Circus McGurkus

Bonnie came home from school and said "Mrs. K asked me to ask you if you would make a tent for Dr. Seuss Day.  Apparently Mrs. K is using 3rd graders to do her dirty work.  The 3rd grade theme is Dr. Seuss' book If I Ran the Circus.  

I told Mrs. K. that I didn't think I could make a tent and that I would be afraid it would collapse on the kids.  We finally settled on curtains for the three 3rd grade classroom doors.  I saw the 3rd grade room mother who is a stay-at-home mother with waaaayyyy too much energy at Author's night.  She said she was thinkinig of an awning and maybe a tunnel.  When she saw my eye start twitching and lip start curling, she decided that curtains would be just fine.

So here is what Mrs. K got...

Curtain #1 

I got the cotton quilting fabric and tension rods at JoAnns. 



I used a saucer (as in cup and saucer) to trace the scallops for the valance and tie backs. 



Curtain #2



I used my ruffler attachment for the valance and tie backs.  There is a nice video of the ruffler in action at the Bernina website.

I serged the ruffles of the tie-backs with red thread. 

Closeup of the valance.

Curtain #3



This curtain has a scalloped valance and ruffled tie backs. 

The book actually shows yellow stars on red fabric.  I couldn't find any fabric with yellow stars.  I thought the polka dots looked pretty circusy. 

I was pretty happy with the results and the Mrs. K was thrilled.  The only thing that took any skill was pressing the scallops correctly.  I actually don't clip my curves for scallops.  I find the clips seem distort the smooth curves.  I just trim very closely and carefully press out the curves. 

Not too bad for 10 hours of work. 

Flounces for Bonnie

I made a summer top for Bonnie last month.  I used OOP McCalls 5573. 

I cheated and sewed the buttons on the fabric without buttonholes.

This fabric is a cotton broad cloth from either JoAnns or Hancock's sale table.  I can't remember which one.  The buttons are from the stash.  I think I got them free in a grab bag from my cousin. 

I like the look of the top, but if I made it again I would make the straps wider.  It also gapes a little at the neck.  It's too cold to wear now, so we'll see if it fits her better next year.  I might be able to add some red lace. 

Something that isn't 5522

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I have a new project at work and work life is a little crazier than normal. I have been slowly sewing (and buying- bad Linda).

I finished the skirt from McCalls 5637 . This is my fourth version.

Yes, this picture is a little scary. Black next to my face is usually not a good idea and I'm about 5 weeks late getting my hair color renewed. Yikes! Sorry the skirt is so wrinkly. I wore it to work all day. Oh well, hopefully you get the point.

I made the skirt using leftover fabric from this jacket.

The fabric is denim with black floral flocking. I think it is from Hancocks. It is lined with an acetate taffeta - probably not the best choice. It's a little noisy: swish, swish, swish...

I used an invisible zipper. I tapered the bottom of the skirt about 2 inches to make the skirt more "pencily". It's probably a little too much. I still like the skirt and got a few compliments.

I didn't use a waistband. I stabilized the waist with clear elastic. I made a simple kick pleat for the back. I machine sewed the lining to the zipper. I don't think it was as successful as when I hand stitch it. I'll probably go back to hand stitching. I hemmed with seam lace. It always looks nice and doesn't create a hard line at the hem.

This was a 100% stash project.

Earlier versions of the skirt:

Back in Black

The blouse is the last version of McCalls 5522 that I have cut out. The skirt is from Sew Beautiful magazine. I made it last summer.

The blouse is made from a fine black cotton with a subtle woven stripe. I have had it in the stash for years. I think it is from a sale table at Hancocks.

I finished the seams by serging. The placket, cuffs, collar and stand are interfaced with black poly organza. All hems and facings are sewn by hand. I did try to machine top stitch the front placket and it was not good, so I ripped it out and sewed it down by hand.


The buttons are from the stash. They must be at least 15 years old. They were labeled as men's knit buttons. Not sure what that means. I guess I'm going off label as this isn't a knit and last time I checked, I'm not a man.

Here is a brief history of McCalls 5522:

Peach eyelet

Teal swiss dot

Silk Floral

And here is Miss Bonnie who never met a print she didn't like.

Strike a Pose

Apparently nothing makes Bonnie happier than posing for the Sewing Blog! She comes up with all her own poses. Too bad my photography skills are lacking. This picture would have been better if I hadn't cut off half her head.

I made Bonnie this summer top using leftovers from this top. I think I am going to take up the

straps an inch so it doesn't gap so much under the arms.

The pattern is McCalls 6022.

I actually followed the directions for the pattern, except I made my own bias tape to finish the arm holes. I stitched the facing down by hand, machine top stitched the hem and serged the side seams.

The fabric is swiss dot cotton from G Street. I love it when you have enough leftovers to make a bonus garment.

Closeup of the bias tape.

I Bet You're Noticing a Pattern Here

McCalls 5522 This is my third version and I have a fourth black version half way done. My first version was the Floral Silk from LA Mood. My second version was the Teal Swiss Dot from G Street.

I knew I wanted some peach/sherbet colored eyelet last summer. I searched for all cotton, but was only able to find this poly/cotton from Hancock Fabrics.

The fabric definitely does not press out as well as cotton, but I think the result is still pretty good.

The sleeves are probably a little too full, but my upper arms are my least favorite body part. I usually have to go up 2 sizes in ready-to-wear to fit my arms. Bodices are always too big for me.

OK, this is the last time I am going to wear the ORANGE necklace with the SHERBET blouse. It's a little unsettling...


I serged all the seams. The facings are interfaced with sew-in peach organza. You can't use regular interfacing because you can see it through the eyelet. I got the organza interfacing tip from a Sewing Guild Meeting I once went to at G Street. I like the organza interfacing for lightweight fabric because it doesn't distort the fabric like iron-on interfacing.

I found the buttons in my stash! Score!! I have no clue where they came from.

I think this blouse will look cute in the summer with jeans and sandals. I also have a vague plan to make a brown linen skirt and jacket for the Spring and Summer. I got gorgeous brown linen from G Street last summer that needs to be sewn.

Something for Spring

I have moved on to Spring sewing. I am boycotting winter. I have made another McCalls 5522 . I have already made this version using silk from Mood.
After two abysmal failures, I needed a quick win. OK, unfortunately this is not a quick win. This is not a hard pattern, it is just tedious. It includes buttons, lots of hand sewing and a stand up collar - all components that take a bit of time.

The fabric is a beautiful teal Swiss dot cotton. The real stuff. It was a joy to sew. I got if from from G Street. I hand stitched the hems, facings and collar stand. I didn't want any top stitching to compete with the dots.

The buttons ended up being a trial. Unbelievably, I had no buttons that would match from the button stash - every other color known to man, but evidently not light teal.

I grabbed my coupon and headed for JoAnns - and nothing even close. Next stop, G Street. G Street keeps their buttons in boxes behind the counter. You know they are going to be expensive (OK they are beautiful, but expensive!) They had some perfect teal glass flower buttons - only four of them. No way could I go less than 5. Sigh. Oh, well, covered buttons it is. I am an expert at covered buttons. I made 75 for my wedding dress.

Something for Bonnie

I finished a school dress for Bonnie. It was an unfinished project from last fall that I finally got around to. Not sure why I got side tracked.

The fabric is navy cotton corduroy from the stash originally from JoAnns.

The bodice is lined with navy bemberg . I hand stitched the lining to the zipper edge and waist. I used a zipper from the stash.

I used Butterick 4782. It is the same pattern that I used for this dress.

I plan on making her a turtle neck in a maroon rayon knit for the Fall.

Bonnie is really into the model gig and is always ready for her closeup!

Bonnie is also modeling her new school shoes from Nordstrom.

Finally: A Jacket!

It took awhile to find the time, but I have finished a jacket and it fits!


Note to self - always wear makeup! The straight hair was accomplished after 2 hours at the salon. It won't look like this until I make it to the salon again.

I have met New Year's resolution #4: Make a jacket. Since I haven't made a jacket in years, I picked a jacket with as many pieces as possible - 29 pieces of fashion fabric, 10 pieces of lining and 14 pieces of interfacing!

I made the jacket from Simplicity 2703.

The fabric is a cotton denim with a flocked floral pattern. I think it is from Hancocks. Almost everything to make the jacket came from the stash including: fabric, thread, interfacing, lining, shoulder pads, batting for the sleeve heads and the button. I did have to buy a large snap because the button was too big for a button hole.

I bought the button several years ago from a vendor at the Sewing Expo held in Virginia. It is Chekoslavakian glass.

Changes to Jacket from pattern instructions:

1. Added Lining
2. Full bust Adjustment
3. Full hip adjustment
4. Full arm adjustment (I guess I'm pretty fluffy)
5. Took in waist
6. Added shoulder pads
7. Added sleeve heads
8. Added one inch to sleeve length
9. Added back facing piece



10. Cut under collar in 2 pieces on the bias
11. Used a big snap (a.k.a. whopper popper) for button closure.
12. Applied interfacing to hem, back and entire front of jacket.

It took 2 muslins to get the fit right. I really like how it turned out. If I make it again, I will tape the roll line of the collar. I think the collar will lay better.