Seams of Life

yarn along

I'm happy to be joining Ginny's Yarn Along once again after a much too long break from crocheting. 

I haven't been feeling myself lately and for good reason. Last week we discovered that we are expecting a new little one in January. I am so happy but with the news also came a roller coaster of emotions and first trimester anxiety...it's almost been 7 years since my last pregnancy. I dug out my go-to pregnancy book What to Expect When Your Expecting  and poured over the pages just as I did so many years ago.

I also dug out the Clover Hill Blanket that I began stitching many moons ago. I decided that it will now be a baby blanket -- the first handmade for this special baby. And, of course, the revised smaller size meant that I could quit making squares and start stitching the blanket together hence bringing the finish line into closer view -- yay!

in our backyard

Our backyard has been full of activity and fun this spring. Here's just a little of what's been going on...

 

...jumping... 

...honeysuckle tasting...

...pulling up...

 ...gathering...

 

...tilling...

 

...scatching and pecking (and fertilizing)...

 

...and lots of swinging.

What's been happening in your backyard?

kcwc :: days 5, 6 and 7

Ok, this dress didn't actually take three days to make. The weather was just so nice here this weekend that I forgot all about the Kids Clothes Week Challenge and just played outside.

 

I made this dress out of another men's shirt. Unlike the last similarly made dress, this style was actually a hit with the girls. I used a dress they already owned as a template and then finished and made the straps with some of my hand-made bias tape.

What great challenge week this has been! I've been so inspired by all of the participants and I am grateful to Elsie Marley for putting together a fabulous challenge.

kcwc :: day four

For day four I made sleep shorts for my youngest. Don't get too impressed just yet, I didn't sew all the patchwork for these shorts. Nope, I cut up an old (and too small for me) Liz Claiborne patchwork skirt and followed this tutorial. The fabric is a very thin, lightweight cotton -- perfect for summer pajamas.

 

Have you noticed the re-purposing theme I've got going on?

 

kcwc :: day three

Although I completed a dress on day three, I wouldn't exactly call it a successful day.

 

Using the pattern from Absolutely A-Line, I made an a-line dress from a men's button shirt. I thought it was a very cute idea and I even like the way it turned out. My girls, however, did not. I believe their exact words were "it looks kinda like a doctor's coat" and "we could wear it on Halloween". Hmmm. I guess it's back to the drawing board and back to revise my list once again. I had planned to make another dress just like this one so now I need to figure out what else I can do with a men's button down shirt. I guess I should to consult my little 'fashion experts' first.