Sewing Bee :: Exibit A

So here it is:

(The mess behind it was in it.  Oh, and the carpet is always crummy.)

This is my knitting basket.  My husband bought it off of eBay for me for Christmas.  I *love* it.

  BUT, look:

 

And look:

And look at that crusty old browning piece of plastic!:

So you see my dilemma.

I found one post on the internet about redoing a basket like this but no tutorials or anything.  I did see on her flickr account that she took the frame apart.  My frame is really sturdy and I don't want to break it so my plan is to make a bag that fits on by velcro-ing around the top dowels.  Oh, and maybe snapping on underneath (there is that flap of fabric that goes around the bottom dowels too).

So I need your help.  ANY advice will be well taken.  I'm really not that much of an experienced sewer so don't think that I already know what your are going to say!  What fabric should I use?  Any pretty ones out there that would look good?  Any advice on the construction of the thing?  I took some measurements and I don't think I have any fabrics in my stash that are appropriate and large enough. Hmmm....

I'm excited to get started but also a little scared!  Yikes!

Joining Julia's Sewing Bee.  Would love to have a button but I don't know how to get it.  hee hee.

Kids Clothes Week::day 2 & 3

Well I did it! I finished a shirt! It's pretty cute I must say and its for a pretty cute person.




This is the Blossom Blouse from the Sew Liberated book. (See the side bar for the book info) It was super fun to sew. Since the seam allowances were all 1/2 inch, it was easy to finish it with french seams. All but one of the armholes though... I was rushing to finish at the end of the first day and I was too scared to stop and think about how to do this. It's actually very easy! I'm thinking that I'm going to have to wash this shirt a lot and I didn't want the seams to fray. She is a pretty messy girl!

All in all I think this is a good pattern. It is definitely on the short side and if I make it again I will extend the length. Maybe I'll even make it into a dress. That would be cute.

I finished this on Tuesday afternoon. No sewing for me on Wednesday. I've fallen ill and we had a memorial service to attend. I'm hoping to get some time in tonight. I've started to feel much better. Next up is a pair of PJ's for my 7 1/2 year old. Butterick 4913

Check out the flickr group for this weeks challenge. Such cute stuff there! Some of these women can really pump out a large quantity of great stuff. I'll be lucky if I get half of my next project done by the end of the week.

Kids clothes week::day 1

So it's kids sewing week and I have accepted the challenge to sew at least one hour each day.  I wasn't sure at first if I was going to be able to do it but with my husband out tonight I have taken the plunge!  I actually spent some of the afternoon "nap" time today working on my first project.  The Blossom Blouse from Sew Liberated.  Sorry there are no pictures today but I was able to finish up to putting on one sleeve.  I will for sure have something to show you tomorrow.  It is so dark and damp here... not enough light!

Wish me luck!