I have been sewing....

Well, hello there! It's been awhile since I've posted but never fear, I'm back. While I was gone we spent a week in Florida (a much needed respite!), visited with family, outdoor track & field and indoor flag football seasons started, and we celebrated the first birthday of the 2014 birthday season.

One of MG's birthday present requests was for a pair of jeggings. Luckily, I had just enough jegging fabric left over from a few years ago to sew one more pair.

pattern: Ottobre Design 04/2011, #20 fabric: knit denim fabric from Jo-ann Fabrics size: 122 mods: added 4 inches of length

Her other request was a jean jacket like her big sister's. Yes, I could have sewn one but instead I picked up a like new one at the thrift store right before we left for vacation. I had grand plans on sewing the little girls all kinds of summer clothes for Florida. But as so often happens, time got away from me and there was no way I could do that (and sleep too). The girls are so rough on their warm weather clothes that I hate to pay full price at the store. And right before we left, any warm weather clothes in the stores were not on sale. A morning spent at the thrift store netted the girls several pairs of shorts and tops to supplement what clothes still fit from last summer.
I did manage to sew one new top for each of the little girls to wear while we were on vcation. (BK is sick today so no pictures of her top yet.)

pattern: Ottobre Design 03/2012 #25 "Hopscotch Tunic" size: 122 fabric: large scraps from my stash left over from other projects
This pattern was not a good choice to try and make when I should have been packing. My hurried attempt didn't produce very nice results. In particular, the gathering of the sleeves and woven skirt section with clear elastic were horrible! Once we got home, I chopped off the skirt section and unpicked the sleeves to fix it. I ended up gathering the old fashioned way (basting stitches) and am much happier with how the top looks. It's still not perfect but I don't cringe every time I see it.;)

One other sewing project that I finished over a month ago is another button down shirt for K. This time in a plaid shirting...

pattern: Ottobre Design Women 05/2012 #7 "Gardener Cotton Shirt Blouse" size: 34 fabric: cotton plaid shirting from Fabric Mart Fabrics

This shirting fabric was bought for my son but when it arrived the cornflower blue was a little more purple-y than P would have liked. K's high school colors are purple and gold and she had been wanting a plaid button down shirt so the fabric didn't go to waste. I used a yellow, subtle floral for the inside collar stand and inner plackets.

Since I'm in a confessing mood, K hasn't worn this shirt at all. I used a heavier weight interfacing for the plackets and collar and she doesn't like how stiff the button placket in particular is. Maybe a few turns through the washer and dryer will help? It's a shame as the chambray shirt gets worn pretty much every time it's clean.
I'm looking forward to sewing sun dresses, shorts, swimsuits, and tank tops as the weather slo-o-o-owly starts to warm up. It's officially spring after all...even if it doesn't feel like it!