think I got the better end of this deal!

Now I can't speak much on what sergers I recommend as I did zero research when I got this one - but Ido love it.  My recommendation is if you have one don't be afraid of it!  Learn how to thread it, read the manual and you should be all set!

yes you can! Sew Knits with Confidence! aka Nancy Zieman's new book/blog tour + giveaway

 *****GIVEAWAY CLOSED - WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED*****

Wow! Was that the longest title for a blog post ever?! Well, now you know what we're talking about today!

I was so happy to be asked to participate in the blog tour for Nancy Zieman's new book, Sew Knit With Confidence + her 4 new knit patterns.  She sent me a copy of her book and each of the four patterns to review and choose one of the garments to make.  She also sent me a book and pattern set to give away (see end of post)!

I'm not going to lie.  I was reeeeeally nervous about making something out of knit.  I have a serger which is great for sewing knits, but I mostly use it for finishing of the seams on nice non-stretchy cotton.

After reading through the book and all of her great tips in there I decided I could try it, and if it didn't work out then, oh well, at least I gave it a go. I decided to make the 6 panel skirt from the Monterey Collection. It ended up being super fast!  The actual sewing time was easily less than an hour.

Looking back on the whole project I think the two hardest things were unrelated to the pattern!
1. It is really hard to find nice knits in good colors at local fabric shops.  I need help sourcing good knits!
2. The knit I chose - while pretty (milk chocolate brown with gold flecks on it) and drapey - it was VERY hard to lay flat on the floor to cut out my pieces!!

After a call for help on Instagram I tried taping it to the floor to get it flat and keep it in place while I pinned.

I ended up using my fun new tool - the tracing wheel and chalk paper - to just trace the size I wanted onto the fabric.  I made a size medium skirt with a s XS length as I am not super tall and wanted it to hit just past the knee.

Plus I had plans to try out a rolled hem since the knit was pretty thin, I wasn't sure a traditional hem would turn out so well.  And I wanted to learn how to do a rolled hem!


The skirt panels went together very easily! I was pleased with the cut of the pieces that give the skirt a nice flare and flounce just above the knee.


I then decided to try out the hem after being encouraged by several friends at the retreat I went to last weekend.  I got out my manual, got a bagel for some sustenance, and opened up the machine and started changing the settings.

And what do you know!!!??  It was so easy.  All I had to do was follow 3 simple instructions! I really should read the manual more often.

As a side note: I did use a serger for this skirt - but the pattern has excellent instructions for using a regular machine too.  So a serger is NOT necessary for sewing knits.

I love the way it turned out on the skirt!

The last step in the pattern was to put in the elastic in a way I had never tried.  You sew the elastic to the wrong side, stretching as you go.  Then you fold it over and anchor in the seams so it doesn't fold back up!  I tried to take a photo here.

I love the nice clean look of the waistband with this method.

The bottom line is, I learned so many things from this one simple pattern! I was just thinking today how the title really is appropriate, I do have more confidence sewing knits.  And not just knits, but with the new techniques I learned for using my serger! Win-win! Plus I have an easy comfy new skirt to wear.

Pardon the selfie on my phone!  I didn't have a chance to get some better photos taken.  But this gives you a good idea.  The fit is perfect and the knit is so comfortable.  I see myself making more of these in the near future!!

Check out the rest of the posts in the tour with many more chances to win!
April 16, 2013 Nancy Zieman the Blog
April 17, 2013 Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing
April 18, 2013 Totally Stitchin 
April 19, 2013 Sew Beautiful Magazine 
April 20, 2013 Marie Madeline Studio 
April 21, 2013 Stitchin Jenny’s
April 22, 2013 Amy Lou Who Sews 
April 23, 2013 Sew News
April 24, 2013 Designs in Machine Embroidery  
April 25, 2013 Riley Blake Designs 
April 26, 2013 The Sewing Loft Blog 
April 27, 2013 Nancy Zieman the Blog 

Now it's your turn to win, just leave me a comment and tell me what the scariest sewing project is that you've ever tackled.  I will choose a winner of a Sew Knits With Confidence Book and Knit Pattern Set! I'll announce winners at the end of the week! 

Don't forget - if you are a no-reply blogger leave your email in the comments.  Or just go click on the little button over there on the side and remedy the problem! :)

recent happenings

Hi friends! I know I've been quite absent lately!  When I last blogged about my scrappy trip along, I was all motivated to start blogging again more regularly!  And then, well, then we started looking to buy a house!  And then, WE BOUGHT ONE!  Well, we bought some land and ordered a house! 

Ground will be broken in a few weeks, and hopefully it will be ready to move in this summer when Mrlouwho starts his new job. I'm really excited about the house and maybe staying put for a while.  Plus I'm getting a pretty sweet sewing room!

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I have been doing quite a bit of sewing lately.  I've decided to try and make a lot of summer clothes for the girls to avoid spending too much this summer.  So far they love what I've made and now I just need to get to work making some more!

I'll share more about these projects soon.

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Did you know that it's National Serger Month? I didn't even know such a thing existed!  If you know me, you know that having a serger makes me enjoy sewing garments SO much more!! I was so excited when I was asked again to participate in a blog tour with Nancy Zieman!  I'm so flattered to be among those participating!  I will be posting on Monday as part of her Sew Knits with Confidence tour! I'll be sharing a project I made from her patterns as well as reviewing her new book by the same name.

Of course, there will also be a fun giveaway!! So stay tuned!  I'll be back... (say it in your best Ahhh-nold voice.)