August Capsule Contest - Fabulous #5

Today's the end date for the August Capsule Contest on Pattern Review. I found it last weekend while putting together a SWAP capsule storyboard for this pregnancy.

In a week, I've sewn 5 items for the capsule:


The idea is to make at least 3 or 4 items using at least 3 distinct colors to make at least 4 unique outfits. So, there's a top and skirt look, a 2piece dress look, a blouse and jumper look, and the nightgown (or really brave woman in a white dress). I named my capsule "Fabulous Number Five" because this is my fifth pregnancy and there are 5 pieces in the capsule.

If I have enough of the plain gray that I trimmed the blouse with, I may make up one more top to trade out with the one in the capsule.

Jumper!!

I saw this pattern (McCall 5577) in the store and there was just something about it. I was almost afraid to sew it because it might look too childish, but decided it could at least be a nice maternity jumper. I showed the pattern envelope to Ben and he pointed out that the example drawing has a white line that separates the bodice from the skirt and it just seems to be 'the' thing that makes the jumper something special. So, since I planned to wear this with the white Marlo Mommy Top, I decided to go for the 'line' by adding piping to the bodice edge.

Verdict: It's so comfortable, and since I sewed the pleats for the amount marked on the pattern, there's some shaping to it to make it feminine instead of childish. And, I can release the last inch or so as my belly grows and wear this throughout and then sew them back after we meet the new little person.

Maternity Blouse & Skirt

For my capsule sewing, I pulled out Vogue 7280. This is a lined 8 gore skirt, but I modified it into a 6 gore skirt by placing the center front and back on the fold. I again lowered the top edge and added a 3" elastic waistband to modify the pattern into a maternity skirt.



I also made a top from Simplicity 5212. There's no shaping to the back, so I'm working on adding darts, but it's a good start!

Just Like…

July 10, 2008:

Ben: "So, whatever happened to your period?"

Me: "I don't get a period when I'm pregnant."

Ben: "Are you pregnant?"

Me: "Yes, dear."

Ben: "Wait. Are you pregnant?"

Me: "Yes, dear."

Ben: "Hold on. Are you pregnant?"

Me: "Yes, dear."

Ben: "It's going to be a boy."

Me: "Yes, dear."

Ben: "Just like your parents."

Me: "Yes, dear."

Ben: "Do I have a fit now?" (apparently, Dad teased Mom by throwing a fit)

Midwife Surgeons

I just finished watching this documentary on midwives in Mozambique.

Birth of a Surgeon from Wide Angle on PBS.

Finally, a seemingly simple solution to the traumas in such areas. I noticed two things in particular: the first OB surgeon explaining that an OB should keep his hands behind his back and let a normal labor progress naturally (which can be quite different for different women), but be ready to work if needed - this is how Elizabeth Davis explains a good midwife as well. Also, the young midwife seems eager to get to performing cesareans, but in this case I see that the region has the need for the surgeon as well as her need to fulfill the requirements for schooling.

Maternity skirt.

See Mommy Sew has a great tutorial on making a maternity skirt. The only thing I did different was to put the skirt together first, then make & attach the waistband (then I ran off to orientation wearing my unhemmed skirt), then finished the hemming. This minimized thread changes ('cause, yes, I had two different purple threads that matched my two different purple fabrics!).



I used the McCall's skirt pattern as a base for shape -not cut on the bias. The pants pattern (from 1979, thank you Grandpa!) has a nice pocket shaping that I often use for my skirts. The waistband is 7" by 31" (my current waist measurement -yes, I've gained 3" already). The 3" elastic is also 31" (no added seam allowance). I cut the skirt out 2 sizes larger than needed to give extra room to grow, and that had to be gathered a bit to fit the waistband.



All in all, I am enjoying my new skirt!

Wardrobe Building

I'm somewhat tough on my clothes, but I try to make them last as long as they can. I went to the closet the other day, though, and stood there. I waited for something brilliant and flattering to jump into my hands and realized that it's just not there right now. I put on something that 'worked' and started my other duties.

Later, I remembered S.W.A.P.: Sewing With A Plan. Autumn and winter are coming on and I'll be heavy with child in the depth of it. So, I've come up with a maternity SWAP (I pencil drew or traced these, then scanned, sorry it's hard to see).



And, while I was looking for ideas on the wardrobe, I came across 'capsule' sewing. It's a mini-wardrobe of 4-5 pieces instead of the full 11. And, there's a capsule contest over on Pattern Review. I don't know if I'll make all 3-4 pieces I need as the minimums by Saturday, but we can see if I can swing one or two more this week... hahaha!

Item 1: the peasant blouse: I made it longer to be a nightgown for when the baby arrives (why did I choose white for when a baby comes? Am I mad?). I may shorten it and make the nightgown from a more reasonable fabric and be able to wear this as a blouse over skirts, too.


I also changed the nursing openings a bit. The original called for the nursing panel to be seamed into the center front so the nursing openings could just be left unsewn; I simply cut it on as a whole and added knife pleats. So, then the top of the center panel was loose and I left it hanging while I finished the rest. I folded the pleats and sewed the top inch or so together, basted the edge of the pleat opening there in place so it wouldn't catch the ribbon/elastic when I fed that through.


The pics show the outside and inside with the right hand opening of each open, left-hand closed to show what I did. The binding is from an old pillow case, I thought the 'nude' was a good color to use under the pleats, a slight off-white or just the white would have been fine.

That’s My Girl.

A couple months ago.. In the spring?.. (I guess.. has it been that long?), the children and I were in the fabric store, and I told TJ to pick a fabric for a shirt. BB picked out a garish bright strawberry print. I didn't really like it, but she insisted, so I bought her one yard. Then, last week as I realized that as soon as I get my school packet my life as it is will be over, the urge to finish projects hit hard. And, as you know, that means that the mountain of unstarted-but-soon-to-be-projects that resides in the stash needs to be done, too. Ha. So, I cut out the fabric for TJ's shirt, and MissB acquired her strawberries and laid the fabric on the floor and hunted for scissors. Oh Boy. I looked through the patterns and didn't feel the groove, I let her carry a pattern around and she pulled out the papers and laid them out. Finally, a light bulb moment, I offered her the pool, and off she went.

I looked through the patterns, found a couple dresses, and set them on the ironing board.

When I was cutting out a dress for MissA from the blue with strawberries that I'd used some already for MissB's apron. She asked if I was making it for her; no, for sister.

She found the scissors and laid out the fabric. I grabbed a pattern that seemed to be what this fabric was needing, plus I had some red scraps from my slip/jumper that matched! Together, we cut out the fabric. I cut the curves and she cut the straights. And, she was so very happy...


This week (at least a month later), I've been bit by that sewing bug again... and these three projects stood between me and my next project (in the next post..). I wanted to do something for my birthday, and I found these items.. And, the children got an invite to a neighbor girl's birthday party. So, as I readied for the next project, I got the sewing done for these.

TJ's new shirt of helicopter fabric.. I forgot which pattern I used, but it wasn't my favorite (I like the ones where the front lining is part of the front pattern piece, even though these ones are a little easier to line up the pattern). Our own added details were the contrast cuffs and pocket band, and we used a contrast collar. The buttons seem small because they're actually snaps (this poor shirt sits for a month because I'm too lazy to find matching buttons -sad!).



BB's red & yellow strawberry dress is OOP Vogue 7741 and MissA picked out McCall 5458. I put the McCall pattern pockets on both dresses. The blue dress was done except for the sleeve hems. I didn't want those big wide sleeves open and catching on everything for her, so I added elastic and now they're puffy.

MissB's dress was in a pile waiting to be started. So, I started it Thursday or Friday, finished the sewing Saturday, early afternoon. Finished cutting out pieces and sewing up a doll for the birthday girl. Finished the sewing on MissA's dress, finished the stitch in the ditch on TJ's shirt. Grabbed the snap press and added snaps to MissB's dress.

The girls tossed on their dresses as I stuffed the doll in some tissue paper and a bag and off they ran with Daddy and TJ to the party. I finally sat away from the sewing machine and gave MissC her milk and a nice nap.

I Know I’m in Trouble…

We dyed the macaroni.. among other things.



I turned around and MissC was taking the dye bottle out of her mouth. Then, she poured it on her wrist. I promptly removed the dye from the baby's grasp and finished the macaroni.

Nursery

This week, I was supposed to be enjoying the history and scenery in Yellowstone National Park, but Ben's got a deadline. So, TJ is having his first vacation without us. We sent him on an airplane to visit Poppa & Nanna, and they're in Yellowstone. In my family, no news is good news, so I haven't heard from him since he arrived at their house. They'll probably call to let me know he's safely on the plane on the way home next week.

This week is VBS at the church family I attend. One of the gals in charge called me about a month ago and asked if I could help out in the nursery. Sure, I might as well. The girls were signed up and we waited for the week of fun & games. So, each day from 9 to noon we head to the church. The older two go to their class and I've got 4 or 5 just about two year olds and one little baby.

Monday, I didn't know how many to expect, so we played it by ear. We went out to the playground when the PreK class finished and played for a bit while a helper stayed with the littlest (the Mom was set to come in to nurse in that time, so it was good timing). Then, they just played & had one snack break.

Tuesday, I asked for art supplies. We were mostly inside, and a snack. The crayons and markers arrived and we made a poster of hands and scribbles.

Today, I forgot my songs in sign language book, but we made sure to go out on the playground, had our set snack time and watched a Veggie Tale video, and made individual hand pages to take home.

So, two more days to go. I've been looking up ideas so that I don't go stir crazy. I'm going to grab my sign-songs book and I've got a craft box and some ideas. We'll make hand puppets one day and macaroni pictures another. I may even try a popsicle stick puzzle.