Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

AHNALIN LOVES BOOKS!

And she REALLY loves Dr. Seuss books!

So she wanted to have a special outfit

to wear on his birthday.

Isn't the fabric darling?

I ordered it from

Cotton Blossom Farm on Etsy

last year and I just love it.

I used McCalls M6132 for the top.

McCalls 6312

While I will probably use this pattern again,

I have to say that it runs HUGE!

I mean HUGE!!

Also, there are some steps in the directions

that are just really dumb.

It has the sewist leaving a lot of exposed

seams and raw edges.

And that never works for my 

sensory-disordered kid,

or for perfectionist me.

So, I rebuilt the bodice to enclose

the waist seam in the bodice lining.

I also added the contrast

band on the skirt so I could highlight another 

fun fabric.

The photo is blurry,

but it shows the buttons

on the cute back of the bodice.

Instead of the full capri

pants shown on the pattern,

Ahnalin requested leggings

made from ruffle fabric.

I purchased the ruffle fabric last year 

from Sewzannes Fabrics

and followed the tutorial

on No Big Dill blog .

Ahnalin loves these leggings 

because I made them super skinny.

They are even but she was tired

of me fussing over her.

So I just took the picture!

The shoes!
OH MY!!

I found them last week at Target!

Yes, she was spinning in the library!

We visit every Thursday so she can read

to the dogs.

She loves cuddling Brittney the dog.

Brittney is one of the dogs

in training for the PALS program,

Paws As Loving Support.

And the earrings?

Grandma Barbara Jean brought them 

to Ahnalin when she came to visit.

They are clip-on earrings,

but oh so "Seussical!"

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Thank you for writing such 

wonderful books.

Happy Sewing!

Winner!

I am sorry this is so late! 

I tried to make the random . org widget 

show up but I can't get it to show up.

So.............

 Without further ado..........

The winner of the

book, needle book and floss 

is 

RUTH!

Ah, Sivje, so many blessings this year, and you want just one?! :) Okay, one major blessing this year was when my husband bought me a new-to-me oboe. And I'm taking lessons. Huge blessing.

Praying now for your migraines. I can relate.

Also, I have been a long-time follower or yours with google reader, but I just now did the follower-thingy on your blogsite.

So Ruth, I need your address so I can

pop this bunch of goodies in the mail to you!!!

Thank you all for the migraine prayers.

I am starting to feel better.

Now, if only I could get my photos to load

so I could show some pretty pictures!

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

My Belated Blogaversary - A Giveaway!

So, I am here. 

Really, I am.

But I have been battling stupid migraines

for a few weeks.

And I have sewn very little.

And the orange chair,

well it is still unfinished.

And yesterday was my 

third Blogaversay!!!!!

So, by way of apology for my rude absence,

I decided to have a giveaway

of some of my favorite things!

Last year, I got to meet Bari J

at a book signing event for this book.

I had forgotten that I had already pre-ordered her

book from Amazon.

So in my excitement to meet her,

I bought another one so she could autograph it for me!

I was soooooo excited to meet her!

And this book is wonderful!

So wonderful that I decided to 

give away my extra copy

(not the autographed one, sorry.)

to one of you!

In addition,

I will include 

this darling Mary Engelbreit

needle card with 25 needles and a threader

and 6 skeins of bright DMC embroidery floss.

I adore all things M.E.

and thought it was about

time I shared.

So, how do you enter?

Well, how about you tell me one

way in which you have been blessed this year.

And if you want another entry,

tell me if you are a follower of this blog,

or become a follower and then tell me.

If you are a "no-reply blogger"

then leave me an email address so I can contact the winner.

I will post the winner on Valentines Day!

And I hope to have more done on the orange chair

by that time too!

And if you have a prayer to spare,

please pray that my migraine lets up

 soon.

Thanks a bunch!

Happy Sewing and Good Luck!

(Please forgive the goofy pictures. 

These are from my phone

and I can't find the camera.)

Sivje

Yellow Chair Slipcover Part 2

So I finally had a few minutes to get back

to my chair slipcover project.

I am struggling with how these

photos are showing up, 

but I suppose that is what happens with

an orange chair and a yellow tape measure.

I thought long and hard

about how I wanted to make this slipcover.

With an upholstered chair,

you often use a lot of pieces in order

to really mold and fit around the frame.

But with a slipcover, 

you can simplify the lines

and do larger pieces that just

smooth over the frame.

I decided to skip the front band piece

between the seat and skirt.

I like to start my slipcovers by making 

a "muslin". 

I know some people are brave

and can make the slipcover with the 

actual fabric and do a great job.

However, I prefer a fitted slipcover

 and I don't want to run the risk 

of wasting my fabric if I make a big mistake.

So I start with big rectangles of a muslin 

fabric that I can write on and cut to fit.

I use drapery lining fabric

because I have a lot left over from 

old window treatment projects.

But you can use regular muslin

or an old sheet,

or just some fabric you don't love.

I would use a fabric with the same 

amount of give that your slipcover fabric has

because you want to know how it will lay 

on the chair.

I center the rectangle on the seat and then start

tucking it in, all around.

Then I cut away the excess,

so that I can start to get the shape

of the seat to use as a pattern piece.

But I am careful to leave enough

to have a seam allowance.

This is the corner of the seat 

and covers that front band.

I will cut off that excess at the corner

so that it is fitted.

Once I got the seat piece cut the way I wanted it,

I put the rectangle of fabric on the back and

did the same thing.

So I start tucking and cutting

into the corners to get the shape.

Don't cut too deeply into the corners

because you are going to need 

seam allowances to sew.

Next, I pinned all along the curve
of the chair back.

This is important for this chair,
because if I cut it straight,
it would not fit properly.

I trimmed off the extra,
leaving a seam allowance of about 5/8".

I put my clear quilting ruler on the top
of the back of the chair,
so you can see how curved it is.

When I cut the piece that goes
on the top and sides
of the back, I will need to take this into account.

Next I pinned the next rectangle
over the arm and started
pinning the front curve.

The clear quilting ruler
is useful here too,
for showing the angle of the arm front.

Then I pinned the outside arm panel
to the inside arm panel,
which wrapped around the arm.

I left enough seam allowance to pin
the arm pieces together.

Then I pinned another piece
to the front of the arm,
pinning all along the curve.

Following the curve of the arm,
I trimmed off the excess ,
leaving a seam allowance.

I used a soft pencil to trace
the line of the piping underneath.

This is just a good way to mark the
shape of the chair on the pieces.


Ok, that is all I have for today.

More photos coming.

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

Another Yellow Chair Slipcover Project

I know I said I was working on my

sofa slipcover,

but the truth of the matter is

that I am procrastinating. 

You see, the sofa is a really big project.

And I need to make A LOT of piping

for the sofa slipcover.

Yeah, the sofa is that yellow

floral piece next to the

little orange slipper chair 

that I bought at Goodwill last year.

And while I like the orange,

it is stained, 

worn bare in places,

and goes with not
one thing in the house.

But, I bought the chair
because I love it!

And it was only $14.99.

It is short and small
and my feet touch the floor
when I sit in it!

And I went diving into my fabric stash
and found this beautiful linen floral.

I bought this years ago
when I was working as an interior
designer for Laura Ashley stores
here in the U.S.

And before they closed the stores,
I bought this linen and the matching
yellow corded welt.

But wait!

That fabric looks familiar!

Oh yeah.

It is the same fabric that my old
yellow floral sofa is covered in.

I knew I loved it!

Did I mention that I love yellow?

And it is rainy and gray outside,
so that means that I must create
my own sunshine.

So now it is time to sketch and measure
the chair.

 I know that people make slipcovers
all kinds of ways.

But I am very mathematical in my thinking,
so it helps me to sketch
and measure when I start
the project.

I will take photos of the process
as I go and post,
so you can see how I make slipcovers.


Happy sewing!

Sivje

McCalls 6388- She Loves It!

Ahnalin loves to look through the pattern catalogs

when we go to the fabric store.

She fell in LOVE

with McCall's 6388

and just begged me to sew it for her.

In fact, 

in true Ahnalin fashion,

she told me about the fabrics

in my stash that she thought would be perfect!

This is the first combo she wanted.

I can't remember where I 

found this patchwork cotton 

lycra knit in the first place,

but Ahnalin has had her eye on it for quite

some time.

And this "Paper Snowflake"

corduroy is from Sandi Henderson's

"Meadowsweet" line for Michael Miller.

We added the blue rick rack to coordinate

with the legging fabric.

And Ahnalin chose the buttons too.

I think my favorite part about this pattern

is the sleeves.

The pattern actually shows gathers

but I wanted to make pleats instead.

I made them the size 8 in length
and size 6 in width.

I didn't actually measure the pattern
pieces on her this time,
because sleeves are ALWAYS too short
on her.

Not this time!

And of course,
there are pockets!!

And they are trimmed with rick rack!

I had to add 4 inches in length to the
legging pattern!

I cut the size 6 in width
and size 8 in length PLUS 4 inches
and they are the right length for now.

We found these darling
hot pink and orange shoes
at Target and added
white eyelet trimmed socks too.

 

I really wish I had purchased the smaller
size pattern because
I think a size 4 in width would
fit her much better than the 6.


She is SKINNY and
this pattern is roomy!

But she loves it.

It is a cozy outfit.

By the way,
she insisted I take a picture
of her eating her favorite
Jo-Jos cookies.

Ok.

Like I said,
she loves the outfit!

She has already chosen the next
fabric combo
for the same pattern.

And of course,
we need a little "Classic Ahnalin".


So, what am I working on now?

Well, I was invited to a lunch and craft party
with women from our new church,
so I pleated up this "Henna Garden"
from my stash.

I am attempting to smock again and praying my
hands don't scream too badly.

I do miss smocking so much!

And I am also working on
a new slipcover for my sofa.

Yeah, photos to come when I have some
to show for myself!

Thank you for your prayers for India.

She is soldiering on,
and very tired of her giant splint on
her foot.

Her blood sugars FINALLY stabilized
and she started back to college
on Tuesday.

And guess what!!

She is taking costuming classes!!!


Thank you for your prayers for our family.

If I can so boldly make one more request,
it would be prayer for a closer
full time job for Don.

In addition to his job as music director
for our church,
he works full time as an audio and
acoustical engineer.
He commutes 3-4 hours every day
to work.
We are so so so grateful for the jobs,
but he is exhausted all the time

I am so blessed to have a loving,
committed, and godly husband,
who sacrifices daily for us.

Please pray that he can find
a job with benefits closer to home.

Thank you so much for the prayers and encouragement.

Sivje