Reader's Pick Sew-Along

I'm fairly new to the blogging scene compared to some of you seasoned bloggers, and it takes some time to figure out the lingo. While working on a recent sewing project I relied a lot on sewing blogs, particularly sew-alongs. I have to admit I wasn't sure the real meaning of a sew-along except that you're documenting your sewing process. Then I'm thinking, well maybe I've been doing it all wrong! I'm sure there is no right or wrong answer, but I like the idea of a sew along being just that... Sewing along! I usually like to figure things out on my own, but sew-alongs actually help! After reading a specific step in the pattern directions 10 times and still not getting it, I turned to sew-alongs (and reviews) for advice. Wow! What a help! It's amazing how real images and different wording can help. The other great thing about sew-alongs is that if you catch it while the sew-along is actually going on, you can sew with other people, ask questions, get advice and share your finished product. Of course not all patterns have a sew-along to match them (independent pattern companies are great at sew-alongs), but the ones that do can be so helpful!

I thought it would be fun to try a sew-along with all of you! So I'm asking all of you to give me some ideas! What do you want to sew? Comment any pattern and I will pick five of those patterns. Then you, the reader, can vote on which one of the five you want to do a sew-along for. And on top of that, I will let YOU pick the fabric I use! My goal is to have the sew-along start at the end of March and run through the first two weeks of April. Of course timing will be determined based on what pattern you choose and how complicated it may be. A solid schedule will be provided once I see what pattern is chosen!

Sound like fun? Start getting those pattern choices in and let's get it started!

-Julie 

P.S. I'm going to be participating in the Mad Men Challenge by Julia Bobbin! Can't wait to give it a try!

Guest Post: Diane from Gatorbunny Sews - "Aubrey and Me" Top

I know I've said this before, but, if you're a piece of fabric in my sewing room and you hang around too long you're bound to get embroidered.  I am and always will be in love with fabrics but more and more embroidery seems to be taking up residence in the creative side of my brain.  Fabrics can now be canvases since "Aubrey", my embroidery machine, moved in (yes...I named my machine…don't judge).

This blouse inspired my "Aubrey and Me" Top.  The combination of the embroidery, lace and silhouette makes a top that's feminine without being fussy.

Because a simple pattern lends itself to embroidery, I chose Salme's Kimono Style Angel Sleeve Top for my blouse. It's a two-piece pattern plus facings (it doesn't get simpler than that) with a soft flutter sleeve.  I lowered the neckline 3/4" because it's more flattering on me and left everything else the same.  I chose this dreamy blue/gray J. Crew voile from Fabric Mart (the color is out of stock but this color would be lovely!) and a cotton crochet trim for the neckline and hem.

The Mendhika Medallion machine embroidery pattern from Urban Threads is stitched three times at the neckline. The middle medallion is sized to 3" in diameter and the two outer are 2 1/2" in diameter.  The medallion comes as a three color design but I changed it to two colors, dark ecru and ecru, and stitched it out in 40 weight rayon embroidery thread.

In constructing this blouse, and for almost all of my embroidery projects, I have "Aubrey" do the embroidery before I actually cut out the pattern piece.  This makes hooping and placement easier. This voile is very lightweight so after a couple of test runs I found wash away stabilizer the best choice for stabilization during embroidery.  My final step before actually sewing the blouse together was adding 17 rows of twin needle stitching in ecru thread.  I know 17 rows sounds like a lot but none are more that 2" long and the result is a design that looks pulled together.  

I'm looking forward to wearing this blouse all spring and summer with jeans and skirts.  Thanks "Aubrey"! ~Diane

Thank you Diane for a great post and for incorporating some embroidery into your project. Check out Diane's blog: Gatorbunny Sews. If you would like to be a guest blogger, email fabricmartblog@gmail.com.

Throwback Thursday: My First Sewing Project

In the past five years, I have really embraced garment sewing. I learned to sew a young age and began by sewing simple garments. They weren't that great, but I applaud myself for at least trying. In high school and college I took a break from garment sewing and did a lot of quilting. I was also a fibers major in college, so I was doing a lot of weaving at that time in my life. It wasn't until I started working at Fabric Mart in 2008, that I really embraced garment sewing again. Seeing so many beautiful fabrics was really inspiring.

But you know what I remember most about sewing? My first project! It was the summer I was going to 2nd grade. My aunt would watch my brother and I every other tuesday. One week I made nautical print shorts for my brother. The next week I made denim shorts for myself! The fabric was from my grandmother's fabric stash. I cut it strictly from the pattern. No alterations or anything. The top band had elastic. How much easier can it get? My aunt guided me through the process and I have to say I didn't do too bad!

When I was cleaning my sewing room a few weeks ago, I found the shorts!

I was always on the bigger side than everyone else growing up, so the shorts are actually large enough that I could probably still wear them. I will never get rid of these shorts, it's a huge memory in my life and one that I can share with my children and grandchildren. Plus I have something to prove it!

Do you still have your first sewing project? What was it? How old were you when you made it?

Tell us your story! If you would like to share your first sewing project with our readers, email fabricmartblog@gmail.com with photos and a description and/or story behind the project. We'd love to share your story!