Are You Ready For Some Football?

 If you know me at all you are laughing over the title of this blog. I never have caught on to football and finally came to terms last year with the fact that I will never understand it and that is okay! But, I am the only one is this group who is not excited about the coming season, so I have learned to plan some really good parties  and to have a couple of cute outfits for the kids.  

Anna created the dress out of a plain white tee shirt with a hand stitched Alabama "A" on the front.  I then gathered gray gingham for a skirt and zigzagged it to the bottom of the shirt. How simple is that?

The Jon-Jon was made from the perfect print fabric sporting little elephants and is lined with black and white gingham.  A white tee shirt is waiting in the closet to go under the Jon-Jon for those cooler fall days that we are all looking forward to.

Michie'

 

Attaching Rickrack To A Neckband

I decided to revisit the Candy Corn Bishop after receiving several emails inquiring about the rickrack on the neckband.  First of all, what a wonderful surprise that the bishop that I made last year for Sew Beautiful Magazine now fits our special little one!  Now, on to the sewing.

The rickrack is stitched to the right side of the neckband 1/2" from the raw edge, which is the seam allowance for the bishop pattern.  A normal straight stitch down the middle of the rickrack is all that is needed, and the rickrack extends all the way to each end of the neckband.

Next with right sides together, pin and stitch the neckband to the bishop as indicated in the pattern instructions.  You will be stitching right on top of the previous stitching line.

Just the right amount of rickrack will be showing when you finish the neckband!

The same technique' is used for adding piping to a neckband. :)

Michie'

The Sewing Dare

Have you ever had a favorite blouse that you wish would last forever?  Well, I did and the blouse finally fell apart on the very day that Anna had dared me to use the old one as a pattern and make a new one. Since I find it hard to pass up a dare from Anna and I happened to have 2 yards of $4.99 fabric on hand and pretty boring weekend ahead of me, I stepped up to the challenge.

I split the old blouse along each seam, pressed the pieces, pinned them to tracing paper, traced around each piece, and then added the seam allowances.  I did discover along the way that carefully labeling the pattern pieces would have been helpful.  :)  I was pleasantly surprised at how well the blouse turned out and have already worn it several times!

Sewing for myself is something that I rarely do, but I must admit that I am now inspired to try another project.  This is one of those times in sewing where you must look at the project as an experiment and a journey and hope for the best.

Michie'

Candy Corn Outfit Details

         

Both of these sweet outfits are featured in the newest issue of Sew Beautiful Magazine!
A few details and questions answered....both outfits are made from black twill and trimmed with black and white gingham.  The bubble is made using Creations By Michie'  pattern #115 and the bishop style dress is made by pattern #135.  Yellow rickrack was stitched to dress neckband before it was stitched to the dress.  The dress has a back side closure.  You can click here to see the details and instructions.

Michie'

Fall Issue Of Sew Beautiful

 Are visions of fall dancing in your head?  Then the newest issue of Sew Beautiful is just what you will need for some sewing inspiration.

Anna happened to be over for a visit when my copy came in the mail and we couldn't get it open fast enough to see how the pictures and article had turned out.  Hard to believe that this is what our little guy looked like last year!  

Watch the next blog for up close details of both outfits.  

In the magazine you will find a few of my favorite smocking tips along with the graph for the candy corn.

Michie'

The Perfect Collar

This is one of my favorite sewing tips that I like to share!  One of the signs of a well made garment is how well the collars matches at the neckline.  

I use my trusty little ruler, which is also one of my favorite sewing tools and a wash-away marker and mark the seam allowance on each collar.  

Match the collars up so that they are touching and stitch through the marked lines so that the collars are attached to each other.

Following the pattern instructions, match the center of the collars to the center of the yoke and baste the collars to the garment.  This is one of the few times that I like to do hand basting.  I baste out from the center in one direction, then start at the center again and baste in the other direction.  Once the neckband is attached the collars will be lined up perfectly without over lapping or a gap between them.

An easy trick that is well worth a few minutes of basting!

Michie'

Baby Romper

If we could squeeze the boy in it, here is what he would be wearing for fall.  Made by pattern #134, the one piece outfit is great for the little guy on the go.  This version features a pointed collar and straight legs which daddy tends to like best.  A little hand embroidery and tucks dress the outfit up for mommy.  It's all about compromise!  :)

This picture was taken several months ago when pulling up was still very serious business.

Michie'

Classes for fall!

Summer is almost over and it is time to make plans for fall sewing classes.  I am scheduled to teach close to home this fall and my September calendar is filled with fun classes. 

Are you wanting to learn to smock, embroidery, or need some hands on help with some basic construction classes?  Click here to check out what and where I will be teaching in September!  Keep a watch as I add to my fall calendar.

Michie'

Unfinished Projects

Have you ever had a project that didn't get finished because life interrupted and the little guy or gal suddenly grew before you could finish?  I would guess that it has happened to many of us over the years.  Well instead of lamenting over that unfinished project why not do what my generous and special friend did and pass it on to someone who would be thrilled to get an almost finished project made by you!  

And this is what was in the bag that was handed to me a few weeks ago.  Made by pattern #102, just the right size for Christian, and almost completed.  What a fun project for me to complete on last Sunday afternoon after a weekend of being stuck in the house.  And how special that the hand embroidery and the floss wrapped piping was done by my friend!  

Thank you Gail, you made my day!

Do you have an unfinished project story that will make us smile?

Michie'

A Jon-Jon For The Girl?

All it takes is a tiny bit of redrafting while cutting out the Jon-Jon pattern to make it suitable for a girl!  This girl version was made out of green and white seersucker and lined with a pretty cotton floral print.  The lightening bug is from Bunnycup Embroidery.

Mommy loves how cool and comfortable it is and has requested more.  Just what a sewing Nana likes to hear!  Adding buttons on the print lining also made it reversible.  

Click here for the free down loadable tutorial for adapting the pattern.

Michie'