Jean Skirt Upgrades

 I'm working with my step-mother to make some skirts out of jeans for her grand-daughters and friends.  My step-mother is a conservative Christian and they believe that girls and women should wear skirts to show their femininity but they should be modest and cover the knee.  Anyway, this is a tall order for these Christian women as many skirts for little girls are quite short and it is hard to find modest skirts for women as well.  While I don't personally subscribe to her beliefs and dress code, I do like to be helpful and this project has been a nice way to bond with her on a topic that I feel very strongly about - sewing!!  Judy has purchased a number of thrifted pairs of pants and skirts and has given me freedom to hack and sew as I see fit.  I am looking forward to the challenge!

This was my first attempt at making a skirt of jeans.  I love that you can use an existing skeleton of denim and make it a cute skirt that has built in structure and you don't have to do much measuring around the waist.  This was pre-cut for me by my step-sister-in-law and I added a sweet purple calico print that I inherited from my mother-in-law.   Judy really liked it and I felt very happy with how it turned out.  The true test will be if Judy's grand-daughters will like it and if it is a good length for them.  I'll be sure to show the results of all of my experiments! 

Dinosaur Bag

 What do you do with a bunch of dinosaurs constantly underfoot?  Why make a dino-bag!  Ronan is in love with dinosaurs and he got this great set (two sets, actually!) from Uncle Sean and Aunt Val for Christmas.  So I had to make a little dinosaur themed drawstring bag for him.  He really likes it!

It is so much fun making things for Ronan now that he appreciates them and he knows that I made them for him.  I can't wait for the time that he can actually make requests for things he wants/needs.

I made this bag after seeing a blog post by "The Empty Bobbin" about making drawstring bags without the use of a button hole or grommit, it was so easy it was brilliant!  (Her pattern has a different style bag, but the closure procedure was the same) I was so glad because these bags are cinch to make, look great and are very useful.  But my button holer (is that a word?) doesn't work as well as it used to and I can't find my grommit kit...  Hooray for internet tutorials!  Thank you, Empty Bobbin!

Oliver + S pajama pants for Ronan

I love how these pants turned out!  I used the Oliver + S pajama pattern that also includes a kimono top.  I don't know why, but I had some trouble getting the pant legs to sew up together properly.  I'm guessing I transferred the pattern incorrectly when I traced it to pellon (so that I didn't have to cut the original).  I was able to fudge them enough to work, but I'll have to try and work out the bugs for future pants.  I thought that the extra cuffs and waist band were unnecessary when I was putting it together but I think with the finished product they look so nice.  I would definitely do that again on future pants!  Ronan loves them too, so, bonus!!  I used flannel cotton remnant purchased at Joann's, I believe it was a Joann exclusive print.

Christmas Craftin'!

This is a new design I have for place mats, I'm really pleased with how they are turning out!