Summer Sewing - Seashore Sundress....

Say that ten times fast....

My plan was to skip summer sewing, and start on a fall wardrobe.  Julia really has probably enough clothes to last her for this summer.  She has tons of shorts, and a bunch of t-shirts and dresses. 

I decided to make her one last summer dress and use a size 4 pattern to gauge how much difference there is between a size 3 and a size 4 and decide what size I'd start sewing for the fall...which is, 4 months away, after all.

I used the Seashore Sundress pattern from Oliver + S.  I made a straight size 4 - no modifications.  I added bias piping, and I definitely was pleased with the effect, but it was a bit more work.

I used this fabric from Aneela Hoey's Posy - Ditsy Lily of the Valley - it's very understated, and I love the color...

The pattern is really cute - very girly.  Two little pockets in the front that my child was obsessed with....before the dress was on her for ten minutes, the pockets were filled with little seashells...

So, I think that looking ahead for fall sewing, I could still probably get away with a size 3 for several more months, but I think I'm going to start adding up to a 5 length.

Goofy kid!

Something completely different....

I'm a garment sewist - not a craft-sewist, or a bag-sewist.

But...

With Mother's Day approaching, and my mother living on the opposite coast from me, I decided I had better actually get started on her Mothers Day gift.

I never know what to get my mother for any holiday. 

So, I decided to try a pattern that I had never tried....

I used fabric that I absolutely love from Moda's Zen Chic - their Comma line.  I used the Comma Asterisks in black and white.  It is so cool.  At least I think so....

I used black denim, and about $50 worth of interfacing and fleece, or so it seemed.  I used a cheap-o McCall's pattern, and I must say it went together very well.  There's a magnetic snap closure, and a zipper pocket inside.

 

I love this bag.  I'd use it.  In fact, I'm going to tell my mother to send it back to me if she doesn't like it!

On another note, when you see people selling handmade bags on Etsy, and you think, "Oh, I can make that myself for cheaper...." - think again.  This bag cost quite a bit.  A zipper, magnet snap, D-rings, fleece, interfacing.  I don't even want to add it all up.....