Week ending October 24, 2021 in my Sewing Room

I didn't do much this week.  I was so busy with work and didn't have much free time when I got off. 

On Monday I got mail from Minerva. They sent me fabric and a pattern to sew up.  I'm making view A of this new look pattern. The fabric is a cotton voile. 

I started a quilt pattern test for Frannie B Quilt Co. It took me forever to decide on fabric and this is what I settled on.  I decided to use some vintage ditsy floral prints and my scrappy background is 5 or 6 low volume light colored prints. 

I had a tumble Wednesday on my lunchtime walk and really bruised up my right hand. It hurt and was swollen,  so I took two days off from sewing to let it heal. 

I got out my Sew Easy ruler/cutter since my hand was tender and couldn't handle using the rotary cutter. I bought this at a garage sale about 5 years ago and this was my first time using it. I love it! I'll definitely be using all the time now. 

Friday evening I got my star block made for the Stargazing Quilt Pattern that I'm testing for Frannie B Quilt Co. I signed up for the block test, but I'm hoping to make the throw size quilt. 

Saturday I went through a few bins in the garage. We are planning on moving some shelves around and switching everything to smaller storage containers.  Before we do, we are going through everything to see what needs to go, and what we need to keep. I was excited to get to the storage bin with my grandmother's quilts. This is the quilt she made and gave to me for my graduation and wedding. 

Here's the note she wrote on the back. She left her signature and date on all her quilts and often left a little note about the quilt. 

I also have this Indian girl quilt that she made. I'm not sure why or how I ended up with this quilt. 

I also have this patriotic quilt top she made and hemmed to use as a table cloth. She gave it to me when she came to my house one year for a fourth of July cookout. We have used it a few times. I am thinking of turning it into a quilt. Or I might back it with something so the fabric doesn't continue to fray with use. 

I took my Deltille Quilt (Pattern by Running Stitch Quilts out for a photoshoot now that it's completely finished! Here she is in all her glory. I have a short blog post about it and the backing on Minerva.com 

I ended the weekend getting ally pieces cut out for my Stargazing Quilt.  

This week I'm hoping to do some work on a t-shirt quilt and on my Stargazing Quilt. I have plans for the Halloween weekend that will keep me busy and not much time for sewing. I'm already counting down the days to the next Holiday - Veteran's Day - and having some time off then. 

Ellie & Mac To the Point Tunic & Dress

It's Wacky Wednesday at Ellie & Mac! This week I'm sharing the To the Point Tunic & Dress.

I've made this pattern only one time before and have intended to make another. The first one I made was a tad too tight across my belly, so I graded out one size for this To the Point Tunic.

Last time I really thought there was going to be enough ease that I wouldn't need to grade for my waist or hips. I was wrong. It wasn't a horrible fit on me, but I felt self conscious in it.

This one has the perfect amount of ease and I'm ready to make another!

I paired my To the Point Tunic with a pair of Greenstyle Creations Everyday Yoga Pants that I made with a reverse french terry  distressed knit.

Wacky Wednesday patterns are on sale for only $1 though midnight on August 28th. Find all the Wacky Wednesday patterns on sale HERE.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

George + Ginger SoTa Tunic & Dress

It's no secret that I LOVE the George + Ginger SoTa Tunic & Dress. I've made several and wear them frequently. I've found that I prefer my godets made with a holey fabric. I don't care for a traditional lace, but a more solid knit with some holes that might make a pattern that is lace like, but not as holey as lace. Got it?

The SoTa is intended to be made with lightweight knits. You can use cotton lycra, but the effect of the godets will be completely different.

The SoTa has amazing twirl factor. I've never made the dress version. That would probably not go over well using the holey fabric that I love.  I really love the tunic length. You can see in this photo that my holey fabric is like a knit eyelet.

I loved how it looked with my Zenith & Quasar Nebulous print athletic brushed poly.

Isn't this print gorgeous? I just love these colors.

The longest part of making a SoTa is cutting all  the pieces out. Sewing a SoTa is actually very quick. I like to make my SoTas in multiples. I feel more efficient sewing them when I can whip through them quickly. I tend to cut my godets out first then the body and sleeves. So of course I had to make this time. If I hadn't been trying to get a few other things done - like unpacking - I probably would have made another.

This one is made with a plush brushed poly from Zenith & Quasar in a blue floral. I happened to have this lace like knit in a seafoam green that matched perfectly. I got this lace like knit from the fabric district and have bought it in a couple of colors. My very first SoTa was made with some in a blue color.

I made both of my SoTas with short sleeves and hemmed both with a rolled hem. On this one I also rolled hem my sleeves because I was almost out of the thread I was using on hem. But I think I'm going to cut it off and hem the sleeves normally.

The one downside to using a holey knit on the godets is hemming. I've decided a like a rolled hem best. But one trick I have learned is to do a narrow serger hem first and then do the rolled hem and go over it twice. I find that gives the cleanest rolled hem on holey knits.

The SoTa is the pattern of the month at George + Ginger. Grab it on sale for only $6.75 through the end of the month!

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Zenith & Quasar Butterflies

I have already shown this top before, but now that this Butterfly print is at Preorder at Zenith & Quasar, I decided to show it off again.

I used the Sinclair Patterns Shelby Tunic. It's one of my favorite patterns. I love that it comes in petite sizing and that it's a loose fit and covers my behind.

These Butterflies are just gorgeous and I love the subtle watercolor background. My Grandmother loved butterflies and I think of her everytime I wear this top.

I love the athletic brushed poly from Zenith & Quasar. It's the perfect fabric year round, but I love how it keeps me cool & dry in the Texas heat. It wicks away moisture so fast leaving me dry and cool.

The preorder also has Yoga Swim Spandex (YSS) as an option and I love it as well. The preorder closes on June 29th! See all the prints at preorder at https://www.zenithandquasar.com/product-category/preorder-r34-reprints/

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

George + Ginger Clover Dress

Kristi at George + Ginger has released a new pattern duo - Crimson & Clover. And ever since I tested the Clover, I can't get that song out of my head! But I think I could lover her...

Crimson

and Clover.

What I love about Clover is the split cowl collar.

Both Crimson & Clover have Tunic, Dress, and Maxi lengths. I, of course, did the tunic length.

I wore my Clover with my Designer Stitch Harper Pants.  These are my toile and I need to make a few minor adjustments and make a few more so I can write a blog about them.

I really love the side button details and buttons on the collar of the Clover. Both are purely decorative and optional.

The Clover skirt is gathered and attached to the band at the waist. It is best to attach the skirt with a sewing machine first, then using a serger. Using a sewing machine to attach the gathers first will flatten the seam for a smoother finish. In the photo below I serged the gathered skirt onto the waistband. See how wavy and bumpy it looks?

Kristi suggested that I use a sewing machine first, then use my serger. It helped tremendously. As you can see in the photos below - no ugly pucking now.

I went simple with this Clover and did not do the waist accents or buttons on the collar.

I love the Clover even from the back. 

You can even attach the collar to open on your right shoulder or left. I usually do the right shoulder, but accidently did the left on this Clover.

Both Crimson & Clover are on sale for 25% off through Sunday, January 6th.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

George +Ginger Ginger Dress Hack - Shirt Length

Remember my George + Ginger Ginger Dress that I posted recently? Well, I said in my blog that I had a shirt hack, this is it! You can read the original blog post HERE!

When the Ginger Dress was being updated, I was a very naughty tester. Instead of sewing up my tester version first, I sewed up a hack instead.  The lengthen/shorten lines on the Ginger Dress are a bit different than most patterns as you have to take length off going both ways. I decided to see what would happen if I just cut my pattern at the shorten line and do nothing else. Here's a crappy webcam shot I took of it on without the band added. It's super cute just like this!

So, I didn't want to leave the Ginger Dress like that, and felt like it would have been too short hemmed - but maybe not. So I went ahead and added the bands. I think it's still super cute like this as well, but feel like it's more of a tunic length.

Either way, I think it's cute with my skinny jeans and I've worn it a few times already.  I'm thinking about making another Ginger Dress and maybe doing the bands about half the height they are or even leaving it off.

So, if dresses are not your "thing" either, this is a cute option to try.

Today is the last day of the Anniversary Sale. Get 25% off all patterns with the code YEARTHREE.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Made Whimsy Backstage Pass

I love the new round open at Made Whimsy! It features some amazing musicians, hipster animals, and an amazing brick wall print.

I couldn't resist taking photos at the Wylie City Hall.

I match the wall!

These bricks are amazing. As soon as I finished my short I knew I had to come here for photos.

If you are wondering about my top - this is the George + Ginger SoTa. The bricks are cotton lycra and my godets are a rayon spandex jersey. This combination makes the godets hang behind the bodice panels. I think it looks kinda cool.

Here's a closer look at the bricks.

It was super windy when I took photos and I'm including this one because my hair looks cool blowing all around.

I love how these photos came out. Don't be surprised if I go there for more photos in the future.

Mandy also sent me an Adam Levine adult panel and a kids panel. I love Maroon 5 and was totally jealous when she went to the concert.

I knew I wasn't likely to wear a t-shirt out and about with Adam on it, so I decided he was perfect to take to bed with me. I made the KZJO Studio Poppy Shirt for a comfy pajama top. This pattern is FREE!

I used the kids panel to make the Madalynne Noelle high waisted briefs. This pattern is also FREE! The back of my shirt is Dreamy Blueberry Knit. It's truly the dreamiest cotton lycra I have felt. So soft and silky smooth and the same weight as the custom prints. It's also at preorder - so be sure to stock up.

I just couldn't end with a picture of my behind - so here's my shirt again. If you look close - you will see I used a bit of the Dreamy Eggplant Knit for the sleeve binding.

This preorder is open through October 23. Order HERE! Layaway is available - just use the code musicians when you check out.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.