Stop the Press!

I haven't felt the need to urgently blog for a while, but I want to share this pattern with everyone! It arrived nice and quickly on Monday after I bought it from here; and that wasn't very long after it was released by Tasia.

I have been DYING for a good PJ pants pattern forever, the commercial patterns I have I think are aimed at people with nappies- saggy bums! and low crotches. Anyone else noticed this? So to say I had high hopes is an understatement!

The first pair was a muslin- and I hoped wearable. I used some vintage flannel from the stash. I cut a straight size 10 (I went with the hip measurement, not the bust or waist) and did recommended seam allowances etc. I left the piping off the trial pair. And I LOVE THEM!

 

 

 Sorry about the bad iPhone pics- I was so excited when I got home I got the mini photographer to snap some pics! The thick flannel was going to annoy me around the waist I thought (nothing like feeling slim in your bedroom/ lounge attire!) I used some ribbon from the stash.

They sit on the hip more than the waist, and have a normal sized crotch and butt! Yippee!

  I have the next ones cut out- and these will include the piping, my first time making and using it!. I'll be in time for the pajama party!

 I think I'll be making a lot of these- summer, winter, shorts, and as tracksuit pants too. I wonder if I can match my Renfrew count? Six new ones last weekend, which I think takes my count to 12? These were all made with leftover fabrics too from other garments (expect the bottom left striped merino, it was just taken in a lot, but I count it as a new one!)

Kids Clothes Week Finish Up

So I'm pretty happy with what I got done this week. keeping some kiddies warm, that is! It was fun too, sewing outside my usual stuff, and getting to understand knit fabrics a lot more.

The leggings I put new elastic in have come up great- they have the little gather at the bottom too, which is cute.

 

Comfy elastic around the top, and the pj's mentioned in the last post have been worn successfully as well. No more 'tourniquet pants'!

 

The long sleeve tees were so easy! I used this pattern,  I had made a short sleeve one before but she didn't really wear it. The verdict now? "I don't wanna take it off!".(FYI I made a 11/12, and the pattern goes up to a 13/14. There are 2 patterns, but you can get size 12mths- 14 for $16, a major bargain I say, I def recommend it if you have kids!). These are '4 step tees', and I did them nearly all on the overlocker.

 I used leftovers from the stash, one knit a bit looser than the other, so I used bigger seam allowances.

 I stitched a bit of ribbon for the back, saving the labels for 'the good stuff' haha

 

 I used a trick I've learnt of knit-sewing friends- some fusible tape ironed on...

  hem folded up and pressed again. It doesn't move then when stitching. I tried to do twin needle, but my cotton kept breaking, so I used a zig zag instead.

 

sorry, pic overload, I love them a bit!

 

and the H man didn't miss out- he scored some velour track pants

 

and inspired by an embellishing challenge on the Great British Sewing Bee final I added a little pocket. Too. Cute!

I used 2 different patterns, which gave 2 very different results! 

I went around today and measured length etc, and added some cuffs to the velour ones.

I'm glad I set myself a little challenge, or these may have taken weeks to get finished! I have periods of 'non finishing' and I'm glad I'm through that at the moment!

Kid's Clothes Week

Even though I've been blogging and sewing for a while now, I haven't done this week before. I decided I needed a challenge. For those that don't know, every season there is a 'challenge' of sorts to spend and hour a day on your kids clothes... And now I have an extra kiddie to sew for! Baby stuff is instant gratification, really, and usually small and rarely needs interfacing!

I actually made a few things last week, and decided I could count these trousers- started and nearly finished during Episode 3 of The Great British Sewing Bee! I went through the stash and got some faves, and pulled out the book; (more pics of them here too. I have made them before, but can never find things in the archives when I need them!)

Why wouldn't you sew for such a happy customer? No whinging, negotiating for photos and I force him to cuddle me at the end! Perfect!

 and this cute t-shirt says "Born in 2012'. So. Cute! This dino fabric matches one of his bandanna bibs, such a stylin' little man now.

 He had his first 'test drive' of a high chair today, a few weeks and he'll be trying food! But this shot is to show something else I'll make him this week, so bandanna 'drool' bibs. Backed with minky they are super absorbent, and are sooooo much cuter that the traditional ones.

 I picked up this pattern today and some micro fleece, and spent the hour today tracing and cutting (1 pattern piece only, so easy!) and started some tracky dacks!

 For my girl, last night, I replaced elastic. Bor-ing! But necessary. The store bought elastic on these were like a tourniquet on my girls tummy;

  and some leggings I made her last week were too big in the elastic! LOTS of unpicking later, they were super quick to fix, saving me money! Ca-ching!

Little Miss doesn't need too much more for winter, but I realised tonight she has about 5 pairs of PJ pants that fit, and no tops- so I'm thinking some long sleeve tees?

 Stay tuned for more...

 

Pinwheels and PJ's

The kid and I had a long weekend last weekend, with Friday being a curriculum day at her school. So her BFF slept over the Thursday night and played beautifully together all day, while I got this done.

I whizzed up to Spotlight to get some light grey homespun, as I woke up thinking 'grey quilt. pinwheels'. Anyone done that before?

I found this great tutorial which meant they were perfectly joined;

and by Sunday I had a quilt top!

(it's meant to be random, don't know how successful that is)

I then found a twin needle in the packet that comes with the sewing machine (never even looked at those packets before!) I've been dying to try one out, and leggings were the best to try them out.

and the verdict- fantastic! I forgot to change the bobbin the first time, luckily a scrap try first.

they were deemed perfect, just right!

I did a nice think waistband, which she says is more comfortable.

I also made her some pj pants, out of op shopped Little Miss op shopped fabric. She really didn't need them, but hey, they look great!

  

nice and baggy, last 2 seasons maybe?

My crazy kid.

 (tshirt from Target. $8 and beautiful quality.)

But wait, there's more!

I mentioned yesterday I'd come back and show you the 'special' items from our Daylesford/Bendigo day trip.

I scored this chenille bedspread at the MS shop in great condition for...$6.50! Unheard of in Melbourne oppys.

I have a few baby quilts to make, this will be good for the back (of the girl's ones)

Close up of the pattern in the middle

My sister found this panel of 'Alice in Wonderland' fabric at the Lark sale

while I was over scoring this amazing Magic Roundabout bedspread. such an amazing vintage piece! (there is a remade version of this show, but the original is always the best)!

I also found this circus themed barkcloth looking piece, a curtain. Amazing, isn't this? It will be hard to cut into this!

And a new nightie- she picked the sheep fabric a while ago for pj's, but loved the nightie idea. If only we'd bought enough for long sleeves!

don't know what happened with the colour!

 It really is the best pj pattern!

Girly sewing

Yay, she's finally wearing some stuff I've made!

Hmm, actually I made them as requested and tried to keep my opinion out of it, it seems to be working at the moment!

This top has been as fave, so I made another one for my growing girl- in her favourite colour of purple!

and something that never gets refused- new pj's! In her favourite fabric (love hearts).