Admittance is the First Step...

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Okay, Okay! I admit it! I am addicted to the Scarf Neck Cardigan ! I have now made three and I even--oops I almost gave away the secret I mentioned in my last post. Close one! ;) haha don't worry it will be revealed soon. Anyways, back to my cardigan addiction. Here is Cardigan #3. :)

Don't you just LOVE the charcoal grey and blue fabric???? This lovely fabric practically forced itself into my arms at Jo-Ann's on Monday. I mean it really wasn't my fault! I blame the color combination and the fact that the red tag clearance was an additional 50% off! It wasn't like I was even intending to buy any fabric.....I was going to get elastic....and I just glanced at the red tag aisle because I was forced to pass it to get my elastic....and then there was that beautiful 50% off sign hanging there....I swear it smirked at me with that I-Just-Dare-You-To-Ignore-Me look! So I really am the innocent victim here. ;) And of course, I was forced to purchase other fabric, as well. What torture!

Moving on.... ;) haha This fabric was a perfect choice for the Scarf Neck Cardigan ! It has a wonderful drape! See how nicely the scarf neck rolls? I just love it. Again, I didn't hem this one. 

Speaking of hemming, I did absolutely NO hemming to this cardigan! No hemming??? How??? What about the sleeves??? Well yesterday as I was cutting out my fabric, an idea started forming. I was thinking about a shirt I had made using a free pattern several months ago. To finish the sleeves and to make them fitted, the pattern called for cuffs. Cuffs are made from a rectangular piece of fabric that you sew together along the short sides of the rectangle to form a circle. You then fold the fabric in half lengthwise, with the right side out. Next, you slide the cuff over the right side of the sleeve, matching seams and raw edges. With the cuff evenly stretched along the sleeve, sew the cuff to the sleeve. Finally, you flip the cuff forward, and there you have it. No hemming necessary! I thought this would be fun to try. So I figured out how wide the sleeves were on the small size and then I figured out how wide my forearm is where the cuff would rest. You want the cuff to be somewhat snug. After measuring everything, I decided to cut out a 9" x 6" rectangle (stretch going lengthwise or with the longest measurement). In my measurements, I accounted for a 1/2 inch seam allowance, so my attached cuffs were 8 inches in circumference and 2 1/2 inches long (remember you fold the cuff in half). Here is a close-up of the cuffs.

I am so pleased with how they turned out! The cuffs could have been a little snugger but I didn't want them too tight. Plus, I can push them up for a more bunched look. So that was my brilliant sewing experiment! Haha and all from being too lazy to hem.

Here is one more pic.

I still can't decide which I like better: the contrasting cream or the more subtle black? I just love them both! And I just realized something! This fabric probably stuck out to me because it subconsciously reminded me of Duke!!! Haha and I love Duke Basketball! :)

Oh I want to mention, the lovely creator of this cardigan has changed her company name from Paco Bean Patterns to Swoon Sewing Patterns. Here is a link to her new Facebook page.  Here is the link to her shop. Be sure and like it! Still all the same lovely patterns, just a new name! And I am sure once you try one of her patterns, you will swoon too! ;)

Oops! I did it again! ;)

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Yes, I did it again! I made another cardigan with the wonderful Paco Bean Scarf Neck Cardigan pattern! This pattern is as amazing the second time around as it was the first!

Here are a couple pics of my new charcoal grey Scarf Neck Cardigan!

For this second cardigan, I did a few things differently. First, I used a knit that was a little thicker. It is probably considered a light to med weight knit. I'm not really sure about all the info, since this fabric was given to me. I love it, though, whatever it is. It is so soft and comfy! It drapes just as nicely as the other knit.

Second, I made this one with the shorter sleeves. I was going to do the long sleeves, but as I started cutting everything out, I quickly realized it would be cutting it close (literally!). So I went with the shorter sleeves. I am so glad I did! I love them!

Thirdly, I did not hem the bottom or scarf neck edge this time. Yes, I was being a little lazy, but hey it looks so good without a hem. And now I have tried it both ways.

Oh and lastly, I made a small this time, instead of a medium. It fits great. This knit is a little stretchier than the other. I think I could have made the other in the small and still been good, though, but when in doubt, it is best to go the safer route. My recommendation if you are in-between sizes or the size you wear depends on the brand, I would go with the bigger size for knits that have minimal stretch and the smaller size for knits that have a greater amount of stretch.

Already plotting my next one....I wonder how many I can make before it is considered excessive??? haha ;)

Half-Pint Purse

So two weeks ago, Create Kids Couture (CKC) released a FREE pattern on their blog for a doll size purse. It is adorable! With CKC's trademark ruffles!! So cute! In this post, they also refer back to another FREE pattern they had released on their blog in April for the same purse but in little girl size. Of course, I clicked on the link to see this post, knowing I needed to make the little girl size ruffle purse for my niece. Well two weeks later, I had the time to do just that. I thought I would share some pics of my little creation, and a little tip for using fat quarters to make this purse. :)

Here is a picture of my fabric choices and pattern pieces all ready to go! These fabrics came in one of those fat quarter bundles from Jo-Ann's. For some reason, I just really love owls right now. They are just so cute. My niece was wearing the most adorable ruffle shirt the other day that had a little owl on it. And today, at my great-uncle's memorial service, one of my little second cousins was wearing the same shirt! Now that I love them, I see them on everything! Were they always there, or am I just now noticing them??? haha

Here is a picture of my finished little girl size purse, which really is just the perfect size for a little lady.

I kind of think it is adorable! Maybe I am biased. :) Look how it stands up so nicely! Let's give a shout-out to the nice interfacing I used! By the way, this was my first time using Pellon 987.

Here is a pic of the inside.

I made a little rectangular pocket to add to the inside for a couple of reasons. First, I knew my niece would love a little pocket. Second, I just thought it would add a pop of contrasting color to the inside. I made the pocket with the same fabric I used for the ruffles. Oh and you even get a little glimpse of my labels, which were made by Sewnique Boutique!

Anyways on to my little trick, which probably isn't a trick and is probably something everyone knows. But just in case someone out there is newer to sewing like me, this may seem like a cool trick too! So the pattern calls for 1/3 of a yard of fabric for the outer and lining. However, if you cut the purse bottom out just a little differently, you can use those fat quarters. Instead of cutting this piece on the fold, you are going to cut two separate pieces, adding 3/8 of an inch to each piece. (Add the 3/8 of an inch to the edge where the fold would have been.) With right sides together and the edges (where the fold would have been) matched up, sew down the edge using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Now you will have one piece and it will be the same length as it should have been originally, since we accounted for the seam allowance when we cut the pieces out. Repeat this with the purse bottom for the lining. Here is a picture of the bottom seam where the pieces are joined.

You know what else is great about this method??? If you are using directional fabric, your designs (my owls) will be facing upright on each side. So neither of the owls will be standing on their heads. ;) I have to say, I learned this trick from an amazing Paco Bean pattern!!! (Every Paco Bean Pattern is amazing though!) And by the way, if you want to make yourself a big girl purse, check out Paco Bean Patterns! You won't regret it!

Well this is my take on CKC's Child Ruffle Purse! Go check out their pattern and make one for a little lady in your life! And definitely check out their pdf patterns at the Create Kids Couture Store! I have bought several of their patterns and they are so easy to follow. I learn something new every time.

Paco Bean Cardigan!!!

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So I cannot remember when I first discovered Paco Bean, but I believe I bought my first Paco Bean pattern this summer around the beginning of August. Unfortunately, at the time, I was knee deep in two grad courses. It wasn't until last month that I was able to actually make something from one of the Paco Bean patterns I had accumulated. The first item I made was the Eleanor Slouchy Hobo bag, which I blogged about in this post. I fell in LOVE with this pattern and the final product! I felt like I had made a professional purse (perhaps that is because it LOOKS so professional??)! :) I have gotten many compliments on this lovely bag.

Now this week, once again, I have fallen in LOVE with another Paco Bean pattern: the Scarf Neck Cardigan! This is the newest Paco Bean pattern available and it is a beauty!! Once you make one, you will need to make at least half a dozen more.... :) I think that is reasonable...

Take a look at my little beauty!

Front pic!

Isn't it gorgeous??? I love the way it fits! The scarf neck drapes so perfectly!  I love everything about the dimensions of this pattern. I love all the curves and points, the princess seams, etc.

Side pic of front points...love them! 

Close-up of princess seams...first time making them!

As for the pattern, the instructions are so easy to follow! There are instructions for finishing your seams which a french seam or you can use your serger or you don't have to finish the seams at all. I used my serger to make this one. Seriously, I love my serger when it comes to sewing with knits! I hemmed the sleeves, bottom edge, and the raw edges of the scarf neck using a double-pointed needle. You really don't have to hem anything if you like the raw edged look, and it does make this an even quicker project. All of the pattern pieces fit together perfectly. From the look of the cardigan, it seems like a complicated project, but really that's the cool secret! It isn't! But hey, go ahead and let your admirers be impressed with your sewing skills.

For this cardigan, I used a very light weight knit. It is a light blue Jersey knit with burnout Damask print. I bought this on fabric.com for $2.99 a yard! Pretty good steal! Oh and fyi, this is the medium size of the cardigan.....I think I could maybe get away with the small, which I might try next time. This particular knit wasn't super stretchy. Plus I wanted room to be able to layer over a long sleeve shirt since it is so thin and I live in the cold Northwest.

I have only one warning about this pattern: it is addicting! You will want to make many more, which means you might need to shop for some new knit fabric, which means your husband may let out a long sigh, which means you will need to show him the great prices you can find at Girl Charlee and fabric.com. ;) At least, that is my plan.

So I will admit I now own almost all of the Paco Bean patterns available to date, but unfortunately, grad school is still keeping me busy. I do, however, have a week break coming up and I can't wait to make another Paco Bean bag.....perhaps the Dorothy Day Tripper or the Rosie Crossbody Bag???? Decisions decisions!!! Of course, the easiest solution would be to make them both. :) Stay posted....hopefully you will see one of each in the near future....and another scarf neck cardigan or two or three....or... ;)

One last pic....I just love how it lays...