Burda – Sew Becky Jo

July 3, 2013July 3, 2013

How-To: My Pattern Organization

I dunno….admin work puts a sneer on my face….even if it’s for myself. The idea of “filing” patterns makes me just want to burn my bra.

That, and I need to SEE what I have….just the other day I was cruising the inter webs, going to finally buy a Renfrew and a Miette pattern, when I was positive I needed a knit-wrap-dress pattern too. I opened up my binder of patterns, and there was a Vogue knit-wrap-dress pattern staring indignantly at me. I already have one! (I have to come up with another reason to get a Cake pattern now….)

Which brings me to…well, I use binders.

Specifically, BIG white view binders in low-VOC and D-rings if I can get them.

I use sheet covers and tabs.

Tabs not because I’m going to actually number and collate and make a table of contents…oh hell no. hahahaha. NO. Just to have a place to mark between patterns.

It came time again to take the piles of patterns I had been accumulating and stashing around, and add them to the binders…so I took a few shots.

If this idea helps you, great. If not, eh. It’s just an idea. Filing works for some people, just not me.

Here’s an example of a store bought Burda pattern. I use the crap out of this pattern–specifically the pants.

I put the envelope and unused portion in one sleeve.

And the cut part and instructions in another…with any notes I may have. This pile happens to also be in a plastic bag.

My beloved Colette patterns get traced. I keep the booklet and original patterns in one sleeve and the traced patterns in another.

PDF patterns are similar. Instructions in one, cut patterns in another.

The inside pockets can hold wonky, oversized patterns.

I use the view portions to hold receipts, mostly so I can remember the fabric types, a ballpark of costs and what ever miscellaneous items I’m too lazy to find a place for…

After this cleaning, I can see I need new binders for quilt patterns and bag patterns as they’re growing to that point.

So…the pros are that I can leaf through them like a magazine. I can get an instant view of what I already have vs. what I might need. I also have no problem storing multiple traced sizes or versions to one set of instructions.

Cons are storage for the binders…they could, after this, still go down in a large drawer if you wanted, but mine sit on a shelf. Also, I’ve yet to decide how to handle traced patterns out of Ottobre or books. My traced patterns are very well labeled, but the visual of the finish photo would help. I’m not into printing more than I have to…so we’ll see. For example, I’ve printed the Miette pattern recently without printing the instructions, and I have some Craftsy patterns I haven’t printed yet…more decisions. My Burda book patterns, which I have the book on iBook, are ok because of the instruction covers.

I need to make a decision there soon because I totally forgot about the Craftsy patterns! Whoopsie! I may not have needed that Renfrew after all….oh, who are we kidding, sure I did!

May 22, 2013May 22, 2013

Custom Baby Layette

My friend Alma is expecting her first baby, Vivian! It’s so exciting! I offered to make the baby something and, well, here’s where I am at.

It’s SO SCARY making newborn items, especially for a first born. I mean, I’ve done this 4 times myself, and all the fussing that goes on in mama’s head, whether you hear it or not, about what to put the baby in….oh my. And it doesn’t change with more babies. The only thing that changes is you know you do not want to put things OVER the babies head if you can avoid it….wrap-style shirts are best, and layers….and Teflon coated. You find your preferences. But you still run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

This is the inspiration photo mama-to-be sent me along with ‘cream and pale pink’ being influences:

While the fabric I chose fits with the colors and the modern, it’s not exactly as soothing as perhaps it should be….I may have to tweak things a bit. The fabric is from Red Rooster’s Giselle line here gifted to me from my mom. It’s a quilting cotton…I dunno. I was thinking of linen…but even the Essex yarn dyed I have after washing doesn’t quite seem soft enough and it’s too wrinkly to pack around. Then I was thinking just a light, high quality muslin in cream. Sigh. I’m settling on the Red Rooster for now. Maybe I’ll use some leftover with the linen for the bonnet?? Help? Ideas?

Also borrowed from my mom is this book:

And guess what! It DOES have cute clothes for kids! hahaha. Here’s a shot of the romper I’m making…I wanted to make it for Zoe, but it’s only in sizes 3 months – 9 months.

Alma and sweet baby Vivian are in Texas, so I’m not terribly concerned about the wear-ability regarding weather…but I was a little bummed out that the book cover reads Cute Clothes For Kids…..0-5 year olds, but not each pattern is for 0-5 year olds. This is my first experience with a book’o’patterns. I knew about this part before going into it – the multi-pattern print:

You can’t just cut a pattern out – not even one. For the romper, I need both A1 and A3 in the photo above. So, Swedish Tracing Paper to the rescue! That’s fine, I expect and even prefer that, but just 3-9 months? Pffft. That’s pretty lame. Anyway, I like Swedish tracing paper. It’s really easy to work with.

I REALLY wanted to use an Ottebre pattern for this project but didn’t order my subscription in time for Viv’s arrival, so….I’m going with this one. It’s VERY similar to the Burda Romper so far…I’ll let you know which I like better.

I have enough fabric left over to make a few more things to matchy-match….like a bonnet, and…a faux chenille blanket even thought I said I’d never make another one…and I’d like to still make a kimono-style shirt for under the romper for little tiny baby…we shall see. I’ll need to find a kimono-style pattern I even like….ugh, come on Ottebre, hurry up and get here!!!

I have a chubby 15 month old that likes to make zombie noises while she pulls on her dad’s monitor cords….it’s hard to remember already what little tiny newborns are like.

OH! The best part?!??!?!? Alma and family live in Texas!!! No, that’s not the best part…because then I don’t actually get to hold and love on new baby, but the best part is I found Cowgirl Snaps on Etsy!!! I’m totally finishing the romper straps with while pearl snaps. I’m so happy. I’m gonna Texas-pearl-snap everything!

OH, almost forgot…I have a few bonnet patters and I’m torn between the amazing Alicia Paulson pattern and this one in the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.

February 5, 2013February 5, 2013

DIY Cheap Baby (Kids) Clothes Series

My plan here was to finish up the green sparkle motion fabric and use a remnant of sweatshirt fleece I picked up at Joann’s for some clothes for Hazel and Alex.

In the pile above is the remaining bit of green fabric, the rest of the waffle knit heart binding role, a pair of pants made for Alex and the remaining bit from that. The remnant for Alex’s pants was during a 40% off sale, plus the 50% off remnants, so $12.27-40%-50% (obviously not in proper algebraic form) = $3.68 + $1 for elastic = $4.68 for his pants. I used the same Burda pattern I used for the previous Hazel pants, so freebie!

This left the rest of the pile at $0….however, after sewing with the fleece, I found that making a tank for Hazel with it just wasn’t going to happen. It barely has any stretch to it, so there was no way it would work in a knit pullover top.

I didn’t like any of the store-bought patterns for the Hazel top, so I took one of her favorite tank-tops and traced it on some taped-together recycle-pile paper.

I don’t trust my tracing to be without wobbles, so I lined up a vary basic French curve ruler on the curvy parts and used it as my guide. That and I just know I’d get Sharpie on Hazel’s shirt and then she’d hate me forever. I don’t need that kind of stress.

Voila! Free pattern! I marked them with the cut-on-fold parts and front/back because I know I’ll be using these again and I’m forgetful.

I didn’t quite have enough green fabric to make the tank (Hazel is a tall one), and I couldn’t use the gray fleece as the stretchy wasn’t there…so I decided to make my own fabric.

I cut the green in strips and serged it to matching strips of the green-heart binding until I had enough to fit the pattern.

I’m playing around with a new camera. Can you tell? hahaha.

Okokok, so after it’s cut, it looks like this….and I’m yet again blessed to have a serger….

I had enough of the green to make the back solid green, and it’s darn cute.

I’m leaving the edges raw-serged like this..it’s cute and casual, and the fabric barely has enough stretch. I think if I added a hem, it might just rip out.

I put notes on my pattern for next time to adjust as such:

So, with that is the end of the green and grays for awhile. I have a nice pile from this session.

Total for both, with the tank being $0 is just the cost of the pants at $4.68.

I’m saving the pile for an outing later this month to *hopefully* get a photo of them in motion and in the Valentine’s Day/Zoe’s birthday spirit!

I’m thinking I need a new color theme for the next batch. This was fun, if a little too Pantone-orrific. I can’t imagine Alex would be thrilled with spring pastels….thoughts? Suggestions?

Meanwhile, I’ve got some serious quilting to do, so I have time to think on this series.

January 31, 2013January 31, 2013

DIY Cheap Baby Clothes Series – Joann’s Fabric Store

This set is going to deviate a little bit in that I’m adding in a pair of pants for my 8 year old girl, Hazel…my very tall 8 year old girl, that I used a modified size 10/12 same as in the end of this post. So, this is really Cheap Baby Clothes and Big Sister Pants. I have to do this while they still let me make them matchy stuff.

I used only half of my left over knit binding from the previous set:

and 2 yards of this glittery green business…I still have about 1/2 yard left…but I’m going to $0 it out for later.

I used the same patterns for the baby that I did in the first two sets of the series. For the girl, I re-used the Burda Kids 9482 pants. I know I got it on sale, because who pays retail when they can avoid it? But I’ve also already used it, so I’m going to $0 it out. In fact, I’ve used it quite a few times. It’s a great basic pattern and beyond easy, not to mention knit fabric and serger friendly.

It was genius, genius I tell you, to get that roll of binding done. I cut my patterns, pinned and sewed them all at once. Easy peasy. Ignore my pinning – I hate pinning unless I have to…and then it’s obvious I’m severely right-handed.

As you can see…it’s a reverse of the Mill End set.

I really think I *may* have made one of those sets that will embarrass them some day. I’m going to hold on to it so I can be sure to get a group shot. I still have some of this dance-troop fabric left…I think I can make Hazel a matching shirt. I’ve already got some gray pants under way for Alex too….oh, they will hate me during the teen angst years. Bwahahaha.

OK, nuts and bolts. This was a bit more at $9 a yard on sale, plus that’s 2 elastic waist bands at $1 each = 3 items at the magic number $6.66 each. Coincidence?

To lighten up THAT little bomb, here’s a photo of my blurry angel in the Mill End set.

And here she is still….but obviously ready for a nap…

She had enough of me combing her hair…she took both of the combs away.

December 4, 2012December 4, 2012

Fabric or Pattern First?

My amazing man got me an iPad and one of the first books I bought on it was the Burda Style book. It’s really quite the steal….you get the book on your iPad, or Kindle or whatever, and you get the code to go online and download the patterns! At the price of patterns, it’s like buying a book and getting patterns for free. Or..buying the patterns and getting the book for free…

Obviously I have an issue with the whole concept of “what came first, the chicken or the egg” thing. Same goes with patterns and fabric. As I flip through the Burda Style book or any other blog, book, magazine, whatever…it’s like cooking or anything else for me. I sort of make a mental note of what is interesting or the gist of how to do it, then keep perusing at my leisure. Each pattern, or with the analogy of cooking, recipe, states exactly what you need as if I’m going to be a good little girl and notate it all, go to the store and get every exact thing so that I can make it just like it says.

HAHAHAHAHA. Never!!! My brain doesn’t work that way. I go waltzing into Joann’s or I’ll be online at fabricworm.com, it doesn’t really matter where, and I may go in for something specific, but I’ll also walk out with a fabulous bolt of coral polyester chiffon-type-thing that was on clearance for $4/yd or three yards of this yellow bird fabric even though I only needed one yard because I love it. THEN I find things to do with it. This works for me…it’s a nagging reminder on my shelf of money spent that needs to be put to use. Besides, polyester chiffon-type stuff is my Moby Dick at the moment and who isn’t a glutton for punishment?

I’m quite interested in this process for others…not that it’s going to have a damn bit of impact on me, but I am curious. I also picked up Sunday Morning Quilts while I was laid out sick, wanting some good eye candy, and the authors both discuss their fabric buying habits so I know I’m not alone. I’ve had discussions with friends on the twitters about recipe/grocery buying habits as well, and find it a similarly fascinating subject. I don’t think there’s any wrong or right way as long as it fits to each person’s needs/schedules/personalities/etc. – it’s just a fun thing to think about.