Baby Clothes

Some little things for my new nephew..

A merino cot blanket.. traditional styles with a satin binding.






{Excuse the wrinklies}

And an outfit ready for the northern hemisphere winter... all out of lovely lovely NZ wool



The jacket is "Duck Soup" by http://www.jujubeandlolo.com/



Leggings and booties are my own pattern.
The top is a new pattern I wanted to try from Ottobre - 04/11 #1. I wasn't too happy with how it sits and wouldn't use it again.
I made the little name label very quickly in Silhouette Studio and then cut it out of vinyl. Who hasn't been made to wear one of those...!



I was much happier with my second attempt at the same top design. I just used my normal envelope neck pattern. I think that one might be a favourite at the markets this winter!


and finally ... for a friend's little bub.. cause there's no better time to be a bit patriotic ;)


I haven't blogged in AGES! I have been sewing lots but just haven't had a chance to share anything. I've been making a lot of bits and bobs for sale at the local markets and have even made my own little Facebook page .. Please come and say hi sometime :)
Hopefully 2012 will be a nice, peaceful and natural disaster free year .. and I will do lots more sewing.

My Whip Up Weekend

I was pleased to get that all done in one weekend.
None of it's finished .. but still.. quite a lot done.
I've got no sewing mojo at the moment and my kids just won't stop growing!

YAY and PHEW!

I finally finished a set of ballet costumes for my sister's ballet school recital.

For something that is essentially just a leotard with a full circle skirt attached, this project took me a stupid amount of time to finish.

The leotard is a combo of nylon lycra and stretch velvet. The sleeves and lower layer of skirt are chiffon and the top layer is a thin 'fairy floss' nylon chiffon... the same stuff they use for petty skirts.

I must say I do quite like them! I think the colours will do well on stage.. I always liked the peasant style classical costumes. All very 'Act One' LOL

I've taken heaps of photos while I was making them so I will get round to doing a tutorial at some stage.
Right now I'm off to celebrate my son's 5th birthday.. :-)

Tropical Blend

Tropical Blend is the name of the Ottobre pattern. (Number 18, Issue 3/2011)
I made a winter version from thick wide wale cord.



Quite pleased with this as an everyday winter dress. If I made it again I would lengthen then straps as that is the only part of the pattern that doesn't fit her well.



It came together quickly and it's cute.The piping detail on the bodice and drop waist are lovely little touches. Highly recommended!

Snow Pants!

It snowed today. Which isn't a big deal for most people... but here, despite being at the very bottom of the world, we rarely get snow right to sea level. The last time we had a big snow in the city was 1992. A most awesome day in my childhood!

So when I looked out the window late last night and saw this...



... I couldn't wait for the kids to see it!

The level of excitement this morning was close to Christmas. For everyone but the dog... who wasn't overly keen on going out for her morning wee.





I realized that my littlest kid was the only one with waterproof pants.
Times like this it rocks to be handy with a sewing machine :-) ..
Also nice to be able to finally justify the big stash of waterproof fabric aging nicely in the garage ;-)

In no time two pairs of pants were whipped up and we were ready to enjoy the snow.

It was a great day!

Been awhile

My kids have grown, we've had another couple of thousand earthquakes... and I've sewn some boring stuff... mojo killers like curtains and ballet recital costumes.

I've also been playing around a bit more with my silhouette cutting machine.
Loving that you can cut such intricate designs from heat press vinyl!







Both the guitar and little robot designs are digital stock art from Urban Threads. I just put the images into the silhouette software and used the trace function. So quick and easy... such great results!

The wee car is just a hand drawn and appliqued shape. I haven't had much luck using the cutter with fabric. Will have to have another go at that.

Birthday Princess

My princess recently turned three.

It's always hard to imagine just were the time goes. Especially hard with her being my youngest.

Amazing that it has taken only three years to go from TV remote sized bundle.....



to fully grown (pink!) princess



As requested, I made a pink! princess dress. Pink! (the most important part) sparkly,  poofy and perfect for dancing in.





The making of the gown was not without it's trials. There was some tantrums and swearing. Most of the trouble could have been averted by a little forethought and planning... but I'm a slow learner and that wouldn't be my style.

There are some awesome princess dresses for inspiration on Ikatbag.com ...and this is really helpful series on Children's fashion workshop




Of course a Princess can't go to the ball without a magnificent steed.
She was pretty pleased to wake up to this sight on her birthday morning.



He is just lovely! A free pattern on Ikatbag. Easy and fun.

rrrrring rrrring

Do you like my phone tee?






I got the inspiration for this from the 'dial tone'  embroidery design on Urban Threads.



The receiver is stuffed and held onto the t-shirt front with a little square of velcro. The cord is a piece of elastic.

My Superheros

I haven't blogged anything in ages. While I was on Easter holidays my wonderful husband decided to 'fix' my computer .... and got rid or everything .. including all the photos of recent projects, some video tutorials of coverstitch binding.. some photos for tutorials on making undies... the undies pattern that I had finally got round to pdfing so I could put in on my blog.... and most heartbreaking...ALL the recent photos of my children :'-(
 ... BOOHOOO. He is not yet forgiven. It could be a while.

So anyway.. the sulk is on hold while I show you my Superheros

Batman and Batman. (no sidekicks here!)





I finished the tops the night before we left on holiday and it was just fabulous seeing the boy's faces the following morning.
They walked so very proudly through the airport while hundreds of people stopped to talk to them and cheer them on. At airport security the guards all came out from behind the machines to clap them! They told the boys they felt  the airport was very safe in the presence of superheros. My little men were over the moon!!!

In fact everywhere we went that week we drew a crowd and some awesome high fives, cheers, smiles and comments.



The entire week we spent on holiday I couldn't get the tops off them... not at the beach or the shops or the museum.. or at all. There was quite a Super smell coming off them by the time we got home.








Without a doubt the most loved clothing I've ever made for the kids!




The top is a very simple hoodie. Any hoodie pattern would have been fine. I used the same Ottobre pattern that I used for the dragon top.  (No 16 from issue 04/10).
The batman logo is heat transfer vinyl cut with my Silhouette machine and the cape is a simple semi-circle attached with snaps at the shoulders.



Have you seen enough photos yet?

Ok just one more

Kindy Clothes

My baby girl started kindy!  I can't quite believe that she could possibly be old enough :-(

I was a bit worried how kindy would cope with my third child. It only just survived the earthquake ... seemed cruel to inflict a natural disaster of the two year old variety so soon after :-)
So far it seems to be handling the pressure well hehe!
I anticipate lots of sandpit time .....so I've made a start on some warm and comfy kindy clothes for Madame.

Trusty Ottobre!

My fav the "Poet" Cardy made another appearance, this time out of fleecey cotton sweatshirting.
I don't like it as much as the merino version I made her in spring but it's still a really useful (and pretty!) warm top.

Poet jersey jacket
Ottobre 03/09 #19


















   
                                                                                                                                                           Another old favourite ...the reversible hoodie
I decided to make from two layers of cotton sweatshirting for warmth

Pistachio Chocolate reversible raglan sleeve top
Ottobre 04/09 #14

and I really love that it's completely reversible.

and a pattern that I hadn't made before, but now love!

Tulip corduory pants

 Ottobre 04/09 #12

I omitted the zip for speed of making (and to help her taking herself to the toilet at kindy!). The pattern already has an adjustable elastic back so is fine without the zip.

No your computer screen colours aren't out.. the pink really is that loud. I'm hoping the get them out in the sun for some fading LOL. Missy loves them though. The most feminine pair of trousers ever!

I love all the details! Just gorgeous and so different to what's around in the shops here.

Welcome to kindy wee girl

I know you will love it.. and play till you drop!

Phew.. apologies for the photo overload. Everything else will have to spill over to a new post!