-tap, tap-

Hi. *waves sheepishly*  It has been awhile since I have checked in here.  I am still sewing, knitting, etc.  Once you stop blogging for a bit it is so much harder to get back into posting again.  So much was going on and it made sense to drop this, but I miss sharing projects and just being in this more personal space.  Plus, I fear I am boring people on Facebook with my crafty shares. ;0)

I always seem to have like twenty projects going on at once.  I am so easily distracted.  One of the things I am working on is this little bunny for Samantha for Christmas.  This was my first time making a hand sewn toy, and it wasn't as difficult as I thought.  Now I am just working on Miss Maggie's accessories.  I love that you can buy other little patterns to accessorize her further.  I definitely want to knit her the little coat.  I love everything Alicia Paulson.  She has such a lovely aesthetic.  

Kid Clothes Week: Day One

My first item for Kid's Clothes Week- a Roller Skate Dress!  This is a new pattern from Oliver + S.  I have seen so many popping up in their Flickr group and for good reason.  This is a quick sew, and it looks so cute!  

Not only that but I squeezed a size seven out of one yard of fabric!  Woot!  Nothing like a little creative placement. ;0)  I have had this fabric in my stash for about five years!  It is floral by Anna Griffin.  I have always loved it, and it was just waiting for the perfect project.  She said she looks like a garden in this dress. ;0)

There are just two pattern pieces, which makes it easy to cut out and put together.  I love that it is lined as it t makes it feel very sturdy.  The instructions were flawless.  I already have another one planned out!

Also, she is looking so grown up!

-little projects-

I made another In Threes sweater.  This time in pink and for another baby.  I love this shade of pink.   It is kind of dusky and not pink, pink!  There is neon everywhere right now, and I admit that I am just not a neon girl.  I have had the hardest time shopping for my kids this spring.  Everything is so...BRIGHT.  I don't mind it in bits and pieces, but well...where are my pretty pastels??

I haven't been knitting as much lately because I have been dealing with horrible tendonitis.  I was working on a cute little baby dress in a fingering weight, and it just did me in.  I am half way done, and the dress is turning out so, so cute.  I don't know if I can ever work with fingering again though.  Thankfully, this is worsted weight, and so it didn't bother my hand and shoulder as much...whew.  I made another little peasant dress to go underneath.  I used a sweet little flower fabric from Hunky Dory that I have had in my stash for awhile.  Perfect for a little baby, yes?

I also made some fun Foldover Clutches.  I have been wanting to make some of these for awhile.  The envelope clutch I made last year was starting to look a little dingy, so it was time for a little something new.  One for me and one for a gift.

These are super simple, quick sews.  However, the touch of leather gives them that perfect touch.  Very satisfying! ;0)

Kid Clothes Week starts tomorrow.  I don't know if I will be productive as I was last fall, but fabrics and patterns are picked!  Fingers are crossed!

-first birthday outfit-

My sweet Samantha turns one next week.  Talk about a year going by fast.  She is the tiniest little thing you have ever seen.  People are often surprised how old she is.  She just now is starting to fit into nine month clothes.  She may be tiny, but she is surprisingly independent.  She already yells at us to do things for her and knows how to push her big brother's buttons just right.  She doesn't seem to have any interest in walking just yet, but she crawls everywhere and gets into plenty of mischief.  

For her outfit I knit her the "In Threes Cardigan".  This was my first little sweater, and it was so much fun and went together fast since it uses a worsted weight.  I already have another one planned for another baby.  The yarn is Knit Picks Swish worsted in Wonderland Heather.  The dress is the Molly Peasant Dress.  I have made this pattern lots of times, and it is a great basic little dress that you can change up and personalize.  For the diaper cover I used Dana's free diaper cover pattern.  Super quick and comes in a variety of sizes!

Now to go finish that quilt I started her a year ago...! ;0)

-rag quilt-

The Celebrate The Boy posts by Rae and Dana made me think of this little rag quilt made for my newest nephew back in December.  I bought a set of boy fat quarters from the Children at Play line back before whether I knew whether Samantha was a boy or a girl. (I thought she was going to be a boy.)  So, I was just waiting for another baby boy to make his appearance to use this darling fabric.  I decided just to make a simple rag quilt with minky.  I love using minky for baby quilts.  It is so soft and seems to add that perfect soft touch that babies love.  I didn't use any batting in between the layers, so it is a little more like a blanket than a quilt.   Now to finish Samantha's baby quilt now to be her first birthday quilt! ;0) 

-go anywhere bag-

I made myself a new bag!  I love bags.  You should see my closet and how stuffed full of homemade bags it is.  I have even given tons of them away!  Doesn't stop me from making more though. ;0) This is the Go Anywhere Bag by Anna of Noodlehead.  I have had this pattern for a long time, and it was time to get to making it.  I am kind of at the in between state of needing a diaper bag and not.  This is a largeish bag, so I can still stuff in some diapers, nursing cover, and extra set of clothes.   I haven't been buying much fabric of late because well, I haven't been sewing very much, and it is hard justifying buying fabric when I have a whole stash that is waiting for me already.  However, I fell in love with both Architextures and this star fabric from Constellations., and I knew they would go well together in this pattern.  I didn't change much in this pattern except to use flat piping for the edge of the pocket, the back pocket I sewed a line up the middle instead of adding a snap because I feel large pockets often get floppy, and I used fusible fleece for the outside of the bag because I love the soft structure it provides.   I also quilted the main bag pieces because I love the look. The pattern went together quickly, and now I am trying to pick what fabrics to use for her new Divided Basket pattern!  

-2012-

I am a little late in writing my end of the year post, but hey...that goes for everything in my life right now. ;0)  This is the best picture we got of our kiddies on Christmas Eve.  So hard to get all four kids looking and smiling!  I made the two older girls' dresses using Oliver + S Playdate Dress pattern.  I have had this pattern in my stash for years, and I was glad I finally took the plunge!  I love how they turned out.  They are Christmas-y without being super fancy.  My kids are hard on their clothes, and it was nice to have washable dresses.  The hardest part of this pattern was the yoke...tricky!  Once I got past this part though, the pattern is pretty easy.

My favorite picture...my oldest and youngest.  I love these girls.

Here are some of my favorite projects from 2012.  What a strange year.  My sewing/crafting went through a lot of dry spells this year.  However, cross stitching and knitting saved me at the end of the year!  I was in desperate need to have more portable and put downable projects.  I loved learning how to knit.  I have wanted to learn for years, and I am having so much fun.  I will come back later this week to show more of what I have been knitting lately!

Thanks for stopping by and reading!  Here is to a wonderful 2013!

xoxo,

Meg

-wallets and pouches-

I made these coloring wallets for my niece and nephew for their birthdays a few weeks back.  I have made several of these coloring wallets (pattern by jcasa).  They were my go to birthday present for a couple of years, but it has been awhile since I made one.  These are great to use up large scraps though and go together quickly.

For the boy wallet I used a Japanese car fabric that I had leftover from Josiah's pants I made during Kids Clothes Week and a blue solid for the lining.

For the girl wallet I used a Japanese princess and the frog fabric leftover from Juliana's bento box carrier and a green solid.  I do interface the outside and the lining to make them sturdy, but iron on interfacing does crinkle a bit since it is folded, and this is especially noticeable on the inside.

I also made my first Christmas gift!  This is the Idea Pouch from Michelle Patterns.  I bought this when she first released the pattern.  I changed the button closure to use a rubber band because I didn't like having to wrap a string, and I think this makes it look a little more streamlined. 

 I really think this is a versatile pattern.  It can fit an iPad, a composition book, or I also think it would be nice for an embroidery project- you  could keep a hoop and pattern in the main part and adjust the pockets on the inside for your floss, needles, and scissors.  I am definitely going to make another for me after the holidays.  For the fabric I used two half yards from Madrona road.  However, the pattern does call for 2/3 yards because of the height of the pieces.  Fabric.com usually cuts their fabric a bit generously.  I was lucky, and it worked!  

I also made myself a new wallet.  This is the Zip Pocket Pouch from Michelle Patterns.  My old wallet was the same pattern in the big size.  This is the tall.  My old one somehow ended up in the kitchen trash can.  Hmm...I have my suspicions on how that happened.  I definitely couldn't keep it...trust me.   

I love this cute typewriter fabric, and this is a super fun pattern to put together.

I am a huge fan of all of Michelle's patterns, and she currently has all of her patterns on sale for $5 until 11/25!  I definitely would recommend her patterns to even a beginner because she has such great details on how to get your bag or pouch to look professional.  Go check them out!

I will be back later this week to show you my finished cowl!  Yay!

-little bits-

My Felicity turned five this week.  She has been waiting for this day ever since her big sister's birthday, and finally it came!  She was so happy and pleased as punch with all her gifts.

  One of the best things about having a number of kids is getting to see how different they all are.  She is a very sweet and easy going child (most of the time).  This is so nice since *cough* I have two other children who are not so easy going.  Klutz is her middle name though.  She trips and falls all the time.  She has broken one of our kitchen chairs trying to smell muffins.  The band aid box is needed weekly if not daily.  However, she has such a kind, gentle heart, and I am so proud of my big girl.

She received the coveted American Girl doll who looks like her.  She named her Isabella.

I am also starting to plan for my Christmas crafting.  I bought some Cherry Christmas and some red polka dots to make some Christmas dresses for the girls.

I have also started my first knitting project!  I am making Millwater (per Angela's recommendation!).  I am having so much fun making it! It is guaranteed that this time of year I start craving some yarn projects, but this time I am learning to knit!  This has opened up all sorts of possibilities, and I have become obsessed with Ravelry!  If you knit or crochet, come be friends with me over there!!

Also, I finished my Winterwoods Sampler!  I love it!  I want to get it framed before sharing it with you all first though!

-pillow talk swap 9 complete!-

The past couple of weeks have been so tiring (the time change- it messes with everything!) and busy with halloween, soccer, and birthday stuff.  It just going to get busier- I know.  I am contemplating taking next week off of school to catch up on some projects around the house and to prep for Christmas.  One advantage of homeschooling...

 I haven't had much time to sew.  However, this past weekend I finished up my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap.  I quilted it with swirls- they are a little "organic".  I hope my partner doesn't mind!  However, I do like the look and will try it again in the future.

I am happy to cross this project off the list, and I am looking forward to getting something in my mailbox in the next week or so!

For the back I used this gray text print.  My partner likes text prints, and I kind of felt bad for not using any on the front! ;0)

You can find my previous post on this pillow here!

Happy November and happy sewing!!  Time to get the Christmas crafty groove going!

-manual mode monday 2/52

I got started on my pillow for The Pillow Talk swap this weekend.  I have finished all my blocks using this pattern.  This is a fun little block to piece.  I decided to go with a bright, rainbowy mix of colors, and I am using varying shades of white and notebook type fabrics for the background.

 I was inspired by this color combo, and then decided to add a pop of orange to round it out a little more.  I think these kind of colors are to my partner's taste (at least, I hope they are!).   

Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II 

F 2.2 1/60 ISO 800

I shot these all in manual!  Yay!  I found that I liked the overexposed look for these photos, as they made the rainbow really pop against the white.  However, as much as I like the blur, I felt like there was too much blur.  I tried fooling around with it to open the lens a bit more, but eh...  I would appreciate any tips if you have any thoughts!

-ramblings on friday-

I had so much fun sewing for Kid Clothes Week!  I blogged every day except for the last day!  Sunday got away from me, but I did make a pair of Big Butt Baby Pants for Josiah (top left corner).  We don't cloth diaper currently, so they definitely are a bit baggy on a small disposable diapered bottom.  Rae suggests going down a size in the bottom part if you don't cloth diaper, so next time I make these I will definitely follow her advice.  Otherwise, super cute pattern that was easy and fun to put together.  He calls them his cuhr phunts (aka car pants).  I really appreciated this challenge because it got me sitting down to my machine on a more regular basis again.  I also stuck with easy and simple patterns because sometimes I just don't want to deal with a million pattern pieces, and I knew I would quit if I didn't do easy.

I took a break from sewing for the past few days, but last night I whipped up two pairs of bright yellow leggings for the girls.  I used Lil Blue Boo's leggings pattern.  I like this pattern, but I think it runs small.  I made the 7/8 for both girls, but they fit Felicity who is almost five better than they do Juliana (7). 

Sarah over at Amongst Lovely Things started a challenge to more regularly shoot in manual mode.  I love our DSLR, but I always shoot in auto.  I am determined to learn how to shoot in manual.  I took some practice shots of Sammy.  Some of these are blurry.  Bummer.  However, isn't she the cutest?  I could just squeeze and kiss her big chubby cheeks all day. (In fact, I usually do.)  She is already six months old!  Really, it has flown by.  Six months seems to be a magic time for our babies.  They seem to really become less fussy, and she is sleeping so much better at night.  She is my first baby to suck her thumb. and it so cute to see her big cheeks pudge around her tiny thumb.  She is a big fan of all her siblings and watches everything they do.  She has quite the fan club and is welcomed with great joy when she wakes up.

This has been a hard week, and I am so glad the weekend is here.  To celebrate I made these One Hour Cinnamon Rolls.  I followed the recipe except for the filling I used half white and half brown sugar.  Then I made a cream cheesing frosting because I *love* cream cheese frosting.  All I have to say is...wow.  Make them.  You will not regret it.  Well, you might when you step on the scale.

I read a lot of really good mom related posts this week that touched my heart.  Looking for a little weekend reading?  Read these.

A Little Encouragement - Clover Lane

A Shadow of My Former Self - Kate Wicker

10 Survival Tactics from Surviving a Bad day - Like Mother, Like Daughter

-kcwc day 6-

pattern:

none.  This is really just one seam with a little elastic and some hemming. If you need guidance, check out The Lazy Days Skirt.

fabric:

Velveteen from Anna Maria Horners' Loulouthi line.  I bought this fabric with the idea to make a bag from it, but I am so glad I didn't.  It is perfect for a skirt and hangs so nicely.

sewing:

Fun!  This skirt took only half an hour to make, and I think it is my favorite thing I have made this week!

It was declared perfect for twirling.

Then they got silly and started running. ;0)