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)

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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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

EB Kid's sewing swap - received for Kaiden

Kaiden received a 'Woody' inspired outfit from Penny in the eb sewing swap. Penny has some great photos over on her blog showing all the detail in these. The shorts have adjustable elastic in the waitband, are top stitched and have little rivets. The top is western-style with pearl snaps and topstitching. She did an amazing job. Brett commented that it looked so professional! Thank you Penny. We love the outfit and the 'Woody' vest was a great surprise.

My EB Swap

Sewed by Renae using Ottobre 4/2006, modelled by Kaiden. All fit well and the colours look great. K loves wearing it...we just need some cooler weather. It was a fun swap, and a lovely surprise to open the package and see what someone else had made for K. And as an extra surprise Renae had also included some lovely soft, velour Bubblebubs prefolds and a diaper cover - I'd nearly forgotten how little newborns are and the velour feels so soft.
Thank you Renae

My EB Secret Santa

In return, I loved what I received from my EB Secret Santa, Andrea. There was a Christmas apron (which I loved wearing while making Christmas treats!), coasters, a beach bag (which we have used numerous times already) and a crayon/colouring-in case for Kaptain K. How lucky am I?

I met-up with Andrea and Suzanne from the EB group just before Christmas and it was lovely to meet them and their kids and have a chat about everything and sewing! Andrea also made up a gorgeous bias tote bags for each of us which was a lovely surprise! I hope that we can meet-up again soon early next year.

EB Secret Santa swap

The ladies in the sewing group over at the Essential Baby are having a Christmas swap. Here are some Q and A's to help my swapee..

Would you like something handmade as a gift? Yes but it doesn't worry me if there is nothing handmade.

Do you have a favourite Christmas Colour? You obviously haven't seen our house at Christmas - any colour goes but I love purple decorations for the tree.

Do you decorate the whole house or just a part of it? Yes the whole house, the front lawn, the fence, the deck......

Do you have any Christmas Traditions? We normally just have a family Christmas get-together.

What sizes are your children? Kaiden is a size two.

Do you like quick projects or things that take a little longer? I like anything that I can actually get around to finishing.

Is there anything that you like to collect? Craft magazines, buttons, patterns, fabric, I'm a shop-a-holic when it comes to sewing!

What fun!

Susan