sewing saturday.. a little girl's floral jumper

Sewing Saturday! It's time again for regular sewing updates every weekend.. and man alive, finally. This past week mostly served as a break from sewing, but I honestly missed it. Funny how you create habits and addictions where you least expect them.

This week, I started working on a floral jumper for my good friend back in Illinois.. she recently had a baby, a little girl named Jocelyn, and I thought sewing a floral dress for her would be a good way to welcome her into the world.

The sewing pattern I'm using comes from the 1970s and offers four size options (I went with extra small - Jocelyn's just a couple of months old). What you need for this project.. about 3/4 of a yard of fabric, a small amount of matching double fold bias tape and fusible interfacing - interfacing for the collar and bias tape for arm hole reinforcing, and two 3/4 inch buttons. Using a serger is completely optional. Don't forget, you can always use pinking shears or a zigzag stitch in place of a serger.

I recently bought a fabric covered button kit from a craft store in town, so I decided to use it for the jumper.. more below!

To begin, I ironed out the fabric and pattern pieces, laid them out, pinned, and cut. I then serged the ends of the pockets and pressed them inwards by their seam allowance (5/8 inch). I pinned them to their designated spots on the front ends of the jumper and sewed them in place, keeping the tops open. I followed this by sewing the two jumper pieces together at the front center seam, then reinforcing the stitch using a serger.

Once I had made progress with the jumper, I decided to cover the buttons with fabric. The two buttons will be used at the collar to attach the straps to the front of the jumper. I followed the instructions on the back of button package.. super simple! The entire process took just a couple of minutes, if that.

First, I cut out the circle guide that matched the button measurement (30). I then used the circle as a tracing wheel, cutting two matching circles of fabric. I pressed the fabric circle face down into the white rubber cap, layering the face of the button on top of it. I pressed them into the cap. Once the fabric was in, I gathered it into the back of the button face and put the back of the button on top, hook facing upwards. I made sure the fabric was tucked away into the button, then I used the small blue cap to press the button back to the button front. The button pieces clicked into place, I snapped the button out of the rubber cap, and done! I'll definitely be buying more button kits.. they're inexpensive and adorable.

That's all for this week! I've got to finish the jumper soon because Neil and I are taking a trip to Illinois on Thursday, where we'll be meeting little Jocelyn for the first time! We'll be visiting friends and family and I can't wait.

Shop update in the morning!

sewing saturday! patchwork crop top

Sewing Saturday! Last week, I asked you guys to tell me which project I should sew next - a quilted cotton crop top or rose colored peter pan collar blouse. Well, the votes were equal for each project.. so I'm going to sew both blouses - next week, the rose hued blouse and this week, the crop top!

What you'll need for this pattern - fabric (about half a yard), double fold bias tape, and the usuals - an iron included.

To begin, I pressed the pattern pieces and fabric, laid out the pieces on top of the fabric (right sides together) at the fold, then cut the pieces.

The front called for bust darts and the back piece for two back darts, so I sewed those in and pressed them. I then stitched the front and back pieces together at the shoulder seams.

Once the two pieces are connected, it's time to stay stitch. I stay stitched the arm holes, bottom edges, and neck opening at the seam allowance, then trimmed them with pinking shears. I then sewed the bias tape to these openings, sewing the side seams together when I was finished.

Finished product! What would you pair this top with? I'm thinking denim overalls and my saddle shoes.

That's all for this week! Happy weekend!

sewing saturday! future projects and vintage finds

Sorry, no sewing progress today.. I'm taking a bit of a break from Sewing Saturday. Instead, I'm sharing next week's potential projects!

I'm giving you guys control over this one. Which blouse should I make - a 1950s crop top in quilted cotton fabric or a peter pan collar blouse with long sleeves in rose colored broadcloth? Whichever blouse gets the most votes wins.. just let me know via comments!

Here are the pieces I found while antique shopping in Lebanon.. vintage crochet collars, a pretty 1950s bed jacket, and a couple of Holly Hobbie portraits - one an embroidered piece with brown ankle boots and a patchwork skirt. It seems I'm reliving 12 again, and I'm alright with that.

In preparation for my spring vintage lookbook (coming next week!), there will be no shop update tomorrow. Instead, I'll spend that time working on the shop and adding items I intended to list in earlier weeks, so keep an eye out for new listings and even lower markdowns in the sale section. Hope you had a great weekend!

sewing saturday.. completed wide legged high waist trousers!

Sewing Saturday! This weekend, I finished the wide legged chambray trousers I started a couple of weeks back.

To start, I sewed the two back pieces together at the center seam and sewed the darts in as well, much like I did with the front pieces previously. I then pressed the zipper opening by 5/8 inch and 1/2 inch on the front piece, hand basting the zipper in place (long, easy-to-remove red stitches in the first photo). Once the zipper was firm, I turned the pockets inside out, pressed them, and pinned them to their designated spots at the front of the pants. I sewed the two ends at the top and sides then topstitched along the curve, leaving the pocket opening at the top.

I then sewed the zipper in place using my machine's zipper foot. I attached the front and back pieces together at the sides then eased them to fit in the middle. I sewed the legs together from the crotch down. Once the legs were formed, I pressed then sewed the openings. I allowed a two inch seam, although now I know I'll have to hem them a whole lot more if I want them to fit me. Maybe I'll cuff them at the bottom.

Now for the waistband! I attached the faced piece of waistband to the waist of the pants, right sides together, matching markings on both pieces. I sewed them together within their seam allowance, trimmed the seams, then pressed the waistband upwards. The other piece of waistband was left. I ironed the 5/8 inch seam allowance on the notched edge of the un-faced waistband piece, then attached it to the faced waistband, right sides together, sewing the top and sides. I trimmed edges and turned them outside in, ironing the waistband flat. The 5/8 inch seam allowance that was ironed inwards is now at the inside of the trousers. I slip stitched the inside piece of waistband to the pants, carefully and discreetly.

The last step involved sewing some hook and eye closures to the waistband opening.. and then, done!

Now, these pants are nearly the entire length of me. So I'll have to do some major hemming. And the waist is a bit big too, but that's a problem easily fixed with a belt. I can't wait to wear them! What do you think I should pair them with? I've just found a pretty nude lace crop top that I might try wearing out with these pants (if I'm feeling brave and not going to church).

Friday marked the death of a friend of mine - my laptop. Red wine was spilled and all was lost. While being without my Macbook is definitely a pain (as well as losing some much-loved photos and files on my hard drive), I'm really looking forward to a new computer! Mine was nearly four years old, so it was about time to retire him anyway. Any laptop suggestions? Is the new 13 inch Macbook a good buy?

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

sewing saturday.. chambray trousers and spring finds

Sewing Saturday! Just a few steps this weekend.

Last week, I began wide legged chambray trousers by prepping the pattern pieces, ironing, pinning, and cutting. This week, I started sewing the pieces.

To begin, I sewed darts into the two front pieces, pressing them towards the center. I then sewed the front crotch seam together, stitching over the original seam twice for added strength. I clipped the seams with pinking shears.

I sewed the pocket lining to the pockets, right sides together, keeping two sides open. Once that was finished, I clipped the seam allowances and corners of the waistband fusible interfacing then attached it by placing the glue side to the wrong side of corresponding waistband piece and ironing it directly with a steam iron (not completely sure if this method was supposed to work, but it did).

That's all for today! Next weekend, I'll have the trousers finished. For now, I leave you guys with photos of some recent spring finds - vintage quilted fabric, a wooden trinket box, and other odds and ends.