Viking PJs - Done!

Here is a project that was completely delightful to sew.  I had an enormous amount of fun putting these pajamas together:  from designing the applique to finding the perfect purple thread in my stash for top stitching.

Here is the dragon boat applique

• See my previous post for details on tracing and enlarging the boat
• I hand dyed old T-shirts for the applique fabric using some RIT dye that I had left over from another project.  I used 1 TBSP of Navy Blue and 1 tsp of Cocoa Brown in 2 gallons of water for the purple color.  I used 1 TBSP of Sunshine Yellow and 1/2 tsp of Cocoa Brown in 2 gallons of water for the orangey-brown color on the shields (it's darker than the pictures show)
• I used a Pellon version of Steam-a-Seam to cut out and adhere the fabric to the T-shirt front
• Since knit doesn't fray, I simply straight stitched around the edges of the design
• I used a narrow zig-zag on the shields
• I hand embroidered the eyes and used fabric paint for the nose and tail
• Whew!

Sewing the shirt:
It's Ottobre Design 6/2010-33 without the placket.



It's an easy, excellent fitting T-shirt pattern.  The curvy raglan sleeves are slightly tricky, but since knits are stretchy easing those curves is not too hard.

I made my version extra long for my long-torso'd, fast-growing 6 year old son.  He's very tall and big for his age so I sewed the size 134 (the US equivalent of a 10).

The pants are also from the Ottobre 6/2010 issue - pattern 35, size 134.  The are a perfect design for my son who has a very round posterior.  The gusseted crotch gives lots of room and an excellent fit.

(please excuse the painter's tape - we are remodeling)

Why would you not want a pair of Viking pajamas?

Make something beautiful!
Jen

Viking Pajamas

My son and I LOVE the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell.  They are marvelously fun and full of adventure.  They are also full of Vikings and Dragons.

When I saw this fabric by Lillestoff, I thought it would make a pair of pajamas perfect for a little boy to dream of magical dragons and adventures on the Viking seas.  It's also so cute I may have to make something for myself with it too.  It's available in Ottobre Design's Etsy Shop (click the picture), although I believe this particular colorway is sold out.

 

I bought some blue and purple ribbing from Ottobre as well for the neckline and cuffs on the shirt, and also cuffs on the pants.

The shirt is going to be a solid dark navy cotton jersey with some Viking applique.
How do you do Viking applique?  Well...

•  First I find a cute image of a Viking Dragon Ship on my Viking fabric

• Then I trace it with some Swedish Tracing Paper (this is an essential supply for copying, tracing, and drafting patterns).

• Then I enlarge it 200% on a copier

Now I have the proper size Viking Dragon Ship to make my applique.  I'll be dyeing and cutting up some of my husband's old T-shirts for the applique.  I'll post my progress on that soon.

Make something beautiful!  (or something with Vikings!)
Jen

Hand Sewing

I've got several projects in the queue that involve mostly or all hand-sewing, be it embroidery, cross-stitch, or construction.  This is an area that I am particularly weak in with sewing and I hope to improve it.  I find it to be very peaceful, quiet work.

I'm working on a lovely cross-stitch butterfly from What Delilah Did:

I've got a pretty little sewing bag and I take my hoop, thread, and scissors with me to my son's swimming lessons, piano lessons, car line, etc.  I've almost got the bottom half of it completed.

The other lovely thing I'm working on is an adorable felt doll by Gingermelon Dolls.  This lady has the most enchanting shop of lovely dolls, patterns, and felt.  The pattern I chose is called Best Friends.



The doll is made entirely of wool felt (which Gingermelon sells in her shop, also - in gorgeous colors), and entirely sewn by hand.
I finished the head front and face this evening.  Here's my version so far:

 I tried a little different eye style with my version.  Obviously, I've got some finesse to learn - but I'm fairly pleased with my first attempt. 

Lastly, and probably way in my future is an Alabama Chanin T-Shirt and/or jacket.  My husband bought me her book Alabama Studio Sewing & Design for Christmas.  I am enthralled with her beautiful work.




I'm also enrolled in Natalie Chanin's Craftsy class, which I have watched most of in preparation for this future project.  I think it's a great visual learning tool and it compliments everything in the book.



Make something beautiful!
Jen

Sweet baby coat

This sweet baby coat is from the Ottobre Design 04-2010 issue.  If you're not familiar with Ottobre, they are hands down the cutest, trendiest, sweetest clothing patterns you can get if you sew for children.  They are also not overly slanted toward girls, which is important to me since I only have one boy and I love making him adorable clothes.

That being said, this jacket is for a precious baby girl.  I've made this pattern before and it's very cleverly designed and although it requires some skill (it's not a novice pattern), Ottobre's details make it look so very boutique and RTW.  It makes a very special gift.

  

I call this version the "Strawberry Coat"

• I had this baby wale green corduroy in my stash.  It was my starting point.
• I lined it with knit - it's surprisingly easy to make a lining out of knit and it is oh-so-soft for babies.  The knit is 100% organic cotton jersey - it's from Heather Ross's Briar Rose fabric line, called unsurprisingly: strawberry
• The beautiful pink and red rib knit is purchased from Ottobre Design's Esty shop.  It's divine.  You won't find anything like it anywhere else.  Worth the price and the 3 weeks it takes to arrive from Finland.
• The strawberry buttons are JHB, I think - I bought them at my local fabric store.

 

What I love about this coat's design:

• The hood!  It has an invisible zipper down the center that forms a darling wide collar when unzipped.  It also has elastic sewn around the front edges that frame sweet baby's face beautifully.
• The pockets!  They are so cute - round little pockets gathered with rib knit trim.

 

If you want to try making this sweet jacket and want more tips, visit PatternReview and my original review from 2010 - I have some construction tips there that may be helpful.

Skills needed:

• sewing curved seams, clipping seams
• topstitching
• putting in an invisible zipper
• inserting elastic
• inserting a lining
• sewing with knits
• attaching snaps

I have a Pfaff 2170 sewing embroidery machine, which I used to make this cute label.  The strawberry embroidery design is from Urban Threads.

Make something beautiful!
Jen

Penguin Flip Doll

Since constructing the Superhero Flip doll, my son and I have both become enamored of flip dolls.  He has been studying penguins at school, so when I saw this adorable pattern from Abby Glassenberg at While She Naps, a soft toy/sculpture maker extraordinaire, I purchased it right away. 

 

My version:

•  I made a small change to the face so that we would have a baby Emperor Penguin
• He's made entirely from fleece remnants purchased at Fields Fabrics with the exception of a wool blend felt used for his eyes and beak
• I cut the eyes out of felt with a small circle paper punch and then cut a rounded piece out so they looked smiley

The trickiest part is the sharp curves on the forehead.  Abby's instructions are excellent for tackling this.  I sewed one side to the beak point and then I clipped to the seam so it would open up and then sewed the other side.

It's a very sweet, soft toy that would be a lovely baby gift.  It's also fun for older children - I think it would be very fun to use in the classroom to identify different penguin species.

Make something beautiful (or really, really cute!)

Jen

Captain Amazing!

I recently got this adorable book from Amazon Vine:



I have a love affair with dolls that spills over to stuffed animals on occasion and I'm also delighted by cleverness of construction - all of those things are present in this wonderful book.
The biggest surprise to me is how much my six year old son loves this book.  He took it with him several mornings on our car ride to school and announced his list of items I would sew for him.  I think it's pretty much every project in this book.
We started with his first priority:  The Superhero Flip Doll

 Materials:

• All these materials were from my stash which gives this pattern a head start for it's stash busting power!
• The tie is felt and I satin stitched it - applique
• I interfaced all the pieces to give them extra strength when being pulled inside out

•  The examples in the book have a very simple face stitched in black - I opted for a little more color.  I think he's terribly cute.

 Doll Construction:

• You make, essentially, two dolls and then join them together at the bottom.  They share a pair of legs.
• All the construction is very simple, although, because there is a layer of batting stitched to one side of the doll, it is bulky and a little tricky to sew the bottoms together.  They are small and did not fit around my sewing machine's free arm.  I used lots of pins and patience.
• The superhero's costume is made of a red knit jersey which I interfaced with a jacket weight interfacing to keep it from stretching.  I loved how soft and easily shaped the knit was to work with - even interfaced.
• His cute mask and star are actually leather - I'm amazed at some of things in my stash.  I had no idea I even had this scrap of leather.  It was perfect for him.
• I was very amused to give him shiny charmeuse underwear.  This must absolutely be interfaced - it frays terribly and the seams will rip when pulled (there's a reason I know this).

We already have plans for our next flip doll:  Knight & Dragon!

Make something beautiful!
-Jen

Radiant Orchid Winter Coat

I've had this beautiful lavender/pink wool in my stash for about 5 years waiting for the right project.  It's a merino/cashmere blend that is completely, heavenly soft.  I had in mind several coat patterns from my Burda Style magazines, but I chose one from the 11/2007 issue, pattern number 101.  It's got beautiful princess seams that make it a very pretty shape and fit.  I also like the large pleated collar and I immediately envisioned it in a matching velvet.

Changes I made: 

• Burda makes this coat in taffeta as an evening coat with snap closure.  I felt like snap closures would be problematic:  I didn't want the stitching on the outside of the coat and the weight of the wool and interfacings would make the snaps pull and hang awkwardly.  I chose a button front closure.
• Trim.  The Burda version has a stunning origami band sewn on the bottom.  I really, really, really wanted this, but the wool and also the velvet were far too thick.  I was initially frustrated with this, but now I like the cleaner look I have with my finished coat.

Coat Structure:

• Front facings and collar are interfaced with Palmer/Pletsch perfect fuse tailor ultra
• Folded edge of facing and front is interfaced with Emma Seabrookes 1" double sided stay tape  this gives the edge a nice sharp crisp line. 
• I also used a sturdier sew-in interfacing at the top edges where the collar joins to give it added stability (keeps the collar from drooping - the velvet is quite heavy).

 

• Buttons: are from Lyanwood's Etsy shop.  I painted them with a metallic paint I picked up at Hobby Lobby - surprisingly the color matched nearly perfectly.

 Interior of the coat:

• It's interlined with Thinsulate which I purchased from Vogue Fabrics 
• For a great tutorial on adding interlining visit Threads or sign up for this wonderful class on Craftsy.
• The lining fabric is a polyester charmeuse I purchased from Fabric.com
• I bound the bottom edge of the thinsulate & lining with a gorgeous floral satin binding ribbon I had in my stash (it's good to have a stash).

A word about fitting:
My most helpful fitting resource is a book by Judith Rasband called Fabulous Fit:  Speed Fitting and Alteration.  I took a mini-class from her several years ago at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan.  Her method just makes sense - it is simple, quick, thorough, and logical.   I've had great success with it.
 

Make something beautiful!

Jen