Kid clothes

 I haven't forgotten about my gorgeous girl in the clothes making mission! Not that I can call her clothes 'kid clothes' for much longer! I've had to make her the size 12 in this pattern, and as fans of these patterns know- they only go to a 12! My girl is growing up!

Recognise the fabric from Friday's post? I had this top in mind when I first saw it here! 

(Oh, an Australia map tattoo on the cheek, Happy Australia day!)

 needs no words, does it?

 

 and then the shorts! The fabric was chosen by me- she'd been nagging me for some animal print for the Firefly jacket I want to make her. But I thought it a bit grown up- and when I saw the pink, I decided if she liked it (a self declared pink hater, apparently) I'd make the shorts.

There are some other great versions here. It's hard to see the trim as I didn't make it contrasting, but I thought there was enough goin' on in these shorts already for a contrasting trim! Oh, and no pockets, which may turn a lot of kiddies off! (Don't think Little Miss has noticed yet).

  

Easy elastic waist. There's not really any 'trying on and adjust the length' in these, either; she questioned the high rise of the waistband a bit too (I told her that's the best way to wear them- shhhhh!)

 She assures me she'll wear them!

New tops

 I thought I'd spare you all more white legs and bad posing...

I added to my 3 stretchy tops- some wovens. 

I've made this pattern before, and like it. But I think they are a tad short now, and a bit unstructured. I might need to play around with some darts or something.

I used a Lisette cotton voile, on the clearance table at Spotlight.

Vintage thrifted binding.

My girl calls this a 'Curlypops' top (she knows of Cam's fondness for orange and pink!)

I made a 2nd one in a Tana lawn, also on the clearance rack. I had to take the sides in a little on this one though.

 Then I made 2 Wiksten tanks- this, my new favourite fabric EVER! 'Summer chill voile' from Spotlight. There is just no fault with this pattern! I have seen a blogger I love has made the Wiksten tank with Grainline Scout sleeves- think I'm going to try that next, as the hemline and length are just perfect!

  and the first one I made (and last one I posted haha) is from a Japanese Seersucker (brown with turquoise spot) form- you guessed it, Spotlight!

Still gotta start making pants, but the satisfaction of more hand made than store

 bought is very high!

New projects

 I have a whole bunch of new stuff I want to make at the moment. I started to make a list, and it was getting a bit big!

this list...and more!

I've got some spankin' great fabric to do it with...

A new blanket has been cast on for Henry.

 

And I've joined in a monthly sampler... those deer sucked me right in!

I'm revisiting the hexies too, a nice quick craft for the couch. the plan is to make some purses for a market stall I'm thinking of doing in March... 

I had to show off this great sheet set I was gifted by Cam, either to use as sheets or cut up for quilts.

 Definitely to make something for this little dude! 5 weeks and he fits into this size 0 vintage onesie (found in Little Miss' old toy clothes :) )

Sorry, more pics of me and my moon tan legs!

 I had to put that title, as I even I didn't know how white my legs were until I saw these! Can you tell I don't sun bake? At least I have a low chance of skin cancer on my legs teehee

My goal for this year (not a resolution, just a little goal) is to make more of my work wardrobe. I mainly wear pants and tee shirts, in winter with cardigans, and of course the skirts I made. But I wanted much more handmade work clothes that bought! So this post is to show off my three tee shirts I made, and the pants I am now living in!

These are the fabrics "Santa" put under the tree from Rathdowne Fabrics (well, actually, I did, and they weren't wrapped and I paid for them. Thanks anyway, Santa!) They were all different weights which made it interesting! I didn't end doing a production line because of that, but they were still pretty quick.

This is the pattern.... again!

This is a slightly 'slinky' fabric, ie I think it has a fair bit of polyester in it. Little Miss told me it was swimsuit fabric, but definitely not like the bathers I made her! I was worried the higher amount of polyester would make it a bit smelly at the end of a sweaty day, but I wore it to work all day and it's fine! And very comfortable. I left the waistband cuff at the bottom for this one, and love the sleeve cuffs, they are just so comfortable! Oh, and the fabric was quite cheap as it was a remnant.

 

The 2nd one is a thick cotton Lycra, about $10 a metre, I may have gotten a metre and a half, I cant remember. This fabric is the bomb! So spongy and comfy, and even on the hot day Monday I was cooool as a cucumber! The other reason these fit so well is I've lost a bit of weight and went down a size on the tee, so they fit a lot better I've realised!

  

And finally a black on- much batter than the one here, the fabric in the last one was too thin and had holes in the armpits from the needle along the seam. This is a touch thinner than the white cotton Lycra, still soft and lovely though. I left the waistband off this one (got lazy by the end) and used the twin needle for the hem; if it's not as comfy when wearing, I'll add the waistband back on.

Lookit that fit! My next job is new shorts, I'm sick of the sight and the wearing of these ones! But they were op shopped for a few dollars and have lasted a few years, so I shouldn't complain!

Tips for sewing with Lycra? Overlocker! (or serger). The top shiny fabric I still sewed the seams on the machine then overlocked with 4 threads; knowing how the last one got holes and the wear and tear I hope to get out of these, I didn't think I could reinforce the seams enough! And practice. We all fear something before we try it, then it's lots of practice, and being prepared to chuck out the fails!  I expect many more fails as I learn all about sewing stretch fabric!

Oh, a stretch needle too is great.

I also ran up some new pants from this pattern (which was half price at the last Spotlight sale = $2.50) and some of the ex-curtain fabric I was gifted from my daughters school (don't think I blogged that- I was told to 'take what I want' and ended up with about 10mts! It was going in the bin after all....)

They are The. Best. Pants! Elastic waisted, so no stressing your fly is undone all day! Yes, I have entered the 'stretch oant' stage of my life I think...letting it all hang out!

Outfit one TICK

 

 I've been on a bit of a bathers run- (or swimmers/cossies/togs or whatever you call them! So many different names according to what State you come from it seems!) I've made some before, and Little Miss loves them, especially the Rashie top I made her. A shop bought Rashie top lasted 1 term of swimming, it stretched and was ruined by the chlorine despite me rinsing them straight away and washing as soon as we got home, so the better quality Lycra from Rathdowne Fabrics (from Zimmerman and other designer houses) will hopefully last a bit longer! And a LOT cheaper!

Pants from this pattern (well worth the pattern price  all that time ago!)

 and tops from this pattern

 I pulled out the twin needle for the hems- lovely!

I added the neckband on the tops this time, for extra protection. And it may reduce the neckline stretching a bit. (last t-shirt I made here)

 She can mix and match to her hearts content!

 Oh, and a little extra to keep the hair out of the face and goggles. A Lycra 'scrunchie'!

Look out for a lollie clad kid at a beach near you!

Single Girl Style....

Well, I may well be calling 2012 the Year of The Single Girl Quilt. I think it may have taken me that long!

This time a year ago in this space I unveiled a finished quilt, and surprisingly so I'm doing it again! And they are both for meeeeeeee!

I don't even know when I started it, A Long Long Time Ago though. The piecing of the rings coincided with a Buffy The Vampire Slayer marathon, I remember that! And I started hand quilting about 6mths ago. It wasn't the most portable project, and has taken up too much room on my couch for the whole time! I've been bugging my Instagram mates with it for yonks, and they have actually kept me going the whole way- I did feel like giving up a few times, packing it away for the UFO pile...nah, too stubborn! So I gave myself the deadline on New Years Eve 2012 (about a week ago I set that one) and I did it- with about 2 hours to spare!

The binding was a tough choice- and it wasn't. I'd been assuming I'd do a scrappy vintage sheet binding, keeping with the rest of the fabrics (all vintage sheets sourced from op shops or friends. Beige Homespun from Lincraft). But I remembered a binding I'd seen on a blog that at the time I went 'ping'- that is it! And the Spotlight sale was on too haha. 

Once I'd finished I realised the significance of using a DS Quilts Spotlight fabric on a Single Girl Quilt!

I retired to the bedroom yesterday to hand stitch the binding- after hand quilting it, it was the least I could do!

By the end I have fully embraced the thimble- the Clover adjustable one was on the left hand for the quilting, the right for the binding.

 

Company followed me- she enjoyed laying on it during the making, she seems desperate to get a snuggle now it's done!

It was washed (finally! 6mths on the couch with a cat laying on it left it a bit whiffy) and hung out overnight- so this sight met me when I got up late morning.

 Hang on, you didn't quite see how big it is? (king size if you're wondering. In for a penny, in for a pound!)

 A daylight shot- no filters! Check out that binding- perfect, non?

 

and the size on the bed! Oh, the backing was obviously pieced from 4 vintage sheets- had the kiddo's help on that one!

  One way...

Or the other.

 The vintage sheet doona cover has a friend :)

 

Even folded back it looks great- the hand quilting (pattern supplied with the pattern) just makes it for me!

It called and called today, but I was very good at resisting the nap- going to look forward to bed tonight!

PS Hopeless at  finding links tonight- any questions just ask!