Shirtmaking

One of my latest sewing projects has been classic button up shirts for myself. They have actually been on my list for awhile, especially in flannel and gingham. I am really excited how nice this one turned out and am anxious to make a couple more!

 The first one I made was a "wearable muslin" out of inexpensive quilting cotton that was in the stash.

The pattern is the Granville Shirt from Sewaholic Patterns.

(I am actually wearing this shirt today under a cardigan. Love how long it is, no drafts!)

I love the buttons! Since this was a use what I had shirt, I dug around in my button jar and found these cuties. They are quite heavy and might be ceramic/china?

 I think this is one of the coziest shirt I have made! It has already been worn several times and because it is such a light pattern I am planning on wearing it a few more times. Even though it took me two days to complete, it was worth it!

 There is a lot of steps in shirt making. Matching plaids (which I am not the best at), top stitching, collar and collar stand, cuffs and placket, back yoke. Just a lot of things going on! But nothing that isn't doable with a bit of patience and practice.

For those of you that sew, here are all the details.

Sewaholic Granville Shirt in size 6 (flannel shirt) and size 8 (calico shirt)

For my calico shirt I made a straight size 8 with no adjustment before hand. I did end up taking in the hips about an 1" each side.

For my flannel shirt I made the size 6, but did a 2" full bust adjustment, trimmed off 1/2" of the hip fullness and shortened the sleeves by 2".

I am rather proud of the inside of my shirt! All of the raw edges are enclosed by French seams or flat felled seams. Doesn't look like the inside does it?

Work in Progress

It was so sunny last weekend I couldn't resist taking a few random pictures. The sunshine just felt so Springy! None of these pictures are tidied up, they were taken right in the moment. As you can see, the sewing closet is a mess.......

In the midst of sewing non stop, there isn't much time left for tiding up. I am planning to refresh the whole room; give it a good cleaning and then rearrange and re-do a bit. All hoping it will help me keep it a bit more tidy. Mostly I need to start some good habits! Maybe a refresh will help gets those habits started. Right now, I am not sure what all I want different, but plans are slowly taking shape. Of course I will be sure to let you know how it goes!

An extra picture of the bright sunny book nook.

I had forgotten.......

I had forgotten how much joy a finished garments brings, how sitting at a sewing machine with fabric feeds the soul, how ideas begin to sprout quicker then one can keep up while sewing, how good it is to fashion something with your own hands. I had forgotten how much I love sewing!

As much as I love knitting, sewing is really my passion. Working with fabric, letting my mind and fingers tuck and pin; brings the rest of life into perspective, and usually makes it look brighter! 

 I learned to sew when I was a wee girl, so it has been a part of my life for a long time. I still remember the fascination of watching Mom make my sisters and I dresses. Just about my eye level, I would stand for hours and watch the machine whirl away.

This is the York blouse from Seamwork. In a lovely Art Gallery Fabric, Ink Outburst in Atelier. The fabric was a birthday splurge!
This pattern gets quite a few bad reviews online, but I have made it work. I love the classic silhouette! My library of Seamwork patterns have really inspired my to sew plenty of pretty things that go with my everyday wardrobe. I haven't found the latest patterns much my style, but I love most from the first two years. And even if I don't like the patterns, the articles are always interesting!

The pattern originally had a slit in the back that closes with bias tape ties. I made a bias bound keyhole instead with a button.
I also altered the neckline a bit, too much of a boat for my small shoulders. The biggest problem most people had with the pattern was the low dart. I simply angled it upwards to create a French dart. I do have a bit of a problem with the armholes, but that might be because I went down a few sizes as there was a lot of wearing ease. I still ended up taking in the side seams and the center back.

I love all the extra details of this pattern! Can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit to wear it!

Has anyone else watched The Great British Sewing Bee? So inspiring watching all those amazing sewing projects!

Baking Day

The last couple of weeks I have  been baking up a storm! I don't think I have been in this much of a baking mode since moving to the little cottage. Somehow, for me baking requires a clear, quiet mind.(I am not talking about whip-up-the-tried-and-true-favorite-muffins-and-biscuits baking, but the let's-go-on-an-adventure-and-try-something-new baking). There has been a lot going on since we have moved! But now that the house projects have slowed and nothing needs to be urgently finished, I am ready to bake!
I have also been setting aside a  weekly "baking day", depending on the schedule, whichever day I have an empty evening. It has been so fun to plan what I want to make and something which I look forward to all day!

Suddenly I find myself reading cookbooks just for fun, making a list of things to bake. Wondering how a recipe would turn out if I used this instead of that or added in this or possibly add more of that. I know some of the enthusiasm has come from a Christmas gift, The Great British Bake Off Big Book of Baking. (I didn't even know there was a cookbook!?!) I have tried a few recipes so far and have a long list I would still like to make. Which I will be sure to share!

Last week I tried 100% Whole Wheat Cinnamon Swirl Bread from King Arthur Flour. It turned out fabulous! I have been trying to eat more whole grains for a bit more staying power to meals (I have a fast metabolism).

It is kind of an interesting recipe. You start by making a starter to give the yeast a bit of a boost. There is also orange juice to counter the bitterness of the whole wheat flour and instant potato flakes for moistness.

I've never tried brushing the dough with a beaten egg before sprinkling on the cinnamon and sugar filling, but it works really nice. No falling apart of layers or getting stuck in the toaster! 

A lovely dense texture and the perfect sweetness!

The only thing I changed was to make it dairy free; used water instead of milk and left out the powdered milk completely.

This bread sure didn't last long! I just barely managed to photograph the last slice before it vanished!

March Madness

 We have gone a little mad over here. Mad for making things! There has been a lot of knitting and crocheting, baking of bread and cookies, soap making, sewing of shirts and pajamas, quilting and more knitting going on. Creativeness oozing out of us until we finally fall asleep at night. It must be Spring!

 Doesn't the changing of the seasons invigorate you? Somehow it has a way of setting us all in motion. And since we can't work outside yet (especially with this weeks snowstorm!), we have to satisfy ourselves with creating things indoors.

Pictured here is one of the projects I am currently working on, a crocheted Haiku Shawl. It will be a sample for a class I will be teaching at our local knit shop. I have had a lovely time repeating the patterns three rows over and over again (it gives me time to dream of other projects!).

Made in Swan's Island Fingering in Lupine, what could be more springy?

What are you making today?

Snowdrop

 My snowdrop bloomed this week. Between the new sidewalks, removing the walk along the house  making the flowers beds larger and getting moved several times, only one snowdrop made it! I will have to replenish. (maybe I need to also try crocus again?) This little guy is now along the east side of the house where my cutting garden is. The bulbs love the warm morning sun! 

  As you can see the daffodils really love the morning sun! I have been trying to encourage them to slow down.......

 As this also happened this week..... A spring snow!

I knew we would get a bit of snow once more, now hopefully we can move on to the business of Spring!

At least Kerri had fun with the snow! She is ready for a game of hide and seek!