Basics and Baby Kicks

Why hello!  I know I haven't posted in two weeks, but we've been a bit under the weather and needed some rest.  Needless to say, by last Saturday we were feeling much better.  Now that my bump has continued to expand, I'm fitting into less and less of my regular clothing - especially my tops.  This was the perfect opportunity to start sewing up some maternity basics, and am I ever thankful for Megan Nielsen and her line of maternity patterns.  

These patterns are labeled for the beginning sewist, and I while I have had some nice experience sewing - I have never sewn with knits before.  Was this pattern ever a breeze to sew up!  I now feel ashamed that I've had this lovely sea green knit in my stash since Tasia first released her Renfrew pattern.  I was too intimidated to sew with knits, but now I see how easy they are.

So while I've started adding some basics to my maternity wardrobe, Little Pooh is starting to show more signs of growth.  This was the first week that Daddy got to feel Little Pooh's baby kicks!  I've been feeling tiny baby kicks for a while, and it was fun to finally share the experience with my hubby.  This sort of thing just gets me more and more excited to meet you, my little one.

One of the things that I love about this Ruched Maternity Top is that I can comfortably wear it now, but I can tell that it will still fit even when my belly is out to here . . .

That's all we've got for now.

Live in this moment and love life!
Annabelle

We've Been Sewing - 20 Weeks

Lately, whenever some refers to myself or the baby I've been responding with we . . .  How is the baby doing?  We are doing great (said while cradling my little bump).  The team is going to Chipotle for lunch, do you like Chipotle?  Oh yes, we really like Chipotle! (Also said while cradling my bump).

Oh yes, we really like Chipotle!

So while Little Pooh likely has no idea of my doings, I still say that we have been sewing - more specifically, we have been sewing for us.  When I initially set out my maternity to-do list, the first thing on the list on was a shirtwaist dress that would fit me now as well as be a great outfit for nursing later this summer.  Being fed up with the poor quality of maternity clothes, I decided to go all out with this dress and make bound button holes and conceal every raw edge.  I maybe put too much effort into this dress, but I want something that will make me feel pretty once my little one is here and I am tired of the baby weight.

Bound button hole.

Doesn't pretty finishing make you smile?

Another time consuming process on this baby was matching up the plaid.  It was impossible to completely match up everything, with the darts, folds, gathers - and the fact that this is a one-way plaid - but I matched it up in as many places as I possibly could.  Check out this front photo - that is 5 pieces (left bodice, right bodice, left skirt, right skirt, and button placket) all coming together in perfect harmony down the center front of the dress!

I'm actually pretty happy with the way the dress turned out.  It fits me right now at 20 weeks, so I should have no problem fitting into it again come July.  The dress also looks pretty good on my non-pregnant dress form, so I'm hoping it will look equally as stunning on me once I've lost the baby tummy.

On my dress from - sans baby bump

Can you believe that I am at 20 weeks already?  I'm halfway there, just 20 more weeks more (approximately) and I can hold my little one in my arms.  Oh, how I am anticipating that day.

What do you think - can I pull off "Cool Mommy"?

 Okay, I've got some serious knitting to get back to.  But I am so happy to have this dress completed.

Live in this moment and love life!
Annabelle

We Have a Winner!

It was so much fun to read all of your comments on my giveaway post.  In a way, I wish I were able to give out fifty lengths of silk because I want to see each and everyone of your projects - they all sound so wonderful.

Alas, there can only be one winner (but I've already decided that this was so much fun, that I must host another giveaway).  And the winner of the giveaway . . .

. . . who chose the mint green silk . .

. . . is the 49th of 50 comments . . .

. . .  Jill of Laugh, But Not Loudly.  Congratulations Jill!  I have sent you an email, and I can't wait to see your camisole :)

Live in this moment and love life!
Annabelle

Sew Grateful for Silk

Hello everyone!  Debi at My Happy Sewing Place is hosting Sew Grateful Week - and today (Monday) is giveaway day.  I've been wanting to do a giveaway on my blog for quite some time - and what better time than Sew Grateful Week?  I think you are going to like this giveaway, because I am sharing something that many of you have expressed difficulty finding at affordable prices - silk!

Oh yes, you read right.  One lucky follower of either Debi's blog or my blog will win their choice of 1.5 yards of silk.  I will ship internationally, so it is open to anyone.

I have selected three silks from my stash in which I purposely bought in excess so I could give it away. These are all lining fabrics, but would also work great for some lingerie sewing (french knickers, tap pants, slips . . .)

The first choice you have is a pastel, mint green.  The  color in this photo is pretty close to actual.  Like most of the silks I purchase, this one was simply labeled 100% silk - with no further description.  I believe it is Silk Habotai.  It's very light weight and has a slippery feel (though not like charmeuse)

Your second option is another green (I love the color green).  This one is more aqua marine, and is a bit lighter than it is coming across in the photo.  Again, only labeled 100% silk, so I can't say for sure what kind of silk it is, but it's one of my favorite lining fabrics.  I have used this type of silk to line this dress and this skirt.  It feels a bit like a cotton lawn, but better.  It pairs really well with wool and rayon as the main fabrics when used as a lining. 

Your third option is a patterned silk.  This would be such a great print to line a pencil skirt with - that's what I'm hoping to do with the half that I keep for myself.  I've got a deep red wool that I got from a friend and I think it will be just perfect.  This fabric feels like a silk crepe to me, I'm not able to say for sure.

So, how can you enter?  It is so simple.  Just leave a comment telling me which of the three silks you want to win and what you most likely would use it for.

**UPDATE**  Newbie alert!  As this is my first giveaway, I forgot to include a deadline.  I'm updating this post to say that the time to enter this giveaway will close at midnight on Sunday, February 10th.  Please get your entry in before that time to be included.

Live in this moment and love life!
Annabelle

Horse Shoes and Hand Grenades

So perhaps you have heard the saying, close enough is only for horse shoes and hand grenades?  Well, let me expand that list to include knit two, purl two ribbing.  I've been doing my best to be diligently working away on my vintage sweater for the All Things Vintage knit along, so I can keep you updated on my progress.  After what seemed liked endless hours of K2P2 ribbing (on size zero needles no less!) I gave my work a quick measure - 4 and 13/16 of an inch.  It is supposed to be 5 inches.  Close enough I say, and onto the next steps in the pattern!

I can't believe that January is pretty much over and all I have accomplished is the bottom ribbing.  Two more months to go, and hopefully some much quicker progress.  Though I'm not going to beat myself up too badly, because I did have to wind all of my yarn before I could begin knitting, and that did take several evenings as well.

But I must stay motivated because it is usually at this point that I give myself a pat on the back and take on several sewing projects before returning to my knitting.  Even though I recently starting planning out a few maternity sewing projects (much more practical than a sweater I won't be able to wear until next fall), I am going to keep pushing forward with this project.

Any other knitters out there who easily get discouraged while knitting ribbing?  How do you stay motivated to keep working on the project?  For non-knitters, what are the types of things that cause your projects to be put on hold?

Live in this moment and love life!

Annabelle

Planning for a Growing Bump

Sorry for the complete lack of posts from the prior week, sort of on a whim I decided to apply for a new job.  Kind of crazy, right?  I was looking for something that would offer me a bit more flexibility once Little Pooh is here (Yes, for now, Little Pooh is what we are calling the baby - blame my dad if you don't like it).  So instead of sewing or knitting I spent last week meditating on my awesomeness - or at least anything I accomplished that could be considered awesome or impressive by an interviewee.  I wouldn't consider myself the most humble person ever, but I do struggle with bragging about myself, especially when it comes to interviews.

So, you want to know how it went?  Well I got the job!!!  I am super excited about this, and know that this new role will make it much easier to juggle motherhood with a career.  I am still working for my same employer, but just in a completely new role that uses my current skills and will also stretch me to learn some new things.

Now that I've got my career all figured out I decide it was about high time that I planned out some sewing projects for this growing bump of mine.  I've been shopping once for maternity clothes and wasn't super impressed by what I saw so I'm a little more motivated to start sewing some things for myself.

First up is a super cute shirtwaist dress.  Wait, that's not a maternity pattern, you say!  You are correct, but I've heard that shirtwaist dresses are great for nursing once the baby is here.  I've also heard that the average new mother walks out of the hospital looking like she did at four months.  Since I am a few weeks away from four months, this is the perfect time to make a dress that will fit me for a little while now - and then once the baby is here.  I will be able to count on at least one non-maternity item that I can feel good in as I work towards losing the baby weight.  The fact that this dress is sleeveless is perfect because it will be the middle of summer when I want to wear it again.

I like version 1 on the left.

Next is Simplicity 4635.  Yes, you've seen this pattern and fabric before.  I bought the pattern last summer because I thought it was cute and I might need it someday.  The fabric is a cotton lawn that I was going to use for my Spring Palette Challenge, but it was the third item that I never seem to get to.  This dress looks like it will be perfect for summer when I am at my biggest and I just want something comfortable, yet cute to wear.

So the navy does not photograph really well, but the patterns do!

Last, I have a wonderful remnant of navy knit fabric from Adrianna Papell.  (My fabric store sells remnants from designers).  It feels so soft and has a great stretch to it, so I think it is perfect for maternity sewing.  Plus, it is one of my goals for this year to sew with knits.  I have two really cute Megan Nielsen patterns that I picked up.  I think I have just enough yardage to sew both the top and the skirt - I wonder if worn together it would almost look like a dress?  But I also happened to stumble across Butterick B5860, which would be a great dress.  I feel like the Butterick dress could be worn as a non- maternity dress as well - though I am not certain.

There you have it, some of my current sewing plans.  Though if history is any indication of what is to come, I can plan on completing two of the three projects (or three of the four, depending on whether I choose the Megan Nielsen patterns or the Butterick wrap dress).

What do you want to see me sew?  Would you go for the Butterick wrap dress or the two Megan Nielsen patterns?  Any advice from current moms on what would be the most useful things to sew for myself.  (Spring and Summer is when I will be in my third trimester).

Live in this moment and love life!
Annabelle

Patterned Turtle Neck

I have to be really honest with you, I have never been a huge fan of the turtleneck.  Even growing up as a child of the 80's and 90's, I was never impressed by this style statement.  To me, it looked like something only a grandma would wear.  Perhaps because it was something both of my grandmothers wore.

So why bother posting a pattern that I wouldn't want to make?  The thing is, I actually kind of do like this pattern!  I think it's because the height of this one seems less restricting than your typical turtleneck. I mean in the picture she's got a scarf around her neck with the sweater and her entire neck isn't completely swallowed up by the sweater.  Plus, I do love a fitted knit sweater - and this is clearly nice and fitted.  I also like the subtle diamond pattern that must be made with purl stitches on the right side.; just enough to give the sweater some texture.

Click on the two links below to be taken to the google image of the pattern instructions:

Page 1

Page 2

Have I insulted you with my rant on turtlenecks?  I truly apologize, no harm meant.  Or maybe you agree with me?  What are your thoughts on turtlenecks - can you prove me wrong and rave about how wonderful they are?

Live in this moment and love life!
Annabelle