A Little Blog-Keeping and One Happy Son

Hi there.  I realized that I haven't addressed a couple of thoughts and questions from the comments and I wanted to get that information out to you.  Amanda S (I love seeing everything you make!) asked what skirt pattern was used for the skirt posted with this top.  It is New Look 6153 which is a bias cut skirt with the same pattern piece used for the front and back and a narrow elastic waist.  I borrowed a round-bottomed pocket from a Burda pattern so long ago that I can't remember which pattern it came from for the side patch pocket.  I just gather the top of the pocket and bind it with a self-bias strip before I patch it on to my skirt.  I've made about 8 of these skirts in either rayon or linen. It's probably my favorite skirt to wear.

Anonymous thought maybe one could use the hem tie from this blouse for this Burda blouse, particularly if you didn't want to have such a wide hem, and I think you could certainly do that, especially if you are short on fabric.   I am going back over my old posts and trying to add links so that I can add a search button when I figure out how.  I really need to read up on the mechanics of blogging.  I hope I have covered all the questions, but if you have one please let me know and I will do my best to respond. 

As predicted, I've gone rogue for my next project.  No navy, red, or cream, although I still have projects churning in my head to complete that theme. No, this time I am using a polyester print that's about 14 years old and a light grey knit for the top.  I hope to have it done this week. 

In the mean time, my youngest DS has been literally begging me for a fleece blanket made out of a cartoon theme print.  He saw one made up in our favorite local fabric store, and he just loved it and wanted it every time we would go in.  I was able to keep him at bay for the longest time by telling him that fleece just wasn't practical for Hawaii.  However, the last time we were in the fabric store I won a $10.00 gift certificate and fleece was on sale for 40% off.  How could I keep saying, "No"?  You guessed it, I gave in.

DS wanted it made, "just like the one at the store." What luck, it is a no sew blanket.  It took  maybe 1.5 hours to complete.  And the little guy gave me the sweetest hug and thank you when I finished.  Gosh, they can sure melt your heart sometimes!  Here are a couple pics of the process.

You need two pieces of fleece, one for the front and one for the back.  I bought 2 yards of each.  I laid them on top of one another wrong sides facing and evened up the edges.  I then cut a 4" square out of each corner.  From corner to corner I cut into the edge 4" deep by 1" wide all the way around the blanket.  Now you are ready to tie.

Tie a square knot with each strip of fabric along the edge using the top fleece strip and the bottom fleece strip.  I skipped every other set of strips then turned it over and did the rest.  Apparently you will get a better result this way.  I viewed a couple of You Tube videos to see how to make this.  Here is the blanket with half the ties done and ready to flip over to tie the rest.    

Finally, enjoy your new blanket, even if it is somewhere between 80-90 degrees in the house!