Two Swimsuits

Swimsuit #1

Goal number six on my August list was to sew two swimsuits for my four year old granddaughter. She chose the fabric. These fabrics were leftover from stitching previous suits. I found I needed to alter the butt area a bit because she didn't have enough butt to fill the fabric! She had fun modeling her suit. She wasn't excited about me taking time to alter the butt as she said it was fine as it was!

These days, showing most of one's backside seems to be the fashion. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must feel. These suits provide comfortable coverage!

Swimsuit #2

The second suit I made longer in the body. She may be four years old; but she is a size five around and a size seven in height! To make the fabric work, I pieced the front and back to get enough length. The pattern is busy enough that the pieced line is not easy to see. The pattern that I used was one I used to make swimsuits for my girls when they were that size! 

I did buy five yards of beige swim lining fabric as suit number one had a light background and the black lining I have on hand would have shown through when the suit was wet. I used a yard and a half of fabric to make these two suits. 

Unless I have another finish or two this month, I'm going to end up with a positive three and a half yards added to my stash. This isn't bad; but, I'm working to reduce my stash by 100 yards this year. Currently, I have a net loss of 73 and a quarter yards. I'd better get busy!

Linking to Finished or not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Two Reversible Aprons For A Special Granddaughter

Doll blankets AKA Fat Quarters

When I was visiting my youngest granddaughter in London last March, she showed me her doll blankets that one of her special aunties had gifted her. I tried to explain that I knew her blankets as fat quarters and asked if she would like to have an apron out of the fabric.

Apron making in process

She looked at me like I had grown horns on the top of my head. First, there was not "fat" in the fabric and it was "whole" not a quarter! She is four years old. I couldn't argue with her logic. She was NOT letting her blankets become an apron! I returned home sans the fat quarters. A month later her uncle visited. Her mama managed to slip the fat quarters into his luggage with a note to make the aprons! She and her mama will be here in a few weeks for a visit. It was time to make the aprons!

Pocket detail using a coordinating fabric

I found a free child's reversible apron pattern on line which used three fat quarters. I rummaged through my fabrics and found fabrics to coordinate with the fat quarters so that I could make two aprons. The prints with the people characters was printed horizontally. Using the fabric as per the pattern meant that the girls would be sideways on the apron. That orientation wouldn't fly with my granddaughter!

One side of two reversible aprons

I added a little fabric to allow the girls in the print to be vertical! It took some time to make the straps and apply the pocket. The yellow pocket is smaller than the printed pocket because that was all the fabric I had!

Second side of two reversible aprons

I hope my granddaughter will like the aprons so much that when she travels to her godparents home she will pack one. Her godfather is a chef. She does get to do a little meal preparation with him which she loves. At the least, I hope trying to decide which apron she wants to wear and then which side she wants to wear will be at least a five minute activity here!

Miss A

Making these aprons was goal number seven on my July list. I used the equivalent of two fat quarters to make these aprons from my stash. I have now used half a yard of fabric from my stash this month. I've a net loss of 74 and a quarter yards of stashed used this year. 

Linking to.Sew and Tell and To Do Tuesday.

Garment for the Youngest Granddaughter

 

Fabric for the project

Goal number three on my December list was to make a garment for my youngest granddaughter. The fabric came from my friend Marla whose sister made wonderful suits from polyester fabrics. Since my granddaughter, A, likes pink, this fabric would be appreciated. This project came from scraps as I had made a dress for the oldest granddaughter in 2021.

First choice pattern

I looked through my pattern file and located a multi-size one that featured a simple A-line dress. Unfortunately when I opened the pattern, I remembered someone had gifted it to me. The pattern had been cut on the size four lines. I wasn't gong to sketch out the larger size.

Cut out skirt and pattern

It was back to the pattern file for another option. Eventually, I decided to make a simple skirt. I cut out the skirt and I still had lots of yardage left! In May 2021, I made a dress for my oldest granddaughter from this fabric.

I decided to add the tulle ruffle. I dusted off the serger and I spent hours trying to adjust the tension. I could have made three skirts in the time it took me to determine that one of the threads had slipped out of the tension disk!

It took me more time to readjust the serger to do a fold over hem with bulky or wooly nylon thread. Miss A loves pink, so I stitched the edge of the ruffle with pink thread. The pattern didn't call for an edge finish; but, I thought that my granddaughter would appreciate the detail.

After three more days of fiddling with the serger, I gave up on the rolled hem finish idea. I never could stitch without the thread breaking.

Bias tape packaging; note the pricing

Instead, I got out my grandmother's bias tape and found two packages that were pink. They weren't the same pink; but similar enough that it would work. At 17 cents and 85 cents, these were definitely vintage! One of my quilting friends googled the year one could buy the bias tape for 17 cents. The answer was the 1970s! My grandmother would be tickled to see her notions being used. . .especially when the notion was used for a kid!

The bias tape accent

The bias tape made a much better impact on the tulle. The ruffle at the hemline is super cute and I think that my granddaughter is going to love this skirt!

Finished skirt

It is going to be hard to wait until Christmas to see her reaction! I used half a yard of fabric. This brings my total yardage used from stash to 109.25 yards. I have a net loss of 48 yards for the year. 

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell.

Garment Sewing--A Shirt

Prewashing in process

Goal number five on my November list was to make a garment for my middle granddaughter. I can't remember the last time I sewed a long sleeved shirt with a yoke. There was a time that I would make a western styled shirt for my brothers, dad, and husband. It's been about three decades since I've done that!

About 10 years ago, I bought this fabric thinking it would make a nice shirt for each granddaughter. I didn't make the shirts. In an effort to move the fashion fabric out of my studio, I decided to sew this fabric into a shirt for my almost twelve year old granddaughter. She likes plaid shirts.

I pre-washed the fabric. I was impressed that the fabric was color fast and didn't appear to shrink!

Drawing the pattern pieces from
the master pattern

The next step was to draw the pattern off of the master pattern. I have a little pattern tracing fabric left from a purchase from JoAnn Fabric store. I miss that store for notion purchases. To stretch the pattern fabric, I used wax paper to draw off the smaller pattern pieces.

The pattern

The pattern that I'm using is a Kwik Sew that I likely bought thirty years ago! 

Cut out ready for stitching

Next, I cut out the pieces from the fabric. It took a while because I ended up cutting the pieces out one at a time so that the seams, when I sew them, will match. 

Buttons from the button box

When I made shirts in the past, I did have to iron the areas of the finished shirts that were interfaced because the fusible shrunk. I did try a new to me technique which was to preshrink the fusible interfacing. I followed J Stearns Design YouTube video that she posted ten years ago! Her recommendation was to place the interfacing in hot water for about 10 minutes, gently squeeze out the excess water, roll the interfacing in a towel, gently squeeze the towel and hang the interfacing to dry. I'll be interested to hear if that process works!

The pockets went on without an issue. Then I managed to be challenged with stitching the front bands. I stitched, I ripped. I stitched and I ripped. Finally, the third time I got it right. I don't know why I was making it such a challenge! 

I have done a lot of ripping. . . goodness! I managed to make two right sleeves. . . ugh. So there was even more ripping. When I was ready to stitch the buttons, button holes and hem, I danced around the studio a bit. I gave a shout of joy when I found eight buttons in my button stash that worked! I don't know if these came from my grandma, my mom or me. I'm leaning toward my grandma. I placed a similar red \button on the collar stand. 

I thought I would finish this project over three days. . .HAH!!! It took me a week; but who will know that fact but you and me? A finish is a finish!!

I used a yard and three quarters for this project. This brings my net loss of fabric used from stash this year to 47 and a half yards. I likely will not meet my goal of having a net loss of 100 yards by the end of the year. I am pleased, however, that I have used 108 and three quarters yards of fabric from my stash. Perhaps, next year, I'll be able to curb my purchasing a bit more!

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell.

One Sweater Body--Upcycled Into a Skirt!

Sweater body

I've had this sweater body in my stash. It previously lived for decades in my mom's stash. My mom would pursue the Jantzen fabric outlet for "buys." She bought a lot of fabric. She made a lot of garments for my dad, my brothers and even some of their friends. She made clothing for herself and for me. Although, I was stitching my own clothes so I didn't receive that many items! 

There was no fiber content available regarding the sweater body; but, I would venture to guess it is a wool and polyester blend. When I pressed it, it smelled like wool! It was 31 inches long by 72 inches wide.

Serged back center seam

I did bring it to the free table at a September guild meeting; but no one took it. Rather than put it in the landfill, I decided I would make a usable garment from it. Since there was no trim with the sweater body, I didn't want to make a sweater or a vest. I pondered what I could make with the supplies I had on hand. I looked on Pinterest. I searched Google and You Tube for ideas.

Center back seam with edges secured

A skirt for my oldest granddaughter seemed to be the best option. I could use the ribbing as the waistband and I could serge the edges of the fabric for the one seam. To make the skirt couture, I whipped stitched the seam allowances to the skirt body. Those seam allowances will remain as they are!

Waistband from sweater band

I used the sweater band as the casing for the waistband. The knitted waistband was wide enough that I folded it in half. I used a zigzag stitch to secure the casing. The stitch isn't visible from the front and the finished edge of the sweater band made a neat finish for the inside of the garment!

Hem

There was a finish along the lower edge of the fabric. I decided I could turn the edge and hand stitch the hem. The skirt finished about 28 I/12 inches or about four inches below my granddaughter's knee. I'm thinking this skirt paired with boots would look great. Miss K loves to wear boots. I will invite Miss K to go shopping for a blouse and/or a sweater or a vest to complete the outfit. I hope she likes it!

Finished skirt

I am rounding to the nearest quarter of a yard so I used three quarters of a yard of fabric to make this project. This brings the total used from stash this month to 4.75 yards and the total used from stash this year to 45.75 yards!

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell!

Gifted Quilt

The bride and groom

I have a niece who loves the color purple. Years ago, I made a two color mystery quilt that was purple and lime green. I set it aside to gift it to her as a wedding gift. In July, she married her best friend. 

The gift area. . .note the lime green package

My niece is an honest to goodness cowgirl. Her wedding reflected her love of ranching. She and the love of her life, are so happy together. They were filled with joy and exuberance on their special day!

Back made from the leftover

Regarding the two color mystery quilt, I added a second label that listed their names and washing instructions. Best of all, I gifted it in a pillow case of coordinating fabrics. I''m sure that they didn't receive a second gift like this one!

The front

I hope it will warm them both when they need it! Documenting this quilt's forever home was goal number three on my September list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Paris Highlights Through the Eyes Of An 11 Year Old

This is the final post regarding the trip that J, my ll year old granddaughter and I took last July/August. Since J was the last one in her family to visit Auntie in London, Auntie and I decided that J should visit someplace before her sister. . .we decided a trip to Paris, France was just the ticket. We tried to surprise her about the trip; but, a well meaning friend dropped the trip in conversation.

Capturing a night photo of the Eiffel Tower

J loved seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up a night. From so many places in Paris, you can see the Eiffel Tower.

The Paris Cauldron

She thought that the Paris Cauldron, which is a helium powered balloon that debuted at the Olympics in 2024, was super cool. It has been retrofitted so that can be used year around. We found it in the Tuileries Garden.

Taking in the architecture of the Louvre

When we walked by the Louvre, J waved to Mona as in Mona Lisa. She wanted to spend her time outside and not in a museum.

Charcuterie bowl for dinner

We had charcuterie from a deli for dinner one night. It was delicious. It is more fun to eat at a neighborhood spot rather than a formal restaurant. J liked the variety of meats and of course the baguette that went with it! 

J on the river tour

We took a river tour on the Seine and learned a lot more about the bridges that I had heard on previous trips

Door into Notre Dame

We visited Notre Dame and it is just as beautiful as it was before the fire.

Sitting for a portrait

We visited Montmartre and J sat for a portrait. We walked around the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. We enjoyed a lunch and a sherbet while we enjoyed the sights. We even took a ride on a carousel!

Galettes

We had lunch at friends of Auntie. R made us galettes or savory crepes. He shared the recipe and I look forward to making them.

Dessert

That night for dinner, we went to "le Relais de l'Ebtrecôte." It opened in 1959. There are a variety of drinks, desserts; but, the menu is a walnut salad, fries and sirloin steak with a special secret green sauce. There is no take out, no reservations and no delivery options. We arrived 45 minutes before the restaurant opened and we waited in line an hour and a half before we were seated. That is how popular the restaurant is! I didn't take photos of the steak. . .how could I have forgotten? It was delicious. I did get a photo of the dessert sherbet.  When we left the restaurant, the line was just as long as when we had entered! 

Waiting for the train

We did have a challenge taking the train back to London. Our train was canceled due to a signal issue. We arrived at the train station about 9:30 for a 11:00 departure. There were a lot of people who were stuck like us. N found us seats on a train that left at 2:00. The challenge was that none of the seats were together and only two were in the same car!

N kept checking to see if there was a way we could get our seats closer together; but, with the upset in the schedule, there were no available options. I did ask one of the train attendants what happened to the staff that were supposed to be on our 11 am train. She told me they too had been waiting! I told her how sorry I was and how tired she must be dealing with cranky passengers AND she still had to work while I was going to be sitting in a comfy seat! 

She then told us that two people hadn't checked in for the car that the two seats were in. Lucky for us, they didn't show. I sat across the aisle from N and Miss A. J sat in front of the car in the seat she was assigned. She liked having space to herself. The delay made for a long day as there aren't a lot of activities that can be done to exercise an active 11 and three year old in a train station! 

All in all it was a great trip.

London Through the Eyes on an 11 Year Old--post 5

View of one wall of the coffee shop

One place J wanted to visit was a particular coffee shop. At 11, she doesn't like the taste of coffee; but, this shop makes great dairy free smoothies. That was not the reason that she wanted to go there. She wanted to go because she wanted to see for herself what the hype was all about.

More eclectic trinkets

The shop is Fuckoffe. It is pronounced Fu coffee. The link will tell you about the origins of the shop. My family has laughed because there was a time that my drink of choice there was a smoothie with banana, non dairy milk and coffee. It had a name that I could not say. I rarely swear and if I do, I don't use the F word. I've noticed Londonners seem to use that word or some derivative of it it  often in a conversation. 

Example of the souvenir shirt

My daughter, who has no issues with that word, would order for me. If I went to the shop on my own, I would point to the item and say that I'd like that option with oat milk. The barista would say. . ."Oh, one MotherF* with oat milk coming up!" Even that would make me blush. This blushing action delighted the members of my party.

J with her berry smoothie

Now, my drink of choice is an iced Americano with oat milk. There is no need to utter a profanity! J ordered a berry smoothie which she enjoyed. She did purchase a shirt. 

The other activity that J enjoyed was seeing a performance of Wicked put on through the London Theater. She and her auntie attended the event. She convinced her auntie to purchase a souvenir sweatshirt for her from the event. All in all, London was a great place to vacation!

Next week, I'll share a couple of highlights of our trip to Paris. That will be my last travel post!

London Through the Eyes of An 11 Year Old--post 4

Arrival at restaurant 

J's Auntie, N, made lunch reservations at Héléne Darroze at the Connaught. It is a three star Michelin restaurant. J was extra excited about the opportunity to eat a fancy lunch. J is open to trying new foods; but, she has an intolerance to dairy which the staff accommodated.

Special purse for a special lunch

To ensure that J had great accessories, N lent J a special bag for the lunch. N made the reservation in J's name so J would have the opportunity to interact more with the staff. We shared the occasion was for her birthday and that J is an aspiring cook, she would like to see the kitchen if that could be possible.

Special appetizers

N supports women owned businesses and women in the workplace. She has experienced more than her share of male dominance in the workplace. She positions herself to encourage women to excel in their areas of expertise and to keep reaching for their goals. She shares this passion with her nieces too!

J's Wagyu beef

When we arrived, J walked up to the reservation desk and let them know that she and her party were here for lunch! 

Dessert

She enjoyed the lunch. She did get a special birthday dessert in addition to the lunch dessert. I didn't snap a photo of it though!

Chocolate thank you bites 

We all received a round of chocolate at the end of the meal. We also received a small sesame like cookie.

Us at the end of lunch

Our waiter took a photo of us at the table.

J with her mounted photo

Then, J was given the photo mounted on card stock and in an envelope. It was a perfect memento.

J with her chef hat in the chef's kitchen

She also was treated to a trip to the kitchen. We were allowed a few minutes to watch the staff prepare the dishes as well as watch how the chef interacted with everyone while ensuring each dish left the kitchen perfectly. Our guide took a photo of us. The hostess gifted J with her own chef's hat.

The last bite of lunch

As we were leaving, we were gifted with a sweet "bite" to enjoy at home. It was a great way to spend the afternoon,