Clothesline Fresh: "Shorts on the Line"

My, oh my!!  Thank you, one and all, for your daily votes cast for our "Shorts on the Line" sew-along entry.... We were floored and awed by your support the past three days!! Fellow bloggers, flickr friends, and facebook friends: You took the voting challenge and ran with it...Words really can't express our gratitude to you now...WOW! Seriously...WOW!

A special thanks to the three moderators, Rachael, Carla, and Vanessa, for hosting such an amazing sew-along series. We were hooked from the moment the series was announced! Due to all the creative shorts posted on the flickr sew-along group, we're hoping crossing our fingers for a repeat season to test out some ideas based on others' inspirations...

Now, we can't wait to put all of those fabulous prizes to good use...Thank you, thank you, thank you!

One Pattern, Two Looks, Three Outfits

Are you ever on the lookout for a pattern with "big bang?" One that gives you so many options and looks, at a reasonable price? One that won't appear as if you are sewing from the same pattern over and over and over? Well, we found one: Maja Heirlooms Sophie Pattern. No, it's not a new pattern, nor does it receive a lot of attention via the web (at least that we've found). But get this.... when you buy this pattern, you receive a pattern for bloomers, shorts, pants, and a top or bubble (that we're always a sucker for) - smocked or not. To date, we've tried two of these looks, in three different outfits...and are here with the results.

Back in January, we cut two tops to be pleated and smocked. The only problem was: we accidentally cut them in a smaller size than our niece would be wearing in the spring!! No worries though, because we had heard this pattern had a generous fit, so it might still work for her. Of course, since it required picture smocking, and our sewing list was quite lengthy, we placed it near the bottom of it.

We finished our spring / summer list a few weeks ago, and didn't even attempt to have her try on the finished products. Another niece was on the way, and we opted to call that our first sewing for the newest member of the family....to be worn next spring / summer. 

Emily {suzanne} took on her first picture smocking project, and completed the pink tulips on white (Tulip Garden by Ellen McCarn); while Sara {the niece's mom} began the white sheep on a pink background (Sarah's Sheep by Creative Keepsakes). Mommy duties to a toddler, pregnancy, and picture smocking weren't meant to be, so Sara passed off the smocking plate and project back to Emily {suzanne} to complete. *Lesson learned: People smock differently, and should never work on the same project.* After revamping the smocking plate to cover their sewing differences, the sheep were finished...

Learning from our mistakes of 'faulty size cutting' on the smocked versions, we cut another outfit in the correct size for "the big sis" - entirely for play purposes! We wanted something she could wear and get dirty without her mom stressing over it! Enter: the 2nd look of the Maja Heirloom Sophie pattern attempted. We couldn't get over how different the outfits looked - just by changing up fabric selection and smocked styling. We did add a pocket on the play version using Oliver + S Puppet Show Shorts pocket pattern.

Our niece put this outfit to the durability and play test by blueberry picking eating one morning. We had a few smashed berries along the way, but the majority went straight to the mouth.

She was such a good sport, she even sat down to pick eat the 'lazy man's way.' It was a rough job, but someone had to do it!

Then, to double check wearability and dirtying up the outfit, she moved on to sidewalk chalk.

After choosing and working with just one color for some time, she realized she needed to be more aggressive on her testing method....and opted for the vigorous, two-handed approach.

Yep, it's a winner: withstanding the toddler test! We are eager to try the bubble pattern with our youngest niece, as well as the shorts and pants version on both girls, in the upcoming years!

Sharpening Our Scissors

Ahhh.....we're finally able to sharpen our scissors and think through some late summer / early fall projects. After our last cutting, bagging, and tagging of our niece's entire spring and summer wardrobe, it's been forever a while since we've cut several outfits in succession. We'd like to think we are becoming a bit wiser in this process because we opted to NOT cut the entire list of items at once. Instead, we have divided it into 3-4 cutting sessions with sewing between each....knowing there will be other sewing bandwagons (pleated penny pattern testing, shorts on the line, project run and play sew-along, etc.) we'll want to jump on as we move through the list. The pictures below are from our first cutting session that lasted, oh...a few weeks, because of the above-mentioned bandwagons we have already jumped on.

The photo is a little deceiving because some of these fabrics will be used to make multiple outfits and/or variants of the same outfit.

We are also planning to attempt a few blogging techniques that we've read about on some of these, so there may be some surprises yet to be seen through the pictures!

After making our list and prioritizing the projects, we looked at the pictures and noticed a strong theme emerging. Oliver + S, anyone?!?! In our defense, we have not tried or tested any {technically, all but one} of these patterns yet. So, ready or not, Oliver + S....here we come!

We'd love to hear: "What have you sharpened your scissors for lately?"

A Very Merry Un-Birthday. . .

I admit it, when my eyes were first opened to the world of Oliver + S patterns, the Birthday Party Dress was my absolute favorite pattern. 

I dreamed of it. I envisioned it. I was dying to sew it. . .BUT it had a three scissors difficulty rating. I felt like I needed to get some other projects under my belt first before delving into it, because I wanted it to be a perfect experience.

Emily {suzanne} and I ended up choosing some fabric from our fabric stash of "way back when." Then, once I was brave enough to attempt my first three scissors project, I hit the ground running. And, all I can say is, I LOVED every minute of it...all the way down to the results. I had no problem with this pattern and remember being pleasantly surprised it was as easy as it was for the three scissors difficulty rating.

I still adore this pattern, but my eyes have since been opened to the endless possibilities of multiple Oliver + S patterns via the flickr group. Now, if only there were more hours in the day.

Birthday or Un-Birthday, I think this pattern is perfect for 365 days of the year!

Don't you??

Organization 101: OCD Style

We are a bit obsessed with organizing our sewing materials around here. Maybe it's a lack of a sewing room and making the most of an area given, or maybe it's our OCD nature that EVERYTHING MUST HAVE A PLACE. Either way, we feel that if our organization is in place, our sewing production will have to drastically improve. While there are many areas in need of organization (dmc thread, bobbins and spool area, fabric, etc.), today we'd like to share the beginning of our organizational efforts. Hopefully, we'll have other helpful tidbits and tips to pass on as we work through organizing ourselves.

After much experimentation, this is the pattern organization method we've decided works best for us. Remember, however, there are two of us. One uses the sewing machine; one does not. That frees up a lot of 'extra time' to keep a pair of hands busy on organization.

First, we made a binder with information from all patterns we own. Each pattern has a two-sided page in our binder. The front is an enlarged pattern photograph and the back has the fabric, notions, etc. needed to complete it. The binder is alphabetized by designer for a quick and easy search. We take this binder with us as we 'fabric shop' and is a hot topic of conversation when browsing in stores. Major benefits: we don't over buy fabric and can determine what we want to make without sporadically buying random fabric yardage. While we have been known to change our original plan for a garment at times, most of the time it helps us stay on task.

But what do we do with all the patterns?!?! All patterns are different. Some are traceable; some just have to be cut. We take a given pattern and do one of the following:

1. Cut the original (most Children's Corner patterns are set up to do this), and store in 6x9 labeled (by pattern and size) envelopes.

2. Print all sizes of a digital pattern (free downloads, bought PDFs, etc) and cut / tape pieces together. Then, store as mentioned above.

3. Trace and cut all available sizes within a pattern, and store as mentioned above. 

We bought this tracing paper through amazon, and found that it works well for us. Most pattern pieces fit easily within the given width.

After storing a pattern in labeled envelopes, a smaller version (6x9) of the pattern cover is copied to place in front of the labeled envelopes to act as a divider between other patterns. Many bought pattern envelopes are approximately 6x9, so we just use them as dividers without copying them. The smaller copies would be made for digital patterns, etc. (ones that need a divider before our self-made envelope of directions and sized pattern envelopes).

Then, once the various sizes are in their designated envelopes, we file them alphabetically by designer and pattern name in a three-drawer cart storage bin. That way, when it is time to sew a particular pattern, it will be ready to grab and go for the particular size needed to be cut.

While this is extremely handy, there are some very important items that don't seem to have a place in our three-drawer storage area: TUTORIALS! There is seldom a pattern we don't rely on a tutorial to guide us through the sewing process.  So, we use a filing box for our go-to tutorials. While we will probably outgrow this box quickly, it works for now and is useful in our organizational method.

What about fabric? Well.....we're still working on that! Right now, it is stored in large, plastic bins.  However, it is not the most condusive method/way for us.  So, when we figure it out...you'll be the first to know.

How about you? How do you store your previously used pattern pieces? We'd love to hear the method/s you've found helpful in your quest for sewing organization!

Tickled Red, White, and Blue!

A few weeks ago, Shauna over at Shwin and Shwin, opened up a wonderful opportunity to her blog readers: test her newest pattern {the Pleated Penny}, photograph the finished product, and complete a survey about it. Approved tester or not, anyone could download the free pattern for a few weeks, before she pulled it off and began to sell it here at Shwin Designs.

OH. WOW. We couldn't sign up fast enough for this!! The rounded yoke with pleats sold us on the pattern at first glance...and the sweet, casual nature of the pattern just drew us in.  We had never "tested" a pattern before, but felt as if we'd be excellent candidates for the job since we rely heavily on pattern instructions as we sew. Well, the rest is history as they like to say....we became a pattern tester, and are here to reveal our finished product which by the way fit PERFECTLY!

The 4th of July was quickly approaching, and we had these wonderful vintage buttons itching to be used...

The Shorts on the Line sew-along was also gearing up, and we knew we wanted to participate. Pairing some fabric we had on hand, we opted for a subtle 'holiday' outfit that could be worn - holiday or not.

The only addition we made to the Pleated Penny Top was the red, white, and blue topstitching placed around the hem of the garment. We felt as if this tied the outfit together, pulling in the buttons from the top and accenting the piping details from the shorts.

As far as the shorts go...they were F.U.N. to plan, make, etc. from beginning to end. We used the Oliver + S, Puppet Show pattern, added some accent piping, and played with the position of the seersucker stripes to add details and interest. We had never sewn seersucker, although it was on our mental 'to do' list at some point. Most striped garments run vertically, but we decided to go against the grain and have the main part of the short stripes run horizontally. The pockets and waistband offset it with vertical stripes, while the leg bands and pocket bands maintained a diagonal stripe effect.

The feature enjoyed most by our niece were the POCKETS. We had made other outfits with pockets for her in the past, but this was the first time she had actually honed into them and thought they were 'it.' It was hysterical watching her run around with both hands shoved down in them, all while trying to maintain her balance.

We were so pleased with the finished product, we opted to use this outfit as our niece's attire to see her newborn baby sister for the first time on the 4th of July. We weren't just tickled pink....we were tickled red, white, and blue!

A {Welcomed} 100% Sewing Increase!

We've now officially doubled our sewing pleasure and workload because....she's HERE!!  While we held out hope that she would hit some special dates (2 family birthdays, as well as the nation's birthday), baby girl wanted a day all to herself!  She obviously didn't want to wait 365 days to celebrate her 1st July 4th, so she came a day early....that little firecracker!

You'd think with approximately nine months of planning, we'd at least have something sewn and ready to go for this little bundle of joy.....oh, wait...we do!  Two separate projects: one {by default} for her to wear around her 1st birthday, and another that we pulled together on her due date {of which she fortunately missed}.  Don't worry, baby, your aunts will get right on that little wardrobe problem!  We've got to have SOMETHING for you to wear as you begin your modeling debut...

 

 Now, if only "Big Sis" will share the spotlight!