Getting over my fear of knits

So this project stemmed from the first idea going kind of wrong. Originally the whole shirt was the black and white stripe but being still pretty new with knits, things went great until I got to the neckline and it started lettucing...bad.

So I scrapped it and salvaged the little puff sleeves and cut up a black tee I was going to throw out anyway. It felt like it needed a splash of color so I made a little yellow rosette. There are tons of tutorials out there for this, i'm sure you know a good one! I just kind of twisted it around a little while I worked it around the center.

 Of course I couldn't resist shirring the sleeves again to help it poof out. I really love shirring the ends....in case you haven't figured that out.

 
Please ignore my filthy windows! I have dogs AND a toddler at that height!

I'm linking up to Tea Rose Home's linky party and Seamingly Smitten!

Thanks for reading! Have an awesome day!

Most Recent Projects

I finished up a few projects recently that I thought I would post about. The weather changed really quickly here in South Carolina. We went from 70 to 40 really fast. So one day I realize that I totally don't have a coat for my daughter Evie. I went to a few different stores and found that I would be paying at least $20 for a tiny coat.

After seeing Jess's coat on Craftiness Is Not Optional (LOVE this blog!) I decided to buy the pattern and make one myself.  I have a tendency to build things up all great in my head and then end up falling completely short, so I figured the best way to know I'll love it is to follow what she did exactly....you do that too sometimes right?!? Maybe?

I cannot tell you how much I loved this pattern! AND it's fully lined! Not only were the directions so clear and easy to follow, but it's just so versatile and really easy to make! I'm a learn-as-you-go sewer and I had no problem with this! Best of all, it just closes with the tie in the front so no scary buttonholes!

p.s. I did not receive any compensation for any of this. I just really loved their pattern!


So while I was strolling through my Walmart a few weeks ago I came across this vintage looking floral fabric and loved it! From Walmart, crazy huh!? Anyway I love vintage style shirts and thought it would be really cute to attempt a bib shirt with some lace I had.

 I shirred the sleeves so they would puff a little. Has anyone tried this? I'm in love with it! It makes it so easy to finish the sleeves off too because you just hem and then shir.

If shirring still scares you, look at this tutorial.

I had a roll of lace I got on sale at Hobby Lobby that I sewed around the bib to give it a more finished look. 

 I lined the neckline and bottom of the shirt with bias tape. 

It was a little bit big for Evie so I shirred a little section on the back to gather it in a little. That way it will grow with her.


I also took the bias tape down the back and made a little button closure so it would fit over her head. Back button closures have become my go-to for baby tops because they are so easy to sew and I don't have to worry about scary buttonholes!

Last, I decided to try my hand at freezer paper stenciling. I wanted a sort of Christmas looking shirt without making it Christmas exclusive. I took a little grey tee from Old Navy and cut out a deer outline from freezer paper. I used Tulip brand fabric paint after ironing on the freezer paper stencil. I used 3 layers of paint to give it a well saturated layer.

Note: When you wash freezer paper stenciled shirts, put them on LOW heat in the dryer and only for a few minutes. If you leave it in too long the paint with melt a little and stick together, ruining the shirt. I learned this one the hard way.

Thanks for reading! Have a great day! ;)

Testing one...two...testing

Hello there!

My name is Taylor. 

I'm just like every one of you....probably. I had a baby, then started sewing and now want to show people what I made. Only problem is, I am a stay at home mom so I don't go out a ton and when I do we are usually trying to get things done so I don't get to walk up to random strangers and ask "Do you like this? I made it!" and receive all kinds of praise, roses, admirers and what have you.

What it really comes down to is that I wanted a place to put things that I make. One so that I can keep track of it, and two so that I have a place to link up to all these cute link parties and things. You understand right? You probably did the same thing too.

Anyway, I wanted a little space of blogland to put my success and....um...not so successes. I'm not expecting a bunch of followers or anything. Just a place to organize and catalog progress (okay and maybe show off a little too!) I am completely new to sewing so some things go heinously wrong, while others I actually get to be proud of. You will probably see a good bit of both!

Either way I really love sewing things for my daughter. And as cheesy as it is, I do it with Sew Much Love.