Sew4me roundup

Sew4me linky party's first week was great.  I loved visiting all the blogs and seeing what everyone made.  My favorite items from this fabulous week are in the collage above: link back to the party to see what you missed, Land of K.A. , Pretty Pickle, and Falafel and the bee. 

See you next Tuesday for the next sew4me linky party!

Sew4me Tuesdays

 

It's time for my new linky party!  Sew4me is for any sewing projects you do for yourself, whether they be accessories, bags, clothing, or anything you can physically wear on your body. You can be male or female. The only rules are that it must be sewn by you, it must be for your body, and your sewing and pictures must be tasteful for family viewing.  

The linky party will start at 6am Pacific Standard Time on Tuesdays and stay open until midnight Fridays. Saturdays, I will feature a few of my favorite items for a weekend post wrapping it all up.  It will be fun. This will also be a hashtag (#sew4me) so you can share on twitter and instagram.

So, let's get this party started!  You can grab the button code from the right-hand side bar or you can download the picture below.  If you download, please be sure to link back here.  

Thank you!

Sew4me guidelines:

1. Share anything you sewed for yourself.

 You can share accessories, purses, clothing, or anything you can physically wear on your body. You can be male or female. The only rules are that it must be sewn by you, it must be for your body, and your sewing and pictures must be tasteful for family viewing.  

2. Showcase your own work.

Please no link parties, giveaways, or advertisements.

3. Upload up to three links per week.

You can also link-up images from Flickr and Pinterest (as long as it's your own work); you don't have to have a blog of your own. Please only upload your image/link once so we avoid repetition.

If you see something you like, be polite and let the creator know with comments on their blog, pin, or flickr. Now let's get started...

An InLinkz Link-up

Pattern Designer Interview - MamaNene (Irene) from Serger Pepper

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1. When did you start designing patterns and how did it come about?
We can say I've sewn from my whole life!  I've learned from mom when I was a little girl, but she used to follow patterns directions LITERALLY! I am much more a free spirit, so I started adapting  them because they weren't flattering neither fitting well.  I started drafting my own patterns some year ago, at first using paper, pencil and rulers … but it was too much time consuming and not enough practical for my needings: I didn't have a sewing room with a huge sewing table (like the one I have now – I'm a lucky girl), so it was always necessary to wait the kitchen table to be free for some hours... and It rarely happened. I started google-ing to find an answer: Illustrator! I was already using Inkscape at my day-job, for drawing posters and flyers, so I loved using something similar and skipping a good slice of the learning curve.

2. What training do you have or how did you learn?
No formal training on my side, excluding drafting and grading books and the best and most complete course you can ever find: PatternWorkshop by  Lauren Dahl: she refined and distilled the whole process I was already roughly following and, each and every time I watch a new video or read some comments in the sweetest secret fb group ever I learn some new-to-me “secret tip”...  Anyone seriously interested in designing his/her own patterns should give it a try!

 Serger Pepper Basic Leggings Pattern

3. What is the process of designing a new pattern like?
I know that every designer has its own process. For me it's more or less this:
While I'm swimming, a design materialize in my mind and, as soon as I get a piece of paper and a pencil (while my hands are no more wet), I draw an awful sketch. Then I look over it and decide what kind of “basic shape” it can be assimilate and start drawing it in my daughter (or mine, or dad's) size.  I sew the first muslin,  usually with old bed sheets or duvet cover or t-shirts jersey (I'm a frugal mom) and make any tweek I think it needs, changing the Illustrator pattern an sewing more samples until I'm satisfied with the design.  I grade it to the other sizes in my range, sew one more sample and take literally a thousand pics, to create the tutorial. Send out to the testers, wait their feedback and make changes basing on it. We always chat about my patterns and their testings and suggestions into our secret fb group, for “The Crew” only, the most awesome testers in the world!

4. What is the hardest part about designing a pattern in pdf form?
Maybe sorting images for the tutorial! I always take So. Many. Pictures. that choosing is maybe the hardest part!  I find also somehow hard write release posts and Craftsy/Etsy descriptions... I'm a shy person and find really hard describe strengths and virtues of my patterns... I have a lot to learn to be commercial! Sometimes I read some descriptions that sells  product very well... I'm still not that into it!  On the other side, I love to fill my excel tables with numbers and formulas, could draft in Illustrators for hours and hours without stopping, so I really can't find hardest parts in this part of the process!

The Free Mod Dress Pattern

5. What is your favorite of your patterns and why?
One of my favorite is the Mod Dress, which is downloadable for FREE on my Craftsy page. It's born as a refashion from a T-shirt and a pair of trousers, all bold lines and sixties! One of the most challenging is my new one, thee Hands-Free Asymmetrical Bag: plenty of pouches for a cross-bag band that leaves mom's hands free for childrens. For adventurous intermediate seamstresses, is a practical bag with a fashionable shell!

6. Do you sew for your own family or for sale?
I don't sew for sale, while I sew for my family. I used to sell some little things on the past but it takes too much time and it's simply not worth the time I spend on it: everything must be perfect, in my sewing, I hate poor finishings!

 7. What do you prefer more, sewing or pattern design, and why?

 I love both the parts of the process but, when I have to relax, I sew without worrying of long thread tails and cleaning the sewing table just to have clean pics... Simply sew! I usually draft late at night, because... it doesn't make noise, as my serger/sewing machine do!

 Free Refashion Raglan Shirt pattern with skirt

8. Have you learned anything from feedback from customers that you would like to share with other designers or wanna-be designers?
The most important thing I learned is that  you can't satisfy everybody, anything you do. It always makes me giggle when I read feedback and A says “please give me only measurements, so I can save paper and ink” and B says “thank you for giving me pattern pieces to print and not only measurements... I feel lost with them”... Been there?

9. Best time and place to design?
Whenever! Usually, I need to send my daughter out for some daddy-time... I simply am not able drafting with a curious 5 year old daughter around, asking questions all the time!

10. . Favorite fabric of all time?
This is hard for me... I usually refashion fabrics from pre-loved garments, but often I have access to out-of-the factory cuts: I live in a textile area where people have looms in their garage... There's an old tradition in fabrics and textiles here around!

10. Favorite thing to do for fun?
… sewing? Just  joking! I love to grow my vegs, starting from seeds and I'm a soapmaker too (olive oil and lye)
But the best thing I can think to do is putting together a 250 pieces puzzle with my daughter!

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Note from Kathy. Irene lives in Italy. It is so fun to be part of a sewing community that stretches around the globe.  Please see yesterday's post for my first sewing with one or her fab patterns. I definitely plan to do more!

Serger Pepper Basic Leggings Pattern Review

I was lucky, this week, to get to try out a new (to me) sewing pattern for leggings. My two girls love leggings so this is a wardrobe staple for us. My oldest daughter, who is 11 but wears a size 12 or 14, told me that she needs new summer pajamas and asked me to make her some tank tops and short leggings.  How could I refuse!  So, I took my new pattern, Serger Pepper's Basic Leggings Pattern, and made the shorts you see above. 

Serger Pepper is owned by MamaNene (aka Irene) who is also a contributor to Sew McCool blog, along with me.  This is how we "met" each other, online. Irene is a very sweet and talented lady who lives in Italy with her five year old daughter and husband. She has a fun blog and writes a lot of great patterns. This is the first one I have tried but I will be back for more. She did give me the pattern for free but only as friends.  This pattern review is 100% honest. You can expect that from me!  

Serger Pepper Basic Leggings

The first thing I noticed about this pattern is that it is perfect for beginners, requires no hemming, and has size adjustments for long legs and has higher back waist.  These are all important considerations when making knit pants. The pattern comes in a WIDE range of sizes, from US size 3 (Euro 98) to US size 14 (euro 164) which makes it perfect for anyone who can read an English-language pattern. And it has seam allowances. (some Euro patterns do not)   The pictures are clear and the directions are simple to understand. There are lots of tips for making the process simple. You can use a serger or  you can not, the directions show you both ways. There is a pattern for making cuffs for your leggings. She also shows you how to lengthen the crotch if you need a longer waist.

Now, the pattern does not show you how to turn it into shorts but it is pretty simple. So, what I did is measure where I wanted the shorts to fall on my child, added an inch, and cut.  The inch became the seam allowance. Voila. Shorts.  My girls don't like to call them biker shorts (but between you and me, that is what they are).  They are great for summer pajama bottoms.  

My oldest does not like the feel of waistbands and loves a yoga waist so I altered the pattern a smidge to add the yoga waist band you see in the picture.  I use the Sew Mama Sew yoga skirt tutorial for directions on how to do it.

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This is a great pattern! I highly recommend you try it if you are in the market for a leggings pattern.  Please come back tomorrow to read an interview with Irene!!

Sew 4 me linky party coming soon

 I am excited to announce my latest blog project and that is to start a linky party just for us to share the sewing we do for ourselves.   Starting next Tuesday, every Tuesday will have a linky party that will stay up until the weekend. You will be able to link up any sewing projects you do for yourself, whether they be accessories, purses, clothing, or anything you can physically wear on your body. You can be male or female. The only rules are that it must be sewn by you, it must be for your body, and your sewing and pictures must be tasteful for family viewing.  

The linky party will start at 6am Pacific Standard Time on Tuesdays and stay open until midnight Fridays. Saturdays, I will feature a few of my favorite items for a weekend post wrapping it all up.  It will be fun. This will also be a hashtag (#sew4me) so you can share on twitter and instagram.

For example, I made myself a Versatile Wrap Skirt from Make it Perfect patterns. I made mine reversible even though the pattern does not show how.  I just made two skirts and put them together then turned my bottom trim into binding. Voila! Reversible summer skirt.  I used more Jennifer Paganelli Beauty Queen fabrics, which I am in love with.

This is a versatile and easy-to-follow pattern.  Making it double-sided without directions was a big challenging but it turned out pretty cute.  I like the wrap-around part of it. I accidentally made mine a tad shorter than I had hoped (binding accident) but it is still going to be a fun skirt for summer.  

So,  get ready go start sharing your sewing projects weekly, the ones you do for you.  And remember that it is NOT selfish to sew for yourself. You are important, too, and you need fun sewing items in your wardrobe. So, start your sewing now and come back next Tuesday to share. 

Note:  After publishing this post, I was asked if you need a blog to be part of the linky. No! You can also share to my FB blog page, see link in left sidebar. I will be sure to share that each week!

Sew-A-Bration of Womanhood - Sewing for me

You read the title correctly. Today, I share sewing for myself. We should all be sewing for ourselves and it is absolutely not selfish to do so. So, when I heard Shaffer Sisters and CallAjaire were planning this blog series celebrating and honoring womanhood and "our common threads" I jumped on board.  Have you been following this series? It is great!  All sorts of women, of all sizes, shapes, types, and ages are sewing for themselves in many ways and celebrating themselves. What an honor to be included. 

Now, why have I not sewn much for myself in the past? Because I am fat! I admit it.  I used to be skinny, for many years I hovered at about 120 lbs on my 5'6" big-boned frame. That was actually too skinny. Then, I hovered around 150 for many years and I look back and think those were my good body years. Now, I am about 200 lbs and not a happy camper. Combined with my Hashimoto's thyroid disease, the weight makes my joints ache and makes me not enjoy exercise. Which makes me gain more weight. It's been a vicious cycle the last few years.  I am ready to confess to the public and admit I have a problem and get better!

So, I took this series as an excuse to share with you my body type, my trials and tribulations, and tell you that I am going to start a new series, called Project Me, where I embark on a new path that includes exercise, taking care of myself, enjoying life more, counseling, sewing for myself, and learning to like me.  And the first step is to sew myself something pretty that can be altered if and when I lose some weight. I say if and when because I am not a fad dieter. I am not joining Weight Watchers or eating only raw food. I am not giving up cheese or French bread. I will still enjoy coffee and wine. But, I will also go to bed at a more regular time, exercise daily (even if it is just a bit) and eat more vegies than bread every day. I will still enjoy my bacon but not in moderation.  

And so, here is me.  My oldest daughter took these horrible pictures of me from a chair.  The vantage point and lighting are terrible! But, it is the best we can do and I am not going to let it stop me from sharing with you. I know there are many beautiful, skinny mommy bloggers out there sharing their sewing. But, we "fluffy" moms should not let that stop us from enjoying sewing for ourselves.  And when Jennifer Paganelli's Beauty Queen arrived my house, I knew that was going to be mostly for me.  I am not an affiliate or anything for JP. I just think her fabrics are the most beautiful out there and she, herself, is the sweetest person I know online. I am blessed to call her friend even if we have never met in real life.

So, here I am!  

I made myself a skirt from the Fashion Formula Skirts pattern from Serendipity Studios. I like this pattern because it has so many options. I have made it before and it is comfy and pretty. Again, I am not affiliate or anything for this company.  This is just a nice pattern!

The tee shirt I got at a local store and appliqued myself using Melody in Midnight.  The pinks are so pretty that I feel pretty wearing them.

 

Hashimoto's has left my hair super thin and even medication hasn't helped it return. I don't want to wear a wig because I get hot easily so I wear head scarves.  I made this one from Beauty Queen.  The scarf is Letty in Midnight.  It is very dark but it is blue, not black.

Why is the skirt falling so funny? Oh dear, well I cannot control that so I will have to accept this picture and just relax!!! It is hard to not be super skinny. Our society puts so much pressure on us to be skinny and almost none of it is about health. It is mostly all about comparing ourselves to others.  I am going to try hard to ignore it and focus on health. If I get thinner because I am getting healthier, I can take this skirt in at the waist. That is why chose it.

 So, there you have it. Me accepting me for who I am and marching out of my shell to better health and  self acceptance. I hope you join me on this journey, which I will be sharing on Thursdays.  Every Thursday, I will update where I am and where I've been and where I am going. I am doing this in public to not only hold myself accountable but also to connect with other women like me.  

Please join me. 

And thank you for joining my part of the wonderful Sew-A-bration of Womanhood tour.

 

Baby Doll Mei Tai Carrier - free pattern and tutorial

My daughter has been wanting a doll carrier for her baby. She has seen many pictures of me wearing her sister or herself and she knows that is a fun way to hold a baby.  My Ellaroo Mei Tai was my favorite carrier and I wanted to do something similar. They are so easy to use.  After much searching, I could not find a pattern or tutorial that had the shape I wanted. And, they all had difficult directions for sewing the straps in and turning right side out. So, I drew my own pattern, tested it out several times, and here we go. This baby carrier should work for any doll in the 14" to 18" range.

Baby mei tai carrier tutorial

Supplies

1.     One yard heavier fabric, such as home decorator fabric, corduroy, or bottom weight fabric. You can make this out of quilting cotton but you will need a heavier interfacing.

2.     One 8 ½ by 11 piece of interfacing.  For home deco fabric, I use a medium weight sew-in interfacing. If you are using quilting cotton, you will want to use something heavier, such as quilting batting.

3.     Decoration for pocket.

For all seams, use a 3/8” seam allowance unless otherwise indicated.

If you prefer to download and print your directions, here is a pdf for you.  Also, download pattern template here.  Please make sure the pattern paper is 8 and 1/2 X 11 inches. 

Steps

A.     Cut out your fabric.

a.     Use pattern template to cut out two pieces of main fabric and one piece of interfacing the same shape.

b.     Cut out two pockets

c.      Cut out three straps 42” by 6” (yes three)

d.     Cut out one piece of bias tape 1/5” X 6”

B.     Carefully pin your interfacing to the inside main fabric and baste the two together.

C.     Cut one strap in half so you have two at  21” X 6” and two at 42” x 6.” Fold them in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, iron flat, and sew down the side seam. 

D.    Turn straps right side out.  I use my Dritz Tube Turners for this so I leave both ends open until this point.  Then, I iron flat, fold one end down neatly, and top-stitch each all the way around. 

E.     Finish your pocket, if you are going to have decoration. I like ric rac so I sew it to one side first.  Sew pockets wrong sides together, around the curve. Turn right side out and iron flat.

F.      Finish your bias tape so it will fully enclose the top of the pocket and sew on.  I will leave this direction open so you can do it your own way.

G.     Position pocket 3” down from top corner of front carrier piece and 1.5” from sides.  Sew in place by topstitching next to ric rac or edge. 

H.    To sew the long straps on to the top, position them so the unfinished hems are even with angle cut at top of front piece.  Pin in place on reverse side and fold straps up so they do not touch sides of front carrier piece. 

I.      Position shorter straps even with side seams (as shown in picture) and 1” up from bottom of carrier. Pin in place on reverse.  Fold straps so they are tucked neatly inside (as shown in picture).

J.      Position back piece of carrier evenly over top of front piece WITH STRAPS INSIDE and pin in place. Make sure not to pin folded part of strap. You will be sewing straps in place where they meet edges.  I place my pins horizontally to help keep the carrier flat and remove them as I sew.  

K.    Sew all the way around leaving 5 inches (give or take an inch) unfinished at bottom of carrier. USE ½” seam allowance for this step.

L.     Remove all pins and turn the carrier right sides out.  Iron with hot steam iron to get it to lay nice and flat.  Top stitch all the way around the main carrier, neatly finishing the bottom part.  

Safety Note:  This carrier is not designed for use with a real baby or animal. 

Now, how do you use it?  Here is my little model with step-by-step instructions.

Pattern Designer Interview - Lynn of Handmaiden's Cottage

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1. When did you start designing patterns and how did it come about?

My love for sewing and all sorts of needlework began as a child.   I vividly remember sitting next to my Mother as she made clothing for my Barbie dolls without patterns, draping fabric scraps over the plastic "mannequin" and stitching them up!  At that time I was way too young to operate machinery,  so I started out sewing by hand and it wasn't long before I was making my own doll clothes.  When I went to high school,  sewing was offered as part of the Home Economics curriculum, not as a precursor to a career in design, but basically as a "homemaking" skill.  I can still remember the fabric I used for my "runway" project (we had to design, sew and model our perfectly-fitting creations!)  As my interest in handiwork grew, so did my library of  sewing and craft books but it had never occurred to me to pursue a career in design, let alone patternmaking, so I went in another direction that seemed more practical and entered a business program at a local vocational school.  I was pretty good in math and my goals were simple and limited to getting an office job, marriage and babies!  Of course,  life is never simple and long story short,  I had to support my family, found an entry level position in a government agency and developed a successful career by "climbing the ladder", spent ten years in night school earning my bachelor's degree, worked on my MBA,  raised my twins, left my day job and decided to open my Etsy shop five years ago and sell handmade!  When I started receiving requests for patterns and as I found myself sewing around the clock and enjoying it less and less, I knew it was time for a change.  I resisted the idea at first (technical writing and computer work are not my favorite things to do!), but I wanted to remain in the creative marketplace.  Then I thought about my Mother and what an excellent cook she was, but never wrote down her recipes, so thinking about my own granddaughters and passing something on to them was the motivation I needed to get through my first pattern.  Now here I am, making doll clothes again!

 

 Dolly Swing Dress addition to The Handmaiden's Cottage Swing Dress Pattern

 

2. What training do you have or how did you learn?  

Without formal training, I did what I normally do when I want to learn something new, I searched out books on the subject and purchased "How to Publish your Patterns"  by Nancy Restuccia and began to study!   I had already been designing my own clothing to sell and had previously acquired some tools including the book "Children's Clothing...designing, selecting fabrics, patternmaking, sewing" by Selma Rosen complete with a set of slopers in perfect condition!   I had also purchased a professional children's dress form in a size 6 and had saved all of my notes and measurements from  children I had dressed over the years.   Because I had a "vision" of walking into a quilt shop and seeing my patterns hanging there, I started out with printed patterns.  My husband-to-be, Brad, a custom home designer, is proficient in CAD (computer-aided drafting) and other design programs offered to help,  so together we managed to release our first pattern to see if this was something I wanted to pursue.  I still consider myself  "in training" and just recently purchased a book  on patternmaking with blocks and some new tools so I can standardize my sizing and refine the fit of my designs.

3. What is the process of designing a new pattern like?

I start out by hand drawing my pattern pieces and then Brad scans and digitizes them.  I take photographs and write the instructions while I make the items in the sizes I want to offer and then create a rough draft.   After a few more steps, the pattern goes out for testing to ensure accuracy and fit.  Necessary edits are made and the pattern is finalized. 

I've only recently decided to stop selling handmade and fabric to focus on our pattern  business.  I already have a library of designs from years of selling on Etsy and I'm basically writing those up for now, but I am definitely looking forward to some new designs in the future. 

4. What is the hardest part about designing a pattern in pdf form?

First of all, I don't think there is any easy part in patternmaking!  Since we started out with professionally printed patterns with strict layout guidelines and pricing based on the size of the pattern, I think the hardest part (and possibly the best part) of publishing patterns in PDF form is how much detail you can provide in one pattern.  Sometimes I don't know when to quit!

5. What is the favorite of your patterns and why? 

My Swing Dress!  When I started receiving requests for a pattern for this dress, I really struggled with it!  I so wanted to share the design because I knew it was a favorite of  my handmade customers' little girls, but also knew it was going to be challenging because the techniques I used when I made it to sell, would not easily translate to a pattern.   I had to completely redesign it!   Now, when I look at the pattern, I think it looks fairly easy and I'm really proud of it! 

Swing Dress Pattern Set

6. Do you sew for your own family or for sale? What do you prefer more, sewing or pattern design, and why?

I just recently stopped sewing to sell and am looking forward to concentrating on sewing for our home.  I have a long list of projects, including an awning for the front porch!  Since I prefer the sewing machine over the computer,  sewing is more appealing to me, but patternmaking gives me the flexibility in my life so that I can spend more time away with my grandchildren. 

I've always sewn for my extended family and have fulfilled requests ranging from baby bibs to reupholstering the complete interior of an antique car! 

7. Have you learned anything from feedback from customers that you would like to share with other designers or wanna-be designers?

I'm not sure I've reached the level of  expertise of giving advice to other pattern designers, but I do know that good customer service is imperative if you want a successful business of any type.   I really try to be accessible and help out whenever I can and I actually enjoy the one-on-one interaction. The best feedback for me is when I get a photo of a little girl in a dress handmade by someone special to them and it's from my pattern!

8. Best time and place to design?

I'm not really sure I have a best time or place, it's more about when I feel inspired.   When I'm working on a project or trying to figure out a technique, it isn't unusual for me to wake up at five in the morning with the solution, spring out of bed and get to work testing my theory! 

 The Tea Party Dress

9. Favorite fabric of all time?

Years ago, Joann Fabric was having a closeout on Dupioni (I hadn't sewn with silk before) but it was ridiculously inexpensive, so I bought it all up, went to my sewing room and fell in LOVE! 

10. Favorite thing to do for fun?

For me,  there is nothing more enjoyable than playing with the grandkids and being silly.  Since  they live in Florida and the cottage is in Ohio, that fun comes in spurts!  Antiquing, gardening, playing with the dogs,  and (most recently) kayaking are the things we enjoy in the meantime!

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Note: I am a member of  Lynn's pattern design team because her patterns are so fabulously beautiful!  I never recommend anything not extremely well done.  These patterns are great!  

Jennifer Paganelli Beauty Queen Twirly Skirt

Today, I am guest blogging over at Sew McCool showing you how to ruffle knit fabrics. 

However, I also want to share with you all this skirt I  made for my oldest daughter out of Jennifer Paganelli's lovely new fabric line, Beauty Queen. I am very lucky to be considered one of Jennifer's "lovelies" and she sent me this fabric as a preview of her line.  There were no strings attached with the gift but how could I not sew something up quickly and share about it when Beauty Queen has finally arrived in stores!  Thank you kindly Jennifer for sharing your lovely fabric with me!

I used my twirly skirt tutorial to create this skirt. This is a size 14 and I decided to add a three inch ruffle to the bottom for an extra pop of color.  Otherwise, this is the twirly skirt seen in my tutorial. I used Jennifer's Valerie in Yellow and Katie Stripe in Midnight to make this fun skirt. My daughter loves it and said the fabrics are beautiful.  Her little sister said this makes her look like a college girl.  That comment was too cute not to share. 

You can find more of this beautiful line by clicking the SisBoom link in my side bar!

And you can buy some from my lovely friend Wei at One Red Blossom.  

She has it in stock NOW.  I already got more for me. Jennifer also sent me some Charlotte in green but I needed a bit more to finish the Sisboom Jenny tunic I am making for me. Look for that to be shared in the next week or two!  Such lovely lovely fabric.