Pajama Pants

Here's a quick peek at the pajama pants I made in my sewing class.  They are made out of a soft blue flannel with sweet little pink roses. Are they ever comfy! Don't mind the dog's toy box in the background.  This is the only full size mirror where I could take a picture of myself.

I left the legs extra long because I love them that way. I can never find jammies that are long enough for my long legs - it always looks like I'm waiting for a flood... Doug liked them so much that he wants me to make him a pair too.  He wants them made from material with Scooters on them so I  searched the internet and found some suitable fabric on Spoonflower.  As soon as it arrives, I'll sew his jammies for him.  :)

Sewing Class Complete!

The last 8 weeks, I've been taking a beginner's sewing class.  It has been alot of fun and I've learned so many things but best of all have been the projects.  Our first project was to make this cute reversible tote.  I love pinks, polkadots and paisleys, and I think my tote turned out so cute!

I'll have to post my second project once I'm finished - we made pajama pants and I just have to add the drawstring and hem the legs and they will be done.  It's on my list for this weekend.

Our third and final project was this sweet zippered makeup bag.  I just love it and I can wait to make more!

I'm going to be first in line as soon as the Intermediate class is announced - I can't even wait!  Oh yeah - there is going to be a serger class too - Sign me up!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

This time of year seems to fly by, doesn't it!?!
We had a very nice Christmas - quiet and low key which is how I like it. As much as I miss family, it's kind of nice to not have any where we have to be on Christmas Eve and Christmas day and it allows us to really enjoy our time together.
This is what I got for Christmas: A Babylock sewing machine!

I can't wait to have an afternoon to sit down and test it out. I'm hoping to take a sewing class in January but the wait list is almost 50 people long. Makes me wonder why they don't offer additional classes?
I'm working on my list of goals for 2012. I have a feeling it's going to be a very good year!

Cosmo Bag Complete!

Today I finished the Cosmo Bag for Jemellia's Sewing Challenge Month One. This bag was much more difficult than I anticipated it would be and I made a few mistakes along the way but overall, I am thrilled with how it turned out!

In doing the outside of the bag I accidentally put the handles on incorrectly and didn't discover my mistake until I had topstitched and clipped the insides of my curves. Let me tell you - I wanted to cry. It took me HOURS to undo all those stitches and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to match things up correctly - but somehow things worked out. Like I said, my bag may not be perfect, it may not even be close to as good as some of the others in the challenge but I don't care. I'm not going to compare myself or my Cosmo bag to anyone else. I'm just so happy that I have a complete bag and I will be absolutely proud to carry it around with me.
This bag is completely lined and has four pockets on the inside and two pockets on the outside side panels.

I have never sewn anything other than straight lines for blankets and dog beds - and dogs don't care if your seams aren't straight. ;)
Amy Butler lists this as an "Easy" project and while that may be true for a more experienced sewer, I don't think that it was easy for a beginner.
My suggestions for improvements in the ease of this project would more pictures along with the directions and directions that didn't have you referring back and forth for the lining part. Although with a book there is limited space, I think I would have settled for one or two less projects to have more illustrations and lengthier directions for the actual sewing.
Let me know what you think of my project!

Jemellia's Monthly Bag Challenge 2011

I've decided to do Jemellia's Monthly Bag Challenge 2011. Sounds fun so would you like to join too? Check out this link and get all the details.

Jemellia gives some great reasons for joining in and here's why I'm doing it:

1. I love bags!
2. I am a beginner sewist and would love how to do a little zipper bag. I'm always buying little cosmetic bags for my purse and can you imagine the beautiful little bags I can make once I learn how to do a zipper!?!
3. Amy Butler - need I say more? I've been to a few creative conferences where Amy Butler has spoken and I just love the energy that comes from her. So peaceful, serene - wow. Plus - her fabrics are beautiful and this gives me the perfect excuse to buy her books!
4. If I get particularly ambitious I can make gifts! I would *love* to receive a beautiful handmade bag as a gift and luckily, I have some friends who love handmade too. How great would that be to be able to make a cute bag for someone?
5. This may expose the limitations of my cute, humble sewing machine so I may discover I need to upgrade to a newer, more sophisticated machine! ;) (Put this on my wish list)

There are many more reasons I'm joining and I'm sure it's going to be so much fun! Thanks Jemellia for the awesome Challenge!