The Flip Vest

I was so excited when I found out I won a pattern giveaway for Dana's newest pattern! It's the Flip Vest - a reversible vest for ages 6 months to 5 years. This is such a versatile pattern with many different choices. You can use fleece, flannel, cotton, corduroy, denim and more. Dana gives you options for a velcro or button closure, but you could use snaps or zippers too.

 

The pattern is very easy to follow and everything is explained well with lots of pictures. I had not sewn ribbing before, but Dana walks you through the steps, making it very easy to do and she provides you with two different options for finishing the armholes.  It's a quick sewing project - I made 6 vests in a day in a half!

I think I lost my mind a little bit, but my little brothers were so excited to get their new vests! The 4 year old kept coming into the sewing room and asking if I was done yet. I made the 4 year old a 3T-4T and the 2 year old a 2T-3T. They both fit great right now, but next time I might make it a size bigger just so there is some room for growing.

 

I used flannel for the outside and fleece for the inside on all the vests. I made the button closure, so it's not reversible, but I think the printed flannel side will get more wear anyway.

 

 

I think this is the cutest picture ever!

 

 

I made the 12-24 month size for my 7 month old sister. It is perfect for her and leaves plenty of growing room!

 

 

There is only one pattern piece which makes cutting super simple. The fabric requirements are only 1/2 yard of each for the small sizes and 2/3 yard of each for the bigger sizes. I only had to buy the flannel as I had everything else to make the vest. It was such a hit with my siblings (the 2 year old wanted to wear his to bed!) and I will definitely be making it again.

 

 

I think she is very happy with her cozy new vest!

 

~Elizabeth

I will be linking to some of the link parties listed here.

Snow and Sewing

 

The weather in Minnesota has been interesting. It was starting to feel like spring - the sun was shining, the snow was melting and it was so warm outside! Then on Sunday night it started snowing and it kept snowing through Monday. I was so happy because all but one of my classes were cancelled, including my 8am class and my midterm was postponed!

 

I thought the snow looked so pretty on the trees and in the bluffs, so I took some pictures on my way to school.

 

 

Because of my "snow day" I took some time to start on my Covert Robin project. It's a secret, so I can't tell you what I'm making yet, but I took pictures so you can guess all you want. :-)

 

 

It was so nice to sew again! I haven't touched my sewing machine since before the semester started! There are only two days standing between me and spring break, and I plan to do as much sewing as possible!

 

Since I haven't had much time to sew, I went fabric shopping instead. :) I bought some knit from the Fabric Fairy because they were having a sale and I have been eyeing some of the fabric for a long time. I'll show you what I bought and what I plan to make with it soon!

 

What have you been sewing lately?

~Elizabeth

Covert Robin

    Hello Everyone! This week has been crazy busy with studying for midterms. I have to survive two more weeks and then it is spring break! I'm hoping to do a little sewing over break, since I haven't had much time lately.      Back in February I signed up for the Covert Robin mystery gift exchange over at imagine gnats. We make something handmade for our person and we will receive something handmade from someone else. No one knows who their partner is.   We have all received our partners now, and so I am really excited to get started on her gift! However, she doesn't have a blog so I only know her name and where she's from. That's all I know! I have participated in swaps before, but this is the first time that I have no idea what to make.   Do you have any ideas for me? What would you make?    

~Elizabeth

 

Valentine's Day Swap

 

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 

This month, I had fun participating in a Valentine's Day swap hosted by Sew Caroline and Rags to Stitches.

 

 

 

I was paired up with Beth, from Acres of Desire. Her blog is so fun to read and she takes some amazing pictures! She is so creative too. Look how she decorated the package she sent me:

 

 

It was too pretty to open at first! The inside had a nice surprise too:

 

 

Bright colored tissue paper!

 

And:

 

 

Beth sent me a mug, chocolate candy, and a giftcard to Joann's! She is so sweet!

 

 

Thank you so much, Beth!!!  

 

~Elizabeth 

Giveaway Winner!

It's time to announce the winner of my giveaway for Sew Grateful Week! It was so fun finding new blogs to read, and reflecting on what sewing and and the online sewing community mean to me.

Now for the winner, selected by random.org:

 

 The winner is Jill, who blogs over at Laugh, But Not Loudly. Congratulations Jill!!! You will be getting an email from me shortly.

 

Thank you everyone for entering!!

~Elizabeth

Sew Grateful Week - Day 3

Today is the third day of Sew Grateful Week and it is all about sharing a tutorial, pattern or resource. I have decided to share some of my favorite sewing tutorials.

 

First up is Kay Whitt's invisible zipper tutorial. She shows you step-by-step how to insert an invisible zipper with a regular zipper foot. I refer to it every time I need to put an invisible zipper in a skirt or dress and invisible zippers don't scare me anymore!

 

 

Here is another invisible zipper tutorial using a regular zipper foot, from St. Gemma's Art and Needlework. I find it helpful to use both this tutorial and Kay Whitt's tutorial when I'm putting an invisible zipper in. The extra pictures and clear instructions are so nice to have.

 

 

This Pleated Knot Tunic from Me Sew Crazy is on my sewing to do list. I've been wanting to make some knit tops for spring/summer and I think this would be perfect.

 

 

 

This "I Spy" Game is also on my to do list, from The Cottage Home. It would be the perfect way to use up scraps and I know my younger siblings would have fun with it.

 

Here's another great tutorial for a knit top! This one is from Melly Sews and she even provides you with a free pattern to make it and detailed instructions for the collar.

 

 

This Bubble Skirt from EmmylouBeeDoo is so simple and cute! In the tutorial, she shows you how to make a size 2T, but she also provides instructions for how to adjust for any size! I have even made one for myself.

 

This Shirt Skirt is made from a T-Shirt and you don't have to hem because you just cut off the top part of the shirt. The waist is made by using elastic thread and shirring. The tutorial is from Sew Like My Mom, and it's something I've been wanting to try.

 

 

These hats are so adorable and fun to make. I have made one for my little brother. There is also a girl version that I have made for my little sister.

 

 

This tutorial from icandy looks like a great resource for making a basic tee. I just need to find myself some knit fabric.

 

 

This is a cute little clutch from Blue Susan Makes. I made some Christmas presents using this tutorial and it was very easy and straightforward. It's a good scrap busting project too, because the pieces aren't too big.

 

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little roundup of tutorials! Be sure to check out the other posts on tutorials and resources over at My Happy Sewing Place.

 

~Elizabeth

 

Sew Grateful - Reflection

My journey with sewing started when I was 11 years old. I was in 4-H and there was a local mom and quilter that wanted to teach those interested the art of quilting. I had never touched a sewing machine before, my mom didn't sew at the time and we thought it sounded like a lot of fun.

We started out learning the basics of quilting and we would meet up every week or so, to work on our projects. The very first quilt we made was a wall hanging with 2 inch squares. It was so frustrating because the squares were so hard to match up! I still have my quilt and although it looks terrible, it shows how far I have come since then (it also explains why to this day I like making the quilts where you don't have to match the squares!). I am so grateful for the enthusiasm the local quilter/mom brought to these meetings because some of it rubbed off on me and I kept sewing.

About a year later, I got interested in sewing clothes. My friend's mom sewed, so we got together and had  a sewing day making simple A-line elastic waist skirts. I entered that skirt in the fair that year and every year after that I was in the clothing project. Last year was my final year of being in 4-H. I took the challenge and made my first dress. It has been an amazing experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to learn to sew through 4-H because without that opportunity I don't think I would be sewing today.

Somewhere down the road, I discovered sewing blogs and I was inspired to start my own blog. My first experience with blogging didn't last. Then, about a year ago, I started this blog to have a place to share my sewing projects and have been posting as much as I can. I am so grateful for everyone who takes the time to read my blog. Every comment makes me smile and keep going.

The online sewing community is so wonderful. Everyone is so encouraging, helpful, and friendly. We connect because of one common interest: sewing. I am grateful for the inspiration from other bloggers and the opportunity to share with each other.

~Elizabeth