I’m away on holiday at the moment. Having a lovely time but missing my sewing machine. It’s a strong urge that has me in it’s grip of late. The result of which has been my falling in love with a whole new pile of crafty blogs and finding lots of inspiration. So the frenzy could last for quite some time yet if the motivation remains. Must update my blog roll with all my new finds.
More applique…Miffy and a Cat January 15, 2008
I’m really getting into this applique business. Miffy is a bit dodgy when I drew her I made her body too long and didn’t notice until it was done. I’m really pleased with the cat though .
Kimono style top January 13, 2008
I made this for the Lil Miss. The binding is very dodgy up close but it’s wearable. It’s just remnants of the print and the binding is made from an old sheet, so no great expense for a sub-standard result. I’ve never made bias binding before and I need more practice. Not just making it, applying it too. My next job is matching white pants. The pattern is New Look 6333.
Hippo! January 13, 2008
First Born’s latest request is a hippo t-shirt. I had a vision in my mind but sadly I am no illustrator. This is the best I could come up with. Lucky I had another wife beater on hand in the sewing cupboard to applique it on to. I only have one left in reserve. I’m going to have to make the actual t-shirt after that is he keeps requesting animals. We seem to be stuck in Africa still. I’m dreading him asking for a rhino. That would be hard.
A quilt January 8, 2008
I made this a few months ago for my nephew who was born on Christmas Eve. I forgot to photograph it before I gift wrapped it but I got it back today (blush, blush, I missed a couple of small stretches of seam and need to fix it). Oh well, at least it gives me a good opportunity to photograph it and add it to the blog. Fabrics are all from the Michael Miller Dick and Jane range, with the exception of the binding which I bought at Patchwork on Central Park. It’s cot sized.
Inspiration overload January 8, 2008
I’ve done the 2 main patterns I have to death in the last week. So I paid a visit to Darn Cheap Fabrics today a they are having a fabulous sale on patterns. I picked up a great little selection that will keep me bust for eons as well as teach me a few things I’ve been wanting to learn…like sleeves. I always trace my patterns so I’ll get years of use with the range of sizes. Lots of adaptability in lengths too which even a beginner like me can manage.
Simplicity 5271 – simple crew neck long sleeved t-shirts and elestic waisted pants. Size 4 through to adult.
Simplicity 4336 – simple elastic waisted pants and v neck tshirts in both long and short sleeve. Sizes 3 – 8.
New Look 6392 – sundress with tie straps, sundress with little sleeves, summer top with ruffled straps, halter neck top, shorts and capri pants. Sizes 3 – 8
New Look 6333 – elastic waisted long and capri pants, kimono style top in varying length body and sleeves, cute little handbag
Burda 7903 – dolls clothes, pants, tops, dresses, jackets, shoes, hats
Amy Butler Blue Sky Hats – a sun hat and a skull cap in adult sizes (hoping I can scale this down well for the kids as well)
So that should get me through the remnant pile reasonably quickly!
The first week of 2008…sewing frenzy January 7, 2008
I’ve been on a sewing binge to ring in the New Year. It all started when I decided to give the sewing cabinet a bit of a spring clean. Which developed into deciding I had to much fabric stashed and it had to be used. I’m loving it, the whole process, matching remnants, thinking of projects, executing them. I’m also noticing that the quality of my work is improving slightly. Which is good because I am SUCH a beginner. Hoping I’ll still be able to find the time once school holidays end and the normal routine resumes. In the meantime, this is what I have created so far this year.
Remnant bin stuff turned patchwork…and then into a doll’s dress. A pretty good fit for Baby Born.
Some leftover fabric I bought to make prefolds with. This little nappy is a perfect size for Baby Born and even has an absorbent strip in the middle for doll’s that actually wet. I blanket stitched the edges with remnants of blue embroidery wool. I even had remnants of velcro for the side closures.
Felt shoes for Lil Miss’s Baby Born. Navy soles and purple uppers. Stitched with cream embroidery wool remnants. I resized Heather Bailey’s bitty booties pattern (http://heatherbailey.typepad.com) by removing the seam allowance form the 0 -3 months size.
A new apron for First Born. Recycled the pocket of his old apron and used remnants from that and black denim remnants from dresses I made for Lil Miss and Daisy. Straps are webbing from something that I cut off and saved. I just love that Michael Miller print.
Some pants for First Born made of leftover brown cotton from a series of cooking aprons I made for little girl presents last year. This back view is the one with the pocket. I used Burda 2636 in size 3. It’s a very large sized pattern.
The pocket is a leftover scrap from his bed quilt with a stray remnant of red. I’m not sure what the red is leftover from but I needed it because I didn’t have a big enough scrap of the quilt fabric left.
Some pants for Lil Miss in size 2 Burda 2636. they won’t fit her for at least a year. They’re enormous. I bought this fabric to make a sun dress for my niece for Christmas. I deliberately bought enough fabric to make a matching one for Lil Miss. I had enough left over after that for these pants as well.
A pillowcase dress for Lil Miss. I used Jenie Henry’s instructions (http://www.jenleheny.com/archives/158). I didn’t use a pillowcase though. I made a patchwork of a couple of remnants I picked up for a song at some stage with some project in mind.
More remnant bin stuff turned patchwork…and then a doll’s apron. Too big for baby born but I think it will fit the large rag doll or one of the bigger teddies.
I bought this fabric to make a sun dress for my niece for Christmas. I deliberately bought enough fabric to make a matching one for Lil Miss. I made niece’s in size 1 for this summer but I made Lil Miss’s in size 2 for next summer. It’s using Butterick 3772. I found some fabulous vintage 70’s buttons in my button box which matched perfectly.
A pillowcase. Now a sundress and a skirt.
The skirt half of the pillowcase has a waistband made from a strip of old tablecloth. It fastens in the back with a gorgeous 60’s cloth covered vintage button.
Oh dear, how twee. Matching mother and daughter outfits. I made myself a halterneck top out of the remaining pillowcase. It worked quite well actually, I’m most impressed as the pattern is directly from my own little brain.
Pants for Lil Miss with elephant appliqued on to the bum. The Elephant’s eyes are vintage cloth covered buttons. More remnants used up. Applique is brilliant for all those little odds and ends. I wish I was better at it. Must practice more.
Plain tshirt of First Born’s with an elephant appliqued on. A remnant from a quilt I made for an almost born nephew with some vintage buttons for eyes.
A weird little bag made of bits and pieces and embellished with flowers made of felt and buttons. Not hugely successful but I was just experimenting and it’s all just remnants anyway so who cares?
A pair of pants I made for a friend’s baby. Long shorts in size 6 months from an adaptation of Burda 2636. The main fabric is chenille and the pocket is gingham, a remnant from First Born’s quilt.
A little wife beater for First Born appliqued with giraffe. The spotty fabric is a remnant from the quilt I made for a nephew. I didn’t make the wife beater, I picked it up at Best and Less.
I love the amount of recycling in this. The floral fabric was a cot sheet. The white pockets are cut from old stained napkins that were my Nana’s. The buttons (which you can’t see) are vintage 70’s from my button box (inherited from both my Granny and my Mum). The ric rac is older than me. The card had the price listed in shillings. I guess either my Gran or my Mum bought it for something. I might have to keep this if she ever outgrows it, it contains so much history of long lost loved ones. It’s size 3 Butterick 3772
Hello world! January 7, 2008
I’ve been on one of my crafty binges again and decided I really need somewhere to keep a record of my non-edible creations. They’re at a lower standard to the edibles but they’re still mine and it’s nice to track one’s progress dontcha think?
So here they are….be kind to me…snigger quietly…
