Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Girls Raglan Tee shirt

I have been doing some sewing over the Easter holidays and I find that sometimes the basics are the most satisfying sew. I aim to sew up at least 3 or 4 of these shirt in various colour combinations.
from the back.

fits perfectly across the chest

 
Eliza loves it and it totally looks RTW.
 
And the pattern...
 
This is a gift from my mother in law straight from the seventies? My mother in law was a self taught seamstress for the local community and as such has accumulated many patterns over time. She has given me some great ones including these old Bevknit patterns. Interestingly I think children had much narrower necks in the seventies. I have to cut 1.5 inches from the neck all round to get it fit over Eliza's head. The pattern is a really nice fit and has next to no instructions. I does suggest the use of 'scotch tape' to mark the v for the v neck version. I must try this.
 
It just worked well. Love it. Todays mission to attempt a leather jacket for master 12. I also have some jeans and a denim skirt cut out ready for sewing thanks to a stash of gifted denim from my mother in law.

Monday, 21 April 2014

Fixed- Sew Liberated Esme top

Unpicked, resewed and piping added. This pattern came without a size chart. I had no idea what size to sew. I should have just made a muslin but I tend to be a bit impatient for that. So I went ahead and cut out my usual Aussie size 12. The top is very wide and it fell off my shoulders and was well way too big. Also I didn't like how the yoke got lost with the pattern of the fabric. So I got busy and unpicked the lot. Then I cut out a size 6 baby.
 
this is a seriously comfy shirt now that it doesn't fall off my shoulders. Unfortunately it has earned my some 'are you expecting?' questions. Note to self- yoke falling from large bust equals tent. sigh.

Friday, 17 January 2014

Underpants

I needed new ones. That is all. Pattern is an OOP jalie. Can't remember the number but it included a cami with a shelf bra.
Sorry about my toes. Didn't crop. Cheap fun to make and functional. Will never buy underwear again.

Monday, 13 January 2014

Mini Penny by kitschy coo

I took advantage of the 20% off sale that Amanda was having at Kitschy Coo and bought the Mini Penny and the Lady Skater Dress patterns. I have made up the skater twice and will blog if I feel game and the mini penny.

Sorry for the bright glary photos. It is very hot here in Australia at the moment. Today it will get to 41 degrees Celsius.  The light is super white and even the shade is awful. This has been my most successful knit dress for Eliza  this summer. Its comfortable and flattering.








Centre panel is a cotton knit purchased from local fabric shop, and the petrol and teal stripe is left over from her leggings. It was purchased from Crafty mamas. The Flower fabric was on the $5.00 per meter rack so The dress cost $5.00 plus the cost of the pattern.  Cannot buy a nice quality dress for that. Well off the escape the terrible heat. Going on holidays on Saturday. Cannot wait.

Bye for now... 

Saturday, 11 January 2014

Jalie 2678. I made board shorts

Yesterdays make was board shorts for my 12 year old son. I made Jalie's  board shorts. The fabric was purchased from The Fabric Fairy a while ago and would not have been my first choice but Isaac was sold on the flames and I chose the other fabrics to contrast with the colours in it.  The pattern is absolutely great. I love all the little details that make these boardies look RTW.


Jalie 2678
Jalie 2678
Front view. tiny view of the eyelets.  Yep I (very badly) set eyelets for this epic project.

contrast bands from the side

back view of very nicely fitting well drafted and perfect to measurements garment.


Velcro opening.


Tiny little concealed secret key pocket. Isaac loved the concept of this pocket but was peeved when he realised that he would have to remove the shorts to actually get anything out of it. If you look closely you can see the outline of the 50 cent piece that I put in the pocket to prove that he could get anything in and out at all. poor kiddo wanted me to cut into the front of the shorts to make an opening so he could get to the pocket. Sorry Isaac I could not think of way to alter the way the pocket was constructed to get access from the front.


Worn in the pool today.
Proof!

have a great Sunday.


Thursday, 9 January 2014

More Swimwear. Action shots

I am getting faster at putting my photos in a place I can access them for the blog more easily. One of my new year resolutions is to try and post more frequently. Its so hard and such a learning curve for me. The other is to improve the photography. I am actually quite a keen photographer as I used to scrapbook when the kids were little.
Ottobre
This is the back view of Ottobre 3/2009 number 39 'Gilda' Bikini.
Its really more of a tankini as I added 3 inches to the top. I also left off the ruffles as everyone knows 10 year old girls DO NOT WEAR RUFFLES. Copy that?

My eldest trying his hardest to interrupt the photo taking session.


Fabric is a swimsuit lycra that I love. I am going to return to the shop and but the whole roll. Its just so bright and summery.

Thumbs up for this swimsuit....except that she feels that it is a little low cut at the front. Next time I will use elastic at this seam to hold it a bit more snugly, or use FOE. The pattern calls for binding with knit fabric and I used plain white cut on the bias.

Wednesday, 8 January 2014

Out of season sewing again

I love long summer holidays. At the moment every day I wake up! run my 5 km and think about what I am going to sew for the day.  My son has been begging me for a 'onesie'. They are apparently all the rage at the moment. The following is the second of two. The first was part of a costume for a school play. Isaac was cast as Michael from Peter Pan. Unfortunately the day before the production my onesie was mistaken for old pyjamas and taken to the charity store. Oh sad day. An emergency onesie was produced from Target and I was propositioned for a replacement.
Polar fleece from spotlight.

Despite the Australian summer heat Isaac insists on wearing this attractive garment as much as possible. The pattern is This one. I think I downloaded it from sewing patterns.com for 2 bucks. I made it up in the largest size, which is extra large. I fit into it as well.

 
The original Peter Pan costume had a flap at the back to make it look more like Michael. I haven't put the buttons on yet but the new onsie had to have the same flap. It looks pretty funny when he carries something in there. I have been given the new order for winter. Apparently I have to make a 'snow leopard onsie next. Snow leopard polar fleece anyone?