Ruffle Top

It has been a really long time since I posted any of my sewing projects. I have been sewing some but just haven't found time to take pictures and write up a post. I have been trying to make some lightweight tops that I can wear to work. This ruffle fabric has been getting a lot of attention around the blogaspear. People are coming up with some adorable projects using this sweet fabric. http://www.rufflefabric.com/ Check out these tutorials,http://www.rufflefabric.com/tutorials-with-ruffle-fabric. I think the Coastal Curtsy Skirt is so pretty. If I were younger and thinner I would make myself one of those. I do have a younger thinner daughter but she doesn't think she would wear that skirt but requested a more basic skirt made out of the ruffle fabric. More http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/05/ruffle-skirt-and-ruffles-on-shirt.htmllike this one. I think I will be able to whip one up for her. I am happy to because she so rarely wants anything I sew for her anymore. I don't sew for her unless she asks. Mostly what she ask for is costumes.



I found my ruffle fabric on the clearance rack at Hancock Fabrics yay because it is a bit pricey. But most projects only use a little. I got this pink and some red ruffle fabric. This is slightly shear but the ruffles cover most of the see through factor. I thought it would make a nice T-shirt. I used my old standby pattern New Look 6735. I have made the 3/4 sleeve T-shirt many times. For some reason I have not sewed anything else included in this pattern. This shirt has a seam in the back for a more shaped shirt. I eliminated the seam and just cut the back on the fold. That made it even easier to make. I don't need more shape in my T-shirts as I don't really have a defined waist. I need to loose a few pounds.

This top went together quickly. You don't even need to hem this fabric as you just leave a ruffle edge. It is a bit tricky to cut out and the seams can be tricky to as you must make sure the ruffles are all flat and going in the right direction. The only edge that needed a finish was the neckline. I used some pink fold over elastic for that. I really like this top however I wore it to work and that was not such a good idea. The fabric seems to be a bit delicate and snags easily. I work as a tailor in a men's store and it seems the edged of my tables and presses have tiny burrs on them. And this top seemed to be attracted to them and kept getting snagged. So I will save this top for other occasions when I am not constantly rubbing against a table. I have some leftover fabric so I think I will make my daughter a skirt with it. For a skirt I will have to line it with some kind of knit because the fabric is so shear. But it will make a cute skirt for her.

I added this to this show off your stuff party.

Surf Fishing

I know this post has nothing to do with sewing or crafting but I wanted to share my fish story. I went surf fishing at Cape Henlopen yesterday. I had such a nice time with my new guy friend and he taught me how to surf fish. I have never been much of a fisherman before. But I found that surf fishing is a very relaxing activity. The beach was beautiful and the weather was nice. I was a bit chilly because the wind was strong. We had a nice picnic of roasted chicken and good conversation. After only about 10 minutes after putting the baited line in the water we had a catch. Greg showed me how to reel him in and we found we had caught a striped bass. Around here they call them rock fish and this one was big enough to keep. But we did throw him back.

I actually did do a bit of crafting while we were fishing. While waiting for something to bite I knitted about half of a new washcloth. I like to take some simple knitting along with me to the beach. Washcloths are perfect knitting for the beach because they are easy and you don't have to worry about getting your project ruined by sand and sea. Because wash cloths are for washing so hey just wash them when you are finished.

All in all it was a very good day. By the way this is the only fish we caught that day. But that doesn't really matter it was all about enjoying time spent together and a fun activity.

Sewing Blogging Anniversary Giveaway: Japanese Edition « The Sew Convert

Look at this great blog I just found today and she is hosting a great giveaway too. Some cute Japanese fabrics and a copy of a Japanese sewing magazine Cotton Friends. I have been trying to get my hands on a copy of that magazine for a while now. I hope to get back to posting on my blog soon. I have made a few new tops that I want to share but just haven't found the time to get pictures and write up a post.Sewing Blogging Anniversary Giveaway: Japanese Edition « The Sew Convert: "Home > Fabric, Giveaway, Japanese sewing books > Sewing Blogging Anniversary Giveaway: Japanese Edition"

The Polka Dot Chair too: Win a copy of Fresh Fabric Treats & A Fat Quarter Pack

The Polka Dot Chair too: Win a copy of Fresh Fabric Treats & A Fat Quarter Pack Leave a comment here and you could win the new book Fresh Fabric Treats and a fat quarter pack.

I'm a Fabric Winner

Every once in a while I will enter some blog contests. Mostly the ones where you just have to leave a comment to enter. Well I won some great fabric from Miss Sews It All. She has been working on clearing out some of her stash and has been giving a set of coordinating fat quarters to someone who comments on her post. I love reading her blog and feel like I have a new friend even though it is just by way of our blogs. She is a really talented sewest and she shares some sweet projects as well as many basic tips. Thanks for picking me and I am looking forward to receiving my new fabric. What shall I make with it?

Book Review

I confess I am a craft book junkie. For Christmas I received two new craft books. One was Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Tea Towel. This is a cute book with as the title suggest dozens of ways to use a tea towel. While I haven't had a chance to try any project yet they all look quick and easy. And really you could use any type of fabric for any of the projects in the book (like a fat quarter). I have a few of those linen novelty tea towels in my stash. I think the first project I am going to try is the last project in the book a adorable reusable shopping bag with a wooden handle. Also pictured on the front cover.


I just won an auction on Shop Goodwill for a collection of vintage tea towels several of which are those calendar towels. I hope the are in good enough condition to use for the projects in this book. There is a lunch roll that would be handy for putting on my lap while eating my lunch at work. I always seem to get food all over myself as I usually eat in my car when it is cold outside. I think the slippers are a clever use of a print tea towel I may want to try.

Some projects only use small pieces of the towels. Such as the eye glass holder, the tissue case or the stash your cash wallet. Most of the projects use only one tea towel and a few use some other coordinating fabric to finish the project. There are even a few garments made out of tea towels including a halter top for an adult and a few child skirts and aprons. At the beginning of the book you can find information about the history of tea towels and what exactly a tea towel is along with basic sewing information. Since every project was created by a different person as part of the challenge there is a section at the back of the book about the designers. I am looking forward to checking out their web sites and blogs.

My Last Swap of 2010

I have been so busy since I started my new job I haven't had time to post on my Blog. The last swap I participated in on Craftster was The Chocolate Swap. For this swap we were required to craft one medium and two small projects and send at least $10 worth of chocolate. I think it is fun to get chocolate from another country. And while not mandatory it was encouraged to be open to sending to another country. Since I was unemployed when I joined this swap I thought I would have plenty of time to craft. I got my job shortly after partners were posted and I actually had to send a few days late. I was in such a rush to get my package in the mail that I forgot to take any pictures. This is the picture my partner posted in the gallery.

I sewed her a pair of flannel lounge pants. They are the turquoise with the cookies and milk. I trimmed them with brown flannel and white ric-rac. I made her a scarf that is the sort of stripey thing on top. I crocheted two washcloths and rolled them up to look like a jelly roll. And I wish I had taken some pictures of the Hershey Kiss shopping bag I made. I was really proud of this. My daughter gave me the idea for it and I patterned it after a purchased shopping bag I had that resembled a strawberry. The brown shopping bag folds up inside the Hershey Kiss. I used a silver sequined fabric for the kiss and a piece of white twill tape for the little paper label. I do plan to make another so maybe I can show some better pictures. I also put together a kit for making chocolate pretzels. And I send her some chocolate from a local candy store. Since my partner lived in Canada I thought she probably had access to many of the same chocolates that I do. So I tried to find some that she may not have tried before. She said she had never heard of any of the ones I sent.

For this swap I happened to be in a round robin with three partners. So I sent to a different person that who I received from. However I did receive a great package too. I got a really adorable chocolate cake box that is crocheted. A cute and well made cupcake pot holder and a cute cupcake tote bag. I can always use another tote bag. And inside the cake box was a delightful assortment of chocolate candy and cookies.

I Hope I will have time to join some more swaps in 2011. I have participated in almost 40 swaps since I learned about them on a blog I was reading. They are so much fun and they challenge me to craft things that I wouldn't normally make. I love coming up with ideas to fit my partners personality and the theme of the swap. I have had a chance to be creative in the mediums I am skilled at and I have even tried a few new crafts. And the best thing is I have met many new crafting friends.