Black Sequins

From fabric to a ball gown in a week.

With a ball to attend I wanted to make a dress to wear. I true Kylie fashion I left it until the 11th hour before actually starting it. From fabric to ball gown in a week.

I started with an idea from a picture.  Fabric was purchased and a calico toile was constructed.  Having the choice to wear either long or short to this event I was torn as to what I would do and truth be known is why I put this off for so long.
I was going to make a slightly gathered dress but then when to Rathdowne Fabrics and purchased something completely different and opted for a long dress.

The last time I made a long dress it was to attend a ball whilst I was pregnant with B.
Being a little out of my depth and starting to think that I had bitten off more than I could chew I  purchased Vogue 8358 to help with the dress section and The Pattern Drafter and my toile top design to get the fit. 

Sequins!!!  Who's idea was this?  The girls at Rathdowne Fabrics were fantastic with their advise. Had I known that the sequins had to unpicked from the darts and seams prior to sewing I probably would have chosen a different fabric before it was cut. Lara suggested I read Poppykettle's sequin dress post and I found it very helpful.
I also used the quilting walking foot.  I found that the lining fabric wanted to slip and slide while sewing and using this foot help eliminate that.

Alterations: 
Slightly lower back and V-neck at the front
Straight Straps (the pattern had cross over straps)
Altered the underarm and front to account for my small bust size.
Fully lined instead of just a facing

What I would do differently:  If I made this again I would add a little extra length.  I had to purchase a new pair of shoes (the horror) to accommodate for this.  On the upside I managed to dance the night away on the dance floor and didn't have sore feet and have to walk home shoeless.

Would I make this again:  Yes, however I am hoping that this dress will be able to be worn again.  Black is a classic colour and moving as often as we do I manage to get a few wears out of my gowns.
I also have approx. 1m left of the sequins and I'm thinking a pair of shorts or a jacket, I can't let it go to waste.

Pattern:  Vogue V8358 ; The Pattern Drafter
Material : Black Sequin and Stretch Underlay from Rathdowne Fabrics
Cost: $134

 

Soccer Season

The 2014 Soccer Season has come to an end.

I will miss our Saturday morning drive down the highway.  The cold breeze blowing against our face and the icy cold weather. I enjoyed being the soccer Mum, I grew up around the soccer fields watching both my father and brothers from a very young age.

This little man has developed so much in the six months that was the soccer season and it has been requested that I find a team for him when we move.

Blood Moon

We didn't think we would get the chance to see the moon in all it's glory on Wednesday night.  But just as it turned red the cloud cover cleared and I managed to snap these.  We didn't see the full eclipse as the clouds came back. But what we did see was magical. 

Sewing for Camp

The crazy Victorian weather and a girl heading off on her first school camp called for a few new clothes. 

First up is long jumper that reminds me of something from the 80's.  She tells me that it is comfortable and has worn it a few times since camp so it is a winner.  She loves the cowl neck and the drawstring.  I made her a size 7 and it will more than likely fit her come next winter.  I left off the pockets and had to adjust the sleeves and cuffs to fit.

The hyper colour tights with it finish off the outfit and make for an easy wear outfit.

This is the Perri Pullover.  This time I made it in a fleecy lined stretch and left off the pockets.  Again another favourite in the wardrobe.

 

Pattern Details
80's style Purple Jumper:  Burda 9482
                                          
Perri Pullover                 : CaliFaye

Tights                             : Go To Leggings

This Week @ mealyandi

It's hard to believe that the first week of the school holidays have finished and we are onto the second. 
Being that we are on the move again next year, we have taken the opotunity to visit a few 'to-do' places of interest on our list.

 

1. Visiting the local winery's and enjoying lunch
2. Our first look inside H & M.  Gone is the boutigue shopping destination. Instead it is filled wall to wall with people pushing and shoving each other.  Don't get me started on the lines to try clothes on or heaven forbid, actually purchase something. 
On the way out I heard a group of girls gasp and say "It looks just like Singapore"  It took all of my effort not to say "It is a piece of Australia's history originally built in 1859" 
3. It seems I wore the kids out with all of the sight seeing.

WIP WEDNESDAY :: The next generation

I have fond memories of my mother making most of my clothes growing up.  I was of the tall, skinny variety and going clothes shopping was a nightmare (If my Mother had the skills to make my shoes I believe she would have done that too)

Visiting my Grandparents was always fun.  I would sit and watch my Grandmother create the most beautiful items and was always excited if we managed to be visiting during the final fitting of the next local Bride's head piece or veil before she walked down the isle. Sitting and watching on from the bed as she looked at herself in the mirror.  Then down to the back steps and watched as my Grandfather pressed and would often be taking up a pair of too long pants for himself or my Mum (he was a Tailor by trade)


So it comes as no surprise that I have past on the love of creating things with ones hands to my children.

This project has been nine months in the making and she is almost at the end.  Amelia has plans of entering it in the local show here next weekend.  I'm looking forward to seeing it hanging up and her feeling the sense of achievement you get when finishing a long term project.

Joining in with The Dove Nest :: Wednesday WIP linky.

WIP WEDNESDAY :: All Stitched Together

I'm getting there.  One week until the end of the term.  Which means that I have one more week to go and it has to be finished. 

I think that I am doing well.  The pictures look great all framed in different colours (even the Hawks ones don't look to bad)

Now onto sandwiching, backing and binding,  all terms that this knitter is not familiar with so any advise and links would be wonderful if you have any you could suggest (is this where I admit that the only quilt I have done before this is a few doll ones?)

I havn't picked up the knitting needles in weeks, I have a few things that I need to cast on but I really want to get this onto the finished pile before the end of the term and am quiet looking forward to gifting it.

Joining in with The Aussie WIP Wednesday over at The Dove Nest.
What are you working on at the moment? 

A Cat in a Hat

During National Literacy and Numeracy Week the school held a Book Character Parade.

Being a book lover and having missed the last few Book Weeks, I wasn't disappointed when Baden asked me to make him his costume.

He narrowed it down to six (yes, six) different characters and then chose

THE CAT IN THE HAT

I could have easily have purchased a $20 costume in a bag made in a factory somewhere in China.  But that would have been the easy option.  Instead I made him a hat and tie and then he asked for a onesie with a zip, white chest and paws. How could this mother say no!
 

We finished off the costume with some face makeup and with a wave of his tail he was off.

“Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me NOW!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.”
― Dr. Seuss : The CAT in the HAT 

Pattern Details:

Hat and Paws : My own.  Measured his head and winged it.  The brim is a circle in a cirle and stitched on. The stripes are 3 inches wide and made for a very tall hat.

Onesie:  Kwik Sew 2704. Pattern A, minus the feet and with the sleeves and legs turned and elastic added.

Materials : Rathdowne Fabrics 

WIP WEDNESDAY : A knitter out of water

A few months ago, I came up with a brain wave of an idea (I get those often).  Amelia's teacher had announced her pregnancy and I thought that a quilt might be a good idea from the class. 
With some secret conversations with another teacher, the two of us hatched a cunning plan.

The kids all drew a picture with fabric pens or crayons.  I gave them a few guidelines and left them to it.  Clearly there are a few Hawthorn supporters in the class, not really what I was expecting, they clearly missed the 'baby quilt' explanation.

Fast forward to a few months later. The tummy is getting bigger and the term is coming to a screaming halt and I've just started the sewing part of it.

HELP: would you strip it or just sew it together with a boarder?  This knitter is wading into unknown territory with this project.

What are you working on at the moment?  Head over to The Aussie WIP Wednesday hosted by The Dove Nest for more Works in Progress around Australia.

Perri Pullover {Pinspired}

To say that Amelia is in love with this Perri Pullover would be an understatement.

I made it a few weeks ago from fabric that I purchased off of the $2 table at Darn Cheap Fabrics. 
She is getting so much wear out of it and there will be more (in fact there is already a second cut out for her and one for me that I will get to when my over locker is back from getting repaired)

 This is the size 6 and as you can see there is still plenty of room.  The only modification I did to the pattern was move the pockets down slightly.  The pattern has them quiet high up and therefore pointless as they can not be used.

I also thought that I would join in with Little White Dove's: Pinspired posts.  I have so many Pin's that I reallly should do something about using some.  Pinterest is telling me that I pinned this 17 weeks ago. 

52

 I have not been organised to join in with 52 portraits this year.  Actually I am struggling to pull out my camera most weeks.  I really need to do something about that and snap a few more photos of these two.

 This adorable picture was taken of them a few weeks ago in knits* that I knitted for a friend.  they are growing up before our very eyes.

For more adorable portraits, pop over and say hi at Practising Simplicity

* I'll blog about the knits soon

{WIP} A little knitting

Where do the days and weeks go.  I have had huge intentions to sit down and blog for so long now, but it seems to be the last thing on my 'to-do' list and then it just never gets done.

I have been knitting though and I have a few things to share that have been completed of late.

Today I'm working on a jumper for Master B.  I am loving the cable that runs up where a standard seam would run and have just cast on the second arm.  I'm hoping to have it finished for him by the end of next week and have [hopefully] made it big enough to fit next year as well.

And to get me into blogging again I thought that I might join in on a few Linky's  So pop on over and see what Little White Dove is up to and join in too.


What is in your WIP pile?
Is it still cold in your part of the wrold?
What Linky's and blogs are you enjoying at the moment?

{a long weekend}

This weekend we are hanging around home. A long weekend of eating, knitting and spending time together.

There are hotcross buns rising as I speak and the kettle has boiled many times today.  The days are getting shorter and cooler.

A few of us here have other plans.  He is busy preparing his kayak for a paint job.  Goodbye canary yellow.

What have you got planned for the long weekend?

{Somewhere Over the Rainbow}

It's been a while since I have had a finished knit off of the needles. 

This was on the needles for three months and I am in love with it. 

The pattern is by Julia Stanfield (aka Just One WIP) and is called Western Hills - The Blanket and what's better, it is free. 

This is the second time I have knitted this blanket and it is quickly becoming my go-to baby gift at the moment.  It takes a little longer to finish, but the end result is worth it.  There have also been requests for one in an adult sized one, I somehow don't think that it will be on a set of knees for this winter but is certainly something to aim towards. 

The yarn in this one was a hand dyed pack that I purchased 2 years ago by Red Ridinghood Yarns, the colours are amazing. I'm currently attempting to knit from my stash, so the only thing purchased was the white from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

 

There are more knits on the needles at the moment as it has cooled down somewhat and again I remind myself that I should be more organised, mybe next year.
 
What is on your needles at the moment?
Have you been doing anything crafty?

Back to the Blog...

Where has the time flown?  I don't know about you but it feels like I have blinked and we are already at Easter.

One term into school and I finally feel like I am getting on top of things.  The young man started his formal school learning this year and is doing very well.  He has come such a long way over the past year with his language and social development and we are thrilled that he has a loving a nurturing teacher to continue that this year. 

I've gone back to work this year as well and am loving being back in my field of early childhood and making a difference in little people's lives.

I have been knitting (more on that later)  Requests from both kids are coming in thick and fast with the weather slowly changing.  I am also part of a fun new blog about travelling with kids.  Pop on over to Punch Bouggy Travel and say hi.