a cupboard for my thread and an apron for my notions

Well, I seem to be on quite the organizing kick lately.  And, for some reason, I have this very persistent idea in the back of my mind that once I get most of the house organized, it'll run on autopilot (sort of) and I will have more sewing time.  I don't know if this will turn out to be true, but I'm certainly very motivated to test it out!

I'm now focusing on organizing my sewing room. I'm very blessed to have a room of my own for my sewing. I actually organized it a few months ago but I've realized that some things are not working out and so I'm doing an overhaul (again). First of all, I realized it needed to be a bit more toddler-friendly. I had put all of my thread and filled bobbins and needles in a small set of drawers beside my sewing table, but of course, it was the first place that my 2 year old son loved to explore. Many bobbins and spools of thread became unravelled...many tangled thread nests were created under his hands.  So, a little while ago, I happened upon this little cupboard in a local furniture consignment store; I'm sure it was an old bathroom cupboard. Anyway, it has now been hung up (high away from little fingers) and filled with my thread. It even has a cute little drawer for my needles & pins. And, when I want to be inspired by a particular fabric, I could just display the fabric on the little towel rod at the bottom.

Next, I was inspired by this caddy to organize my notions. I had found this silverware basket in a thrift store but smaller notions kept getting lost inside of it. So, I whipped up a pocket organizer (or "apron," if you will) for the outside of my basket to store my smaller notions (seam guide, chalk, etc.). I'm happy with the way it turned out and I used the same fabric that I used to recently make a new cover for my ironing board. This fabric is some type of canvas or home dec weight fabric from IKEA.

Now, I'm slowly working on organizing my fabric stash. Pictures to come soon, hopefully! (Oh yeah, I'm going to try to fit some sewing in there somewhere as well).

on the way to more intuitive sewing

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.” George Bernard Shaw

Two years ago, when I first started sewing, I really looked forward to a time when I would not only use patterns, but also eventually be able to move outside of the world of patterns and create from just my fanciful imaginings.  I was especially inspired with all of your wonderful examples out there in blog land. (Oh, what are we going to do with all of you who learned to sew at age 5?!).

Initially, the idea of sewing without any patterns seemed a bit scary. Like recipes, they are my road map to a (hopefully) successful outcome.  I know that I will always love using patterns, either exactly as written or as a jumping off point. But, what if, I could also have the ability to break free from patterns? Wouldn't that be a liberating experience? Perhaps, I would be able to sew more intuitively?

I can now see that I am taking baby steps toward this goal of more intuitive sewing. I'm slowly moving towards being able to take full advantage of the limitless creative possibilities with sewing.

This past December, my daughter had indicated that she really wanted to have something red to wear on Christmas day. I did my best to find something ready-to-wear, but as my fellow sewists know, once you start sewing, it's hard for ready-to-wear to meet your standards for fibre type, colour, design, etc.

So, on Christmas Eve, I spent just a little bit of time making the above skirt for my daughter. It was made from a thrifted red sheet (I used the entire width of the sheet - likely a twin size?). I simply sewed one centre back seam and made a waistband casing for elastic.  Since I had used the top end of the sheet that had the deeper hem, I simply applied some ribbon to the cover the edge of the existing hem. No hemming required! Yay!

And just like that, it was done.  My daughter was happy to have a red skirt to wear on Christmas day and I was so happy to have moved just a tiny step closer to sewing more intuitively.

namaste,
sony

making: in progress

~ knitting my first sweater (for my son)


~ knitting my first hat (for whoever it fits!)

~ sewing a top for me (my first item for the Spring Palette Challenge)


~ just starting to knit a gauge swatch with this luscious yarn (Malabrigo worsted weight in Sweet Grape) to make a sweater for my daughter. I can't have something on the knitting needles for one child and not the other, right? ;)

What are you making right now?

collars, cuffs, and plackets - oh my!

The other title for this post could have been "The best thing about the worst thing I have ever sewn!"

Pictured above is my muslin for the MPB Shirt Sew-Along. The pattern I used was the Sketchbook Shirt pattern from Oliver + S.  I thought that by taking on a smaller scale shirt (i.e. a toddler-sized one) that that would make the whole idea of sewing a shirt not seem so big and overwhelming, you know?

And, granted there were ways that this was true - the sleeve placket was one-piece, the pocket was a relatively simple shape and so on. But sometimes, sewing something smaller is a bit more challenging...like when I tried to flat fell the seam inside this very small sleeve? (This was not part of the great instructions for this pattern - I just figured I'd try it!) It got done, but not without some puckers. I tried to finish the muslin in every way but after the buttonholes turned out too small, I let it go. I did sew a size bigger on purpose just so that the final shirt won't be outgrown in one season!

This was definitely the most challenging garment I have ever tried to sew so far and while I made so many mistakes,  I learned so much and conquered a whole lot of sewing fear.  I'm very appreciative this sew-along took place. Now I have a whole list of skills that I want to improve (especially sewing in that sleeve - I ended up with way too much ease and puckering on the front parts of the sleeves).

I may, however, wait a little while before I start on the final version for this shirt. I might just take a little break and shift my sewing focus (I've been neglecting my Spring Palette Challenge). Also, I may make a short-sleeve shirt for my final version (you know, just avoid the sleeve placket and cuff until I have a bit more sewing experience). Yes, that sounds good. Challenges are great...but it's also sometimes good to know my limits.

namaste,
sony

spring palette storyboard - the patterns, the fabrics

Okay...I decided to go low-tech with this storyboard (trying to limit the amount of time I spent in front of the computer screen). Besides, it was fun to feel like I was back in grade school with all the real-life cutting and pasting with my glue stick! And for some reason, I couldn't get it to scan, so the above is a photograph of my bare bones storyboard for the Spring Palette Challenge.

I tried to stick to simple patterns since I still feel like a novice at sewing, especially when it comes to sewing clothing for myself.

I actually made 2 versions of Simplicity 3835 last year and the red linen version was probably my favourite of all of the things I made last year. So I decided to start this challenge easily by making another one in an aqua colour. I'll get into the rest of the patterns and fabrics in the upcoming weeks!

My Spring Palette

Here it is - my spring palette: fuchsia, aqua, grey, black, white.
And here is my inspiration board:

Spring Palette Challenge 2011 by SewingRoots featuring wrap around skirts

Alexander McQueen Draped modal tank, $355
Oversized silk T-shirt, $98
BCBGMAXAZRIA pink flair silk-cashmere draped cardigan, $90
Tinsel Chiffon Tunic Blouse Lined Holiday Top: Clothing, $25
Tinley Road Pleated Swing Tank, $24
Pattern-woven tulip skirt, $154
Thakoon Addition Printed silk wrap-effect skirt, $355
Lauren by Ralph Lauren Petites' "Naomi" Long Ombre Skirt, $48

This was the first time I had ever used the ColourLover's website or Polyvore. Both were very fun, I must say! I'll post more about my palette once I've gotten around to taking more photos. I'm very excited about this Spring Palette challenge!

namaste,
sony

Sewing with a plan?

I already have two current sewing projects underway - a set of simple, reversible placemats as well as the above Oliver + S Ice Cream dress pattern for my daughter.  And I have a few unfinished objects ... including a pair of pants that I fear my daughter is already outgrowing (ahem)...they can be capris in the spring, right?;-)
I really haven't done well with joining sew-alongs before...I seem to take on too much at a time. But I'm really, really eager right now to take part in the Spring Palette Challenge being hosted by Collette Patterns.  I have never done a storyboard or planned a tiny coordinating mini-wardrobe. Just the planning part sounds like so much fun. So....I'm not actually going to make a commitment to this, but I am putting up that button on my sidebar as I continue to consider getting involved. Maybe it's just the right amount of structure that I need to help me meet my gentle intention of sewing more for myself this year. Maybe.
Of course, I really shouldn't neglect my son, right? I'm thinking of perhaps joining Peter's shirt sew-along but instead of making a man's shirt, making the above Oliver + S Sketchbook shirt pattern for my son.  I'll just slide that button on the sidebar, too.  You know, because I'm just considering it. Yes, yes, I know...I'm starting to be a little ambitious...but I haven't actually committed to anything ...just considering it all. It is fun to make sewing plans!

a fabric fast

Last year, I know I spent far more time reading about sewing than actually sewing.  And in my enthusiasm at seeing all of your fabulous sewing projects, I bought fabric...and notions...and fabric....and patterns...and fabric...and sewing books...and well, more fabric.  (Yes, the photo above is a picture of part of my current stash of fabrics). Visions of many wonderful completed projects danced around in my head: chic clothes for me, boutique-style dresses for my daughter, gorgeous patchwork pillows, unique one-of-a-kind handbags, and on and on. Well, we all know how unrealistic those dancing visions are, right?
So, now I have a fabric stash. Granted, probably at least half of it is fabric from the thrift store, either in the form of regular fabric yardage or linens (so that means I didn't pay very much for those and I'm being environmentally-friendly in buying them!).
It has come to the point, though, where I must set strict guidelines on acquiring more fabric (unlike setting goals for my sewing).  I hereby declare that until then end of April, 2011, I will not buy any fabric online or in-store for no specific reason. The following exceptions (of course!) apply:

• I am allowed to accept fabric as gifts.
• I am allowed to buy fabric for a specific and current project if nothing in my current stash is appropriate.
• I am allowed to buy fabric on vacation.
• I am allowed to buy fabric at a thrift store only if I absolutely love it and it is of good quality.

Hopefully, I can continue this fabric fast for longer than four months. But I wanted to have a deadline that was in the "not-too-distant" future so that this fast would seem more doable. Must. Avoid. Fabric. Websites.

namaste,
sony

mindful sewing

I have been doing some sewing. Not as much as I would like but still...a little bit...here and there. What I haven't done is blogged about my sewing. And that's all right. I may blog about some of the stuff I've made or I may not. We'll see.

Although we are already 2 weeks into 2011, I wanted to take the opportunity to set some gentle sewing intentions for myself for this year. And I do mean gentle ... in the sense that sewing for me is a creative outlet and for fun and I do not want to put pressure on myself and ruin the enjoyment of the process by imposing strict deadlines or very specific goals.

With that in mind, here are my sewing intentions for this year:
- Sewing for myself with a focus on skirts, cardigans, tank tops, simple tops and some refashioned clothing.
- Sewing for my children with a focus on working through my stash of Oliver + S patterns in particular.
- Sewing for my home - I've moved over 30 times in my life. This has led to a strong desire to set roots where I am now (and thus the name of my blog) and I want to manifest this by ensuring my home is a warm and cozy nest that reflects me and my family with lots of "handmade with love" goodness.

Hmmm. This list actually seems like a lot of intentions. Anyway, I will keep a summary of these intentions on my sidebar as a reminder to myself. And sew gently into the year.

namaste,
sony

for the babies

Wow, an entire month and a half have flown by since I've updated this blog...but I have been doing some creating here and there squeezed in between all of the general business of life...especially for some new babies. I knitted the following booties for the newborn daughter of a close family friend.

It was my first ever pair of booties that I knitted and it was a relatively easy pattern to follow from the book Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick. Next, we welcomed a new nephew on my husband's side of the family and although he was born earlier in the summer, we didn't meet him until this past September. I made him some fabric balls and a taggie tactile blanket toy.


And finally, in October we welcomed another new nephew last month on my side of the family so I got a chance to try out this really cute pattern for kimono booties that is generously offered for free by Homespun Threads.

Babies are so much fun to create for...everything just looks so cute!

Birthday gifts

Wow. My daughter turned six this week. Six! I've been wanting to make her a birthday crown since last year and I finally did it (pattern from The Creative Family by Amanda Soule). I also made her a fabric dollhouse using this wonderful tutorial, and, while most of it is finished, I still need to applique some windows and doors onto it (so no finished project photo yet).

My cousin's daughter's fourth birthday was just two days before my daughter's birthday and I made her some Indian outfits for her Groovy Girl dolls. The one on the left is a lehnga (a short top with a long skirt) and the one on the right is a salwar kameez (a long tunic top over pants). Both of them include a dupatta or chunni, which is the long, light scarf usually worn with these outfits. My daughter liked these so much that I had to make her a doll lehnga outfit, too!
And look at the lovely doll outfit that my daughter received from her grandmother. So cute!



For the Lady Grey coat sew-along, I'm still at the "altering the pattern stage" before I make a muslin. Also, sewing for gifts has not allowed me to have time to really do much kids clothing week challenge sewing except for tracing out one pattern and choosing some fabric. Ah well, I'll just extend the challenge for myself to next week (and likely beyond)!

fabric reveal

So here are the fabrics that I've chosen for my Lady Grey coat. I love, love, love these fabrics. I was originally looking for a dark plum wool for the outer shell but after searching and searching and not quite finding what I wanted, I happened to find this absolutely gorgeous fuchsia 100% wool. So, fuchsia it is.

I was either going to go with rayon or cotton voile for a lining, but then, oh then, after I found the aforementioned gorgeous wool fabric, I found this luscious pink and gold poly-silk blend fabric. (Is it called a brocade? I'm not sure).

It was love at first sight, I tell you.
P.S. Did you know that fuchsia is one of the most misspelled words in the English language? (The things we learn every single day...)
P.P.S. I think I'm also going to join kids clothes week challenge for next week - it's a busy time but both of my skinny kids need pants! Let's see if I can fit even more sewing time in.

something small for a new beginning

My daughter started Grade 1 in a new school today. It feels like such a momentous new beginning for her to be going to full-time school. I know she's nervous. I'm nervous for her, too. Or, is it for myself? Anyway, as I shopped the aisles for her school stuff, I did not find just the right pencil case for all of her supplies. You know...something that would be big enough and appeal to her aesthetic sense and interests. So, being the good little seamstress Mom that I am, I decided to make her one as a little special handmade-with-love back-to-school gift from me. I used this lovely tutorial but the first one that I made (following the sizes in the tutorial) turned out cute but just a tad too small for those pencils. So I increased the the size of the rectangles to 12" by 9" and made another, bigger one. And it's lined in pink (of course):

And you just have to love the sleeping beauty fabric from Heather Ross' Far Far Away 2 collection.

It's a small thing, really...just a little zippered pouch for her pencils and eraser...but I hope it serves as a reminder to her how very much loved she is and no matter what new and scary and exciting experiences await her, she'll always have a soft place to land.

beach blanket to go

I sewed this beach blanket at the end of July as a gift to my family to mark the occasion of my 10th wedding anniversary. The project is from the book Handmade Home, by Amanda Soule. We're already enjoying using it and I'm looking forward to its presence in many more family picnic, beach or park adventures in the future!

Simplicity 3835, version 2

So this is my second version of Simplicity 3835 in red linen. The flower power top was the first one. I really love this top. I actually made the top (view C) but with the tie sleeves from the mini-dress/tunic (view B). I also incorporated some of the darts for a slightly more fitted look compared to my first version. I did eliminate the centre back seam and cut on the fold instead since I was not putting in a zipper. Here is the back:


So, in summary, for the summer essentials sew-along I ended up sewing only 4 items (instead of 5): 2 Simplicity 3835 tops, the Anda dress and a knit yoga skirt that I didn't bother to blog about since I think I'm calling that one a failure! I've sewn some other stuff that have either not been for me or have not been clothing. I'm ready to move on from this sew-along to another one though: I've decided to participate in the Lady Grey sew-along being hosted by Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing. Yes, yes I know...a coat?...and I only started sewing 15 months ago?...I'm either seriously ambitious or seriously deluded! Wish me luck!

Frock by Friday: My Anda

Ack! All of July flew by without a single blog post! But I have done some sewing and knitting and many projects remain as works-in-progress. I did take the time, however, this past week to participate along with Kathleen of Grosgrain in the Frock by Friday sew-along.

This time it was the simple Burdastyle pattern Anda that was used for the sew-along. This was the first time I've ever used a downloadable pattern that you have to cut and tape together.
I'm not sure I made a good choice of fabric - I used a crinkle cotton gauze. Due to the "crinkles," it actually had some stretch to it and so initially my neckline was far too wide. I was able to take some of it in though. Also, the pattern called for single fold bias tape and since I didn't have any of that (and I was feeling too lazy to make my own), I used some double fold bias tape that I had instead. Being a short person, I'm afraid this dress looks a little too much like a sack on me but it certainly is comfortable and airy! I'm glad I participated.
I'm not sure what I'll actually tackle as my next sewing project: I have a dress cut out for my daughter but I would also like to make a skirt or two for myself before the summer is over.

Flower power top - Simplicity 3835

So this is my first item for the Summer Essentials Sew-Along: the top version of Simplicity 3835 that is a Hall of Fame pattern at PatternReview.com. I can certainly see why it's a popular pattern, especially with beginners! It's relatively easy to sew and to modify. I used the above Little Folks voile print by Anna Maria Horner. And, I have to say, I absolutely loved sewing with this soft fabric and I loved wearing it!

I usually don't wear a lot of prints but the scale on this print is small enough that I thought I could get away with it. Of course, when my husband saw it on me, he joked about it being a "Flower Power" top - and, so, thus it became named!

Summer Essentials Sew-Along

I've decided to join the summer essentials sew-along that seemed to morph out of the "Me-Made-May" challenge that many online sewists participated in. Since the goal is to make around five summer clothing items by August, I think it's very doable (I hope, anyway). It's so much fun to see what everyone else is making. I'm going to probably make at least 2 or 3 versions of my new favourite pattern (Simplicity 3835). I'm not sure what planet I've been living on since I've been sewing for just over a year now and I've just discovered this pattern! Granted, I was mainly sewing for my kids at first.
I'll also try to make at least 2 skirts. Maybe I'll try a pair of knee-length shorts...maybe...we'll see.


These two pairs of shorts that I made for my son have been refashioned from old t-shirts. Basically, I made these to get practice with using my serger with knit fabrics. They're nothing fancy but they'll make do as play shorts!

A pretty nightgown - Kwik Sew 3105

I actually finished this Kwik Sew 3105(view B) nightgown for my daughter about 2 weeks ago. It's made from a thrifted bed sheet that actually already had a ruffle trim so I just cut out the front and back of the nightgown to incorporate the ruffle for the bottom of the nightgown.
In fact the floral fabric looks remarkably similar to the one on the pattern package for this view, don't you think?

My daughter loves it because it's so pretty and feminine with the lace trim and the pink flowers. I love it because it somehow makes me think that this would have been something like what the characters in the Little House on the Prairie books would have worn. I loved those books as a child. Anyway, I've actually cut out 2 more of these nightgowns to sew but I got sidetracked by Sew, Mama, Sew's June Make It, Wear It challenge and I made a top for myself that I actually really like and I've worn it in public! And, I've bought more fabric online to make more tops ... so I just need to photograph the first one and I'll post that the next chance I get. Happy Sewing!

handmade baby balls, knitted and sewn

I finished these balls a while ago but I hadn't blogged about them. My son absolutely loves playing with balls...and I enjoyed making these for him.


The sewn balls are from this wonderful tutorial, and the knitted ones are from the book, Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick. This knitting project was the first one that I've ever done that involves any shaping and it was easier than I thought it would be!
We went on a road trip to Boston last week, so I didn't get much sewing done but I did get some knitting done in the car. I'm working on a scarf and some baby booties as gifts. But now that we're back home, I'm looking forward to sewing some nightgowns for my daughter using Kwik Sew 3105. Hopefully, I'll have some pictures soon!