Meanwhile...

Sorry I've been a little MIA over the past week, but I've been busy, busy behind the scenes, I promise.  My Bio is up today on Project Run & Play's site, which of course makes everything seem more real and stressful, hehe.

Season 9 starts on the 24th of March and there is lots to do before it gets here.  I have a couple of fun things to post next week that are not Project Run & Play related so you can look forward to that, too.

In the meantime, here is a picture of a couple of cute newborn things I made for one of my friend's new baby girl.  She's a foster baby so even though they will probably not be able to keep her forever, I wanted to send something she could wear while she is in their care.  The pants were self drafted ages ago and they are super quick to make.

The jumper is the Jamie Jumper from the Little One Layette patterns by Fishsticks Designs.  I love this pattern.  I drafted a similar one with a zipper when Bean was a baby, but who knows were that pattern went so I opted to print out this Fishsticks one.  Also, sometimes it's easier when sewing for someone else's kids to just use a pattern you trust for sizing, you know?


Speaking of sizing, I like to throw a tailor's tape (*affiliate link) into the gift box that the receiver can throw in their junk drawer so the next time I call asking for their kid's sizes they'll be able to take them.  I've had enough conversations where I explain that first you'll need to put a string around the kid's waist and then measure the string only to have the parent explain that they don't have string.  So even though dental floss would work in a pinch (except everyone's using those dang placker things now), it's a lot easier to just send along a flexible tape measure, hehe.

Anyway, be sure to check back next week to see just what I've been getting up to behind the scenes over here!

My First Izzy Top

I've had my eye on Climbing The Willow's Izzy Top for ages now and I finally sewed one up for Bean.  It's a free pattern and tutorial that she offers in sizes 18M - 12!  That's incredibly generous.  If you don't know Teri from Climbing The Willow yet, its worth your time to check out her amazing my tutorials page because there is so much good stuff on there.

Anyway, I think it's the basic design of the top that caught my eye.  I like when a design is simple, yet has some interesting quality and in this case it's the curved yoke.  The curve makes my eye catch the skirt fabric more than a straight bodice would so I think it's a great way to feature a woven fabric you've been hoarding.

I sewed the 3T size since Bean is growing and growing and growing.  I hear a lot of moms talk about their older kids being 2T with size 6 length or 18M with size 4 length and I crack up because Bean is not even 3 yet and she's a solid 3T with practically a 4T length already.

I used some of my Fort Firefly Camp fabric by Teagan White.  Man do I love her designs.  I also bought the yellow fireflies in a jar (can't recall the name) from the same collection and I'm hoarding it until Bean is old enough to understand how cool fireflies are.  This summer should do the trick; we get a crazy amount of fireflies in our yard every year.

The solid blue fabric is more stretch sateen from JoAnn.  I have had such great results with their stretch sateen and I have it in many colors.  I've been seeing some florals pop up lately so I'll have to keep my eyes open for it the next time I'm there.  It's my favorite bottom weight fabric because it gives some strength and body to a garment, but still has a bit of stretch to it.  It washes and dries in the machine great without much shrinking.  Plus it has a subtle shine to it so it's a little more interesting than a plain solid.

This top is one of those speedy speedy sews too.  As you may know I am competing in Project Run & Play at the end of this month so my mind is spinning with design ideas.  I needed a quick sew that doesn't need a lot of concentration to sort of quiet my brain for a bit.  Does anyone else do that?  When I was in college and taking advanced computer science courses my mind would constantly be working out whatever algorithm we were working on at the time.  Some of my classmates were the type where their brain would focus somehow just before falling asleep and they would jump up and have to jot down notes before they lost the idea forever.  I on the other hand would just start cross stitching or knitting or something else active with my hands that didn't take a lot of concentration and somehow that would be enough to let my brain solve the problem in the background.  When I write that out it sounds a bit crazy, so now I'm definitely curious about all of your creative processes!

On Quilting...

Sometimes I like to make quilts.  Baby quilts are the best because they aren't very much commitment in terms of the actual quilting the whole thing together part.  I don't have a longarm sewing machine so jamming everything through my little Janome is not overly fun.  I've done some quilt as you go, but it takes more preparation than I find I have time for these days.  A small quilt is easier to manage so the majority of quilts I make now are baby/toddler size. (although my table quilts are a little bigger than that)  

When my best friend Angela had her first baby, of course I made her a quilt.  This was way back when we were still living in Washington state.  Okay, it wasn't so long ago, but 2008 seems like ages when I think about all that has changed in our lives since then.  

Anyway, she was having a girl and is obsessed with cats so of course I had to have lots of pink and include some cats on there.  I saw somewhere a quilt where these cat shadow appliques were walking up some steps under the moonlight and I liked the idea so I mixed it up a bit for a baby theme.  I turned the steps into alphabet blocks and when I realized the size and arrangement of the blocks would only allow for 25 letters, I used the first letter of the baby's name in place of the moon so I would have the whole alphabet on the quilt.  I really love how this one turned out.  This was back when I had more time on my hands and fewer interruptions... clearly, hehe.

Angela studied abroad in Paris and she loves anything french inspired.  When she found these Paris cats (a Benartex design) we both fell in love with them and I used the fabric for the back of the quilt and some of the blocks on the front.

In 2012 Angela was expecting her third baby and her husband wanted to be surprised when she delivered so he didn't find out the sex.  She decided the best way to handle the surprise was to send the sonogram to Spoonflower and then send the fabric to me to make a quilt with it.  Ah, the things pregnancy does to our brains, hehe.  I wasn't sure how I was going to use an "it's a boy" sonogram in a baby quilt, but I think it turned out great.

He is their only boy so we had to go all out and use her husband's favorite British football team logos all over the back of it too.  

Of course, I also used some french script fabric and blue British kitties in the mix to satisfy Angela's tastes.  The patterns I used for the quilt all came from the free patterns offered on the Quilter's Cache.  Rings in Motion for the center with the sonogram, Crossroads 2 for the corner squares, and Mock Logs for the other squares.  I like taking different patterns and mixing them up.  Planning a quilt is probably my favorite part of the process.

proof that I actually made her something: wearing the blue microfleece bubble skirt I made her at Halloween

All this is to say that somehow when Angela had her second daughter I never made her a quilt!  I don't remember exactly why, and I know I've made her other things, but I never got around to making her a baby quilt.  Maybe it was because I was pregnant with Bean at the time?  I have no idea, but she was turning three in February and it was high time to remedy the no-quilt situation.

This was a fun quilt to make because she is old enough to have some of her own interests.  As most little girls, she is obsessed with princesses and since her older sister has already claimed ALL THE PINK, she says blue is her favorite color.  So I used lots of princess fabric and made some bias binding with my Quickie Bias Tape method using some sparkly blue fabric to help the blues stand out a bit more.

I used the Broken Herringbone tutorial found here for the front blocks.  I had plans for how I would arrange the blocks, but then once I had them all sewn I was second guessing myself.  My original plan was to arrange them in a swirl shape (similar to how I arranged the baby boy quilt) like the top left above.  But then I liked the way the blue strips were flowing in the top right arrangement.  I quickly took pictures of two other arrangements I liked and posted this pic to Instagram to see what everyone else thought.  I got a lot of feedback in favor of the bottom left and a few with the top right.  

In the end I decided to go with the top right, but I replaced the pink triangle shapes at the point of the blue strips so it would look a little cleaner.  I knew I would be quilting using a swirly shape that would start in the center and make its way out, so I thought the swirling legs of this arrangement would be the best complement while still featuring some of the blues.

I took this picture and some of the front side before washing the quilt.  Does anyone else take before pictures to prove that you did indeed create something nice just in case the washing machine or dryer eats it the first time?  I am always SO nervous even though I've never had an issue.  The rest of the pictures above are all post laundry so they have the extra wrinkles a quilt should have and all the starch/Elmer's glue has been washed out.

The back came out really nice too.  I was so pleased with how the quilting worked out.  It was really fast once I got the swirl started and speed is key these days.  Angela sent me the bird fabric used on the back since that is what was used for her bedroom.  I thought the colors went well with the princess fabric and I hope she likes it.  

And of course I threw a little french fabric in there for Angela.  It's hard to tell in these pictures, but the pink fabric is an Eiffel Tower print.  I used it for the center triangles and a few of the smaller ones on the front.  My sister used the same fabric here for a key fob card holder thing and I didn't even make the connection until she saw it on Instagram and said she thought it was the same!

Now for those of you with regular sewing machines that do some quilting, I have a question.  How do you manage the quilting part?  I find it so frustrating to maneuver those big quilts, but maybe you have a solution I haven't thought of.  I'd love to hear any tips!

Cotton Lawn Mini Penny

Ages ago I bought some of this gorgeous navy floral cotton lawn from Imagine Gnats.  It was back before Bean sprouted up and I could actually do something with a small amount of fabric.  Since it was my first purchase of this fabric (I like to feel the fabrics before I commit) I only ordered a half a yard or something ridiculous like that.  Of course then the color sold out and Rachael wasn't able to find it to order again so I was left shaking my head for being a dummy.  There are other colors and I have some of the purple floral, but there was something I adored about that navy so I was determined to find a use for it.

Then the Mini Penny Pinafore entered my life and I thought maybe it would work to use the lawn for just the center portion of the dress.  Also if I made it a shirt length then I'd have more then enough to work with (or maybe squeeze out two shirts).

Now the pattern instructions are clear that this is a pattern meant for knits and I totally agree.  There needs to be stretch in the neckline and around the outside sleeve/armscye seams.  However, my only worry with using the woven for just the center pieces was that the neckline wouldn't have enough stretch.  The opening looked large enough, but you know how big kids' heads are so I crossed my fingers and sewed away.

And it totally worked.  The neckline has just enough stretch with the small amount of ribbing I used for the collar that it goes on without a hitch.  I think the lawn being somewhat on a bias at the neckline (or some of it is as you go along the neckline) may also help with the stretch a bit.

And the rest of the 3T top fits perfectly.  Bean had worn the shirt all day (and two other times before that) so there are some wrinkles in these pics, but trust me, the fit is just right.  The pants she's wearing are the Hosh jeans I made here.  Again, they were worn all day so there may also be some wrinkles (or mud) on them, hehe.

I am so excited about the possibilities with the addition of a woven center panel for this pattern.  This was one of the February Monthly MashUp patterns so we already have lots of neckline options, but this adds so much more.  Bean being comfortable in her clothes is so important to me and there's something sweet about the idea of the knit fabric sort of hugging her in at the side panels.

because I know my sister will ask... I have no idea what she is doing in this pic, hehe

So what do you think?  Any other ideas of what could be made for an almost three year old with just a half of a yard of fabric?

And the Winner is.....

The winner of the Mini Penny Pinafore and Bimaa Sweater patterns giveaway is Rachel Nelson!  Congrats Rachel and I can't wait to see what you make for your little ones.

(i love that it looks like they are looking toward each other here, hehe)

Those of you who are interested in buying the patterns can find the Mini Penny here and the Bimaa here.  Again, I'm not an affiliate of either of these patterns' designers, but I have loved every single pattern I've ever bought from Kitschy Coo and LouBee Clothing so I wholeheartedly recommend them!


And in case you haven't heard, I was voted in as the final contestant for Season 9 of Project Run & Play!!  It's very exciting and terrifying all at the same time.  They have announced the other designers and guys, I am blown away.  Just to be a part of that group is an honor.

I'm sure it'll be a crazy few weeks of preparation before the Season begins, but I have to start here with saying a huge thank you to all of you that voted for my dress.  I've been following Project Run & Play since the first season when I fell in love with the idea.  Bean wasn't even born then, hehe.  I've eagerly anticipated every season and I have to say it was definitely what got me into sewing for my girl.  I've always sewn things for myself, but once Bean was born all this inspiration came pouring out and I know I have the ladies behind Project Run & Play to thank for that.

Now I'm off to check my email to see if we've been given the themes for the new season yet.  My mind is spinning with the possibilities....

Shaffer Sisters' Betty Skirt

I'm so excited to tell you about the Shaffer Sisters' first e-book pattern release: the Betty Skirt!

These lovely ladies are always creating great clothing for their own children and now they have banded together, combining their individual skills as only sisters can to make an e-book worth of options for a yoked skirt.

The basic design is inspired on the deep yokes of the 1920's.  I was a pattern tester and made the version with the small pleats.  There are three other skirt options in the e-book along with instructions on how to get a perfect fit using your child's measurements.

Bean's 3T size skirt was made late one evening.  I decided I'd start the skirt even though it was late, but then it was finished before I thought it necessary to stop.  The shape of the pieces make the construction and cutting out super simple.  The pleating was the most difficult part and even that was a snap.

Of course getting her to stand still for a photo is still another story.  She's worn this skirt already a few times and I love the length on her right now.  

I really think you'll love this e-book.  Congratulations to the Shaffer Sisters on a great first release!

Monthly MashUp (2) - Mini Penny Pinafore and Bimaa Sweater

If you're looking for the details of this monthly series you can check out the introduction post.

For February's Monthly MashUp I chose two pattern designers that I completely adore.  Every pattern I have used from both Sarah (EmmyLouBeeDo) and Amanda (Kitschy Coo) have blown me away.  The Bimaa Sweater (LouBee Clothing) and Mini Penny Pinafore (Kitschy Coo) do not disappoint.

Sarah's Bimaa Sweater pattern took the internet by storm over the past few months and I completely understand why.  I bought the pattern in the late summer after seeing all the lovely Aussie ladies sewing them up for their winter babies while we endured the heat of August in Maryland.  Then it was also a part of the fall Sew Fab Bundle so Bimaas were popping up everywhere.  I knew at first glance that the style was too cute not to pass up.  And like her other designs the Bimaa is stylish yet super comfy for Bean.  There are three neck options, but the most often seen is the dramatic cowl.  Bean wears both of her cowl neck Bimaas all the time.  The pattern sizing is 12M to 6 and I know we'll be using it until Bean gets too big to squeeze herself in.

The Mini Penny Pinafore is a relatively new pattern from a well established designer.  Amanda is basically responsible for Bean parading around Instagram in her underwear all the time, hehe.  Her Boy Cut Briefs are the best underwear pattern ever and they are the only type of undies Bean owns.  But back to the amazing new dress.  As Amanda is the queen of comfort knits of course this dress is just the perfect shape for running and playing.  It is meant to be made with stretchy knit and has just the right amount of length to be age appropriate, but still look cute and youthful.  And those side panels!  Lets talk about those.  The opportunity for color blocking is always fun, but they also lend a high design feel to a relatively simple sew.  Part of what eases the sewing is the meticulous time Amanda puts in with all her pattern designing.  When you cut out the side panel pattern pieces they don't look at all like they will fit the front and back at their seams, but as you pin the fabric together they magically match up EXACTLY.  Designing princess seams that don't make me want to tear my hair out while I sew takes a lot of skill and is something I truly appreciated while trying to speed through sewing something for my girl.  There are options for short or long sleeve and the pattern runs from 6M to 10Years so we will get a lot of use from it.

There have been a few simple Bimaa Sweater dresses out there since its release and I even have a simple one cut out for Bean that has been in my to sew pile for awhile now.  But for this MashUp I wanted to show you how easy it is to take two already interestingly designed patterns and Mash them together to create even more design options.  And trust me when I say this is a super simple MashUp.  Both fabrics were bought through Girl Charlee ages ago.

Using the neckline of the Bimaa Sweater and the body color blocking and sleeves from the Mini Penny Pinafore adds over 20 more options for what you can create.  I chose to make a long sleeved color blocked dress with the shawl collar, but all the work for making any of the options is done just with mashing the neckline.  I can now take my MashUp pattern and make combos like a cowl neck Mini Penny solid color A-line dress or a hooded color blocked short sleeved top.  It's like having an entirely new pattern in my stash.

Here is how I mashed it.  (note: these drawings and photos are not to scale so please don't try to use them as pattern pieces)

Start by tracing just the center front and center back pieces of the Mini Penny pattern and any markings.  You'll also need the front and back pieces of the Bimaa Sweater.  Both patterns use a seam allowance of 3/8" which makes a simple MashUp even easier.

We are interested in the Bimaa's neckline for this MashUp so since they are the same seam allowance we only need to match up the shoulder seam and the fold edge of the pattern pieces.  Line up the fold edges and then slide the Bimaa pattern along the fold line until the shoulder seams meet.

Once the pieces are lined up simply trace the Bimaa necklines of the back and front (blue lines above) onto the already traced Mini Penny pattern pieces (red lines above).

Cut the pattern pieces out using the blue necklines and the red lines everywhere else.  And you're done.  Easiest MashUp ever, right?

With super cute results.  Use whichever neckline option you'd like from the Bimaa Sweater and then the rest of the Mini Penny Pinafore pattern pieces except for its neckband.  Now this already great Mini Penny Pinafore has three new amazing neckline options which make it even more versatile.

I already have a hooded version cut out that I'm really excited about, but I wanted to feature the shawl collar option in this post.  I think the Bimaa shawl collar is so perfect, but I rarely see that option out there on the internets.  I have a few other shawl collar sweatshirt patterns and they are great, but the way Sarah designed the construction of this one is crazy simple and I've never had a shawl collar sit exactly right the first time (using a serger!) with any other pattern.  It definitely deserved a moment in the spotlight, hehe.

Amanda and Sarah have generously offered to giveaway one of each of the patterns to one lucky reader! Just follow the instructions in the rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Want to MashUp your own, but don't want to wait until the giveaway is over?  You can purchase the Bimaa Sweater pattern here and the Mini Penny Pinafore here.  I am not an affiliate of either of these ladies.  Just a HUGE fan, hehe.

Be sure to follow the Monthly MashUp Pinterest board if you'd like some more inspiration on garments to mash.  And remember, if you do a MashUp I'd love it if you would share it in the Call Ajaire Monthly MashUp Flickr group!  I'd love to have some MashUps to feature next week.

<a href="http://ajaire.blogspot.com/search/label/Monthly%20MashUp" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QaqRN54YV5eIpr-nbvuESs6hHOsDFaMODZGPwnVmLdGK0WCIYxnF7W4dZ8eOpKDmR7oCYL_5hvysYBodMWplhjguDoc0ZpyH9QMsGqN4sm3RHmMlUNTuok4VnzI-G48rr3O_8iweIsqZ/s1600/Monthly+MashUp+graphic+600px.png" alt="Call Ajaire Monthly MashUp" width="125" height="125" /></a>

**the patterns have been generously donated for the giveaway, but all opinions are mine and I purchased my own patterns before contacting the designers.

Flip This - Josephine Jacket

It's been a few months since I have been able to participate in the Flip This Pattern monthly sew along over at Frances Suzanne so I was determined to flip February's pattern.  The pattern is the Josephine Dress from Violette Field Threads.  It's a really lovely pattern and though I hadn't sewn with one of their patterns before I definitely will again.  The instructions were clear and the design is very detailed.

When I first saw the pintucks on either side of the front button placket I thought of a spring jacket for Bean.  She has worn her Peppermint Bubblegum Coat all winter, but I wanted something fresh for spring.  The 3T sleeves of her coat are starting to get a little short so for the new jacket I decided to use the 4T sizing.  This will hopefully make a great fall jacket too so though it's a tiny bit big today I am so happy I chose the larger size.

The Jacket was made of this lovely coral fabric I picked out from G Street Fabrics' sale bin last month.  It has a nice feel to it with texture and a bit of stretch.  My first thought with the fabric was for pants or a skirt for me, but by the time I got it home I had decided on a spring jacket for Bean.  I still have some left over so we'll see what that becomes.

The lining is more of the lovely floral double gauze from Imagine Gnats' shop.  It is lined everywhere except for the sleeves.  I didn't want the extra bulk in the arms for the warmer weather.

I have pictures of how I made the jacket and will post later about those details.  Maybe early next week?  But for now I'll do a quick rundown of the changes I made for this flip.

I chopped the bottom five inches off the shirt length of the pattern front and back pieces.  I then created a band to reattach to the back with some ruffles.

I added mini epaulets at the shoulders and narrowed the collar.  All the buttons were made with more of the coral fabric, but using the reverse side.

The ruffled button placket and pin tucks were so nice I decided to keep them.  I created them a bit differently so the jacket could be lined nicely, but the overall look is the same.  Where I chopped the five inches off the bottom of the front I then reattached a band with a faux pocket detail on each side.

The shoulder of the sleeve was left as is, but I changed the sleeve bands to wrap around slightly and be open without a closure.  For now I can turn up the band so Bean will have room to grow into the arm length.

So there you have it.  A spring jacket with snowy pictures, hehe.  I will say that is was gorgeous out though.  The weather has warmed just enough to make you want to go outside and play.

Bean was very excited to be able to run around outside for a bit.  I feel like we've been way too cooped up this winter.  We had a stretch of just insanely cold temperatures (as did most of the rest of the US north and east coast) so it's great to enjoy some 30s and 40s for a change.

I'm happy I was able to squeeze in this flip.  The Josephine Jacket came out just as I had imagined.

Don't forget to vote for one of the competitors in the viewer's choice category later this week.  There are some great designers this month.  And of course there's the sew-along.  Stop by and see what everyone else made.

And be sure to come back again tomorrow because it's the third Thursday of February which means it's time for our Monthly MashUp.  February's MashUp is really exciting so you won't want to miss it!