Fabric & Pattern Testing

I've been testing a pattern (see below post) for Wondermommy. Actually - it's an amazingly versatile pattern. But, all my little one wanted me to make from it was a skirt.

It had to be pink with flowers on it according to my daughter.

I only had one fabric that remotely fit that description. It was pink with small white flowers and blue birds scattered on it. A very cute fabric. So, I made the skirt and showed her the final result. Her response was less than spectacular. She told me she hated it. She told me to take the birds off of the skirt. She didn't want birds.

OKAY...Her older sister was so much more gracious and asked if she could wear it instead. That she liked the fabric. Kids!

We went to a fabric store and this is the fabric she picked out.

You can't really tell in the photo but there are purple dots - of pollen (?) on the flowers. I'm hoping the reaction to a skirt made out of this fabric is a tad more enthusiastic.

I'm A Pattern Tester!

Wondermommy picked me to be a pattern tester for her skants pattern! (Oh - wait - skants - well, you all know what a skort is. A skirt and short combo. Well, skants are a pants and skirt combo.)

She first posted about skants a few months ago and I was immediately smitten. My daughters love to wear skorts and frequently wear pants with a skort on top to get the skants look. The issue, of course, is a bulky bottom! I know my girls will love to wear these and I'm so excited that I get to test the pattern.

Thanks Wondermommy!

Ruffle Top

Ruffle Top
Originally uploaded by bethvanduzer

Sew Mama Sew has yet another great tutorial. This one is for a spring ruffled top.

The tutorial was pretty easy to understand for someone that has never made herself a shirt before. I'm not really a ruffle person but I figured I could try anything once. I must say - I do like the ruffles. I did add a row of lace around the top of the piece because I did not have matching thread and looking at the stitching bothered me so much that I had to do something to hide it!

Oh - and my summer hat matches! Love it!

Upcycled Shirt

I think this used to be my little brother's shirt. That, or I purchased it at one of the local thrift shops. Can't keep everything I have straight any longer.

Since it finally looked like spring (perhaps even summer-like) weather had arrived in New England I wanted to make a new shirt. I really wanted to try to sew one from a pattern last night but discovered I didn't have enough of the fabric I wanted to try. So, next best thing - I cut up this shirt, added some buttons, and some single fold bias tape. Voila - instant new shirt. Not completely flattering but it is completely comfy and that counts for an awful lot.

And a huge thumbs-up for my four-year-old who took these pictures.

Psychadelic Coffee Apron

Psychadelic Coffee Apron
Originally uploaded by bethvanduzer

Hit or miss?

I've been trying to find a fabric to go with my Michael Miller Tea Time (looks more like coffee cups to me) and thought the Robert Kaufman Chef's Choice (the coffee swirl) would look good with it.

Does it?