Adventures in Vintage Resales... fka adventures in baby-sewing

Amidst all the other projects going on in my sewing station, I chose to cut this one out of the butterfly fabric to make a quick sleeveless top for my oldest to wear tonight with tan colored capris. She is going to spend a few days with the grandparents now that school is out and they were going to a neighborhood dinner gathering tonight (she doesn't know, so my mom is springing this one on her when she gets there in a bit). All her tops are "worn" so I got busy, cranked it out in spurts starting at 6:30 am and finishing at 4 pm. I did the sleeveless view, only a band of ecru cluny lace at the waist, and eliminated facings, opting to line the upper bodice in ecru broadcloth. (I hate facings and interfacing if it can be eliminated, I will) I machine sewed it at the neck then marked, clipped and hand sewed the armholes before doing side seams. The trick with this blouse (I have made it before) is to flat construct it, at least for me it is. So, do shoulder seams, add...

Another shirt for the oldest using the Lizzie McGuire Simplicity top pattern named previously & I should be able to tag on this post. This was made from a thrift store girls dress, size 14, out of diamond pique knit in blue with navy and white flowers in that puffy stuff that is on the surface of the fabric. This one, the sleeves are lettuced lightly and I have to cut the back on the CB seam since the dress had one. I also reutilized the store bought dress hem as the shirt hem. It has been sitting on my cutting table for a month waiting to have the facings tacked down. I also hemmed one pair of jeans I bought at the thrift store for her. Cute jeans for a $1.25 that were Arizona brand with sequins, etc. She is wearing both today for school.

I have not been well lately, reflux, sore, tired, etc., but still plugging away at some things. I finished two tops for my daughter, one with Simplicity 4568 and one with Jalie Criss Cross, both size 8. Both are tshirt knits. The camo is the Jalie, which was a real pain to finish to get all pieces held in the sides. The green is the Simplicity, made from a shirt I never used, and has a twisted neckline, compliments of Christina's blog, Assorted Notions. I could have done a better job, but she likes it, and for my girl to wear it without complaint, that is a compliment. Her friend wants a Jalie top now. Yeah, right. I may do a PR later, but I cannot keep up right now. There has been so much stress on me since December, I just can't stay with anything. Then I have had muscle spasms in my neck, thinking it is from the stress. With my DH's work being slow, I am getting really worried. I can't go to work with all these kids. In a rural area like this, the pay is...

Well, Youngest Son insisted he was not sick, but he was. He was better by morning (see, no germ wants to live in him!) and went back to preschool today as the others were already sick, so they already have it. Oldest Son stayed home to rest, but is ready to go back tomorrow. Of course the Oldest Daughter is ok and the baby is seeming ok so far. Let the germ move on... On the sewing front, I assembled a knit shirt for the oldest daughter from a shirt I hated. It is together and I am basting the binding on the collar, using a tutorial mentioned by Christina of Assorted Notions, a twisted look. If you are interested, it is in her archives, last May or April, can't remember which. BTW, if you want to recycle a shirt for a daughter, that is usually easy enough with a basic tshirt or empire waisted tshirt, like S4568. I cut off the side seams on my shirt, cut the bodice f/b starting under the neckline, then the lower bodice pieces, preserving the RTW hem. For the short little s...