Monday, July 29, 2013

Carousel top at the beach

Pin It We went to the beach here in Anchorage and I thought it would be the perfect backdrop for a t-shirt I made Abi.  She actually wears this shirt all the time, so getting a good picture of it should not be as hard as it has been.
Carousel Top pattern review

The shirt is the Carousel Top from Go to Patterns.  It is essentially a t-shirt but it has a cute little key hole in the back for interest.  The pattern has instructions for a button closure option, but I found it to be really unnecessary with the size of Abi's head. 

Carousel Top pattern review

I used a textured knit in pink and white stripes.  It is a very lightweight fabric and is perfect for the summer.

Carousel Top pattern review

  Another nice detail is that the front shoulder is gathered.  It gives a sweet feminine touch.  To stabilize the seam and gathers the pattern instructs you to sew the gathers to a strip of stay tape.  I used some left over grosgrain ribbon.  I frequently use clear elastic to stabilize the shoulders of knit tops, but stay tape is a better option for these gathers.  I would not recommend deviating from the pattern instructions this time.



Carousel Top pattern review

The beach we went to is one of the few 'sandy' beaches around here.  Most of the coastline goes straight up to rocky shores.  And the sand is not normal sand.  The beaches are really mud flats full of glacial silt.  The mudflats are actually very dangerous, so we do not go out on them.  They can act as quick sand and people die as they get stuck out there when the tide comes in.  But, like I said, this is a safer and sandy area for the kids to play.  They had a great time.


Anchorage, Alaska beaches

Anchorage, Alaska beaches
Anchorage, Alaska harbor



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Monday, July 22, 2013

Getting back into the groove

Pin It  I (Major Moma) have set up my sewing area and was so excited to get back to sewing.  I am lucky in that I always have a dedicated space to my sewing.  Often it is shared with an office so it is not exclusively used by me.  And this time, I am sharing with a play area. 

On a rocking horse with a sword
This weekend I got everything set up enough that I could actually sew.  However, it was not as easy as I thought it would be.  All that fabric and pent up sewing ideas kind of stalled out as soon as I saw everything.  I could not figure out what to do. 

So, I finally went out and bought a pattern and took out some fabric I had planned for something totally different.  And slowly, I got to work.  But no finished product yet.
view from the sewing machine

When I was about to have my stuff packed early this spring, I had a long list of projects that I wanted to complete before it was all packed up.  And I completed all of them and then some.   I had gotten pretty efficient and good at completing things.  Now I am out of practice and much slower.

In addition, I have a new TV and access to American shows that I did not have in Germany.  People always asked me "how do you have the time to do all that?"  I always replied, "I don't watch TV."  And then I would get a look like, "what are you judging me, do you think all I do is watch TV?" 
Eli with a sword and shield

Now, I have started to watch a show that I have heard about from many ... Downtown Abby.  I am sure you all have seen it.  But this week I started to watch it.  And let me tell you, my free time has been greatly reduced.

Sunday afternoon though I spent a lot of time sewing and watching my kids be goofy playing some elaborate make-belive game.  That is where all these silly and poorly take pictures came from.

Isa with her safety goggles
So, no projects to show or tips to give, but lots of fun life going on here at the Major Moma household!


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Monday, July 15, 2013

Looking back while moving forward

Pin It Major Moma is moving in!

After months (yes, months) of not living with my stuff it arrived on Monday.  So boxes and boxes were unloaded into an empty house.  So far we have actually unpacked an amazing amount.  We have the kids' rooms finished and the living room 98% done.  Our room still needs some work and the office is still mainly a room of boxes.

unpacking in progress

As for my sewing room?  Well, it is pretty close to being done.  I had so much unpacked that I thought I would be able to sew this weekend.  However, I could not find my patterns that I wanted to use.  Darn.

sundress

I did not want leave the blog empty, and I have run out of pre-planned ready projects.  So, I decided to share a dress I made years ago.

This dress is one I made when I first starting sewing for me about nine years ago.  It is Butterick 4183 view B.  This dress is a wonderful beginner sewer project.  There is not a lot of fitting to do and the instructions are simple.

sundress
I used a flowered seersucker fabric for this dress.  I think it is perfect because it allows for a close fit with a little stretch from the puckers in the fabric.

I wore it this weekend to church with a denim jacket over the top (RTW, The Loft).

sundress

I put a band of grosgrain ribbon at the top.  This has really kept the  bodice top from stretching out over the years.  The straps are also using the ribbon and are merely decorative.   Actually they get in the way more than anything and are completely useless.

sundress

I have been thinking of making another one of these.  Maybe this time upscale it a bit and use boning and a more substantial fabric.

What do you think?  What fabric would be a good upgrade?


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Monday, July 8, 2013

School Girl Socks

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When I (Major Moma) bought the sock yarn for the socks I posted about HERE, I had my eldest daughter in tow.  Since I was in a sock yarn buying mood, I let her pick out some sock yarn too.  She picked a very pretty variegated yarn with green, blue, and brown.  It is by Sockina Color.  It is 75% wool and 25% nylon which makes it one hundred percent washable!  No shrunken wool socks for us.

crochet child socks

I used a pattern from the September/October 2010 issue of Crochet Today! magazine.  My friend lent me this magazine and later let me just keep it as I left Germany with unfinished socks. (Thanks Gin!)   

crocheting socks on a plane
Socks on a plane
Abi really likes knee socks so I automatically gravitated to the School Girl Socks pattern.  However, they were sized for a 6 year old and not long, skinny footed 9 year old.  So, I had to adjust the pattern to fit her feet.  
 
crochet girls socks


This was way easier than it sounds.  I am not an expert hooker (yes, that is a technical term :D ) and yet I could easily make the necessary adjustments.  First, I lengthened the initial chain so that it fit across my kid’s toes the way it did on the girl in the picture.  Then, I followed the instructions with my longer/wider sock.  When I got to the heel, I made the foundation single crochet chain long enough to stretch around my daughter’s foot.  Basically, from there I just had her try on the sock every couple inches to make sure it fit.  There were some points when I had to unravel and adjust, but it was easier to fit her than I anticipated.  Along the way, I wrote down my adjustments so that the second sock would not require fittings.


crochet child socks

I stopped the sock at the point she requested, so it does not go all the way up to her knees.  She is quite happy with them and they should be very comfy and warm come this fall.  The last stitch used is actually an alternating of back post double crochet and front post double crochet.  This created a ribbing and a really nice finished edge.  I highly recommend learning this stitch if you don’t know it already.

crochet front/back post stitch

Do your kids like knee socks?  Have you tried the front/back post stitches?



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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Getting to know Alaska

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Well, I (Major Moma) have been in Anchorage for a little over a week.  Of course minus a little (and I mean little) crocheting, there has not been a lot of creating by me.  Instead, we have bought a car, almost closed on a house, and in-processed into work.

But last weekend, we did do a little sightseeing to get the kids out of the hotel room and to enjoy the short, but beautiful Alaskan summer.  Can I just say wow?

Anchorage, AK
view from our hotel
This place is amazing.

wildlife conservation at Portage, AK
Elk at a conservation park near Portage, AK

I am loving the mountains.

glaciers near Portage, AK
glaciers near Portage, AK

And the glaciers are so blue.  I have decided to use the above picture for our Inspiration Point for July.

Mountain views on Alaska coast; near turnagain, AK

Up until last night we have not seen any signature wild life outside of the nature preserve; that was fun too.  But last night on my way home from Target, There was a moose walking across an overpass.  It was HUGE.  It will be interesting the first time a moose is in my yard.  And I have been told that moose, or any other large animal, in the yard is a legitimate reason to not go to work.  You are to stay put until they move on.  It is safer that way.

moose at conservation park near Portage, AK
Moose at conservation park

So next week our household goods will arrive and a mountain of boxes will need to be unpacked.  That, along with sights to see, may keep me from creating for a bit longer.  I have a couple projects that were left un-blogged that I will likely use to fill the space.   But until I have something done, I will post a few pictures of the great views I am enjoying.  And maybe you can share what you love to do when the summer makes it worth leaving your sewing room.

Isa enjoying watchin elk near Portage, AK

 

What is your favorite summer outdoor activity?





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