Pattern Review: "Ava" Maternity Skirt

    

      The colder weather is on it's way, and now is the time for finding or sewing some maternity skirts for the occasion. I searched stores and online for options, but discovered that they're either not available or only available in a knit material. Knits may be nice, but they'll absolutely not hold up for a winter in the northeast. The search for longer lengths, heavier materials, or affordable price was challenging to say the least. Then, I stumbled upon the Etsy shop, Lou Lou James Creative Studio. It is the only one I've found like it, and it is fabulous!

       

     The shop owner was so kind and helpful in answering my questions about using heavier materials and lengthening the patterns. She also worked with me in creating a deal for purchasing three patterns at once. (I purchased the "Emily," "Meg," and "Ava" skirt patterns). I love working with small businesses like those on Etsy!

       The "Ava" skirt is described as a "comfy, swingy pull-on skirt." and is comprised of four simple pieces. The sizing ranges from a 28-38 inch (pre-pregnancy) waist. The recommended material is knit. The steps to assemble the skirt are very simple and easy to follow. The pattern took me a little over an hour, but I suspect future skirts with this pattern will go even faster. 

    

Material purchased from Hobby Lobby
using the weekly sale and online coupon.
This skirt cost about $11.00 to make.
Not to bad considering availability
or prices of most stores! :)

     I did make a few alterations to the pattern. For instance, I chose a cotton material instead of a knit. I also lengthened the skirt by about 4.5 inches so that it would fall at my knees. The pattern includes a marking for shortening or lengthening the piece, which was so helpful. This will make creating a full length skirt for winter months much easier. The waistband is knit, and can be folded over or pulled up as desired. The patterns are designed to last throughout pregnancy, and so the waistband is a little big now but I'm sure it will be filled out in no time. 

     The "Ava" skirt is very comfortable and easy to make. I particularly enjoy the flowy style of this particular skirt (it's my favorite!). I can foresee many more skirts to come from this pattern! The next one may be a full length version. I can't wait to also begin sewing the other two patterns I purchased! I'm so glad I found the Lou Lou James Creative Studio Etsy shop! I rather like my new little skirt! :)

Excuse the awkward pose and blank stare. A model I am not. haha. ;)

*Note: Reviving Homemaking is not an affiliate of Lou Lou James Creative Studio. As such, Reviving Homemaking does not receive any compensation in any form for the inclusion of the shop or products in this post. The opinions shared are entirely my own and have not been influenced or solicited in any particular direction in any manner. (I just really like the shop & products, and wanted to share them with you!)  
Linked up at: Christian Mommy Blogger, Blissful and Domestic

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How To Make a Tablecloth From a Sheet

     When we moved into our current home, I decided to change my color scheme up a bit.  I had previously done bold primary colors and now desired some cooler tones. The new color scheme also allows me to incorporate my favorite color- gray! My current room project is our dining room. I wanted to replace (or at least have a second) the red tablecloth with a gray one. I soon discovered that gray is not a very popular color for a tablecloth, or, at least, not as popular within my desired price range. I then discovered the local discount store was having a white sale. I found a king size set of sheets for $20 and instantly envisioned the set being transformed into a tablecloth and seat cushions. The pillowcases will be used to make pillowcase dresses to send to organizations like Dress A Girl Around the World. That's a lot of material and potential for the typical price of a single store-bought tablecloth. 

       The skill level for sewing a tablecloth from a sheet is that of beginner. If you can sew a straight line, then you can do this project. The most difficult part for me was my sheet material being rather thin and lacking in structure. This is one area in which the rougher tougher sheets are better than the "luxury." 

        Below is a tutorial for making the tablecloth. If you would prefer printable versions of the tutorial than follow either link below.

How To Make a (52"x70") Tablecloth From a Sheet (with pictures)- pdf

How To Make a (52"x70") Tablecloth From a Sheet (text only)- pdf

Tutorial: How To Make a (52"x70") Tablecloth From a Sheet

1. Begin by washing and drying your material to account for any shrinking. Next, iron the material. 

2. Lay material out on a large flat surface. If you have an existing tablecloth, then you can lay it on top, and use it as a size guide. You will then measure one inch extra around all sides to allow for a 1/2'' hem.  If not using a guide, then measure out a rectangle that is 53'' x 71''.

3. Cut out measured amount.  

4. The edges will be finished with a 1/2'' hem. A beginner's tip is to use a fabric glue stick and disappearing ink pen to ensure all parts align properly. Using the disappearing ink pen, measure and draw a line 1'' and then a second line1/2'' from the first around all edges. This acts as a guide for folding the edges and making sure they are straight. The corner markings will also be helpful in creating the mitered corner. 

5. Fold edge of material to meet first line marking. The folded section will be about 1/2'' wide. Do the same for all four edges of the material. (It may be helpful to add some glue and then iron to keep it in place). 

6. Next, fold the tip of the corner corner piece to the innermost crossing of the line marks. Press the bottom edge of that fold with an iron to maintain marking of the edge. (I've demonstrated it with a dotted line in the photo below). 

7. Unfold the corner. Cut along this line. This will reduce bulk within the corner once sewn. 

8. Ever so slightly turn the raw edge of the cut corner under (towards wrong side of material) and secure by ironing it in place (may be helpful to add a dab of glue). 

9. Fold one edge of the tablecloth material so that the corner edge of the cut corner meets the innermost crossing of the marked lines. Do the same for the other side.  

The corner edges should meet and now look like this. 

10. Fold side edges again to meet innermost marked line. You should now have a 1/2'' hem and mitered corners all around the material. 

11. To finish, simply top stitch 1/4'' along the perimeter of the tablecloth. 

12. You will probably want to add a waterproofing to the material since spills are bound to happen at the dining table. Scotch Guard is a common product for waterproofing. You could also just lay a clear vinyl tablecloth over everything while eating. 

Finished!

One of the fun aspects of having a solid tablecloth is the potential to change up the look with various centerpieces and even cloth napkins. Textiles are fantastic for adding a lot of color and life to home decor while still being budget-friendly!

Linked up at: An Original Belle, A Mama's Story, The Alabaster Jar, The Modest Mom, What Joy Is Mine, The Better Mom, Far Above Rubies, Time-Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Growing Home A Mama's Story, The Alabaster Jar, The Modest Mom Blog, What Joy Is Mine, The Better Mom,  Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions

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Pattern Review: Simplicity 4297 (18'' Doll Clothing)

      I made doll clothes for a gift to our niece this past Christmas. She enjoys a particular 18'' doll company whose prices, in my opinion, were...well, ridiculous. Instead, I decided to sew an outfit, and hope and pray that my modest take on doll clothes would be equally acceptable.  The project started out as just one outfit, but I was enjoying the cute materials and outfit pieces that I ended up making the entire (minus the pajamas) pattern package! I worked on the project for about four days. I'm not the most experienced at sewing, and so the tiny pieces were a bit challenging initially but got easier with repetition. They also taught me a lot! 

       The pattern instructions were easy to follow. I was surprised at how easy it was to attach yokes to the skirts and set in the sleeves to the tops and jacket. The hardest part of constructing the pieces was definitely attaching the thin strips of Velcro to the backs. I never want to use Velcro ever again. I fought to get it sewn on, but in the end I left the poor work quality as is. (My sister-in-law is also learning to sew, and so I decided that I'd send the Velcro work as is and if need be she can attempt to reattach it). It absolutely wan't the best of solutions as I hated sending it imperfect, however, doing so was better than allowing frustration to develop ugliness in me and my home. In the future, I'll probably just use snaps. snaps I can handle. haha

       As far as the fabric, I selected a variety of cottons, fleece and flannel. Although I think the fleece and flannel worked, I was concerned about their ability to stretch sufficiently around the doll's head. A knit would probably have been much better for the hoodie piece. I loved the patterns of the cottons. I went for more mature patterns and styles in the fabrics, even though they were for doll clothes. The cashier at the fabric store was rather surprised when I said that the material was for doll clothes. Dolls can be modern and stylish in their wardrobe too! haha! (At least, I hope that's how my niece views the outfits as opposed to the other perspective which is that they and I have a boring style. haha!). It was really nice to only need pretty small amounts for each piece, which allowed me a greater selection of fabrics that would have otherwise had been too expensive (like the tweed for the jacket). 

Green patterned poncho with denim skirt. So cute! I think this little outfit would also make a good kids clothes outfit. hmm..

     Print skirt with a fleece long sleeve shirt. Perhaps my least favorite outfit. It just lacked pizzazz. Perhaps a little mid-waist belt? I don't know. I'm sure my niece will be able to come up with a creative way to style it better. 

     Pleated plaid skirt and maroon hoodie sweatshirt. I added a pocket to the front to give it more of an actual hoodie look. I really liked the tiny little front pocket!

     Printed paisley skirt with teal long sleeve top. I added the trim to the bottom. I orginally intended to use bias tape, but couldn't find any that matched. Then, I figured out that I could make my own using the scrap left over from the top. (I really, really like this skirt print! I'm tempted to make me one. haha)

      Lined tweed jacket with fully pleated khaki skirt. I saved the most complex piece for last. This jacket came out really cute, but was definitely the piece that made me feel like I had lost my mind in tackling this project all together. Four days of sewing doll clothes ending with setting sleeves of a tweed jacket involving a lining, interfacing and tweed material. Oh my. I do love the look of the outfit though. haha 

*Note: Reviving Homemaking is not an affiliate of Simplicity Pattern Co. and was not asked or compensated for this review. (I just enjoyed working with the pattern :))

Linked up at: The Alabaster Jar, What Joy Is Mine, Modest Mom Blog, The Better Mom, A Mama's Story, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home Blog, Time-Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions

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Learning Sewing Skills

     Why learn to sew when seemingly anything desired can be purchased at a store? The same question can be asked regarding meal preparation. Why put forth the effort of planning and cooking meals when there are prepared foods available in stores and restaurants? Convenience isn't everything! Neither is being a total consumer! Skills such as sewing and cooking are life skills that are important because their usefulness spans times of want and plenty.

     One of my greatest senses of accomplishments has been in learning to work and produce with my own hands. In fact, part of my definition of homemaking incorporates "the home to be a ... productive environment." Being a gross consumer within the home is rather counterproductive. Paycheck in, paycheck out. So, how do I get myself from living this way? One way is to learn how to work with my own hands to produce goods instead of just consuming them. When I practice simple sewing skills like sewing on a button, hemming, sewing a straight stitch, and several others, I am able to extend the wear of my clothing and create cloth items for my home that are reusable. I'm also able to alter purchased pieces myself so they will fit better, and thereby save myself the need to turn to expensive brands for alteration shops for tailoring. 

    A few other benefits to learning basic sewing skills include:

• Resourcefulness- There are lots of ways to repurpose what you already have instead of buying something new. For instance, a sheet can become a tablecloth, shower curtain, or window curtain.

• Saves money- Knowing how to alter or repair clothing reduces the need for repetitive purchases. A flaw doesn't render the item immediately unwearable. In fact, sometimes you can find pieces at a store sold at a significant discount that weren't make perfectly but can be fixed.

• Appropriate fit- Every body type is different and so finding something that will fit perfectly can be a challenge to say the least. Depending on the construction of the item, it may be such a that with a little bit of alteration you can get it to be a more appropriate fit for your body type. By doing the work yourself, you can also save a lot of money by avoiding the expensive tailor or alteration shop.

• Unique pieces- The ability to create or refashion a piece of material means you can have a look that is uniquely you. Fabric colors and patterns are so vibrant and well..awesome that it's hard to not imagine all the fun and creative uses for them. Your creation will be unlike anyone else's. Go with it!

• Personalized home furnishings- Even simple home furnishings can be easily sewn. Pillow covers, cloth napkins, curtain etc. are wonderful ways to add personality to your home, not to mention do so more affordably. 

• Calming- I find that working on a piece of embroidery or other hand needlework can be a calming way to end the day. It develops patience, and that is always a quality worthy of work!

• Bless others- Did you know that there are organizations that will take things like home sewn pillowcase dresses and menstrual pads to give to little girls in need elsewhere in the world? You don't have to be an experienced seamstress to give in this manner!

• Self-reliance- I appreciate the notion of learning to do for myself and becoming less dependent on someone or something else to care for my needs. My home and family can be dressed regardless of our level of resources. 

    There are certainly more aspects to learning basic sewing skills than just the ones mentioned above. My inspiration for sewing has developed from my own natural creativity and from my Grandmom. She is one incredibly capable woman at the sewing machine! Granted, she has sewn since she was able. She has had the privilege of living during a time in which clothing and elements of home decor were the work of her hands. She tried to teach me to sew a skirt one summer and her expertise quickly overwhelmed me. What is second nature to her is foreign to me. I'm inspired by her capability and resourcefulness to create or reuse items to meet her needs. I also admire the little touches in her home that she's created that added such warmth and welcome. This is a woman who wastes not, and wants not. She posses the kinds of skills that have assisted her in life at meeting her needs and the needs of others. She has then taught her daughters to do the same. I've delighted in seeing them make scrubs, shower curtains, window curtains and other pieces for themselves or their homes. Skills like sewing, are those that have been deemed a thing of the past and unnecessary now, but are still immensely valuable. 

Linked up at: Raising Mighty Arrows, Our Simple Country Life

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