Last October, I made myself a spider web costume using the Lila+June free wrap skirt pattern. I loved the skirt so much that I decided I needed a non Halloween version in my closet.

I originally thought I'd make this second version out of a plain fabric so that it could be a very versatile piece in my wardrobe. But when I rediscovered this vintage fabric in my stash, it was just begging to be a wrap skirt. The vintage look of the fabric pattern fits the vintage feel I get from this skirt pattern. And the stiff hand of the fabric gives a little more umph to the skirt than my first version.

So I have a bad habit of picking out fabrics for a pattern and paying absolutely no attention to the amount of fabric the pattern actually calls for. If it looks like it would be enough fabric, I figure I'll make it work somehow. And it honestly usually works out!

This skirt calls for 6 panels. The four you would normally expect for the front and back right and left, and then two more for overlapping when you wrap it around. Well....I didn't actually have enough fabric for that. So I eliminated one of the overlapping panels. I figured it would be just fine in terms of coverage, and I was right.

I also didn't have enough fabric to create one entire waistband. So I ended up piecing several strips together. And even then, it wasn't as long as the recommended waistband. But that is also due to the fact that I used up some of the fabric to make.....pockets!

OK so I was super excited about adding these pockets. But it turns out that pockets in a full circle skirt are not actually that convenient. They are kind of hard to find in all that fabric. And since it's a wrap skirt, and can very easily be put on not quite centered, this leads to more confusion and sometimes slightly awkward pocket positioning.

But, in the end I'm still glad I put them in, because that meant I had a chance to learn how to do an inseam pocket with all the seams frenched!

I knew it was possible to do, but I couldn't quite wrap my head around how to do it. So I did some googling, and found this helpful tutorial on Sew Mama Sew. Honestly, even with a tutorial, I still had trouble visualizing how everything would fit together. But I just followed along step by step and my pockets turned out great! There is something so immensely satisfying about not being able to see any raw edges anywhere on this skirt.

It may look nice and springy in some of my pictures, but in reality it was absolutely freezing. And snowing.

Pattern: Lila+June wrap circle skirt, free.
Fabric: vintage fabric (may have once been a curtain?), free, from my stash. I've had it for so long that I don't even remember or where I got it.
Size: 14
Alterations: No left side overlap, pieced waistband, added inseam pockets.
Details: Everything is finished with French seams!
​Next Time: Skip the pockets, make it in a basic color, and be sure that I have enough fabric for long enough waist ties before I decide to get fancy.

This scrappy pouf pattern is a freebie from Closet Case Files, and one of my #makenine projects for 2019. 

This really was an ultimate scrap buster. The grey outer fabric is scrap, sewn with the scrap cording wrapped in scrap bias tape, and it opens with a scrap zipper. Then on the inside, I made a bag from scraps with a scrap drawstring closure. And then of course the entire thing is completely filled with scraps!!!

When I go grocery shopping, I bring my own bags so that I don't have to use the plastic ones. But in the produce section, I still use the plastic bags to hold my fruits and veggies. And every time I do, I think to myself that I should just make some bags of my own to use instead of the plastic ones. Because it seems like such a waste!

After a chaotic holiday season of sewing like mad to keep all my stores in stock, I needed a little selfish sewing break before getting started on all my tax paperwork. Sometimes I need to do a quick project that is easily done in one sitting. And headbands make a great quick sew! Of course, when you are wrangling a 6 month old who is constantly getting in to everything, nothing is ever really done in one sitting. But headbands are pretty straight forward, even if you keep getting interrupted by your kid trying to bang his head into all the furniture.

Here are the three headbands that I cranked out: the white lace headband, the modified retro top knot headband, and (my favorite:) the vintage measuring tape headband! 

I've seen the #MakeNine challenge around on Instagram for a few years now, but I've never participated before this year. Usually I have waaayyy more than 9 projects that I want to accomplish in a year. And to be honest, I still do have more than 9 for 2019 as well. But the problem with having SO MANY ideas and plans is that it is SO EASY to get side tracked and bounce around from one thing to the next. Which is exactly what I do. So in any given year I do make a lot of things, but I also start and never finish a lot of things, and I often have projects that end up on my to-do list for years that I keep meaning to do.

Which is why I have decided to partake in the #MakeNine challenge this year!

Of all the holidays, Halloween has always been my favorite. And of all the silly things that Eddie and I have been excited for about having a baby, dressing up for Halloween was one at the top of the list. which is why i decided to make two costumes this year. Which is slightly insane. I'm definitely the person who ends up finishing a costume on Halloween night, if at all. But I couldn't resist aiming high! And believe it or not, I finished them both. Before Halloween! It's a Halloween miracle!

For those of you who are new around here, I live in Indiana. And I love where I live. Soooo I tend to create a lot of fun little projects that use the shape of Indiana. And I recently realized that Indiana makes a perfect tote bag shape!

For those of you who are NOT new around here, this newest creation will come as no surprise. I'll admit, I am slightly obsessed.

This is a guest post by Sonia Spence over at Fabric & Flowers. Go check out her awesome blog full of tips, tutorials, and patterns!

When I send out my patterns during the testing stage, I always make sure to tell my testers that they should go ahead and make any changes that they want to the pattern. I do this so that my testers can end up with a finished product that they actually love and will actually use! I also do this because I find it so inspiring to see all the different ways that people can take my patterns and make them their own. 

This blog post is going to highlight some of my testers, their bags, their thoughts on their bags, and some of the changes that you can make to The Huxley Bag!

Make it your own:
I didn’t use leather over the webbing, also no rivets, I sewed boxes with an x in the middle rather than rivets

​Thoughts:
That pattern is amazing.  I have gotten so many compliments on the bag this week. I make all my bags, but this one people have been surprised to know I made. I am happy to know that it worked using home dec and canvas fabrics in addition to leather.

Thoughts:
I posted a pic of it on my FB page and all my friends were so impressed and said the bag looked awesome! Great design is also what my husband said, so I'm so happy I was selected to try this pattern.  Given how complex the bag looks, and the big package I printed for instructions, I thought the sewing was going to be super complex.  To my surprise, it was much easier than I imagined.   My husband keeps saying he's surprised I finished it as soon as I did. :) 

Make it your own:
Use a contrasting fabric for the front.

Make it your own:
Used one rivet instead of two on the straps, and added an inside zipper pocket to the lining.

Tips:
The waxed canvas is great and holds the bag shape
perfectly

Thoughts:
I found the conversion great! Ingenious idea! Someone asked me if I was going to start producing them (I said NO!!)

Tips:
I would advise anyone making this to spend time cutting out this whole pattern before starting to sew. If you leave parts for later you really need motivation to go back and cut. Besides that, it brings you to a halt if you are being especially productive! I also recommend using a walking foot to sew cork. I changed to a regular foot at one point and actually curled one of the straps! I won't make that mistake again! Last, but not least, always put a thick board under your anvil when you are installing your rivets. Otherwise, you will hammer a hole in your nice Ikea tabletop! Don't ask how I know this!

Thoughts:
I was a bit intimidated by this pattern because it held a lot of new-to-me skills. I'd never used leather (or cork) before and I'd never used rivets or this type of snaps either. I've discovered that I LOVE rivets! I plan to use more cork in my bags because it makes everything look so professional! Thanks for making me try something new!

Make it Your own:
Love the idea of converting the straps to have a multi functional bag. Plus, with it having detachable straps, you can also make different ones and interchange them.

Thoughts:
I think you did a great job with this pattern!  It was fun and challenging but not too hard.  I think with the leather/webbing parts, I overthought a lot of it but once I started to change a few things and make it my own, the project was a breeze!  I was so happy seeing the final product at the end.
​
Tips:
My foot did not like the faux suede.  For the topstitch on the flap, I actually had to put paper on top of the bag to sew it and then peel the paper off.  It helped make for a smoother line.

Make it Your own:
I only used one snap on the front straps and I left off the bike straps and made the bag so it's just a cross body/backpack.  

Thoughts:
I would say this pattern is the hardest I've ever completed; I found it to be harder than a button-up, but maybe that's my pregnancy brain.  I really like the end product (it looks so professional and makes my awl wound acceptable lol) and can't wait to use it for school and as a small diaper bag.
​
I'm happy to report that it fits my wallet, phone, changing pad, 2 pacifiers, 2 onesies, a swaddling blanket, 5 disposal diapers, a full pack of wipes, and an adult shirt.   It also comfortably fits my husband (he's happy to wear it).  

Make it your own:
I did a fusion of the two styles (zippers plus flap). I used denim rather than leather. For the straps, I used a double layer of a decorative trim I had on hand (rather than covering with leather). The trim was 1 ¼”, so I needed to get wider hardware. I used a scrap of ultrasuede for the reinforcement and strap for the technology pocket, zipper pulls, and (double layer) for the guide for straps on the front.

Thoughts:
My tween daughter LOVES the sample that I am making.

Here are some more modifications that I've thought of, or seen pop up on the #HuxleyBag on Instagram:

- Leave off the front straps and handle for a minimalist look
- Print your own fabric with a site like Spoonflower
- Use a fabric or article of clothing with special significance (like dad's leather jacket)
- Use velcro for your closure
​- Add in more pockets
- Get rid of pockets you don't want
- Add in more rivets or studs as decoration
- Use a contrasting topstitching

I want to see what else you all can come up with for your own Huxley bags! Keep tagging me on instagram!
​

Along with having a baby in July, we also moved apartments. I'll spare you the long dramatic story of the stressful moving. Here's the short version: newborn baby + postpartum packing + new apartment issues + cockroaches + moving everything we own three times + breaking the new lease + living out of an empty apartment + finding a new apartment last minute. Fun stuff. But the end result is that we now have a great new apartment in the suburbs of Indianapolis. And it has TWO BEDROOMS. Yaaasssss!

With all of my business stuff taking up so much room in our apartment, we knew that adding in Finnegan and all his baby stuff would mean needing more space than our downtown one bedroom. And because Finn is sleeping in our bedroom, and doesn't actually need his own space yet (we rarely tell him to "Go to your room!") the second bedroom is officially the craft room! And I cannot be more excited. I've never actually had a craft room before! 

Between lots of feedings and nap times, I've finally managed to put all of my stuff into some sort of semblance of organization, and I'm ready to give you a tour!

Starting off on the right side of the room, I've set up my industrial machine, along with giant cork boards on the righthand wall. The space in front of the wall is where I'll put up my 6 foot folding table when I need to, for cutting and paper patterning days.

To the left of my industrial machine is the desk, which is actually a shared desk for both me and my husband. 

Just to the left of the desk, I have my large paper patterns. These are my own designs, and also the printed out PDF patterns that I've bought. I roll them up, rubber band them, write the name of the pattern on the outside, and store them standing up in this laundry basket, along with my large roll of patterning paper.

I also have my new magnetic sweeper stored here. It's a telescopic pick up tool meant for nails and screws that I got from the hardware store. I use it to sweep along the floor and pick up any loose pins that I may have dropped before I vacuum (or before Finn comes in to play).

Next is the big utility shelf in the corner. On the bottom I have all of my sewing books and magazines, along with my camera. The next shelf has my serger and our filing box. Up one more has four cute baskets full of different odds and ends (one is full of zippers, one is full of everything I need to tag and price my physical products, etc etc). The top shelf has my Huskystar sewing machine, the printer, and the large basket full of all my shipping supplies.

The setup to the left of the utility shelf is kind of a catch all storage unit. Anything from needles to rivets to chalk paint to elastic to buttons to glue is stored here. The top part is a hardware organizer that I picked up at the thrift store and the white middle section is actually a shoe cubby, and my colorful boxes that I use for drawers? Kleenex boxes. It's the only thing that I could find tat was the right size when I first set it up.

To the left again, we have the kit shelf (also I store my rulers in between these two shelves). All my DIY kits that are ready to go, along with the supplies I need to put the kits together are stored here. And then also my notebooks and my enveloped sewing patterns.

The last wall of my craft room has my mannequin, my spinning wheel, and the rocking chair (according to Eddie it's so that he can feed and rock Finn while visiting with me while I work. Or vice versa.)

Hidden behind the rocking chair is the closet for this room. Which is STUFFED with all the rest of my sewing supplies. It actually reminds me of this dorky show I used to watch as a kid called Zaboomafoo with this now-terrifying puppet lemur. The Kratt brothers would always have to get into this closet to find something and everything would fall out every time. I'm not QUITE at that point yet, but I'm gonna have to watch myself. Here's a peek inside. The baskets have different types of fabrics in them that go to specific products, and the hangers are full of the rest of my selection of fabrics (that I have here with me. I have a ton more at my parents house. Sorry mom! I love you!) The top shelf of the closet is full of already made products ready to be shipped out or head to a craft show.

Whew! That's the deep dive into my current organizational setup. I'd love to answer any questions you guys have, or hear how you organize things like fabric and patterns. I love to get new ideas from other people, and I'm sure that we will be completely reorganizing once Finn actually needs his own room. But for now I'm super excited to have this space to keep all of my work in one place and keep it from taking over the entire apartment again! Ok except for my rolls of fabric. Those are under the bed. But that doesn't count, right?