Finished objects!

2 whole shirts.
A skirt.
Another's almost done being refashioned... So exciting.
A bag. Plus another one not far behind it.

A mug rug.

And y'all, heaven help me if pictures could make it into existence or off my phone.

Soon.

A couple of weeks ago, an awesome lady from work and I went to the inaugural meeting of the West Atlanta Modern Quilters Guild.  A good time was had by all, and my what a creative bunch of ladies!

What I loved about this crazy creative group of women was that there were an awesome variety: in ages, occupations, skill levels, styles, and personalities.  It's inspired me to get to sketching in a bit more detail for my first quilt, whose story is intimately entwined with my life.  Y'all, it's gonna be a heck of a first quilt... of indeterminate size and mostly made-up pattern.  It'll be crazy, and I can't wait.

But first! First.
The mug rug.  I'm gonna play wonky disappearing nine patch and see what happens.  Whatever happens, I SHALL have pictures!  But not today. Just a sketch today.

UFOs-no-more!

I am thinking that it’s closing in on time to talk about resolutions… I mean, the fervor of new years has passed, and it’s been a really good one so far, and my sewing mojo seems to be back in full force, and I have things to show as soon as I add buttons and hems and things.

And I have this stack of things that also just need buttons and hems and things.  Maybe a waistband and a lining here and there.  But really, there’s no reason for me not to encounter a closet re-vitalizing… not that I don’t have more than enough clothes.   But… you know, there ARE some old favorites would be good to have back in rotation.  And some dresses that would be great for church, or dancing, or both… It’s so exciting to think I could add all of these things to my wardrobe with little effort…

So why is it so hard to do it?

In the finishing of a top and a skirt, I am rarin’ to go on and sew more… Hopefully that’ll carry over to some more finished projects.  I'm gonna take a leaf out of Jenny's book and try to knock some of these things out.  

Hobbies, earn your keep!

Oy.

Y'all, I hate it when you look at costs.

How much do our hobbies cost us?  Now, before you click away because you don't wanna think about it, wait a second... Because I don't wanna talk about money, or personal finances...

I want to talk about space.  I want to talk about time.  I want to talk about effort, and what the cost of THOSE is.  Because many of us stash... I know I am guilty, and I am certainly dreading getting that counter with yards in and out up to date.
I live in a small city apartment, and that means the cost of storage is high.  And, while sewing does not have to use up much room, I am woefully lacking in the discipline required to do the thing where you buy the things for one project, finish it, and move onto the next one with very little left over and carried over to store- maybe a few basic notions and a scraps bin.
On the other hand, I'd really much rather have 5 bins of fabric and one bin of Christmas decor... Inspiration doesn't mean adorning my home for me, although I certainly love having my home feel like one.

I want to love this gift of creativity.  I want to grow into it, and for things to take shape out of those bins of supplies...  And I want to talk about it.

Lovely readers, if you still exist, I want you to hold me to embarking on a renewed relationship with my hobbies.  I want to show you silly cell phone pictures of earrings, tell you the stories of my creation, and share with you this part of my life.

Khaki time!

This is one of two khaki skirts in the works right now...
 One is in time out because it's misbehaving.
Before this one got there, there was already one in the same shade in my closet.  That one is about 6 years old at this point, and still in steady rotation, but has a much more summery feel.
The fabric is an embroidered cotton I bought from fabric.com about 3 years ago before my trip to Istanbul with the intentions of making a handkerchief hem, drawstring skirt.  Then, it sat in the UFO pile until a few months ago.  I already had one khaki skirt in progress, but something made me do this one anyway.

What else can I say? I love neutrals, and I was SO excited to declare this skirt no longer a UFO, AND not have to buy a single thing to finish a project...  It's a simple circle gone wrap skirt, with a contrast waistband facing and bias binding to finish the raw edges- attached the second time around with hand stitches for a little extra something, and a good project for all of the time in the car and in meetings this summer.  The closures, which were added after photos were taken, are a giant snap and another lovely button.  Since the trim is ivory and not white, it's working its way into fall with panache, and since it's a circle, it's quickly becoming a favorite for swing dancing.  Hooray!

Pictures, Y'all!

I love this skirt.  It's been tremendously fun to wear and to pair with other things...
And who doesn't like cute buttons?

This is the grey pleats skirt of the 6PAC that wasn't... and has been a BIG player in my wardrobe.  It's comfy. It is work appropriate.  It's cute.  What more could a girl ask for from a simple piece of clothing?

I'm thinking a corduroy version may be in the works... I know red corduroy will be in the (near?) future... and there's already another finished garment for me to share! And another one that's so stinking close! Seriously.  I just have to fix my faux pas with elastic.

So... silence is ending, friends. I'm sewing again, and it's making my heart happy. I think (and I know I probably sound a bit like a broken record) this is one of the best ways for me to have a creative outlet.  I'm going to do my best to sew through the schoolyear this time around.

Happy day!  More soon!

Piece 1: Grey pleats

I love this skirt... SO much.  And I'm wishing now I'd finished it sooner, but really, it's great to have for the rest of the summer and into the fall and winter once I make/find slips.  It started life as a piece for a Spring 6PAC, was a part of my Palate Challenge, and finally got finished after both of those things came to their close.
I like the idea of box pleats, inspired by the ever-lingering M5088... Long out of print, but the skirt has box pleats.  Add the pattern from the stash to the fabric from the stash(even the fun hem facings) and the button I got in a bundle of vintage buttons on eBay, and you get this great basic.

I think I may go in and use the vinegar trick... you know, where you use a pressing cloth with vinegar to set pleats through several washes?  There are 2 or 3 skirts I'd want to do at once, so we'll see.

For now, you know I'm sewing!  Pictures soon.

More pretties!

I took the plunge and ordered the Colette Sewing Handbook. 

I have one Colette pattern(I have to narrow down choices some more before I pop over to Whipstitch), which should make an appearance in the fall.  (sleeves in the summer? Thanks but no thanks…)

I really just like the way these lovely ladies write.  So much.  Plus, the styles seem like a veritable jumping-off point for SO many other things that I’d like to sew... and although reviews have painted it as a basic/beginner book, I feel it's always a good thing to have at least one or two of those on the shelf.  You never get better if you don't have solid basics, and you can never help anyone else get better without being able to explain those basics!

 I’m just so happy to feel inspired these days, and the Coletterie is simply bursting at the seams with fun and inspiring things- and oh, the colors. 

 The forum! I love how contagious the inspiration and the fresh, retro-mod lines of these patterns is.  I simply cannot wait to get this book and dig in! 

Of Assembly Lines and Mojo

Incase there was any doubt in your mind, my mojo has indeed returned with a vengeance.  I want to sew again, and I want to sew LOTS.

 You know how sometimes you buy lots of yardage of something, and then decide you’ll use it for basics?

I did that… And then I came up with 2 different patterns(Butterick 5354 and Simplicity 2443)  using the pieces at the same time… So I condensed those to one cutting session.  SO lovely. 

And since I already had the patterns out I figured I’d cut out the other dress, (a lavender all-jersey Simplicity 2443) I was thinking of.  And that simple skirt, since I finally had lining fabric on hand... You know, less hauling around of all of those things you need when you work in multiple spaces…

So, all in all, I cut a top, 2 dresses, and a skirt.

It was the work of an evening. How awesome is that?? 

Maybe you've gone on a cutting rampage.  Tell me, how do you manage to pick one to sew up first?

Piping

Here’s to new experiences, right?

I am attempting one or two with the shirt that’s currently in the works, and the first one was to turn my home-made bias tape into piping. 

 

Making piping in and of itself is actually a pretty straightforward process.  First, make bias tape, and then stitch cording(I guess that’s the name for it) into the fold of the bias tape…But the Coletterie tutorial walks you through with pictures and more detailed instructions...
I could do the instructions, but I’m never going to be one of those bloggers who is good at stopping and taking process photos.  Sorry friends. 

Piping is easy peasy to make with that zipper foot you’ve got tucked away, so give it a go!  Installation soon…  One of those things I'll finish up on the way to camp.