Sew Americana

Welcome to the Sew Americana Tour hosted by Wild and Wanderful!  I’m super excited to join in on the fun this year!

I really wanted to make coordinating tops for Girly and E for this year’s Sew Americana Tour because at 8 and almost 11, there isn’t much time left to get them to be all matchy-matchy for photos.  I got all excited about my plan and told the kids about it.  Girly was all in.  She loves having her picture taken.  But E was not into it.  Sad face.  Maybe next time, right?  Sly Fox Fabrics graciously provided some AWESOME navy heather and red heather tri-blend jersey.  I haven’t worked with them before and will say that they ship super fast and even provide a Shout Color Catcher for your prewash!  I like when companies think about little things like that.

What did I do?

I wanted to go through some of our older patterns that maybe needed a little bit of love so I picked the ever quick Ijsje Top as Girly’s project.  It’s so casual but put together and works great with 2 different fabrics.  It offers sizes 2-12 years and looks super fun with bermuda length shorts.  I love the simple gathered detail that is girly yet fuss free.  It’s very versatile, depending on what fabrics you choose.  I tend to gravitate towards heathers or graphic prints.

I chose blue to be the main color because Girly loves blue.  If I had any scrap white jersey, I would have used that as the binding but I think it looks great as is.  I usually like lining dresses and tops but when it’s hot (and it’s finally HOT here), I like a single layer that’s preferably just grazing the skin to keep as cool as possible because our little log cabin doesn’t have air conditioning.  The binding is pretty easy and doesn’t need any special feet or tools.  I just cut a strip, sewed it on with a stretch stitch and then tucked the raw edge under and sewed it up again.  I didn’t even use pins.  It all just folded into itself and made the whole process easy peasy.

The husband dude LOVES fireworks and this year the region is under a pretty strict fire ban due to drought.  So we’re going to have to travel somewhere to see them this year.  We’ve watched fireworks on a bridge over the Mississippi River in Downtown St Paul and all the way down to the other end of the Mighty Mississippi in New Orleans one year.  The man really loves his fireworks…

Monday, June 25:
Wild + Wanderful | Marvelous Auntie M | Handmade Boy
Phat Quarters | Call Ajaire

Tuesday, June 26:
Musings of a Seamstress | Sea of Estrogen | Sew and Tell Project
5 out of 4 Patterns | Little Heart Threads

Wednesday, June 27:
Middle River Studio | Elli & Nels | SewSophieLynn
Pear Berry Lane | The Eli Monster

Thursday, June 28:
Auschick Sews | EYMM | Mama & Leia
Seams Sew Lo | Stitched by Jennie

Friday, June 29:
Stylin’ Stacy | Rebel & Malice | On Wednesdays We Sew
FairyTale BT | That’s-Sew-Kari | Very Blissful