a few odds and ends...

covert robin

today is the last day to sign up for the covert robin. don't miss your chance to get a handmade present from a secret friend. sign up here.

giveaway

it's also the last day to enter this month's giveaway (how is it march tomorrow already, i ask you?)... you can do that here.

sewing for men

don't miss my after-dinner-man-pants post on The Train to Crazy from yesterday. because my hubs is the sweetest and i made him something.

here's an outtake from our after-dinner pants photo shoot....

jellybean-a-thon

coming tomorrow... my stop in this fun blog hop to show you what i did with ten Thomas Knauer Sews jellybean prints. you can catch up with the jellybean-a-thon posts here.

pattern testing

i've had an amazing response so far to last night's call for pattern testers post. keep 'em coming, you guys rock!

and here's what K thought i should post instead of the after-dinner pants photo shoot photos:

happy thursday!

call for pattern testers

i'm looking to put together a list of people who might be interested in pattern testing...

for anyone following me on instagram (@imaginegnats), you've likely already seen some images of a pattern i've been working on sizing and grading over the last week or so. as this is the first time i've attempted this with a clothing pattern, i've kept it close and had some of my lovely friends doing a spontaneous first round of testing. let me tell you that i can't wait to show you what they've been coming up with! very exciting, i promise!!

coming up soon, i'm going to need a second round of pattern testers. if you think this might be something you would like to do, i'd love to have your info handy so that i can let you know when i'm ready for that. and, with any luck, i'll also have some new embroidery patterns ready for testing soon as well.

should you be interested in testing any imagine gnats patterns, please fill out this questionnaire. whether you're interested in quilts, clothing, embroidery, or bags... there are places in the questionnaire to indicate which types of patterns you might like to test. if you have questions about any of my questions, please let me know! and please pass along to anyone that you think would be interested.

here's a little preview of the pattern i'm currently working on...

it's a pinafore-style shirt, perfect for layering in the winter, an easy top in the summer, or even an art smock. it includes an option for in-seam pockets, can be reversible, has a button closure, and a pretty pleat detail at the neckline. as of right now, this pattern is sized up to an eight, but the final range remains flexible ;)

interested in pattern testing? what you can expect is to possibly receive an email from me asking if you would be interested in testing a pattern. yep, that's pretty vague, i know... basically when i have something that might be a fit, i'll pass along the opportunity to you and you can let me know whether you'd like to participate in that testing or not. again, here's the link to the questionnaire.

thank you, and happy stitching!

sewing for men: behind the seams

today we'll put a french seam twist on the traditional flat-felled seam. yes, folks, it's a seam tutorial! not the sexiest part of sewing, i know, but i brought some man candy to even it out.

as part of the sewing for men mini-series week at The Train to Crazy, i made my most favorite man a stunning pair of after-dinner pants. the best part? beautiful seams. and no, i'm not kidding. these seams even handle a curve (like that pesky crotch) without any puckering or wonkiness.

so how can you achieve such seamed brilliance? i'm glad you asked!

for starters, i should note that the seam allowance for this pattern (simplicity 2290) is very conveniently 5/8". i'm not typically a fan of the 5/8" seam allowance, but in this case it is actually just right.

first, we'll make a traditional french seam.

place fabrics wrong sides together, pin, and stitch with a scant 1/4" seam allowance.

clip and/or notch the seam in any curved areas as necessary. you'll also want to trim any long strings so that they don't catch in the second seam.

press seam to set, and then press to the side. turn pants (or whatever you happen to have just sewn your seam into) so that right sides are facing, and fold carefully along the line you just stitched. 

press, pin, and stitch with a 3/8" seam allowance.

you should now have a french seam (raw edges completely enclosed) that looks like this on the wrong side of your fabric:

as you did after the first stitch line, press seam to set, and then press to the side. 

following your second stitch line as a guide, stitch the free end of your french seam to the body of your pants with a scant 3/8" seam allowance. this step may require extra care so as not to stitch through the other side of, say, the leg of your pants... so proceed slowly and with care. if your seam has any curves, make sure to ease the fabric around the sides as you stitch through the curve so as to avoid any puckering.

this is what your seam should look like, on either side of your fabric. that one beauty of a seam, is it not? and for more about these fab pants....

make sure you stop by my post on The Train to Crazy. go! now!

and happy stitching :)

a wee geranium

i made another geranium dress... at 6-12 mos, it's so much smaller than the clothes i'm used to sewing! Nick says, "do they even make people that little?" yep, it's been a while since our girlies were wee ones. (and thank goodness, says the mama who gets to sleep through the night.)

this dress is going to a little girlie whose mama works with Nick and is a sweet friend. my little B helped pick out the fabric, and we settled on these two Anna Maria prints (one from field study and the other from innocent crush, both from sewn studio). in case you missed yesterday's post, the geranium dress pattern is from Made by Rae, and is all kinds of lovely.

i love the sweet pleats and pretty topstitching... and yes, that's another blind hem there.

i took lots of pics before adding (before finding, actually) the buttons... so here's the pretty daylight picture of the back:

and here's the night-time on my kitchen table but with buttons version:

i'm a bit smitten with this little bit of sewn loveliness! and i can't wait for it to be enjoyed by a lovely wee one.

happy stitching!

a cowgirl geranium

i've been on a bit of a garment sewing bender. it just might be that my kitchen table, bed, and bedroom floor are completely mostly covered with fabric, patterns, cutting mats...

there are dresses and shirts in various stages of completeness hanging all over the house as well. as i type this, there are four just in my line of sight. it was five this morning, but i let K wear a new shirt to school. before photographing it. and there may be one seam not completely finished on it, i realized as we walked out of the house. that happens to you too, right?

enough of that for now, though. let's talk about this cowgirl dress!

my pal Kelley sent me this fabric a while back, and i knew it was destined to become a dress for B. (the print is from Robert Kaufman, though i don't know the line or designer.) i've seen so many cute versions of Rae's geranium dress popping up, and i thought that the pattern would be perfect for this fabric as well. based on my experience with the washi dress pattern, i suspected the geranium would be a well-written pattern with a good fit. (spoiler alert: i was right.)

funny story... it would also seem that i was especially inspired by Kristin's version of the geranium dress (as part of the Kids' Clothes Belgian Style series from Straight Grain). seriously, these dresses are practically twinsies! which puts me in good company, of course.

miss B does like her dress, though she has noted that she would prefer long sleeves. poor thing spent all of last week on the couch with a terrible head cold, and was still in recovery mode over the weekend during this forced modeling shoot. poor child.

i decided that if i had denim piping, it would be perfection. though i don't keep denim piping on hand, lucky for me i did happen to have this aqua. i'm happy with how it turned out, though i will say that my piping skills could still use some honing. (ps. have you seen the piping that the ladies at Frances & Suzanne whip out? awesomesauce.)

i also added a zipper in the back. now, i didn't plan this ahead of time, so it was a bit of a hack. i realized after the bodice was finished that i probably should have made the size 5. the size 4 fits, but i don't think it will for very long. but by inserting a zipper instead of overlapping the back for the button closure called for in the pattern, i was able to add about an extra inch of ease around the bodice.

here's what the zipper looks like on the inside. it's simply sewn to the already finished edges of the dress. because of the piping, i decided not to topstitch the bodice, so i handstitched the lining.

i also used the aqua piping as a detail on the patch pockets. it has been noted that B would prefer in-seam pockets next time. no shortage of opinions around here ;)

as i said, this pattern is well-written and the sizing is spot on. the only thing i don't love is the way the center seam in the back of the skirt works with the overlap in the bodice. i think i would prefer to cut the back skirt as one piece and then overlap the bodice edges when attaching the skirt to the bodice. all in all, just a construction preference. this pattern really is great and i especially love how well finished the fully lined bodice looks.

and i nearly forgot! i broke out the blind hem foot for this one. yep, that's right... my first blind hem. it was easy peasy. you should try it. i might have sewn two more after this one yesterday. told you i'm on a garment sewing bender.

yay for cowgirls!

february sponsors group giveaway *now closed*

it's giveaway time :) this month, there are three fabulous giveaway prizes for you to win! without further ado, here are the prizes my fab sponsors are offering:

win your choice of three patterns (paper or pdf) from the Fishsticks Design Pattern Shop!

Fishsticks Designs offers sewing patterns for unique and modern clothing that is always practical for you and your family. Each pattern includes step-by-step instructions with words and pictures so that you can read and see what to do next. Bonnie, the creator of Fishsticks Designs, is also mom to six children, so she has plenty of experience with sewing for her own children (and she also happens to be an expert at sewing with knits). Her goal is to give you a great-fitting, easy-to-follow pattern each time!

find Fishsticks Designs here: shop / blog / facebook / flickr

win a $35 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop!

The Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly. An avid quilter, Kimberly began her shop as a side business while still working a corporate position, cutting, packing and shipping right out of her house during evenings and weekends. From the very beginning, she was committed to delivering top-notch service for every single order and customer. As the Fat Quarter Shop's reputation grew, Kimberly decided to make it a full-time operation. Her husband Kevin joined her not long after, and with his help, lots of hard work, and a tireless commitment, the store began to grow. The Fat Quarter Shop continues to branch out with the best fabrics, exclusive kits, quilt clubs, BOMs, and more.... and they will always be driven by the passion that Kimberly founded the store upon, which is always giving you the best products and service!

find Fat Quarter Shop here: shop / blog / facebook / pinterest / twitter / @fatquartershop on instagram

win a set of three bag patterns from Sew Well Maide: Strawberries and Tea Tote Bag, Multi-Purpose Carry All Bag and The Pleated Romance Bag.

Sew Well Maide is the quilt and accessories design and construction face of Karen Pior. from Karen, "Quilts are my passion. I spend my days designing, constructing and daydreaming about them. My children cuddle up and snuggle into them. I hope you find something in my designs that can envelope your family in the warmth, softness and security that only a lovingly handmade quilt can provide."

find Sew Well Maide here: blog / etsy / craftsy / facebook / twitter / flickr / pinterest

the all-important "how to win" details:

this giveaway is open to everyone. if you are a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment so that i can contact you if you win. (note: i've noticed an increase of no-reply commenters, especially in cases where blogger accounts have been linked to google+ accounts. if in doubt, please leave your email so that i can contact you if you win.)

giveaway closes february 28th at 8pm EST. the three winning names will be drawn randomly and notified via email.

to enter, simply leave a comment (any comment!) on this post. want a little inspiration? let me know what's on your sewing machine today...

if you'd like to up your chances to win (and who wouldn't, right?)... here are *four* things you can do to gain a bonus entry!! for any that you choose to do, just leave an additional comment telling me that you've done so.

1. follow Fishsticks Designs on facebook
2. follow Fat Quarter Shop on facebook
3. follow Sew Well Maide on facebook
4. bonus entry for imagine gnats facebook followers (current or new)!

thanks to everyone who entered! the giveaway is now closed.

a Sew Well Maide pattern release

my lovely friend Karen of Sew Well Maide has just released her latest bag pattern, the Pleated Romance Bag.

the Pleated Romance Bag was designed to teach an intermediate sewist class focusing on pleating zipper skills. the zipper closure with fabric end tabs gives the bag a clean and professional finish, and the bag also features an internal pocket.

the pleats give a subtle and mysterious glimpse of the fabric underneath... and the more you put in your bag, the more the pleats 'pop'. Karen says "if you are a gal after my own heart your bag is always full so you pleats will always 'pop'!" love it! my pleats would pop for sure :)

the pattern is available for purchase in the Sew Well Maide Etsy shop and Craftsy shop... and a lucky imagine gnats reader will win one as well!!

the all-important "how to win" details:

this giveaway is open to everyone. if you are a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment so that i can contact you if you win.

giveaway closes february 26th at 8pm EST. the winning name will be drawn randomly and notified via email. to enter, simply leave a comment (any comment!) on this post.

if you'd like to up your chances to win (and who wouldn't, right?)... here are *three* things you can do to gain a bonus entry!! for any that you choose to do, just leave an additional comment telling me that you've done so.

1. follow Sew Well Maide on facebook
2. subscribe to the Sew Well Maide blog
3. bonus entry for imagine gnats facebook followers (current or new)!

thanks to everyone who entered! the giveaway is now closed.

a new sunki

i'm happy to announce that i finally got back out my sunki pattern and whipped up some dresses for my girlies! first up, a long-sleeved version for miss B (because if it's not long-sleeved, it's not getting worn)...

somehow it's been almost a full year since i made my first sunki. i *might* have mentioned in that post that a sunki dress for B was on the horizon... but it's possible that i got no further than tracing and cutting out the pattern. in a size 2/3. which no longer fits. harumph. start over...

B's sunki is fit for a whimsical girl who loves learning! between the constellations (fabric by Lizzy House for Andover Fabrics) and the alphabet (fabric from type by Julia Rothman for Windham Fabrics), she's probably more set for storytelling than learning, but we think that's good too!

i made only a few slight changes to the pattern (in a size 4/5). first, i had a little rookie zipper mistake moment - only shorten your zipper from the bottom, folks! - so, i added this little tab with a snap.

instead of folding up the bottom to hem the dress, i added a contrast hem facing. i finished it with a double line of top-stitching (a la the Oliver + S family reunion dress).

the dress is nearly as cute as this very-nearly-five-year-old (when did that happen??) girlie. seriously, though... this one is trouble. just look at that face. sweet one second, and up to mischief the next. we're in for it.

and then something fab happened!! the very supremely awesome Shelley of Figgy's said to me... "do you want to give away a pdf sunki pattern to go with your post?" so i said, "hell yeah! that would be fabulous!" yup. that's exactly what i said (well, typed).

so guess what?? giveaway!!

the all-important "how to win" details:

this giveaway is open to everyone. if you are a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment so that i can contact you if you win.

giveaway closes february 20th at 8pm EST. the winning name will be drawn randomly and notified via email.

to enter, simply leave a comment (any comment!) on this post. already commented before this update? you're entered!!

if you haven't done so already, you should become a fan of Figgy's on facebook. just because Figgy's is awesomesauce :)

thanks to everyone who entered! giveaway is now closed.

covert robin: sign-ups *now closed*

it's time to sign up for this year's covert robin!

what is the covert robin?
a round-robin gift exchange of handmade presents. you get to make something special for another blogger, and you'll also receive your very own handmade present from a mystery gifter (your "covert robin").

handmade gifts should have an approximate retail value between $20 and $30. i know this can be tricky to determine for some items, so if you have any questions about what is/is not appropriate, please don't hesitate to email me: rachael {at} imaginegnats {dot} com. thank you!

not sure what to send? we saw a great variety of items last year, from sewn goods to paper crafts, from baked goods to beautiful artwork... anything is game, as long as it's made by you! want some inspiration? you can see some posts about last year's gifts in the link-up here.

how does it work?
once sign-ups close, my co-hosts and i will assign everyone a gift recipient. after receiving your recipient, you'll make your gift and send it off. and here's the extra fun part: you can blog about the gift you made and/or the gift you received for a chance to win prizes! we'll host a linky party starting april 1, and each of the co-hosts will be randomly awarding one participant a prize (that's TEN chances to win!). you can keep up with covert robin updates here.

when does this happen?

sign-ups: are now closed

recipient information: will be emailed by march 4

gifts: must be mailed by march 31

blog post link-up: open april 1-30

prize winners (will be chosen randomly): announced on may 3

who are the hosts?
Cassie (elegantitus)
Clara (Clover & Violet)
Courtney (mon petit lyons)
Jane (buzzmills)
Jill (Made with Moxie)
Karen (Sew Well Maide)
Kelley (casa crafty)
Melissa (a happy stitch)
Rachael (imagine gnats)
Stephanie (The Crafty Kitty)

swap guidelines (are simple):
1. make something handmade and lovely
2. send your gift according to the above timeframes
3. post about your gifts to enter for a chance to win!
4. have fun :)

not required, but would be appreciated:
1. add a nifty covert robin button on your blog (code available in sidebar)
2. check out and follow my lovely co-hosts' blogs

click here to read the covert robin FAQs.

yay mystery!!

covert robin: guest co-hosts

well, folks... that was an incredibly difficult decision to make. when i asked you to convince me, you brought your A game! in fact, i didn't even attempt to narrow it down to one... so we have three guest co-hosts, bringing our co-host team to ten lovely ladies!!

Stephanie . The Crafty Kitty 

Stephanie adds another international co-host to our list... which prompted me to look up this list of british words not commonly used in the us. a few favorites: kerfuffle, muppet, plonk, pukka, jumper, and blimey. i will now attempt to use them to tell you about Stephanie. warning: this could get ugly. you may want to cover your eyes.

blimey! Stephanie will be co-hosting the covert robin, and she's no muppet. i've heard she likes the plonk, though. i hope it doesn't cause a kerfuffle while she's sewing... because her jumpers are pukka! also, she tells me that when things are fiddly, one might have to do a little jiggery-pokery to make it work.

Stephanie blogs at The Crafty Kitty and is also the owner of Stitch Organics, an organic haberdashery for the modern sewist.

Clara . Clover & Violet

Clara is the mother of the mother/daughter team at Clover & Violet. along with her daughter, Jennie, she blogs about patchwork, embroidery, quilting, designing, and other things crafty. Clara's also a grandma (i think our only grandma co-host... and i have a soft spot for grandmas!) and an avid gardener.

the lovely Clover & Violet ladies also design patchwork bags and embroidery quilts... you can check out the Clover & Violet pattern shop here.

Melissa . a happy stitch

i must confess that Melissa won me over with her claim she's a "born and bred Midwest girl so I am nice and prompt but I live in New Jersey now so that means I have a bit of a cynical edge that is mostly funny. So, I will be polite, prompt and make you laugh!" how can i say no to that? also, i was hoping to add someone to the co-hosting list who is completely new to me.

Melissa also runs the a happy stitch etsy shop, where she sells patterns and handmade wares. oh, and she has a fisher price doppelgänger. in case you were wondering.


so there they are, folks! the covert robin guest co-hosts! sign-ups will be open later today. yay mystery!