Moving On Up

Pardon the dust this weekend as I attempt to move this blog to my own domain!

The new website is http://www.dandeliondrift.com

I’m hoping that my eyes don’t bug out like this poor hermit crab as I make my move.  We found this crab at the beach and he jumped out of his shell when he saw us.  Don’t worry…we gave him back his home and hopefully I will easily find my way around this new home too!

I sure don’t want to lose any of my readers as I move, so you can easily follow me at

• facebook
• pinterest
• bloglovin

Have a great weekend!

The Hills Are Alive…

With the sound of music….ah, ah, ah, ah.So I made some shorts for me…out of some upholstery fabric that was in my stash.  And Josh says, those remind me of The Sound of Music.  Oh well…I like them!  I was inspired by Carolyn over at Fake It While You Make It.  She had some upholstery fabric that she turned into some shorts and I thought they turned out super cute (especially where she chose to place the birds).  So I looked through my stash with totally different eyes, seeing my upholstery weight fabric in a different light.  I’m sure I bought this fabric with a specific project in mind, maybe it was a pillow, but it never happened, and so now I have a new pair of shorts.  The pattern is the same as last time, Butterick 4831, with a few modifications.  I added some pockets and changed the waistband from a straight cut to a curved waistband.  When I make these next time, I will add a little more width in the hips so the fabric doesn’t pull at all and lengthen the back a bit so that these sit a little bit higher above my tooshie.  Other than those little tweaks, I think I have a favorite shorts pattern.  And I have no fear of a zip fly…woo hoo!!!

Follow Directions

I bought a whole pile of vintage patterns this summer and have been trying to work my way through them.  From this pattern loot I’ve sewn Sweet Pea some shorts and a tank top, then some shorts for me from the same pattern, Bubba received a new shirt, and finally I am making my way to the dresses.  I have about 8 vintage dress patterns I want to sew up, so here is my first go!

I sewed this pattern up quickly, but looked at the directions and thought, who needs that many darts?  There were two sets of darts in the front, and then two sets of darts in the back.  So I omitted all of the darts, tried the dress on, and realized I looked like I was wearing a hospital gown.  I could easily add in two of the darts without taking the dress apart, so I added one set of darts to the front (from the waist up to the bust) and then one set of darts in the back.  It looked okay…Josh gave it a thumbs up, so I wore it out all day yesterday. 

There were a few things that bothered me so when I got home, I changed right away and cut all of the seams apart.  It only took me about an hour to cut the dress apart and add the extra darts, and now I can say I think this dress is great!  It is made out of a knit that I found at the thrift store for 25 cents (for about 4 yards of knit).  And now I can tell you, I need all of those darts.  They give this dress shape and make every seam sit nicely.  It even has shoulder darts, which I had never seen before (except Andrea posted a photo of a dress she made this week showing off her shoulder darts). 

Black Knit Dress

I am very blessed with an amazing thrift store near my house.  I know when I go in there, I have to be prepared to walk away with nothing (just like any thrift store), but usually there is some hidden treasure I can find.Recently, my crafty finds have been amazing.  The vintage patterns are all 25 cents a piece and the most expensive fabric is $1 a yard.  And recently, the fabric has been 25 cents per cut.  Per cut…as in I can walk away with 4 yards of fabric for 25 cents.  Insane…I know.  If ever we move, I’ll be heartbroken to leave this great thrift store behind.  Well, the other day I scored this black knit with an eyelet like pattern throughout.  I wasn’t sure if it looked old and frumpy or pretty darn cool.  I decided to make a Date Night Dress out of it, and I have to say, I think it looks awesome.  This is probably my most worn me made item…either this or my Archer tank. I love the easiness of this dress.  It is super comfy, super simple, and (I think) looks pulled together.  (Have I said I like this dress yet?)So, do you have a favorite thing you have made for yourself?  I may need to try out your pattern, because I could see me making five more of these dresses from April’s pattern (not that that would be a bad thing).

Shorts for Me

So, this was supposed to be a post about a pair of shorts I made…for myself.  It was supposed to be about how I graded up the pattern I used for Sweet Pea’s shorts last week to make me a pair of shorts out of this brick red denim.  I was supposed to tell you how I made a fly, for me, and it works, and I like it.  I was going to show you that I put darts in the back to accommodate my….hmmmm…we call it tooshie in our house.  But, the kids, not just my kids, also the neighborhood kids, had other plans when I stepped out to take pictures.  Eventually, I just threw the towel in and invited everyone in to eat dessert.  Even though my photo shoot didn’t go according to plan, I can tell you I really like my new shorts, and I’ll definitely be making more!  Maybe next time I can get a few pictures without being photo-bombed!

Linen Shorts

Kids Clothes Week is coming to an end, and I wanted to jot a few of my thoughts on this week.

Here are the things I have taken away from KCW:

• It has been so nice sewing for my kids.  As I have spent an hour (or hours) each day sewing for the kiddos I have been reflecting on them and praying for them.  I need to do that more often.
• I love sewing for my kids and want to do more of it while they still like my handmade goods.  Amazingly they have loved everything I have made them this week.
• Alright, here is my one bad thing.  I cannot be an everyday blogger.  It has been great to share with you all of my creations, but I put way too much pressure on myself to do this daily.  Next week, I will be back to blogging once or twice a week.

Are you ready now for my last KCW item?  I made Bubba some shorts.  I simply traced around a pair of shorts he owned and actually used a pattern piece from Sweet Pea’s blue floral shorts for the pockets.  These shorts are just…okay.  The fit isn’t perfect, the pockets are a tight squeeze for Bubba to put his hands in, and overall, I’m just not in love.  After finishing them, I decided to buy Dana’s new shorts pattern.  At only $6 I couldn’t justify trying to fix my self drafted pattern!  I’ve already printed the pattern out and have started taping it together.

I’m looking forward to the next KCW…it’s been fun!

These last two shots, you can see Bubba watching a storm roll In…poor boy was nervous!

Pink Pocket Tank

This Kids Clothes Week has been awesome.  I have loved sewing for my kiddos.  This may be just me, but it has given me great quiet time to reflect on their wonderful personalities.  Sweet Pea is my quiet, shy girl.  Well, that is how she is to the outside world, but once she is comfortable she is dynamic and full of life.  She has this sparkling joy just waiting to burst!  This shirt was made from the same pattern packet as Bubba’s shirt from yesterday (Simplicity 9996).  Is it wrong if I am getting a little bit jealous of the things I have sewn for Sweet Pea this week?  I could definitely see one of these tanks hanging in my closet, just like her cute cuffed shorts from earlier this week.  I used a gray knit shirt that was headed to the thrift store, and some quilting batik for the pocket.  I love, love, love this loose, casual tank, and am thinking of lengthening this to turn it into a dress.  Wouldn’t it be a cute dress with a little elastic casing at the waist?  This is my last sew for Sweet Pea this KCW, and tomorrow I have one more sew for Bubba!

Paddle Board T Shirt

My son, Bubba (you guys know that is not his real name, right?) is amazing….I love him to pieces.  Okay…I’m going to go off on a tangent real quick.  I decided to call him Bubba on the blog here, because that is what my Grandpa used to call him.  (He passed away this past year, but I can still hear him saying, “Bubba, come give me a kiss.”  You couldn’t leave Grandpa’s house without giving him a kiss.)  Okay, back to Bubba.  He has an amazing personality.  His personality exudes “I don’t care what you think about me….I know I am awesome.”  But that “I’m not going to follow the crowd” attitude is combined with a gentle, compassionate soul.  He is pretty awesome (but I am his mom…I’m sure all moms think that about their kids, at least I hope they do).  Well one of his favorite things to do is paddle board, so I thought I would make him a paddle board t shirt.  I sewed up this gray v neck t shirt (from a vintage Simplicity 9996 pattern), had my husband draw me a silhouette of Bubba paddle boarding, cut away the design from freezer paper and painted away.  Can you guys see the freezer paper stencil on this shirt?  Yeah, I can’t either, but I know it is there, and more importantly Bubba knows it is there.  Other than my lack of forethought on the fact that black fabric paint won’t show on dark gray fabric, I love this shirt.  And Bubba loves that his shirt holds a secret design.  When the light hits it right, you can see the design, maybe!  And Bubba, being his strong little personality, won’t care if you can see it or not; He knows it is a paddle boarding shirt and that is all that matters!

Floral Cuff Shorts

It’s Kids Clothes Week…and this is my first time participating!  I have been a spectator many other times, but I am happy to pledge to sew one hour a day, every day of this week just for my kiddos.  Yesterday was the first day my kids were back from Camp Grandma, and they were exhausted.  Both of the kiddos slept in ’til past 10 am, which gave me a lot of sewing time.  Sweet Pea is in need of some shorts and I had picked up this vintage pattern from the thrift store a few weeks ago. 

This is the first time I have made real shorts, with a real fly, and it actually wasn’t that difficult!  The previous owner of the pattern had written in a few notes and added a little pattern modification, which I followed.  I think the fly looks good, and amazingly it functions…I’m floored!  This pattern also had a faux cuff at the bottom, which I love.  And the fabric, I’m a little jealous I used these for Sweet Pea’s shorts.  I would love a pair of shorts in this blue floral fabric.  A pattern for me would not have fit on that tiny bit of fabric I had left; I barely squeezed these shorts out of the fabric I had. 

I think another pair of shorts will be cranked out this week, maybe next time in pink.  I am pledging, though to sew for both of my kids, so my goal is to alternate one item for Sweet Pea followed by one item for Bubba.  I’ll keep you posted every day this week on my kids clothes sewing endeavors!  Have you joined in the challenge?  What are you sewing this week?

April Rhodes The Date Night Dress

This week the kiddos have been off at Camp Grandma’s.  It’s a tradition my mother in law started five years ago; Sweet Pea and Bubba are invited every summer to spend a week at Grandma’s, no parents allowed.  The first few days this week, I was kind of floundering while Josh was at work, lost without a schedule and a super quiet house.  Then I decided to make myself a to do list, and man I have accomplished a lot. 

The sewing machine and I have spent many hours together this week, daylight hours, which is unheard of here!  One thing on my to do list was to test out April Rhodes’ newest pattern, The Date Night Dress.  The pattern is still in the making, and is due to release this month.  Oh, what a great pattern this is.  April’s directions are incredibly thorough, kind of like she is standing by your side guiding you through each step.  She explains how to make a box pleat, french seams, hem a curved edge, and every step has a picture to accompany the written instructions.  And the dress, isn’t it cute!  It has a slight high low hemline and very feminine fluttering sleeves.  The dress has a low opening on the side, so a slip is required, and April has given instructions and a pattern to make that as well.  I have already made two slips, and I love them just as much as the dress.  I think it’s very appropriate that I’ve had a chance to sew up this Date Night Dress, when Josh and I have had many dates this week while the kids are off at Camp Grandma’s!  We have one more night out planned before we are off to pick up the kiddos!