Maternity Clothes

I reached the point where I had no other choice but to order some. I've only gained one pound since the start of this pregnancy (and technically, that's all the baby, as he weighs one pound now), but my belly is way out there. So, I ordered a pair of brown dress pants, which I had to hem, a pair of corduroys which ride under the belly and have belt loops so I'm hoping I can wear them next fall, a sweater, a "cardi coat", a tank top for layering, and a long-sleeved t-shirt. I'm really hoping that these things plus the four dresses I have will get me through autumn until it gets really cold.

I'm still knitting hard on one Christmas gift in particular. I finished a sweater for Noah and embroidered a bib with an elephant at school this week. When this Christmas gift is complete, I plan on making another pea pod wrap just to use some of my stash. The yarn really has to go before we move again, which will be this summer (even if it does wind up being just across town). I stitched up 13 tissue holders to give as gifts, and I'm planning on making some more to use some fabric.

My energy level is back to normal for the most part, so I'm hoping to pop in here a little more often. We'll see...

A Busy Yesterday

Blair and I ran several errands yesterday, and when we got home I was in the mood to sew. I pulled out a large remnant I purchased a while ago and the leftovers of an old sheet and got to work. I made a new knitting bag, and new notions bag, and two cases for my dpn's. I actually still have two cases left to do for my circular needles, but it was getting late, and I was tired.

The only one I used a pattern for was the square bag. I pulled the pattern from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross (which I've loved on here before). The pattern was simple to follow, but a little more time consuming than I really wanted last night. It turned out really nicely, however.

The knitting bag was made with the extra fabric that was leftover from the other items I cut out last night. I just took two rectangles and stitched them together and added handles. It worked well, though, because the square notions bag I made fits perfectly inside it.

These are the needles cases I made. I just folded the fabric into thirds, added a lining, and stitched pockets at the bottom. The circular needle cases I'm going to stitch will look very similar to these. Now, without measuring anything, I managed to make these to just the right size to fit perfectly inside my notions bag. How cool is that?!

Sewing

I've done a fair amount of sewing since I got to my parents' house Monday. Today I made some wedding gifts for my mom to give. I used Last Minute Fabric Gifts by Joelle Hoverson to make these travel bags. I've made dozens of these in varying sizes, colors, and fabrics (including felt), and they always turn out nicely. They look really cute in the white eyelet.

I also made (from the scraps) these checkbook covers from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. This is the same book from which that pajama pants pattern came.

Also from Weekend Sewing, I made the Lucy's Kimono pattern. This is a baby pattern, but can easily be enlarged for a child or adult. Blair and I have several friends who are expecting, and I thought this would make a sweet gift.

I've really enjoyed having the time to sit and sew (especially in the air conditioning), and, hopefully, I'll be able to turn out a few more items next week!

More Crafty Goodness

Oh, my! Two posts in one day. What am I thinking? I used these scraps from my skirt to make this cute pincushion.

What I did with my Saturday

I was feeling industrious and crafty, so I spent the day making a dress to wear to my brother's rehearsal dinner and a new skirt (because a girl can always use a new skirt).

Ode to a Point Turner

Until recently, I was using a knitting needle to poke all of those pesky little points and corners into neatness. That is, until yesterday. Yesterday while I was rummaging around in my rather sizable stash of sewing notions and odds and ends I found this.



What is this pointy, plastic contraption, you say? It is a point turner. A glorious point turner, my friend. Unlike a knitting needle that pokes holes into the corners of a beautiful, completed project, this little slice of heaven merely nudges that shy piece of rounded fabric into place.

Now, this is an experienced point turner. I believe it was my Mimi's, but even if it is only in the hands of a second generation user it has still been well-used...and loved. And since my happy discovery yesterday of this magnificent formation of plastic, it shall continue to be well-used, yes, even well-loved.


On a completely different note, I spent the entire day making items to post in my shop. If you want to purchase something you will need to set up an Etsy account which is east and quick. Go check it out!

A Sewing Kind of Afternoon

This morning my mom requested a couple of stationary wraps to give as gifts, so I went ahead and made them this afternoon.





While I was feeling creative, I made this wallet. It has a plastic slip pocket on top for things like photos, and one at the bottom for cards. In the middle, I put in a zippered pouch using the zipper off of a Zip Lock bag. I really like the scallop stitching. I used the same orange corduroy and blue linen that I used in my birdie bag the other day. I must really like this fabric...











Blair and I have our first praise band rehearsal at church tonight. I can't wait!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

I made this bookmark and bag this afternoon.







More outdoor photos of summer:

A Surprisingly Busy Day...Calls for a Second Post!

Days around here lately haven't had much depth to them, so we decided to make today a little different. After my outdoor photo shoot this morning, I made another bag and took some more photos.











Then we went to Lowe's and got a few small items. We got a couple of plants for the porch, and they make so much of a difference. We moved our jute rug outside (it's an outside rug, anyway), and now the porch really looks like a place to spend time all the neighborhood kids do already after all).

A very nice Spider plant



and an orchid



A great improvement, I think.