Polo Anyone?

I gave the polo shirt pattern another go.

“Why yes, I am riding a princess bike.  What of it??

So, it started as an old t-shirt.  It was such a great print I thought it needed a second life.

I like to use the hem that is in the t-shirts already.  That way I gain more length for the shirt I am making. 

 I once again used the t-shirts ribbed neck at the center front and added a double button detail .

spring time

Made these pants from some fabric Doodle picked out.  I managed to mess up matching the stripes so I had to add a racing stripe to the sides.  Kind of camoflages my mistake.  The size is pretty good but I need to work on the pattern in general.

Don’t worry he got a hair cut very soon after this!

Dream Job

There is this groovy building up the road from us.  I keep fantasizing that I could redo the place and make it an office.  Of course,  I might need to come up with a business.  The windows are huge and the light inside would be fantastic.  For now I kind of love driving by and imagining it with a coat of paint and a really great sign.

 

 

 

It used to be a florist.  I think the sign was even there until the wind storm in December that blew everything down.  It looks like it has been empty for awhile.  It still has a few old fixtures and the flower cooler.

It is right up the street from me.  The idea of a 5 minute commute in Los Angeles…………………………think of all the extra sleep I would get.

 

New – Old Jacket

I decided to try knocking off an old jacket of mine from the 70’s.  It is kind of a crazy print and the shape is good.

Original Jacket 1970's

I had to make the pattern a bit larger and did  a trial run with fabric I had around.

New Improved Version

Doodle didn’t like the elastic around the cuff so I took it out.  I need to work a few kinks out.  I think I will add some pockets to the side seams.  The original had one pocket.  The hood is also very shallow, I think  I should revise this.   I need to work on my eyelets because this type doesn’t work very well (cheapies from Michael’s).   

I need to do some work on my zipper .  It has been a LONG time since I  put a zipper in!   I am hoping to make another jacket out of this Melody Miller, Ruby Star Rising for KOKKA.  I found a bright orange flannel for the lining.  Now I just have to make pattern changes and get it done.

Transistor Radio Print and Orange Flannel Lining

Work in Progress

Doodle has a vintage sweater I love so I decided to try making a copy.  This is my prototype so it isn’t finished and it is kind of hacked together while I figure things out.

I used some knit fabric I had left over from Michael Levine.  The train fabric is  Etsuko Furuya for Kokka (Echino).  I bought some fat quarters that are transportation themed and they are the perfect size for this project.

I still have to finish the edging around the front and add buttons and make the cuffs a little wider.  It was a bit of a challenge with out a serger but it came together ok.  The back is solid color knit .  The sleeves are raglan which are not my favorite but they work well on this garment.  Please ignore the bedhead and the messy rooom.

Presenting Super Mushroom!

Doodle had a birthday party this weekend.  The kids were supposed to dress as superheros or princesses.  We looked at alot of superhero costumes and Doodle wanted to be a mushroom.  Hmmm.  Okay.  I guess I will make a mushroom.

At the party.

 

 

They had a magic show that he was very into.  He wore the hat the WHOLE time.  I couldn’t believe it!

Fabrics for the lads

I am always keeping an eye out for interesting fabrics that could make something cool for a boy.  I was cruising my favorite blogs when I found out about Paper Thread Fabrics.  There was a big sale on so I decided to splurge on some  Ink and Spindle knit fabric.  Now I just have to figure out what to do with it?  T-shirt or shorts?  I only have half a yard.

I think the Narwhal is my favorite.

Ikea re-hack

It was time to re-do the Ikea Expedit bookshelf in Doodle’s room.  I had covered the bins in our last apartment and never got around to updating the color in our new place.  I just got some cheap felt at Michael Levine’s and a bit of ribbon.  You can see the original colors (green and orange).  The Ikea shelf system has these acrylic bins that fit perfectly into them but I don’t like the fact you can see through them.  Our stuff isn’t that tidy looking.

Then I traced around the box front and carefully cut out squares.

Time for hot glue.  I worked part at a time and just around the edges.  Then I glued around the cut outs.

Then time to create handles.  I used an exacto blade to make a slit in the felt to run a ribbon through.

Tie the ribbons and there you go.

Tidy bins to fit into your bookshelf and go with all your other Ikea decor.

New Years Traditions

A few years ago we went to the beach on New Year’s day.  It was just a whim but we had such a great time it started a tradition.  This year was beautiful and sunny and foggy.  We had a great day digging in the sand , having a picnic, and just hanging out at the beach.  My resolution for next year – more picnics!

The seagulls were literally circling us while we ate.  We had to take the food back to the car so our picnic wasn’t carried away.

Hmm…it didn’t turn out quite right

I forgot to take a before photo of this.  It started out as a men’s t-shirt with ringer neck and sleeves.  I don’t have a serger so I thought I would make a short sleeve version of this Oliver +S pattern .  It has neck and hem facings so it pretty much finishes itself.  The facing fabric is a Japanese cotton I got at Michael Levine.

I am not sure that I like that the facing top stitching is going through the bird.  Somehow the whole thing isn’t quite what I had envisioned.  My model wasn’t overly patient either.

I sewed an eye on to the bird and did some hand topstitching to try and make the bird stand out.   Hmmm maybe more stitching would pull things together.

There is a button at the shoulder that is hard to see .  It shows up better in the photo below.   I need to think about a serger so I can make my old sweaters into something for Doodle.