Mummy's been busy!

Sewing up a storm!

Using the 'recipie' in The Creative Family by Soulemama I have been making harris some pants from refashioned shirts and pillowcases.

I also made up the Dot Dolly pattern that I bought from etsy the other day. I think she is pretty cute but that she might need a boyfriend. I could possibly do a boy version? or just another doll entirely.

The pants are great! Although I prefer sewing them from stretchy material rather than the pillowcases because they seem to fit a bit better.

The problem is thought that we tend to wear our clothes to death and Op shops here aren't actually that cheap.

My next project is going to be another pair of pants made from some pirate fabric that I have been searching for a use for. For those I am going to try the Yoga pants pattern from the Meet me at Mikes book.

I decided last night that I have too many projects on the go at the moment and that I need to finish some of them before I start any more.

Weekend All Sewn Up

I have had quite a productive weekend - I have cut out the skirt that I am going to make (most likely over easter), I have cut out a tunic top that is in the Anna Maria Horner "Seams to me" book, and I have sewn up an apron that was in a past issue of Get creative magazine.

When I locate my camera again (I think (Hope) it is in the car), I will take a picture of it. I made it using this georgous lingerie fabric that I bought a while back just because I loved it.

I like attempting these types of patterns because it helps me to learn new sewing skills (like setting in a skirt to the waist band) and increases my sewing confidence. My next skill that I really need to learn is inserting a zip - and I have a project in mind for that.

So, back to the Apron.

I do like how it turned out - although there are a few small things that I would probably change were I to make it again.

I think I would do the neck strap in a different style or at least make it longer - in fact I may still do that to this one.

The other thing I would do is make the skirt part wider so that is went around more of my body., and probably shorten it so that it ended just under my knees. I don't mind it how it is now, but these things would make it better I think.

For some reason I have a really strong urge to make every single apron pattern that I come accross. I might do that just for fun. I really should wear an apron when I am doing things at home because I constantly wipe my hands on my clothes when I am in the kitchen or eating.

Spotlight (fabric store) is having a clearance sale this week so I am going to go tomorrow and get some fabrics that caught my eye last week.

Second hand bookery

There is a certain second hand bookshop in the stunningly named suburb of Fyshwick in Canberra which is presently having a closing down sale - 50% off all of their book. You read right - ALL of their books!

I pop in every now and again and rummage through the shelves to see if there is anything I missed last time. On the weekend I came across these two gems. I love ols sewing books. The McCalls one is from th 60's and the other is from the 70's. The illustrations are just great - if I had a scanner I would scan some in!

But another great thing about them (aside from the old school sewing tips) is some of the fabulous prose - as I come across some gems I'll try and post some here.

Here is a good one:

"The basic fact about clothes is that arm's go in sleeves, coats fasten, skirts start at the waist (wherever they may end) and dresses cover the body from shoulder to hem. Designers can indulge in the wildest flights of fancy, or dip into past decades for inspiration, but one thing remains constant, clothes are still cut out and made up more or less as they have been for centuries".
Dressmaking Made Simple, p6, 1974

I constantly surprise myself...

I bought a Tetra snuggle bed for my new bub to sleep in and feel secure when he first comes home with me. I was in a bit of a dilemma because I didn't want to have a bassinet - I wanted him to get used to the cot straight away, but I also wanted him to feel cosy and snug. That is where the snuggle bed comes in.

When I bought it, the one I got was white and had a removeable cover on it like a pillow slip (like the one in the pic above but white). I kept thinking that white was not the best choice, but I would figure something out.

Well tonight I made myself a new heavier duty cover for my snuggle bed - in coordinating fabric to my nursery and I am so happy with how it turned out. I do surprise myself with my sewing abilities because they are limiited - but I am starting to think that I can probably make anything I set my mind to.

I will post a pic another day because it is very late at night and I do have to work tomorrow. But I was just so excited that I could make something like that from scratch.