There is progress and here's a sneak preview of what the homepage looks like:
We're still working on the official logo and getting all the content put together, but all the pages are mocked up and ready for code!
May 18, 2013
Website Sneak Preview
I work on websites everyday, yet designing my own has been a chore. I guess it's like our deck guy was lamenting yesterday that he's done hundred's of awesome decks but his house doesn't have one.
There is progress and here's a sneak preview of what the homepage looks like:
We're still working on the official logo and getting all the content put together, but all the pages are mocked up and ready for code!
There is progress and here's a sneak preview of what the homepage looks like:
We're still working on the official logo and getting all the content put together, but all the pages are mocked up and ready for code!
April 5, 2013
Purple Shirts, Purple Hats, Purple Socks. Always Purple
When I ask Penny what color to use when sewing, she always insists on purple. So when my sister and I went shopping for fabric, I asked her to pick a couple of purple cottons with which to sew a shirt for Penny. She picked an adorable bright print and a soft lilac contrast.
I was able to crank this adorable shirt out during Penny's nap and it fits her quite well. Thankfully, it's also light and comfortable, perfect for spring!
Want one for your little girl? Email me with your child's size and fabric color preferences and I'll give you a quote.
I was able to crank this adorable shirt out during Penny's nap and it fits her quite well. Thankfully, it's also light and comfortable, perfect for spring!
Want one for your little girl? Email me with your child's size and fabric color preferences and I'll give you a quote.
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| Detail - Inside Sleeve |
March 25, 2013
I'm Overextended? No way.
It's not that I haven't been working, sewing, or designing. It's more that I'm overextended and some things had to become lower priority than others. At TLP, we're hard at work on ideas for an Etsy shop launch this summer. I'll be working with my sister, Kailee, on fun knit toys for summer and fall, and hats and mittens for winter. Penny has been directing that everything I make be dark purple, so expect purple throughout the collection of summer dresses, bags, soft toys, and child-centered home decor.
Current personal projects include a lined dress for spring, a new top for Penny (in purple, of course), and a lightweight casual jacket in a bold red and white print.
We have some capacity for custom work. Contact me for unique baby gifts, notecards, or knitwear!
Current personal projects include a lined dress for spring, a new top for Penny (in purple, of course), and a lightweight casual jacket in a bold red and white print.
We have some capacity for custom work. Contact me for unique baby gifts, notecards, or knitwear!
February 7, 2013
Penny's Purple Skirt
Penny loves purple more than an other color at the moment. I made her a fun, little skirt out of a lightweight purple cotton print. The entire project only took an evening really, with hemming done in about 10 minutes during a quick break.
Unlike skirts I've made for her in the past, this one has a snap closure, not an elastic waistband, and I did sewn pleats and flat seams, just to be sure it lasts a while. The fabric was so easy to work with that it was a real pleasure to make this skirt for Penny.
Want one for your little girl? Email me!
Unlike skirts I've made for her in the past, this one has a snap closure, not an elastic waistband, and I did sewn pleats and flat seams, just to be sure it lasts a while. The fabric was so easy to work with that it was a real pleasure to make this skirt for Penny.
Want one for your little girl? Email me!
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| Penny Wearing the Skirt |
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| Volumizing Pleats |
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| Flat Seams |
January 30, 2013
Change of Dress Plans
After a snafu between the post office and my house (missing delivery), I'm short a pattern for Kailee's dress. Since it was a past season design, getting a replacement could take time. Thankfully, there are no shortage of cool dress patterns online.
With the Vogue designer collection offering an excellent price, I couldn't resist buying two patterns for Kailee to pick from. What she doesn't choose for her, I'll make for me!
First is a fitted, retro-style design, V1174. Picture it in a youthful pattern or bold solid. It looks like a stiffer fabric with a silk lining is suggested, which works for me. I'm not a fan of brocade though, so I'll look at some alternatives. Perhaps there is a nice thick silk weave that would be suited for the style?
Second, a perfect casual dress for summer, V1236. I don't expect to make it in that seersucker fabric. Instead, something fun and flirty, like a light cotton print or even a silk crepe. This dress looks easy but looks can be deceiving. I'm sure it's a fine line between a nice fit and a bag with a belt.
I'm imagining both in red, green, or rich purple. If you see a fabric that might work well, let me know!
With the Vogue designer collection offering an excellent price, I couldn't resist buying two patterns for Kailee to pick from. What she doesn't choose for her, I'll make for me!
First is a fitted, retro-style design, V1174. Picture it in a youthful pattern or bold solid. It looks like a stiffer fabric with a silk lining is suggested, which works for me. I'm not a fan of brocade though, so I'll look at some alternatives. Perhaps there is a nice thick silk weave that would be suited for the style?
Second, a perfect casual dress for summer, V1236. I don't expect to make it in that seersucker fabric. Instead, something fun and flirty, like a light cotton print or even a silk crepe. This dress looks easy but looks can be deceiving. I'm sure it's a fine line between a nice fit and a bag with a belt.
I'm imagining both in red, green, or rich purple. If you see a fabric that might work well, let me know!
January 23, 2013
A Purple Collection
Penny only likes purple now. She's rejecting pink and since she selects many of the fabrics I use, that means we're going to have a purple collection for Spring/Summer 2013!
First up in the purple collection will be a couple of tunic dresses or shirts. Penny chose a bright purple cotton print with a subtle pattern for her shirt. I have some fun frilly antique white trim I may use on the cuffs or around the neckline.
Next up, a tunic dress for a toddler who will just be learning to walk. I'll keep the length short to make it easy for baby to fall and get back up and the overall size loose for free movement but not so loose that it gets caught on something around the house. The fabric is also 100% cotton in a greyish purple with a black damask-style print. A bold orange border will give the piece some pop without overtaking the focal point: the pretty fabric. It's a very grown-up look for a toddler, but some fun leggings and a bright headband will compliment the look and keep an overall youthful appearance.
I need to make a pattern for these in the next week or so and then I'll get sewing. The magic of this style is it's super easy to make!
First up in the purple collection will be a couple of tunic dresses or shirts. Penny chose a bright purple cotton print with a subtle pattern for her shirt. I have some fun frilly antique white trim I may use on the cuffs or around the neckline.
Next up, a tunic dress for a toddler who will just be learning to walk. I'll keep the length short to make it easy for baby to fall and get back up and the overall size loose for free movement but not so loose that it gets caught on something around the house. The fabric is also 100% cotton in a greyish purple with a black damask-style print. A bold orange border will give the piece some pop without overtaking the focal point: the pretty fabric. It's a very grown-up look for a toddler, but some fun leggings and a bright headband will compliment the look and keep an overall youthful appearance.
I need to make a pattern for these in the next week or so and then I'll get sewing. The magic of this style is it's super easy to make!
January 22, 2013
Kailee's Dress
I wanted to challenge myself and make clothes for an adult, so with my sister as the guinea pig, I'm making a dress. She is by no means the unreal dimensions of any one size on the back of a pattern envelope, so I wanted to work from a less tailored design, knowing I'll have to make quite a few adjustments.
My first design takes into account the proportions of a petite dress size, not actual measurements. It's at least a head shorter than a typical croqui, so it looks off. Ending the dress at knee length was a bad idea too. What I like about this dress is the fit creates the illusion of a defined waist in a person who may not have one and it has some inspiration from the 1950s, which is a time period I wish I lived in. But this is a dress for Kailee, not me, so I moved on.
I searched online but couldn't find the pattern I wanted, so working with Kailee, I selected pattern M6321 (view A) from McCall's.
It isn't a petite pattern but I found my sister didn't fit either petite or Misses and went with whatever she might like, knowing I'll alter it. Her back-waist length is shorter than the smallest petite size, for example. We're a family of short girls.
I've read a few pattern adjustment books but it's been a while, so I'm hitting up the library for a few reference books before I begin cutting and pasting to convert a size 10 to Kailee-size. For those who aren't familiar with sewing, a pattern size 10 is not like a retail size 10. I'm not converting a retail 10 to a size 0. Basically, in retail terms, I need to work make it like a size 4-6 top, 0 waist (for this dress, hip size isn't critical and should be easy to adjust), and the length, well short. I'll probably chop three inches from the top length and at least that much from the skirt length, expand the top width, reduce the waist and hip area, and cross my fingers.
I'll make a muslin and fit it to me first and once basted, drive over to Northfield for a fitting with Kailee. I'm assuming this will take a while, giving me time to save for fabric, of which I think I'll need about three yards of silk, crepe, or something similar, a lining fabric possibly, plus notions. It may end up a "congrats on taking your GRE" present in early summer.
My first design takes into account the proportions of a petite dress size, not actual measurements. It's at least a head shorter than a typical croqui, so it looks off. Ending the dress at knee length was a bad idea too. What I like about this dress is the fit creates the illusion of a defined waist in a person who may not have one and it has some inspiration from the 1950s, which is a time period I wish I lived in. But this is a dress for Kailee, not me, so I moved on.
My second sketch took into account my sister's short stature. She doesn't usually wear fitted dresses, so something more flowing could work for her figure. In my head, I pictured a muted red dupioni silk with a wide, loose-fitting waistband. Kailee and I have almost the same measurements and I've found the overlapping bodice style to be comfortable and feminine, so I thought it might work for her as well.
I searched online but couldn't find the pattern I wanted, so working with Kailee, I selected pattern M6321 (view A) from McCall's.
It isn't a petite pattern but I found my sister didn't fit either petite or Misses and went with whatever she might like, knowing I'll alter it. Her back-waist length is shorter than the smallest petite size, for example. We're a family of short girls.
I've read a few pattern adjustment books but it's been a while, so I'm hitting up the library for a few reference books before I begin cutting and pasting to convert a size 10 to Kailee-size. For those who aren't familiar with sewing, a pattern size 10 is not like a retail size 10. I'm not converting a retail 10 to a size 0. Basically, in retail terms, I need to work make it like a size 4-6 top, 0 waist (for this dress, hip size isn't critical and should be easy to adjust), and the length, well short. I'll probably chop three inches from the top length and at least that much from the skirt length, expand the top width, reduce the waist and hip area, and cross my fingers.
I'll make a muslin and fit it to me first and once basted, drive over to Northfield for a fitting with Kailee. I'm assuming this will take a while, giving me time to save for fabric, of which I think I'll need about three yards of silk, crepe, or something similar, a lining fabric possibly, plus notions. It may end up a "congrats on taking your GRE" present in early summer.
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