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

Doll's Quilt / Wall Hanging Swap

(Photo by Tina)

It has been quite a while since I have unveiled a major finished item and this is the reason why. I have been concentrating on this wall hanging for the Doll's Quilt Swap on the Essential Baby forum for the past month (apart from a few little projects here and there).

My partner was Tina who requested a wall hanging for her little girl's room. The colours in the room are aqua and red and she was after something with a 'whimsy' feel, think "Alice in Wonderland".

I have such great sewing friends on EB and this lovely lady came to my rescue again with a bundle of aqua and red, including some fabrics which were exactly the same as quilt in Tina's daughter's room.

So I sketched out a design based on a pattern in a Homespun magazine then found this hand embroidery pattern which I happened to already have saved in my files.

Add some fabrics from Spotlight, a few from local quilt shops and some many nights doing the embroidery and she all came together.

But then I had no idea how to quilt it. Fortunately, another very talented EB quilter, Emma, saved me with a diagram and then I set forth to quilt.

There were so many things which were 'new' for me in the process. I'd never made pinwheels (aren't they a type of sandwich?) or pierced together my own patchwork design. I'd never binded a quilt and never made my own label.

But I still gave it a go, and even pierced together fabric to make the backing fabric.

I'm really pleased with how it all turned out. I think would look fantastic on a little girl's wall. Especially if you like aqua and red.

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LABEL IN POSITION

Pirate fun!

Kaptain K's mate and neighbour, Luke, celebrated his 3rd birthday with a pirate-themed party. In line with the theme, I decorated a couple of shirts as a present for Luke, one with a pirate applique from a past Handmade issue and the other with machine embroidery. I also embroidered a shirt for K.