Sewing again! A nifty retro apron

by Joanna

I have been in a sewing "desert" for a long while… I haven't stitched a single stitch on my machine in over a year! Last spring I cut out a dress (the Clara dress) for myself and it is still sitting folded up on my desk. I decided it was high time I got sewing again. And what inspires like a birthday for my sweet little niece!

Determined to make this a pure stash project, I found about 5/8 of a yard of this adorable retro zoo-themed fabric in my stash, and decided to use some red or yellow floral as a contrast. I have been organizing, purging, and cataloging my sewing patterns on pinterest, which is working out amazingly well, and quickly found this vintage pinafore pattern. Converting it to an apron was a breeze!

I created the pattern mostly as written… just adding a snap closure at the upper back instead of a zipper, and adding prefinished eyelet trim to the armhole edges. Zing! What a fun little project this was! 

Our niece loves to play kitchen and dress up. I hope she enjoys wearing it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Interweave Embroidery Webinar

photo courtesy of Interweave

This spring I will be teaching my first Interweave Webinar on the topic of beginning embroidery.
The live Webinar is scheduled to take place on May 15. I hope you can join me!

Needlecraft courtesy of Interweave

For more information, please visit the Interweave Store here:
http://www.interweavestore.com/embroidery-for-beginners-learn-planning-tools-and-techniques

Yard Sale Sewing Patterns

by Joanna

You know that feeling, when you are just about to leave a yard sale because there just isn't anything good... and then, on your way to your car, you stumble upon a box of old sewing patterns? I love that feeling.

It's the perfect storm of colors and motifs, garment silhouettes and stylized illustrations.

I just can't pass up a set of vintage sewing patterns in good condition. I have boxes and boxes of them now.

And I have no intention of stopping.

I have two nieces ages two and under... so these classics may be ready for the cutting table this summer! 

Phoebe Mermouse Doll Kits

Something new for us this summer- Phoebe Mermouse doll kits! The kits include:

- fat quarter of 100% cotton fabric in ivory
- fat eighth of Amy Butler Soul Peacock Feathers in Sea Glass
- 5" x 8" piece of Amy Butler Temple Tulips in Cinnamon
- 1 pink shell heart button for the nose
- 1 red heart button for the belly button
- Embroidery Floss in pink
- Embroidery Floss in brown
- 2 yards of 1/8" satin ribbon in teal
- 2 3" x 3" squares of quilt batting
To create the doll, you will need to supply sewing thread, toy stuffing, button eyes, and a flower button (optional).

Isn't she just adorable? 

The kits cost $8 and are available here in our Etsy shop.

Happy Stitching!

Phoebe Mermouse Doll

by Joanna

The Phoebe Mermouse Doll is my first published sewing pattern... it is included at the end of our new book, Phoebe's Birthday.

This doll pattern uses fabric from Amy Butler's gorgeous line, Soul Blossoms, and only has four pattern pieces. It is simple enough for a young stitcher to create on her own with just a little help.

Phoebe Mermouse has a special meaning in the new story, so I won't spoil it for you here. The little gal is rather sweet, if I do say so myself. I cannot wait to see the little mermouse-es (mermice?) that you stitch up!



Phoebe's Spool Quilt

by Joanna

I am just "over the moon" to announce that we have a quilt pattern included in our third book, Phoebe's Birthday. I approached Amy Butler over a year ago about providing fabric support for this new book, and her interest in the project was really inspiring to me. I first started quilting about fifteen years ago and have made dozens and dozens of quilts since. Amy Butler's fabrics are just stunning, and it was a real treat to design a quilt based around her gorgeous Soul Blossoms line of quilting fabric.

I adapted a traditional spool quilt block for this pattern, and used strips of gray solids between the rows of blocks to mimic the look of spools neatly lined up on shelves. I love how the ivory background offsets the vibrant colors of her prints. Detailed instructions, including yardage requirements, cutting instructions, layout and assembly, and quilting ideas are all included at the end of Phoebe's Birthday. I have a feeling this particular quilt will end up on our daughter's bed very soon, but as for now, it is next to me here in my studio as I write, and it brings a smile to my face every time I see it. 

Happy Stitching!

Jump Rope Dress ~oliver + s

Back in June, when we went to Loop and Spool, we bought the fabric and pattern to sew this dress. It is called the Jump Rope Dress and is from pattern company Oliver + S.

  The pattern includes some neat "tailorly" details like button tabs and a cuff at the sleeve, a sash with belt loops, a button placket up the front bodice, and button-flap pockets.

It is a perfect dress for playing, reading, drawing, pretending... all of the things Sister loves to do.  Not to mention-

jumping!

and twirling!

More Amy Butler Sewing Adventures

by Phoebe There is just something special about Amy Butler's fabric. It is so pretty you just want to look at it folded up nicely on the table. But then again, it does deserve to be sewn up into something fun and useful! One recent Saturday the dining room table became a sewing station and I watched closely as mother turned a big rectangle of fabric into a sweet cap-sleeved dress. I think it is going into the big red suitcase for TNNA, which is a needle arts market we are going to together this month. I can't wait!

Anna Tunic and Amy Butler

by Phoebe

Have you seen this gorgeous fabric from Amy Butler?  Here I am in the sewing room where the "Anna Tunic" is waiting for finishing touches like hemming and sleeve finishing... I think this tunic may go with Mother to TNNA in June!  I will be there, too, and can't wait!  This lovely fabric and pattern were purchased at a wonderful new shop called Mama Said Sew.  I wonder if there is enough left over for a little dress for me...

Pattern Archives- Simplicity #4347

by Phoebe

I will be on the road quite a bit this spring and summer...so it is only fitting that I have some special new travel clothes.  First off, I need a pretty pair of pajamas, right?  For the last few years, Simplicity has been reprinting some of their top-selling sewing patterns from the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's.  This particular pattern is for a variety of outfits for 18" dolls.  I have shown you a series of photographs showing Mother's process of creating these pretty pajamas for me.  She used a simple cotton calico and some pregathered lace for the trim.  It was late afternoon as she began the project, and it was finished just as dusk fell.  Just in time for me to try them on and give them a test run here at home!

Cookies and a rick-rack apron

by Phoebe
This morning after breakfast mother and father made our favorite Christmas cookies which have been made in our family for generations. Like the toffee, they have a bit of butter in them, too! Mother was excited to have the house all clean and ready for guests once the baking was done. She then had time for a favorite activity, which is an afternoon at her sewing machine. Today she made some last-minute gifts for my cousins- some sweet dress and apron sets for their dolls. When she was finished sewing, it was fun to try them on. This dress and apron are a perfect fit for me, too! Afterward, I enjoyed a nice little peaceful moment looking at the bright snow outside our window. I love winter.