KCWC, etc.

Well, I really didn't do well with Kids Clothes Week Challenge with Elsie Marley (although I did spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the flickr group, does that count??).  I made one raglan tee (Figgy's Tee for Two) and waited for more fabric to come from fabric.com.  This was a great shirt to sew, and I am proud of myself for making it.  The solid fabric is a pretty stretchy knit - polyester and rayon from Joann.  Unfortunately, it is a bit snug on Emma - although she loves it. So, when I try again it'll have to be a 10.  It was hard for me to wrap my brain around sewing this - as you leave the edges raw.  You actually sew right sides together vs. wrong sides, which is just hard for me to do.  This tutorial is fabulous - I couldn't have done it without studying it over and over:  kelly.hogaboom.org/?p=6023 or her photos starting here:  www.flickr.com/photos/kellyhogaboom/4641090584/

The organic cottons I ordered will work great, but I ordered some knits for me and I'm not sure they'll work out.  They are rather thin looking.  I'm a little worried about with sewing them.

I had hemming to do and another pattern to try, but this was a big week for me with several things looming....  a  demonstration lesson for Reading Recovery, appointments for the kids most days, and piano playing at church today.  I hope next week is easier and I can try some more things.

I am completely obsessed with looking for photos in my flickr feed of folks taking the NOW:YOU workshop.   Such interesting compositions and text.  How we see ourselves... who we think we are.

I've been playing around with taking self-portraits.  I NEVER see myself in photos.  #1 - no one takes pictures of me, #2 - I'm taking the pictures, and #3 - we never print pictures!!  Here are a couple favorites.  Playing around with picmonkey helped!

After feeling less than productive this weekend (lots of soccer and baseball), I sewed together this baby quilt - inspired by Namoo ( www.flickr.com/photos/namoohandmade/5766015491/) .  It's been on a mental to-do list for some time.  Love the greys and yellows.  Hope to bind it tomorrow.  

My first Renfrew and planning for Kids Clothes Sewing Week!

I have been reading blogs for so long and keeping mental lists of projects I want to try.  Although I think my heart is in quilting, I can't help being inspired by how I started sewing - with clothing.  So, over the last while or so I've started to think about sewing clothes for me and my kids.  I've always wanted to join in on Rae's Spring Top Week and Elsie's Kids Clothes Week Challenge (KCWC).

I first spotted the Renfrew by Tasia of Sewaholic a month back or so in the Sewing Women's Clothing flickr pool.  (LOVE going there!)  Shipping from Canada was more expensive than I expected, so after emailing Tasia, and finding US stockists, I found the pattern at a Fashionable Stitch. (Shipping was $2 and I got the pattern sent immediately!)

I was hoping to get one sewn for Rae's Spring Top Week.  This weekend I got some pattern tracing, cutting, and sewing done, and although it looks darling and came together well (I learned a few things... I always do), it's too small.  Yes, measuring is important - as is keeping your sewing supplies organized so you can find your tools - er, measuring tape.

I am really proud of it (even though I can't wear it in public)!  I've been wanting to sew with knits for about 2 years, now and I finally did it!  The fabric was from fabric.com - sale bin stuff for about $2/yard.  It's pretty stable, and not too stretchy.

Elsie Marley has been hosting a Fall and Spring Kids Clothes Week Challenge.  To sew every day for an hour for your kids - to work on the mental list of ideas you have - to get something done!  I've always loved watching what pops up during these weeks and now that I have some patterns and small successes back into the world of sewing clothes, I'm excited to participate this year.

I've got several Oliver + S patterns, Figgy's Tee for Two, and I think I have enough knit to make my 11 yo a small Renfrew.  By the way, I just figured out yesterday that Figgy made a Tee for Two for older kids - size 8-14!!  I just bought one on etsy as my kids are 9 and 11.  My pattern is the younger 12 month - size 6/7.  I'm really excited about the Tee for Two because I'm not so afraid of knits and t-shirt construction anymore and these should be really easy to whip up now that some of the learning curve is gone.