Swoon Dorothy Sewalong Day 1: Print, Cut, Stabilize

Welcome to the Swoon Dorothy Sewalong! I am so glad you are here!

Let's get started.

You can find the pattern here (affiliate link): Dorothy Day Tripper

Materials:

1 yard exterior fabric, quilting or home decor weight
1.5 yard interior fabric, quilting weight
2 packages of pre-made piping
3 yards Pellon Craft-fuse 808 or mid-weight fusible interfacing of choice
1 yard fusible fleece (Pellon Thermolam)
1/2 yd light-med interfacing (you can use Craft-fuse)
24″ all-purpose zipper (22" zipper will work as well)
2 9" zippers
Coordinating thread

We will be making a few changes to the pattern.  I am changing the handle style (it will still be shoulder bag length) so that we can install a zipper pocket on the exterior.

If you do not want to make those changes, then you will only need 1 9" zipper for the interior pocket. 

Cut out all your fabric and stabilizer according to the pattern pieces but  

DO NOT CUT THE HANDLES!

E-beth Designs: Lorelei Dress

I just keep getting lucky!  

I was selected to test the beautiful E-beth Designs Lorelei Dress.

This sweet circle yoke dress also has a tulle petticoat, fitted bodice with easy to install zipper instructions.  It took me about 5 hours to complete.  That sounds like a long time.  The petticoat adds a little bit of extra time but well worth it!

Just look at her face.  You can tell she loves it.

Anytime she sees it in her closet; she asks to wear her Lorelei.

Bad Gone Good: Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have very few rules in life.  Two rules, actually.

1.  Ask forgiveness, not permission.

2.  Eat big cookies.

The first rule is common sense.

I don't play around with cookie eating.  It's serious business.

If I'm going blow calories on a cookie; I want it to be a damn good cookie.

Which brings me to my second rule in life.  Part of identifying a cookie as "damn good" includes the size.  Anything smaller than 2.5" diameter is chump work.  Small cookies are for children or those with sand in their panties.

A while back, I stumbled upon this recipe:  Flourless chocolate chip cookie.

Sounded pretty good to me, so I tried it out.  I was very impressed.  I, however, was NOT impressed with the quantity of cookies.  The recipe as is makes about 6 cookies.  

REALLY? Are you trying to piss me off?  Because you did a good job.

I've taken the liberty of QUADRUPLING the recipe for you. You're welcome!

My Little Plumcake High Waisted Skirt

POCKETS! We like pockets.  

And the My Little Plumcake  Chloe is a high waisted pleated skirt with pockets!

This is my favorite skirt pattern.  J'adore the pleats!

If you've never done pleats, don't be scared. The instructions provide easy to follow

directions for making perfect pleats.

The skirt sits high on the waist and has optional shoulder straps.

The waist band has a side clasp; I used an adjustable one for the skirt to grow with her.

The skirt is fully lined, providing a nice 'poof' for twirling.

The 50 Shades of Lola

 The ladies of That's What She Crafted invited me to be apart of a Who Wore It Better: Victory Lola.
This blog post is also on their website, but I find it funny enough to have on my blog as well.


What's up?  I'm Brianne from Ali Cat & Co.  All of the ladies at TWSC are dear, dear friends of mine.

They must feel the same way, because at 2:30pm yesterday, they asked me to do a guest post today on my Victory Lola.  They said they were in a pinch and needed some help.

I totally called BS on them.  I think the real reason is because no one wanted to post the day after Crystal's hilarious Lola blog.

But I'm not one to back down.

Introducing The 50 Shades of Lola.

Lola is a Douche Bag

Ass, grass, or cash. No free rides.

Swoon India Hobo Bag

*Contains an affiliate link

Introducing Swoon's March pattern:  India Hobo

The Deets:

• Two sizes: large and small
• Reversible
• Each side has a slip  pocket and zipper pocket
• Long strap
• Time: 3 hours cut to last stitch
• Difficulty:  advanced beginner
 

Materials needed:

• 1 yard exterior fabric
• 1 yard interior fabric
• 2 7" all purpose zippers
• 4 yards mid weight fusible interfacing

What's in my Crap Room Volume 1

Ali Cat loves horses.  For her first riding lesson, she refused to wear pants.  No surprise there, it's "tutus" or death for that little girl. 

I took her to the fabric store to pick out denim and I was going to make her a pair of horse riding pants.  No actually riders pants, just loose fitting pants so the saddle doesn't irritate her.

I still had not made the pants by her second lesson.  I know she wouldn't wear them.

Which leaves me with the problem-what to do with this fabric?

It's a stretch denim and it will be hot this summer.

I have about a yard and half, separated at 3/4 yards.

 

Like I said; she will only wear dresses or skirts (skorts are ok).

Here are the rules, I can only use stuff I have in  my crap room.

I have thread, elastic thread, zippers, elastic and all normal notions and sewing accessories.

I don't have much ribbon,

 

Have an idea for a pattern to use with this fabric?

For the kid, for myself, or for a bag?

 Leave a comment and tell me what I should do with the crap in my room!

 

Diedlebug Handmade: Restful Reader

Remember the Tiny Artist Coloring Book by Diedelbug Handmade?

Well, she has come out with a second pattern that is just as fast, practical, and cute.

Diedelbug Handmade Restful Reader

(Giveaway below!)

This came at the perfect time for me.  Little Cookie Dough was waking up at the ungodly hour of 4am.  I made the restful reader one evening and the next morning-very early morning, I snapped it on her new big girl bed.

Sewaholic Thurlow Trousers: Muslin

I bought Sewaholic Thurlow Trouser pattern in June/July last year.  I immediately cut out a muslin-which has been sitting on my cutting table since.  OI!

Part of me was scared because pants seem intimidating and the other half was always distracted by other sewing projects.  A friend of mine *cough Autumn* hounds me daily to get those biatches sewn up.  Last night, I finished a dress for Ali and decided to start on the muslin.
I thought it would take me a few days, but gosh darn, these sewed up SO fast!

I need two alterations:
1.  The waist band is a bit tight-let that out 1/2" or so
2.  Extend the back crotch to remove the wedgie

My measurements compared to the pattern chart would be size 2-6-0.
Based on other reviews of the shorts, I cut a straight 0.  The shorts hit right at your belly button, so base your size on that. Now, if you have thick thighs or a large boo-tay, you will need to do a full adjustment in that area.
I LOVE Lladybird and she did a Thurlow sewalong.  She has a long list of great alternation links to help with all of your problems.
Here is her muslin party link with all the alternation websites.

Bad Gone Good: Rice Krispie Treats

Before I got pregnant with Ali, I was a vegetarian.   But during that entire pregnancy; all I wanted was meat.  More specifically bacon cheese burgers, sausage, and beef ribs.  

All with LOTS of BBQ sauce.

Madeleine was a different story.  I turned into a carbivore. My two favorite things were Ben & Jerry's Red Velvet Cake ice cream and rice krispie treats.  I'm not a huge fan of marshmallows and after the 5th batch of treats; I began to feel really guilty about my poor eating habits.  Thus, the creation of my

healthy version of the treat.

This recipe is fast and furious.

It takes less than 5 minutes to make.

1 cup honey peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

splash of vanilla extract

3 cups rice krispie cereal

A splash of vanilla definitely makes these better but isn't 100% necessary.

I didn't have rice krispie cereal in the pantry this morning and didn't want to go buy any.

But I did have a box of *almost* stale Cheerios. Score!

Ali Cat Co Oscar Selfies

The Oscars have come and gone.  If you watched, or even if you didn't, I'm sure you are aware that this year was the Year of the Oscar Selfies. Everyone was doing it and we want YOU to be able to take the best selfie possible.

Below are tips and tricks to optimizing your chance of getting the best selfie. THEN, I want you to put those skills into action.  Take the best selfie you can and put it on Instagram with #alicatco

TIPS FOR THE BEST SELFIE PHOTO