My Favourite Sewing Memories...

My favourite sewing memories, I owe to the greatest woman I know, Mama R.  

She came to this country as a young woman who didn't speak the language of her new home. She had a lot of struggles raising a young family of four and working a full-time job.

She did all of this while fitting into a new culture and learning a new language with very little free time and help. The Grey Nuns, a fixture in the Manitoba scene back-in-the-day, gave my Mom a second hand sewing machine that she still has today. 

She didn't have the time to sit me down on her lap as she mended and sewed our clothes. But she was an important role model and still is today. My favourite sewing memories are more recent ones. The times we spend together creating new projects and working on ideas. Although our tastes are different, I always appreciate her feedback and help.   

I love you Mama R, Happy Mother's Day!  

Happy Sewing!  

It was an...

It was an itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot baby onsie... 

Two, three, four, stick around I'll tell ya more.

Oh my gosh, I think I may be dating myself here. Papa R and his pals used to listen to that song (Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini by Brian Hyland) on vinyl when I was a wee little one. But I digress...

Stash busting 2013:  Project # 21

Fabric Used:      1 metre of cotton knit fabric

Pattern Used:     McCall's 7367, an old stand-by, circa 1994.

Snaps Used:       1 snap

Ribbon Used:    1 metre of yellow ribbon. (Actually, I didn't stash-bust any ribbon. I picked up the yellow ribbon for this project).

I actually picked up this fabric last year for a tee-shirt that is still waiting to be sewn up. This baby onsie is what I managed to make with the left-over fabric. I did have enough yellow fabric for the band pieces but went with a black knit that had a bit more stretch.

So happy to have this one done. Hmmm, what's next? Stay tuned, I haven't decided yet.

Happy Sewing!

Day 10: Me-Made-May

Oh my goodness, this is a full blown head cold. I made some homemade chicken soup (spiked with cayenne pepper) when I got home from work and after I down another neo citron. (No pictures again today, sorry) Here's the low-down on the clothes I wore for

Skirt:                 Marcy Tilton design, Vogue 8637. Burnt orange double knit. I actually would like to make another one in black, it is such a comfortable skirt.     

Sweater:          RTW, taupe and orange zippered Rachel Roy sweater.  

Camisole:        RTW.

Jacket:             RTW, Navy blue windbreaker.  

Footwear:        Beige environmentally friendly Groundhogs.

Eyewear:         DKNY.  

Accessories:    Knee braces.
                             Silver watch.  

Undies:           Pantyhose, bra and knickers, all RTW.

Nightgown:     McCall's 8525 made in a cotton flannel.  

Bathrobe:        Simplicity 7417. Fabric: 100% cotton terry cloth.

Socks:              Smartwool.  

Day 9: Me-Made-May

It was a rough day, I actually walked in the door and threw on my pj's even before thoughts of dinner popped in my head. My thoughts are on shaking this cough and headache rather than trying to snap a photo. Here's the low-down on the clothes I wore for

Skirt:                 Rachel Comey design, Vogue 1247. 100% cotton blue.      

Blouse:            Katherine Tilton design, Vogue 8748. Fabric: 100% cotton vintage sewing comic print.

Jacket:             RTW, Navy blue windbreaker.  

Footwear:        Red environmentally friendly Groundhogs.

Eyewear:         Orange framed glasses by Ohh la-la de Paris.  

Accessories:    Knee braces.
                             Silver watch.  

Undies:           Pantyhose, bra and knickers, all RTW.

Nightwear:     RTW stuff.  

Bathrobe:        Simplicity 7417. Fabric: 100% Cotton Terry cloth.


Happy Sewing!

Day 8: Me-Made-May

It was a windy day today. If I weren't holding back the stray bits of hair that are too short to reach the pony-tail at the back of my head I would have pulled off an Albert Einstein look. Well, here is what I wore for

Dress:              NY The Collection, McCall's 9264. Black and red floral 100% polyester.  .   

Top:                  RTW, black knit light-weight pullover that has been part of my wardrobe for 15+ years.

Jacket:             RTW, black short 3/4 length sleeved.  

Footwear:        Red environmentally friendly Groundhogs.

Eyewear:         Orange framed glasses by Ohh la-la de Paris.  

Accessories:    Knee braces, nicely hidden under my dress.

Undies:           Black pantyhose, bra and knickers, all RTW.

Nightwear:     Not sure what I'll be wearing for bedtime yet. Most likely a RTW tee-shirt and yoga pants.  

Bathrobe:        Simplicity 7417. Fabric: 100% Cotton Terry cloth.

Progress on the baby onsie:  None, alarm is set to ring at 5:00 tomorrow morning. It doesn't look like there will be any sewing in these parts.

Happy Sewing!  

Day 7: Me-Made-May

Oh my goodness, what an absolutely gorgeous day! I don't recall seeing a cloud in the sky today. It is suppose to cool off tomorrow but today it feels like spring might actually be on it's way.

Well, here is what I wore for

Skirt:                Vintage Vogue 2885. Fabric:  pink striped 100% linen.     

Blouse:            Burda Style 7255. Fabric: floral print 100% cotton.  

Footwear:        Beige wedged-heeled shoes.

Eyewear:         DKNY eyeglasses and Vogue cat-eyed sunglasses

Accessories:    Knee braces, nicely hidden under my skirt. I love this skirt pattern for that reason.

Undies:           Bra and knickers, all RTW.

Nightgown:     I'm sure this was made with a Simplicity pattern that is lost somewhere in my pattern stash.  Maybe I'll find the pattern number before the end of Me-Made-May  

Bathrobe:        Simplicity 7417. Fabric: 100% cotton terry cloth.

Progress on the baby onesie:  leg bands are sewn and serged and one of the sleeve bands is pinned ready to sew. I know this will go down as one of the slowest sewing projects ever. Sewing fell to the side lines while I fight the start of a sore throat and cough with tea, honey and lemon. Sew many interruptions!

Happy Sewing!  

Day 6: Me-Made-May

What a gorgeous day! The temperatures hit the plus twenty mark and beyond. And my chiropractor was back in the office. Oh man, did I ever need that appointment. After a day at work, I laid low at home enjoying the heat from my heating pad instead of the sun. Equally relaxing.

And this is what I wore on day six of

Skirt:               Rachel Comey design, Vogue 1247. Green cotton sateen.  

Shirt:             Lynne Mizono design, Vogue 1274. Fabric: 100% cotton.

Coat:             No coat needed!  

Footwear:       Outdoor footwear: Mephisto.  At work:  cream colour Prophecy Shoes. 

Eyewear:         DKNY

Accessories:    Knee braces, nicely hidden under my skirt.
                        

Undies:           Bra and knickers, RTW.

Nightwear:     I made this nightgown a few years ago, I believe that it is from a Simplicity pattern. 100% embroidered cotton.  

Bathrobe:        Simplicity 7417. Fabric: 100% Cotton Terry cloth.

Progress on baby onesie:  No sewing tonight.