I should have been working today,but somehow just couldn't bring myself to sit at the sewing machine. Instead I had an urge to clear out some cupboards!
I tidied our "crawl in" wardrobe,and found my purple suede boots ready for a 1968 themed party we've been invited to. Then I sorted my art supplies into a new drawer.Sorted through my pile of notebooks,and even cleaned out my "everything else " cupboard.
While doing this I found some of my old printed textiles completed in college almost 20 years ago...eek!
This Sunflowers one was hanging on our bedroom wall until we moved into the loft,and now we've almost finished decorating the hallway up to the loft,I think we are going to re hang it in that space.
The others I found,I just don't know what to do with. It does seem a shame to just keep them folded up in a box. I shall have to have a think...
I also found some of my old watercolours and may have found some that I can use for my new Zidee labels,we'll see.
My first attempt at a wide blanket podeagi. Made especially for a customer. I couldn't resist trying it on before sending it to her.
It was surprisingly snuggly with my weighted demo doll on my back,and I tried it with Sid too.
More new baby gifts. The kimono on the left is the same style as the last one. The one on the right is made with a knit fabric,has a mock wrap front and stretchy picot trimmed neckline.
These baby gowns were a bit of an experiment. My usual kimono design is a little wide for newborns,so I had a little play and came up with these.
I'm still not entirely happy with the design,and need to tweak it here and there,but I have two more to make for another new baby,so we'll see how those turn out.
This pair are not quite finished,I ran out of lace.
Using a pair of knickers I know already fit,I measured where to cut for the waist.I wanted to keep the pretty side slits as part of the final knickers.
Then I needed a gusset piece (two pieces,one for the lining.).I used the pattern piece I'd already drafted,but otherwise it's easy to trace the gusset part of a fave pair of knickers and use that.
I then neatened the edges of the gusset pieces with some elastic trim,but I could have sewn right sides tog and turned,or simply overlocked the edges in a co ordinating or decorative thread.(wooly nylon would be nice and soft)
Then matching the centre of the gusset back to the back of the knickers , I used a three step zig zag on the sewing machine to attatch the gusset. (this is when a coverstitch machine would be nice). I could have used the overlocker instead,but I wanted a flatter seam on this pair as the main body of the knickers was already hemmed.
For the finishing touches,I used elastic trim to edge the waistband.I used some plain elastic trim for the back,and re used the lace trim that was on the neckline of the cami for the front of the knickers. I used a three step zig zag again,stretching the trim slightly as I sewed.
The finished knickers.
I was having a grumpy day yesterday,but sewing these soon perked me up.
I used a pair of ordinary M&S boy cut shorts and an old cami top as a starting point to draft the patterns,and everything was sewn from stash.
The cami has nursing clips (salvaged from an old nursing bra) so when it's layed under another shirt,I can breastfeed without getting a cold tummy...or subjecting unsuspecting onlookers to my flabby Mummy tummy!
A few more pics
Lots of corduroy yumminess
Lots of bags
A coat that suits my gorgeous Sidney Boo,plus a scarf to match.
A twirly scarf
And a twist top for me. (yes I know I should smile!)
I've spent the past week working my way through these lists. I really would love a blank page in that journal in time for Christmas...so I can make a list of sewing to sneak in while the children are playing with their new toys,and a list for the New Year projects too!
So here are some pics of some of the sewing,things not pictured include,a dress alteration,a jeans to skirt redo,and some new loose covers for a sofa.
This is a photo of the Amy Butler Apron Overlay Skirt, a present for my best friends birthday...she loved it!
These pics are of some wrap lounge pants I ran up quickly today. There's nothing I like more than to snuggle up in pj's on a cold winters evening,but I thought these wrap pants were nice enough to also wear during the day,and still feel as comfy as I do in my pj's.
I used some gorgeous flannel I'd been saving for a while,but I think they'd be lovely in a lightweight cotton or linen in the summer for casual day wear.
I got the idea from here
All started well,but one silly mistake led to another,and then half way through I tried it on Sid and was instantly transported back 7 years to when Eden was a 2 year old! I realised my usual disregard for gender stereotypes had probably gone a touch too far,and it really did look like a girls coat!
The final mistake was putting on the fastenings the "girls way" ! I think by that point I knew I was going to have to make Sid a new coat and find another home for this one.
I got him to model anyway (rather reluctantly I have to say,even he doesn't like it.)
I forgot to say it's reversable.
Here are a few examples of custom orders I completed this weekend.
I love this pot pourri fabric so much,I made myself a bag too. I used the freebie pattern from Ottobre
