At Home in Georgia

Looking for Dress and Apron Patterns

I made a few things this past weekend (see my pictures, I'm trying to keep them updated), but I'm quickly realizing that the things I like for my girls only go up to size 4.  I need to try to adjust the patterns to work for my older girl.  She's about a 4 around, but about a 6 long.  And because of her long legs, the high waists don't look right on her.  If you have a pattern you love for either a simple dress (regular waist) or an apron/pinafore for a bit bigger girl, please let me know.    I love Candle on the Hill's Jewel Apron, but I'm trying to keep costs down while I save toward a serger. 

Also, any tips on combining patterns (can you interchange similar sleeves and bodices?) or adjusting patterns (like the pinafore in my picture - bodice needs to be longer... should I also adjust anywhere else, or just add inches to the length??) would be greatly appreciated!

~Michelle

Pictures

Ok, I've reposted the pictures of some of the clothes I've made for the girls lately.  I just made another dress and pinafore for Emma today.  I'm working on a dress for Cassandra but it's going to take me another day to finish it.  I'll get those pictures up soon.  :)

~Michelle

Thoughts on Sewing... of all things!

Ohhhh, I just have to tell you....

I hate to hand-sew... not really TO hand sew, but to just think about it seems like I just don't have time to DO that.  So, all my hems have been Stitch Witchery or rolled hems whipped off on the sewing machine as fast as I could do them.  Well, stitch witchery doesn't last past a few launderings and rolled hems don't allow for wide hems and room to let them down as girls grow. 

So.... today.... I bit the bullet and hemmed by hand.  It was SO relaxing.  I felt like I was really doing something for my girls... and I was available.  I knew it would take a while so I settled in and kept my kiddos nearby and was able to put it down when I needed to help them with something.  When I machine sew, it's a frantic thing "I JUST need to get ONE MORE SEAM done, then I can help/make lunch/put this down/etc."  And it looks just fine. 

Just had to tell you.  It made me chuckle, because even a sewing machine, with all of it's WONDERFUL things, can make me feel more frantic than just sitting and sewing.  Hmmmmm...

~Michelle

Ps.  No, I'm NOT planning on starting to sew everything by hand!!!!! 

When the girls are away, the mama will.... sew?

My girls are in KY for a few days visiting with their grandparents.  Grandpa and Grandma will bring them back tomorrow.  I miss them! 

But... have I gotten some sewing done!  I finished two jumpers I'd started before Christmas, and made them each two skirts.  I even sewed myself a skirt, but I'm not sure I'm happy with it.  I've never done that much sewing in one chunk.  My son (3) has been very cooperative too.  My husband''s been home, and Garrett is very happy to play cars or just hang around us while we catch up on some things. 

My husband went back to work this morning, so I've been cleaning (which I didn't do much while I was sewing!) and planning our next few months of school.  Things just flow so much more smoothly when I'm more organized. 

I finally got my goals formulated for this year... our BIG goal is our speech/talking.  I mentioned before this is a big concern to me, and I figured out what bothers me and how we can work on it over the year. 

1.  Improve the quality (and decrease the quantity, too, I suppose!) of our speech.  Kind? Necessary? True?  Memorize verses about our speech.

2. Use verbal manners - no yelling, go to the person to talk to them; listen when someone else is talking; wait your turn to talk; don't interrupt; polite tone; etc.

3. Keep the finances more organized (this is for me) - menu planning, more organized grocery lists, better record-keeping this year.

4. Work on self-control/self-discipline (again, for me mostly) - use caution with computer time and don't allow it to pull me from my family and my duties; do what needs to be done whether I feel like it or not; remember I have three little ones watching me all the time. 

5. Give my God, my children, and my husband my full attention.  Not constant attention, necessarily, but when I give them my attention, I need to give them ALL of it.  I miss a lot because I have so much going on in my head that I'm distracted, only half-listening, and in a hurry to get on to the next thing that I need/want to do.

Now.... OFF the computer and back to planning school!  And by the way... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~Michelle