Sunday, December 3, 2017

Instagram December 03, 2017 at 08:26PM


@craftdayshop: Four out of five kids wore ponchos to get our Christmas trees this afternoon! (Only two of these are mine, FYI!) Max is also wearing me-made 👖 #parsleypants & 👕 #JollyRogerRaglan 😊 🌲 🎄 I can still fit in two more ponchos for pre-Christmas delivery! Message me for details!! . . . #MerMade #CraftDay #Maker #MakerMer #handmade #sewist #sew #poncho #carponcho #RidingHoodPoncho #RidingHood #carseatsafety #fleeceponcho #babywearing #stitchuponatime #suat @stitch_upon_a_time @madebyrae @patternsforpirates

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Instagram November 23, 2017 at 03:55PM


@craftdayshop: The grandmas with their grandkids ready for Thanksgiving in their #MerMade #p4p raglan tops, #handmadewithjoann! Plus the wonderful 🐙 @sewbigfabrics which is now truly and completely used up 😭 . . . @joann_stores #CraftDay #Maker #MakerMer #handmade #sewist #sew @patternsforpirates #pirate #patternsforpirates

Friday, November 10, 2017

Instagram November 10, 2017 at 01:01PM


@craftdayshop: Last of the awesome octopus fabric! 🐙 Next two pairs of Max's @stitch_upon_a_time #scrundies will be size 3Y (these are 2Y) made with @joann_stores Doodles sloths . . . #MerMade #sewist #sew #handmade #boxerwear #suat

Instagram November 10, 2017 at 12:19PM


@craftdayshop: New @stitch_upon_a_time car seat ponchos in the works for my two growing kiddos! Do you have a kid who needs a safe, warm car seat solution that doesn't interfere with buckles like a puffy coat does? I'll make you one for $35 if you provide the fleece ($45 if I do)! . . . #sewist #sew #homemade #MerMade #carseatsafety #suat #ridinghoodponcho

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Instagram November 05, 2017 at 05:06PM


@craftdayshop: First actual article of clothing to be hemmed with the coverstitch! (We had reasons for using black thread on blue, but you can't even tell on the front!) This delicate hacci sweater knit was no problem. I'm in love! #sewist #sew #handmade #MerMade #maker #MakerMer

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Instagram November 01, 2017 at 09:57PM


@craftdayshop: I DID IT!! I read the directions and threaded my coverstitch AND IT WORKED! On the FIRST TRY!! (The first try after over 30 minutes squinting at diagrams and reading and re-reading instructions BUT STILL) I AM SERIOUSLY EXCITED #sewist #MerMade #sew

Monday, October 30, 2017

Instagram October 30, 2017 at 11:33PM


@craftdayshop: My first attempt at tiny boxer briefs! 2T @stitch_upon_a_time Boxerwear for my favorite little dude who spent his first day in undies today. #handmade #MerMade #sewist

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Instagram October 26, 2017 at 08:07PM


@craftdayshop: My two cuties had a great time trick-or-treat-ing as Poppy and Branch! I'm pretty pleased with how the costumes came out, especially the ears, which will make great fleece headbands all winter!

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Instagram October 10, 2017 at 09:12PM


@craftdayshop: Hello, gorgeous! Join me and test drive this lovely Singer Professional 5 coverstitch & serger at my sewing retreat! #linkinbio #coverstitch #serger #sew #sewist #handmade #sewallthethings http://ift.tt/2yeBof9

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Instagram October 01, 2017 at 02:10PM


@craftdayshop: Savoring this for a few more minutes before I go finish sewing him a @stitch_upon_a_time cozy, sweatshirt #MusePlaysuit romper! #sew #sewforboys #handmade

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Craft Retreat Registration! And coordinating Halloween costumes for the kiddos!

If you live within driving distance of Gettysburg, PA, don't forget to register for the Sewing Retreat weekend, November 3rd thru 5th! Info and registration here, or email retreat [at] craft-day [dot] com.

SO! After lots of changing her mind (typical 5yo), for Halloween this year, PJ has suggested she be Poppy, and her 2yo little brother Max be Branch, from the movie Trolls. Here's my inspiration:
I have a plan to sew everything myself, using all fleece and a couple of my favorite PDF patterns, plus a bit of improvisation:

For Poppy, a tunic-length Jolly Roger Raglan with pink fleece for the arms and blue fleece for the body & neck band, plus some decorations around the hem; over pink fleece Bonny Leggings. I'll use a darker pink fleece to make a hair headband for Poppy with lighter pink ears plus green and blue scraps from the Branch costume, and since PJ has long hair, I think we can use some foam and pink hairspray to give her troll hair. Pink face paint on her nose and eyebrows, and voila!

For Branch, I plan to use the Muse Playsuit pattern, which goes up to 4T, and piece together the different areas of Branch's outfit: teal fleece for the arms and lower legs; leafy green fleece for the upper body; and brown with green patches for the upper legs and lower body. For the snap band, I'll use teal, and I will also add a teal hood, which I've done before on the Muse. I think I'll attach the ears to the hood, but haven't decided yet whether to add fleece hair to the hood as well, or make a separate hair piece that can velcro to the hood. Blue face paint on Max's nose and eyebrows, and there we have it!

I was going to use the same Muse Playsuit pattern to make a wolf suit for Max and have him be Max from Where The Wild Things Are, and the rest of us would be Wild Things, but that is too context-specific to work when the kids are apart at Kindergarten and daycare. So when PJ suggested the trolls, I was all for it!

What do you think? Have you crafted your own Halloween costumes? Share your favorites!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Instagram September 14, 2017 at 09:04PM


@craftdayshop: My favorite little guy sporting his new Mommy-made jeans this morning! #sewist #sewforkids #handmade #parsleypants @madebyrae

Monday, September 11, 2017

Instagram September 11, 2017 at 11:32PM


@craftdayshop: Stayed up too late to finish a new pair of jeans for #MightyMax! Made from an old pair of Daddy's jeans, with the back pockets as kneepads! #parsleypants #madebyrae #handmade #sewforkids #MerMade #craftday #sewist

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Sewing Retreat!

Help me collect info to run a sewing retreat! Tentatively scheduled for Friday evening thru Sunday afternoon, November 3 - 5.

Fill out the form above or click here to get email updates!

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Instagram March 21, 2017 at 02:18AM


@craftdayshop: I sewed this practice pocket before I make THREE on Max's planned Easter vest, which will match PJ's dress. I bought a McCall's pattern for the vest, but instead of fake pockets, I'm using these: http://ift.tt/2nEqhbs I'm going to do this style for the chest pocket as well. The real deal will use much cooler fabric, with matching thread! Swipe left for a video of my handsome boy rocking a store-bought vest...I LOVE this look!

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Instagram February 27, 2017 at 01:42AM


@craftdayshop: Used this soft, old t-shirt from my mom to make a cover for a small pillow for my daughter to use at pre-k nap time! Turned out pretty good for just zipping it together on the fly! #MerMade #CraftDay #sew #handmade #improvise

Friday, February 17, 2017

Instagram February 18, 2017 at 02:24AM


@craftdayshop: Second pair of @patternsforpirates #peglegs leggings, this time with double brushed poly! #LuLaWho #actuallyiowntonsoflularoe

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Instagram February 16, 2017 at 12:27AM


@craftdayshop: PJ snipped a hole in these cute sparkly terry stretch pants while cutting out a picture at PreK today, and it looked ugly once I stitched it closed, so I added a heart patch from a fleece poncho scrap!

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Instagram February 13, 2017 at 03:51AM


@craftdayshop: My serger is up and running, and I'm super excited about it! I can sew knit fabric like a boss! @nicole_emmabombfabrics @patternsforpirates #peglegs #p4p #cottonlycra #frenchterry

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Instagram January 24, 2017 at 11:50PM


@craftdayshop: Photo shoot with two handsome dudes in their matching ponchos. Went about as well as you could expect for two busy one-year-olds. #blurry #MerMade #CraftDay #poncho #RidingHoodPoncho #RidingHood #carponcho #carseatsafety #fleeceponcho #stitchuponatime #suat #sew #handmade

Instagram January 24, 2017 at 11:48PM


@craftdayshop: Photo shoot with this handsome dude and his neighbor in their matching ponchos. Went about as well as you could expect for two busy one-year-olds. #blurry #MerMade #CraftDay #poncho #RidingHoodPoncho #RidingHood #carponcho #carseatsafety #fleeceponcho #stitchuponatime #suat #sew #handmade

Friday, January 20, 2017

Instagram January 20, 2017 at 07:43PM


@craftdayshop: To test my ig-to-fb link, I'm posting this selfie in the #pussyhat I sewed from pink fleece scraps for the #womensmarchonwashington tomorrow! #wmw #whyimarch

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Instagram January 20, 2017 at 04:43AM


@craftdayshop: Finished! One of my goals for this year is to start selling stuff I make, so I'm already feeling #happier2017 having finished my first sale. Can't wait to deliver and see another cutie in a #MerMade #poncho! . . . #CraftDay #RidingHoodPoncho #RidingHood #carponcho #carseatsafety #fleeceponcho #stitchuponatime #suat #sew #handmade

Instagram January 20, 2017 at 03:06AM


@craftdayshop: Sewing my first paid order for a poncho! I developed my chops making 8 as Christmas gifts for family friends, so this is poncho # 9!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Ponchos are great for boys too!

Ponchos are great for boys too! I've made a few in shades of grey like this one, plus a Star Wars one for a 6yo boy! #poncho #RidingHoodPoncho #RidingHood #carponcho #carseatsafety #fleeceponcho #stitchuponatime #suat #sew #handmade

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Craft Day is back!

I'm back! And I have a great new item for you: Fleece Ponchos are cute and fun for kids to wear, and best of all, they solve the problem of unsafe poofy coats in car seats: they'll keep your kids cozy in the car, while the seat belt buckles safely underneath the poncho!

I've also added a new way to connect with me: Instagram @craftdayshop


You can also find me at www.facebook.com/craftdayshop, and of course, right here. I hope to offer more sewn items as the year goes on, so stay tuned!