Archive for the 'Girls' Category

KCW round up

Published on 28/04/2013 by Mary in Boys, clothing, Girls and KCWC. 5 Comments

I had a vague intention to blog more frequently this week on my Kids Clothes Week progress, but after the fail so soon after the start I focused on sewing rather than sharing!

So here are the shorts I made, the top 2 pairs are the pairs that due to the printer scaling the pattern turned out more like a size 5 than a size 8. Fortunately for me I have 2 daughters and these do fit my younger daughter and she likes them!

The bottom 2 pairs are the size I intended them to be , they are now shoved in Bethan’s drawer waiting for the sun to shine! It is still pretty chilly here so rather than getting the girls to wear them for a photoshoot (not so great in our building site of a garden) I pegged them up. No prizes for spotting the difference between the pairs but it’s enough for me to know which pair belongs to which child when they come out of the wash!

I also made half of the Goodnight, sweetheart pjs from Sewing for Boys:

Yes I went for the easy part first, the bottoms. I have cut the pieces for the top this afternoon but not yet had time to sew it. I used some lovely soft flannel from the Children at Play line by Sarah Jane Studios.

I hesitated about what size to make these, Mathias is 3 1/2 and his height is below average for his age, but the pattern comes in a 2/3, 4/5 and 6/7. I was worried that 2/3 would be on the small side and the 4/5 would be way too big. Fortunately my sounding board (aka Tobit) suggested 2/3 would be fine and I’m so glad he did, without the cuffs turned up they fit Leah (almost 6) pretty well so with the cuffs turned up 2″ they are on the big side for Mathias!

I sewed a piece of blue ribbon in at the back of the waistband to help him know which way on they go (I opted out of the faux fly).

Bethan was very taken by the sight and feel of the flannel pj bottoms and requested I make her some! I didn’t have enough flannel in my stash to make a pair so we had a browse through the flannel section at Pink Castle Fabrics and were very tempted by most of what was on offer especially with 20% off this weekend (code EVERYTHING20). I got the feeling that Bethan wasn’t really prepared to wait a week or so for fabric to arrive and then I remembered that I had found some flannel at the car boot a year or so ago. I wasn’t expecting her to like it but she loved it, so I quickly cut out the pieces and sewed them up, probably the fastest garment I’ve ever made!

These were too long on Bethan so I turned up the cuffs 2″ and they fit better, so hopefully both pairs of pyjama bottoms will last the children a good while!

Again a piece of blue ribbon at the back.

So all in all after the near disastrous start to the week I’m really pleased with how productive I’ve been, especially with plasterers, builders, roofers and electricians working in and on the house.

It was a trying week, seriously; I got back from the school and preschool drop off on Friday morning to discover the contents of the under stairs cupboard all over the living room and the electricity turned off for almost all the morning! I’m hoping that I can get on with the other half of the pyjamas tomorrow but I’m not holding out too much hope as the electrician is due here again!

Now the only thing to decide is whether or not to go and buy some of that delicious flannel from Pink Castle Fabrics ready for next time…

I hope you’ve had a productive week whether you’ve been sewing for children or sewing for something/one else.

Linking up my Sewing for Boys project with:

A quilt finish for Siblings Together

Published on 09/04/2013 by Mary in Girls, Patchwork, Quilts and Siblings Together. 11 Comments

So I finished this quilt a week or so ago, I just needed time to write about it!

Last year I bought some charm packs of Little Apples by Aneela Hoey from an online fabric store that was closing down, they were a bargain price and ideal for a quilt for a girl.

It took me a while to decide what to do with them. I had ideas of making 2 quilts with the 4 packs that I had, but after much sketching and calculating I decided to it would be easier to make just the one with this fabric.

I’d seen Jeni’s Patchwork Chevron Quilt and liked the idea but didn’t want to make quite such a big quilt. So I scaled it down using 4 patch blocks instead of 9 patch and this is the result:

Believe it or not we actually had sunshine one day last week so I took the opportunity to take some photo’s in the park, pegging the quilt to the fencing of the tennis courts.

The yellow fabric was left over from last years Siblings Together quilts, I used it to back the Sew Cherry quilts. I had enough left to make 3 rows of chevrons but I then decided I didn’t want a square quilt, so I ordered some more fabric, enough for another row and for the backing too.

The Klona is wide 54″ so a metre goes a bit further than other solids. The finished quilt is 54″ wide, I basted it on the floor in the half an hour or so that I had left before the dining room was shut off in the building works. Unfortunately when I’d finished basting I discovered that it had a big crease in the back, so I decided to unbaste it and add a strip of Little Apple charms in to the back which made the backing fit a bit more comfortably and basting easier (although with no dining room floor I had to take it to my mums to get it done).

I quilted the background fabric between the chevrons following the line of the chevrons.

The binding is Cross Hatch in Bus Red from Lucie Summers Summersville line, I’ve used it on another quilt that I’ve yet to blog about and I do love it as a binding fabric. I bought 3 yards of it with plans for clothing but I might just keep it as my ‘go to binding’.

So I hope that while this is my first quilt this year for Siblings Together it will not be my last, only time will tell! Oh and I must get a label from Laura Jane to finish it off.

Quilt Stats:

Size: 54″ x 72″
Fabric: Little Apples charm pack by Aneela Hoey, Klona Maize
Backing fabric: Klona Maize and Little Apples
Binding: Cross Hatch in Bus Red from Summersville collection by Lucie Summers
Quilting: Quilted by me on my machine
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Wadding 80/20
Pattern: Based on this idea by Jeni Baker

Commissions – bunting and a journal cover

Published on 18/02/2013 by Mary in birthdays, Boys, Commission, Girls, Patchwork and Scraps. 14 Comments

Don’t forget Ruby Star Wrapping giveaway still open here for UK and Ireland folks.

A quick update on some recently completed commissions:

Bunting for a boy:

using the delicious fabrics from the Mechanical Genius range by Mo Bedell:

Bunting for his sister:

using Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey

I have a bit of a thing about using tone on tone, plain or lightly patterned fabric for personalised bunting, I’ve seen some where I struggle to see the letters clearly. These were commissioned by a local friend for her to send to friends in Indonesia – hopefully they’ll be there soon.

Another journal cover, again commissioned by a local friend:

for a birthday, for a lady who likes green;

Made in the same way as this one:

With the addition of some selvedges for fun.

A little bit of subtle stitching to personalise it, I even managed to get it on the spine!

Two happy customers and some fun for me.

Linking up with:

Colour your own lunch sack

Published on 05/02/2013 by Mary in Girls and projects. 9 Comments

All of our children have packed lunches for school/preschool. A couple of years ago I made Bethan a lunch bag which is still going strong but not looking quite so fresh.

Leah’s shop bough lunch bag has been looking quite grotty so I agreed to make her a new one.

I ordered some of Lu Summers Alphabetty laminate in coal from her etsy shop, planning to use it as it would be wipe clean and longer lasting than a shop bought one. I also bought a big pack of sharpies with the intention that Leah could colour in the fabric before I stitched it.

Then the hunt began for a pattern, Leah has more in her lunch bag than Bethan and the chief sandwich maker (aka Tobit) told me that the bag Bethan has would not be big enough for Leahs lunch. After a hunt around I came across a free downloadable pattern from Ellen Luckett Bakers book 1,2,3 Sew available here. It’s for a lunch sack, it’s roomy and less structured than Bethan’s.

I read through the pattern details and discovered that the laminate fabric was not going to work with the design – whoops. I was convinced that this bag would be better for Leah so ditched the laminate idea and pulled out the non laminate version of the same fabric! I cut the main panel pieces out and handed Leah the fabric pens and she coloured in some of the letters, she was just going to colour in the letters of her name but discovered that all the ‘e’s’ were off the fabric, hidden in the seam allowance or not proper ‘bubble writing’ (I blame the designer!).

In my stash I have a pack of insulbright which I used in Bethan’s lunch bag, the same stuff you can use for oven gloves etc. I used this instead of wadding and pulled a Kona orange out for the bag interior/top bit.

A few days later the bag was finished, a few weeks later the sun eventually shone and photo’s were taken:

Oh my she can be such a cutie.

I adapted the pattern, Ellen’s instructions are for a handle either side, I don’t know if her children carry their own bags to school but mine like to put them under the pushchair. That can’t last forever so I put an adjustable strap on this one, so she can wear it across the body, over the shoulder or if I’m feeling extra generous I can carry it in my hand with the strap short.

You can’t really see from the picture but there is a drawstring at the top of the orange inner bit which keeps everything contained. So far it’s holding up pretty well, she’s proud of it which also means any leftover fruit skins are put in a pot and then in her bag (school policy is that they bring home all empties so that we know what they have/haven’t eaten) rather than just chucked in to start decomposing onto the fabric. It can go through the wash which I’m not sure I would have done if using the laminate.

So now I just need to decide what to do with a metre of lovely laminate?

Linking up with:

Almost free stuff here

Published on 19/01/2013 by Mary in creative and Girls. 1 Comment

In preparation for the building work that is due to start here soon I’m having a bit of a tidy-up/clear out, you could be a beneficiary!

First up there’s a book, Sew Pretty Homestyle by Tilda/Tone Finnegan, you can read the Amazon reviews here.

It’s yours for the cost of postage and handling £3.00 (book RRP £12.99) in the UK (anywhere else please ask and I’ll let you know the cost). I’ve never made anything from it, it’s not my style but I’m sure someone will love it.

Next there is a new, unopened pattern by the Kati Cupcake Pattern Co:

Sizes 12 months to 10 years, there is no chance my girls would wear anything like this so I’d love it to go to a good home where it will be used! Yours for the cost of postage and handling £1.00 UK (anywhere else please ask and I’ll let you know the cost). Pattern RRP: $12.95 (£8.00 approx).

Here’s another new and unopened pattern:

Gabby’s sleepover jammies, by Izzy and Ivy designs, sizes 2 – 14 years, again not something my girls would entertain wearing. Yours for the cost of postage and handling £1.00 UK (anywhere else please ask and I’ll let you know the cost). Pattern RRP: $6.25 (£4.00 approx).

Rules? None, first to comment with a request gets the item, payment via paypal within 24 hrs otherwise they’ll be reoffered. Keep an eye out there might be more.

Not a quick birthday present

Published on 18/01/2013 by Mary in birthdays, Girls, Patchwork and Scraps. 7 Comments

There is a pile of things I’ve made over the last month or so that I’ve not written about, here is one of them:

My eldest daughter Bethan has a good friend who was celebrating her birthday, her mum appreciates and admires my work so it only seemed right that between us (Bethan and I) we made something to gift. Young girls it appears like stationery, Bethan certainly does and enjoys writing things down (I’m not sure what I’m not really supposed to look) so the plan was to make a journal cover.

Bethan told me that Louisa’s favourite colour was yellow so she pulled out the yellow scrap box and selected a pile of fabrics she liked. I suggested that we put in a little bit of grey to add a bit of interest and then I was left to sew!

(front)

I patchworked the fabrics together into the right size piece and then basted it to a piece of batting and straight line quilted it.

(back)

I used a Lecien print (Honey Tune) that I bought from the Eternal Maker at the Creative Stitches show last September, it was in the £7.50 per metre basket so I snapped it up. I love it, Bethan wasn’t so keen but as she got distracted with something else I used it anyway!

As a finishing touch Bethan stamped Louisa’s name on the front, just so there is no doubt who it belongs to.

So why was it not quick? Well by the time the fabrics were chosen, ironed, stitched together, quilted and then turned into a journal cover a few hours had gone by. But it was such a satisfying project and fun to use up some more scraps, how to bust the rest?

2012: another year of sewing

Published on 31/12/2012 by Mary in Boys, clothing, gifts, Girls, Patchwork, projects, Quilts, Scraps, teaching and Zakka. 5 Comments

It’s the end of the year so I’m having a quick look back at what I’ve achieved in the last 12 months, I am pleasantly surprised!

Eight big quilts (and a few baby size), six of which I have given away! Quilts for Siblings Together was a big project in the early ‘summer’, it was a joy to sew for others and wonderful much later in the year to read Lynne’s post about the giving of the quilts. I already have plans for next year!

A selection of bags, purses and pouches that have been made, featuring heavily is the Lined Drawstring bag (pattern by Jeni), I love it.

At the beginning of the year I joined in the Sewing for Boys sew along, I guess I managed 4 months before life got in the way. But it inspired me to think about sewing for the children again, and I love the Treasure Pocket Pants pattern, making 5 pairs of those.

There was other ‘stuff’ cushion covers, zakka style sew along items, gifts and I even wrote a few tutorials, and of course the weekend away at FQ Retreat.

A big step for me this year was teaching. I’ve never done it before, but I lead a couple of evenings at a friends home sewing for Dress A Girl Around the World and Siblings Together. In July I taught my first workshop at Arrietty, teaching six ladies how to make frame purses. I’ve done a few more since then and have also taught some private one-to-one sessions. I’ve loved teaching, sharing knowledge, inspiring and giving others confidence in their abilities (and starting fabric habits in others – hahaha!).

So that’s it for today, I have vague plans for 2013 but output may well be determined by building work on our house.

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful 2013.

Feeding the animals

Published on 05/11/2012 by Mary in Applique, birthdays, Boys, gifts and Girls. 18 Comments

You know sometimes you intend to write about something and then you don’t? Well this is one of those!

Way back in May I won a wonderful prize in the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day, it was from the lovely Amy who blogs at Lots of Pink Here and has a great Etsy shop Pinked Fabrics. The prize was to choose 2 yards of fabric from her shop and a pattern. Well I ummed and ahhed over the fabric and then cheekily asked if I could have it in charm packs, Amy being the kind lady that she is said yes. The pattern was easier to choose, not fancying clothing patterns for the children I was taken by the ‘feed the animals’ coin purse.

I’m ashamed to say the charms are still in their packs awaiting the day when I find the perfect project for them.

During the summer I pulled the pattern out, traced all the pieces and then put it away again. Then in September once the children were back at school I took the opportunity to get it out again and spent a few happy hours sewing. As you can see from the pattern cover there are a number of little pieces so the cutting did seem to take forever but then the sewing of the purse was pretty quick. Yes, it took a while to choose fabric and the buttons for eyes, but once that was done…

So I made a cute cat, with a white applique nose and white stitched whiskers which you can hardly see:

This has gone off to live with my 3yr old niece who has filled it with hair clips and bands safely away from her little sister!

This gorgeous dog I made for Mathias, he was well aware that his big sisters have their own purses (none of which are as cool as this) and had been asking for a purse for a while, so this was wrapped up and given to him on his 3rd birthday last month.

Should I at this point mention that he has no money to put in it and the poor dog has been chucked in the toy cupboard…

I’m delighted with how they turned out. The pattern is by the Straight Stitch Society which is part of Oliver + S. I’ve never sewn with any of their patterns but read great things about them. This pattern is well written, I understood all of it, at no point did I make any errors or get confused (believe me that happens regularly to me). They don’t use a lot of fabric and you can customise them however you like. So yes, I would recommend it. Oh and the bonus is that if you do want to make some of these yourself you can buy a digital copy of the pattern and not have to wait for it to arrive in the post.

Next up: the monkey?

Ok I’m off to play at Emily’s, have a great day.

Wiggle it, just a little bit

Published on 06/08/2012 by Mary in Boys, fabric and Girls. 5 Comments

Last week the children and my husband were all at home, the girls had swimming lesson every morning, we (yes all of us) got involved in toilet training Mathias and it rained most of the week. So there wasn’t much opportunity to sew but I had seen Emily’s post about wiggly bags and thought that it was a fairly simple project that the children might help with. The bags are used to hickman lines and the idea is that a bag made from lovely fabric might help to brighten the day.

We pulled some child friendly/novelty prints from the cupboard and cut 6″ squares. The girls took it in turns to press them, feeling quite grown-up using an iron (yes, I should have done the pressing before cutting but who cares?). Bethan cut some tape in to the right lengths but got distracted after about 8 pieces (I was planning to make 10 bags and needed 4 pieces for each bag). She did a good job of cutting the velcro though so I won’t complain too much.

That was where their involvement ended leaving me to press and stitch. They are pretty straightforward bags to make as long as you remember to put the tape in at the right point (I only forgot on one). And before too long we had 11 (someone can’t count!) bags ready to brighten a poorly child’s day.

So if you have a little bit of fabric to spare and a bit of time then please consider making one or two. Either contact Emily and send them to her or contact your local hospital, I’m sure they’d be delighted to have your support.

1st birthday gift

Published on 31/07/2012 by Mary in Babies, birthdays and Girls. 2 Comments

One of my nieces celebrated her first birthday in July, I was umming and ahhing over what to make for her. I made this:

It’s cute but I wasn’t convinced about it’s suitability for a 1st birthday gift, maybe as a set of 3 it would work but I didn’t have the energy to make 3!

Then at last I remembered that I had made her sisters name out of letters for her first Christmas and gifted her some bunting for her first birthday:

Can’t quite believe I just found that photo, if I’d bothered to hunt for it I could have made letters in similar fabric, instead I made these:

So these can be added to the bunting when celebrating her birthday for years to come and I believe that for the rest of the year they are up on her bedroom door.

I’ve a nephew with a first birthday coming up next month so I’ll see what inspires me for that, have you got any suggestions?