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Sew 20 – Real Life Sewing

Have you heard of Sew 20 yet?  It’s my friend Roxanne from Pen, Seb, & Rox‘s newest endeavor and a great resource for sewists of all levels.  This week Sew 20 is hosting a fun tour with the theme Real Life, Real Sewing.

As most of you know, I make all of Bean’s clothes so around here it’s pretty much ALL real life sewing.  The clothes I make for her need to withstand the days of a normal five year old and with a little extra effort in reinforcing seams and choosing the right fabrics, they do!

clothes blogged here

So today’s pictures aren’t the most refined, nor were they ever intended for the blog, but they’re the real life pictures of Bean being Bean taken over the past couple of weeks with my iPhone.  Also below, are some interview questions I answered for the tour.

blogged here a billion years ago when it still fit hehe (oh and the socks weren’t meant to be worn with shoes!) 

1. What do you look for when choosing a sewing project?

I like to make clothes I know Bean will wear.  That’s the main thing I look for when looking at a pattern.  Then I take into account what fabrics I have in my stash that I’ve been wanting to use.  Fabrics are a major inspiration jump off point.

blogged here and here (and again with the socks, right?)

2. Is there anything you would like to do differently when selecting projects?

Not so much now.  Years ago I made some things that didn’t get into the regular outfit circulation so I’ve sort of learned what will and won’t work.  One of the things I’ve learned is to make mix and match knit separates per season.  That is a great option for us since knits don’t need to be ironed AND Bean can pick things out herself and they will (usually!) match pretty well.

still haven’t blogged either of these, but they’re all over instagram – skater dress and sweatshirt from Ottobre Magazine

3.  What is your most worn sewing project?

By far the Skater Dress pattern by Kitschy Coo is the most worn pattern.  I’ve made a few different sizes in different fabrics and each one is commonly chosen by Bean.  I think it’s a combo of the fun fabrics (also bought through Kitschy Coo) and the comfort of the dress that she leans toward.

blogged here

4. Do you have a sewing project that you thought would be worn frequently but just did not end up working out?

Normally that happens with projects for me vs Bean.  This top I made for a Monthly MashUp just didn’t fit the way I had hoped it would.  I wear the two pieces I mashed quite a bit, especially that green trifecta!  I love the fabrics here and if I shortened it to high hip height I think I’d like it, but as is it just flares too much for me.  And of course it’s been years sitting in my closet and I still haven’t shortened it like I’d planned.

at the dentist in one of many Shandiin dresses turned tops from my #summerofshandiin and Paneled Sunsuit shorts

5. What is your favorite tip or quote that applies to sewing for real life?

My best tip for sewing is: enjoy it.  Inevitably Bean will spill something that stains on some brand new dress I’ve made, but I decided years ago that I was going to overlook such things if I was really going to take on sewing her entire wardrobe.  I don’t want to make things that she can’t be herself in or is worried about playing or getting dirty in and if I really thought about all the effort that went into each thing that got a tear or plain wore out it would take the fun out of it for me.  I enjoy sewing and enjoy putting myself into Bean’s clothing and once something is off the machine and in her closet (ok honestly I may sometimes hold things aside until AFTER blog pictures hehe) I let go of it.  It’s been years now and I can still say I enjoy this endeavor.

It’s really fun seeing Bean run around every day in the clothing I’ve made.  So yes, every day is a real life sewing day here.  And this is an extreme example.  We went camping last weekend and Bean was having the time of her life playing in the splash park in one of the versions of my soon to be released Classic Maillot pattern and five minutes after the above pic was taken, she slipped and split her lip open.

She was ok and it’s all healed now (and she was bring ridiculously silly even back at camp with the gauze I told her to hold on it), but not once as she raced over to me with blood pouring everywhere did I hesitate and worry about the bathing suit.  And honestly she didn’t end up getting blood on it, but got s’mores chocolate all over it two hours later haha.  Kids, right?

So, do you have any examples of Real Life, Real Sewing to show off? You can play along by using the #realliferealsewing on social media and there’s a giveaway over on the Sew 20 blog!
6/20 | Sew 20 Tour Kick-off | The Wholesome Mama | Wild & Wanderful | Randoms by Rydz
6/21 | Daydream Believers | Sugarplum Cuties | Friends Stitched Together | The Inspired Wren | PenSeb&Rox
6/22 | Sewstarly | Very Blissful | House of Estrela | The Berry Bunch | Musings of a Seamstress
6/23 | mahlicadesigns | sewingbyti | Candice Ayala | Call Ajaire | Sunflower Seams
6/24 | Beri Bee Designs | Lulu & Celeste | FABulous Home Sewn | Mae & K | Sew 20 Social Media Round-up
6/25 | Sew 20 Tour Wrap-up

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callajaire

I made some new step outs for the Larry the Lion c I made some new step outs for the Larry the Lion class Iโ€™m teaching at @sewspecialinc this week, so I thought Iโ€™d finish up this girl who was made up of my previous ones. Sheโ€™s perfect for Valentines Day ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

#funkyfriendsfactory #shannonfabrics #shannonfabricscuddle
Instagram post 17881763630739525 Instagram post 17881763630739525
What she lacks in skills, she more than makes up f What she lacks in skills, she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ€๐Ÿ€
Best nine pics of the year ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’• Best nine pics of the year ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•
Some great reads in 2022! This year I listened to Some great reads in 2022!  This year I listened to a few (maybe four or five?), but still primarily read them with my eyeballs. ๐Ÿ‘€

(I have too many podcasts I enjoy to actually find the time for listening to great novels ๐Ÿ˜†)
If youโ€™re going to get a chili relleno on cape c If youโ€™re going to get a chili relleno on cape cod it might as well be in a quahog ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

Great experience @anejomexican tonight.
It looks cold, but was actually quite warm on my w It looks cold, but was actually quite warm on my walk this morning ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

#parellosoncape
This girl doesnโ€™t hesitate to jump in (literally This girl doesnโ€™t hesitate to jump in (literally) with both feet. ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

#parellosgotoma
Merry Christmas ๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ’• Merry Christmas ๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ’•
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I've always loved making. At an early age I started cross stitching and sewing and I taught myself to knit and crochet during college. When our seven year old daughter Bean was born I was filled with all sorts of inspiration, so now I find ways to manage my crafty time and treasure those moments. Though sewing is what I'm most passionate about these days, there's something about the portability of yarn crafts and embroidery that keeps drawing me back in. Read Moreโ€ฆ

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