Milly's Bubble Romper ~~ A Finish!

I decided this morning that I would work on one small project and try to get a finish. And goodness gracious, I did it! I've been wanting to make a little outfit for Milly, but I had a particular pattern in mind. An hour of searching in the studio did not unearth that pattern. 

However, I did find a bubble romper pattern which I like very much. It's a New Look pattern by Simplicity that is no longer in print. I bought it almost 20 years ago and used it to make Dusti a couple of outfits. It seems appropriate to use the same pattern for Dusti's little one. 

It also looked like a quick, easy project. It is. But it had been a while since I've used this particular pattern. The back closure gave me fits. I finally managed to create a placket. Not necessarily the one in the directions, but a closure none-the-less.

And Miss Prissy was in a cranky mood, until she finally fell asleep--after one dirty diaper, a bottle of apple juice, a rocker and a good ten minutes. Whew! Getting her down when she is over tired is a job for someone younger than I!

Anyway, while she napped, I sewed like a mad woman. My inspiration was this lime green butterfly print. I had to place the pattern pieces with extra care because I was using an oddly-shaped, scrap fabric. There was just enough.

I thought I'd get away without the directions, but eventually I was forced to pull out the Bernina instructions. I couldn't remember how to shift the button hole stitch to the next section. I also had to practice button holes on scraps because, well truthfully, it's been so long I didn't feel terribly confident. And though they will hold, they won't look great doing so. I guess I'll need to practice a bit more.

Choosing buttons also took a little time. There are so many choices. I auditioned two sets but eventually chose the lime green. 

I insisted that we try the outfit before her mom took her home. It's too big. But not by much, so I think I can cut it down and get the right size without too much struggle.

She is growing so fast that she'll probably out-grow it before the summer ends. I think I'll make one without the piping. That slowed me down more than I expected. I have a feeling that there are a few more shortcuts that I can make. That will mean I can make several of these that we can use for play clothes throughout the summer. 

And that's my finish for the day and the week. 

I'll Be Linking Up With These!

My Quilt Infatuation (NTT) 

Crazy Mom Quilts (Finish It Up Friday)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or Not Friday)
Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

Pin It Weekly #225

Are you ready for Christmas? I sent a text to my sisters asking who had won the game that we all play at this time of year: the-get-it-all-done game. It turns out that everyone still has time to win: no one is finished. In fact, by listing all of the things we have done, we began to realize just how much is left to do. Ah, the holidays! 

Very often, when I am looking at Pinterest, I begin with something I'm interested in, such as this gorgeous table runner. But then.

I see something else that is interesting and that leads to something like this odd little garment. Whale bones, padding, ribbons. Who needs all this? And for what!?!

And that's about the time that I fall into the rabbit hole. Getting out can be, well, let's just say it requires a great effort.

Imagine wearing any one of these accessories. 

I can barely stand a bra and panties. The poor women who wore all these extra undergarments!

The purpose of all these extra wires, whale bone, and fabric? To push the breasts up, squeeze the belly in, and give the hips extra padding. Ha! I can't imagine wanting extra padding anywhere or for any reason. Even in a rabbit hole. Which one do you think is the oddest of the undies?

Pin It Weekly #181

Happy Weekly! Know who's pinning what?

Rhonda Hedrick is pinning pretty teacups and cookies. Isn't that a perfect combination? Let's have a tea party!

Arpie Makdessian is pinning coussins (pillows) and hand fans.

Anita Henry's pins are all about fashion. Want to know how to dress? This is the place to go. Anita and about 45 others have 50 boards about fashion. 

It's easy to get lost in there and look at the pictures for a while, but I'll let you do that on your own. I warned you though.

Have a great rest of the week and try not to contain yourself on Pinterest!

Down a Size and Stash Report

If it seems that I've been working on lots of small projects, it's because that is exactly the case of my sewing lately. This time it's a pair of jeans that I bought recently. I hate trying on clothes, especially in stores, so I waited to get home to put these on.

Once we returned home, though, there were groceries to put away, a demanding little granddaughter, and several puppies needing attention. The jeans didn't get put on. 



Two days later I noticed the jeans in the closet. Richard had washed them and hung them up in the closet. Wow! What a sweetheart! Except, wait, I didn't know whether they fit. Oh well, I'd make them work. I'd have to since I could not return them any more.

They did not fit. And making them work? Well, that took much more work than I first imagined. The hips, crotch, and length all needed altering, but 30 minutes of sewing and testing fixed up most of the problems. 

They may not fit exactly as I'd like, but they are pretty close. Considering how large they were originally, I'm satisfied. Surely they will be more comfortable than when I wore them on Friday and had to keep hiking them up. 

I suppose it's a good thing that I'm not particular about my clothes. I prefer comfort over style, so getting these comfortable was my most important aim. Which is more important to you, comfort or style?

And drumroll please, this month's stash report brought to you by "Be It Less Than You Can" weightloss systems! So that you can be less than you are right now.  Yeah, yeah, get over it, already. There are no drums and no weight lost. Just an ordinary stash report with a few yards used in October, but not many.

Stash Report for October 2016
Additions and Subtractions	Yards	Projects from stash	Projects in Progress
Used this month:	6.5	Baby Bunting	two scrap quilts
Added this month:	0	Yellow Chevron	Moda Noteworthy quilt
Used in 2016:	74½	various small projects	Quilty 365
Added in 2016:	41½

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: D E N I M

Okay, okay, I know it's Monday. I spent too much time in the studio yesterday to get everything done. The good news--aside from being in the studio for quite some time--is that I got lots of papers graded, including the last of the essays! 

Quilts in denim . . .