Thimbleanna » Summer Sewing

Summer Sewing

June 27, 2009 on 1:59 pm | In Sewing | 62 Comments

So, how’s your weekend going? More importantly, how’s your summer going? Can you believe it’s almost July? I feel like it should still be May, at least.

It’s pretty lazy-going here in ThimbleannaLand this summer. I actually dragged out my embroidery machine last week and played with my endless hoop. The endless hoop allows you to embroider long, repeating designs for things like borders and edgings. I bought the hoop 4 or 5 years ago and have never used it — I think I was scared of it. Which, as usual, turned out to be completely unfounded. It’s easy as pie to use.

I was really fun to play with the hoop and watch the machine embroider. I decided to make a summer top and I embroidered a scallop for the edge a neck ruffle and the hem of the sleeves. The pattern is Simplicity 2651. Here’s a close-up of the neck detail.

And here’s the classic bathroom mirror shot of the shirt. The jury’s still out on this top. I feel like I’m wearing one of my grandma’s house coats, cut off at the hips. It’s really comfortable and will be cool for hot summer days, so, if nothing else, I can wear it around the house.

Now, I’m off to go visit BigDaddy and MeMum. Hope you have a good weekend!

XOXO,
Anna

62 Comments

It cannot possibly be July next week, I refuse to believe it. I am looking forward to the school holidays though!

I think your top is pretty – very summery and the emnbroidery is dead clever.

Comment by dottycookie — June 27, 2009 #
I think the top is cute! But if you’re reminded of your grandma – at least you’ll be thinking about her when you wear it!

Comment by Janet — June 27, 2009 #
What a fun cool shirt and the colors are so cheerful! Hey, aren’t we grandma’s? Lol!I know what you mean though. I have a hard time shopping for clothes because they all look like something my MIL would wear and I’m not meaning to insult anyone. I’m just having a harder time getting older.

Comment by Kimberly — June 27, 2009 #
Oh, I *love* the details….but I see what you mean about the housecoat. It kind of reminds me of my Aunt Pearl! ;-)

Comment by Beth — June 27, 2009 #
Darling top – but I do understand the reservations about it. Did you have to trim the fabric first before embroidering? Oh, of course, it’s basted first, then you trim, then it stitches. Yes?

Comment by MichelleB — June 27, 2009 #
Love your embroidery details! So fun to get to use something after all that fear had worked up in you :)

Comment by Amy @ parkcitygirl — June 27, 2009 #
It’s a lovely blouse! The details are wonderful.

Comment by deirdre — June 27, 2009 #
july?
whatcha talking about it being july?
what’s wrong with you anyway?
we’re almost grandmas… it’s okay if our shirts look a little grandma-y – besides, my grandma wore these huge moo-moo things… and my other grandma wore those aprons that criss-crossed in the back. we’re WAY cooler than they were.
my daughter, bless her heart, makes fun of me because i’m always in a black t-shirt. she calls it my *uniform*. this 80′s band person was singing, (and i’m singing along, dreaming of old times) alison moyet (sp?) from YAZ, and she was wearing this huge black tunic thingy that had a big zipper up one side on the front and she was less than slender, and my darling daughter asks, “mommy, why is she wearing that awful dress?” “what would you LIKE her to wear? Look at her.” Then she gasps and says: “OH NO!!!!! OH NO!!!! it’s her UNIFORM!!!”
your embroidery skills are impressive.
i’m going to be just like you when i grow up, with a fancy blouse under my apron so my grandchildren know i’m hip.
hip like thimbleanna.
:waves madly

Comment by brigita — June 27, 2009 #
The top is very cute. I love the fabric. You sure are talented!

Comment by Stacy — June 27, 2009 #
I know!!! Maybe some pink curlers in your hair would help!!! They’d be the perfect accesssory! No?

Okay, well, it is a cute top and it is one that I would wear if I were a little girl!

Okay, I am not helping am I?

Comment by tattingchic — June 27, 2009 #
nah , not granma y at all — don’t you know little flowers are all the rage this season :-)

Comment by periwinkle — June 27, 2009 #
Not granny…I think it is cute. Glad to hear that I am not the only one who works things up in the mind to be more difficult than they are.

Comment by Dandelion Quilts — June 27, 2009 #
I like it – it is really cute!

Comment by Kate — June 27, 2009 #
OMG! It’s gorgeous, Anna. And now you’ve made me want to go and play with the embroidery stitches on the new sewing toy. How ingenious!

Comment by Jade — June 27, 2009 #
An embroidery machine sounds like fun. Love the sweet trim on the neck ruffle. You would be able to make some lovely PJ’s using that technique. You top looks very summery and fun.

Comment by Lisa — June 27, 2009 #
I LOVE that shirt. It is absolutely delicious. It has that whole vintage look happening and I think that is seriously cute. I can’t believe you did that embroidery!! It looks so detailed! A machine can do that?

Comment by raina — June 27, 2009 #
I really really really love your shirt! It is darling! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Comment by D Spack — June 27, 2009 #
I love it! The eyelet detail is fantastic. The fabric is cheerful and I think that you are right, it will keep you cool during the hot summer months. So far we haven’t had any of those here.

Comment by Jackie — June 27, 2009 #
I love it Miss Anna. It’s really cute!! At first I was picturing a house dress in the first photo. lolol so yes I was laughing at you.But then I see the top and I LOVE IT!! So now I’ve stopped laughing. :-)

Comment by Sharon — June 27, 2009 #
Anna, that top is simply gorgeous!! Wear it with pride! :)

Comment by Sarah — June 27, 2009 #
It’s very cute. You must have had one hip grandma

Comment by Alison — June 27, 2009 #
my mom has an endless hoop that i love to play with sometimes!

Comment by jaybird — June 28, 2009 #
The top is gorgeous and I just love the detail around the neck you clever thing!! If you’re worried that it’s a bit “granny-ish” why don’t you make a belt for the waist – you could use a cute vintage buckle – that would look really cute ;o)!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)

Comment by Joy — June 28, 2009 #
I’m even scared of a normal sewing machine so something like the endless hoop would terrify me!

I love the new top though and that scalloped edge is perfect!

Comment by Di — June 28, 2009 #
I don’t think that top is Grandma-y, you silly girl! If you’re comfy, that’s all that matters. The fabric is so pretty and I love the neckline! My Grandma attire is a faded t-shirt and sweatpants. Lovely, eh?
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!

Comment by Nan — June 28, 2009 #
What a pretty top…it looks like it will be just perfect for those really hot days. I think florals and pure cottons have been really back in fashion this season and I think your top would be all the rage…looks good from where I’m sitting :o)

Comment by Jane Weston — June 28, 2009 #
Wow! I’m impressed. I’ve never been a seamstress. To me, it’s so much more difficult than quilting. I love the top and I love grandma’s old dusters!

Comment by Jean — June 28, 2009 #
Your top is really nice, pretty fabric and I really like the neckline. It looks summery and cool and not a bit grannyish.

Comment by Rowan — June 28, 2009 #
Everything is going too quickly! The allotment is a disaster area with far too many weeds, my job finishes in about 4 weeks just when I’ve got to really love it, the children break up for holidays in 3 weeks and there’s just toooooooo much to do!

Love your new top though!

Lucy x

Comment by Lucy Locket-Pocket — June 28, 2009 #
I love, love, love that top!!!! The embroidery is PERFECT!

Comment by jessica — June 28, 2009 #
Thanks for your reply! I am too scared to use the sewing machine! Honest!! All my stitching is hand stitched……

I once tried to use my mum’s old machine once and it was sewing backwards – I told my mum it must be broken, she didn’t use it again for ages but when she did, she found out that it wasn’t broken….just in reverse.

Comment by Di — June 28, 2009 #
I know what you mean about Grandma’s housecoat. I see some cute things that look really comfortable and then I think, “Uh uh. Nope. Looks like the little old ladies running around in their ‘dusters’.” I guess I’m still too vain to be really comfortable!

Comment by Elaine/MuddlingThrough — June 28, 2009 #
I love the top. How lovely the neck trim turned out! It looks like summer to me!

Comment by meggie — June 28, 2009 #
Good job kickin’ those scary hoop monsters out and using your “new” hoop Anna! I love the details on the neckline. Very sweet.

Comment by Penny — June 28, 2009 #
You scared of something? I don’t believe it! I think it is very pretty. I have one of those hoops too, I need to get it out and play with it. And I also am having trouble believing it is almost July. OMG the time just flies when you are old. Holy Cow.

Comment by Jewels — June 28, 2009 #
The top is pretty but I did conjure an image of a moo-moo style house dress. The days are flying by so fast yet I feel like I am in slow-motion if that makes any sense. Just trying to enjoy summer.

Comment by Susan — June 28, 2009 #
Oh how I would love to get me hands on an embroidery machine. I think I could spend a lot of time goofing on it. Your top looks like a lovely little slice of summer.

Happy Day,
Cassie

Comment by Cassie — June 28, 2009 #
I found a cute little tee recently, nice and loose, good for trying to stay cool…except when I wear it, I have this sneaking suspicion it looks like a maternity top! Or a granny top, which, as Brigita points out, is completely within bounds. One small detail though—I don’t want to dress like a granny just yet—for one thing, I don’t have the required ample bosom, and neat little bun, though the colour is spot-on! Anyway, blathering on, I have been having the itch to sew some tops for myself—-Maybe I’ll be inspired by you! If I do, I’ll be sure to show them off!

Comment by molly — June 28, 2009 #
It’s a darling retro blouse, and it would only be considred a “grandma” shirt on someone who looks like grandma-ish, which you definitely do not in that shot.

Comment by Caroline — June 29, 2009 #
Anna, the top turned out nice! I’m glad you enjoyed your “new” tool. I have unfinished projects lying around that scare me, too. I hope you get more use out of it in the next five years!
Karen

Comment by Karen — June 29, 2009 #
Anna, it is totally lovely. The fabric reminds me of Liberty of London fabric. Wear it proudly. It is really well made and super cute.

Comment by nanette — June 29, 2009 #
I love it. It does not look like an old woman house coat. It is cute and summerie looking. I like it.

Comment by Rachel — June 29, 2009 #
Anna be bold and wear that shirt all the time (well apart from when you go to bed and it’s in the wash, that would be silly wouldn’t it!). It is lovely, you clever sausage!
Kimx

Comment by kim — June 29, 2009 #
Love the top! It is very cute and not at all grandma-ish, especially when worn with those jeans! Both my grandmas wore polyester aprons and I cannot ever imagine you in a polyester pinny :-)

Comment by jo — June 29, 2009 #
I just went to Expedia to try to book tickets to ThimbleannaLand…. and it wouldn’t process it?!?! Ghaaaa.

Wishing I was hangin’ out and sewing with you. And I love your Thimbleanna-ized 4th of July cupcakes. YOU KILL ME!

Comment by happy zombie — June 29, 2009 #
I like it…it looks good on you. But, if you really really don’t like it…you could just pass it on to me because I’m a grandma.

Comment by Judy — June 29, 2009 #
Last time I was looking at clothes with Isabelle, she told me that some of the dresses I like remind her of HER granny. And I’m supposedly a hip young twentysomething (or at least I am for the next two months).

Floral prints are definitely in. And I think the broderie anglaise ruffle is lovely. Also, I want your sewing machine if it can do that… although I might need you to go with it!

Comment by K — June 30, 2009 #
I want your lovely slim hips, personally.

Comment by Isabelle — June 30, 2009 #
very nice – I am impressed with your embroidery hoop – I think your top looks nice and definitely doesn’t look like a housecoat cut off!

Comment by Cathy — June 30, 2009 #
(Hmm.Couldn’t see the pictures or access your site the other day)
It’s very cute! Love the detailing and yes, totally retro – my mother used to make me tops like that when I was just a little bit of a thing. I think it would look really pretty with a flowing (white? purple?) peasant skirt and white sandals.

Comment by christina — July 1, 2009 #
Oh it’s lovely – I love the embroidery – how clever! I think I really really need a machine like that too!!

xxx

Comment by Lesley — July 1, 2009 #
How did I miss this post? Your top is very cute! I tried to machine embroider last night and FAILED miserbly! I’m so sad. I think I need to take lessons!

Comment by Jen — July 1, 2009 #
Looks like an airy, comfortable shirt, perfect for
hot summerdays! Well done!

Comment by May Kristin — July 1, 2009 #
Oh my gosh you embroidered that edge, wow, I am impressed. I could never do that. Beautiful shirt. You are sooo talented. Clarice

Comment by clarice — July 1, 2009 #
Holy details – that’s awesome! I do understand the Being Afraid of Complicated Machinery For No Good Reason thing though. I didn’t use the chopper attachment for my food processor until a week ago and I’ve had that thing for nearly half a decade.

Nice work :)

Comment by finnyknits — July 1, 2009 #
So pretty Anna! Not a grandma shirt at all …you look too cute!

Comment by Kellie — July 1, 2009 #
I think it’s adorable but then I’m a grandma. I have the same stitching on the edge of my handmade, vintage French linen chemise so you can think of it as more European than old-ladyish. Tres chic.

Comment by Vallen — July 2, 2009 #
I love your top….so cute. I love all the little accents “extras”. Maybe it is just me, but I would proudly wear that anywhere!

Comment by pamela — July 2, 2009 #
I’ve never tried sewing clothes except for hemming things here and there so any one who makes clothes is my hero! Cute shirt, but I see what you mean a bit.

Comment by JudyC — July 3, 2009 #
I think the top is cute. Love the collar, the floral pattern, the colors and the style. I don’t think it’s granny-ish.

Jody

Comment by Jody — July 7, 2009 #
It’s adorable! I love the trim. And I must say that I LOVE the shopping cart you made, too! You are talented, my friend. I wish you were my neighbor. :)

Comment by Rebecca — July 8, 2009 #
I think it’s too cute, too. Put some darts in it, and that’ll spice it up. :o)

You should make another one with a modern, Amy Butler-esque print. It would be great!

Comment by Annalea — July 20, 2009 #