New skills = new projects! yay!

My fab friend Jenny started a once-a-month learn-to-quilt group in January. I'm always up for learning new skills so this was the perfect opportunity to ditch my crappy hand-me-down sewing machine. I had always had an old machine and could get by with it, but it was so frustrating to try to sew anything on it. Plus I never really learned the right way to sew anything, so I was pretty limited - not that I let that stop me! I still made Stella's first Halloween costume (Carmen Miranda), curtains, a bedskirt, a duvet cover, a stuffed kayak for my niece, and some other things over the years. I guess you could say that what I lacked in sewing technique I made up for with enthusiasm and a hot glue gun. :)

So I bought a new machine. And dang if it isn't a million times easier to use! Around the same time, I happened to meet a woman who taught sewing lessons. She focused on apparel - yay! Just what I needed. The lessons were so fantastic, everything from understanding fabrics to reading patterns to the little tricks that make things look professional. If she was still giving lessons I would absolutely post her info, but I believe she has moved on.

So this was in January/February... then the morning sickness happened and it was like I spent two months in a coma! I was worried I might forget everything I learned.

I was delighted to find out that this was not the case. Here are some of the things I have made so far:

Pink ruffled top with shorts (and also pants). Made from a pattern, this works well since Stella is dress-obsessed. The ruffles are a good compromise when I want her to wear shorts or pants, she still feels like she's in a dress.

This green dress was also from a pattern, but I changed some things up. It was fully lined with a petticoat, but for a summer dress I just lined the bodice. She wore this to a super fun block party in SLC - it was a surprise for my Grandma. Do I even have to say that we danced all night?

Ok so this is where I started to get a little bit more ambitious - I had a pair of PJ pants that I loved, but they had a tear that made them unwearable. I loved the striped linen-type fabric, so I decided to try to make a dress for Stella out of them. There was not enough fabric to work from a traditional pattern, so I put together an original design. This kind of project is so exciting for me - I mean there is creativity in sewing from a pattern too - finding it, modifying it, choosing the fabrics, colors, textures, etc. - but this is the kind of project that I really love. Sketching something out and then making it real - figuring out all the little engineering details - problem solving... Love the challenge, love the process. This is the kind of thing that gets me so energized! Anyway, here it is. I added a floral print in the same palette for the sash and bottom of the skirt, turned the stripes sideways for the bodice, and attempted my second zipper. The sleeve straps are made from what was the waistband of the pants - it had a pink lace trim that I just had to incorporate somehow. I love Project Runway and this dress was so much fun, just like some of their challenges where they take one thing and turn it into something new.

More to come! I made myself a dress yesterday, but I really need to get a haircut before I can do a photo...