bunny baskets, take two

these bunny baskets

were blogged about a few years back

but i pulled the pattern out again

as a quick fun project for my little seamstresses

as much as i like teaching them new skills

and they like the accomplishment of trying a big or intimidating project

these ladies love these quick projects with bits of hand embroidery

and lots of room for personalization

certainly a success in their own right!

winter sewing class update

my little seamstresses continue to blow me away

with what they produce (and often design themselves!) in our weekly classes

this winter, we started with a biggie:

twin-sized quilts for their very own beds

the girls designed the layouts

picked the fabrics

 

cut, pieced and sewed the tops

hand appliqued details on the backs

 

sandwiched, quilted and bound

 

these beauties

 all on their own...

at 10 years old? yeah... impressive.

...

one-day pom scarves 

quick valentine's lovies

saturday morning yoga pants

...

to welcome spring

we are working on a quick easter project

and then onto

sundresses!

school's out for summer!

my sewing girls finished up a couple of weeks ago
just in time to go off to camp
in new outfits
completely designed and sewn by themselves!

it was a multi-week process
project runway - style
starting with drawings, a trip to the fabric store, muslin prototypes, label design and a photoshoot
the finished products were so impressive and the girls extremely proud- rightly so!

a few other spring projects to catch up on...

hand-sewn snails
(using a wee wonderfuls pattern)


patchwork pillows
for mother's day!




bunting banners
using the triangular fabric scrape left over from the floor pouf project!



it's been a productive spring for these little ladies!

sewing class: winter jammies and quick gift

our last sewing class in 2010

was just before christmas...

the girls finished up cozy flannel pj sets

(which they reportedly didn't take off for much of vacation)

...

then, we broke into the scrap bag

choosing remnants of past projects

to make gifts for parents and siblings

from the wonderful last minute patchwork + quilted gifts

they personalized kraft moleskine journals

and even improved upon the pattern-

adding a ribbon to the front that extended to serve as a bookmark

they little ladies always amaze me with their creativity!

family members were thrilled, of course

and they even have a few commissions for more...

proving nothing is better than a homemade gift!

beautiful little fool

i was thrilled to hear that

carey mulligan

was chosen to portray daisy

in baz luhrmann's

the great gatsby

without a doubt

my most favorite book

of my most favorite class

the memories are still

SO rich-

junior year of boarding school

ms. hannay's english

i would literally run down the walkways and into

the school building

in anticipation of our discussions

of the assigned reading...

what book made you fall deep in love with reading?

image

catch up - sewing class: halloween costumes

i'm a bit behind-the-ball

posting these halloween costumes

my sewing class girls

made

but

i wanted to get them up before december!

...

the girls spent some time brainstorming

before we started drafting patterns and sewing

and i am blown away at how close to their original sketches the costumes turned out!

medusa

the vampire

back to class

my kid's sewing class started up again last week...

i wanted a project that would ease them back

something relatively simple

but where they could also learn a new skill.

over our summer sewing getaway

my sister made her daughter a smocked dress

using heather ross' pattern.

it was adorable.

we roughly followed the same.

and they came together very easily...

the girls are thrilled

and thought the elastic thread smocking was way-cool.

...

here is my niece in her top made by mama

up next... halloween costumes!

sewing class: project #5

with mother's day fast approaching,

i wanted to get in a project the girls could proudly give to their mammas

in just two sessions...

a summer tunic!

in a heavenly anna maria horner voile

from this pattern (written for use with knits, but will work fine for a woven)

finishing touches.

lovies are next... any pattern suggestions?

little designers

the girls in my sewing class have finished another project...

floor poufs!

the project was quick, pretty easy, and super fun

(though i never thought i'd see so much POLYESTER in my studio! ha!)

their choices in fabrics perfectly matched their personalities and all they talked about the whole time was where they were going to put them/ what they would use them for in their bedrooms.

one girl is even getting her own room for the first time and was thrilled to have her first addition.

not only are they learning to sew, but developing their own little interior design perspectives.

i love it!

sewing class update

my girls have finished another project...

this time, adorable tiered skirts in thin-wale corduroy.

they chose their color combos/order and set to work reading the patterns...

this project was definitely the most challenging for my little ladies... (learning to gather is a bit much after a long school day!) but they were OVERJOYED with their results this week when they finished, pulled them on and started twirling!

i was just as excited, and so wanted to be that age again, with a color-block skirt and some polka-dot tights.

next up: floor poufs!

sewing class: project one

i started teaching kids sewing classes in my studio here in providence last spring. after a fall of the flu, the girls were ready and rearing to start up again earlier this month.
i wanted to do a project that required pretty basic sewing skills to get them going again, but also something that would get their creative juices flowing.
with just a two meetings before thanksgiving day, the girls pulled out some pretty unbelievable table runners (and managed to keep them a surprise from their moms!)...

i pulled a bunch of festive, fall-like fabrics from good ol' jo-ann's and had the girls start by sketching. they assigned each fabric a colored pencil and went to work designing their own patterns for the runner, which was put together like a quilt-top.

we made a team effort of cutting the pieces, they arranged them according to their diagrams and got busy sewing. and ironing. and sewing. and ironing. ironing. ironing...


once the top pieces all came together, they pressed it all again, sewed on a backing n their favorite fabric (the one with sparkles, of course!), turned them inside out, pressed again and stitched the bottoms closed.


the girls were THRILLED with their results, moms almost in tears, and, i have to say, i was blown away as well. they were GORGEOUS.

off to plan week three...

doll-making class!

Have Yourself a Handmade Holiday!

Doll Workshop:
Monday 12/8/2008
Downtown Providence, RI
6:00 - 9:00pm
$80

Class Description:

Join Providence-based children's clothing designer Sarah Waldo and craft blogger Christine Chitnis for a night of sewing and wine hosted at Sarah's craft friendly studio! All materials will be provided to make one of the sweet little dolls pictured! The dolls were designed just for this class by Sarah and Christine.

In addition, wine and cheese will be served! Make this holiday season extra special with gifts that are lovingly handmade. Each class participant will also get a copy of the doll pattern we use to take home...that way you can make one for everyone on your list!

Reserve your spot here: http://christinechitnis.bigcartel.com/
If you have questions, feel free to email: christine.chitnis@gmail.com

Class space is limited, so reserve your spot now! There will be no refunds once your space is reserved. Once you sign up, an email with all the details will be sent your way!