Here is a new free pattern I’d like to share with you for summer – “Twirly Skirts”. It features directions for girls’ skirts sizes 6-16, but the pattern is so simple you can adjust it for adult sizes as well.
We’ve made a few different versions of skirts like this, but we really liked this one in particular and wanted to share. It has just enough ruffled detail to make it feminine and fun while still draping nicely, and it works well in a variety of fabrics.

Whip up a couple in fun prints for your favorite young lady, and use the scraps to make matching hair clips!

A lovely model, if I do say so myself. Thank you, Caitrin!

A friend of Caitrin’s from ballet turned thirteen a couple of weeks ago and we just had to make her a gift. Thirteen is a very special birthday and this is a special young lady. We made this little ballerina doll bag with a fabric yo-yo for a bun – we thought it was perfect because Caitrin’s friend collects dolls.

It was inspired by the Boy Acrobat project in Omiyage, by Kumido Sudo. As you can see, we made some hairpins for her to use as well, but they don’t fit inside the bag. Oh dear. We love them anyway.

Here is another hairpin we made for this lovely young lady with silk ribbon. The picture isn’t as good since my camera and I weren’t playing nicely. (I’m sure it was entirely my fault. Camera, I hope you are listening.)

A word about silk ribbon… Yes, it is expensive and it does fray a bit at the edges, but it takes fabric dye in a manner unlike any other material. The depth and luminosity of color in hand-dyed silk ribbon is incredible and just a small piece can make a project sing. The ribbons I used for these hairpins were from a trip to M & J Trimming in New York City a couple of years ago. They have an extensive online store – check them out!

And, since I just cannot stand to waste fabric, we used the last few scraps we had leftover from our Fabrilicious Eggs, Flower Coasters, and Yo-Yo-Pillow to make these pincushions.

The pattern comes from Anna Maria Horner’s book, “Seams to Me” . They were easy to make. (I used very heavy-weight interfacing rather than posterboard for to mount the bottom circle to make for easier finishing.)

Have a great week!
Amanda

Some people have a living room, but we have a schoolwork/office/sewing room and today it looks like complete chaos. Still, it is my favorite room because it has fantastic light and is used for so many things. Although it is only about 10% of the house it is where we spend 90% of our time. Can you tell?
Today it reflects the state of my mind…

Sewing things piled up in a corner.

Kids’ computers.

Our son’s “Office” i.e. the floor. (Caitrin and I are usually at the table but Eamon scoffs at traditional forms of seating.)

Even the ironing board made an appearance. (Catch a glimpse of my next free pattern, “Twirly Skirt”, ready for pressing.)

Our daughter and I are traveling to Raleigh this weekend for the State Science Olympiad and I want to finish some things before leaving – wishful thinking, but we all must have goals, however unrealistic.

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!
Amanda