That Darn Skirt..

is now finished! And only 1 week late :) I had intended to make this petti-skirt for my DD's 4th birthday last week. But I ran into trouble when I went to attach the top tier to the bottom tier using my ruffler foot. It worked well enough for the ruffle when I ruffled and attached at the same time. But trying to put the two bigger layers together, one ruffling and one being attached, it wouldn't ruffle. Then having to unpick about 40cm (yes that is when I realised it wasn't ruffling in the right proportion) of 1.5 length stitches was enough for me to throw the towel in! So after unpicking, I bundled it all into a bag and put it where I couldn't see it.
So yesterday being my first day with no kids or hubby at home, I decided to tackle it. I had already accepted the fact that I would have to gather by hand. So I set about doing my basting stitches. What a lovely surprise I got when I realised that my fabric was coming out gathered from the other side of my foot! It seemed that the long stitch, and the normal presser foot, created gathers in this fabric all by itself. After some playing around, I even got it to gather to the correct length, with minimal hand tweaking!
The waist is the darker colour because when I bought the fabric, I matched it to what is now the ruffle colour, but there wasn't enough on the bolt (it really stretched it trying to get enough for one ruffle, the other ruffle is light pink) and I wasn't going to hold up the line in Spotlight any longer than need be! I think it looks nice with the darker waistband tier.
So all that I had left to do today was to join it into the round, and add the elastic for the waist. Exactly one week after the birthday. And I must say, I am mighty proud of the result :)
I also said that I never want to make another one, but just looking at it waltzing around my house, I may have to eat my words lol




Cheers!

Celebrating

We have just celebrated a birthday here at our house. My darling little baby girl turned 4 yesterday. She had a lovely day, with 3 lots of cake. Cupcakes after lunch with her Granny, Poppy and her aunty Carly. Then after school two friends she has known since birth came over and shared more cupcakes! And to top it off, she had pizza (home made of course! and her request) and a magic toadstool cake, complete with little fairy figurines.



I made her a Feliz dress, as I was determined to overcome my fear of this pattern. Thanks to Trillium's sew-a-long, I found it rather easy and really want to make more. So who knows :) She was super excited to receive it and it twirls to specification! Lol





I wanted to make her a petti-skirt as well, but lets just say that it is a work in progress. My ruffler foot decided that it didn't like to ruffle at the same time as trying to attach the second tier, so I have left it for now and will have to make do with hand gathering. Which isn't too bad, as I will only be making one of them.


What else have I been doing........? Oh that's right, making aprons. My DS has finally decided that he wants to go to other kids birthday parties – it has taken nearly 2 years to achieve this. He has always flat-out refused. Being a shy boy, I tried not to push. And now he wants to go to them, so we have 2 in a week. Being both girls, I wanted to make a present, as I really have no idea what to buy 6 year old girls! So I thought this was a great chance to try out my Cindy Taylor Oates Little Retro Aprons pattern. The first one went down a treat! I packaged them up with a wooden spoon and a cupcake mix to make. The second one is off to a birthday girl tomorrow afternoon.







So that is the wrap-up of my week.

Cheers!

Playing Catch-up

It has been awhile since I last posted and a fair bit has happened. The kids are back at school, DS is in Year 1, and in the same class as his best friend – so two happy boys, even though they don't sit next to each other. DD started Kindy last Thursday. It was only a half day, and next week will be two half days, on Tuesday and Thursday. Then the following week it will be two full days! DD is certainly looking forward to going back. There was no tears, from either of the kids, or us. I do miss them though – it is not quite the same at home without them. At least hubby is on holidays, so he is keeping me company for the the next two weeks :)

A few sewing projects have been completed, the latest one was finished today. DD needed a cushion for Kindy and wanted a princess one. My mum wanted to buy it, but couldn't find one that was suitable (they were all too small). So she and my sister found a panel of fabric with a princess on it, and some pretty buttons. I made up a cover with a button closure at the back. Not overly exciting, but functional, and my first cushion cover.




On Monday afternoon, DS informed me that his drink bottle had made his desk all wet. Hmm, ok. So the next day I send his bottle with a tea towel wrapped around it. Now, all I can say about my tea towels is that they are very well used. Not overly pretty let me tell you lol. Anyway, that afternoon, same problem, the bottom of his drink had still made the desk wet. Right – we need to fix this. A stubby holder wasn't big enough, so I had to make something. Then I remembered a lovely crafty mama, by the name of Tracy, had posted a tutorial on her blog on how she made some for her kids. Thankyou so much for this Tracy – made my job much quicker and easier!
So I followed her instructions using the measurements as a guide only, as I had different sized drink bottles. I decided to use some Insul-Brite to help keep the water cold for longer and just some cotton fabrics I had laying around. So get one all sewn up apart from the inside bottom seam, and try it on the drink bottle. It won't fit! It was too small :( Hence why they have a panel down the side. DS took it to school on Wednesday and told everyone proudly that 'Mummy made it!'



Today I finished off the Pink Fig Girly Stripwork Skirt for DD – all her skirts are about 2 years old, and the elastic is starting to go in them. So I got out my scraps from recently made items and managed to get enough to make 20 (yes 20!) strips. This makes for a very long length of fabric – about 2.5m!! Of which then needs to be gathered to a waistband of about 68cm. OMG! This was a perfect time to test out my new ruffler foot. After a little playing around, I got the settings right. Well so I thought. After ruffling it all, I went to attach it to the waistband, and it was ruffled too tight! Argh! So out came the unpicker, and I removed it and redid it. Even so, it was still quicker than if I had run two rows of gathering stitches, and gathered by hand. Plus it was fun!
A gorgeous skirt, but I don't care for the waistband at all. The drop waist is just awful on my DD. It sort of ended where her bottom ended. And then the skirt was way down past her knees. I changed it to just a basic folded over waist. Much better. Lovely and twirly as well :)





Sorry for the long winded-ness – I will try to update more frequently :)

Cheers!

A Nice Bright Olivia

I do enjoy this pattern. Nice and easy. Quick to trace and sew. I actually got this traced, cut and sewn in about an hour and a half. That is fast for me.
I used FOE (fold over elastic) for finishing the neckline as I didn't do the hood. I didn't have enough fabric and as it was a short sleeve dress, I wanted to keep it basic. I thought that the FOE had finally become friends, but after photographing it, I discovered a small amount of the neckline that had missed the stitching. So a bit of unpicking, and restitching was required *sigh*. One day we will be great friends I am sure.
It is a bit long on DD, as I made the 110/116 size. But she loves it already (and not a speck of pink on it!!) She put it on before I had hemmed it, ran around and then went and hid, because she didn't want me to take it off of her lol




At least we won't lose her when we go out shopping! lol

Cheers!

The Perfect T-shirt?

Nearly. If I go up a size, maybe. I do like it, it is comfortable (at least it was when I tried it on) and I love the colour. I think it could be a little looser though - but then it may lose the nice shape it has (and I am more used to wearing looser tops). I really like the neckline shape - it seems rather flattering.
It is based on the Ottobre Woman #5 from 2/2007 - the Rose Top. I used the front and back pieces from this pattern, the sleeves from #3 in the same issue and made my own neckline binding, which was rather adventurous of me, as I haven't sewn a v-neck before. I also lengthened it by 3 sizes, which seems to be a standard for me with Ottobre tops.
After having sewn a few t-shirts, once I had cut the pieces out, I put the magazine away, as I would just assemble it in the order I felt was best lol. It went together easily, I wasn't sure how to make the v, so I just started to attach the neckline and figured it out after I had finished attaching. This worked ok, as it meant that I at least got the v lined up in the correct spot! But I did cause a little pucker in the front (not really noticeable).


I might try this again, but in either a larger size or with a fabric with more stretch (or lycra).

Have a great long weekend and Happy Australia Day to all Aussies!

Cheers!

Lots of crafting happening

Wow! We have been busy. The kids and I did some glass painting - also known as window clings - the other day. I drew the outlines, and let the kids paint inside the design. DD nearly 4yr old needed a fair bit of help, but enjoyed squeezing out the paint and spreading it around. DS nearly 6yr old was rather good and enjoyed swapping the colours around, as you can see in the photos. I also did one of a fish, as I couldn't leave all the fun to the kids!! And today we stuck them on the windows.






I found a pattern for a crochet dishcloth on the web. I am sorry - I have forgotten the web link, if I find it I will add it in later. I used a beautiful bamboo cotton and it is so super soft, I have decided to use it as a face washer. No point in wasting it's beautiful-ness in the kitchen sink. It took just over a whole ball to make. When I make it again, I will make it a bit smaller so that it doesn't use more than a ball.



And today I traced, cut and sewed (shock horror - all done in one day) a nighty from the Favourite Things Nighty Night ladies pattern. As I was using a very thin cotton voile, I decided to cut two of the bodice top front and back twice so that I could use one as a facing. This worked really well, and gives it a bit more stability. When I make this pattern again, I will do the same. I will also make the straps a little shorter I think, they slip off my shoulders a bit. I want to try the pj's as well. I do like how you use the seam allowance between the top and bottom peices to make a casing for the elastic. I umm'd and ahh'd about putting the elastic in, so I tried it on, and decided there was no harm in trying. It looks so much better with it in. It fits better and hangs better. Overall, I am very happy with this pattern, and certainly recommend it.



Hope everyone has a great week.

Cheers!

My New Bag, A School Bag and Some Soap

Yet another higgledy-piggledy post :)

Last week I made some soap - my first try at hot process. Well, the actual soap seems to have worked, but the essential oil I used, is way too strong. I used Lemongrass, which I found out later is a very strong oil. I also learnt that with hot process, it is possible to use less essential oil, as it isn't changed by the lye, as the stage at which you add it, the lye has already saponified.

They are still hiding under the cubby house in an attempt to cure a bit more and lose some of the smell. I gave one to my sister to try out, just waiting on an opinion.
I didn't take many photos, so here is a quick one.



Yesterday I made some bath bombs with the kids. My first ever attempt, I am very happy with them. I just used some green food colouring and chocolate frangrance oil. They fizz fantastically in the bath - the kids had a ball!



Now I promised a photo of my DD's school bag - the pillow case with handles lol Not a spectacular photo, but you get the picture. The fabric on the outside is from a pair of curtains I found at a church garage sale for just $1!! It is a lovely soft cotton, possibly a drill. The inside is unbleached calico.



And finally my bag. It is made using this free pattern here: http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2008/08/margarets-birthday-bag.html
I saw it just the other day, and I knew I had to make it. I wanted a new bag for shopping and I love the fabric so I made it up today. There was a small incident though - somehow one of the panels ended up with a snip in the side near the side seam. So I decided to make a yo-yo (my first) and cover a button to make a flower to hide the injury :) I also covered a button for the closure as I didn't have any that were suitable. I really need to find someones button stash to borrow from :)







I hope you all have a fabulous Friday - we are heading for 40C here tomorrow - not impressed!

Cheers!