Posts from the “Sewing” Category

A list of half-finished things

Posted on July 27, 2017


A sewing pattern and fabric cut and waiting.

A pot of soaked yarn to be dyed at some point.

A wooden card holder in need of finish.

Another sweater in the works.

A tiny house.

It's such a process. A messy, beautiful, ongoing process in the bits and pieces of free time we share. A few stitches here, a few boards there. Some frustration, a lot of enjoyment. And really, that list of half-finished things should include me and Seth, and the baby too. In Addie's case, her learning is exponential. Eating! Crawling (well, trying)! But Seth and I are pricking our ears forward as well, like the dog on the scent of something particularly good. Before I mix metaphors, I'll just say we've got a lot going on in our work basket. And if all my to do lists included pretty pictures, I would be a happy camper.

Categories: Everyday happenings, Knitting, Sewing, Sustainable Life

Baby baby baby

Posted on July 20, 2017

Sewing baby things is satisfying. I can go from fabric pile to finished dress in about two hours, including time for ripping out mistakes (twice! Ok, it was three times).  I whipped up this little dress this morning out of a roll of fabric I found at a rummage sale, clearly left over from the 80s. It looks like toweling, but it’s a nice, sheer weave that feels like a poly/cotton. 

I used the same basic pattern as the last dress: four rectangles sewn together into a gathered skirt, folded bodice, and straps. For this one I added cloth tape, in part to increase the size of the bodice, in part to provide reinforcement to the front snaps. I didn’t bother ironing it before I popped it on the baby. Because it’s hot! And wearing homemades shouldn’t have to wait. 

This one is too big, so we’ll get plenty of wear out of it this summer. And now I think I’m ready for another dress pattern with more variety. I have an Oliver + S pattern that I’ve been wanting to try out, I just haven’t had the energy or the space to trace the pattern (so I can make it in different sizes) and cut it out. So this dress will suffice for now. 



A new baby changing mat appeared too while I had the sewing machine out, this one from a Joann’s Fabric remnant with an old towel doubled up for stuffing. Looks like my tastes run to bright colors.  I can’t say I mind, it just leaves me a little concerned for the future of our tiny house, where I’m sure there will be rainbows every which way we look. Color everywhere! 

Categories: Sewing, Sustainable Life

A few bags

Posted on June 29, 2017

The baby’s dress was not the end of the sewing spree. I had a few minutes before we scooted out the door for fathers day and I whipped up a couple of bags for myself. Selfish sewing! Amen.  First up: a new wallet to replace the one whose zipper broke a few weeks ago and has been scattering coins about like breadcrumbs for geese. I used scraps of Seth’s first pair of farming Carhartts for the outside because at the last minute I realized I didn’t have any canvas in my stash. But the inside — it’s the universe in there. It makes me smile whenever I see it.  I used the same universe fabric to make a knitting project bag. For my projects…

Categories: Sewing, Sustainable Life

Summer fashion

Posted on June 22, 2017

Well she certainly doesn’t need more clothing, but that didn’t stop me from making the sweetest baby dress this week. I picked up this swiss dot cotton lawn from the local craft store and dove in. Now, baby plus part time work plus gardening plus cooking doesn’t leave a ton of time for sewing. But this fabric! I had to make something. And so in ten and fifteen minute intervals, sometimes with an impatient baby at the table with me, I sewed a dress.  It’s been a long time since I’ve sewn clothing from scratch, and like I do with cooking, I looked at a pattern and decided, Hmm, I can make that. And then changed the whole thing around.  To be sure, this…

Categories: Sewing, Sustainable Life