Baby Sewing

Wow...what a whirlwind the last 2 weeks have been - concerts galore including Angelina and The Wiggles, Preschool concerts and afternoon teas for the teachers. We have our last day at Preschool on Thursday, which I am a little sad about but we are also very excited about what next year holds as the girls move into Kindy.

I have been pushing myself to get some sewing done for Christmas presents and all the little baby's that have arrived the last few weeks.

Burp Cloths for Baby E. These have been made from flannel bunny rugs and a yellow cloth nappy that we never used for the littlest man. I made burp cloths for Baby E's big brother 2 years ago and his Mum and Dad loved them. So I thought some updated ones for the newest member of the family would make a great pressie. I used this tutorial for the shape.

Festive singlets and baby bloomers made from linen for Baby E and Baby T. Perfect for the hot days we are having at the moment.

And a little set for Baby C (this one is for my sisters best friend). My take on the Otto Aqua shorts and a little top to match, all in festive colours.

And in other exciting news.. I am flying out to here on the 26th December for a week to visit my sister. I am so excited!!!

Ahoy Me Hearties..

Naff title..I know but I couldn't help myself!!

I am back from some time at my parents on the NSW mid north coast. Ahh..it was lovely. The weather was nice and I was kid free for a few days. Woohoo. Thanks to my lovely husband who held down the fort at home!!

Before I left I made this little outfit for my friend's new baby. After 7 years of heartache they welcomed a little boy 4 weeks ago. I am so happy for them, they totally deserve this little man!

I started off with the Ahoy baby shorts from Ottobre 3/2009 but made a few amendments along the way. I lengthened them, didn't add the seam allowance and added a cuff. Fingers cross they fit. They are made from a lovely blue and white striped linen that I inherited from my Granner's stash and cuffed the hems and waistband in some gorgeous kokka Dancing Rabbits.

And a little pair of reversible cloth shoes. I found this material at Spotlight last year a nice spotty linen and some cotton covered in animals. They are lined with little pigs and a wool flannel that I found at the Op shop. I made size 9-12 months for next winter.

Brrrr Its Cold Outside...

I have been sending the littlest man off to stay and play in about 4 layers to keep the cold out. He was desperate for a warm jacket. I searched my Otto mags for the perfect pattern and we came up trumps with the Little Ghost Fleece Jacket 6/2007. Its polar fleece fully lined with single jersey (minus the little ghost applique). I made a size 92 and didn't add the seam allowance, thankfully its a perfect fit. It came together so quickly apart from attaching the sleeves together. I came close to throwing the whole thing in the bin..I couldn't get my head around it. I find at times Otto instructions are so lacking. Thankfully my perseverance paid off and he had a warm snuggly jacket to wear to playgroup this morning. The only issue is the button holes. I interfaced the front panel underneath the button holes but they look like they are still going to stretch. I used much larger buttons than intended. I saw these buttons at Spotlight and knew they would be a perfect match. Anyway it just needs to get him through the next couple of months.

Sorry for the crappy photos..my model did not want to participate and its grey and gloomy inside to day

I Heart Tilda

Finally something sew worthy to blog about. Last night I finished the Tilda T-shirt dresses for the girls from Otto 6/2007. I love them. It was such a lovely thick knit to work with and so much easier to sew than the knit I used in my first attempt. I also used a ballpoint stretch needle this time and I think its made a world of difference. It was the first time I have banded a neckline. I was worried about this..but it was so easy. I was too lazy to set up the machine with a twin needle so I just top-stitched around the neckline twice. The girls loved these so much that they had to wear them today to preschool. Fingers crossed that they don't come home covered in paint.

The Thing I Love About...

There is not much sewing happening this week as the kids are sniffly, coughing and a bit clingy. I think our first winter colds are just around the corner. I did manage to finish off a little 1st birthday pressie over the weekend. Its from the latest Otto - the "toffee tunic". It came together nicely. I was a bit stretched for time and was worried about getting it done. But the thing I love about Otto is that it looks detailed but its often so quick to do. The little capped sleeves with elastic are just gorgeous. I think it will be great for winter with a long sleeved t-shirt underneath. Wide legged pants are made from a slubby (is that a word?)denim with a contrasting pocket. And one day I will learn how to take decent photos!!!

I venterued into the unkown...

...And came out with a knit top, that I am pretty chuffed with. Its the Muksis top from Otto 1/2009.

It was challenging to say the least. Why you ask?

• The knit was super fine and kept rolling at the edges.


• I put a small hole in the sleeve with the overlocker, hence the strategically placed stars.


• I couldn't quiet get the tension right on the wrong side.


• I used a straight stitch as advised by the otto instructions but have a feeling that perhaps I should have used a small zig zag??


• The sleeves are meant to have a large cuff but I couldn't attach it by stretching the sleeve and cuff around the machine table. Does that make sense? So I bound them and added some elastic. I think next time I will just taper the sleeve and bind or hem the edges.
  

But overall I am happy with it. It fits and I love the fabric. I will keep persevering until I conquer knits, as there are some great patterns around.

So if anyone has anymore tips on sewing with knits, then please send them my way.

A Whole Lot of Pink

...this outfit is gorgeous (if I do say myself) and if I could get away with dressing the little man in pink then I certainly wouldn't be giving it to a special little girl, for her 2nd Birthday tomorrow. There is a lot of pink but she is a pink girl and looks lovely in all shades...

I finally mastered the pockets in the pants that I had a real disaster with on the din-o-door outfit. The tunic top is from the latest otto mag - Kukkopilli raglan sleeve tunic top or bird whistle top. I omitted the applique as I didn't really like it.

I have used this fabric before and I have lots left over. Iam trying to use what's in my stash, although I am tempted to visit Spotlight this weekend. I got a voucher in the mail today for spend $100, get $40 off. WooHoo and I think the kids need some cord for winter.

Now off to start some winter sewing for the kids and some birthday sewing for my twin sister..(I am running out of time )

Dino-O-Door Set

A special little man turned two and had his party on the weekend. I whipped up this little Dinosaur set as he loves them...calls them din-o-doors! They are the "Taku" linen pants from the latest Ottobre (minus the square pockets). They are quiet a slim fit. I hope they fit over his little nappy bum. I will definitely add an extra cm to the seam allowance when I make them up again. I decided to get tricky and draw up my own pockets ( I even made my own bias binding). What a nightmare. The front pockets looked great laid out on the cord but of course I forgot to add extra to the top to take into account the top casing. Ahhh...this is why you shouldn't sew while sleep deprived. So they turned into patches instead. Anyway it looks cute, topped off with a bonds skivvy. Perfect for winter.

I saw this post by Bek and thought that this is me. Life seems to be a constant cycle of washing, cooking, cleaning up, getting kids out the door, grocery shopping, working.... There is no time. We are also seriously sleep deprived. The girls are both waking, every night and Archie seems to have joined in. (I can't remember the last time we had a full nights sleep)...Ahh sometimes I just wish we had family we could palm them off to for half a day, so that we could have some time together. I keep telling myself it will get easier and its just the sleep deprivation talking. It looks like my shifts will be cut as they have employed 3 new staff so at least I should get some more family time on weekends and maybe even a sleep in. I can live in hope.

Its Been a Productive Week

Its been so hot here...we have been hibernating in our lovely airconditioned house. So last week while the kids played, I managed to get a little birthday present finished for my niece Ruby who turns 5 on Friday. As we speak this parcel of goodies is winging its way to the UK. (I know her mum checks this blog but I am sort of hoping that she doesn't have time this week). Jane, we need some photos of her in her new outfits.

Umbrella Girl - Lounge Set. I stencilled the little girl onto the plain tee. I am not overly happy as some areas smudged. But it looks cute. I used a vintage cotton for the pants and cuffed them with some new fabric that was in the stash. I love how these two fabrics came together. I am thinking that I need some of these for me :)

Siiri Pinafore Dress - my first pattern from my new otto subscription. I love it. It came together quickly. I made the 110 size but didn't add the seam allowance. Its a perfect fit on my girls and I know Rubes is a similar size. It will look great over jeans and with a long sleeved tee or tights and a skirt. I will definetley be making the girls one of these for winter. The only area I am not happy with is the loop. Thankfully the big button hides it!. Its also the last of the cupcake material.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY SWEET RUBES xoxo

Polka Dot Blouse

More Ottobre....this time the polka dot blouse from Spring 1/2008. I love it. It is a great fit. Its the perfect blouse for Canberra spring weather. The girls wanted to wear them today and of course its freezing. So we just layered with a long sleeved t-shirt underneath. I might make up a summer version and shorten the sleeves to just above the elbow. And rather than make the embellishment I added buttons. I have a thing for buttons at the moment....

Party Dresses

Just excuse the scruffy hair and daggy tracksuits. We were not long home from a busy morning at playgroup

Last year the girls really wanted me to make them a party dress to wear for their birthday. Master A was only a month old so the sewing machine was on an extended holiday. This year when they asked again I was determined to make them something special. We seem to start a 4 month roll of birthday parties and special occasions, including Great Nanna Shirley's 80th next month. So the girls picked their fabric and when I got my first Ottobre Magazine I immediately found their party dress - the Jigsaw Pinnafore. They were incredibly easy to sew together, only a couple of hours and that was for 2 dresses. The cutting out took a little longer but only because I had to really think about what colours were going where!!! but I am delighted with them. They look so cute. I did have to take them in 3.5cm on either side. They were really wide. So I am not sure if this is standard with all Ottobre patterns or just this one?? I just need to find a white or cream long sleeved top to go under them as its still a bit chilly down here. This may prove challenging given that all the shops now have their summer stock out.

Dino Aqua Shorts

I have just finished my first Ottobre pattern and I have the say that....I am really happy with them. Its the Aqua shorts from Summer 3/2008. They look super cute on the little man. I just hope that it warms up and he gets to wear them before he grows out of them as I forgot to add a seam allowance to the elastic casing. Oops! And I appliqued a stretchy bonds t-shirts with an extra dino...(excuse the crappy photos. I think I need to play with the settings on the camera as its taking grainy photos)

I get It!

I finally succumbed and ordered two Ottobre Magazines and they arrived in the post on Monday. Now I get what all the fuss is about. The designs are fantastic and the detail is amazing...where to start. Well I have nearly finished a pair of shorts for Master A - the Aqua shorts and I have a list a mile long to start on for the girls, including:

• Jigsaw Puzzle Pinafore
• Desert Pants
• Polka dot blouse

And the list goes on...Now I just need to get some kid free time. I am also hoping that Ottobre will help me overcome my fear of sewing knits. Surely it can't be that hard. Right??