The search for my perfect shirt pattern... McCalls 5388.

You know how you have the "perfect shirt" in mind? I think we all probably know what ours would look like, and will probably never find it! I decided that I'd give this pattern a try in an attempt to get closer to my perfect shirt. I wanted gathered sleeves, fitted around the shoulders but looser around the abdomen, something really comfortable, and something that I wouldn't have to wear a Shade or camisole under. I normally like wearing layers, but it's nice to just have one layer when you're nursing a baby.



I used McCall's 5388 pattern View D. I had previously read a bunch of different reviews for the pattern on Pattern Review, and followed some of the recommended changes, and also made some more changes of my own. Although I adjusted the neckline and yoke, I need to change it even more for my next shirt using this pattern if I don't want to have to layer the shirt.

I will post my own review of the pattern soon. The fabric I used is not my favorite (a little too teeny-boppperish), but I'm glad I used it because I have cuter fabric waiting for my next shirt, where I can make some more changes and maybe finally have the perfect shirt :). Okay, I won't hold my breath on the perfect shirt thing, but I am glad I did a "trial" shirt first before cutting into my good fabric.

On a side note, have you emailed me your Flashback Friday yet and entered the giveaway?

Giveaway: Ruby Lou Doll Pattern -- CLOSED--

My 100th post has come and gone (almost 30 posts ago), but it's never too late for a celebration giveaway, right? I'm giving away one (or maybe more if I get a lot of entries :)) of my Ruby Lou Doll PDF Patterns.

The contest is open until Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at midnight Eastern time, and is open to anyone in the US, Canada, or abroad! To enter, leave me a comment telling me who you'd make a Ruby Lou Doll for if you won. Want to earn extra entries? Here's how:

1. Create a link to this giveaway on your blog. Make sure to let me know the address where you linked from in your comment.

2. Become a "Follower" of Sew Much Ado on Blogger. It's easy, just click on the link on the left sidebar. If you're already a follower, you'll still get your extra entry, just make sure to leave me a comment saying that you are a follower.

3. Submit an entry for Sew Much Ado's new Flashback Friday series.

*Remember to use a separate comment for each entry!*

The winner will be randomly chosen and will be announced on January 6, 2010, so make sure to check back on that day to see if you are a winner!

New Series: Flashback Friday!

Wowsers, that's me with my first "sewing machine". I got it for Christmas when I was 8 and remember being so excited about it. It even had a little foot fedal.

Beginning this Friday, Sew Much Ado will be hosting a new weekly series called Flashback Friday! I've been wanting to do this for a long while, but as usual have been too busy with other projects to actually get it started. My original plan was to post some projects of mine from days gone by over several Fridays. Unfortunately, as I was looking through my photo albums for old pics, it didn't take me long to realize that it would be boring to have only my flashbacks featured. I decided it would be fun to open it up to all of you as well!

Want to participate? Just click on the "Email Me" button on the right sidebar to submit your entry. Include a pic of whatever it is that you made in the past (can be the more recent past or thirty years ago), a link to your blog if you'd like, and a short description. Your entry can be serious, funny, or, like most of the time in my case, embarrassing (but if it gets us all a good laugh, it's worth it, right?... right?)! Let's face it -- don't we all have a pic of us wearing something awesome and fluorescent that our mom made us in the 80s? Or how about that prom dress you made that you were so proud of?

Every Friday from now till we either exhaust our resources or get sick of the humiliation (seriously though, it'll be way more fun with embarrassing pics), I'll post some Flashback Friday memories.

Notebook Covers.

Every Christmas deserves a last minute project or two, and these are mine. I used this tutorial recommended by Angie. It really was a great tutorial, and a fun, easy, fast project (obviously a pre-requisite for any project of mine). If you're still looking for a gift to make for someone, this would be a great idea!

6 Months.

I can't believe that little Weston is already over 6 months. It's even harder to believe that in another 6 months he'll probably be crawling and then walking. He's starting to roll around some more, and realizing that it can get him places, which is so fun to watch.

Pattern sale ending soon...

photo credit Kyla Beth Photo Studio

Just a reminder, tomorrow is the last day to purchase the Ruby Lou Doll Pattern at the special sale price of $8. Click here or the button on the left!

I can't wait to see some of your finished dolls. Make sure to send me the link when you're done! I know you are all more creative than I am and will make some adorable dolls.

Can't resist.

Remember how I mentioned my one sister being slightly OCD about the Ruby Lou Dolls? Here's the proof:

Yep, one for all 4 of her daughters and one for one of my nieces. If you know Angie C's family, can you guess which doll is for whom? One of my other sister's, Ada, made this one:Angie A has made a couple too which are waiting for faces still. I will post them when they are done. The best part is that she made one that looks just like her without even realizing it. Ang even has the long skinny legs to match Ruby Lou, not fair... You'll love it. Somehow she had time to make some dolls in between releasing the 2nd edition of her cookbook.

p.s. Notice a common "A" name theme? Yep, all 6 kids in my family start with A, and both of my brothers married A names too. Now that I have 2 W names for my boys, I always wonder if I'll continue the trend?!

Cableknit stockings.

First of all, I'm not creative enough for this to be my own idea. Angie and Audy were talking about the idea a few weeks ago when I was in Canada visiting my family. Last night I went to DI and got two cable knit sweaters for $3 each. I couldn't believe that some of the sweaters were priced at $6, and I'm not talking about cute sweaters. I figure that if you're going to do a re-purpose project, there's no sense in spending more money than you need to, so luckily I found two sweaters that would work. I also decided that I was only going to use what I already had at home, I wasn't going to buy any trims or embellishments.

I used this template for the stocking shape.

These took no time at all to sew, last night I made the appliqued initials (which I CAN take credit for being my own idea, although it seems like I am always appliqueing initials on things so maybe it's not that creative after all), and this morning I sewed them together... with Wyatt on my lap/my back/my hair, etc. That tells you how easy these were. I used some left-over ric rac for the loops.

It's sad to say, but these are actually the first stockings Joel and I have had since we got married. We've always been lucky enough to borrow stockings from his parents, and I've never had the desire to make any. But now it'll be nice to have our own, and the best part is that in 10 years when we decide to have another child or two, I can make a couple more that will coordinate.

Ruby Lou Doll Pattern Now Available!

Update: The Ruby Lou Doll Pattern is available HERE at Sew Much Ado!

Drum roll please...

After MANY hours of work and MANY hours of sewing and MANY hours of my sisters pretending to listen to me on the phone, the Ruby Lou Doll Pattern is finally finished and available here on Etsy!

I have to say, I really enjoyed this project. I absolutely loved the pattern writing part, the sewing a million dolls part was not quite as high on my favorites list, but still enjoyable. I have written quite a few tutorials, which I also love to do, but I was surprised at how much more work an actual pattern really is than a tutorial. It probably has something to do with the fact that I am a perfectionist AND like to over-analyze everything. Not the best combination, but in the end I am so happy with the finished pattern, and I hope you are too!

I hope that some little girls will be excited when they open up a Ruby Lou Doll for Christmas. Thanks to my sister's pattern testing skills and one of them being slightly OCD over the dolls, all the granddaughters will have a Ruby Lou Doll by the time Christmas is over. I hope they all like them!

The Ruby Lou Doll Pattern has a special introductory price of $8 for ONE WEEK ONLY.

I have to give special thanks again to Kyla for the amazing photos of the dolls. She is truly talented. Check out her website and blog and you'll agree!

I am going to take a break from patterns until after Christmas and then it's back to work getting Ruby Lou into a printed pattern that is ready for quilt shops. I also have some other ideas for my next patterns that I am excited to get started on as well. We'll see if I can make myself wait...

For now check out my Ruby Lou Pattern!

ABC Board Book.

Pink Chalk Studio recently mentioned Matthew Porter's work after seeing it at a craft show, and I instantly fell in love with his artwork! So vintage, yet modern at the same time. You really should check out his website. I was expecting the ABC board book above to be overpriced, but it actually is only $8.95, which was a pleasant surprise. You can also go here and scroll down to buy the individual alphabet letters available as prints, like this one:

The sizes start at 12"x8" and get as large as 82"x52"! Wouldn't they would be adorable in a child's room?

Up Next...

Fingers crossed, I'm almost done my you-know-what that you've already heard more about than you ever wanted to. I have a few projects in mind that I really want to get to before Christmas, so that's helping with my motivation. Here they are:

1. Infant car seat cover - I want to make one that goes strictly over the car seat. I'm sure there are some great tutorials out there, but if I can't find the perfect one for me, I'll make a tutorial as well. Have any of you made one recently or found a good tutorial?

2. Christmas pillow tutorial - I have a crazy idea in my head that will be cute, inexpensive, and best of all, easy! I got the idea from a pillow I saw at Target recently. That's all I'll say about that for now.

3. Umm, I know there was a third idea, but I can't remember it. Must not have been that great I guess. On the bright side, it will be less work for me if it doesn't come to my mind again.