Knitting Vlog #1 (Video)

January Stashbusting & Pattern 'N' Fabric Fast Round-Up

January is over and it is time to gather up the information of the past month and see how well I did!
If you've been following my blog for awhile you know I'm trying to sew through my stash of mostly gifted fabrics. My grandmother, grandma, and Mom gave me their stashes when I started sewing since they had all quit many years prior. So...it's a bit overwhelming.

This year's stashbusting goal is to sew through 100 yards of fabric!
All fabric purchases will be subtracted from the sewn amount so it's not just sewing 100 yards it's getting rid of 100 yards!

As another goal, I made a personal pledge for a pattern 'n' fabric fast. On November 12th 2016 with the follow sewists and stashbusters of Stashbusting Sew-A-Long as my witnesses I said:

• "✋🏼 "I, Jewel McClellan. A dedicated sewist and lover of fabric and patterns. From this moment on will buy no more patterns and/or fabric until 2017. 
• I will restrain from online window shopping and every time I get an urge to do so will sit in front of the fabric shelf or pile the baskets of patterns around myself to be overwhelmed until the said feeling passes."

After a successful month and (about) a half with great expectations I decided to extend it to June of 2017.

I'm confessing to you today...I have broke it. Not with fabric. No! But with a few patterns... I know...I know I said I wouldn't. :( 

I was in the car with (my sister) Tiffany, checking my email and there was a JoAnn's sale email...
I clicked to find when the patterns were going to be on sale. (Bad, bad choice Jewel!) 
Getting to her house I got on the computer and started browsing to see which ones I should get. Again...setting myself up for failure...

I only purchased a single pattern for myself. Simplicity 8248 a 1930s reproduction pattern. Since it came out I've been drooling over it and seeing so many different versions in my head! 
I've also been watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries an Australian show that's based in the 1920s (currently on USA Netflix) and love the fashion! 
From a production element, I love how they put Miss Fisher (the leading lady) in rich, true and bright colors as the rest of the cast are in browns and neutrals.

The deal breaker for me was finding this pin on Pinterest! How gorgeous is this dress?? The design elements of the pattern and dress are so very close! I'm pretty sure I can make it! 

I also wanted to get some patterns for TaMera. I know so much more about her personal style then before. Many of the patterns I've previously purchased for her she wouldn't wear. She may "like" them but that doesn't mean she'd like to "wear" them. Big difference. Finding your personal style could possible be the hardest thing about fashion. At least I think so!

Burda 6551

I chose this pattern because TaMera wears a lot of button-ups. (Not necessarily what I'd chose for her to wear but again this about HER style.)

Simplicity 8214

This is a cool little pattern! It's a jumpsuit and dress pattern that can be easily transformed into a coordinating outfit. With a jumpsuit pattern you don't have to worry about your shirt untucking and such.

Burda 6549

One of TaMera's favorite ready-to-wear (RTW) dresses is very similar to this style. I'll just have to raise the neckline for comfort's sake.

These three are for Tiffany and she chose them herself. Tiffany can still wear clothes that she wore 5-7 years ago. (Yes...don't we all wish we could say that!) She's just tried of her closet and for good reason too! She only buys three maybe four new garments a year so she has a reason to be. I hope to start bringing some more custom-made garments into her wardrobe these coming years.

My fabric stashbusting efforts on the other hand were much better. 

0 yards of fabric in and 8 yards out!

Items sewn:

2 Lissette Dress for Hannah (I'll be sharing all four in one blog post soon) - 6 yards
TaMera's Sweater for the Wardrobe Project - 2 yards 

I have a few un-finished projects I'm still working on so February's totals should be a little higher then January's! Here's to hoping anyway. ;)

-'- Jewel

TaMera's Wardrobe Builder / Month 1 / McCall's 6992

A couple of week ago I came across the Wardrobe Builder project and thought it would help me stay focused on getting TaMera some good pieces into her closet. Month one is coming to a close and I'm feeling good! ...basically because I finished the sweater. haha

The pattern is McCall's 6992 and both fabrics are from Grandmother's stash!

February is Shirts and Blouses...and I just...uhhh...broke my pattern fast with this great blouse pattern for TaMera! So you might be seeing next month! 

Fabric used on this project: 2 yards
Fabric used in 2017: 2 yards

2017 Wardrobe Builder

I've been trying to find something to help me keep sewing for my younger sister and I think I may have stumbled upon the perfect thing!

The #WardrobeBuilder

Which is a garment a month to get you (at least) 12 varying garments by next year.
January (for example) is a sweater, April; dresses and September; trousers! 

TaMera is in desperate need of some new clothes.
We actually tried to go shopping this weekend but everything she tried was met with "It just doesn't fit right." "See how it's gapping?"
Just one of the many examples of ready-to-wear clothes not welcoming unique shaped bodies. But sticking to what they think is "average".

So I'm going to try and do the Wardrobe Builder! Not for myself but for TaMera and I'm going to make her garments a priority. 

• She's going to be over my Seasonal Sew Wardrobe:Deep Stash 

Because if I'm being truthful...I sew for myself a LOT and have plenty of clothes to wear. So if I don't make the deadline for SSW:DS that's okay! 

• She's going above my stashbusting goals

As you know, I've been working on sewing only from the stash and am currently on a fabric and pattern buying fast. But if there's a fabric I need to make a certain garment for TaMera...I'm going to get it.


It's just time for me to get over my fear of FBAs, (Full Bust Adjustments) Sway-Back Adjustments,  slopping shoulders, full seat adjustments and the other "smaller in comparison" adjustments.
It's time for her to be comfortable and confident in the clothes she's wearing.
It's time she feels the way I feel when I step out of the house in an outfit I love, that fits and looks good on me!

2017 is the year of TaMera! It's time to get sewing!

TaMera's Christmas Dress

Merry Christmas! I am incredibly excited to share TaMera's Christmas dress with you!

The pattern is vintage mail-order pattern Sew-Rite 8238 that was originally our Grandma's. It has slight gathers where the front bodice and yoke join (I'd consider them more the shoulder straps but the pattern called it a yoke) and pleats above the waist seam for the bust shaping.

At TaMera's request I moved the zipper to center back instead of the side zipper. To cut it out without distorting the look and shape of the dress I simply cut the back bodice and back skirt as two pieces (rather than on the fold) and added 5/8 for the seam allowance at the center.

I love the ever so slight shaping at the neckline! Curved edges and sharp corners...this dress has it all!

This fabric has been in the stash for ages...I remember Mom making us dresses out of it when I has about 7 or 8. Yes over ten years ago! 

Because of the way I had to layout the skirt pieces to get the border print to match up there's only a strange shaped scrap left. At one point, I was worried if I'd even find an area big enough (after cutting the skirt) to get the bodice pieces out. ...Misreading the perforated dots and cutting the front bodice wrong didn't help either... 

Thankfully everything came out alright! *sigh of relief*

I'm also relieved that I chose to make a test dress prior to sewing the actual dress. Since I had already made the pattern for TaMera by making the test dress I had already figured out the few fitting tweaks that needed to be made and was more familiar with constructing it.

I really have no regrets with this dress! Which is amazing because I tend to over-obsess about the mistakes and little things in projects even when it's something only I'll probably notice.

 I'll be sharing my own Christmas outfit soon so keep watching... 

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a fabulous weekend!

-'- Jewel

See the dress in action in Episode 5 of Sewing Desk Sit-Down with Jewel HERE: 

• Pattern: Vintage Mail-Order Sew-Rite 8238 / Fabric: Stash / Fabric used on project: 3+ yards (not including test dress)
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What I'm sewing...

Wow...this is crazy!! I haven't blogged for ages...but hopefully that's going to change. Because I have have missed every aspect of it...taking the photos, editing the photos, writing the posts and the sense of accomplishment that comes from sewing and documenting my projects.

This summer has been one of the craziest and one of the weirdest summer's I've ever had in my life! 

I won't go into detail but instead talk to you about what's on the sewing queue...

I'm super excited about what in the plans to sew! 

Are you ready to hear it???

It's a Lucille Ball inspired 8 piece wardrobe for TaMera for the Seasonal Sew Wardrobe on the Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests group!!

TaMera and I have been saving a ton of photos of Lucille's fashion and style! 

(Yes, we are planning on recreating the outfit and photo on the left as well as quite a few others!)

The first item, I'm working on now, is a necessary one in TaMera's closet...well fitting pants. 

Pants are one of the hardest things to get a good fit on and I decided if we were going to do this...I needed to at least get her one good pair of pants. 

...Just in case I run out of time for the deadline of the Seasonal Sew Wardrobe. 

The whole reason behind this is to get TaMera a collection of well fitting and very "her" styled garments so I just thought I better start with the hardest and most needed item!

I could show you some of the photos we saved and screenshots from Pinterest...but I don't have a rock solid sewing "plan" just Lucille Ball inspired garments that fit TaMera to a T. (...did you see what I did there?? ;) )

I should have an item to share with you in the next couple of days!

-'- Jewel

Scott Has To Be Bluffing - Travel Vlog

We spent an awesome day up in the sandhills of Nebraska before heading on to Colorado for a cousin's wedding! Take a peek into our trip in this vlog!

- Jewel & TaMera

A Shirtdress for TaMera {Vintage Butterick 6071}

Finally sewed my dress for the Shirtdress Sew-Along hosted by McCall's Pattern Company! 

The pattern is a vintage Butterick pattern from my Grandma.

The pattern envelope front was in tatters and the instructions were missing so...I'm guessing she made it sometime in her life. Which made it special.

So how did I get along without the instructions?

Not terribly! A bit to my surprise! :)

I believe the pattern was released in the late 50s and having a McCall's button-up blouse pattern (from 1964) which greatly resembles the bodice of the dress. I used it as a "guideline" for the bodice construction...which worked surprisingly well!

I created what I'm calling a "faux yoke" to fix a waistline issue that I didn't notice until the end of the construction process.
The waistline (not so) gradually got lower in the back!

I think it was the result of (at least) two things...
1. The "shoulder" seam didn't go as far forward to the front as I initially thought.
2. TaMera's sway back.

I'm enrolled in Custom Fitting: Back, Neck & Shoulders by Kathleen Cheetham on Craftsy but haven't started it yet. (I'm working my way through Custom Fitting: Waist & Hips first.)
But Kathleen addresses how to adjust for sway backs in the class and it's a issue I'm excited to tackle!

To make the "faux yoke" I pinched the back up (while she was wearing it) and pinned the "yoke" where I wanted it to be. Then topstitched the "yoke" in place.
With it being a shirtdress, I think you only notice that it's not a true yoke if you really look at it and put two and two together. Basically, oblivious to the untrained eye.

Fabric: Thrifted / Pattern: Inherited from Grandma / Buttons: Gifted from Grandmother's stash / Belt Buckle: Antique Store Find

Considering the bumps in the road, I think it came together quite well and stands with the pattern boasting of an "Easy Make". 

It's also another piece for TaMera's Summer Wardrobe I'm sewing for her! "Sew" I'm happy! ;)

-'- Jewel

How To Knit A Headband {Video Tutorial}

Excited to share a new knitting video with you all!!

-:- TaMera

Basic Knitting Round 2 - How to Knit the Knit Stitch & How to Knit the Purl Stitch

Gluten Free Deliciousness + Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe!

I know what this looks like; Jewberly Emiris is jumping on the gluten free fad-wagon late. But it's not that, honest! About 2 years ago our sister Tiffany was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity and it really opened our eyes to the issues gluten causes if your body doesn't quite agree with it. 

 It's been suggested that eliminating harmful gluten (wheat, barley & rye) from our diets could help improve our overall health. As a result, Jewel & I (Kimberly) have been eating gluten free because of some of our health issues.

When we made the change, we knew we didn't want to do it with boxed this and pre-packaged that. Instead I've been substituting organic coconut flour or almond flour in some recipes, introducing quinoa as a new grain, and trying to make everything (from scratch) from minimally or unprocessed all-natural, healthy ingredients as much as possible.

With all being said, we've decided to start a gluten free recipe section on our blog! These are actual recipes (normally containing gluten) that I have personally prepared BUT made adjustments to so they are free of the harmful gluten.

First off... Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake with a Gluten Free Double Chocolate Cookie Crust!

I adapted this recipe from this Salted Double-Chocolate Olive Oil Cookie recipe and this Fudge Brownie No-Bake Cheesecake recipe.

For the crust:

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup cacao powder (or you can use Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Powder)

1/3 cup packed almond flour

1/3 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup red palm & coconut shortening (I used Nutiva brand, it's organic, vegan and Non-GMO plus it tastes great!)

2 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark)

1 egg

1 tablespoon pure, good quality vanilla extract

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips + 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (or whatever combination you prefer)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix together cocoas, flours - set aside. Cream together sugars, butter and shortening. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients in parts, mixing continually. Mix in chocolate chips. 

Press into the bottom of a greased springform pan (batter will be somewhat sticky, using a silicone spatula to spread may be the easiest.) You will have a little cookie batter left over - that's totally fine! Make them into cookies and bake for 3 minutes, then rotate the pan 180 degrees and bake another 3 minutes. 

Bake the crust for 12 minutes - it seems short but don't over bake the crust! It will firm up as it cools. (I actually put mine in the freezer for a few minutes when it wasn't quite cool.) 

While the crust is baking/cooling... for the filling:

12 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 1/2 8 oz. packages

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups real whipped cream (1 cup of heavy whipping cream makes 2 cups whipped cream)

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and butter in large bowl on medium speed until smooth and creamy. (I actually just used a spatula but a mixer would be must easier and quicker).

In a small bowl add chocolate chips and heat in microwave for 30 second intervals. Stirring in between until chocolate is completely smooth and melted. Set aside to cool. Slowly add in cooled, melted chocolate chips, stirring until well blended. Fold in whipped cream until blended.

Spread on top of cooled brownies. Place in the refrigerator until firm, 60-90 minutes.

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Final note: Jewberly Emiris is not sponsored by nor compensated in any way 
by any of the products mentioned.

Our YouTube Journey: Basic Knitting Series

In our "Basic Knitting" series TaMera teaches you the fundamentals of knitting. 

When you can't quite get a technique come and see if we have a short, high quality and easy to understand video pertaining to that technique. 

Just another way to help you succeed with your knitting.

Here's our first two videos:

Video 1: How To Cast On - Featuring An Arthritis Friendly Version

Video 2: How To Cast Off (Bind Off)

Our YouTube Journey: The Bar Will NOT Be Lowered

Our first official video on YouTube was TaMera's "How To Knit A Dishcloth" video and without realizing it we had set the bar for what we wanted our videos to be. 

What I mean by that is:

• The Quality

The lighting was pretty natural and consistent throughout the entire video.

The camera focused on what TaMera's hands were doing so you could see exactly what was going on. 

Her hands rarely went out of the screen.

• Easy to Understand

TaMera spoke clearly and explained exactly what her hands were doing.

• Editing

The editing was smooth and well done for our first ever how-to video.

This is not a pat on the back, but a explanation of why after hours and hours of work and two uploads we trashed a three part knitting video.

You may have noticed that last week we posted part one in "How To Knit A Flat Hat" and yesterday for a brief time part two was up on YouTube as well. 

While part two was uploading to our channel, TaMera and I talked about how they didn't reach the bar that we wanted and felt like they were our first knitting videos rather than our second and third. They didn't feel thought out, the background was distracting, the audio was bad and overall it was not what we wanted. 

Together we decided to ditch them and start anew on a different video. Neither of us have any remorse for our decision but we are disappointed in ourselves for not noticing it sooner so we could have been using our time on a project we were happy with.

In a platform of so many different voices we want to keep ours consistent, well done and something we can be proud of.

With that in mind we are heading into this new video with a new sense of purpose!

We are amazed that "How To Knit A Dishcloth" is at over 4,000 views and thankful for your lovely comments on it as well! They are an encouragement to us and we are challenged to keep making high-quality videos because of them!

-'- Happy Knitting,

Jewel & TaMera

With The Leaves I'll Fall {Simplicity 2249}

Here is TaMera's blouse; it was finished in time for the fall festival she was volunteering at!

Let's talk about the seams... which are french seams and I have fallen in love with them! I wish I had known about the sooner! But, like my Mom mentioned "You are still learning and you can't learn everything at once." ...That's true. Very true!

Anyway, they are amazing! I love how clean the inside of the tunic looks. The only seam that isn't a french seam is the zipper seam...because can you even do a french zipper seam? I don't know...lol

If you want to try french seams (which you should because they are incredible!) cotton is a great fabric to start on! It's forgiving and doesn't do a lot of moving around. 

...maybe I'll try doing a tutorial on them... hmmm, something to think about... :)

The pattern is Simplicity 2249 that Grandmother gave us. The tunic is version D with version A length sleeves.

The fabric was left over from about 14 years ago and there was just enough for the tunic!

From the stash:

-Fabric

-Zipper

-Thread

-Bias Binding (For neckline and sleeves)

I couldn't help but share all of these adorable pictures from the shoot! :)

-'- Jewel

Fabric busted on this project: 2 3/8 yards (2.1717 m)

Fabric busted since March 1st, 2015: 60 yards. (54.864 m)

See Jewel's pledge and get more information on the 2015 Stashbusting Sewalong HERE

We would love to hear from you! Say a quick "hello" in the comments!

An Announcement Plus Our Labor Day Sale Finds!!

Facing my Fears with Chevron Shorts! {McCall's M7165}

The theme for August in the Stashbust-ing group was "Face Your Fears!" 

One of my fears is pattern matching. 

Because I was supposed to be "Facing My Fears" it was time for TaMera's chevron shorts to finally be made!

Pattern matching didn't turn out to be as bad as I thought. It does take some extra time and planning but all in all it's not terrible. 

I think that was the point of the this theme because I'm not afraid of pattern matching anymore! 

The front goes into the side fronts almost seamlessly.

The waistband didn't end up matching but I worked really hard on getting the center seams and crotch to match. I feel like that makes up for the waistband. haha

This was also my first time sewing shorts (or pants) and I think they turned out okay. I'll have another run at them (pants or shorts) in September during a sew-along I'm joining in on! 

The Stashbusting overview for August comes tomorrow and you are not going to want to miss it!

Talk to you then!

-'- Jewel

From the stash:

- 2 yards Chevron Printed Duck

- Thread

- 7 in. Zipper

- Interfacing

Fabric busted on this project: 2 yards (1.8288 m)

Fabric busted since March 1st, 2015: 49 5/8 yards. (45.3771 m)

See Jewel's pledge and get more information on the 2015 Stashbusting Sewalong HERE

We would love to hear from you! Say a quick "hello" in the comments!

Mom & Her Tomatoes {Simplicity 1106}

This blouse was a quick sew! Sewed it up in one afternoon! It's also the first thing I've made for Mom.

Mom and TaMera thought that Tomatoes from our garden would be a good prop and I have to agree!

Simplicity 1106 is relatively easy and has a nice feature of a cut out in the mid back.
The only problem I have with the pattern is since it's quite square the shirt comes out pretty big. It might be best to size down.

From the stash:

- 1 yard Blue Floral Cotton Fabric

- 1 yard Cream Cotton Fabric

- Interfacing

- Thread

I'll be sharing Kimberly's Thrifted Mid-Century Sheet Skirt on Saturday!

Talk to you then,

-'- Jewel

Photography: TaMera

Fabric busted on this project: 2 yards (1.8288 m)

Fabric busted since March 1st, 2015: 37 3/4 yards. (34.5186 m)

See Jewel's pledge and get more information on the 2015 Stashbusting Sewalong HERE

We would love to hear from you! Say a quick "hello" in the comments before you go!

Step Aside Strawberry Shortcake... {Simplicity 1459}

...A new redhead is in town!

I think this dress is adorbs! (Adorable) Or as Strawberry Shortcakes says "Berry Cute!!"

I told Jewel last Thursday night that I would like a Strawberry Shortcake dress for Sunday.
She says that I "have never heard of Monday" because I like telling her on Thursday's that I want a new dress to wear on Sunday to church! haha

I collect Strawberry Shortcake.
I know that may seem weird...since Strawberry Shortcake has red hair I have always loved her!

This fabric had been sitting in my Strawberry Shortcake stuff and it was just time for me to get a dress out of it!
There wasn't enough for an entire dress. I was five when we bought the fabric and I've grown since then.
At Walmart, we found green and white striped fabric and it matches Strawberry Shortcake's iconic tights! What a 'berry' perfect match!

Okay! Let's talk about my hair!!

My hair is naturally very straight. I love putting it up into curlers and getting some curls into it!

Usually, my Mom puts it up for me but I finally figured out how to do it myself! (It takes some practice) Now I can do it whenever I want!

Sunday, when we took the pictures was the first time "going out" having my hair curled completely by myself! 

A friend of mine gave me this necklace! Such a sweet and thoughtful gift!

Have a berry good day!

- TaMera

From the stash:

- 2 7/8 yards; Strawberry Shortcake Fabric

- 4 Red Buttons

- Zipper

- 2 yards; White Cotton for lining

From the store:

- 4 1/2 yards; Green and White Striped Fabric

Fabric busted on this project: 4 7/8 yards (4.4577 m)

Fabric busted since March 1st, 2015: 34 1/8 yards. (31.2039 m)

See Jewel's pledge and get more information on the 2015 Stashbusting Sewalong HERE