How far would you drive to buy fabric?

One of the most difficult things about living in a semi remote location is the lack of access to good sewing supply shops. Quilting fabrics are most common but basic apparel fabric is hard to come by easily. I know every fabric shop within 400 km and not all of them carry great fabrics. This makes it a little harder to do any impulsive sewing and purchases must be pre planned around a road trip. I have been known to drive up to 200 km out of my way to visit a fabric store to stock up. This does however make for fun road trips. On Friday I went to pick up my sons from boarding school and found myself doing a round trip to two of my favourite shops in two separate towns. This was my days fabric haul

Can wait to start cutting it up.

Selfish Sewing

Selfish Sewing
I am feeling excited but a little nervous. I have uploaded a photo of myself onto the selfish sewing flikr group. Note to self: It would help if you wore shoes and did your hair for the photo. Oh and had someone over the age of nine take the photo. In saying that it is at least a year since I looked at a photo of myself. It takes a bit to get used to. It is also probably good for me to sort my body image demons out. Anyhoo.... Here is my makes. Please find Burda 8085 cropped pants in denim and the Esme top from Sew Liberated.

Burda 8085 with a poorly fitting Esme top from Sew Liberated

..and photo bomb from dog. At least she likes to be photographed.

 

 

First swim of the season

Its heating up quickly in central west NSW. My son and daughter went for an early swim to celebrate early spring. Inspired by the swimsuit sewing in the northern hemisphere over summer (our winter)in the last few months I had a mad urge to sew swimsuits here at the wombat hole. While it was less than 10 degrees outside I could be seen happily applying clear elastic and working out what on earth negative ease is. The following is one of 4 swimsuits that I finished and finally! it is warm enough to try them out.

The fabric is lycra from a local sewing shop and the pattern is Kwik- Sew which I downloaded from the internet from Sewingpatterns.com. I used my overlocker to attach the elastic and then folded it over and used a zig -zag. It turned out neat and stretchy. Eliza put the sprinkler under the trampoline, swam in out pool and played under the sprinkler and the swimmers stayed up and looked comfy. I was a little concerns about the fabric being see through but it was fine.

 



More Flashback Skinny Tees

Spring sprung here in Australia over the weekend and I found I wanted to create some new summer clothes for my daughter and fast. I traced 3 more skinny tees in a size 11/12 and got two of them sewn up.



Flash back Skinny Tee

 

Firstly some left over pink knit that I have had in my stash for years. Nice to bust it.

My daughter thinks it's too short but I wanted a nice big hem so it would sit nicely and not roll up.

 

The second is a lovely striped knit that I think I ordered from the USA or from Crafty mamas. The applique was traced from an existing tee shirt.

Was pretty pleased with the twin needle finish. best one so far and not wonky at all. I think the secret is to increase the stitch length, go really slowly and not stretch the fabric. Nice. The last tee is still folded waiting for me to change the colour of the overlocking thread.

Loving the summer sewing. May even get brave enough to post some selfish sewing. Stay tuned.

 

 

Summer Pyjamas

I think I may have made the cutest Pyjamas ever. Just stoking my current obsession with owls. What is it about these little night birds that is soooo cute.

Pattern|

:  shorts modified Ottobre

Top: Flashback Skinny Tee

Fabric lots of scraps and left overs = free