Tartan Time

    When your friend wants a custom tartan skirt for Celtic Fest, you make her a custom tartan skirt for Celtic fest! This was just good ole fun, particularly because I got to use some creative design skills. Two requests in particular: a cute little side ruffle and a patch pocket. I used one of her favorite skirts as a pattern. A simple A-line skirt with an elastic waistband and a vent on the back center seam. During the process of making this skirt, I also learned how to use a twin needle, which I have found to be a miracle worker for sewing with knits. 🌟 The knit was a cotton/poly jersey from Spoonflower in the Blackwatch tartan. What really blows my mind is that while I essentially had no directions, it was one of my shorter projects (do I sense signs of experience, finally??😲). Completed in less than a full work day and I really enjoyed it!💕

    

Making ruffles.

The beauty of a seam sewn with a twin needle. I'm still in shock by how much easier it made sewing with knits.

The back of the twin needle hem.

The lovely lady herself!

💚

     Now it's back to alterations, which are a little less fun than these last couple of projects, but at least I'm sewing , haha. Happy Sewing!

Wee Wonderfuls Doll

    I love getting special sewing requests that are just really up my alley. This is one of the two I worked on this past week (I will post on the other shortly): A handmade rag doll. A church friend requested this for her new granddaughter, and we settled on Wee Wonderfuls' doll pattern.  Originally, I had planned to make a dress, a little set of underwear, and shoes for her, but dropped the shoes since the fabric I had wasn't really working for them and I liked the look without them anyway.  This pattern has directions for everything and they are very clear. I only had a little trouble getting those buns to wrap inside themselves when shaping them. I think if I had used a heavier weight yarn, I would be able to do it more easily. I'll try it out on the next one! I've already gotten another order.🎉 I also got to use some tiny mother-of-pearl buttons I'd had for a number of years. Anyway, the pictures below are pretty self-explanatory about the results. She even got her own fashion shoot outside in the great spring weather for turning out so well!😄

    Here's another cool thing I wanted to share: This astronaut and textile artist, Karen Nyberg just put out a fabric collection inspired by her time in space. Her designs share the beauty of the Earth from space. I'm attaching a video link  below so you guys can revel in such a unique creativity, too!

Karen Nyberg "Earth Views" Fabric 🌍

Happy Sewing!