The Dana/Maddie Top Sew-a-Long Day 1

Hello All! 

Welcome to the very first pattern sew a long! I am pretty excited about this, so i apologize in advance for the exclamations points. 

First, let's start with a little introduction though. Hi!!! My name is Jeanine, I am a recent addition here at the Scientific Seamstress, you might have seen me about facebook if you are there. If you are not you should be! 

Join our facebook lab group for the day to day and to ask away any questions you might have, and just to chat too! Especially if you are sewing along you will want to be in the lab group there is a prize album for Dana's and Maddies is open June 1st until June 15th, 2013. There are some great prizes to be had!!!

If you just found this and want to sew a long (and why wouldn't you?!) Get your pattern in the etsy shop.

(This is me. I thought I would post a picture in case you like to put a face to the writing. ps. I am wearing an Angie dress - pattern also in the etsy shop)

So step 1 is going to be to print your pattern. Make sure you are set to not scale and right before the pattern pieces start at the end of the instructions there is a printing guide so you only need to print the pages for the size you need.  I put arrows on this screen shot to show you where you should be looking. I also always print in draft/fast mode to save on ink

Once you have your pattern printed I assemble every Sisboom pattern in stages. Tape together the A, B, C, D pieces and then tape A to B and AB to C and so on.

And below you can see my pattern ready to go. I also want to mention I always write the measurements I need for non pattern pieces (ruffle and binding strips in this case). I just find it easiest to have it right there and not have to go back through the pattern and also next time I go to make it I have that there so I won't forget those pieces in case I decide to just cut my fabric before opening the pattern, you know, since I've made it before. I read the directions off my tablet as I sew. I find it is a nice size to just have next to me. 

For laying out your pattern on fabric - check the stretch - you want stretch to go across your main pattern piece not with it - As shown in the picture.

ETA: I am using woven fabric

Here are all my fabric pieces cut and ready to sew! Don't forget to make the notches in the binding and ruffle pieces - they will come in very useful when you get to sewing!

Now there is just one thing to do before we start sewing - interface 4 of those sleeve band pieces (2 mirror sets). I didn't have any iron on interfacing - so I had to use sew in (blech). If you are in the same boat - don't waste your time sewing it in!!! Get out your kids glue stick and lightly glue stick them on to your fabric - works like a charm!

(pps. Yes, I did get that interfacing brand new in package at the thrift shop for 25C! and ppps. Do you like my toddlers craft? Can't let my sisboom scraps get thrown out so we craft - she thought her butterfly needed to be in my picture)

On day 2 we will start sewing, but for now you are ready to sew - so go get yourself a snack! I know i am partial to gummy candies :)

See you tomorrow! any questions? Hop on over to the facebook page!

The pattern that grew with baby

When I was pregnant with my son, I was working in a lab at Cornell and sewing doll clothes on the side.  I knew our income was going to drop significantly after I went on an indefinite maternity leave, so I started researching cloth diapering. This was 2004, so cloth dipes were just starting to make a resurgence nationwide.  I happened to live in Ithaca, NY (which was, and always will be stuck in the early 70's) so I had lots of support from other cloth diapering mamas.  Anyways, cloth diapering itself wasn't that hard - lots of laundry, some stinky diaper pails...but all in all not too bad. 

We bought disposables when we were traveling or when the house was on the market, but otherwise we did great with very unfancy cloth diapers (handmade pre-folds with purchased wraps).

Louie spent most of the early weeks in onesies and sleepers, but when it came time to dress him up and take him out, I found that pants for his size didn't fit over his diapered bum.  Maybe it was the hormones, too many episodes of Baby Einstein (specifically, Baby Neptune), or possibly too much time on the mothering.com forums, but I came up with an amazing concept for a WAHM  (work-at-home-mom) business...POOFYPANTS!  I had learned a lot about drafting and sewing pants from sewing for odd-shaped dolls.  I applied this knowledge to engineer pants for a creature with a huge butt and tiny ankles.  Knowing that length would outpace width, I designed the leg openings to be rolled up or cuffed. 

The first few pairs I made were 0-3 months (Lou's size), and 3-6 months (which seemed HUGE at the time - lol).  I made an insane number of pairs out of my fabric stash (latent nesting hormones) and put them on ebay with matching onesies (simple patch applique, but very cute).  I immediately got requests for larger sizes.  Since I didn't have a model that size, I waited a few months.  When Lou was 7 months, I drafted the 6-9 month size.

 

He was thrilled.  By the time he was 10 months old, I was back into doll clothes, but I still drafted the 12 month size just for him to wear to a party.

 

I actually sold a LOT of Poofypants during my first few months of motherhood, and not just to the cloth-diaper set.  Turns out, the pants looked super cute on all precious baby butts, regardless of the padding.  Moms loved the fact that they were reversible and grow with baby.  There is just something special about the fit - and it changes just like the little ones' proportions...no grading rules - just a mama's instinct (sooo contrary to my scientific training).  It works so well, though.  The infant sizes are more "frog-legged" while the toddler versions are designed for running around, squatting, and having tantrums :) .

I drafted my original patterns on tissue paper from my baby shower gifts, and I stashed them away when I moved on to bigger kids' clothes and eventually patternmaking.  I dug them up last year, and decided that they might make for a fun pattern.  I thought they were different enough from my Easy Fit Pants (which is probably my best seller of all time) to warrant a pattern just for the little ones. 

So, I made a set out of fresh, fun, Sis Boom prints, appliqued a teeny onesie, and sent the set of to a gorgeous baby and her photographer/bowmaking mommy. 

I put the pattern up for sale...and it was an insta-hit on Craftsy, Etsy, and YouCanMakeThis!!!  So even though my baby is long out of diapers, I get a little teary-eyed seeing testimonials like this:

"I'm a beginner and I found these instructions the clearest of any i've used, with step by step diagrams and clear worded instructions. I also love the range of sizes provided and the separate patterns per size so they are easy to cut. The pants are absolutely gorgeous!" 

"Easy to Sew, Plus best pattern I can find for those Newborn sizes! Love It"!

"A very well-written pattern and crystal clear instructions. Plus, the finished garment is totally adorable and an excellent fit! I was lazy when doing the coordinating trim and just used a bit of bias tape! "

"This is the easiest pattern I ever bought. Very clear instructions, several pictures - easy to follow. I have some experience in sewing but I'm sure any beginner can make these in no time!"

Vanessa and Bettyann...MONTHS in the making!

OK - not only was the pattern months in the making, but so was this post!  I went into book writing mode, and my bloggy brain shut down.  The manuscript is in, so I can yammer again :) .

Jennifer and I are so happy to announce our two newest Sis Boom patterns!  Vanessa (for women) and Bettyann (for girls) are very simple, loose-fitting shift dresses. 

    When Jen first showed me this design idea early last spring, I thought "no problem...a band, some straps, and the rest is just gathered and flowy" - wrong.  Turns out, it was one of the most complex projects I've worked on so far!  I started out making the bodice band fitted, but that made for saggy straps.  Honestly, I was ready to scrap the whole thing, but Jennifer kept after me because she knew this style was in demand.  So I went back to the drawing board...added in some ease, made the back fully elasticized for necessary give, and tweaked the strap positioning.  I also added curves and slants in all the right spots to make everything hang nicely and cover beautifully.  Since I was in the middle of a move from MD to NY, I really relied on my quality control team to make sure this one was a go.  Here are a just few of the pics...  
Judy of Hickity Pickity made mommy-and-me maxi dresses for her gorgeous girlies!  She's been selling her handmade frocks like crazy at art shows in Florida and around the world in her Etsy Shop!          And oh my goodness, of course Jenny jumped in and made a great top for herself!  She is just as cute in person, I can say this with authority because I got to meet her at Quilt Market!!!       Oh - and look at Jenny's little daughter Kelsey!  Clever Mama paired the Bettyann with a Leighanna made from ruffle fabric!  
Awww - here is Christine's little doll Eleanor!  She looks great (and cozy) in her dress with a turtleneck underneath!
  Jeanne's little girl (above) in the Bettyann, and her almost grown-up girl (below...doesn't she look just like Amanda Seyfried?) in the Vanessa!



Jen went for all the options (ruffle sleeves, pockets) and I just love the results!


Kristina - an awesome photographer AND talented seamstress - made this Vanessa for her tween.  Perfection!

My friend Sheri, who I left behind in Baltimore (sniff sniff) made this.  The little one did her own accessorizing :) .


This is the back of Cathy's dress.  She is my queen of customer service, and is always getting requests for back views, so she gets the pics!  

Andrea made the most darling circus-themed Bettyann (complete with Easy Fit Pants) AND she drafted a mini-me dolly-version!!!!
  Oh!  and here is one more recent addition from Judy! Awwww!  

 

 

 

A chef, a gardener, and a meteorologist....

Sewn Hats was designed to appeal to all ages, genders, and professions, and the latest stops on the blog tour are great examples of the diversity of styles you will get from this book!!!

Yesterday, Melissa Stramel (from Lilac Lane) posted about her darling Sweetie Pie Chef hat,  It is reversible, available in child and adult sizes, AND has a  comfortable stretchy knit band. As I've mentioned probably a gazillion times, my husband is a classically trained culinarian, and this hat really warmed his sub-zero iron-chef heart!  Go visit her blog to see some precious pictures of the prototypes.  Once you are there, leave a comment and win (then go check out the beautiful patterns in her etsy shop)!

In keeping with the super-sweet and delectable theme,  Joanna Figueroa posted about her adorable Summer Blossom hat on the Fig Tree Quilts Blog.  I have to admit...when I signed on to do this book, It was like winning the lottery to find out I was going to work with so many of my fabric designer heros on this project!!!   I about died when I found out Joanna amongst them!  She also has a beautiful new book out, entitled With Fabric and Thread.  For sewn hats,we collaborated to come up with the most perfect baby/toddler sunhat ever. Go on over to her stop on the blog tour for more details, a chance to win, and some absolutely darling photos!

The next hat is perfect for the weather we are having on the East Coast today.  The retro-inspired Raindrop Rain Hat is made out of laminated cotton, and is great for braving the weather in style.  It was contributed by Alexia Abegg of Green Bee Design & Patterns.  This lovely young woman has designed everything from quilts to totes to clothing (for kids and adults).  I have to say, her writing and illustrations are impeccable.  There are so many awesome designer laminates available, the possibilities are endless for a great rainhat.  In her stop on the blog tour, however, she mentions that she made test versions out of a variety of fabrics, and they all came out great.