Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Non-knitting WiP



My knitting has been on hold a little this week because I got 'inspired' (I really need to stop doing this, you'll see why).

I decided that this Christmas I would make pjs for some of the little ones in the family.  I went to the fabric store and decided that I'd make my niece a robe to match her pjs too.  I picked up some great fabric and a pattern.

I ventured down to the States one day to check out Joanne's and ended up with material and a pattern to make 3 more pairs of flannel pjs for my niece (because one pair and a robe wasn't enough?).  I figured if I didn't get them done by Christmas, then I'd make them afterwards (the justification).  When I got home, I realized I bought the wrong size pattern.  So I went to my local fabric store to see if they had it in the correct size, they didn't, but I did find a cute pattern for one piece pjs which I just had to get....as well as the fabric for it (because MORE fabric is just what I needed!).  I found a some fleece in a pattern that my niece would look absolutely adorable in (ok, she looks adorable in everything she wears) and decided that I would make my Godson 2 pairs of them too (yes, I think I am crazy - but I know I'm not the only one who 'collects' patterns and fabric and/or yarn and waaayy overestimates the time they have to complete the projects).

As I started working on the pjs, I realized that I needed interfacing (which I thought I didn't need) so I head back to my local fabric store.  As I'm there, once again, I get inspired and somehow come to the conclusion that I need to make my niece a Christmas dress (this came out of nowhere).  I spend over an hour picking out the pattern, fabric, zipper and buttons.

So now, not only do I have WAY to much to sew but I also spent WAY more than I had planned!  Oops!  I lose control in fabric and yarn stores.  I will have to ban myself!

Fabric stores - BANNED
Yarn stores - BANNED
Winners - BANNED
HomeSense - BANNED
Shoe sales - BANNED
MAC makeup stores - BANNED
Bath and Body Works - BANNED

No matter how much self-control I think I have prior and when entering these stores, something else takes over when I'm in there and I forget all about budget, realistic thinking, etc.

Anyways, I am happy to report that the Christmas dress is almost done.  You won't be able to see from the pictures below which parts are not done.  You will also not be able to see that I'm not a great seamstress :)  I'm going to go try it on her tonight then make the finishing touches - I hope it fits!

Now, I have to get back to my Christmas knitting...and pj sewing...and Christmas baking.  17 days to go!!  YIKES!

Black velveteen dress.  Pattern: Simplicity 2574 - Project Runway Collection
Dress with the fake fur shrug (also included in the pattern).
This zipper looks like little crystals down the back of the dress in reality.  In this picture, the fuzz all over the dress stands out way more than the zipper (which doesn't photograph well, apparently) - don't worry, I lint rolled this :)
The complete outfit for my one-and-a-half-year-old niece.

8 comments:

  1. Thanks Denise! After I finished it, I thought to myself "I probably could have gone out and bought this dress for $20 at Winners." But, like knitting, I (we) don't do it because it's cost-efficient. I do it for the creative process, the process of creating, and I think people look better in garments with some love sewn/knit into them :)

    Plus, I've banned myself from Winners anyways :)

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  2. I had a good laugh reading your post because I can totally sympathize with your fabric buying urges. In my case, it's yarn. Sometimes I "create" excuses to go to the yarn store, like accidentally losing all my stitch markers, just so I can buy more yarn. Your niece's dress is adorable. She will look so cute in it!

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  3. WOW, you have a lot on your hands. Congrats to you though, I can't believe you already finished the dress! I'm so impressed. It's adorable.

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  4. Thanks for the comment on my blog :-)

    Lovely dress
    So much more rewarding when you make something you know you can buy in the shops.

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  5. I am right there with ya on the need to be banning myself from certain stores. Keep forgetting that there are only 24 hours in a day and a few minutes of sleep occaisionally are needed.

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  6. hee-hee! I completely relate to that story. If I get into a yarn store, I find that skeins just jump into my shopping bag all by themselves!
    In this case though it seems to have all worked out, as that finished dress is wonderful! Great job.

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