Handmade Hats, 10 hours in the making

A look into my process. I'm a woman of few words tonight, but wanted to share my day with you.

26 steps... I think this was something like 19.

How it all began.

Oh for the love of hats.

Rows and rows of topstitching

For the baby girls. Pink bubblegum, vintage purple mix and match, and the preppy in navy blue polka dots.

Or how about that preppy with a bit of dainty. I love navy paired with yellow.

Or simply plain.

Or just a pain. :) Sassy!!

Good night friends! http://www.etsy.com/shop/tangledthreadsbyjen


Jen

Overcoming Fears

I feel like the luckiest mom alive today. My little girl has a sense of adventure, and it's rubbing off on me.

So we decided to go the Seattle Aquarium, and as we walked across the parking lot towards the pier, my daughter says she wants to go on the big Ferris wheel she sees in the distance. I hesitated for a second, thinking about how I should save this moment for the whole family, but I said "YES!". And I am so glad I embraced that moment and said yes. We skipped down the pier towards the Great Wheel, with huge smiles on our face. Excitement was emanating from our every pore. I could barely keep her at my side while we waited in line to purchase tickets, she wanted on that Wheel.

Well a short wait later, we made it on the wheel, in our very own little carriage, just the two of us.  It was quiet, and made me very nervous hanging so high above the Seattle skyline by a string. Our little carriage rocked slightly back and forth and my heart skipped and pounded in my chest... almost nearing an anxiety attack. -- But with a huge smile on my face I started to sing "You are My Sunshine" to calm my nerves, and so my daughter couldn't see how nervous I was on the inside.
 

She was un-phased.

She hung over the edge of her seat, looking down at the water, fearless. All the while, I wanted to grab her back away from the window, to safety in my arms... but I was not in control of that carriage.

A ride like this would not have scared me 4 years ago. I did jump out of an airplane, and bungee jump not too many years ago. And I rock climbed in college. So where did all this fear of heights come from?  From bringing a person into the world, the overwhelming sense of responsibility I feel for her.

Enjoy a fearless, adventurous day!

Jen

Pattern Review: Simplicity 1670

I used Simplicity pattern 1670 to make my daughters Easter dress that I've posted about the past few days. (I'm not paid to review patterns, this is all my own opinion.). I love all the options this pattern provided. You're the designer as you select from various trim and sleeve options, and a round or square neckline, it was really fun to get creative with this dress yet have all the instructions there to help along the way. As you follow along with the pattern, it calls out "Designers Additions", so you know exactly when the best time is to add in say eyelet trim in the bodice, or piping in the midriff, ruffles to the bottom hem, or a wavy trim.

This wasn't exactly the easiest pattern i've ever followed because the dress is fully lined - not just the bodice, the zipper in the back, and the tiny little sleeve with ties I made were like making barbie clothes - but turned out really cute, and worth the extra fuss. I definitely recommend this pattern as long as it's not your first! But i'm sure you could make it through it as a second dress with a little patience.

I followed the pattern for Dress with Bodice A, and added the sleeve and tie, and roses which I did a tutorial for here. I found the fabric on sale at the Sewing Expo in Puyallup last month. It was a bargain at $5 for the yard. I only had one yard, but managed to squeeze all my pattern pieces for a size 4 into that one yard (another 1/4 yard would have been better).

Fabric: Moda, Chloe's Closet, 30's Playtime, pattern # 32586.
Pattern: Simplicity 1670, Dress with Bodice A with sleeve & roses
Skill level (my recommendation): experienced beginner to intermediate


On the way to grandma's house on Easter Sunday we stopped off at a local nursery to pick out flowers. I didn't see a basket all made up that I really liked, so I let my daughter pick a flat full of flowers to help grandma plant in her garden. She ran from one end of the garden to the other picking flowers, she had so much fun.

Easter egg hunting at grandmas house.

Let me know if you make this dress pattern. I'd love to see what you made.

JEN

Oliver + S Music Class Blouse & Skirt

Oh happy day... I have a new Oliver + S pattern in my hands that I just couldn't wait to sew up! I  bought the Music Class Blouse & Skirt pattern then made a quick trip to my new favorite local quilt shop West Seattle Fabric Company. The ladies were so nice, and best of all they had a basketful of toys to entertain my 4 year old while I shopped! What a great concept, the toys kept her entertained for an hour while I browsed fabric & chatted up the ladies in the store. I could have done much more damage to my wallet, but this is the selection I came out of the store with.

My 4 year old picked out the kitty fabric, and I was inspired by all the fun bright prints - I guess it was a happy day - the sun was shining in Seattle which was a blessing! Take a look at those wild green eyes on the cat, the lime green dot fabric brings out his eyes. The cute little mouse with his pink ears, lead me to pick out the pink houndstooth.

My fabric selection:

• Essential Dots White Baby Pink, by Moda
• Cat and Mouse by Timeless Treasures
• Cotton Candy Houndstooth by Free Spirit
• Lime Confetti Dots by Dear Stella

Pattern:

• Oliver + S Music Class Blouse & Skirt - pattern sizes 6M-4 or 5-12

I made the blouse and skirt in a size 5 both fit my 4 year old daughter well with plenty of room for growth.  It didn't make sense for me to purchase the 6M-4 size, she is a tall 4 year old so the size 5-12 works well for us.

Here is the front of the blouse featuring Moda's Essential Dots Baby Pink fabric.

I adore all the fine details of the pintucks on the blouse front, sleeves, and back yoke. And the peter pan collar is so precious. It was cold today, so my daughter wore a white sweater over it, with the little collar peeking out. 

She wore her new outfit to church today - here we are walking to her Sunday School class. See that little collar. So sweet.

Here's a view of the back of the blouse, I love pintucks!

And here's a look at the first skirt I made, I cut enough fabric to make 3, mix and matching the pink, green, and kitty fabrics to make them fun. I think next time i'll use the same fabric on both side panels, however the more I look at it the more I like it just the way it is. It looks cuter on her then in the picture. I added lace to the side pockets to cover up the mismatch in the kitty print - which was driving me batty. I can just tell my daughter the kitty is hiding his nose in your pocket, he sniffing around for that mouse... where did that mouse go?

 The side panels have little pockets folded in, that are perfect to fit a little toy mouse, or kitty treats :)

 This skirt reminded me of these little puppets we made last year. Mousie Mouse 1 & 2 - named by my daughter. Her naming conventions have gotten much more advanced in the last year. Now she'd call these mice humdumdeedoda, and humbingadoobee. She comes up with really long, strange names for all her animal friends.

 If you would like to make your own little mouse puppets, check out my earlier post here.

I hope you have a fantastic Monday!

And if you're here for the first (or second or third) time, please leave a comment i'd love to get to know you - what are you working on right now?

Jen

Hot Pink Jeans

I'm sewing up another pair of jeans today. This time since I am running low on blue jean material, I decided to use the hot pink jean fabric i've had in my stash for a while. I love all the colored jeans in stores right now, but you know handmade are oh so much better! Here are some pictures of the pink jeans I made for my 4 year old daughter today. I just have to make a few finishing touches to the waist band.

UPDATE 2/20... Here's a picture of my daughter wearing her new jeans at the zoo. The peacock was standing next to a window by a bucket that says "Peacock food". :) Smart guy, it doesn't look like that window even opens up.

Be sure to check out my new tutorial on how to sew an adjustable waist! Check that out here.

How to Sew an Adjustable Waistband

Hi! How would you like to know how to sew an adjustable waist into the pants you make? Here is a complete tutorial, with way too many photos on how I sew an adjustable waistband. This is the typical waistband I use in all the jeans and pants I sell in my shop on Etsy.

 

 Supplies you'll need

• Stretchrite 3/4-Inch White Buttonhole Knit Elastic (you can buy this by the 30 yard spool on Amazon, or purchase by the yard from my River Stitch Fabric & notions shop on Etsy.
• Fusible Interfacing suitable for fabric - I use Pellon 931TD Fusible Midweight
• 2 buttons
• thread
• needle
• safety pin
• scissors
• sewing machine

 Step 1: 

Attach interfacing to the wrong side of the waistband.

Step 2: 

Mark the center of the waistband, and then measure 4" to both sides of center and mark. These markings are where you'll make your buttonholes for the elastic openings.

This spacing works well for size 4T. You should check this measurement on your child to note where you want the buttons to sit. I don't like them to sit on my daughters hips, that would be uncomfortable for her. I like the elastic to come around her hips to the front - it gives plenty of room for the elastic to stretch and doesn't bunch odd in the back of the pants. If you're confused, please ask questions.

Find center of waistband and make marks 4" on either side. This is the location of your elastic opening.

Step 3:

Fold and press the waistband in half widthwise, then mark the position of your buttonholes. Start buttonhole 3/8" down from center fold. Sew a 7/8" buttonhole (slightly larger than your elastic).

 Step 4:

Using a seam ripper, carefully open your buttonhole.

 Step 5:

On the waistband edge that does not have the buttonholes, fold under 1/4" seam allowance and press (as shown). This will come in handy when you edge stitch the waistband later on - trust me on this.

 Step 6:

Fold the waistband, right sides together. Sew, with the appropriate seam allowance. Turn the waistband right side out and press seam open.

Step 7:

With the right side of the pants up, pin the right side of the waistband to the wrong side of the pants, matching the center back of the waistband to the center back of the pants. Make sure the buttonhole side of the waistband is on top (as shown below).

Step 8:

From the right side of the pants, sew the pinned waistband to the pants, with the required seam allowance.

 Step 9:

Press the waistband up, and fold it on the fold line toward the pants right side. 

Step 10:

Fold the free raw edge of the waistband under 1/4" and pin this edge to the pants front and topstitch through all layers to secure it.

Step 11:

Edgestitch along the top fold line of the waistand.

Step 12:

Sew buttons on waistband in front of the buttonhole openings (as shown).

 Step 13:

Cut a length of elastic that will run from one buttonhole to the other. Mine is 18", add 1" for seam allowance.

 Fold elastic ends under twice, and sew to secure.

Step 14:

Using a safety pin attached to one end of the elastic, insert the elastic through one of the buttonhole openings in the waistband and out of the other opening. 

Step 15:

My latest trick.... after many many sewn waistbands...to keep the elastic from turning inside the waistband casing, stitch a line along the center back seam to secure the elastic in place. The elastic will still stretch from either side, but this will keep the elastic from pulling out of the pants or turning. 

And you're done!

These pants are now available in my shop! Stop in and support handmade!

Jen