a dress for MG, a dress for me

I have been at the sewing machine lately and an excited about creating dresses for me and Mayan. Mayan had chose this fabric months ago, wanting to make something for herself but when she saw me cutting out patterns she decided to have me handle it. Even though I am not a super-great seamstress, I have confidence taking a very easy pattern and then modifying it to be more detailed, modern, and shapely. 

Mayan's dress was really a nightgown pattern with elastic that was supposed to go all the way around the neck, which seemed too childish for a 7-year-olds day dress. So I instead did the elastic in the back and sleeve areas, and pleated the front (that look is really popular right now in women's clothing, I've noticed....) So the sleeves were not so huge, and also not completely elasticized, I only did a small portion and left the rest plain. It lacked any shape so I gathered the back and did some quilt-like stitching over the pleats. I turned out looking like a boutique play dress, and most importantly she loves it!

Blake's mother was kind enough to buy me a few yards of this yummy buttery linen the last time she visited and we took a trip to Fabric Depot. I wanted to make something that covered my arms in the sun, but was flow-y and light in hot weather. I also wanted it simple, not so sophisticated that I couldn't throw it on with a pair of rubber boots and work in the garden. The pattern I had had a strange v-neck so I again modified it to have a surplice (crossover v-neck) top. I used pattern paper to remake that part of the pattern, and it worked! The elastic empire waist gives it that casual feel, and also means I didn't have to add a zipper (never have--sounds scary!!) 

Although I tweaked with the fit quite a bit, even taking it apart once it was almost complete and doing it again, it is still looser that I'd hoped and not as modest either, BUT it is well suited for my at-home outdoor linen day dress. I love the detail at the shoulders, it was the first time I'd done basting and gathering so I feel like this upped my sewing skills a notch. I look forward to more dress projects in the future!

been sewin'

a few months ago i was at fabric depot to get some stuff for a quilt and it just happened to be their huge 40% off of everything sale--i grabbed the last cart available and started piling in bolts of cute stuff i liked. didn't know what i would DO with most of it but that didn't matter! one cute fabric i found was in the baby/nursury secion, it was a grey flannel with skull and crossbones, too cool to pass up. well i am happy to say i have finally put it to use! i made myself some cloth pads for after the baby is born--postpartum pads they call them. it sounds nice to have some soft natural cloth up against you those first few weeks as opposed to some synthetic gel-filled plastic pad, which i've used in the past and yes, are convenient...but i am going to be washing diapers anyway, these will slip right in. i based my pattern off of this mama's pads (who if i could afford i would have bought a ton of!) on Hyena Cart, a place for crafty mamas to sell their goods. the construction is flannel on top, a cut up prefold diaper in the middle, and fleece on the back (which should protect against leaks) which Breana GAVE to me. so each one cost less than three bucks to make (online ones were over $13.) now i am working on the next size down, for normal periods. i wonder when i will have to worry about that again! Ahhhh!!

the funny thing about this pattern is that when i am done with them, if the baby is still tiny, i can use them for diapers--ha! they are totally unisex.....i'll just add some velcro.


34 weeks today. had a wonderful visit with the wives. they are so on it, and attentive and we're all feeeling very hopeful that things will go smoothly. baby is growing everyday, and is still extremely active (more than any of my other babies....) and responsive to us listening and groping. both girls used their hands to feel where the head was (headed down, thank goodness!)
in two weeks, the wives come to our house for a home visit. slightly mind boggling, because i don't FEEL ready but that is b/c i am not ready at 34 weeks.....hopefully after that visit and the mother blessing (and our bedroom being finished--blake has been doing awesome working a little bit everyday on the cork floor) i will have had that shift into true anticipation and openness to meet what our friend Fawn calls "the Last Nomad." no arguments there--lol!

I made a skirt

...and i couldn't feel more proud:) check out my domestic goddess craftiness:


Next, one for Isadore with kitties on it and maybe even a wool one for me....! (no kitties, of course)