In between regular sewing and tackling my project to do list, I have been busy running one of my sewing machines in embroidery mode! I have had a large pile of machine embroidery ideas & designs that I have been wanting to stitch out, so I picked some of the light stitching ones and set about to stitching up new towels.

Here’s a look at some of the finished towels:

All of these designs were found on Urban Threads:

1. French Cafe- Le Cafe
2. Kitchen Stitchin’- Time for Tea
3. Coffee ’til Cocktails *This one I am planning on stitching on a shirt too!
4. Uncorked- Time to Uncork and Unwind *this one I switched to a one color design instead of the ombre effect.

And the design above was a free one from Urban Threads as well. Each of the big kids got a new hand towel with a very mom approved friendly reminder!

Wash Your Hands from Urban Threads

I am still working through a stack of towels that I have. They are pretty light so next time I think I will be getting a heavier weight of towel. Overall, I love having a fresh stack of tea towels and slowly cleaning out my basket of “to-be embroidered” pile!

has been a wave of emotions, between highs and lows, I have been just trying to take it a day at a time, make that an hour or even a minute at a time. I decided to try and to focus my energy towards my family and finding ways to bring joys to their day. X, C, and I have been exploring lots of art and going on virtual tours of different places. For me, relieving the stress and anxiety of everything has me cooking, baking, and sewing up a storm.

Here’s a little bit of what I have been working on over the course of the month:

During this time, I am trying to finish up projects that have been started and start a few new ones in the process.

When Kimberly posted a testing call for her Phinney Ridge cardigan (with new expanded size range), I knew I would love to test, after checking my calendar to make sure I could sew it up during the timeline and hoping I would get to test it, when the email came, I knew I wanted to sew up a basic that would become a wardrobe staple.

And let me tell you this piece is definitely going to end up being in constant rotation in my wardrobe! I already wore it to work and it was a huge hit 😃Here are a few progress shots, especially of the buttonhole making, probably my favorite part of sewing this together since my machine makes sewing buttonholes so easy.

I used some water soluable stabilizer to make sure the buttonhole stitched out just right. I made a couple of test buttonholes in different styles and to double check that they would work for my chosen buttons. After stitch the buttonholes, I trimmed the stabilizer and then washed the rest away after I completed the cardigan.

Some of the features I really like are the waistband and wide cuffs along with the topstitching. For my next version, I am hoping to add the elbow patches and I might lengthen it just a couple of inches!

I sewed up a straight size 18 with a B Cup in a Riley Blake knit. You can find the pattern in her shop here. I hope you check it out!

I haven’t been doing as much sewing as I would love, however, I have been busy cleaning and reorganizing my sewing space (an atelier/studio tour coming soon 😃) In between all that cleaning I have managed some sewing!

Mostly, I have been busy sewing up Sallie Tomato handbags and in the process have totally become obsessed with zipper by the yard! I am teaching the handbag of the month class at work, so I have been busy sewing them up. First up is Ginger:

One of the best parts of teaching these classes is that I am using up lots of fabric from my fabric stash along with some of my most coveted fabrics that I have been hoarding. For this Ginger handbag, I used some denim along with a variety of Anna Marie Horner fabric that I have had for quite sometime. I think it will be a wonderful spring bag. I used a gold topstitching thread to really make it stand out and used some of my custom labels on the inside along with a metal handmade on the lower right of the bag. I love to add custom details to these handbags.

Next up is the Holly handbag:

These photos don’t really do this handbag justice! I spent lots of time fussy cutting the faux crocodile to get the print just fight. I have been hoarding this 1/2 yard cut of the Cotton + Steel Rifle Paper and Co. Les Fleurs City Map fabric for a several years. One side features Paris and the other London. For lining I used a metallic gold Eiffel tower printed fabric. I did customize the inside side pocket to fit my phone. This handbag is one that I am going to reach for over and over.

The third handbag is Moon River:

So my favorite feature on this bag is the strap connectors. I adore how they came together with this bag. I used denim with an Alison Glass fabric, I think?! I have had in my stash for several year looking for the right project. It is lined in a solid navy Kona Cotton. This bag also features a recessed zipper which I really love. I would only make one change and that would be to add another outside side pocket without the flap. This handbag is probably going to end up being my work tote bag.

This weekend I will be starting on the Zippy handbag. I am loving all the hardware and details on these patterns, plus the instructions are wonderful! I am having a blast working on this and at the end I will have 12 new handbags and hopefully a lighter fabric stash 😉

Well it’s been a little while since I have been around this space! However, you can expect that to gear up this year 🙂 I hope everyone’s new year is off to a great start, mine has been all about healing and recovering from surgery right before the new year. Already, I am starting to feel better especially since I am back at the sewing machine!

There are lots of sewing plans on my list for the new year, but before we dive into my #makeninechallenge2020 goals; I wanted to share my general overview or guiding words/ideas for the year:

After lots of resting, I came up with my #makeninechallenge list (this is my first time participating in the challenge) and if that isn’t enough, resting up really led me to coming up with two different lists. My first list is my main challenge goals and they are all wips. I could probably fill a page up with my list of in process projects, so I decided on the top 9:

This year one of my main thing is finishing. With that I am thinking about half done projects, clean outs, challenges, etc. I want to make space for the new. Lots of evaluation as well of half done projects or even fabric that I set aside for specific projects may be moved around for a different purpose.

…and I figured I would be better to make another set of #makeninechallenge for new projects that I have been wanting to sew up. All of these I actually have the patterns and most of the materials for its just about creating the time to sew them up.

So, really 18 things is a lofty goal, but I think it is fairly doable (in fact, I already finished one project from the wip list!). Are you joining in the #makeninechallenge this year?

• currently reading— Big Dreams, Daily Joy by Elise Blaha Cripe
• currently sewing— Halloween pjs, a shirt, and leggings (Halloween Fabric is from Raspberry Creek Fabrics).
• currently adoring— having my bangs back! Feeling like myself again
• currently baking— Donuts!
• currently drinking— Apple Cider Fighter from the True Roots cookbook
• currently coveting— this Autumn Wool Coating ❤
• currently watching— Silent Witness Season 17 on Amazon Prime
• currently quilting—Finished the Get Cozy Mini and started cutting out and prepping the Tula Nova Quilt which is all english paper piecing. I am using Christmas fabrics!
• currently cooking— Soup! I am slightly soup obsessed at the moment: country potato and Italian wedding as of late.
• currently designing— plans for my fall/winter wardrobe 🙂
• currently crocheting/knitting— started the second half of my temperature blanket and am on August 2019
• currently machine embroidering— Christmas Gifts!
• currently added to my must sew list– The new Sienna Maker Jacket from Closet Case Patterns

After a couple of weeks of sewing here and there along with closet clean out, I am finally ready for my Fall Sewing Plans. Most of the list is going to be personal sewing, but there are a few things that I need to get done for the kiddos.

First up what I need to get accomplished for the kids:

• C needs more pants
• C Halloween PJ’s (the bottoms are done, and I am working on the shirt)
• X quilt (ready to baste and start the free motion quilting)
• S develop a legging pattern that is exactly how she wants them
• Make X a button up of shirt as well probably a Negroni by Colette Patterns

Now onto for my main guy:

• Work on his tee shirt basic and try to get the fit right
• Print out the Jutland pants from Thread Theory and start a muslin

And now my list:

• 2 pairs Leggings (pattern to be determined)
• 1 Hinterland Dress by Sew Liberated
• 1 Laurelhurst Cardigan by Straight Stitch Designs (just finished sewing this one up!)
• 1 Montlake Tee by Straight Stitch Designs (ready to cut out)
• 1 Halloween T-Shirt (printed and ready to assemble the pattern)
• Portside Duffel by Grainline Studio (mostly cut out and in process of sewing, I need to decided on a lining and also get webbing)
• 1 Kalle Tunic by Closet Case Patterns
• 1 Ogden Cami by True Bias (printed and ready to assemble the pattern)
• 1 Carolyn PJs by Closet Case Patterns (this one is traced off and ready to cut out)

For most of these I will be “shopping” my newly organized fabric collection 🙂 I did order in 5 yards of Halloween fabric and will also be making my mom a shirt as well. I am really trying to use fabrics that I already have in order to make room for more!

Since re-working my sewing room, I have been on a mission to use up lots of my stored up (aka hoarded favorites) instead of just letting them sit there. I also have plans to work on sewing up some new table runners, sewing mats for my sewing machines, a Halloween Banner for the front porch, new covers to add pillows to the sofas, and of course probably several random projects thrown in!

I was so excited to get back into pattern testing. Since closing up my indie pattern shop and trying to get back into the swing of sewing while adjusting to sewing time based on c’s toddler schedule during the day and the life of two teenagers schedules keeps my day to day pretty full. My sewing time has been at a minimum, but that is slowly starting to change.

I jumped at the chance to test this previously released pattern which would now feature extended sizes and style options in the re-release. The timing was perfect in my schedule and I was lucky to make it into the testing group filled with many talented sewists.

Overall thoughts: This pattern is an absolute winner! If you don’t have it, I would say it would definitely be a fantastic addition to your wardrobe. It’s a great fitting staple with enough options to let you make lots of combinations.

The Stats:

Pattern // Montlake Tee by Straight Stitch Designs

Size // I cut a straight 18

Cup Size // D

Sleeve Length // Elbow

Neckline // V-Neck

Fabric // French Terry from my fabric stash

Customizations // Machine embroidered bonjour

I already have plans for at least two more, fingers crossed possibly next weekend I will have enough time to cut and sew them! This pattern is one I can see myself sewing again and again due to great results and a fairly quick sew. Make sure to grab your copy today!