Dream Doll Quilt

{2011 Craft Books}

:: Pretty in Patchwork: Doll Quilts: 24 Little Quilts to Piece, Stitch, and Love by Cathy Gaubert
:: doll quilts are the perfect little patchwork project: they're miniature & oh so cute !
:: I sewed the dream doll quilt using mostly vintage sheets (leftover from this project)
:: making this got me thinking about the quilting/patchwork projects I've sewn in the past, I dug up my past ones:
:: from 2009 fabric basket, patchwork set, another patchwork set
:: from 2010 beach blanket, dress with quilted bodice
:: from 2011 patchwork pillow, girls charm pack skirt
:: looks like I average a couple/few quilting/patchwork projects per year (note to self: find more small cute patchwork projects to make)

Today is the last day of February, so thanks for following my 2011 craft book series this month. Maybe I'll see you around here next February for a 2012 craft book series...

And don't forget to enter the Shabby Apple dress giveaway ~ today is the last day to enter.

February Giveaway With Shabby Apple

 ETA: Bobbi is the winner !
*****
Are you looking forward to spring as much as I am??  Spring is my favorite season. I look forward to putting away my winter clothes & getting my spring clothes out of hibernation.

For spring would you like to add a new dress to your wardrobe?

I'm giving away the Da Vinci dress from Shabby Apple, an online boutique of women's dresses. The Da Vinci dress (in the above photo) is a grey knit Jersey drop waist dress, with puff-sleeves, A-line skirt and kangaroo pockets. It looks really comfortable & oh so easy to wear.

To enter the giveaway, you must have a USA shipping address, if you do then leave a separate comment for each of these:
:: first 'Like' Shabby Apple on Facebook  (you must do this step to be eligible) & come back here to tell me you Like Shabby Apple
:: then visit Shabby Apple & come back & leave me a comment saying which Shabby Apple dress or item is your favorite (this one is optional, but will give you a 2nd chance to enter)

Giveaway will run until Wednesday February 29th @ 8 PM CST. I'll pick a winner & contact that person.

Thank you to Shabby Apple for a great giveaway !

The O Tunic

{2011 Craft Books}

:: Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders: Cottons, Knits, Voiles, Corduroy, Fleece, Flannel, Home Dec, Oilcloth, Wool, and Beyond by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins

:: one yard projects are a great concept ~ when you think about it most fabrics cost under $10 per yard, so here you have a book of 101 projects that you can create each costing at most $10 to make... such a deal !

:: it's thicker than the first book One-Yard Wonders

:: I was able to attend the release party & snap some photos of some of the many projects featured in the book

:: I sewed the "O" Tunic, available is sizes 2T-5T, this one is 4T & very generous in size ~ it's a little big on my daughter, she'll grow into it, but for now we'll roll up the sleeves

:: the fabric (which reminds me of Liberty of London floral fabric) is a cotton voile called "Darling Clementine" by Timeless Treasures Fabrics (it cost $4.50 for 1 yd of fabric to make this tunic)

Hoping you have a crafty Thursday !

Cute as a Button Details

 {Project Run & Play Season 3 Sew Along}

Just a quick wrap-up here for you... a little bit about some of the details of the Cute as a Button look with some links on helpful how-tos. Then I'll be back again with some more posts about 2011 craft books.

About this McCall 6568 sewing pattern (from 1946) I used ~ have you ever used a sewing pattern from around 1946 ?  Sewing patterns today are a bit different, I think back then they assumed you had some average sewing skills, so they didn't give all the details. Where with Oliver+S sewing patterns you learn how to sew along with the sewing pattern. Other discoveries were back in 1946 it appears 35" & 54" were standard for fabric. They didn't have iron on facing, so all facing had to be hand basted. Sewing machines didn't have the zigzag stitch, so all buttonholes had to be hand sewn. Ah, the modern day conveniences we have today & probably take for granted. I mentioned a lot of details in a previous post, sorry for some repetition... for this pattern I add little pleats in the sleeves at the shoulders, put the buttons on the other side (my daughter is left-handed), & more details:

For adding on seam side pockets
this is helpful, and this one, too with free pocket patterns for kid & adult sizes.

Making a buttonhole with a zigzag stitch is how I did the buttonholes since that function is currently not working on my sewing machine.

This coat is quite short ~ hitting about mid-thigh. I wanted a more modern look, having the coat fall to the knee. I added 2 inches in length to 6 different pattern pieces between the waist & hem, click on 'How to lengthen a sewing pattern' to learn how to do that.

The Little Cap pattern by Leila & Ben  is adorable & the pattern is for a girl or a boy... to make the cap more feminine & to make it coordinate with the rest of the outfit, I added these details:
 I cut off 1.5 inches of the bottom of the cap & added a band that was 2 inches thick (with 1/4 inch seam allowances on top & bottom). A 1/2 inch grey bias trim sewn in middle & the elastic on the back of the cap was on the lining only.

 For the drop waist skirt, the top band was a little less than 4 inches by 13 inches (take child's waist divide by 2 & add an inch or more).
The back I made an elastic waist, but you could do the same drop waist in the back then add your favorite type of closure (zipper, buttons, etc).
I put 5 inverted pleats, nothing was measured, nothing was perfect, then in between each pleat I added one or two tiny pleats & that's how you get the messy pleats look ~ so easy !
Keep adding pleats until it matches the same width as the top band.
Add 2 fabric covered buttons off to one side of the top band.

 So the original plan for the shirt was a light pink lace shirt, but it wasn't coming together perfectly, so I had to quickly come up with a plan B, so in my 'make it work' moment I produced a white shirt before the deadline.
I picked up this size 10 dress for $3 at a rummage sale last summer, too big for my 4 yr old. To make it into a shirt, I took it in at the sides, cut if off below the waist, took off the buttons & added fabric covered buttons.
I made a fabric flower pin with leftover scrap fabric to cover the shirt logo.

 I couldn't find grey tights or grey shoes, so...
I bought some brand new 75% cotton white tights & dyed them grey.
And a white pair of shoes got spray painted grey.

It has been fun creating clothing items for the Project Run & Play sew along & although I didn't win for the signature look, I was just thrilled to have been chosen to be in the top 5. Thanks everyone for your kind words, support, & votes for my Cute as a Button entry !  They were much appreciated :)

Sew Along Signature Looks Top 5

Many thanks to the Project Run & Play Sew Along judges for including my Cute as a Button look in the top 5 for the Sew Along Signature Looks (ack !! I can't believe it & I'm absolutely thrilled ! )





Check out all the top 5 & vote for your favorite. My competitor's entries are AMAZING !!!  Voting goes until Sunday night & the winning look will be announced Monday morning.

Have a great weekend !

Sew Along Finale Look

 {Project Run & Play Season 3 Sew Along}

The Project Run & Play sew along participants were invited to create a signature look reflecting their style. I've named my ensemble Cute as a Button.

A few quick things about my style:
1) repurposing, refashioning, upcycling, basically giving clothing and/or textiles a second life
2) embellishments
3) sometimes vintage, sometimes sweet, sometimes French... I like to challenge myself & try new things
4) I'm inspired by my children, what they like, their favorite colors... sewing them dress up clothes, etc.

How I achieved this in my sew along finale look:
1) I repurposed a white dress (girls size 10) into a white shirt (girls size 4)
2) cute buttons on all 4 separates that tie the whole look together
3) I made adjustments to a vintage pattern McCall 6568 Child's Coat from 1946
4) my daughter's favorite color is pink

To create this Cute as a Button look I sewed with muted pink suede ~ it's super soft & a slate grey linen blend.

We live in Minnesota where wearing a jacket (or outerwear in general) is a given 3 out of the 4 seasons of the year, so I wanted to sew a coat. At a local vintage shop I found McCall 6568 Child's Coat from 1946 size 4 (original price was only $.35! I paid $2.00)

Adjustments made to pattern:

:: In 1946 it appears that little girls worn coats that were quite short ~ hitting about mid-thigh. I wanted a more modern look, having the coat fall to the knee. I did this by lengthening the coat 2 inches, not by just adding 2 inches at the hem, but by lengthening 6 different pattern pieces by 2 inches (& making the necessary adjustments) in between the waist & hem.

:: I added on seam side pockets.

:: I added several little pleats on the sleeves at the shoulders (giving a more feminine look).

:: I did not add the shoulder pads.

The cap pattern I used was Little Cap by Leila & Ben 

Adjustments made to pattern:

:: I cut off some of the bottom of the cap & in it's place added a band with a ribbon-like trim (made out of homemade bias tape) topped with one cute little button to one side of the brim (giving it a feminine look).

The rest of the items:
::slate grey drop waist skirt with messy pleats, 2 buttons on the side of the top band, elastic in the back of the skirt
:: repurposed white dress (girls size 10) to a white shirt (girls size 4) with grey fabric covered buttons & a pink flower pin (it's removable)
:: pink suede bow hair clip
:: white tights dyed grey
:: shoes spray painted grey
:: I assembled my own fabric covered buttons

A couple little notes to add...
:: I could have started Monday (Feb 6th), but I didn't start until Saturday (Feb 11th).
:: All along the way I changed my mind a gazillion times.
:: And in case anyone was wondering that's a 1952 Singer 301 black sewing machine.
:: I hope to have the details on how I put all of this together soon.

Be sure to check out all the signature looks at the Project Run & Play flickr group.