Pecan Sandies

I’ve moved to Pecan dash Sandies dot com.

Jess — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:51:07 +0000

Don’t forget the dash.

A Big Skirt and a Little Dress

Jess — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:07:09 +0000

First, exciting news: I have a new sewing machine!

No longer will I let the previous beast of a machine torment me! The new machine, a Janome, sews sooo smoothly in comparison..so I have been sewing a lot.

Here are a couple of recent finished objects.

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Lyra’s Easter Dress

Jess — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:07:51 +0000

Making Lyra a dress for Easter is starting to look like a tradition.

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Happy Pi Day!

Jess — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:23:29 +0000

We didn’t go with the traditional Pi Day celebration this year.

I do love pie, but I’m a cookie person. No doubt about it.

Adventures in Patternmaking, Part 1: Basic Skirt

Jess — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:34:11 +0000

I’ve begun working my way through Cal Patch’s Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified, and I am going to chronicle my efforts here.

There are five projects in Design-It-Yourself Clothes, meant to be worked in order. If I get through the entire book, I’ll have designed and drafted my own patterns for a skirt, tee shirt, button-up shirt, dress, and pants.

I’ve been pretty anti-pattern in the past, but the downsides of my “just wing it!” approach are becoming more and more apparent. Trial and error is not a good way to get clothes to fit.

I put off getting started with this book for quite a while. On my initial skim-through, the directions appeared to be in a different language. O.o

But, once I gathered my materials and took my measurements, things got rolling. Drafting the pattern was simple and nowhere near as mundane as I had feared. I used grocery bags and they worked well.

Though I was tempted to skip ahead, I started on the basic skirt pattern as instructed. I liked the “Laura Skirt” variation, which added a ruffle and a yoke.

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Headbands: Best thing ever?

Jess — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:48:33 +0000

I have discovered headbands!

Behold, my child has a face! O.O

Headbands have been proven to stay on Lyra up to five times longer than the leading barrette!

Keeping lunch out of your hair is a breeze with Headbands!

Perhaps the best part of headbands is that they are so easy to make. I can sew a headband in less than ten minutes.

I’ve already made a couple for myself as well as Lyra. I can’t help but spread the good word. HEADBANDS!

Valentine’s Day: It snuck up on me.

Jess — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:36:56 +0000

The sweet little treat I found in the fridge this morning should have clued me in (a can of Dr. Pepper and a honey bun), but it didn’t. It was at least an hour later when the realization hit..HOLY CRAP IT’S VALENTINE’S DAY!?

So I hurriedly tried to assemble an envelope and card set like this, although I’d be lying if I said I followed the directions very well.

Red Letter Day Shape Sorter

Jess — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:08:00 +0000

I finished this sorter today, in prints from Red Letter Day by Lizzie House. It’s in the shop.

I love these ducks and trees!

Birdie Apron Dress

Jess — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:25:11 +0000

This is an old finished object, from before I started this blog. I’ve been busy working on the house so I thought it was an appropriate time to revisit it.

It’s a little apron dress for Lyra, in fabrics from Wendy Slotbloom’s Feathered Friends line. This collection sparked my interest in designer fabric.

I added a bird to the apron with a blanket stitch, and stitched it little legs and a beak. I suppose this might have been my first attempt at embroidery.

I’ve learned so much about sewing in the last year. I’d do things quite a bit differently if I were to sew this dress today..a lined bodice, French seams, ironing..better pictures.

Lyra wore the dress on her first Easter, along with an orange shrug I knit for her. She was so leeetle!

I <3 Skirts

Jess — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:00:34 +0000

It has been my dream, for at least the last three weeks now, to sew some skirts.

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