A feminine 2-tiered flared top

Hmmm....guess I'm procrastinating!  I haven't started the Spring Clean and Purge yet.  Oh well.  I did sew though...so life is good!  LOL

After I made the denim skirt I knew I wanted to make a pretty top to go with it.  I had bought this pattern the other day at Fabricland (Canadian version of Joanne's).  My local store is discontinuing all Simplicity and New Look patterns.  They had all of them stuffed into a wire revolving rack.  I looked through most of them and found a few.  I had wanted to buy the Lisette Traveler Dress for awhile now and was thrilled to see they had exactly ONE left!!  Wahoo!!   Even better I paid only $2.00 each for the pattern.  Score!!

Anyhow, I liked this Simplicity pattern and knew my oldest daughter would love it!  

So I rummaged through my fabric stash and found a pretty cotton eyelet that had a nice drape.  I made view C but added the tier to it.

I love the back of the blouse.  So cute and such a simple touch to add the bow.

Here is my daughter dressed in her new outfit before we left for church on Sunday.

A better picture of the blouse modeled by Miss. Ally. ( Eeekkk - colour is off on this picture.)

Funny how patterns work out....I sewed up the shorts in this pattern and they are a fitting disaster...they are HUGE and the rise is ridiculous!!  So, for a $2.00 pattern the top is a success but the shorts = epic fail!!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Sewing!

Ottobre denim skirt

What a crazy week it's been!  Spring is officially here and my to-do lists have gone out of control!  I have so much stuff that I want to do and get done.  The house is in desperate need of painting.  I need to get down and dirty and do a thorough Spring cleaning/purging throughout the whole house.  I have exterior house painting that I wanted to do in the Fall but never got around to it.  <sigh>  I sometimes wish I could duplicate or even triplicate myself.  The real me would sew all the time and the other me's would do everything else!  LOL  Wishful thinking!

Anyhow, in spite of everything else beckoning me, I did sew a bit.  I made my oldest daughter a denim skirt. It's from the Ottobre Spring 2012 issue.  Design #33 called Airmail Express denim skirt.  Hmm...where does Ottobre come up with their names?? LOL    I sewed up the size 170 and modified the waistband by adding 1.5" to it. .  I then added 1/4"  to each seam to accommodate the larger waistband.  

It wasn't hard to sew but just took a lot time.  Mind you I never got more than 5 minutes of uninterrupted time to sew.  It probably would have sewn up quicker if I could have sewn without a million disruptions. :) 

I added octagon decorative snaps to each pocket.  The prongs were not very long so I didn't use them on the skirt front.  The denim was too thick, so I used some heavy-duty snaps that I bought for my KAM snap press.

Each seam is double topstitched (sewing each line individually) with a thick heavy white cotton thread.  It was a bit tedious as I had to change the needle and thread every time I needed to topstitch.

Here is the back of the skirt.  I stitched turquoise bartacks on all the pockets.  

The skirt waistband and the the pockets are all lined with a pretty floral cotton.

Here are a couple of modelling shots. 

All and all I'm happy and Ally is thrilled with her new skirt.  I'm not sure when I'll be back with another sewing post, as I must tackle my to-do list.   Hopefully sooner than later!!  LOL

Until next time, Happy Sewing!!

Ottobre Kehra Tunic

I know I had said I was going to sew up the Oliver + S Jump rope dress, but I ran into a problem.  My older daughter, Miss. Ally was feeling rejected.  I've been sewing mostly for Miss. Jenelle and well, poor Ally was feeling glum.  LOL  

She picked out this fabric and asked for a tunic style top to wear with skinny jeans.  Sewing for a  tween (12 year old -- will be turning 13 years old this year) is challenging and I do feel a bit intimidated by it.  I find sewing for younger kids easier.  Guess it's because they never complain; wear what I make, and I pick fabrics and styles the majority of the time.   

Anyhow, we got hit was another snow storm on Sunday morning.  We hardly ever get snow!  Living in the Pacific Northwest our winters are mostly rain, and then some more rain, mixed in with even more rain!! Anyhow, church was cancelled so I spent the day puttering in my sewing nook.  We have a wonderful wood stove just by my sewing area so I was cozy and in sewing bliss! 

Pattern is Ottobre Spring 2009  #35 the Kehra Tunic.  Size 170.   I used snaps instead of buttons.  The snaps I used are some pearl purplish/grayish ones I had bought eon's ago from fabricland.  I have a KAM  heavy duty snap press which makes putting on snaps a breeze!  Fabric is a fine wale corduroy. 

I have to show you this.  When I was contemplating about starting up a blog I was trying to figure out what I would call it.  I came up with Cheryann Collections.  I then thought, wouldn't it be cool if I got my own Clothing tags made up with my blog name - Cheryann Collections!  I designed and ordered them from Miss. Label.    They were super speedy and awesome to work with.  I love how it looks with my own label and size tag in the garments I make.  Like I said, I get a big 'ol grin whenever I look.  LOL

Here is Miss. Ally doing her runway pose!  

Fit is good + good length = one happy Miss. Ally which then ='s one happy Mother!!  Yeah!

Thanks for stopping by!  

Happy Sewing!

Citronille Solveig blouse paired with the Oliver + S Hopscotch skirt

So ya, I made another outfit for my sweet Jenelle.  I love making clothes for her.  

The top is the Citronille Solveig pattern.  I used some fabric that has been curing in my stash for years.  I love the daintiness of the print.  I sewed up the size 8 and fit is good.  I like the square neckline.  I placed the placket on the outside as that is my preference.  

I just love the arrow point of the placket.  Makes me smile!

For the skirt I used the Oliver + S Hopscotch skirt pattern.  I used a fine wale turquoise corduroy fabric. It matches the bits of turquoise in the blouse.

I love the vintage look of the skirt.  

Here is my precious modelling it.  (hmmm....I sound like Smeagol (Gollum) from Lord of the Rings). LOL

 

All in all I'm happy with her new outfit.  Next on the list is the Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress.   I've got a lot of bookkeeping to get caught up on though first.  <sigh>  Wish I could spend all my time in my sewing nook.  LOL  

Until next time, happy sewing!! 

Baby Sleepers

My 12 year old daughter came to me on Tuesday after school and said, "Hey Mom, my class at school is hosting a surprise baby shower for our teacher on Thursday.  Could you sew me two sleepers to give as a gift?"  I had a meeting to attend Tuesday night but I managed to whip these up yesterday (Wednesday).

I had so much fun making these.  There is nothing like sewing up bitty baby clothes.  Seriously makes me (almost) want another wee one.  I said almost!  LOL  

Pattern used is Ottobre Autumn 2005 issue, design #2.  Size 56 (newborn).  I've made this sleeper for my own babies.  I love sleepers with front zippers.  Makes for easy and quick diaper changes. 

I had to make these gender neutral -- though I do think they look very boyish to me.  Fabric is a soft cotton interlock.  Love the farm animal print.  

This sleeper is sewn up in a cozy white velour with green accents.  It's so soft and cuddly.  

I love this embroidery applique from Swak Embroidery.    So cute and stitched out beautifully!

I hope her teacher likes the sleepers. 

Happy Sewing!

A Sweet Valentine outfit for my girl

I made a comfy Valentine knit tunic for my little girl. I love this heart cotton interlock knit.  

I wanted something that was comfy, easy to wear, easy to play in and looked cute.  I came up with this. Simple and sweet.  

I used Ottobre Autumn 2012 design # 28.  A simple long-sleeved t-shirt.  I took off 2" from the bottom and added a 6" ruffle.  I love this style of tunic.  I then made up some simple  cotton/lycra leggings to go with the top.  Again, I used Ottobre Spring 2009 for the leggings pattern. Super quick and simple to make.  

Here is the outfit modeled on one happy little girl!  Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Happy Sewing!

My newest addition - a Janome Horizon 8900 QCP

I'm so exited!! Meet Maggie....Maggie the Magnificent. A Janome Horizon 8900 QCP She's a true beauty!! My fleet of machines are almost all Janome, though I do own  a Babylock cover-stitcher which I love too.    My Janome machines have been excellent and I'd never deter anyone from buying one.

This new delightful baby has a lot of cool features. Comes with 270 stitches with 9mm stitch width. It has a huge 11" free-arm work space which is awesome for quilters. I love the 7-piece feed dogs which will be awesome for feeding a bunch of different fabrics through. Has a cool automatic thread cutter...love that as it cuts both threads and brings them to the back. There are 11 different types of buttonholes and even three alphabets. Oh and the foot control pedal is HUGE!! Love that...no more slipping away. Bliss -- pure bliss!!

I was sewing on a Janome 9000 computerized sewing and embroidery machine. She has been a good and faithful machine and has sewn a ton for me. I have no complaints but just needed something a little more heavy duty. A machine that can sew through thick, lumpy layers and Maggie fits the bill!!! Bar tacks on jeans with no lugging or jamming, buttonholes through heavy thick fabrics -- Maggie the Magnificent will tackle it...no problem!! I tested her on some pretty extreme challenges and she conquered them beautifully!! I'm quite pleased and am sporting a full-time perma-grin!

Happy Sewing!