Have you seen Wonky Wilma? I learned of her from Scruffy Badger, and instantly fell in love. Janet of Kitchen Table Sewing created the pattern and will email it to you for a donation to the Great Ormond Street Hospital charity. Our family is a big supporter of Arkansas Children's Hospital, and we all adore elephants, so I signed up immediately. Coincidentally, my office had a "white elephant" party on the calendar, so I thought it would be fun gift that one of the young moms in the office would grab for her little one!
Wilma is only slightly wonky, in fact I think she is adorable! I made mine with Minky ears, tail and foot pads, and used a funky print for the body that allowed me to place an eye-shaped pattern in the eye area and avoid using buttons, making it safe for little one who may want to eat a button.
My kids -- who are really too old for stuffed animals -- fell in love with her. My daughter plans to make one for her white elephant party next week, as well as another for herself. My eleven year-old son begged to keep this one. I now wish I had given it to him and just bought a gift card for the exchange. As in the past, I was sorely disappointed with the office party. Very little imagination was put into most gifts, and unfortunately, the person who opened Wilma was a young man in his 20's, who behaved as an unhappy toddler would when he saw the contents of the package. He has probably already thrown her into the trash.
I feel terrible that I wasted the little treasure on someone so unappreciative of handmade gifts. I suppose I am spoiled, because anyone I've ever gifted in the past has been so happy to receive it -- or at least they were gracious enough to act as though they loved the gift. Oh well, as we say in my business, "Lesson learned." My daughter and I still plan to make a few of these for little people we know will enjoy her, and I think it is a wonderful gift that Janet has given to both the hospital and to those of us who sew.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
5 Minutes a Day to a Jacket (New Look 6736)
Encouraged by the very creative and prolific Rhonda of Rhonda's Creative Life featuring my little blog, I am sharing the latest project that has kept me just a little bit busy...
Truly, I began this project with just five minutes a day, because that was all the time I could spare, until my time off around Thanksgiving. I finished the lining and handsewing Saturday morning and wore it Saturday afternoon to run errands.
I've had New Look 6736 for quite some time, in fact, I believe it is now OOP. I love the long version of the jacket and hoped to try out the sizing with a "wearable muslin" on the shorter jacket, with the intention of making a longer silk version as an evening coat.
With only a few minutes a day to sew, the short version took me way too long to even consider the silk version, especially since I intended it to wear tomorrow night. I do love the fit of the short jacket, though, and am ready to make the silk version when time permits. Just have to find the right fabric...
Fabric: a multi-color quilter's cotton, that is a bit busy for most clothes I would wear, but for weekends or running around town it makes a really nice little throw-on jacket. Shades of indigo, beige, lots of black.
Lining: I added cling-free lining (pattern is unlined), but with cotton, lining is a must.
Other: Added buttons (3 vs. 1), bound buttonholes, and in-seam pockets (for my phone)
Interfacing: Shout-out to Pam Erny's LOVELY interfacing...after my last experience with Pellon, I immediately ordered several types from Pam's shop and am so pleased with them: very professional look and feel, and quite easy to work with. I will definitely replenish my interfacing stash from her shop!
Changes: I may nip in the waist a little bit -- it seems a bit baggy in the picture, but it is so comfortable to wear! The princess seams would make it a fairly easy alteration. Also, the sleeves seem long in the photo -- I didn't notice that when I wore it, though. Maybe I spend my time with my elbows bent.
Wide Collar: I like the look and feel of the wide collar -- but would wear a scarf if it's chilly outside. With our unseasonably warm 60/70F days I haven't needed one. Not sure why it looks so wrinkled in the shot below -- maybe it's just the mannequin. It is fine when I'm wearing it.
Truly, I began this project with just five minutes a day, because that was all the time I could spare, until my time off around Thanksgiving. I finished the lining and handsewing Saturday morning and wore it Saturday afternoon to run errands.
I've had New Look 6736 for quite some time, in fact, I believe it is now OOP. I love the long version of the jacket and hoped to try out the sizing with a "wearable muslin" on the shorter jacket, with the intention of making a longer silk version as an evening coat.
With only a few minutes a day to sew, the short version took me way too long to even consider the silk version, especially since I intended it to wear tomorrow night. I do love the fit of the short jacket, though, and am ready to make the silk version when time permits. Just have to find the right fabric...
Lining: I added cling-free lining (pattern is unlined), but with cotton, lining is a must.
Other: Added buttons (3 vs. 1), bound buttonholes, and in-seam pockets (for my phone)
Interfacing: Shout-out to Pam Erny's LOVELY interfacing...after my last experience with Pellon, I immediately ordered several types from Pam's shop and am so pleased with them: very professional look and feel, and quite easy to work with. I will definitely replenish my interfacing stash from her shop!
Changes: I may nip in the waist a little bit -- it seems a bit baggy in the picture, but it is so comfortable to wear! The princess seams would make it a fairly easy alteration. Also, the sleeves seem long in the photo -- I didn't notice that when I wore it, though. Maybe I spend my time with my elbows bent.
Wide Collar: I like the look and feel of the wide collar -- but would wear a scarf if it's chilly outside. With our unseasonably warm 60/70F days I haven't needed one. Not sure why it looks so wrinkled in the shot below -- maybe it's just the mannequin. It is fine when I'm wearing it.
No other pictures worth showing...the pattern is so busy, it's tough to see any details!
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