SEWING | The Fern Dress

This dress has been finished for a month or so and has been in high rotation since.  I love it. It isn't often that I fall head over heals for a make.  But it is happening more often these days, I put it down to my knowledge of The Pattern Drafter and the confidence I now have in using it, selecting patterns and changing them to fit me well.

 

This dress took some fiddling with. I stitched all seems with a basting stitch and tried it on and refitted a few times before I was happy with it.  The placement of the shoulders were also a challenge and I am thankful for my patient husband that helped (and had joy in pinning me a few times) so that I could get the fit right. 

 

Pattern : Burda Young 7232 View A
Fabric: Printed Linen | Spotlight
Size : 8
Alterations : Lots of fitting of the bodice.  I am 4" smaller then the pattern.  You could basically say that I made it from scratch with the Pattern Drafter and used the pattern pieces as a guide for the shape of the back. 
Other Notes:  Next time I make this I will add a little extra length to the bodice.  I tend to forget that I have a long torso in the excitement of cutting out a dress. This is a make for an experienced sewer, as a rule I often find Burda instructions difficult to follow.
Also to those who are lucky to be graced in the breast department this may not be a make for you.  It is defiantly a strapless bra or other alternative bra option dress.
   

SEWING / CHILDREN : Racer Back Flower Dress

Sometimes a fabric jumps out of you.  This is exactly what this fabric did to Miss A when we had a girls day recently resulting in a trip to Pitt Trading.  The flowers are beautiful and the fabric is so soft. 

Armed with a few new patterns for her we were very happy when we walked out with a brown paper bag filled with a few things to make her a few special pieces.  I am finding it rather difficult to purchase RTW things for her at the moment.  She is quiet small and short for her age, she really does take after her mother this one.

I tried my hardest to talk her into the shorter version, but she would hear of it.  She had a 'long' dress in mind, she is very fortunate that she has a mother who can sew as this required a little bit of fiddling to get the length correct for her.
It was worth it though, it is already in very high rotation and also makes a great dress to throw on after being at the beach all day.

Pattern:  New Look (Tween) 6297
Fabric:   Pitt Trading Floral Knit 
Size:     8 
Alterations:    Altered the hem length by 10cm before cutting and then took another 5cm off once sewn.  Added cotton tape to the shoulders and down the sides to give it some stability (the weight of the dress kept making the length grow. Took in in my 1 inch on each side.
Didn't do the back bow, , instead made a tube from a co-ordinating fabric
Changes for next time:  I won't purchase as much fabric.  I was able to get this out of Amelia's length as the fabric was wide.
Location: Palm Beach; NSW.

 

SEWING // Beaching Wrap

Misses' Super Jiffy Cover up is from Simplicity Vintage reprints range. It screams 70's and funnily enough was originally printed in 1971, as Super Jiffy 9415.  

The pattern features one pattern piece with some clever darts to give it shape.  It was quick to cut out and sew.  It can be made in two lengths although beware. It flies in the breeze and if not wearing your swimmers you might just flash someone. 

 I fell in love with this fabric at Spotlight (believe me, that doesn't happen often as my local Spotlight is a shambles and I can never find what I want)

This came together very quickly, the instructions were easy to follow.

I love this and have already worn it a few times.  I don't know about you, but getting organised to go to the beach can take a while (especially when the kids want to take their Sit-on-top Kayaks) This allows me to put something on over my bathers quickly without having to worry about getting changed or finding a change room. I'm thinking one for Miss 10 in a towelling material might be a good idea.

Pattern:  Simplicity 1100 (Super Jiffy)
Fabric:   Lycra Stretch from Spotlight - 3.2m at $21
          (purchased during 40% fabric sale)
Size:     xs 

Changes for next time:

• Sew it in the fabric suggested.     
• It is a little loose at the back.  Not sure if this is due to the material used or if I need to take a little off when cutting it out next time. 

 
Photo Location: La Perouse
See also: Foxmollie with her added ties to keep it from blowing in the wind.  HeHeHe+She for a short version.

SEWING // Star Board Shorts

It appears that with moving to a city where I have many great fabric stores an easy drive away, my fabric stash has exploded.  I continued to purchase patterns and fabric throughout the year although, the output wasn't matching what was coming in.  I am not going to tell you that I won't buy any fabric, but my purchases will be more planned and I would like to get some control over the fabric and yarn boxes this year. 

It appears that I have been bitten by the sewing bug. I did sew in 2015, I will have to share some of those photos with your soon.  Some how I managed to volunteer my time and co-ordinated and outfitted the cast for my children's school musical + four classes worth of accessories.

These aren't the first make for 2016, but they are the only ones that I have managed to get a photo of.

Pattern:  Patterns by Figgy's - Board Shorts

Fabric:  Light Cotton Canvas with Stars (gifted by Cath)

Size: 7/8 (which is the largest of this size range. My long lanky boy will be in these for a while)

Thoughts:  I only really used the pattern pieces.  The Instructions were mind boggling and I couldn't get my head around it.  I used these instructions to insert the side pockets.  I had fun doing top stitching details on these. 

Changes for next time:

• Pockets - The side pockets are a little on the small side and next time I make these I will make them a little larger so they are useful.

See also: Earthgirl Fabrics

2015 : Gone but not forgotten

Sorry about the lack of blog posts this year.

2015 started with a huge move for us and settling everyone into city living, new schools, jobs and making new friends. 

If I had to describe the year in a word : it would be EMOTIONAL!

It's a year that I don't want to repeat in a hurry.  I've learnt a lot about friendships, family and love.  Lost two very special people in my life. (one far two early for my liking) 

With each new year we have a chance to restart.  Many wipe the slate clean and start again.  I learnt a lot about myself in 2015, and for all of these experiences, although hard at the time I think that I am better for them. 

2016 has started off with a bang.  We bought in the new year in Sydney and watched the fire works with friends.  We have been blessed with some quality family time and have enjoyed spending time with the friends that we have made during the year.  I am not making new years resolutions this year,  I never seem to keep them anyway, but I would like to sew for myself and expand my skills in both sewing and knitting.

I have been sewing (If you follow my Instagram feed you would have seen what I have been up to,  I am hoping to get some modelled photos this week so I can blog those)

Thanks to those that have hung around.  I promise to pop up in your newsfeed more than twice in 2016.

Glen Isla {Test Knit}

As the weather starts to cool here in Australia we start to see the designers from Oz crank out the patterns.

I love nothing more than test knitting for Tikki and when she said she was after test knitters I again stuck my knitting needles high in the air.

This yarn has been in stash for some time.  It is an Evoke Hand Dyed Yarn which I purchased in Brisbane close to five years ago.  After the most recent of moves and the limited storage that I have here I am making a real effort to use what I have in stash before buying anything else new.

This beanie was meant to be for me.  What do you think the chances of getting it back are?

Pattern : Glen Isla by Tikki
Yarn :   Evoke Hand Dyed Yarns: Four Bags Full Merino (8ply)  Earth Mother
             Biggan Designs (8ply) Magenta for the brim
Needles :  3.5  and 4mm

 

Camping in the Garden of Eden

There is something special about this place.

Be it that we get away from it all and spend time as a family.  The walks along the beach at sunrise and sunset or falling asleep hearing the waves crash on the shore.  Eden has a place in all our hearts.