30 Minutes Per Day - Week of December 7, 2009

This week I've worked on holiday clothes and Christmas presents. I finished my son's vest from McCall's 4290 for the holidays and made my daughter a top, which will be combined with a skirt that I'll finish next week for a Christmas present.

Here's what I did this week:

Monday: Today was a bonus day, because I got to work on the vest in two 30 minutes sessions. I got the front and back of the vest done. This includes the darts, faux welt pockets, and back ties.

As a side note, I chose to use a pair of D-rings on the back of the vest instead of just tying the two ends of the ties together as instructed in the pattern. I don't know why, but this looks better to me for a boy than the tied version.


In the afternoon, I was able to join the vest and lining.


Tuesday: All that the vest needed was the side seams and lining finishing, plus buttons and buttonholes. Here are the buttons my son chose:


The vest all finished:


Wednesday: I started a Jalie 2794, the sweetheart top for my daughter. I found time earlier in the week to cut out both the skirt and top, so all I had to do was sew them up. I was able to assemble the whole front and shoulder seams.

Thursday: I finished the Jalie top by adding sleeves, side seams and coverstitched hems. Quick and easy and I'll know she'll wear this a lot to school.

Here is a close-up of the front. I've cut the print so that the bands are at the edge of the lace to provide a lace-edged look.

You might have recognized the print by now. It is the same print as the Burda camisole and shorts that I made recently, except in a stretch poly/lycra and fuchsia/brown colorway.

Friday: I got a good start on the skirt. This skirt is from Patrones #283, model #6, and is the same one that I made my daughter for her winter church wardrobe except this one has all the extra details. Because of the details, it looks like it will take most of next week to get this done. I might work on it tomorrow a little, too. At any rate, the skirts are assembled, roll edge hemmed and the snap tabs ready once I get the right size snaps.

Once I get the skirt done, I'll have one more Christmas present to make and then I'll be done. I think.

Parting Shot: Beginning. This is the beginning of embellishing a costume. I've got the neckline decorated, and now I need to finish the rest of the matching details on the the other pieces of the ensemble.