Indigo Shibori Super Tote

I have really been enjoying taking a bunch of fabric dyeing classes this year. Recently I dyed a linen table runner with (pre-reduced) indigo using shibori. It became the main fabric used in my new Super Tote by Anna Graham (whom I met at Quilt Market in Minneapolis in May!). Until now I had only made her Open Wide Zippered Pouch (see here and here), but I always wanted to use more of her patterns... have you seen her new book yet?

I love how my Super Tote turned out!

The straps are chambray otherwise all of the fabrics I dyed in classes that I took this year.

The linen table runner was approximately 17 inches by 63 inches and it was just enough for the main pieces of the tote. Only a couple of narrow strips of fabric remain from it. At the class I also dyed a couple of skirts, here you can see the result of a white Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt that I wrapped with six rubber bands.

This light blue chambray skirt is an Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt with hem tucks that I sewed over the summer. I think it was only the second time my daughter was wearing it that she got red popsicle stains on it.

So I threw the skirt into the indigo vat and this is how it turned out!

I loved how the skirts came out, so much so that I decided to take them apart and use the fabrics for my tote. I can always sew more skirts for my girl. I love the effect of the hem tucks and decided they would make great visual interest for the sides of the tote.

Here is the before of the white Lazy Days Skirt. I made it over a year ago, one of those last minute projects. It was for an angel costume and got worn a few times, but it served it's purpose and I found it to be quite boring. So into the indigo vat it went to add some pizzazz.

Once the white skirt was wrapped with six rubber bands and dyed, this is how it looked after I disassembled it. Most of the lining of my tote came from this fabric.

So there you have it! A tote full of memories of my sewing and fabric dyeing adventures.

Project details
Pattern: Super Tote
Fabrics: A bunch of fabrics (linen, cotton, chambray) I had fun dyeing in classes I took this year, the straps are chambray

I also recently made the Liesl + Co. Woodland Stroll Cape that I'm wearing, you can read more about it on the Oliver + S blog.

18" doll clothes tutorial round-up

Here is a quick round-up of my tutorials for 18" doll clothes. Enjoy!

1. 18" doll skirt (which is reversible)
2. Lazy Days Skirt (ribbon hemmed elastic waist skirt)
3. Newborn onesies to nightgowns and t-shirts
4. No-sew tutu
5. Petticoat
6. Chiffon bubble skirt
7. Lace and tulle skirt
8. Sequin skirt
9. Layered trim skirt
10. Doily circle skirt

Happy doll clothes sewing!

PS I forgot to add the No-sew dresses

Sailor Button Dress

I'm excited to be a part of the February Free for All that's being hosted by Ashley and Emily over at Frances Suzanne.  It's where you take a free pattern and flip it. How fun!

So today I'm talking all about my free pattern and tutorial called the Purple Rose Party Dress (and the various ways I've flipped it). It was something I dreamed up and put together almost three years ago already. It is a sleeveless drop waist dress with a circle skirt. The sash which is attached at the sides of the bodice ties in the front. Bias tape is used for the hem of the circle skirt as well as the trim on the two arm holes and neckline. It has a v-neck back with an invisible zipper and hook and eye closure. The pattern pieces are in size 4.

 Then I started playing around with the pattern and made the Striped Dress...

 ...and the Plaid Dress...

 ...and the Color Wheel Dress.

 I came across this image of a pink and gray sailor-like dress somewhere on the internet (if anyone knows where the source of this image came from, please let me know) and thought I could use the Purple Rose Party Dress pattern to make something very similar.

 And that is how this Sailor Button Dress came about. Only a couple of simple changes were needed. Instead of the circle skirt I did a rectangular gathered skirt. I took two rectangles of gray fabric that were 12 inches by 29.5 inches (and sewed them together on the sides with half inch seam allowances) and made teeny tiny pleats that I basted before attaching the skirt to the bodice. At the bottom of the skirt I folded over a half inch then again a half inch to create the hem. I bought some of this awesome shiny gold leather and cut three pieces that are approximately one inch by four inches and attached them to the front of the bodice with gold buttons. Voila! I'm really pleased with the result.

 Be sure to visit Frances Suzanne to see all of the other Free for All goodness happening the next couple of weeks.

Completed: CaliFayeCollection Gardenia Dress

 Raise your hand if you’ve already sewn an Elsa dress. Well, I can now raise my hand because I finally got around to creating one. After every sewing mother and grandmother in the online sewing community made one. And after everyone else bought all of the Elsa fabrics up at the fabric stores.

I used the CaliFayeCollection Gardenia Dress pattern, a dress pattern I discovered for the first time in STYLO 3.

Project details

Pattern: CaliFayeCollection Gardenia Dress

Size: 6

Modifications: added length, eliminated the pockets, I used an old blue hair elastic for the button loop

Fabrics: 

Front top/neckline/back/sleeves: white swiss dot

Front lower: blue non-stretch sequin fabric

Skirt: blue faux silk dupioni

Notions: white shank button with a snowflake on it, the last one leftover from the Nordic stripes flannel Christmas pajamas.

I later added a removable cape. It’s 3/4 yard of light sparkly fabric, three sides were hemmed, it's gathered at the top and sewn together with bias binding, with elastic loops at each end that attach to buttons on the shoulders. I got the idea here. An added bonus is that she is able to put the cape on and off all by herself, it's that easy.

 What better place to take photos of Elsa the snow queen than outside in the snow?? These photos were taken on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 frozen lakes.

So many Elsa dresses out there that offer inspiration, just in case you haven’t already made a girl’s dreams come true yet and are looking for ideas: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Now she wants an Anna dress. I think it’ll be the same pattern, but with ‘Anna colors’.

Scandinavian Christmas Hide-and-Seek Dress

What can I say? Christmas brings out the Scandinavian in me. I'm delighted to be joining the Scandinavian Christmas series again this year that Kathryn over at the Pickled Herring is hosting.

This year I am excited to show you the unique, one-of-a-kind Scandinavian Christmas dress I created. I was inspired by Saint Lucia who wears a white dress with red sash and a crown of green leaves.

Can you guess where the yoke fabric came from?

Project details
Pattern: Oliver + S Hide-and-Seek Dress
Size: 6
Fabrics: white linen/cotton blend, the yoke fabric is from a woven placemat!
Notions: 3 red buttons

In A Clutch Cosmetic Case

 I had a third week of November deadline for these to be done and I’m so pleased I finished them in time. They are the In A Clutch Cosmetic Case from Straight Stitch Society. Three different styles (I sewed one of each) that are fun and were a quick and easy sew.

The gold dot one was inspired by this pin. I bought the gold dot fabric at JoAnn Fabrics.

 The blue one was inspired by this color palette. I believe I bought all three of the fabrics from Crafty Planet. The three different fabrics are: a gray Kona cotton, Blue butterflies, and the lining is Pearl bracelets (a lighter shade of this).

 The pink one my girl picked out the fabrics and style she wanted, so that one was custom made for her. The hot pink is cotton sateen and the other one is white with hot pink dots, both of those fabrics I purchased as SR Harris.

 The gold dot and blue ones are gifts that were put in two different Christmas shoe boxes for a girl 10-14 years old. I put sewing supplies like sewing kits and thread inside them and also included sewing supplies like scissors, fabrics, and buttons in the boxes. I hope the recipients enjoy sewing!

STYLO no. 3 Grey Zone

Photo (and graphic added) by Stacy

Yesterday I shared my Peaches and Cream look for STYLO issue three. Now today I’ve got my Grey Zone look to share. Again, just like for the Peaches and Cream photos, all of the Grey Zone photos featured in STYLO were taken by my friend Stacy ~ thank you Stacy!

This whole outfit came together because I was really inspired by the black and white pins found in the STYLO no.3 Mood Board. Black and white can be so classic, classy, and chic. So this is my little Diane Keaton look. Or maybe it could be Mary Tyler Moore since the photos were taken in downtown Minneapolis. I love the contrast going on here, black and white, masculine and feminine. Anyway, just something different for STYLO and maybe something a little different from what I usually make… maybe some people are surprised I didn’t sew a dress!

Here are the details about my Grey Zone look...

Sis Boom Ethan Shirt 
Fabric: white cotton, from SR Harris
Notions: white Dill buttons, from Michael Levine
Size: 6
I’ve already used this pattern a couple of times and it’s a really good button shirt pattern because it has a collar with a separate collar stand. For this white shirt I eliminated the front patch pocket.

Oliver + S Art Museum Trousers
Fabrics:
black wool with white dots, from SR Harris
lining: black and white graphic print cotton, Night and Day designed by Kim Schaefer for Andover Fabrics, from Michael Levine
Notions: 
black Dill buttons, from SR Harris
white zipper, from SR Harris
Size: 5 with size 6 length
This was the fourth time I’ve used this pattern, it’s my favorite pants pattern. I used this zipper fly tutorial and this was only my second zipper fly! On these pants I eliminated the belt loops. I absolutely love this black wool! I need to go back to the store to buy some more because I would love to sew myself a pair of pants with this fabric.

Oliver + S Forest Path Cape
Fabrics: 
black wool coating, from SR Harris
lining: black and white graphic print cotton, North Star “GRAPHYX” designed by Mark Hordyszynski for Micheal Miller, from Michael Levine
Notions: black Dill buttons, from SR Harris
Size: 6
I love this cape! It has such a nice shape, great style, and comes together so nicely. I would love to sew myself one and lucky for me, there is a women’s version of the pattern. And how perfect is the name of the lining print ‘North Star’ since I live in Minnesota where the State Motto is “L’Etoile du Nord” which is french for “The Star of the North” and the most common nickname for Minnesota is “The North Star State."

Peaches and Peanuts The Tie 
Fabric: black and white graphic satin, from SR Harris
Size: Child S/M
This is the first tie I ever made! It was such a fun sewing project and I would never hesitate in the future to sew another tie using this pattern. A tie can really add something unique (to an outfit) whether it’s a print or a color. I love how in the first photo the lines on the tie echo the lines in the window of the building in the background.

I did bring my camera along to the photo shoot and I got exactly one photo and this is it because right after I snapped this shot my girl went running off! (The wind was gusty at the top of these stairs ~ look at her hair!) She was particularly more difficult to photograph during this photo shoot because she was running around all over the place. Stacy performed miracles to capture a few photos of her! That being said I’m sure you can understand why I’m very grateful to own a dress form :)

You must go check out the details about the Grey Zone look that Stacy made for her daughter.

Thanks to Michael Levine for providing some of the materials for this look. Use the coupon code 'Stylo10', which is good for 10% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by. I just love sewing and it’s a joy to share what I create. One of the things I love so much about STYLO is that it brings the online sewing community together. Thank you STYLO!

STYLO no. 3 Peaches and Cream

Photo (and graphic added) by Stacy

The one and only STYLO has released it’s third issue and it’s their ‘Golden’ edition. STYLO is the fashion forward sewing e-magazine for kids. It’s beautifully put together by the Editors in Chief Celina and Jess. For me the huge thing is that it shows the whole world that sewing children’s garments can be fashionable and fun!

All 217 pages of this issue are packed full of things to inspire you to create and I think it’s going to take me a couple of days to actually read through the whole thing!

Back in August when preparation started for issue three I grabbed by sewing friend Stacy as soon as possible to help me out. She not only has wicked sewing skills, but also amazing photography and photo editing skills. I definitely needed help with the photography in order to be up to par with STYLO! Stacy took all the photos that you see in STYLO for our Peaches and Cream and Grey Zone looks. (On page 4 where it lists all the contributors, that photo was actually Stacy’s photo even though it says it was by me and her). But not only that she also did all the photo editing, styling (she brought all of the props/accessories, the fans, the umbrellas, the sun glasses; she even braided my girl’s hair for the Peaches and Cream look!), and she pretty much ran all of the photo shoots. It was such a fun project, with the all the ideas and planning, sewing pattern and fabric advice, fabric shopping we did together, and then the photo shoots at a couple of fun locations.

Take a look at the STYLO no.3 Mood Board… fun right? The sequins, metallic items, and the pinks were inspiring and with using that inspiration this is my Peaches and Cream look that came to completion.

 Here are all the details about my Peaches and Cream look...

Heidi and Finn Ballet Sweater
Fabric: pink rayon knit, from SR Harris
Size: 6
This was the first time I ever used a walking foot (I recently bought a new sewing machine and it came with a walking foot) and look forward to using it again. Such a cute ballet wrap that I will for sure make again.

Papillon et Mandarine Leon shorts
Fabric: beige wool, from SR Harris
Trim: copper sequin trim, from SR Harris
Notions: fabric covered buttons
Size: 6
I'm a huge fan of these bloomer style shorts with all those adorable buttons. I made a previous pair that you can see here.

Oliver + S Playtime Tunic
Fabric: rose and gold brocade, from Michael Levine
Notions: awabi shell buttons, from Michael Levine
Size: 5
Modifications: I made it sleeveless, fully lined the bodice, eliminated the pockets, and the skirt is one long rectangle selvage to selvage. I also topstitched all around the armholes, neckline, and back bodice.

 I did bring my camera to the photo shoot and did manage to take a few photos including this one. But as you can see Stacy's photos turned out so much better ~ thank goodness she took the photos! By the way you must go check out all the details about the Peaches and Cream look that Stacy created for her daughter.

Thanks to Michael Levine for providing some of the materials for this look. Use the coupon code 'Stylo10', which is good for 10% off your entire purchase.