EB Swap Item Sent - Girl's Outfit

The second outfit I made was for Karen (Brazen)'s little girl, Emelia. When I asked Karen a bit more about what her daughter liked, I was channelling Hannah Montanna which was a pretty scary experience! I guess that was what came to mind when Karen mentioned that Emelia loves clothes which she thinks older girls would wear.

I'd already flicked through my Ottobre magazines and had an idea of what I wanted to make.

I'll show some static shows but Karen has given me permission to share some "action" shots which are below all of the details.

The vest is from Ottobre 1/2008 and is called the "Juliet" vest. I had some fun hammering in the eyelets into the back. The embroidery is by Bunnycup Embroidery and I added some rhinestones which I used the iron to heat-set on. The thread is metallic.



I had some leftover fabric so I decided to make the Izzy and Ivy Jack and Jill hat. A bit fiddly but I'm sure I'd find it easier to sew the next time around. I wasn't happy with how the brim turned out (is a bit wonky) and I unpicked the band a couple of times to get the stripes a bit more even. I think it looks much better on than off and apparently Emelia loves it ALOT! I especially love the big flower and could see myself making these for embellishing other clothes.

For the pants I decided to tackle the knickerbockers also in Issue 1/2008. The instructions sounded deceptively simple (perhaps because they lacked the detail/pictures). But thanks to some help from the ladies at Crafty Mamas I got through it! The embroidery near the pocket is also from Bunnycup Embroidery with rhinestones added.




I also made a top for under the vest but in my sewing stupor I cut a size below what I should have (a 5/6 rather than a 7/8). I thought it would be ok going by the measurements but it ended up that the neck opening was too small which I am disappointed about. I suggest that if you are making this pattern to double-check this on the pattern before cutting.



How the outfit was supposed to look all together


And some photos modelling the outfit





Sewn for: Karen's daughter Emelia
Patterns: Ottobre 1/2008 Juliet vest, knickerbockers, Izzy and Ivy Jack and Jill Hat, Emily Bell Sleeve Tunic by Sis Boom
Alterations: I reduced the height of the hat by 1cm and advise of a fellow sewer who had made this pattern before
Fabric: Vest/hat, pants, tunic and ribbon trim from Spotlight, rhinestones and lining fabric from Lincraft

Kid's clothing sewing swap - second oufit

I have to admit the instructions looked simple and easy but sewing the bottom half of this outfit was a bit of a stretch for me. Partly because I like little diagrams and in-depth instructions that I can follow to the rule, and secondly there were a few things about the bottom half that I'd never attempted (successfully) before. Even in my decades of sewing I've only tried a fly front once and that was a semi (that is, still wearable) disaster. So then when I go to work out how to do it this time, years and years later, I search the internet and find there are lots of different tutorials which show similar yet all different ways to do a fly front which ends up just confusing me more. Yes, I did pick one way and yes, next time I will do it differently. Finally, though it is finished and here is a sneak peek.

One of my favourite bits (from the top piece which is also Ottobre but quicker to sew)

In the boy zone - EB Kid's sewing swap - sent item #2

I challenged myself to make for two people in the swap. After all, it wasn't fair for one of our boys to receive and not the other? The second person I made for was Claire's little boy who is just a little bit younger than Jordan.

I made a pair of Oliver & S shorts and embroidered them with an applique and words in a car theme. The t-shirt was made using an Ottobre pattern and embellished with an applique. I finished off the outfit with a little vest, still going with the car theme.



Fabric: See I am using fabric from my stash!! Shorts made with denim from a Gardams sale purchased 2009. It had been folded for storage so had some fold marks in it which were only slightly noticeable but I couldn't remove them so I created more marks by distressing the fabric some more! I wanted to do some form of distressing anyway. I stitched some seams, then ran over them with sandpaper dipped in bleach, let them dry then unpicked the stitching.



T-shirt made with stretch fabric from Spotlight purchased 2006.



Vest made with Michael Miller fabric purchased from Sewco 2007, lined with denim same as the shorts.



Notions: buttons from a Ravelry swap.

Embroidery: Car and lettering from Bunnycup designs

Patterns: Oliver & S Sailbox pants size 12 - 18 months. I hadn't used this pattern before despite it being in my cupboard for a year. I found these easy to sew but next time would use a lighter weight denim as it was quite thick in parts. The fit is quite trim so if I was making these for Jordan I would increase them in the rise.

Shirt pattern: Ottobre 1/2008 I found the neck too tight so cut it lower either that or my tester Jordan has a big head. Made a little car applique which is appliqued onto cotton fabric first then straight-stitched to the shirt. I don't think this is my best effort, I don't like stretch sewing!! I don't think making a baby's t-shirt will be in my future again.

Vest pattern: Free pattern download from Leila & Ben

Releasing my inner girl.....

The EB kid's sewing swap is the one time of the year that I can go "girly" with my sewing. This year I sewed two outfits, one was for Lisa's little girl Ashley. Lisa has included a pic of the dress I made being worn, plus the photo from the Ottobre magazine on her blog Beetlehouse Designs. I also took a photo of the dress before it left but it was hard to photograph well.

The outfit is the Romantic Dress and underskirt from Ottobre Issue 3/2007. It was quite easy to make once I worked out how to sew it up as the instructions in Ottobre are quite basic and there are no pictures / diagrams to guide you as you go along. It has given me more confidence in sewing from the Ottobre magazine and I loved making something different to what I normally might sew.

The dress can be worn with the underskirt although I put an extra button down lower as I thought it could always be undone to let the underskirt show through.

A special thank you to Karen for her advise with button placement and the girls over at Crafty Mama's who gave me lots of help with my Ottobre questions!

And I can't forget Kaiden...about half-way through making the dress I realised the Kaiden and Lisa's little girl were very similar with their measurements. While Kaiden did think the dress was very pretty, there was only so many times I could bribe him with chocolate to try it on for size.

Pattern: Ottobre Romantic Dress and underskirt Issue 3/2007
Fabric: Lincraft purchased July 2010
Notions: Ribbon, lace trim from Lincraft. Lace dyed grey to match the fabric. Buttons from Spotlight

Sewing #20, #21 and the 80/20 rule

I have this innate belief in the 80/20 rule. It was also reinforced by the book Sorted (which is excellent) which mentions that the 80/20 rule also applies to your 'stuff'. Like 20% of the clothes in your wardrobe you wear 80% of the time. Then the question is which of the 80% can you get rid off to declutter your life. I have started putting some into practise although I'm finding it hard to part with some clothes - you just never know!

Anyway, the 80/20 rule as far as I'm concerned also applies to people. Like 20% of the people in this world spoil it for the other 80%. A couple of weekends ago our car had an encounter with the 20%. It was innocently parked outside Brett sister's house when we staying over on Saturday night and idiots who were partying up the road decided to karate kick each of the doors. Result = police = four doors being replaced = insurance claim. And while the police took a report, photos, footprints, these people will no doubt get away with vandalising other people's property and will do it again. Lock up your cars people!!

In other news, Kaiden had his 18 month injections and while there was a slight hurt, it was quickly forgotten with a jelly bean. He has started to string more words together like "Mummy read book" with a few new words as well like "pretty". He kisses properly and can point out his head, shoulders, nose, mouth and eyes. I think helped by the fact that they are learning "head and shoulders" at daycare. Trucks, tractors and big machinery are his favourites and he loves the book from his Grandad which has pictures of all of these.

And in crafty news, I finished this pair of pants from the Ottabre Summer 08 pattern book I received for Mother's Day. They are meant to be made from lighter weight stretch material but I had this fabric so thought I'd do a test. They turned out well. The binding on the pockets gives it a nice finish. I'm also trying to finish of something in my pile of "to do" each week so #21 was fixing up a pair of trackpants. Hardly exciting but it's done!