Some recent bits and pieces February 4, 2008

I’ve been a bit slack getting these posted because I didn’t want to deal with sorting the hundreds of photos we took on holiday. I’ve finally done it though so I can post a few things I’ve made since we got back.

While I was away, to keep me in the moment, I made this knit dress for Lil Miss’s baby born. I sort of made up the pattern on the fly and without the doll to measure so it’s very rough. Nothing for a 2 year old to complain about though. It will suffice.

Son and heir requested a dinosaur top. I decided to bite the bullet and try sewing with some stretch knit fabric I found as remnants. I used Simplicity 5271 to make a size XS long raglan sleeve t-shirt and appliques a dinosaur to the bottom front and pocket sleeve. The neckline is quite puckered. Stretch knit sewing seems to be an art unto itself. I decided to get straight back on the horse that threw me and made another with elephant applique and managed to do a better job. Still nowhere near perfect but I’m starting to get the hang of it.

In another fit of appplique madness, I made this little bird. I really, really like the bird and I’m guessing there will be many more birds to come. I made one for myself on an old running top to test it out and then, because I was happy with it, I made another for Lil Miss. I positioned my bird peeking around the side rather than fully on the front and I was very happy with the placement as well.

I almost forgot this little sundress in the most divine retro fabric.

And that’s all for now!

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.

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