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Happy Thursday Lovelies!

So every so often, I like to join blog tours with fun sewing themes, so when Roxanne of Sew 20 ‘s call went out for the Real Life, Real Sewing Blog Tour, I quickly signed up! Real life, Real sewing is all about sewing in the real world and taking our readers on a small sneak peek behind the scenes of what that really is, by simply answering a few questions. So welcome to my stop on the Real Life, Real Sewing Blog Tour!

Question #1:  What do you look for when choosing a sewing project? 

I want to say 90% of my sewing the past year has been PDF pattern testing. I tend to be picky about my testing and try to choose patterns that have a fun feature I’ve never sewn before (like a different style of pockets or collars) , or one that will teach me a new sewing technique.

Here are some examples:

a. I picked my latest pattern test:  the Happy Pants (available soon) from Peach Patterns because I wanted to learn how to do these adorable pockets!

Had a little sewing therapy…it went well… #sneakpeek #sewingmendsthesoul #isew #therapy

A photo posted by candice ayala + (@candiceayala) on

 

 b. I learned how to do a faux fly sewing up the Adventurer Pants from Rabbit Rabbit Creations:    

 


c. And learned how to create perfect pin tucks from the Sweet Lily Pintuck Dress and Tunic by Bella Sunshine Designs.  

 

  Pin tuckin’ #sewingblogger #sewingforgirls #isew   A photo posted by candice ayala + (@candiceayala) on

 

d. Of all the different type of closures, my preferred type of closures are invisible zippers (crazy, I know) , but when I tested the Magrath Dress by Sew Much Ado, I was forced to learn how to install a regular exposed zipper, it threw my OCD for a loop, but I got it! And I enjoyed the sew so much more for that.

 

 

e. I learned how to Understitch and how to make a Blind Hem testing the Rebel Girl Party Dress by Bella Sunshine Designs.   

 

Question #2:  Is there anything you would like to (or wish you could) do differently when selecting projects?

Most often, I am able to pick a project knowing exactly what fabric and/or trim I will use and I can find them with quickness and ease. But there are times when I’m not 100% decided on a fabric and I spend a good amount of time (too much time really) trying to match and mix fabrics with a pattern. I will spend hours obsessing over the perfect combination, when that happens my area ends up looking like this:

 

I really wish I could complete my projects without making such a big mess, especially since I’m still sharing my sewing corner with the dining room. lol

 

Question #3: What is your most used/worn sewing project? 

Funny! While 98% of my sews have been for my daughter and she does wears her momma made clothes often, this one goes goes to my son. haha The first wearable garment I made him was a knit t-shirt drafted from one of his old shirts last year. He has literally worn that t-shirt every day (as a pajama top) since then. He says he loves how soft it feels. My husband and I have to constantly remind him to put it in the wash. I looked over just now to see what he’s wearing and lo and behold, there it is! Literally just took this picture as I’m writing my post. lol

fadedshirt

Look how faded and worn it is. It really is the best compliment. 🙂

fadedshirt1

 

Question #4: Do you have a project that you thought would be used/or worn frequently but it did not work out? 

Yes, and it just so happens to be another project for Adrian. He loves a good hoodie, so I thought he’d practically live in Semper Sweater from Sofilantjes I made him a couple months ago. But NOPE! and it wasn’t that he didn’t want to wear it, it was because by the next week he had completely grown out of it! And it’s not because it shrank it the wash, I had pre-washed the fabric before sewing and it didn’t even see the wash again before he tried to wear it the next week; he’s just been growing like a weed!

Question #5:  What is your favorite tip or quote that applies to real life? 

My most favorite quote is one that I think is true personally for both sewing and real life:

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This is true for me because sewing has been my escape and happy place. Sewing allows me to relax and recharge and come back to my “REAL LIFE” responsibilities in a better state of mind. I feel so strong about this, I wrote an entire blog post about it a while ago, you can read it HERE.

And that’s it for my stop on the blog tour you guys! Thank you for you stopping by, and if you have any examples of Real Life, Real Sewing to show off, you can play along by using the #realliferealsewing on social media. You can also win one of two $25 gift cards. More details at Sew 20.

Be sure to visit the other participants on this tour!

6/20 | Sew 20 Tour Kick-off | The Wholesome Mama | Wild & Wanderful | Randoms by Rydz

6/21 | Daydream Believers | Sugarplum Cuties | Friends Stitched Together | The Inspired Wren | PenSeb&Rox

6/22 | Sewstarly | Very Blissful | House of Estrela | The Berry Bunch | Musings of a Seamstress

6/23 | mahlicadesigns | sewingbyti | Candice Ayala | Call Ajaire | Sunflower Seams

6/24 | Beri Bee Designs | Lulu & Celeste | FABulous Home Sewn | Mae & K | Sew 20 Social Media Round-up

6/25 | Sew 20 Tour Wrap-up

8 thoughts on “Real Life, Real Sewing Blog Tour

  1. Since my sewing area is in a shared space (supposed to be the dining room but it is the sewing/office/playroom/art gallery) I don’t have a lot of storage and tend to store things I “know” I won’t need for awhile elsewhere in the house. It never fails, at least once a month I’m rummaging all around the house searching for the perfect fabric/trim/whatever that I moved out of the sewing area because I though “Who needs fleece in July?” but now I need fleece in July. 😉

  2. Except for the part about having a son, I can totally identify with your answers lol the 90% knowing the exact fabric and 10% destructo-mode search! Yup , that’s me!

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