whimsy couture

So, it's been a while!

Please don't think that means I haven't been sewing, though.

Oh, no. In the time since I've written, I made three huge (like Ikea bag huge) completely lined denim bags for carrying music stands (for my choir) and embellished (read: bleached, dyed, ruffled, flowered) upwards of 10 tee shirts for friends. I've been so swamped with projects that I haven't even taken pictures or blogged about them.

But this one is different!

One of the blogs I follow is Whimsy Couture. I love her patterns (found in her Etsy shop -- um, 4500 sales!) but haven't yet bought any.  Imagine my delight when I happened to check my Google Reader just a few minutes after Whimsy posted a need for pattern-testers!  I jumped on the chance to test her pattern for Knot Overalls, and here is the result.  I love them, and Sophia does, too!  Even after I took them off her, she carried them around. 

Front:

Back:

Knots:

Ruffle:

Sophia's back (complete with diaper melvin):

Sophia looking at a worm (just for fun):

I LOVE this pattern.  It is so simple, takes very little fabric (I paid $8 for this, and I could make 1, maybe 2 more) and looks adorable.  I'll be sure to let you know when it gets published, so you can make them, too! 

the great apron swap

My awesome friend, Paige makes beauuuuutiful aprons.  I've always wanted an apron of my very own.  The only apron in our household is M.'s, and he got it from a friend who is a flight attendant for Continental.  It's a flight attendant apron.  I wear it once in a while, but it's neither cute nor comfortable.  I toyed with making one for myself, but then I realized, I HATE making stuff for myself; sewing is only fun when I'm doing it for someone else. 

Then Paige suggested the Flirty Apron Swap!  I was so excited to get my partner assigned so I could buy a pattern and start working on it! 

Here's the finished product.  I sent it off today!
 

First, my favorite parts: the pocket

And the bodice and tie

Here's the whole thing (almost.  It was 3 am when I finished it and I couldn't fit the corners in.)

Oh, did I tell you it's reversible?  I might like side 2 even more than side 1.

I really hope my partner likes it!  

(Apron pattern is Pretty Ditty Apron by Jamie Christina)

frantic Easter sewing complete!

I think this is the biggest sewing project I've taken on, except for maybe Halloween of 2008, after which I didn't sew for at least a year. That was traumatic. And I do need a little break after finishing this one, but then it's on to another project!

I love love LOVE this bubble skirt. It's reversible and so easy! It took me two nights to finish two of them from start to finish. Bravo, Tanya, on a great pattern and a fabulous tutorial!

I LOVED this fabric.  Here is a close-up:

And here's the other side, along with a close-up:

And here's the top (aka the bane of my existence for the last two weeks:)

It's Simplicity 2429, and a lot of work.  But maybe I'm just not good at working with these kinds of patterns.  It's done, and I do love how it turned out. 

And this post would not be complete without some pictures of my lovely ladies in their outfits! (Monogrammed posy clips by my awesome friend Kerryanne)

(I <3 this one because Will is playing the harmonica so intently. )

My GOODNESS, I love these girls.  I love my boys, too; they're just harder to sew for.  :)  Yay for Easter outfits!

we interrupt this frantic Easter sewing...

(and yes, I'm still working on Easter sewing, which is one of the perks of having General Conference on Easter: I have more time to finish it)

to show some pictures of a scripture case I decided to make for Peter two days before his birthday.  I followed Melissa's tutorial (which is found here on The Polkadot Chair) pretty much exactly, and am happy with the result! I had some major issues with top stitching, which you'll notice if you look closely, and couldn't find the right snap enclosure, but it works, and

I made some "Made with Love"tags because I've been making so many gifts lately!