Spring Rain Jacket

Ages ago, I purchased this very cool two-sided rain-resistant fabric [purchased from Michael Fabric] with the intention of making this little rain jacket [OOP Vogue 8480].


Returning to warm weather in Cincinnati has pushed this project to the top of the list. I'm going to cut it out today. I plan to modify by eliminating the flare on and lengthening the sleeve. (What is the point of a cropped sleeve on a jacket - that would just annoy me!) I would also like to make the jacket longer so it covers the tush. Since the jacket is not lined, I think I can try the longer length and if it doesn't look right, trim it back to the design length.

JoAnn's has buttons buy one/get one free this weekend so I'll zip over to pick up coordinating buttons this morning.

Birthday Goodness

My middle child turned 20 on Sunday. No more teenager years. (Can I get an Amen, people?) Her birthday present request was for data service for a Blackberry (she already had the phone). Boring present in my mind but it's her birthday, right?

But I also gave her the cutest sweatshirt. Kristine of "Just Keep Sewing" showed some adorable designs she created here and here and I knew my daughter would love one. I emailed Kristine and she agreed to make a couple for me. She uses Vera Bradley fabric for the letters. My daughter goes to Ohio State so I thought she would like that. (She LOVED it!)


And I had to get one for me adorned with my initials.

Baby Shower Package

I finished the last of the baby shower presents this morning. In addition to the bathrobe I finished last week, I made two hooded towels and 5 bibs.



The hooded towels are made from one bath towel and one wash cloth. I used this tutorial as a starting point but I added some bias binding and the heart appliques for extra cuteness!



I found a bib template here but I didn't use the same instructions. I added some interfacing to the two tabs to strengthen where the snaps would go and I added a contrasting bottom, rick rac and appliques. The back fabric is flannel. I also chose not to use seam binding but instead sewed right sides together, trimmed seams and curves, turned right side out and top stitched. As you can see, I used the bath towel and bathrobe fabrics as well as some other purchased fabrics. I dug out my handy dandy snap setter that hadn't been used in at least 14 years (when my now almost 17 year old son was 3!) I LOVE this tool and enjoyed using it again.



Finally, I purchased a baby "spa" (seriously, a baby spa???) off the gift registry and a few other goodies to complete the bath time theme.

Baby Bathrobe

Mark's daughter is pregnant with her first baby and the baby shower is in a couple weeks. She is having a girl and you all know that means cute baby clothes! I have a few things in mind but the first thing I've finished is a reversible bathrobe. I made this pattern a few years ago for my co-worker and it turned out so cute that I wanted to make it again.

The pink side is flannel and the ducks are just a woven cotton. The pattern is Simplicity 3711 and is still available.