Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Happy Homemade

Overall, I have had a good experience working with the Japanese pattern book Happy Homemade Vol 2 (Japanese print version). I did nearly go out and buy the English version of this book while I was making the trial version of the following shorts...I just could not work out how the faux fly was meant to be sewn! I ended up skipping that step in these shorts as is a faux fly really necessary?! I'm quite sure it is easy so will figure it out another time.

Sure turned out to be a cute outfit!




This little shirt is the "q" shirt from the book. I used a 57%Bamboo, 40% Cotton, 3% Lycra blend fabric from Potters Textiles here in Perth with Robert Kaufman Railroad Denim Deluxe cotton in Denim for the yoke, collar and pockets. The pattern does not come with pockets but I added them (I used the back pockets from the shorts pattern) as I thought the shirt looked a bit formal without.


These below are the "l" shorts which I made up in a blue drill from Spotlight with the Robert Kaufman Denim for the pockets. 


I am happy with how this outfit turned out and I think it fits my brief of simple, stylish and comfortable.


Thursday, January 23, 2014

Plans for Kids Clothes Week - January 2014

Time again for...

kid's clothes week

For this challenge, I would like to create some simple and stylish tops and shorts for J. All that go well together for mix and match options and are light and comfortable to wear.

I have had these two Japanese pattern books for a couple of years and they have been waiting around on the shelf for J to grow into the size range and as they are written in Japanese, for me to get the confidence to give these patterns a go.


My plan is to make these shorts...




Two of these shirts...


And one of these tops - 


Out of these fabrics - 


Madness! Wish me luck!

Monday, January 6, 2014

December Makes

Happy New Year!

I haven't been busy blogging but have been fairly busy making assorted things, mostly Christmas presents.

Before two years ago, I wasn't that fond of trims on clothing items, especially not pom poms and especially not sequins! Then I saw this tutorial on The Purl Bee for a very lovely cowl which I found looked very pleasing to me. The pom pom ban was lifted at once and I thought a cowl would make very nice Christmas presents. I purchased some double gauze, linen and Pom Pom trim in three colours from Tessuti and thats as far as I got in 2011...

Two years later, I finally got around to making one! I remember finding the pom pom trim very fiddly and gave up on it back then. Now I am sewing more regularly, I managed to take control of the slippery suckers. I did read somewhere about someone using their seam ripper to hold fabric together while they were feeding it through their machine. I used mine to push the trim between the two layers and it really helped me keep control..hot tip! Another thing worth noting is that there are varying qualities of pom pom trim out there, Tessuti nice, Spotlight not so.

This soft and light double gauze cowl was made for my Mum for her birthday. Please excuse the iphone pictures.


I liked that one so much I made another pom pom cowl for my sister in law. This one is in a lovely lightweight linen which, I think, came from Tessuti as well.





Next, I made two each of these 14" cushions for my Mum for Christmas. I still owe her two more cushions though as six is her magic number of cushions required. Tree print cotton duck and stretch denim both from Spotlight. Backed in calico, with an envelope closure. I like to use a double layer of calico for each piece for my cushions so they hold their shape better. I just overlock the two layers together and use them as one pattern piece.


Having a boy, I took great pleasure making the following present. This is the Geranium Dress, size 6-12 months and top length. Made up in Heather Ross "Far Far Away" double gauze for the bodice and pockets which I got from Calico & Ivy here in Perth. The skirt and sleeves are made from Kiyohara cotton linen blend in Solid Violet, which I bought at Lucky Lantern.


Such lovely fabric!


I made this cute little lady for a cute little five year old. I revisited this pattern as she turns out lovely and is a lot of fun to make. She is Violet from the Hop, Skip, Jump pattern book.


A lady needs options so I made a second skirt for Violet.



Did you notice the matching buttons on the skirts? These were made with a nifty button covering kit. Very easy and turned out very cute.


I again cut into my Spoonflower Lego Print knit for a present for a special 4 year old and again using the Recess Raglan pattern by See Kate Sew. I did cheat save time and used an existing t-shirt for the sleeves for this one, eliminating the need for hemming...great idea if are short on time.



And for me, another By Hand London Anna Dress. This version, my third, is my favourite so far. I added inseam pockets to this Anna making her cute and useful too. Made up from cotton poplin from Spotlight. 




Zips are going in a little easier on the third try...


I'm still not done with this pattern.