Rebecca's Sunday Brunch Jacket

Louisa got an American Girl doll from Santa this year, and it has been fun. After much debate, she requested Rebecca, the Russian Jewish New Yorker growing up in 1914. We've been soaring through the books, especially Kit's series. And best of all, Rebecca's arrival finally got me to unpack my sewing things in our new house.

Velveteen Sunday Brunch Jacket

I've been saving this Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush Velveteen (in "Memory") for a long, long time with another oliver + s Sunday Brunch Jacket for Louisa in mind.

When she was two, I made her a size 2. This time, I made a size 6. She is only four and a half, but I wanted it to fit next year, and now I know this jacket runs small. (It is meant to be fitted.)

Wiksten Tank (Spring Top Sewalong)

Like so many others, I jumped on the Wiksten patterns when they recently became available as PDFs. The patterns get great reviews and I was not disappointed by the Tank.

I used Anna Maria Horner Little Folks Voile in Diamond Mine Sky, and the same in Coloring Garden Dusk for the trim. The pattern calls for the bias trim to be hidden but I folded it narrowly to show off the contrasting fabric.

My topstitching is far from perfect but it isn't too noticeable on the floral print. I also had a hard time getting the hem to fold nicely on that durn curve!

I bought the voile last summer from Fabricworm.com when I was inspired to make a tank like this one (which I LOVED as soon as I came across it on flickr), and of course I never used it til now.

I made a size medium based on my bust measurement but it is too baggy around my middle. Next time I'll definitely taper it in a bit. I know it is supposed to be loose fitting, but this looks maternity (when I am not holding my hands on my hips to keep the poof down). The fit is a little off in the back too with some gaping at the neck.

The fit on this one from the Quilted Tortoise is perfect, in my opinion. She also inspired me to spend the time to match my pocket perfectly!

This is my first entry into Rae's 2012 Spring Top Sewalong. Hopefully I'll get a chance to follow through on a short sleeved Renfrew Top as planned for my second entry!

Sewaholic Lonsdale Dress

I miraculously finished my Lonsdale Dress before the weather got cold, just barely in time for the wedding I was planning on wearing it to. As in, I hemmed it while wearing it on the car ride to the vineyard. (Here we are before getting in the car:)

This was definitely my most involved sewing project, mainly because I made two muslins, and lined it (and lining is not included in the pattern).

This is only the third thing I have made for myself, the first two being Built By Wendy Simplicity 3964 tops, with no alterations. I still love (and in many ways prefer) sewing for my kids, but it was nice to be doing this just for me.

School Photo Dress

Just as the daffodils are blooming, I finally finished the School Photo Dress (by oliver + s) that I started for Louisa a month ago, and that I intended to make in December. Hopefully she'll get a chance or two to wear it before it is short-sleeve weather.

I used Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush—Bubble Burst Confection for the dress, Mixed Signals Lilac for the lining and the inside of the kangaroo pocket (both from Sew Mama Sew).

I made her a monogram tag with iron-transfer paper and some pink satin ribbon. Didn't turn out like I meant it to but I went ahead and used it.

As always, the oliver + s pattern had amazing instructions and I was able to get the invisible zipper in on my first try, having never sewn one before, and without an invisible zipper foot.

Constructing the pocket is tricky because your cutting and alignment has to be just right, and one corner of mine was a little off, but I decided to go with it. The pattern calls for the pocket to be made from the dress fabric, but since I used some of my Bubble Burst fabric for this project, I didn't have enough, so I made my pocket form the lining fabric, which I think I prefer anyway.

My one complaint about the dress was that it required a fair amount of hand-stitching at the finish. She calls for some hand-basting when sewing in the zipper, which I just did with the machine, but there is no getting around blind-stitching the lining to the zipper tape. You also have to tack the lining to the dress at the hem, attach a hook and eye closure at the top of the zipper, sew a button on the collar, and make a thread chain for the button loop. To learn how to make a thread chain, you have to go to the oliver + s blog. It is easy to make, but I was slow to finish the dress because of all the hand work. Also my first thread loop broke when I was pressing the dress, and my second one I accidentally made too long but I was ready to be done.

It is a size 3T so I think it will still fit her next year.

Leo's Sleeping Sack

Since Leo started sleeping going to bed in his crib a couple weeks ago, he has finally gotten to use the sleep sack I made for him earlier this fall—another project from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings. The pattern calls for a patchwork front panel, but I just used the same Michael Miller cotton (Lagoon Ring Dot Turquoise) for the whole outside. The inside is another Michael Miller print flannel (Haul It Turquoise). I didn't have enough yardage to have the print going the right direction on the front inside panels, but I wasn't too worried about that.

The pattern is made to fit 6 weeks to 3 months, so I added several inches to the bottom and two to the sides so that it might fit my big boy all winter. He is 6 months, 19 pounds and 28 inches long now.

I made two other alterations to the pattern—continued the bias tape to cover the edge of the under panel as well (piece B) with a mitered corner at the point (she just says to zigzag stitch that edge), and I used six snaps instead of velcro. Unfortunately I didn't think to add interfacing to the snap locations before I joined the outer fabric and flannel, so we have to be a little bit gentle when we unsnap it. Also, I should have put the first snap all the way up at the point. Wish the snaps were not white, but that is all they had at the store.

Much cuter than the store-bought fleece sack Louisa wore!

Baby in the Hood Jacket

The pattern for Leo's little jacket came from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings. Honestly, I would have been happy to use the exact fabrics used in her photograph, but I switched it up a little bit to make blue the main color. I also used all flannel, all from her Folksy Flannels collection. It is really high quality and the prints are adorable. I would like to make a lined version of Louisa's jacket with it actually.

My little four month old Leo is already 18 pounds, so I made him the 9-12 month size. Hopefully it will fit him in the spring too.

There were a lot of very curved seams, so lots of patient pinning was required (especially in attaching the sleeves). And it does take time to make a fully-lined jacket, because as other sewers have said, you are basically making two jackets. I like how the button placket worked out, and I enjoyed not having to finish seams (although all the top-stitching sort of makes up for time saved leaving seams raw).

I got the wooden buttons on etsy. A great place to shop for buttons, by the way. I love the variety.

I'll have to reschedule a proper photoshoot.

Ready to go play in the leaves!