MOD Retro Tunic

I knew when I saw this pattern, McCall's 5882:

I had the perfect fabric for it in P&B MOD, here is my version in sunny yellow (we also have this in a lovely spring green):

This pattern for McCall's is the same as the Sabrina Tunic for Serendipity Studios, I am pretty sure the designer is the same.  This tunic was easy to make up and is very flattering to a wide variety of figures.  I especially like the high neck.  I can think of lots of other fabrics in the shop to make more versions of this top out of......in fact I may go try the dress next!

Enjoy!
Chris

Update

Just a quick note that I have added some new fabrics to the "Limited Specials" on The Cotton Loft site.  If you haven't checked this section out yet hurry over and take a look.  I've got some awesome buys on fabric yardage that is perfect for backings and all sorts of other projects. 

Also in the next few weeks I should have some great charm packs deals and a few other goodies to add!

And check the Blog  later this week to see what I am making from this fabric:

Enjoy,
Chris

Farmer's Market Bathrobe

As I mentioned in the earlier post I have been doing more garment sewing than quilting. I think this happens to a lot of quilters, you just make one too many quilts and BAM! You just can't make another one.

But what do you do with all that fabric you have? And you certainly can't give up buying fabric, but how can you justify buying new fabric if you're not making quilts? Well, you make other things! Purses, placemats, and yes......clothing!

I learned to sew in high school and I remember now why I took to quilting.......it's easier! Now I'm not saying quilting is not a challenge but I can piece a simple quilt a lot faster than I can make a simple article of clothing. Garment sewing has given me a challenge and new interest that I had lost with my quilting. It provides me with another creative outlet.

Garment sewing is hard, it is even harder to sew a well fitting garment. I am still learning to make more fitted items like pants and jackets, but that process can be long. While I work on those projects I like to throw in a simple project so I feel like I am accomplishing something. Like this:


Yes, it is blindingly bright, but I love it! If that fabric looks familiar it's because it is Michael Miller's Farmer Market (which you buy at The Cotton Loft). I used this pattern (which you can buy here):If you've done a little sewing this is a pretty straightforward pattern, nothing to difficult. I did underline my fabric with white cotton batiste to give it a little more body and finished the seams with bias binding. This is the perfect bathrobe for our warm Florida mornings!

This pattern has a lot of options to it and I plan to make a few more of them. I can see some cute pajamas made up in some wild retro fabric! If you have a teenage daughter or niece this is the perfect pattern to use to make her something she'll love. A cute little cami top and matching shorts, extend the look by making a pair of long bottoms in a solid color.....the possibilities are endless. Some pieces require as little as 1 to 1 2/2yds of fabric, surely you have that in your stash! And this pattern is simple enough for the novice sewer.

So if you've been thinking about trying something different.....get to it......get sewing!

Enjoy,
Chris

9 Months!

Yes, its been 9 MONTHS! And no there isn't a baby in sight....I'm way too old for that!

Things have just been a little up in the air around here. My quilting mojo was gone, adios, bye...bye, no where to be found. I've been doing other things and thinking hard about where The Cotton Loft was going to go.

Well, my quilting mojo is still in hiding but I still love fabric! I don't think I am ready to give it up yet. But my sewing has been leaning toward garments more than quilts lately, but hey you can make lots of things out of cotton fabric.

So I am going to try and showcase a little bit of everything...clothing, crafts, quilts. Maybe you'll get inspired to try something else.

We also are doing a visual overhaul of The Cotton Loft site. It will still be simple and easy to use, just a little cleaner look! But best of all, our prices are still some of the most reasonable around.

So check back often, both here and the site.

Enjoy!

Chris