Last fall, I came across another modest swimwear design: Fresh Modesty. This is a design your own pattern ebook. She begins by explaining how to design a pattern and walks the sew-ist through making a pants sloper and a bodice sloper (basic pattern from your measurements so it will fit you – there is a bodice and sleeve pattern included, but they are one size), then walking through some alterations and ideas to make 3 or 4 swimsuits, and showing how easy it is to alter patterns to one’s own taste.

For this swimdress, I used the sleeves and sash from the Fresh Modesty pattern. Or rather, I altered the sleeves in my existing pattern by looking how hers were formed, and following the simple directions of how to add the sash.

I hope my neighbor girl likes it! (she’s always liked my girls’ swim wear)

I had fun with MissC’s swimdress. I raised the waist to empire level and added in a ruffle. The sleeves I widened and added a band to give them a pouf. I accidentally made the skirt shorter than I care for, so I may add a ruffle.

Here’s the changes for the sleeve. I lengthened by about 6″, tapered the side seams out, and curved the hem. For the band, I measured her arm (8″ with pajamas on) and added an inch. To gather, it’s easier than wovens – no basting! Just mark the hem and band in quarters and pin the marks together. Since I stretch to sew knitwear, it was easy to gather just by stretching.

A while ago, I purchased the “Fashionably Modest Patterns – Modest Swimming Suit” pattern. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to be available any more. I sewed some swimdresses for the girls a few years ago – before MissC was big enough to need one! Then they used swim shirts and board shorts the last couple years. Yet, we like the girliness of the skirted things, and the coverage! Redheads plus sun equals sunburn. I don’t want to have to invest in a sunscreen company to cover all that flesh in sun block, we’ll stick to just the normal parts! Anywho…

I took a shirt that fits her (this is actually C’s shirt, the other was put away), and drew a new higher neckline for the suit. Then folded up an equal amount on the front and back pieces (about where the grainline arrow is). I sewed the top together as usual (I think I added 7-8″ to the sleeves for elbow length). This pattern has you sew the skirt to the shorts, but I prefer to connect it to the top – have you seen the floors at public beach/pool restrooms? I simply measured the bottom of the bodice/shirt piece and cut the 2″ wide contrast fabric so it fit around the bodice plus 1/2″ seam allowance, and sewed the short edge, then folded the piece and placed it between bodice and skirt.

I actually ended up making the dress too long at first and had to cut off the waistband, so I think the contrast piece ended up 1- 1 1/2″ wide instead. It looks better this way.

The neckband was done like the waist. Just measure the neck, cut a piece of 2″ wide fabric the neck measurement plus 1/2″ seam. Sew little seam to form circle, fold band in half, then pin to neckband and sew in place.

Then I took the rest of the contrast fabric (I’d purchased about 1/8 yd, I think, it was more like 6″, and had used a 2″ strip so far), straightened the edge (ended with about 3 1/2″) and cut in half (1 3/4″ish), sewed the ends to make a really big circle, and pinned and sewed that to the hem of the skirt. I’ll see how it looks after a swim, I think she’ll like the ruffle.

I’ll get pictures of the girls soon!

We’ve been under the weather most of this winter. The last few weeks have couched us with an awful cough. Little Guy was near lethargic for most of a week, and all he wanted was to have me hold him. I’m very thankful most of us were well by the time the baby arrived.

With all the sitting, I’ve had time to crochet a couple sleep cocoons for the baby. I’m loving these! Whoever came up with the idea – genius! Baby stays warm, no fighting with blankets drooping, not too bulky when siblings are allowed to hold her.

A birth story:

Wednesday morning, I started having mild contractions and losing my plug. I have gone into labor by my due date every time, so I knew this was probably the beginning. Since I didn’t want to overdo it, but had to get the house in order, the children came to my aid and helped me get things ready for my first guest (my Mom was flying in Thursday to help). They’re hardy helpers and get paid in video game time – cant beat that!

Ben came home early from work, just in case, and I let him know that I was in early labor. He started watching me like a hawk. He and the girls picked up dinner, then he and I went for a walk.

I took a warm bath to let myself relax while he put the children to bed. Little Guy (3yo) was fighting sleep, so I suggested Ben help him.

I called my midwife to let her know i was in early labor and would call when the contractions were closer. I waited for the next one (10 minutes) and since I started nodding a bit, I lay down on the couch to sleep as much as I could.

About 12:30, I woke to a long strong contraction. I went back to the bathroom and warmed the bath again. I didn’t think to time the contractions, just moved between toilet and bath as I felt I needed to. At one point, I thought about lying down again, but when I stood up, I got another contraction that forced me to squat. I grabbed my phone and texted Ben – lol.

I normally get sick during transition, and this time was the same. I threw up a bit, and the back labor was intense. I called out, “Ben!” and slid back into the tub to wait for him to put counter pressure on my hips. I threw up again and the bag of waters broke. He woke up and started for the couch (last place he’d seen me), and I called him again.

As he walked into the bathroom dialing the midwife, my contractions shifted and I started pushing. I reached down and said, “Tell her the head is out.” he repeated this to her and I heard him say something like, “I don’t know, she’s having contractions, I’m just repeating.” then the baby finished emerging and I rolled to my back with her on my belly. Their phone conversation was about a minute

We put a cloth over the baby and I felt the placenta release, and I pushed it out and set it below her while he got a bowl (“Check the time, she’ll want to know”). Ben came back with the bowl and I plopped the placenta in, checked the gender, and he took the baby and wrapped her in a towel.

I rinsed and got out, shaking with the adrenaline and chill, dried and dressed, grabbed a washcloth and went to get postpartum supplies from the other room.

My midwife’s assistant doesn’t live far and made it over pretty quickly. I was nursing the baby and holding the bowl. Ben got a space ready for me in the bed (towels just in case), let the midwife in and cooked me a breakfast sandwich.

We had all been surprised by how quick active labor had been. Then we were surprised again by the baby’s size! I had been measuring small for dates, but she was 8 pounds! Average for my babies, but I figure because she’s the shortest baby at 20″ that she just wasn’t taking up as much room.

It was more like a nice visit than a necessary checkup and the pair left with some of Ben’s home brew to try (haha, shouldn’t they be paid in beer?).

Then Dylan slept on Ben for her first night earth-side, as our babies have traditionally done.

James 1:17

The children have been helpful and understanding through this. I’m thankful the older two can do basic food prep, though, as I was not up to being in the kitchen.

I was, though, blog reading. I came across ikatbag which has some tutorials and was taken by a cute skirt shown as an example in a pocket tutorial. So, combining the round-top pocket, instead of the triangle she has on the cute skirt, and the instructions for adding a hem band, I came up with this:

I had bought the floral fabric, maybe as a remnant (?), a couple years ago. But it is SO busy! I couldn’t find a coordinating fabric that might tame it.. Until yesterday.

On Wed, the girls inherited a dresser that now is their craft cabinet and they were to sort through the scraps and put them away. Moving almost everything in the sewing area, I came across the brown and set it aside. Then when I felt up to sitting up long enough to sew, it was just waiting for me!

MissA loves it! MissB took it and upset MissA last night. So, it looks like I’m going to have to come up with another shortly.

The 3 school-aged children have done their math, now are prepping for the outing and can finish their reading assignments when we get back.

How’d it go?

I’ve been seriously grouchy today. Cleanup took longer than expected, my stomach was off, and then math took twice the allotted time..

We rode our bikes to the local park (big grassy field with a couple varieties of trees and a small toddler playground). The littles ran off to the playground and I sent the big three to walk the other half of the loop (figure 8 walking path) with instructions to listen and look. I sat by the bikes and took a few breaths and let the quiet start working on my temper.

These little daisy-like flowers are often in bloom when we go to the park. TJ picked some for me.
I also found the lichen-covered stick by where we parked the bikes.

This little bird seemed to be hoping we’d brought a snack.

And these wild static beasts seemed to be every where!

To make a fancy looking lined stocking, I cut out the 2 stocking (sock) shapes from the pretty material and the lining fabric – I only needed a fat quarter of each fabric (1/2 yard length) for the size stocking I made. I also had a pretty tassel to hang it with and matching decorator fabric for the cuff at top – about twice the width of the stocking body (the cuff has only one seam, the exact measurement will be twice the stocking width including only one seam allowance, but if it’s a thick fabric having a little wiggle room may be helpful). Also, I used a bit of decorator trim around the cuff.

My seams are sewn at 1/4″ and the basting or underlining at 1/8″

If the cuff fabric is thin making it hard to work with, line it with a scrap of fabric (the one I used here is thin and moves around easily, so I used a scrap of fabric that lined the top of it).

If using a dangly trim:
1. Fold cuff in half and mark the center. Unfold:

2. Pin the trim so it rests on this line, then baste/sew in place.

For lace or other trims that will be continuous, skip those first 2 steps and start here:
3. Fold cuff in half so the side seam meets (right sides together) and sew the side seam.

4. Fold cuff to enclose the raw seam, matching top edges, baste together. (If using a continuous trim, like lace, match the pattern to the folded bottom edge of the cuff now and see in place) Turn outside in, so trim is inside.

5. For the body of the stocking, pin the front and back of the stocking pieces right sides together and sew around, leaving the top open. Repeat with the lining pieces. (note: if you make a fancy-toe, trim the lining so it won’t end up wadded up in the toe)


6. Turn the lining right side out and insert the outer stocking piece inside it so the toes are on the same side, match seams, baste top together.

7. Place the hanging tassel or ribbon and pin or baste in place. (this photo isn’t the best way to pin the hanging ribbon: pin the knot at the basting line, then open the ribbon and pin, so when you sew the cuff to the stocking, the hanging ribbon is slightly open and is easier to hang, especially for children)

8. Slide stocking into cuff (right side of cuff to lining, with the main fabric to inside), baste/sew in place. Finish edge, if desired: I used a 3-step zigzag to reduce the fraying of the brocade.

9. If a line of stitching will show on the cuff: Turn cuff up, with the seam allowance toward the lining, sew through the lining and seam allowance (1/8″ from seam)

For a cuff that a line of stitching won’t be obvious, turn the cuff right side out and turn the stocking right side out inside it. Then sew about 1/4″ from top edge with a medium length stitch (on my machine: 2 is normal stitch length, 4 or 5 is basting length, so I used a 3 length stitch on this other stocking)

10. Turn the stocking right side out (if you haven’t yet) and admire! Hang it up for Christmas.

Another example, my daughter’s stocking:

We stopped by Target today and picked up some battery powered LED Christmas lights. I still need another strand or two to light up the back of the Bakfiets so I’m more visible. We have the Bak-end lit and it looked pretty good.

I handed a strand to the three oldest children and helped the littles put lights on their bikes.

Then we rode into the night to go look at the Christmas lights in our neighborhood!