It is almost September on the calendar. In my mind, and according to the thermometer outside, there are many days of summer left this year. Even so, some of my most recent projects are in preparation for autumn and the coming holiday season. A little embroidery creating oh, so cute, Advent motifs doesn’t feel as wintry in my lap as I sip iced tea, as does knitting a woolen sweater.
So, as we are enjoying the last days of summer, in 97 degree heat, we are also looking toward the next season to turn itself in. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. The rich colors, the cool crisp days, and smells of caramel, apples, and cinnamon lift my spirit. As much as I plan for the months to come, I am sincerely grateful this doesn’t make the days on the calendar turn more swiftly. Here is to taking pause this morning in late summer.
I am a planner. I love planning ahead. And I know that the best laid plans don’t always go as planned. But I can still try.
Last year I spent Christmas sick on the sofa. Dog sick. And I didn’t finish any of the handmade gifts I’d plan to give. This year I thought I’d start in August, so at least I’d have a chance, with sick-days built, in to finish everything.
So periodically, I am not promising when, here on the blog, I hope to give a few updates about what I am stitching, knitting, and concocting. (Mostly because those who would want a surprise can’t read and the others who can read and will be future recipients, don’t read here.)
So far, I’ve nearly finished this embroidered pouch…and I’ve just started on this linen stitch knitted scarf.
The embroidery pattern is from the book A Rainbow of Stitches by Agnes Delage-Calvet, et. al.
And the scarf is the Cerus Scarf by Hillary Smith Callis. I am knitting in Huacaya Sport Alpaca by Furnace Mountain in Chocolate Heather.
When I asked my mother the other morning over the phone what she wanted me to give her for Christmas, she just laughed at me. Are you as crazy as I am and planning holiday gifts in August?
 
Sometimes I don’t have the inspiration. I don’t feel it. That fabric, all pre-washed, ironed, and folded neatly in my stash just doesn’t speak to me. It doesn’t say, “make me into that box-pleated dress”, or a “button-down shirt.” It isn’t begging to be transformed from a flat, lucid piece of fabric into a dynamic, living, and loved garment.
But a few days ago, I had found one of those forgotten pieces of breezy summer blue cotton in the bottom of my fabric bin, and it spoke to me. I am gauzy. I am soft. I am floaty. I am summer breezy blue. Use me. Form me. Now. And so I did.
Of course, for Mini Mister it was a new shirt that was necessary. I’d been saving these cute blue and red car buttons for a while, waiting for just the right project. He simply adores them, and fell asleep holding his new shirt to his cheek.
And for Little Miss. Well, I thought I’d try a new smock dress pattern in the same matching blue. Because who doesn’t love matching her “Oppa”? Super duper easy to sew up. And we were matching in our summer breezy blues in no time.
I saw this wonderful craft on the blog Magic Onions the other day. With the many stormy nights of no-sleep as of late, I knew that a rendezvous with my sewing machine was in order. And quick.
It is simply a piece of felted cashmere sweater, purchased for only $1 at the thrift store, a wee bit of thread, and the luxurious scent of lavender buds and dried rosemary. I took the liberty to alter the blog pattern and needle felted wool roving figures onto the front of each pillow. A red car for Mini Mister and a pink piggy for Little Miss. Inside each supremely soft cashmere pouch is a muslin bag filled with rice, buds, and herbs. When the buds and herbs have given all their scent we can replace them. The side of the pouch fastens with Velcro.
Just before bedtime stories we warm the soft sweet scented pillows gently in the microwave and hug them as we drift off into a lavender dream land.
It has been a while since my crafty itch has really itched. Feeling under-the-weather usually has me sitting around knitting, stitching, or drawing. Hot and humid weather with a heat index of 107 degrees also usually has me indoors doing something cool, with a glass of iced tea. But this summer, it hasn’t been so. We’ve been doing a lot of book reading. Jig-saw puzzling. Cooking yummy gluten free recipes. And drinking a ton of water while waiting for the cool-weather Gods to come a bless our abode.
But I digress. I was so delighted when this book came in the mail. I am in the midst of researching educational opportunities for my children and wanted to learn a bit more about the Waldorf philosophy of teaching. This book is a wonderfully delightful read with a lot of information about Waldorf schooling and interesting activities and crafts aimed toward children 2 – 4 years of age.
Though I am not totally sold that such an unstructured education like Waldorf is right for my oldest, this book completely plays to my crafty, saw-it-in-a-book-wanna-make-it side. So, I set to work pulling out my yarn left overs to make a very petite and exceptionally cute knit bunny.
And thus followed, a small heap of c0lorful remnants made the journey to my sewing machine to be stitched into an adorable orange dress for my daughter’s dolly, Kaylee.
What are you crafting? And what comes along that inspires you?
 This is the latest sewing project. My fingers get a bit itchy when they haven’t been fussing with the sewing machine in a while. And they were itchy this weekend. I decided to reverse engineer one of Little miss’ dresses I love. Easy, light, and comfy. I have never done back buttons before but I think my un-orthodox approach is working. Finished product to be shared soon!
What are your fingers itching to do this summer?
ahhh, just finished the azure pleated linen dress for my Little Miss. This empire-waist toddler dress is lined with unbleached muslin. Pleats across the bodice and along the waist band along with a rick rack accent provide visual interest and perhaps a few tucks for cookie crumbs to collect. I did a matching border along the hem of the skirt. Simple skirt pleats make this summer dress roomy enough for any play-by-the-pond-with-a-stick-squat.
 On my summer sewing list, shorts for Mini Mister, many more dresses for Little Miss, matching pjs for daddy and son, and oh, that wrap dress for moi! What are you sewing this summer?
 I can’t remember the last time I stitched a garment for moi. Maybe high school? Grow-up bodies require a bit more shaping, attention to detail, and a bit more fabric than toddler projects. I did a muslin dress for this one since I wasn’t sure what the heck size I am now. Is there a racket in the retail clothing industry? I am a Levis size 2 short. This Vogue sewing pattern is more like the real thing, which is a size 14. How does 2 reconcile with 14?
 Anyway, this patter is a super simple wrap dress, with a bit of shaping in the bodice and an A-line skirt. I have small hips and a big top, so this style works well for me. The gathers around the hips give me a more hour-glass, balanced look. (Ever drool over someone’s fashionable outfit, but wonder would that look good on my figure? Well, Vogue has this really cool symbol system, Figure Flattery, that indicates which body-types look good in their garments.)
I have been noticing that in-set sleeve patterns (and maybe it is just for kid clothing since they are small) seam the side just once from the waist to the end of the sleeve. Not so here, back to easing, basting, and lots of pinning. Notice how I didn’t do the second mock-up sleeve?
 All and all this pattern fit well as is. No gap at the bust! Good just below the knee length! The perfect sleeve, not to tight and ample coverage. (My arms just look horrid in those in-fashion cap sleeves.) But I need about an inch of length added in the bodice. This pattern has a length adjustment guide, so this will be pretty easy.
So I am set to stitch up the real thing. Well, almost. I am still looking for the prefect stretch fabric for summer. Print? Solid? Just a touch of poly please! I need a new church dress so I suspect my search will ramp up pretty quickly. Finish garment to come! (Oh, and this pattern is Very Easy Vogue 8379. I’d thought I’d start out simple.)
What are you stitching?
 I have finally, gotten back to my sewing machine. As I gently stepped on the foot pedal, I swear I could hear it whisper, “where were you?” These sewing projects were super quick. Super easy. And super orange.
I just like orange on the kids. Is orange really anyone’s color? Do you ever see a grown adult wearing blaze orange besides during hunting season? Orange suits young spirits who are perpetually in motion and always seeking out fun. In Feng Shui, orange is considered a “social” color and is used in the home to promote playful and lively energy. Sounds like a kid’s color to me for sure.
(I must confess, I had an ulterior motive using this color. Orange outfits are a strategic must on a busy playground. I can always spot my little monkeys when I dress them in yellow or orange.)
Shopping for fabric with my daughter, I found this gauzy orange linen. Perfect for hot humid summers. Soft, smooth, light, and airy. I picked up a pattern for Mini Mister’s Hawaiian shirt, and drafted a new 2T pattern for Little Miss’ dress. (I used Amy Butler’s Little Stitches for Little Ones, Comfy Jumper Dress pattern as a guide.) You might recognize the bodice fabric from these embroidered place mats I did a while ago. After a muslin mock-up for Little Miss and a waistline adjustment, I was off–sewing matching summer orange outfits.
This is how we came out.
 Mini Mister picked out the buttons all by himself. We call this his “high-5″ shirt. He actually slept with it in his arms the night I finished it. *sigh* What love!
I love that rumpled linen look. So, comfy, casual, and playful.
 Little Miss was so eager to try on her garment after seeing her “oppa” receive his. She is so content in the smooth cotton and lined linen skirt, playing unhindered.
 Together, they look perfectly…orange.
Lately I’ve been doing a lot of cooking. Chopping, rinsing, blanching, searing, sauteing, and braising gives me plenty of time to think. Think about my son’s bean plants that need a bigger pot. Think about the handstand my daughter did at gymnastics. Think about how our first year of pre-school is almost over. Think about how I want to try a new homemade lotion recipe. Think about how excited I am to see my hydrangea bush bloom. And think about our highly anticipated premier farmer’s market visit TOMORROW!! Gosh, I cannot believe May is here.
But amid all the culinary flurry, I have been missing my sewing machine. I miss pinning (although last night I found that I don’t miss getting a pin in the finger.) I miss the iron. (Okay not really that part.) I miss the butterflies I get in my tummy right before I am to cut into that fabulous piece of fabric I in no way want to screw up. I miss the sound of the needling going up and down, and the fly wheel going around and around. I miss the feel of the pedal under my foot, and I miss the quest to seek out a new creation, one stitched step at a time.
It has been a little lacking here on the sewing inspiration front. So with a couple new purchases, I hope to ruffle my sewing feathers, alight anew, and begin to create a bit of summer here with my sewing machine. We are starting with this fabulous textured orange linen. I just love linen. A 4T safari shirt anyone? Okay, maybe not to blend in with the safari, but rather to stand out at the playground and stay cool this weekend in 90+ degree weather.
I didn’t mention the Debbie Bliss magazine. I have to finish another orange sweater first…some seam stitching and blocking…*yawn* And then maybe I will let myself tackle this oh so stylish hooded kaftan in bamboo/merino. I just love summer knits.
Have a wonderful inspired weekend.
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thank you for stopping by my blog  I am a 30-something mom to a 4 year old son and 2 1/2 year old daughter, and a wife to my life wonderful. I write in this space when my crafty inspiration strikes or when I get to pondering about how we can better connect with the earth around us. We are a family surviving the suburbs, contending with commercialism, and getting to a greener lifestyle. Welcome! ~Abbie a few blogs I like in no particular order 
One Small Change can help the environment!
In Jan we stopped using paper towels
In Feb was Ziploc elimination
Check back at the end of the month to see how I did and for recipes to make your own all natural lotions, shampoos and soaps!
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