Yesterday, I mentioned how great I think Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch is.  Her text is readable, her tone is friendly, her directions are clear and concise, and the images in the book are wonderfully inspiring.  Nine weeks after adding Baby #4 to our family, I am finding that many of my summer clothes still don’t fit quite the way I’d like, so rather than running around to the shop and to meetings with my muffin top all over the place, I felt it prudent to bust out Cal’s patternmaking guide and whip up some new, simple, quick and easy pieces for my post-baby wardrobe.  Recent childbirth is no excuse for letting oneself go.

So this was today’s project.  Total time invested, including drafting the pattern to my new measurements: 2-ish hours.  Two side seams, an invisible zip, some darts and a quick hem and I’m ready to rock and roll.  Fabulous Japanese cotton lightweight canvas has just the right drape to give a more formal shape to the flirty fabric.  And I’m feeling wonderfully accomplished, and more comfortable in my new skin.

I’m so flattered and excited to be part of Rae’s 2010 Spring Top Week.  Last year, I marveled at all the entries and had such a good time feeling inspired by the season and dreaming of new ideas for cute tops.  This year, I’m beyond tickled to be on the back end, getting the chance to see some of the newest tops as they get posted on the Flickr group and helping to select the ultimate winner!

I hate to admit it, but with all I had going on last year, I planned out about a dozen tops, and never got further than cutting one out.  This year, I hope to remedy that, and think Rae has such a great idea in hosting this entire event (I also wonder how on earth she has the energy, after everything she and Dana did for Boy Month in February!).

I totally think you should join in, bee tee dubs.  Here’s how:

Beginning TODAY, March 30, you can enter your tops to win Rae’s Big Prize.  Spring Top Week won’t hit until early May, but you have from March 30 through April 30 to post your images and be part of the winnowing down to finalist.  Yippee!

I’ll be behind the scenes here, rubbing my hands gleefully as I get to pore and drool over each new entry sent my way, and planning out some fabulous new spring tops.  Of course, mine will all have to be nursing-friendly–another challenge!  Who’s on board??

Use the button in the sidebar on the left over there to hop straight over to Rae’s blog, and Happy Stitching, everyone!

Today, over at one of my very favorite and most creative blogs, Sugar City Journal, there’s a discussion of fabric for sewing clothing.  Among the many comments were complaints that the quality of fabric available at the big box fabric stores is sorely lacking, and mostly ends up pilling or pulling or just falling apart.  I especially liked one comment, which I’ve used for the title:  Most of the stores with better fabrics tend to focus on quilting cottons, because what kind of crazy person would want to sew CLOTHES?