Hansel & Gretel Vest

I admit that I was drawn in by the cute use of fabrics on the Hansel & Gretel Vest by Kati Cupcake.

My plan is to make the boy version one day but I couldn't go past this fabric combination for a girl version.

This pattern is an easy and simple sew. I substituted the button holes with snaps and sewed the buttons on top just for looks.

Fabric: Spotlight (no longer in stock) - drill and quilting cotton (ruffle)

Elsie Dress

Another cute creation, this time an Elsie Dress by Sew Sweet Patterns. Rather than have the contrast hem, I kept the dress plain and added a row of ric rac - not entirely intentional but still works.

I used ribbon ties for the back.

Skirting around

Now people who regularly read my blog would understand how I like to mix up the boy sewing with a bit of the "pretty". So when I heard that one of my work colleagues was having a girl, well I just couldn't resist.


Pattern: Pink Fig Patchwork Skirthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Sizing: 6 to 12 months
Fabric: Mostly leftovers with the bottom trim from Lincraft

Pattern review is here.

And this skirt is in a larger size for a gift. It started off as a dress, and well, as you can see that's that didn't happen and it ended up as a skirt.


Pattern: Adapted dress
Fabric: From stash
Sizing: 2

Ruffle romper

Not set to finish with the ruffled bloomers, I made a pair of ruffled rompers. They look very cute and while I haven't seen what look like on, the photos here do not do them justice. I think that it adding snaps to the bottom to make nappy changes or toilet training easier for this size (size three) would be a good idea. Here's the link to a finished pair by the pattern designer Tie Dye Diva to give you an idea of the finished look.

Fabric: quilter's cotton from Spotlight
Made for: Lily
Pattern: Tie Dye Diva, size 3, Ruffle Romper (no pattern alterations)

Ruffle pants and swing top

It seems like ages since I have posted about a finished item. I have been crafting; just the time has been shortened, especially as I have been feeling tired at night and knitting a few rows here and there is more appealing. Now also that I'm working full-time my crafting time will be especially tight. Before I changed working days, I was able to make this cute little ensemble for a work friend's little girl. The cuteness factor is huge!! It was also a change to fiddle and learn how to use my new overlocker which deserves a post of its own. The patterns were super easy, especially with doing the rolled hem on my overlocker and for extra cuteness I made a covered button for the back.

Ruffle pants back



Front of the whole outfit showing the swing top

Back of the whole outfit


Made for: Miss Lily, aged nearly 3
Fabric: Cotton from Spotlight
Patterns: Tie Dye Diva

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)

Tutu Bag

I made this the other week for a little girl in a Secret Santa swap. A little birdie told me that something with ballerinas would be a hit so this bag instantly came to mind. The pattern is now available as a free download from Jodie Charlton (Ric Rac's blog).
Fabric, tulle, trim: Spotlight
Pattern: Ballerina bag by Jodie Charlton

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

Present for Mac

A little girl's top in Christmas fabric from Lincraft, the blue fabric from Spotlight, pattern by that*darn*kat

Pink Fig Patchwork Skirt

Made this, using this pattern for my niece Lauren. It has lots of twirl!

Cupcake Dress Revealed

Dress back

I made this dress for Xena's daughter Jazynthe in the EB children's clothing swap.
Dress front

All in all pleased with how it turned out. Took alot of time to sew given that the dress is 16 different panels, all sewen together and topstitched, plus adding the trim to the bodice and hem panel. Jazynthe has a big smile so I think she liked it - not sure how the fit was though, it's always hard when you don't have a model the right size. It was loads of fun picking fabric and sewing for a little girl for a change. It made me stick to and finish a project on deadline. Thanks to Ingrid for organising.

WIP
Before I started working back at work four days a week, I tried to make Wednesday's my WIP day. I did one WIP Wednesday and to finish one item off, a pair of shorts for K. I preferred this pattern in the baby cord, not so much this version. The denim is a bit stiff and I don't like the different fabric for the pockets. I do like the topstitching in red though. Sorry the photo is a bit washed out because of the flash - must remember to take photos during the day!

Twirly skirt

I made this skirt and matching hair clip for Nerida's little girl Mackenzie using this tutorial . As I was making it Nerida went on a skirt making frenzy so I just prayed that a little girl could never have too many skirts. I just loved the Michael Miller fabric.

Party fun!

For Kaptain K's birthday party I put together ittle thank-you bags. I made these little hair clips to go into the bags for the girls.

Manic!

From the top (sorry I can't get this blog to co-operate)..

I finished off this little outfit for a Secret Santa - Butterick pattern for the pinafore top and pants, and Michael Miller free online pattern for the booties. It was just like sewing little doll's clothes. I hope she likes them!


It's getting to that time of year, with Christmas now not far away and two birthdays coming up in December.

We had Kaiden's daycare Christmas break-up on Saturday at a local park. I finished a pair of Christmas shorts for him, featuring monkeys who are looking a bit Christmassy. Toddlers - can't get them to stay still! The fabric was on sale from Kelani and the pattern is the fabulous Burda pattern which I have used before.

We went into the city on Friday night to see the lighting of the Christmas tree. Here are my two guys. Yes, that is a mo on Brett's face for movember. It very quickly disappeared at the end of the month.


There was a smiley face in the sky last night. It is better in this wonderful photo here.

Tutu Bag

Despite sewing on the handles the wrong way - yes it is possible! I have finished my ballerina bag. I think it looks so cute - perfect for a little girl. Oh and I sewed a button on a shirt - it's out of my "to do" pile so it counts towards my tally for the year which now sits at 28. I'm about three months behind in my goal of completing one sewing project per week. It will take a huge effort to catch that up!