Handmade for Mama

I know! It's not very often Mama gets something new to wear. I haven't had the best of luck making clothes for myself so it has been a good year and a half since I have attempted anything. Since I left off I have learned that woven tops cut on a bias just work better because of the added stretch. AND that I love knits of all kinds and when given an option I always go for a knit top.


This one was made with some fabric I already had as a practice run. I used Simplicity's 2456 The front and back panels were cut on the bias which I learned will not work with plaids! Look how ridiculous that seam in the middle looks. It does fit perfectly so I plan on making it again. I plan on wearing this around the house until I find a better use for the fabric.




This shirt is made out of a knit fabric I picked up and Pacific Fabrics a couple months ago. I am not in love with it. I really think I picked it up because it was the first knit fabric print I've seen that I didn't hate. Because Knit is stretchy, I made a size smaller and even though I used the same pattern pieces I only made one panel for the front. I am really not crazy about the center seam. This shirt am really happy with. Even the hem isn't TOO bad. I wish I were a better garment photographer. This may be something to work on.

Big Boy Activities

Elliott is really starting to enjoy our trips to the park and not just from inside the moby wrap close and snug (and safe) with mama. Our last few trips we have braved putting this very mobile, walking, crawling boy down. He has loved it! This seems like such a small step but in a really big direction: Independence. I guess this was inevitable, I was going to have to share him with the world eventually.

Oliver + S Jacket: Complete!

So I finally sat down and forced myself to tackle the rest of Bella's jacket and to my surprise it went really smoothly.




I really like the unconventional use of color for the lining. I wasn't too sure how the dark lining would look but having spent so much money on the pattern and then on the Amy Butler Fabric I figured I would have to cut the cost of this jacket somehow. I happened to have a couple of yards of the lining fabric. Yes it cost me more to make this jacket then it would have to go to my local big box shop but I know this jacket will last a long time because I made it to last with quality fabric. I think if I were to buy something similar in quality and style it would have been a lot more. I thoroughly enjoyed making this jacket, even learning how to set sleeves. It turns out setting sleeves isn't as tricky as one might think.

I think I'm going to make one for Elliott with some red corduroy my grandma gave me (free) to feel less guilty about the 16 bucks I spent on the pattern!

Two Kinds of Productive Sundays

Mama took two kids to Pike Place Market for french pastries, new licorice root, spices, and tea, and bagel sandwiches. Yum! Not only was it nice to get out of the house and visit our dear city to the south. It turned out to be the most ideal autumn day. Light sprinkles, over cast and gray followed by light sprinkles and sun. [I know I'm not the only one who loves light sprinkles and gray.]


Papa stayed home to bottle his beer.


Both equally productive but we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor (shopping) today.