See? I did stuff.

Before we go any further, I feel I should let you know that I changed this blog's email address. Unfortunately, it was hacked (sorry if that affected any of you) and I felt it best to just dump the old and get a new one. This means that 1) there were a lot of emails that never got responded to. And I'm sorry... really. I've made it a goal to keep up with emails from here on out. AND 2) if you have my other email address, it won't work anymore. I've updated the link on my blog so if you just use the button to send me an email I'll get that. Otherwise, if you'd like to email me, here's the new address:

bugabooblog @ yahoo . com

just take out the spaces or it won't work ;) I feel it's much shorter and sweeter than the old one anyway, right?

SO. Today I don't have a tutorial or anything, but I wanted to convince you that I have tried to be mildly productive while lying around eating potato chips.

See? I made a vest.

A while ago, See Kate Sew sent out an inquiry looking for people who would be willing pattern testers for a few different patterns she was working on and I had the enormously good fortune of testing this adorable guy - The Aztec Hooded Vest. This was something she put together for one of her PR&P Allstars looks. For a number of reasons, I was really excited to get started one it.

1) I don't sew with patterns. Did you know that? I can't read a pattern to save my life. I've tried. I buy them sometimes. Then I take them out and the instructions are like GREEK. It's a totally different language than I speak. The last time I sewed from a pattern I was in Costume Construction in college and I had a VERY easy pattern and LOTS of help. I gave them up years ago.

2) There were lots of little variations that came with the pattern. Pockets? No pockets? Interfacing the hood so it's stiffer? Reversible?

3) I was eager to see what I could do with help from a good pattern and clear instructions.

The result?

Goodness I love that dimple in her cheek and her lone little freckle on her chin... but that's beside the point.

The pattern was so easy to put together! You just printed it out, taped the pieces up, cut them to the right size, and pinned them on the material. I thought is would be more difficult to make the pieces line up or to maybe I'd have to print them out a weird way or something, but nope. Very straightforward.

I chose to use vintage fabric from my Grandma Beth. The first is a soft gray sweatshirt knit with stripes and the second a regular, non-stretch knit with rows of little flowers. I thought that would sufficiently girlify it. I was excited to find something suitable to use my Grandma's fabric for.

I only ran into two little snags. Even though I was double and triple checking the instructions and pictures, I accidentally sewed the welt pockets wrong, NOT putting the wrong sides together. Ooph. I had to very carefully pick out the stitches, and since I had no extra lining fabric to use, I had to make due with my woefully stretched out fabric.

Yes, that's a sad little welt pocket. But it's the first pocket I have EVER SEWN in my LIFE. So, I'm just gonna be glad she can stick her hands in there. My sister told me to just pretend I made them that big on purpose, for aesthetic reasons and all.

The second snag was that never having lined anything correctly before, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to attach the lined hood to the sweatshirt. I sewed it on twice with horrible results and unfinished seams. But a quick little email to Kate cleared it all up and I felt like a big doofus for not figuring it out. See? Perfect.

I admit it. I love it. I especially love all the clean, finished seams. Mine isn't truly reversible, because I couldn't find a separating zipper that was reversible. *frustration* Is that something fabric and craft stores usually have? In any case, I let her wear it whichever way she wants to, zipper or no.

The pockets aren't true welt pockets, I know, but this way she can fit a lot of little treasures in there. And keep her hands warm when it's raining. Which it was when I was taking these pictures.

In short, I think this may be the most "professional" looking article of clothing I've sewn. I suppose there's some good in using real patterns, after all. I might try my hand at a few more, provided they're written in English and have pictures.

I urge you to go check out See Kate Sew's pattern shop at big cartel. She's got some good ones, not just this hoodie vest! She also has some free patterns you can find here. I'll for sure be making the skinny tie pattern for a few boys in my life...