Project Highlights

I’ve got a big project to share, my daughter’s Homecoming dress, but before I do that, I wanted to highlight various projects I’ve done since my last post. I haven’t been working on very many purse patterns this year, but I have been working on a lot of sewing projects! My new projector has been making things so much faster and easier, especially when it comes to kid wardrobes.

So I’ll just go through some of projects this year! This is not all of them. I generally post all of my projects on Instagram right after completing them, if you want to see more photos of more projects.

In March, I made myself a new comforter! I used a duvet from Amazon made from velvet, and bought a king sized package of batting. Over a couple of weekends I worked on it and was able to quilt it (barely) on my home machine. We’ve had it six months now and it still looks great and it’s just as soft as ever! Our dog is not allowed on it though unless he is on a different blanket so we can protect the comforter from his claws.

In April my kids went to a church Prom dance. My daughter really thought it would be fun to dress to the theme, which was Van Gogh. So we used the Bedight Bolero pattern to make her a jacket to use over the dress I made her for her 8th grade formal. It’s reversible! My son wanted a matching tie, so I used a pattern from Peek-a-boo Patterns for that one.

In June, my middle kids participated in a community Children’s Theater production of Snow White. I got involved with the costume committee and my primary contributions were upholstering this chair and the Evil Queen’s outfit. The chair was a crazy disgusting mass of burlap and straw and sideways springs. It had been recovered about four times. I took it all out! My husband cut a new flat wooden seat and I covered it with foam, then batting, then stretched the red velvet over it. Same with the back. It looked awesome on stage! The evil queen’s dress needed a few bits of altering, and then I ended up adding the collar to a vest-like thing, plus the buttons. Finally, they asked me to make her a sparkly tulle cape with blanket binding on the edges. I helped with a few other things, but those two were projects were my biggest ones.

In July and August I made some swimsuits. I also made myself half a swimsuit but still haven’t finished the top as I want to make a built in bra and I still haven’t managed to work on it yet. Pink top, pink and yellow bottoms, turquoise top, sunflower top (heavily modified), turquoise bottoms.

In August I made myself a new white temple dress (and a muslin beforehand) using the Delta Dress pattern from Sinclair Patterns.

I made my son a bathrobe for his birthday (from Sofiona Patterns) and I also made the cake! I only bake cakes once a year and this is only the third year I’ve made his cake. First time using fondant. I’m very proud of it! My cake-making mother-in-law and sister-in-law gave me kudos on the decorating and taste, so that makes it even better, Most importantly, my son was thrilled.

Months ago I told my daughter I’d make her a vest with lots of pockets that she could wear when it was too warm for her jacket at school. By the time I finally finished, it’s cool enough she’s wearing the jacket! Whoops. It’s the Tsuki Cargo Vest by Waffle Patterns. She picked all the fabrics and additions.

My middle kids just participated in another theater production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My main contribution was to sew all the Oompa Loompa socks, cuffs, and bowties! I helped with other aspects of their costumes too. They were so cute.

My hugest project of the year, guaranteed, even with 2.5 months left, was to sew my daughter’s Homecoming dress. That deserves its own post, so I will make one and try to remember to come back and link it!