knicker redemption

Amongst all the sewing for Milo, I really tried to make a shirt for myself for Spring Top Week. I even took a course a few weeks ago at the workroom to learn how to knock-off your favourite clothes - so I felt more than prepared. I could accept that the first try at my knocked-off pattern didn't work, but I felt like I'd solved the problems and I even made a muslin copy to be sure it would work before cutting into the grey shirting I had chosen. But after 4 precious Milo-is-napping-Sadie-is-at-school sessions, I had to give up. The shirt is officially "frumpalicious". Jay quickly agreed, after first asking if I had meant the shirt to be "pilgrim" style. All in all, a total failure on top of the many clothing failures I've had this past year. And so I started to think that I should stick to sewing for Sadie and Milo and just give up on myself.

Enter...knickers. Yes, knickers (hey, that's what the pattern calls them, and it sounds way better to say, "I made a pair of knickers today"). After a post on Angry Chicken a while (maybe years) ago I bought this awesome pattern off Etsy and even though I'd read it through and decided it wouldn't be too hard, the pattern still sat around. But in a last ditch attempt to sew for myself, I figured I'd give knickers a try. And it was just what I needed - they were quick, fun to make, and I learned something new (ahh, the magic of fold-over-elastic). I used hemp jersey in the bikini height version, and the retro pattern means that they have ample bum room, which is perfect in my book. Since I could order more hemp jersey in any colour I want from here, and get matching fold-over-elastic from here (both are Canadian companies) I now have the urge to make a whole bunch of these because the utilitarian in me loves the idea of having a drawer full of matching underwear.

So while I may take a break from sewing woven fabric garments for myself, I am going to keep going in the world of knit fabrics. I picked up Wendy Mullin's Sew U Home Stretch and I'm pretty excited to try a boat neck t-shirt. But since sewing for Sadie and Milo always works out, I've joined Elsie Marley's Kids Clothes Week Challenge. What can I say? Sewing an hour a day for my little people sounds like a great way to spend a week. I may even make Sadie some knickers of her own.

umm...

Did I say I was going to make Milo some "plain" garments? Well, it looks like I totally lied. Something about finding a mens t-shirt at Goodwill and having just enough rainbow jersey to make sleeves won me over. Now my little man is part Mork and Mindy, part Canadian patriot.

The 90-Minute-Shirt is all kinds of awesome, eh?

oh boy

I am smitten with the 90 Minute Shirt. There is just something about making clothes from knit fabric that feels so good. Plus, this pattern is totally helping me conquer my fear about knit fabrics, while helping me learn a thing or two about my serger and sewing machine. (For instance, I found out that I have a stretch knit stitch.  Who knew?)

The tutorials for this shirt and making-a-pattern-from-existing-clothes are excellent and just what I needed to get started (how did I miss this great site for so long? Thanks to Meg for showing me the way!) I still had some shirts from Jay that were earmarked for clothes for Milo, but I also love the idea of making some PLAIN garments too. Don't get me wrong, the Mr. Rogers and the snake graphic above are great - it's just that most boys clothes have "stuff" on them and it would be nice to simplify Milo's wardrobe. I mean, check out these options - how cool are they?

It wasn't easy to get shots of these clothes in action - because Milo is always in action and also in low-light situations. But here is one anyway. The onesie is only going to fit him for about one more week, so I've since adjusted my pattern to make bigger shirts. What can I say - he's a robust little boy.

One thing's for sure - there's more of these shirts to come.

deja vu

It's happening. No matter how hard I try I can't stop dwelling on my dwindling time with Sadie and Milo. And then that feeling bleeds into sadness for a disappearing babyhood. Just yesterday we took Milo's infant carseat to Goodwill and it was the last large-ish baby item we had - both Jay and I took a longing look at it when it left our hands. When Sadie was this age we were holding on to everything, knowing that someday we might decide to have a second child. But this time is different and it's harder than I imagined to say goodbye to all things baby. Luckily, one look at these big 9-month old eyes and I can forget all my trivial troubles. He's pretty magical that way.

And this photo in particular was kind of familiar to me. It turns out that I wrote a post, 5 years ago, talking about my sadness for being separated from Sadie. Perhaps I just need to stop taking pictures of my children looking up at me when I'm so struck with back-to-work anxiety?

Yeah, that sounds like a smart idea.

(And here's the pic from that post, Sadie, circa 2005. About 9 months old. Umm, is she storing nuts in those cheeks?)

delivery by foot

If you saw a family of four walking on a Toronto street the other night, baby on the dad's chest, mom and dad each holding one handle of a massive green trunk, and the 5 year old daughter carrying a large bag of take-out food, that was us. Let's just say it's our idea of a family outing.

When Sadie was a baby we carried a whole desk home by foot. At least this trunk was lighter, and now our files are happily hidden away. I'd have to say that three thrift shops within walking distance has served us well.

a happy after

Have I ever mentioned how awesome Jay is? If not, here is a reason why. He salvaged wood from our attic floor and an old shelf in the basement to make this shelf for our "Office Valet" cabinet. And it's absolutely perfect.

We've had this piece of furniture for a while now, but Jay always intended to build a shelf for it. Once Milo became active it was a true necessity. It's a simple design and we found baskets to maximize space and now the piece really works, both aesthetically and practically. Milo's toys are hidden (though as I type all 3 baskets have been toppled over - the little boy can pull them right out and loves all the toys falling to the floor) and we don't have to see the tv equipment so much.

Like I said, he's awesome. Now if I were a better stylist I might have removed a few more tchotchkes before taking a photo, but I'm not a better stylist. Clutter is the way of the world around here, and for now, we're a tiny bit more organized.

Oh, and here's the "before". (You have to start with the "after" shot, right?)

nine patch

This quilt top was finished quite a while ago, but I wanted to see what it was like to get it quilted by someone else. I think you need space to be able to properly baste and quilt anything bigger than a chairpad. And space is something I'm very short on, not to mention time. So this top went home with my mom and she generously took it to a quilter she had used before.

Now, I have to admit I am a girl of simple tastes. But I often ignore my gut choice in an effort to branch out and try something new. In this case, I set aside my preference for quilting in the ditch (which I like because it allows for the fabric to be front and center) and requested a "meandering" pattern. I suppose "meandering" is open to interpretation and in the end my little quilt has more of a leafy pattern. And I'm sad to say that in my surprise, I didn't react well to it in front of my mom. I hope she believed me when I said I would get used to it, because now that the edges are bound (with continuous binding tape from this Etsy seller) I really like it, leafy quilting pattern and all. It's super cute and has plenty of uses (for example, right now it is folded up on the coffee table keeping Jay's feet comfy). And really, it's red, black and citron green with lots of polka dotted fabric - what's not to love?

angora lady

I heart sale bin yarn, and it is so worth the trip to Romni's basement - especially when you get an extra 20% their already discounted prices. This yummy pink cotton/angora blend is Artful Yarns Serenade and it was dreamy to knit with. Sure, it leaves a bit of fuzz on Sadie's shirt but she seems pretty happy to wear angora and I would happily knit with it over and over again.

The pattern is Shellee Floyd's Cap Sleeved Spring Shirt and it is super simple. I made some minor modifications to the sleeve bind off, body shape and bottom band, but still it was an easy knit. I've already cast on for another - this time with long sleeves and chenille yarn I've had forever - because it's a guaranteed reward for the time invested. And I think the style really suits my girl (I mean, check out how she dressed with it, not to mention how she accessorized with hair ribbons and sunglasses). Also I love how it hugs her belly in the second photo, showing a small hint of her recent toddlerhood. So, plenty of reasons to knit it again.

Like I need any more reasons to knit.

solution

Or more appropriately, Soule-ution. Because a quick visit to Soulemama solved my most recent sewing disaster by offering the perfect project for my Anna Maria Horner voile fabric. The colours of the fabric are beautiful and it feels wonderful, but it is quite pricey so I only bought enough to make a little tank top. I tried a version of this top from Simple Sewing with a French Twist, but the gathers made my milk-filled chest look ridiculous and then anything I tried to essentially re-design the top failed miserably (surprisingly, I never once cursed). Enter Soulemama's timely post and voila! I had just enough fabric left to make a super cute little scarf. It took about 15 minutes to sew and made me feel so much better about the time spent.

And really, it's pretty bold fabric. I think a scarf is just enough for plain old me.

timing is everything

For any moms who work outside of the home, this excellent post is for you.

What a great reminder and exactly what I needed to hear. Because when I go back to work and start dropping Milo off at daycare every day, I know how I will feel. I've been through this before, and it is incredibly hard. But the author is so right: Sadie talks about my office like it's the coolest place she's ever been to and I know she understands that "work" is something that makes her Mommy happy. I hope to catch her playing "office" someday and more than anything, I hope she grows up believing that she can be and do anything. And for my littlest baby, I look forward to a couple years of TTC rides together at the end of every day. It was such a special time with Sadie and I can't wait to see what it's like with Milo. Can he top Sadie saying out loud, "I'm peeing right now!"? The possibilities are endless.

(And for a more literal link to the topic of timing, here's a little pic of an old GE school clock we recently got through Ebay. It's one of the finishing touches for the kitchen and although it arrived not working, my rather amazing husband fixed it. Awesome.)