Favorite Things Patterns is a new-to-us line that recently arrived here at the shop. Among them is the Prairie Girl Dress and Top. I had been looking for a pretty blouse pattern, and I definitely think this fits the bill. Tunics continue to be everywhere this season, and I think this gives a nice, shapely twist to the look. This piece slips easily over your head, forgoing the need for zippers or buttons, and ties at the back, giving a gentle waist definition. The gathers at the front accommodate the bust and accentuate the nice, flat skirt panel over the tummy. So flattering! It has two sleeve options as well: set-in like the ones in the photo or a ruffled cap sleeve. Either would fit easily under a cardigan, or over a long sleeve shirt when it gets a little chillier.

I chose Amy Butler’s Tree Peony fabric, for it’s sophisticated and feminine print. You can dress it up or down depending on your fabric choice. Make the dress version for work in a rich autumn tone, and make the top in a more whimsical print to pull a weekend outfit together. This was a fun sewing project, and it came together nicely in two afternoons. You should definitely give it a try!

Now that September is here and school has started, it’s time for the morning ritual of packing lunch! The little ones totally prefer homemade meals to school lunch, and the grown ups are trying to resist the temptation of fast food on the go. Eating from home is healthier and more economical. I know I always SAY I am going to pack lunch everyday, but it never quite happens. A girl needs a little incentive, don’t you think? We’ve got just the thing with the Apple-a-Day lunch bag. You can make these eco-friendly bags for the whole family with our Apple-a-Day kits. Each kit contains the pattern, apple fabric combination of your choice, interfacing and velcro to close it up. If you just want the pattern, you can download it here. If you’re in the Philly area, we are having a class to make the lunchbag this Saturday at 2:00. Please visit our class page for details.

Since I made one, I have been packing my lunch (almost!) everyday. Carrying it makes me smile and it feels good to have something pretty and fun to take out at lunchtime. I hope it does the same for you. Enjoy!

I was curious how Amy Butler’s Frenchy Bags made up, and the arrival of August Fields provided the perfect opportunity to find out! Michael made these up and did a lovely job. He arranged the pattern on the fabric beautifully- so professional! The elegant design of the fabric is a fitting complement to the vintage feel and pretty silhouette. Once these were cut out, they went together quickly and easily. One of the advantages to working with home dec weight fabric is that no interfacing is required, simplifying the sewing process quite a bit!

While I am the type to carry around enough stuff to warrant the gorgeous shoulder bag, I am totally in love with the cute little handbag. I like the idea of slipping my wallet and keys into this adorable purse and being ready to go. I’m not sure if I can pare it down enough, but carrying this sweet bag is certainly a good motivator!

This is our third ( but I’m sure not final!) project using Modern Flora fabrics. Michael was especially taken with this graphic blue fabric, so he made up an extra sturdy version of his Grocery Tote. He adapted this pattern from a vintage one, and it is has become one of our favorites. You only need 2 half-yard pieces of fabric; one for the outside and one for the inside. It’s a great size for fitting in all your snacks, and has a nice wide strap for a comfortable walk home. Perfect!

This is the same tote we make in our Learn to Sew Class. If you’ve been thinking of starting to sew, you can get a little inspiration from the fun fabric combinations our students have put together here. If you already sew, you can download the free pattern pdf from our left sidebar. Enjoy!

I made a new skirt! I knew I wanted to use the tiny leaf print for a skirt as soon as I saw it. I grabbed the Barcelona Skirt pattern and got to work on my second Modern Flora project. The simple A-line version of this skirt comes together so quickly; I was done in a flash. But it needed something a little extra - applique, of course! Using the leftover fabric from my tote bag, I cut out a nice big leafy green for embellishment! Michael is amazing at machine applique, and he patiently instructed me in this endeavor. It was a bit trickier than I thought, but I LOVE the end result. It gives the skirt something special, and I learned something new in the process.

Since I was so jazzed about machine applique, I thought it would be fun to have a class. Michael will be helping you make this cute drawstring bag, with the initial of your choice appliqued on the front. Class will be held Thursdays, August 21 & 28 from 6-8 PM, and the cost is $32 plus materials. This is an introductory class, but you should be familiar with sewing basics to participate. Please call the shop to reserve your space. I hope to see you there!

Our first step into the world of Home Decorator weight fabric arrived last week in the form of Modern Flora by Jessica Jones. This fabric is a 54″cotton canvas that is perfect for curtains, pillows, and tablecloths as well as bags and skirts. I love her modern, graphic take on nature; especially her tip of the hat to us crafters with the the little lines of stitching on the leaves! We got busy sewing up samples in this fun fabric, and I’ll be sharing them with you over the next few posts.

First up is the tote bag from the cover of the latest Sew Simple magazine. This issue is full of great ideas, but the cover project was made up in cotton canvas, so it was a no-brainer which one to choose! The instructions were clear, although I did leave out the zipper portion of the pattern. I used a half yard of Modern Flora fabric for the outside, and a half yard of Kona cotton for the inside. I made up my own simple handles by sewing a tube right sides together, turning it inside out, pressing, and folding it in half and stitching it down. Then, I followed the pattern for attaching the handles. This was a great, quick project to satisfy the need to make something with my pretty, new fabric RIGHT NOW!! I know you know that feeling!

One of the first things I made when when I started sewing was a cozy for my sewing machine. My manual instructed me to keep it dust-free, but it didn’t come with a cover! I used some old upholstery fabric and some felt and cobbled together a cozy. It isn’t my best work, but I love it because it contains some of the first seams I ever sewed.

When we opened the shop and bought our sewing machines, each one came with a plastic cover. They all looked neat and uniform, but a little sterile. Using the plastic cover as a model, we made fun fabric cozies for each of our Singers. Michael pieced, appliqued, and embellished them beautifully! They brighten our workroom, and make it more personal. Plus, now our machines know how much we love them!

In the spirit of sewing machine love, we made a downloadable pdf, located in the left sidebar, for you to make your very own cozy. Be sure to send photos of your finished covers, we’d love to see them! Have fun dressing up your machine and your workspace!

Amy Butler certainly conjured up simple summer style when she named the Cabo Halter and Barcelona Skirt. These pieces are pretty summer wardrobe staples that are as easy to make as they are to wear. Kathy and Elizabeth from Loop literally squealed when they saw this top in the window! I’m pretty sure they like it!

The halter is made from Sandi Henderson’s Ginger Blossom fabric. The pink and blue blooms are light and feminine. The bodice is fully lined and ties at the back neck, and also has a center back zipper closure. Even if your summer travels don’t include Cabo, but instead the occasional trip to the Jersey Shore, you’ll be happy you brought this along!

We used Shot Cotton to make our Barcelona Skirt. This gauzy fabric makes the perfect summer weight skirt. The pattern includes instructions for lining the skirt, and also comes with 2 style variations. This is the skirt we use for our A-line Skirts Class. Once you’ve made one you can incorporate it in your wardrobe all year long. If you’d like to join us, we have a new session starting in August. Just think, unique skirts for every day of the week!

The Oliver + S Bubble Dress is just adorable! We used our favorite fabric du jour Park Slope. Teal and fuschia make a great girly combination, but not overly sweet. This dress is fully lined and gathered at the bottom with elastic for that fun bubble shape. The scalloped edge is an amazingly creative detail that any baby girl (or the grown-up girl sewing it!) will flip for! There are instructions, however, to leave the scallops out, making for a more basic play dress. Personally, I can’t get over the little cap sleeves that are made in one piece with the bodice. So clever! I’d say this dress is a winner and is sure to become a favorite in your little girl’s wardrobe!

Craig made this quilt for his 2 year old nephew, Asher. Asher has been the recipient of many wonderful handknit gifts, and now that we have a quilt shop he will be doubly warm! Craig chose Marcus Brothers Two Young Street line to get this quilt started. Those spaceships are ideal for a little boy! Then, he used Kona Cotton solids to make one of his favorite blocks, the Pinwheel, and add fun stripes to the border. After the quilt was all pieced, he sent it off to Kathleen at Guinevere & Me to quilt with a playful star motif. It turned out beautifully, and I’m sure Asher will love it!

The colors in Craig’s quilt are certainly appropriate for this holiday weekend! Spool will be closed July 4th, but we will be open our regular hours of 11-6 Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully you can grab a little time at your sewing machines this weekend, before you barbeque and enjoy the fireworks! Happy 4th!