Sometimes I need a quick fun little project as a palate cleanser in between larger projects. And this needle organizer is a perfect little one! I've been calling it Needle Little Lemon because it makes me smile when I say it outloud..... do it!.... see what I mean?! Fun!

​For this quick craft, I used a 17cm (6.6") embroidery hoop, some thread, a little craft glue, a little yellow paint, and some yellow, green, and off white felt.

One of the things I love about sewing my own clothes is the ability to create meaningful garments for meaningful events in my life. There are the huge life events like my wedding (and yes I did make my own wedding dress) and then there are smaller but still meaningful events like running my first post baby road race. Running after giving birth has been a really difficult transition for me, and I felt like I needed to celebrate the hard work I'd put in to get ready for this half marathon. So of course, what better way to celebrate than by making myself a new Madi tank for race day?! Of course, in the end, life got in the way and I didn't end up finishing it in time to wear it for the race. But I still think of it as my Indy Mini Madi.

Making avocado dye is one of my Make Nine projects for the year. Avocado dye has been on my want-to-do list for so so long, and I thought adding it to my make nine list would help me actually get around to it. I've been intimidated by the thought of it, but it was so so easy to do! I shouldn't have waited so long!

This project started with the fabric. I found this beautiful sweater knit fabric at a secondhand store called Mission 27 here in Indy. I couldn't pass it up. I've never sewn with a sweater knit before, but I figured I was past due. Sweaters are staples in my wardrobe because I really like having the freedom to put on and take off layers depending on my ever changing temperature.

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.

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!

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.

A few weeks ago, in the midst of a lot of long term projects, I got the itch to sew something quick and simple. So I looked through my bin of patterns and pulled out Butterick Fast&Easy 3383.

​It's a really boxy, oversized t-shirt pattern with three sleeve length options, a pocket option, and the option for side seam slits. I'm not usually a fan of really oversized t-shirts, and I considered altering the pattern from the get go. But I wanted to see what it was going to be like without alterations, and figured oversized was exactly what sewing for my bump called for.

​I picked out some scraps I had in a sturdy navy mystery knit, and some bias tape that I'd had laying around for ages (seriously, I think I've had it since I was like 12) and went to work! Of course, being scrap fabric I didn't actually have enough to cut the pattern out as it was intended. So I decided to split the front into two, and try to make it look intentional. To make it look more like a design detail, I used 1" seam allowance for the center front, serged the sides separately, and topstitched each side. I think it turned out pretty well!

​Actually, the whole shirt turned out better than I expected. A lot of times when I jump into a project and finish it really quickly it ends up turning out pretty terrible for one reason or another. But this boxy look is indeed super comfy for being pregnant. And the slits in the sides help give even more room as I go into the last few months of my pregnancy. I really like the stability that the woven bias tape gives to the scoop neckline, and I love the pocket detail. The only thing I'd change for next time around is to make the sleeves shorter, since every time I wear it I end up rolling them up a turn or two anyway.

I can't say that it's my favorite make ever, but it was the perfect pick for a quick and easy project, and it's a great basic to have in the closet!

Oh! And p.s. this is my Retro Topknot Headband in case you were wondering :)