Finished project M4118

I finished the handbag I started to sew on December 7. I made View C with some modifications. This is not a project that I recommend for beginners. This project can be finish in less than three days but in my case it took me more than two weeks because of my busy schedule. Assembly the bag was not difficult. Because I used a quilted fabric, I had some technical problems with my Singer Confidence machine and had to use my backup Brother machine. I had to finish the terminations by hand. It was a long task with a satisfactory ending.

I gave this handbag to my mom as a one of her Christmas presents.

This is how the inside looks.

This how the inside looks without the cardboard that goes inside.

Here is the piece of cardboard that goes inside the bag.

Here is a "side" view of the handbag.

An opened view of the handbag.

Pockets. (To see how many pockets this hanbag has look at my older post.)

Here is another view.

This is the final result!



I submitted this project to the Holiday Contest at Pattern Review!

Look what I got!

I got this mini dress form on my latest visit to Pier 1. It can be use to to hang earrings and necklaces. This would make a lovely present for anyone who likes to sew or loves fashion. By the way, all the earrings in the picture are from my own creation.

A snowy weekend

We got a snow storm this past Saturday here in Northern Virginia. I was happy about it because I was expecting to finish all my sewing projects that I have been accumulating. First I spent sometime cooking and after dinner I went to the basement to do my sewing. So I started by giving the final touches to the quilted fabric bag I am making for my mother. Around 9 pm my almost new Singer Confidence 7463 started giving me problems. The fabric was too thick for the needle I was using so the needle broke.

I had a good stash of needles. Different kinds, but I was not sure which one was the one I needed to sew thick stuff (not denim), so I read the manual and change the needle to another one that end up bending. I changed needles about 6 times since my machine was literally not sewing. So I started to "investigate" and opened the bobbin case because I noticed the bobbin was not turning. I cleaned it and put some oil. In fact too much oil! More than a drop. My machine still not sewing and I am so sad thinking that maybe I broke it. I never have never deal with an electronic machine before. I am waiting for the oil to dry and see if it can make stitches now.

In the picture above: My street yesterday.

A White Christmas

There is a rumor saying that we might have a white Christmas this year. I am kind of excited because it will be my babies first Christmas. We are expecting snow at midnight until tomorrow night. Hopefully, since I will have to stay at home I will finish my Christmas projects.

McCall's Fashion Accesories 4418

I have been working on this project since December 6. We celebrate Mother's day in Panama on December 8 and I tought it would be nice to give my mom my own version of a Vera Bradley bag. Well, it was not ready on time. So now it is part of my Christmas sewing. I am going to give it to her for Christmas. She deserves it for all the help she has been giving me with the babies.

This is the front of the bag. I am using a quilted fabric that I purchased at Joann.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays too... :P

More baby pj's

Here is another baby pijama that I made this past weekend. This is for my baby girl. I used size 1/2 toddler. I did not modify the pattern this time.

I recommend this pattern, but let me tell you it is not that "easy"! Sewing "miniature" clothes can be more difficult than sewing adult clothes.

Designers want us to wear big shoulders pads again

Even though I have not seen a new pattern from any pattern company suggesting that big 80's shoulder pads are coming back, there is a rumor that they are coming back strongly.

I saw some models wearing big shoulder pads jackets on my last Allure issue and also on the Vogue November issue. This is an 80's trend I won't be wearing again. I own a few vintage 80's patterns to make all these upcoming fashion trends but every time I look at the pictures on the envelopes all I think is how come I was so brave to wear those ugly suits and shirts back then? We will see if I will dare to wear them again. I still have some vintage coats, jackets and sweaters with those enormous shoulder pads on a trunk were I keep some old clothes... in case they would ever come back on style.

A good thing about Etsy

I really wish I could crochet but I have no patience, so I prefer to buy crochet at Etsy.com

My baby has received lot of compliment on this hat I got from LilyKnitting at Etsy.

Baby sleepwear

I finished the first set of pajamas using pattern 2734 from Simplicity It's so Easy. My advise on using this pattern, it is not that easy to sew for beginners. I had problems trying to understand how to make the V neck. I believe something is wrong with it. At the end, I used white binding and I think I had a better result. I am working on another set for my baby girl which hopefully will be done tomorrow.

I made view A.

I made a size 1/2 tottler which I think is for a 6 months old baby, but it looks kind of long.

Current projects

It is that time of the year already to start making Christmas presents. Here are two of the patterns that I am using for my projects.


I purchased a Vera Bradley diaper bag with the matching handbag. My mom fell in love with it, but she told me she wants a similar bag but it has to be made by me. I bought the fabric for this project already and it is cut just waiting for me to have some extra time for sewing.

I am working on some pajamas for my babies and one for a friend who also had a baby couple months ago.

Dare to wear harem pants

Finally, I finished my project using McCall's pattern M5858. A few couple of months ago I mentioned that these kind of pants were going to be hot during the summer. Well, I was wrong. They are hot now in the fall and will be next spring. These particular harem pants look more like the 80's hammer pants. I can't wear them right now because I am still trying to shed a few pounds and the waist feels really tight on me. Hopefully, I will be able to wear them next year when I go to Puerto Rico. Anyway, I used silky fabric and it is too light for the cold weather.

I am planning on making more of these pants using some vintage patterns that I have been collecting. These particular style is featured on the November '09 Vogue issue.

Here are my spring harem "hammer" style pants.

I used McCall's M5858 pattern

Pattern M5889 is from the new McCall's collection. These look very easy to make and are ideal if you don't dare to wear the harem pants with the "pouch" down there.

More patterns at my Etsy

I am adding more patterns to my Etsy store. If patterns are current which mean not out of print, they have been cut on my size 14, which is a 36 bust size and I am only selling then for 2.00. Patterns can always be altered. The pattern above is still factory folded, never been cut or opened. If you are interested just click on the advertisement and it will take you directly to my store.

Once upon a time

Long time ago when I got married and got my first very own sewing machine, I purchased a bunch of home decor patterns. On that year I also started a yo-yo bedspread that still unfinished on my linen closet. I remember wanting to do all my home decor and started by making some easy curtains and pillows.

After a few years, when I moved to the states, I realized that I was not that much into sewing for the home but all I wanted to do was to sew my own clothes. I was and continue to be in love with fashion. Today I was organizing my pattern boxes and decided to put some of those home decor vintage patterns on my Etsy. Most of them are from the 90's era when I was a newly wed. If they are older than 10 years they are consider vintage and are hard to find.

I listed this two Simplicity Holiday Collection and I will be listing more tomorrow.

Why did I wait so long to get this?

Since I started sewing, I always wondered if buying a serger was necessary. I just purchased this one from Singer and let me tell you it makes a big difference and saves a lot of time on my sewing projects. I just used it last night to make some baby blankets which I made in a "flash". This model is very affordable. I love it!

What I am working on right now

I am trying to find some time to work on this three projects, plus other unfinished projects I have from last year just before getting pregnant.



I know I may be a little bit late to sew this pants, maybe the trend will be over when I am done with it or maybe not. Sometimes trends start up one season and come stronger the next year. I will wear this on my next trip to Puerto Rico next year.

I bought the fabrics for these summer dresses. Hopefully, I will finish them before next summer.

My new babies

On August 10, I was scheduled for my last appointment at the Neonatal Assessment Clinic at Bethesda Naval Hospital. That day the Dr. decided that it was time to have my babies because the baby girl was loosing amniotic liquid. So, Liz Ann and Alexander were deliver at 10:00 pm.

Here are some pictures of my little cuties!

One week left

After exactly two months of bed rest, finally I am getting closer to delivery day. The Dr. scheduled my c-section to be done next week. Hopefully, babies might wait until them. Right now my babies weight 5 1/2 pound each, but it won't surprised me if they are actually 6 pounds.

I had so many "sewing plans" that I did not achieved during this pregnancy. I guess that is also a divine way of God telling me that for now on, there will be some other responsibilities and all my hobbies might be on stand by for a couple of months. I did not have time to sew some maternity clothes or use Sharon's maternity patterns. I was planning on doing a lot of receiving blankets as soon as I would stop working...I couldn't even go shopping for fabrics. Right now all these things don't matter because I am very happy and excited about seeing my babies for the first time. Anyway, I waited almost 10 years for this.

Here I am posting the pictures of the babies room. This room used to be my sewing and crafting room. My husband moved all my "sewing and crafting stuff" to the basement, which I will try to decorate later. I just wanted to share this with you guys. Hopefully I will be back to sewing next month. I would also like to thank JC for her wonderful present.

I am still pregnant

I had another "false alarm" this weekend. We had to go to ER again for preterm labor at Bethesda. I was having contractions, so I was admitted and stayed for four days. The Doctors gave me some pills to stop contractions and now I am back home on bed rest again. I am 32 weeks pregnant.

Another blog called Back To Sewing

While making a search on google to see if my Blog appears on the first "look up", I found that there is another blog called Back To Sewing. It is about somebody who also went back to sewing. Shall I change the name of my blog?

Update about me: I am still on moderate bed rest. I am entering my 32 week of pregnancy. Lately, I have not been sewing but I knitted two baby hats. :P

New McCall's Fall Patterns

McCall's Patterns introduced today the 2009 Fall collection. Here are my picks.

I owned a shirt like this in the past.

I am into making handbags now.

I like this handbags pattern to make some Christmas presents.

This jacket reminds me of something I wore around 1987.

Another pattern influenced by the 80's.

I like this dress. Pretty, isn't it?

I am back!

A lot happened to me last month. Being pregnant is not as easy as I thought it will be. I tried to do some sewing, but because I was working and had to come home and worry about what to cook for dinner and other stuff, sewing became secondary on my schedule. Finally, my mom came to visit about three weeks ago and she have been helping me. So, mom and I went to Joann Fabrics and purchased some fabrics to do baby receiving blankets. Also, for my birthday my husband bought me a new sewing machine since I have been complaining so much about my not so old Brother Sewing Machine. It was just that I was hating all the problems it was giving me with the bobbin. Anyway, I got an electronic Singer Confidence Sewing Machine. Very nice!

Finally, I stopped working. Today was supposed to be my last day, but I had an emergency during the weekend. Everyone thought I would have my babies this week. I was having preterm labor and was taken to Bethesda and stayed there until Tuesday afternoon. Let me tell you, being three days on a liquid diet while connected to an IV is not fun. All I kept thinking, beside being worry about what was going on is about how unprepared I am due to the fact that I was working and was waiting to stop working so that we could start moving my sewing room to the basement and start painting and decorating the babies room. Now I am on bed rest for two weeks at least. Hopefully my husband will take care of everything.

I been lucky enough to have a baby shower at work. I got lots of clothes for the babies and other things from my baby registry. I am posting some pictures.