fabric lovin': minny muu by lecien

Cotton fabric is still my favorite.  Perhaps it's because that's what I'm most comfortable with and what I've used most often when sewing my quilts and other baby goods.  Or maybe it's just the fact that there are so many beautiful prints from which to choose.

Case in point: the Minny Muu 2014 collection by Koko Seki for Lecien.  I have always loved whimsical, colorful prints, but since having a little girl I'm even more drawn to them and always contemplating what I could make - so many possibilities.  This collection includes tiny elephants, three of the littlest pigs and a miniature red riding hood.

I went all out and purchased the half yard bundle of all 30 prints because I couldn't decide nor resist these itty bitty details.   If you'd prefer to sample just a few, there are still some remaining at Pink Castle Fabrics.  But you should probably hurry, before they're all gone...

the geranium dress: a pattern review

I purchased the Geranium Dress pattern by Rae Hoekstra well before Sophia was born, but I had never sewn an article of clothing, so the task seemed daunting.

This particular dress pattern seems to have a cult following online, and I love seeing the various versions that bloggers post for all to see.  My little one is growing very fast, so I knew I had to tackle this sooner rather than later.  Besides, I have a lovely stack of fabric just waiting to be turned into something sweet.

I had purchased a linen blend voile from Miss Matatabi's Etsy shop.  It is light and airy and quirky and perfect for Virginia's humid summer.

Fortunately for me, the pattern was beginner-friendly and very easy to follow --the directions clear and thorough, and the photos detailed enough that I could follow along without growing frustrated.  I was able to sew the dress in one day, and while I made a few (okay, several) errors along the way, I love that Sophia had a new dress to wear out this evening.

This was my first time using the buttonholer on my sewing machine, so those came out a bit crooked.  I also struggled with the ruffled sleeves...had trouble getting the zigzag stitch just right on the edges, and wasn't careful in the placement so they're not quite even.

But the dress is soft and sweet, light and airy, and Sophia doesn't notice the flaws.  The pattern is classic and versatile, so I'm looking forward to making some more of these for my little one in the very near future, assuming she actually naps.

If you're new to garment sewing, like I am, and want to stitch up something special for your little lady, consider giving this pattern a try...it's available in sizes newborn to girls' 12.

another work in progress completed

Before Sophia was born, I had several months in which I intended to create for her some mom-made blankets, burp cloths, and quilts.

But as my belly grew bigger, it became more of a challenge to assemble and baste quilt sandwiches on our living room floor.  As a result, I didn't sew as much as I would have liked and several items just never got finished.

One of those creations was a simple baby blanket-quilt with her name in raw edge applique.  I wanted it to be similar to my personalized burp cloths...just a pop of color on a clean white background.  However, I just never got around to working on it.

So when she decided to sleep in yesterday -a rare occurence- I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity to finish it.

I used Robert Kaufman's orange Ta Dot for the back, Warm & Natural batting inside, and Kona in white for the front.  I adhered the scrappy letters with Heat n Bond, then straight stitched around the edges.  I admittedly took the easy way out by doing a mock binding and then quilted back-n-forth randomly with my machine to keep it all together.

It is completely imperfect, a tad rushed, but made with love...and after being tumble dried, it is all crinkled and ready for action.