It’s finally here!  Now available for purchase is the PDF pattern for the Overmost.  These unisex short overalls are fantastic for this time of year, are quick and easy to stitch up, and flatter every kid who wears them.  Easy to play in and with a great fit that allows them to be worn over a shirt or over nothing at all, I looove this outfit for our boy and our girls!  There’s been a huge demand for this pattern ever since I announced it on MADE this spring, and at last it’s ready to release–in FIVE sizes, from 12 months to 4T!

Skip over to the patterns page and follow the links to make your purchase online, or go straight to the Overmost description.

Be on the lookout for a GREAT GIVEAWAY after the Fourth of July, too! Any guesses what it’ll be??

When I was designing children’s clothing, my initial goal was to create clothing for tweens that was clean, modern, and classic–no low-rise or trashy text. I got pretty side-tracked, simply because I happened on a market where the demand for clothing for smaller kids (babies through age 7) was much higher. As a result, middle child M (age 3) got plenty more clothes from Mommy than eldest E (age 14).

Last summer, she begged me to change that. And I promised I would.

Technically, it’s still summer until Labor Day, right??  But maybe not at New Year’s?  So as Summer of the Teen became Winter of the Teen which melted into Spring of the Teen, I became Loser Mommy, who has so much on her plate that she can’t get it together to make a stinkin’ shirt for her eldest child.  Ack, the guilt!  Now that it’s summer again, I’m feeling a chance to redeem myself.  Let’s knock out some birthday outfits plus vacation clothes AND a little back-to-school preview all at once, and THEN who’s the Boss?  That’s right.  ME.

Two of the goals most stated for our 2010 Sewing Goals were that we (1) tackle more clothing, and (2) sew more for our families.  This assignment tackles both of those at the same time!

Today, let’s just review some of the patterns she’s selected as her idea of What Her Wardrobe Needs.

The vests: her total fixation at the moment.  She’s already making outfits to go with them.

The shorts: even she sees that she needs a pile more shorts.  NOTHING in the stores is even remotely acceptable, and we’ll have none of this juicy-barely-covers-your-tush action in my house, thankyouverymuch.

I made some suggestions, too, which were surprisingly well-received, actually.  Looks like this project might be kinda fun!

The jumpers and dresses: because every time we have out-of-town company, there’s a last-minute rush to the store to make sure she has Something Suitable.  And I’m kinda over that.

The tops: to go under the 65 million vests.  And to mix-and-match with the shorts.  And because, truly, she doesn’t own a single top that isn’t a t-shirt.

There were a few styles she really liked, but I pointed out that liking the style and liking the garment are not the same thing.  One of the hardest lessons in sewing is that your body and the body on the sketch are not the same body, and having a well-developed sense of self-awareness when it comes to your figure and what will flatter it is a huge portion of sewing success. In her case, there’s also a school dress code to consider on top of that, so it was even more frustrating for her.  We culled her pile of 40+ patterns and got it down to the ones you see here.

Sewing commences….NOW.  Wish me luck.

This spring, we finally got around to joining the local organic CSA.  Well, two, actually: one for vegetables and one for meat.  I think in the past, I’d always been convinced we’d start our own garden, but finally realized I just didn’t have the time I wanted to devote to it.  I was worried, too, that if we joined a CSA, we’d get a bunch of veggies we’d never use and be wasting our money.

So far, not a problem.  Each week, we get things like lettuces and cabbage, squash and turnips, fennel and basil, onions and fresh garlic, and last week, a boatload of cucumbers.  And at our house, cukes mean one thing: pickles!

Our oldest and I busted out the canning gear during nap one afternoon and went to town.  I’ve only ever canned once before, and that was jam, so this was a whole new thing for us.  Much reading of recipes was involved (we used my trusty Better Homes Cookbook, a gift from my mother, and which has never failed me).  Lots of fun, and when we were done, so much easier than I expected that I couldn’t wait to do it again.

These are dills.  Next batch: bread and butter sandwich slices.  My husband, for his part, is both impressed and thrilled, and tells everyone about our homesteading skills.  Which is almost as cool as the pickles themselves.

Tonight, from 5 to 9 pm:  Join our Modern Sewing Circle, plus save 10%!

This Friday, we’ll be launching our Summer Kickoff weekend at our Atlanta shop with a beach-themed edition of our Modern Sewing Circle. BYOB, pack up your stitching projects, and come on down to the shop for chit-chat, relaxation, some groovy beach tunes, and a chance to save some cash: print out the coupon to save 10% off your entire purchase this Friday ONLY during Sewing Circle!

Our Sewing Circle is a casual chance to meet new folks, check out the shop, and get some stitching done. And Hey!! We’re now meeting at a convenient earlier hour! Sewing Circle now meets at Happy Hour, from 5-9 pm the last Friday of every month, at Whipstitch.

Can’t make it to Sewing Circle? Use your coupon online with the handy code we’ve included!  (Please note, locals: while you can’t use this discount on our in-store classes, you CAN use it for anything else in the shop–even sale items!)

Want to save EVEN MORE? Scroll down for Saturday’s coupon and come on back sooner rather than later!

Win Amy Butler, Sandi Henderson, and Anna Maria Horner Prize Packs

When the ladies from the shop went off to Quilt Market last month, they brought back piles of goodies, and even had them autographed by some of our favorite fabric celebs! You–yes, you!–now have FIVE chances to win one of these fantastic prize packages:

* Anna Maria Horner’s new book, Handmade Beginnings, autographed by the lady herself, plus FIVE fat quarters from her Little Folks collection of cotton voiles.

* An autographed copy of Sandi Henderson’s new book, Sewing Bits & Pieces, plus FIVE scrap bags to play with.

* An Amy Butler Finest Threads tote bag, autographed by Her Majesty, plus Amy’s Kimberly Bag pattern.

* An autographed copy of Kay White’s Sophia Trench Coat pattern for Boutique Chic, plus a set of vintage buttons.

* A $25 gift certificate to the Whipstitch shop, valid in-store or online, good for any product in the store (excluding classes and workshops).

Drooling yet?? Here’s how to win:

There are FIVE chances to win one of these great prize packs. You can’t win more than one, I’m afraid, but you can enter all five and up your chances!

* One winner will be chosen from our fans on Facebook. Not a fan yet? Become one now!

* One winner will be chosen from our Fickr pool. Add an image of one of your projects stitched from fabrics in the Whipstitch shop to our Flickr group. You may add as many as you like–each image is one entry!  (You can always access the Flickr pool using the icon in the right sidebar.)

* One winner will be chosen from our newsletter subscribers. Sign up to receive shop news and announcements!  (Current newsletter subscribers have had a jump on you–they received this contest info Monday.  Time to catch up!)

* One winner will be chosen from our purchases made in our online shop. Make any purchase during the contest dates–or make more than one! Each purchase is one entry!

* One winner will be chosen from our in-store customers. Make any purchase in our Atlanta shop and we’ll drop your name in the hat. Make more than one purchase, get more than one entry!

Contest is open beginning June 21 at 5 pm through July 4 at noon. Winners will be announced July 5 right here on the blog. To qualify, simply complete one of the above actions between those times, and we’ll make sure you’re in the running for one of these fab prize packs!

Take 40% OFF THIS SATURDAY ONLY!

Got a hot date tonight that will keep you away from shopping?  Don’t want to wait until July 5 to win one of the prizes above?  Come down to the shop this Saturday and take 40% off any item in the store!  Summer has officially begun, after all, and we want you to have the best supplies on hand to make this summer the prettiest one you can remember.

Can’t make it to the shop? No worries–use your discount online, and we’ll be thinking of you!  Discount online is valid from 12:01 AM through 11:59 PM, and YES, purchases made using the coupon DO qualify for the contest!  Best of luck to you.

I wasn’t expecting it for another month.  But then I got home and there was a FedEx package on the table for me, and it was here, in the flesh, real and solid and fully realized:  my book!!  I am a little overwhelmed, but super, super excited.  I’m not allowed to show it off too much yet, but it’s so pretty and I was gonna pop if I didn’t get to tell…well…EVERYONE!  OK, back to work, people.  But: hooray!!