No One Puts Baby In The Corner...

One of my really good friends just had her first baby girl and I am so excited for her!  Now I have made plenty of baby gifts in my time... in fact, I can't just go buy a present anymore. I am so used to making homemade gifts that I don't know that I can ever go back! So here is the gift I made for Baby Emily. 


When thinking about what I wanted to make for the little munchkin, I knew it had to be girly but with an East Coast feel.  I loved this stripe fabric because it is super soft and just perfect for baby's sensitive skin.  Also, because it reminded me of sailing... not that my friend sails... but just humor me.

I love this dress and you can find the tutorial here.  What initially drew me to this pattern, despite it being adorable, was that it doesn't have any zippers, buttons, or anything super complicated... which basically means that it wasn't too scary of an undertaking.  After making it several times, however, I have made a few adjustments.  In this particular dress, I added a snap to the back instead of the ties at the shoulders as the pattern indicates.  I have also done a zipper and buttons on past versions... it's fun to play around with it and see what works best for you.

As soon as I saw the pattern for these shoes, I had to make them immediately!  They are extremely tiny but just perfect for little baby feet!  No adjustments here as it was my first time making them.  Next time I make them, I might use felt as the sole... just in case I was feeling lazy.

This headband is a knockoff of one that I found here.  Please do not compare photos!  Kelly takes beautiful pictures and always knows how to stage a shot just right.  My skills are not lacking as much as I am in desperate need of a new camera!  Keeping my fingers crossed that the hubby is picking up on the hints, since our anniversary is this month!

And the blanket was inspired by one that I saw on Pinterest.  Have you heard of this brilliant website yet?  I am obsessed... and spend a little too much time on it.  My poor kids... Anyway, the blanket I saw had this beautiful freehand quilting done... I opted to just quilt along the banners themselves.  Much more simple.


So I am going to wrap up this little number tonight and mail it to VA tomorrow.  Did your friend just have a baby?... Preggers yourself and looking for a new nesting project?  These tutorials are easy enough and will give make for a spectacular gift.


{kay}

Let's Not Skirt The Issue...

We have a new project here at Zig Zag.  I saw an idea for this full, 50's style skirt online and immediately fell in love with the idea.  For me, when it comes to dressing up... the more feminine the better.  I love ruffles, I love pleats, and the higher the heel the better.  When making this skirt I wanted it to reflect the nipped-in waists of the 50's and 60's... when women wore gloves and hats, and made sure to always have their makeup done before their husband came home from work... but I also wanted to make it current and stylish.  


This skirt is a high-waisted, FULL skirt that makes me want to twirl around with my three year old for hours.  It is a tea length skirt with an exposed zipper up the back.  Truth be told, the zipper is my favorite part, and the element of this skirt that makes it more modern.


Each time I take on a new project, I love tweaking it and making it my own.  Once you become comfortable with sewing, your options become limitless.  Don't want to do an exposed zipper?  You can do an invisible zipper... you can make it elastic waist and wear it with flip flops in the summer... You could make it less full and put buttons down the front... you could make it a pencil skirt... on and on and on.


Once I finished this skirt, I couldn't help but think of other styles of skirts that I want to make.  What type of fabric I want for it... but most importantly, how soon can I finish it so I can dress it up with candy red heels and a string of pearls...


Want to host a party where you and your friends can make this lovely skirt?  Contact us at sewingzigzag@gmail.com and we can get you scheduled.


Happy Sewing! and Happy Memorial Day!!


{kay}

Congratulations...

Congratulations to Alisa!  We hope you love your new apron! 


Stay tuned this week... we are adding more projects including a Summer Beach Bag, a Skirt and some kids clothes.


Thank you to everyone who entered our giveaway... there will be more where that came from so see you back here real soon!


{kay}

It's That Time Again...

That's right folks... We are back with a fabulous giveaway!  We have been very busy at our sewing machines and have had several successful parties.  We are now working on adding new projects to the lineup, so keep posted!  In the meantime, let us introduce...

                                The Ruffle Apron

Because we love to look pretty while cooking in the kitchen, this apron satisfies every girl's need for ruffles.  It is a full apron that goes to the knee, with adjustable neck and waist ties.  Once it was made, I tried it on and immediately wanted to make it again, except as a dress {teaser}.


It's super easy to enter.  Just leave a comment on this post.  Please include your email address so we can contact you when you win!  And only one comment per person please.  The giveaway ends Saturday May 14th at 10 pm PST, and the winner will be notified on Sunday. If you become a Follower of our little blog {at the bottom of the page}, then your name will be entered twice.  That's two times the chance of taking this cute little number home... two times the chance of enjoying your prepared meal that much more... and two times the chance of being inspired to want to make one of these yourself!  


Want to host a party/class where you and your closest friends can learn how to make this apron?  Just email us at zigzagsewing@gmail.com and we can get you scheduled as soon as possible.  


Good Luck!


{kay}

Lazy Days Skirt

We had so much fun at our skirt class this morning!  And everyone walked away with a new and adorable skirt.  These skirts are so easy to whip up and the fabric/ribbon possibilities are endless.  

The Teapot skirt reminds me of Alice In Wonderland, and makes me want to take advantage of this gorgeous weather and go outside for a little picnic.

The Pink skirt is going to look so cute on a little baby... Can't wait to find out if Laurie gets to keep it for her little one on the way!!

Thanks to all the girls for coming and being so great.  We had such a good time!

{kay)

And The Winner Is....

{Tara Tanner}


Thanks to everyone for "liking" our Facebook Page and going to the blog.  We had an awesome response... Keep coming back because Zig Zag has a sewing party coming up and we will be doing another giveaway soon!


Happy Sewing!


{kay}

That's right!  We want one lucky winner to walk away with one of these adorable purses!  There are three designs to choose from, but each is cute in their own right.  How do you enter?  I'm glad you asked... it's easy!  There are two ways to enter:


~ Leave a comment at the end of this post.  Make sure to include your email so we know how to get in touch with you... 
~ Go to Facebook {Zig Zag Modern Sewing} and "Like" our page.  If you share our page with your friends in your news feed, you get entered TWICE!!!


The deadline to enter is Friday April 8th... so don't delay!  Good Luck!!


{kay}

Pink, Ruffles and Flowers... Oh My!

While sewing this ruffled half apron as a project option for our sewing classes, I feel a little tug on my shirt.  I couldn't hear her approaching because the whir of the sewing machine was going full tilt.  I look down, and my little Reese looks at me and asks... "Is this for me?"  Usually I am feverishly whipping up a new skirt or dress for my little three-year-old, so it's my own fault that as soon as she sees something with pink and flowers on it she thinks it must be for her.  


I had no problem, however, letting her try it on and dance around the family room.  She makes a much cuter model than me anyway.  Although this apron is adult size... I see a tiny version of it being made in the near future.


{kay}

Finding the time

"How do you find the the time to sew?" I hear this frequently. I'm not sure what the correct answer to this is because lets face it... With 2 toddlers, a full time job and NO housekeeper... there is something I should be doing at every waking moment of the day so I suppose the answer is simple.  I make the time. I sneak in little sewing moments whenever I can but I can only do that because I created a little sewing nook in my house. I can sit down and sew quickly while the kids are content... and then stop instantly when they need me or it's time to make dinner. All you need to create your own is a small corner, a desk, and a few shelves.  My place is SMALL and my previous place was even SMALLER so if I can find a spot so can you. I promise creating a nook to sew will help you find more time to do so.  And more inspiration! And more fun cause you can leave it a mess! 'Cause who likes cleaning up messes? Just sayin'... 

- Jody