Squeaking in some summer shorts!

Hello everyone!

I'm back with a finished project! Do you remember the shorts I was sewing for my daughter?

These are the "Perfect Summer" shorts from Ottobre design 3-2016 (summer) issue! As soon as my daughter saw these, she wanted me to make a pair. Even though I have sewn tops and dresses for her, I have never attempted any pants or shorts. However, I figured that Ottobre's marvelous fit would work to my advantage, and it did!

Pattern Details

I used a floral poplin for this pattern that my sweet girl picked out herself. For an accent fabric, she chose white cotton fabric from the stash.  I sewed a size 128, which lines up with my daughter's measurements almost flawlessly, except for the waist.  

The pattern comes together quite easily, especially if you have sewn pants before. I love the method used to attach the short front and back pieces.  Also, there is some nice topstitching, and a mock fly front that you unfortunetaly can't see due to the fabric design. My only issue with this pattern was the waistband.

Now, I have sewn a waistband before, but this technique was new to me, and I did NOT like it. I kept having to undo my stitching and start again. It wasn't a particularly difficult method, I just felt that eth steps they had you take made the construction process harder and not easier. So, if I make these shorts again I will not use their method. 

Other than that, I enjoyed sewing this pattern! It is really cute!

My only adjustment was to add an inch of length to these. I didn't want them to end up being too short on my daughter. For the inside, I serged as many seams as I could, as well as the pocket bags. 

The back pockets were a big topic of discussion among me, my son, and my hubby. Apparently, the "boys" didn't think that the pockets matched, and that they stood out too much. But to us "girls" that is what makes these shorts more fun!!!! I mean, no one is going to have a pair of shorts like these, with the same style as my sweet girl.  That's the whole point of sewing them!!  I wanted them to be a reflection of her taste, and they are.

Overall, I highly recommend this pattern! If the seasons were not about to change, I would definitely invest in sewing a lot more. In fact, my daughter wore these to school right away before these got packed away, lol!

Update on Sew 30

Many of you know I am participating in the Sew for 30 minutes a day challenge for this month. I can't say that I have made it everyday, but I can say that I have done it MOST days. So, let's just say about three to four times a week.  It really makes a difference too!  I would not have finished this project without the Sew 30 challenge. It is such a manageable block of time that most days I reach my goal.

Well...

I'm off to my next project!! Wish me luck!

I decided to give the Canyon Cardigan a try! I have already printed it out in my size. Now to choose the fabric and get going.  Maybe watching Project Runway tonight will give me a little EXTRA inspiration!

Stay sew-filled!

New goals for National Sewing Month

Hey everyone!

It's September!

Happy National Sewing Month!

Thank you for all the well wishes on the birth of my son! There has definitely been an adjustment in our family life since he came, but I am grateful for every small milestone. Namely, a little one who is sleeping more at night and giving sweet smiles during his more alert moments. Oh, and finally settling into his car seat! It's the little things that make a big difference lately.

4 weeks old. He is now 7 weeks, and much chunkier, lol!

So, now that I have been able to get a breather, I am looking forward to participating in my MAGAM group again. For the month of September, in honor of National Sewing Month, we are encouraged to pick a garment and sew 30 minutes a day until it is finished. Essentially, committing a small amount of time each day.  This is perfect for me! I have already started yesterday, and will continue throughout this month. Somehow, even when I have had a long day, putting aside 30 minutes doesn't seem overwhelming at all.

I haven't chosen my patterns yet, but there are some I am considering for fall sewing:

First is a pattern I never finished, Love Notions slim style pants. It turns out when I tried these out before, I ignored a lot of wonderful features that make this one a user-friendly sew. The patterns are trimless (yay), you can modify the .pdf to print ONLY your size, and you don't have to print all the pages of the pattern, only those designated for your view. I did not know this the first time around because I was treating this pattern like others I had downloaded online before. Well, it pays to read the instructions!! LOL! So, I am hoping to revisit this one again--with much less stress.

Love Notions also recently released the Canyon Cardigan. I love the options for cardigans! So, yes, I have already purchased this one. Personally, I wear a lot of cardigans during the fall, and enjoy collecting different colors. Having a basic cardigan is great, but this I like that this one has a lot more personality! Here is the pattern illustration:

Another option I am looking at is a Mimi G pattern.  It is an adorable shirtdress that can be paired with tights or leggings. Being postpartum, leggings are now a welcome treat. They are most comfortable, and appropriate for my body at the moment. They will also continue to fit great even with losing weight over the upcoming months.  

Lastly, I am considering creating a duplicate of another garment I have. I've never tried this before, but I have a tunic dress top that I love to wear, and would like more of.   The silhouette is simple enough, so that should help me figure it out (that and helpful Youtube videos).

These are some of the ideas swarming around in my head these days. For now, I am focused on establishing a daily sewing habit.  

Stay sew-filled!