Pattern Review Wednesday - Tee for Two

Wednesday August 25, 2010 - 10:37 PM

This week's pattern review is the Tee for Two raglan t-shirt/dress by Patterns by Figgy's.  I fell in love with the simple but stylish t-shirt dress as soon as I saw it, but never having had a lot of luck sewing knits I was hesitant about trying the pattern.  When I was at Spotlight recently I saw several cute knits and decided to use the Tee for Two pattern to make some nighties for Zoe, and if they worked then I'd get some good quality knit and make a dress.  I have made two nighties so far, and will definitely be getting some good quality knit to make a dress using the same pattern.

Pattern:  Patterns by Figgy's Tee for Two

Fabric: Knit fabric from Spotlight

Size: I made a size 4/5 for my petite just turned 6 year old

The Tee for Two pattern comes with a full sized pattern sheet and instruction booklet.  It is described as a pattern for beginners, and this is certainly true.  The dress only has three pieces to cut out (plus the neckband), and because the dress is designed to be made with raw edges showing, there are no hems to worry about. 

Of course the only caveat to suitability for beginners is the fact that this pattern is designed to be made from knit fabric, and knit fabric is not always the easiest fabric to sew with.  Knit fabric shouldn't be difficult to sew with.  This pattern doesn't require an overlocker, or even a machine with a special stretch stitch.  The instructions explain how to use a small zig-zag stitch to sew the seams, and there is a fabulous tutorial on the Patterns by Figgy's blog with extra tips to make sewing with knit fabric a breeze.

Now I happen to have a fabulous sewing machine which sews through plastic and heavy cotton webbing without even needing to change the needle.  But my machine does_not_like_knit.  Ooooohhh no it doesn't.  It won't even put stitches in the fabric unless I have a Janome stretch needle in it (that's right - not just any ball tipped needle will do - it has to be a Janome). 

But I'm really happy with the second. 

I will definitely be making this pattern again, and can't wait to try out some of the other Patterns by Figgy's designs.

This weekend...

Sunday August 22, 2010 - 10:28 PM

I practiced my German...

 

 

August Giveaway x 5!

Friday August 20, 2010 - 01:22 PM

I have been meaning to give away some patterns for a while now, and have even had some patterns sitting in their own special giveaway pile, waiting for me to get around to posting about them on my blog.  In an attempt to get organised and clear my house of special little piles, I am going to give these patterns away in all in one go.  Well not all to one person...but there's just going to be one giveaway where I will draw 5 names to each win one of the patterns.   

So - if you would like to win yourself one of these patterns, simply comment on this post, and on Wednesday the 1st of September I will randomly pick 5 winners. 

Patterns to be given away are:

Kristen Doran Sling Bag Pattern, Make it Perfect Slumber Party Jammies, Modkid Sydney, Melly & Me Dee Dee, and Little Bird Matilda Dress (thanks to Little Bird patterns for supplying this one).

      

   

 

P.S. You might notice that you no longer need to go hunting around for the comment box - it's sitting right under this post just waiting to be typed into! (shame it took me a year to work out I could fix that in about 10 minutes - doh!).

Pattern Review Wednesday - Woodlands Shirt

Wednesday August 18, 2010 - 08:24 PM

I am very excited to introduce the first Pattern Review Wednesday!  The aim, as the name implies, is to present a pattern review each week.  And since I sadly don't have the time to make and review a pattern every week, I'm getting some friends to help me out!  

This week's pattern review is by Cherry.  If you've ever looked longingly at quilt images on Flickr, chances are you've looked at Cherry's work.  This time though, Cherry has used her sewing skills to make beautiful clothes for her daughter Evie, and Cherry's first review is the Sew Liberated Woodlands Shirt.

 

 

 

  

Pattern:  Sew Liberated Woodlands Shirt

Fabric: Heather Ross Double Gauze 

Size: I made a size 2T for my 23 month old daughter Evie.

The Woodlands Shirt I made for my daughter Evie came together quickly and easily.  It has a gorgeous square neckline, and has clear instructions which allow you to finish the neck with 2 lines of neat contrasting stitching.  This same finish is used at the sleeves hems and around the bottom of the shirt, and give the shirt a professional finish.  

The pattern includes instructions for a cute embroidered pocket, but I didn't include this on the shirt as the Heather Ross fabric was detailed enough without it.  I loved being able to dig through my button collection to finish off the pleated closure on the front of the shirt.  I did find that it ran true to size around the torso/shoulders but was a little short, so next time I make it I will be adding some length to the bottom.  I'll most definitely be making this shirt again soon!

Thanks Cherry!  More pattern reviews to come!

Patterns by Figgy's

Tuesday August 17, 2010 - 10:38 PM

I fell in love with Karen LePage's One Girl Circus creations when I bumped into her photos on Flickr more than 12 months ago.  This year I fell in love with Patterns by Figgy's when I saw them reviewed online.  It took a while for the penny to drop that Karen was one half of the creative team behind Patterns by Figgy's.  Once it did though, I couldn't get the patterns in stock fast enough.

 
 

       

            

       

The patterns by Figgy's range includes stylish and comfortable patterns for boys as well as girls.  They are available from Earthgirl Fabrics now!

The rainbow party

Monday August 16, 2010 - 11:33 AM

On Saturday we had twelve girls here to celebrate Zoe's sixth birthday.  Zoe decided she wanted a rainbow theme, and so we had...

A rainbow dress....

Rainbow decorations...

Rainbow food...

A rainbow craft activity....

Rainbow face-paint (thanks Jenny!)...

Rainbow lolly bags...

And of course a rainbow cake (thanks Mum!)....

On Saturday I also happened to wake up with no voice, and so I whispered my way through Zoe's party and had a quiet rainbow meltdown once it was all over.  It was all worth it though when I tucked my six year old into bed that night and the party was declared the best birthday party ever.  Awwww...that's good praise from a six year old.   I can't help but feel slightly nervous about what she's got in mind for next year though....

By the way if you're in Melbourne and you have a daughter who would wants nothing more in life than to invite 12 friends over to your house for a party and the idea sends shivers down your spine...call Jenny from Pixies face painting.  She does such beautiful work and the kids just LOVED her.  Thanks again Jenny!

Sewing room dramas

Saturday August 07, 2010 - 10:02 PM

In between sewing rainbow lolly bags in preparation for the party next weekend, Zoe and I sewed up a Matryoshka doll we had cut from a Kristen Doran panel a couple of weeks ago.

 

While we were sewing (Zoe was on my lap), there was a loud noise, and we looked over to see this sorry sight: 

 

Now what on earth do you think could have caused that shelf to collapse??  And where on earth I am I going to put this fabric (considering every other surface in my teeny tiny sewing room is already well covered)?  Ah well - lucky for me the sewing room is upstairs and I don't need to deal with the fabric issue until after the birthday party.

 

Here is the finished Matryoshka doll - isn't she cute? 

It's a bit quiet at our house

Thursday August 05, 2010 - 02:45 PM

The little man left this week on his first school camp.  

It's is a big event in an 8 year olds life.  He didn't seem too worried about it though.  Nope - he and his friends were beside themselves with excitement :)  I can't wait to hear how it all went - and to see how he manages to fit everything back into the one bag he took (or not!).

In other news I have started uploading some fabric bundles to the store.  Some of these are made from fat quarters left over from the Stitches and Craft Show and include prints I don't have any more stock of.  I will add more over the coming days so keep an eye out!

Birthday countdown

Monday August 02, 2010 - 01:07 PM

Birthday parties are a serious business for 5 years olds.  Zoe has been counting down to her 6th birthday for aproximately 123 days.  She wants it at home, of course, because her mum did such a fabulous job of her 5th birthday (note to new mums...be careful setting too high a precedent with fabulous birthday parties in the early years).  This years party has a rainbow theme, and just when I was starting to feel sick because the date was fast approaching and there was no suitable invitations at my local shops and I really didn't have time to drive to bigger shops to maybe (or maybe not) find something better, I looked on Etsy.

 

Late Monday night I found some fabulous rainbow invitations from The Parchment Place (an Esty store based in Adelaide) and 1 hour after purchasing I had the personalised jpeg file sent to me ready for printing.  A quick trip to Office works the next day, a quick blast through the laminator (it's true - I laminate nearly everything in my life these days), and a magnet stuck on the back and I had fabulous rainbow invitations in the kids' school bags with two whole weeks to go. Yay - the sick feeling was gone and I could relax for at least another week before having to get organised for the party (enter nightmare soon after with 12 children at my home and no food or cake or lolly bags and sick feeling returns!).

Thanks to everyone who entered the Ottobre giveaway last week.  There lucky winner from my blog is Simone who wrote 'Great prize. I would love to win so thanks for the chance'.  The Facebook winner is Anna Miles.  I'll send you both an email to get your address.

Craft group - July

Friday July 30, 2010 - 10:10 AM

Last night was craft group night.  We made these great fabric flowers :)

I liked this project as it allowed me to yack away while I cut the flowers out (if the project is too complicated I can't get it finished because I'm too busy yacking!).