autumn bunting

Maren and I did a little sewing this week while Max was sleeping. She is so good at sitting on my lap and patiently feeding the fabric into the machine. I never used to sew while the kids were awake, but having Lizzy at school makes things so much less crazy during the day. I swear that girl was made for kindergarten. Anyway. I had a bunch of autumn-y fabrics that I got from a friend of a friend years ago, and I love the way they add a dose of fall to the house. We picked up some mini pumpkins and corn from the farmer's market, laid down some burlap, added a black cat, et voila! Insta-autumn.

molly peasant, again

The Molly Peasant dress is by far the most-used pattern I've got. It's simple, cute, and runs from 6-12 months to 11-12 years(!). After tinkering with it a bit, I've finally settled on using the width of the fabric (selvage to selvage) for the skirt, gathered to fit the bodice. That allows a little more room for running and playing than the pattern does as written. This time I used cotton gauze for Lizzy's bodice, which was kind of a pain to sew with, but I ended up loving the way it looks, all ruched and pretty, and it's nice and light for summer.

The girls have only wanted to wear dresses since the weather got warm. I love that they like to be girly and flowery, but still dig for worms in the mud and want to spin faster on the merry-go-round than any other kid at the park. Lizzy is going to whup all the boys at kindergarten this fall.

My onions are completely freaking out. If nothing else, we shall have onions.

Maren told me today that I look like a camel.

ed emberley pants for the little man

This kid is totally set for newborn clothes, but seriously, is there any way to say no to teeny tiny Ed Emberley pants? Nope. Nopeity-nope. I loved Ed Emberley as a kid and have loved introducing the girls to his work. Rae's newborn pant pattern + tutorial was fast, easy peasy, and totally fabulous. If you are a beginning sewer or just need something super fast for a baby shower... this is it. I got my fabric from Hawthorne Threads (I heart them). A lot of the prints are backordered, but it is worth the wait -- the prints are beautiful, the fabric is very soft, and the colors are still vibrant after a wash + dry. And also, I love that the frogs have frowny faces.

loulouthi go anywhere bag

I am IN LOVE with this bag.

{although, have I ever made anything from this Anna OR that Anna that I wasn't in love with? no. no I haven't.}

So let me tell you all the great things that everyone else has already said about this pattern:

It is well-written. It is the perfect size. It has lots. of. pockets.  

It probably isn't the right bag if you like to tote around everything + the kitchen sink. 

Otherwise, it's the right bag. Trust me.

{For kitchen sink-toters, this one is nice, which I blogged about here and have been using almost constantly since then.}

I made 2 changes to the Go Anywhere bag: one, I used a visible magnetic clasp for the main bag, which was just personal preference. Two, I used fusible fleece interfacing for the main bag, and I'm so glad that I did {I first used it on the Birdie Sling}. It gives the bag just the right amount of heft and sturdiness.

{I guess I was really worried about making sure you saw the inside, too.}

Bravo to both my favorite Annas!

pattern review: simplicity 2594

My sewing mojo is back with a vengeance, and this little pattern is just what did it.

Fast, simple, and really satisfying.

Difficulty: intermediate; some familiarity with attaching a yoke is useful

Time: one evening, start to finish, including pre-washing and cutting fabric

Fabric: cotton sateen from Liesl Gibson's Lisette collection, purchased at Jo Ann

Special techniques: cutting pieces on the bias, pleats, gathering, yoke

Version: A, without the belt

Other notes: This pattern reminds me the Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress, only for grownups (and with a cowl neck, obvi). There are also pleats on one shoulder, which I (((love.))) The cotton sateen doesn't drape quite as nicely as I thought it would; it still looks ok, but I like to wear it with a cardigan or light coat to help smoosh down the cowl a little. Next time I plan to use something drapier. The dolman sleeves are very cute, but they are very roomy in the underarm and I will wear a little shirt beneath it in the warmer months. The pattern instructions for attaching the back yoke are a little confusing and it took a bit of head-scratching to figure out, even though I had done it before on the ice cream dress. I do like the fact that this top completely covers the booty-crack zone {mine is always escaping}.

mini tutorial: layered lace skirt

I saw this delicious little lace skirt in the little girl's section at Target a 

few weeks ago and it has been on my mind ever since...

I thought it would be pretty easy to knock off, and I was right!

This is a good beginner's project, if you're just getting your feet wet.. err, oiled.. with your sewing machine.

I cheated and didn't gather each layer of lace like the original skirt. It makes for a different end result, but I still like it a lot. Using a skirt that fits your child as a guide, cut two rectangles of jersey. I angled mine in a little so that they're more like trapezoids. Depending on the size of the skirt, cut about 12 strips of lace. They should be about 2 inches wide and long enough to cover the width of the skirt. You may need more or fewer strips for your skirt, depending on its size.

Place one strip of lace flush with the bottom of one jersey piece. Sew the lace to the jersey by stitching a straight line across the top of the lace strip. {pins help. a lot.} Pin the next strip of lace to the skirt, overlapping the two lace strips just so that the upper strip covers the line you just sewed. Stitch the second strip down. Keep going until you've covered the whole piece, then repeat with the other jersey piece.

Trim off excess lace and sew the two short sides of the skirt together so that you have one long piece of lovely lacey fabric. Cut an elastic waistband to fit your child. Gather the skirt so that it is the same length as the piece of elastic you just cut. Sew the waistband to the skirt, right sides together. Flip the waistband up, then sew the short sides of the skirt together. Tack down the top layer of lace in a few places, if necessary.

I'm not sure how to do the top layer so that it wouldn't stick out. Maybe using a lining would somehow help that? I'm kinda ok with it since their shirts will cover it up anyway.

You could get all fancy and hem it or even add that lining, but let's not get carried away.

I will probably hand wash them so that the lace won't get too frazzled,

but they will only wear them to church, so {theoretically} they won't get too dirty.

She looks so old! When did that happen? Is it the turtleneck?

do. good stitches october: around the world

{First of all, thank. you. for both sweet and thoughtful comments + emails yesterday.

I think a lot more of us are in the same boat than we realize.}

This month's block for do. good stitches kinda kicked my butt.

We've talked before about how I'm a wonky kinda gal; I am seriously exact-seam-impaired.

Hence, it took me THREE TRIES (three!) before I finally got it right.

I'm sort of glad, though, because I like the final version a lot better.

{the 2nd version didn't make it to the block phase before I made a major cutting boo-boo,

so no picture there. you know what they say about 

measuring twice, cutting once, right? riiiight.}

Unrelated, but I made Lasagna Soup for dinner tonight. 

The girls were wishy-washy about it, but I am in love,

especially with the canned(!) fire-roasted tomatoes. 

Helloooo, how did I not know about these before??

Wishing you a happy weekend. 

Our plans are scant; I might just close up shop and hunker down with the chickies on the couch.

It's feeling like that kind of a weekend.

tutorial: the wonky triangle improv block

Wonky is my fave, ok my only, style of quilting. 

I really, really suck at sewing perfect seams and matchy corners.

So, wonky quilting is sorta my quilting salvation.

No pins -- no pressure -- no perfect.

Love it.

This block was inspired by this delicious snippet (thanks, Jeni!). It's so sassy and I can't get it offa my mind.

Let's haul out some scraps! 

I'm going to make a doll quilt... 3 strips... 3 colorways. 

For this tutorial: oranges and yellows.

We'll be making a 6.5 x 18 in (16.5 x 45.5 cm) block.

It's super easy to make any width/length block you like; just make sure your scraps are 2-3 inches wider than the finished width of the strips.

(The strip I made for the do. Good Stitches bee was 48 inches long!)

Since I'm making a 6.5 in block, I'll be using scraps that are mostly 8.5 in and longer, in a variety of widths, mostly between 5-9 in.

1. Start with 2 scraps.

2. Place them right sides together at an appropriately rakish angle and stitch.

3. Press and trim the block to about 7 in. We'll trim the block to 6.5 in when it's all finished, but for now, we want to give ourselves a bit of wiggle room while still ensuring that we're sewing on each new piece in a linear fashion, yaknowwhaddimean?

4. Pick your next scrap and sew it to the block, right sides facing, at a slightly different angle. Easy!

5. Press. Here's the block so far.

6. Some of the scraps can cover more than one piece of the block at more extreme angles. Make it interesting!

7. Be sure you trim up from time to time before pressing.

8. Press and trim to 7 in.

9. Add interest by using some smaller scraps. Sew that sucka on...

10. Press it open...

11. And add another small scrap.

12. See? You're getting the hang of it.

13. Another method is to pre-piece a few smaller scraps together.

14. It's a bit more manageable, especially when you're nearing the end of the block.

15. I like to add the small pieces to both ends of the block.

Ta-da! All done.

Time for a nap.

Thanks for joining me -- I love this block and it is so deliciously easy and mind-clearing. 

Hope you have some fun with this!

gathering tutorial at pickup some creativity

Happy weekend, friends! I'm over at Pickup Some Creativity today sharing a basic gathering tutorial for Chris' Sewing 101 feature.

Be sure to stop by and say hello!

If you are new to sewing -- or need a little refresher course -- don't miss the other great tutorials in the series.

on the work table

Yay for Friday! Anything fun going on? We are getting together with friends -- hopefully the bugs won't be too bad so we can hang out on the back porch and let the kids run wild in the yard.

My work table has been overflowing lately. I have no idea how many WIPs/UFOs I've got hanging around, and so many more wanna-makes than I could ever get to! It's the blessing and the cursing of the Internet. So many amazing people sharing so many amazing ideas!

This week, I've been working on new skirts for the shop...

Awesome mail yesterday -- an NPR postcard from Jentry (so jealous) and pretty new washi!

...and a lovely bundle of new floss in gorgeous, saturated colors for the friendship bracelet swap, thanks to the brand-new fancypants Jo Ann we just got in town, yee haw. I have been seeing color inspiration everywhere lately and think I might need to go back for more!

Have a happy weekend!

simplest curtain tutorial(ish)

So, I hesitate to call this a tutorial, 'cause there's not much in the way of bright ideas going on here.

But then I remember when we were newlyweds -- wait, can I show you?? aawww --

(look at his beard!!! what a hippy!)

I desperately wanted to make curtains for the storage room in our little basement apartment (oh the spiders! *shudder*) but had no idea how. I think I spent like 3 days on the Internet, trying to figure out how to make some simple curtains. In the end, my first curtains looked terrible (I had no measuring tools, so the hem slanted at about a 40-degree angle), but I was so proud!

My point is, curtains are really not rocket science. So, if there's anyone out there who wants to get their feetsies a little bit wet with a little home dec sewing, this is about as simple as it gets...

...And then you'll have a cozy little curtain!

I'll be back tomorrow with a sweet new feature: Sisters in Service! Our first special guest is super exciting + it's gonna be awesome!

pretty blouse faq

Okey dokey! I've had a few questions about the Pretty Blouse pattern, so I hope you'll find this helpful (I'll add to this as new issues arise):

• Printing the pattern to scale. If you print directly from the current link on SMS, you will find that the 1-inch test box on page 3 prints at 1.25 inches. No bueno. I am working with SMS to provide a link that will download the pattern at the correct scale, no monkeying around required. If you're the impatient type (ahem), you'll need to monkey around with scaling options before you print the whole shebang. 
• The correct layout for the sleeve pattern pieces. On the pattern piece layout guide (page 2), it looks like there are only 2 sleeve pattern pieces. There are actually 3. I just forgot to change it.
• Fitting the pattern pieces together. You may have to fudge it a little. I tried to be very exact, but it is my first pattern, so it's been a (big) learning experience. 

Thank you so much(!) for all your sweet e-mails, comments, and pins. I was so so so so nervous about sending this pattern out into the blogosphere, and despite the scaling issue, all the good vibes have made me braver to try doing another pattern in the future!

Also, let's have a HUGE SHOUT OUT to my amazing, patient, brave, wonderful pattern testers, Jessica, Kara, Leisel, and {i love you all, but especially} my rad sis in-law Bev, whose sewing ninja skillz are, like, epic. No really.

Woah, is it Thursday already? Geesh. Happy sewing, everyone!

vintage sheet bee quilt top -- done!

Last night I got out my Vintage Sheet Bee blocks that I've been meaning to put together for-ev-ah. And oh! talk about a happy way to spend an hour on a summer evening. Vintage sheets just make me so stinkin' happy.

I sewed two blocks together really crooked, and as I was ripping them apart I thought of an article I read in the Ensign a while back. The author was talking about how ripping out just one stitch here and there can destroy a piece of sewn work, even though you might not notice it at first. Then she talked about how skipping scriptures and prayer here and there can weaken us without us even noticing.

I was adjusting my stitch length as I was thinking about that, then realized another parallel there -- the shorter the stitches, the stronger the seam. Likewise, I know that when I pray and read my scriptures more often and more consistently, I feel stronger and happier.

Parallels aside, I'm super excited about this quilt. I think I'm going to turn + tie it, rather than quilting + binding. More out of laziness/impatience than anything else. I can't decide whether to put in batting or whether to just sew backing + top together for a lightweight summer throw. Anyone have experience with that?

Epic thanks to the ladies of the Vintage Sheet Quilting Bee for this one! You can find my tutorial for this quilt block at my old blog.

Happy Thursday -- it's almost the weekend! Yay!

pretty blouse pattern available today

Yee haw! The Pretty Blouse pattern is available for download today at Sew, Mama, Sew! Also check out their nice intro here. If you're new around here, welcome! Poke around, check stuff out, and have a good time. More tutorials and patterns are in the works, so I hope you'll stick around!

Smooch smooch!

Nadia Izruna via Colette Patterns

pinterest, print edition

Thanks for the sweet comments + e-mails yesterday. I'm doing a lot better today, thanks to lots of rest + blessings over the weekend. Good thing, too, because my little chickies need their mama! They have been so sweet the past few days. Little kids are so amazing in their capacity to just roll with it. Most of the time.

So I like to keep a design idea notebook handy here at home. Here's a few recent pages that I keep going back to for inspiration (sometimes it helps me visualize what a pattern might look like when I actually draw it on paper).

If you're interested in pattern design, try Built by Wendy Dresses. It is my go-to book for a starting point when I'm drafting any kind of pattern, dress or no. I think it is a totally worthwhile purchase!

Speaking of which, the Pretty Blouse pattern will be available on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog on June 16th! I'm super excited/nervous. I still have a little list of kinks to work out, though, and they need to be done in 2 days! Eek! Better get to it...

Smoochies!

little gifts for quality friends

Getting packages in the mail is the best. This little number is for my old friend Nicole, who is quite possibly the classiest lady I know. She a) has a classy job at Pottery Barn's corporate office, b) lives in a classy apartment in SF, c) is classy.

The apron is based on this Grosgrain tutorial from forever ago. Nicole & I made a trade deal back at Christmastime where she made a (uh-huh) classy certificate on deliciously thick paper, certifying that my man could pick out a fancy man-watch as his Christmas present, in return for which I would make her an apron to match her new kitchen. I'm just a leeeeetle bit late (covers eyes).

That got me to thinking of other possible housewarming/just because gifts to make or buy and send to friends. Some ideas (because who doesn't love getting happy mail?) --

doily table runner

butterfly garland

pistachio-apricot granola (peeps. you should make this anyway, right. now. uber props to my rad sister in law)

bunting! (duh, silly.)

I always hesitate a little to randomly send someone home decor stuff (what if they hate it?) -- but these ideas are so cute and non-threatening that hey, if nothing else, they'll know you love 'em.

What do you think? Do you give home dec stuff as gifts? What's your go-to?

help!!!

Happy Memorial Day weekend, if you're in the US! I hope everyone is having a happy Monday all the same.

My Pretty Blouse pattern got picked up by a really big sewing blog (yay!) and it will be available in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, I need 3-5 last-minute pattern testers to help me make sure it's good to go.

I'm looking for pattern testers who:

* Have a range of sewing levels (probably not absolute beginners, but if you've got a little garment sewing experience under your belt, that's great)
* Wear size medium to extra-large
* Have an editor's eye
* Can complete the top and get feedback to me by THIS FRIDAY.

I cannot offer any compensation, but hey, I'll love you forever + link to you here in a later post.

If you're interested, send an email to themodernmarigold at gmail dot com with "pattern tester" in the subject line. Let me know what size you wear and what level seamstress you consider yourself. If you have a blog or Flickr stream you can link to with examples of your sewing projects, that's super.  Got it, thanks everyone!

THANK YOU!! smoochies!

the dandelion tee tutorial

I love dandelions! Technically weeds, ok, but I think they're really pretty. This tee has been floating around in my head for a couple of weeks, inspired by all the dandelion bouquets my little chickies have been gathering lately. It's an easy-breezy tee, meant for gardening, picnics, and cloud watching.

All you need are a few small supplies (you probably have some of them hanging around already) and about an hour.

If you have a shirt you want to use that fits well, great. Otherwise, you'll need to dig up that perfect-fitting white shirt of yours that's in the bottom of your laundry basket and is getting embarrassingly grungy because you're too cheap to buy a new one, so you wear it twice between washes and just about every day.

What?

Oh. So, take your men's undershirt and fold it in half. Fold your grungy white shirt in half and lay it on top of the men's shirt, matching the shoulder seams of both shirts. Cut the men's shirt about 1/4 inch bigger all the way around than your grungy white shirt.

Go wash your grungy shirt. Then sew up the sides of the men's shirt, right sides together. If you have a serger, you can finish the neck/sleeves/hem. Or not.

Cut a few small squares of your yellow fabrics and fuse them to a piece (mine is 7x12 inches) of Wonder-Under (man I love that stuff). You'll also need to fuse a long, skinny green fabric scrap to make the dandelion stem.

Cut the Wonder-Undered fabrics into wonky rectangles of varying lengths and widths. Mine were between 1-3 inches long and 0.5-1.5 inches wide. Go fuse yourself to the TV while you peel off the paper backings (I watched Prince Caspian. Kinda fun. I love the part where they storm the castle and one of the guards wigs out when he figures out how to turn on Edmund's flashlight.)

Arrange all the pieces into a design that suits your fancy and iron thoroughly.

Now for my favorite part! Head to the sewing machine and doodle away. Don't get all persnickety, just make squiggly lines and screw up and miss a few spots and then go back for more.

Done! Now go take a picture to share with us (and if you find a way to take a cute picture of yourself, call me).

Thanks for reading/sewing along!