This heat is a motivation killer!

So, since it has been so hot lately (although Thursday and Friday were awesome!), I have just thought a lot about sewing with no action.  We don't have an air conditioner so the idea of sewing in 95+ degree apartment seems impossible- even though I guess most of our clothing items come from sweatshops anyway.    

Here are some projects I am planning on doing soon:

The long version of this dress with this fabric:

I would really like to have the sleeves as well since my arms are not wonderful things to look at. Just looking at the picture, it looks like it should be an easy modification, but I can only be sure when I start to cut pieces and look at the instructions. 

I've also been requested to make a Sugar Skull keychain similar to this.

Also, since we are going to be moving soon, I am looking at some home decor options.  I really love these tea towels:

http://shop.tfl.gov.uk/kitchen-and-home/product/London-Tea-Towel-by-Maria-Holmer-Dahlgren.html

But at $24 a piece, I would be too afraid to use them (and too afraid to buy them!).  However, Michael Miller has some fabrics with the same aesthetic that I could use to make my own tea towels.  This design is called "Put a Lid On It":

I also think it could be cool to follow the Collette Hemstitch Tutorial and hemstitch the towels in white or even in the other towels main color (red will have yellow trim, yellow will have red trim). 

Check out all the cute Michael Miller fabric available on Fabric.com or visit his site here.  

Charlie's Aunt "Rural Correspondent" Bag Pattern Review

Doesn't the green Harris Tweed bag look amazing?

When I saw this pattern, I was very excited to make it.  I ordered the pattern as a PDF off of the Charlie's Aunt Etsy shop and it was e-mailed to me shortly. 

I debated a long time on which fabric to sew this amazing bag with.  I think I may have been trying to channel the lovely green bag because I finally decided on these items from the Premier Prints collection on Fabric.com:

These fabrics are much lighter in person, and make my bag look like a diaper bag.

The Charlie's Aunt pattern was very easy to follow and had very concise directions.  Sometimes it seems like patterns have far too many unnecessary steps and words, but this was not at all the case with this pattern. The fabric requirements were listed on the second page so it was nice to take only a single page to the store.  Another sheet lists which and how many pieces were cut out of each fabric as well as the pieces themselves giving the information.  I like the fact that the pattern is a PDF because I can always reprint if I cut a piece incorrectly or reprint it out on heavier paper. 

I had no complaints or problems with it except for what was a result of my own lack of skill.  For some reason, I could not get the side inset in correctly and finished the bag without it. I was most upset about this because it is the feature that really sets the bag apart.  Next time I sew it, I might cut out the side inset with a larger seam allowance.  I think I just wasn't able to sew it close enough to get it to look right.

This bag also has a lot of top stitching (which really makes it look nice and polished) so go very slow during this process (you can tell that I free-hand top-stitched the outer pocket) or see if a seam foot is available for your machine.  I had a 1/4" Seam foot which worked perfectly for this project once I remembered I had it.

An optional addition to the bag is the use of batting in the front, back, and side inset pieces.  I did this and really makes my bag feel sturdy.  I was able to carry a small cross-body bag, a tablet, one large fashion magazine, and other essentials inside of this bag with no concern for the sturdiness of it. 

Here is my finished bag:

Something about this fabric gets really wrinkly. I swear I pressed it before and during the sewing process!

The lining is actually my favorite part because of its retro feel.

I love the pattern, but I really hate my outer fabric and button choices.  I am definitely remaking this one in the fall with a nice corduroy- this time with the side insets!

I highly recommend this pattern, and I'm sure her others are of the same quality.  Check out her patterns and blog here:

http://www.charliesaunt.com/ 

Sewing in Chi-Town

So, overall I like living in Chicago.  It is cool to live in such a large city that has so many things open to you and so many different neighborhoods to explore.  The one thing I don't like is the lack of fabric stores...or maybe my lack of ability to find them.  For some reason, it seems that Chicago never developed a garment district. There are three large fabric stores closely located together, but they are all a little off.  They are the stores you go into to get a good deal on fabric that you might use, not get fabric for a set plan (kind of like those bridal dress sample sales- you go to get a designer dress for cheap, not to get the dress of your dreams).  For someone who is interested in sewing, it can be a little irritating.  For the most part, I go to the Joann off of North Elston for my sewing needs- although the amount of fabric is overwhelming and fairly, "blah" and the lines to have fabric cut are always insanely long.  I also get a majority of my fabric from Fabric.com, but it is hard to decide on fabric when you can't touch it or match it to another fabric.  If you want your fabric to work well together, ordering from a collection are a must.