Prem baby''s blanket

My beautiful new pink and orange wool for a baby blanket.

There is a wonderful facebook group called earlybuds who make clothes and blankets for prem babies. I've been following them for a while and decided to make a premature baby's blanket for them. It meant I could knit in pink for a while as I never get to make girls things, and it was a small square (50cmx50cm) so I thought it was achievable. There were a couple of issues though.

My knitting needles when I went to knit today

Everyone denies it, but somehow my metal knitting needles got very bent! I was able to make a quick trip to the yarn shop nearby http://www.hollandroadyarn.co.nz/  to get new needles. I chose bamboo ones. They are very nice to knit with, and it was an easy project to take with me in my purse.

Mr F trying the blanket out for size

Its now finished, but I need to figure out how to get it to not roll at the edges then I can send it off. So that makes it project knitting no 3 completed.

Sewing projects half started

When I don't have the energy to actually sew, or lug my machine to the monthly sewing group, I take along projects that need cutting out with the intention to sew them up sometime soon. Unfortunately that box is a bit overflowing at the moment.

Behold my box of cut out projects

half sewn slip that needs a lot of adjusting to complete

Oliver & S Bucket hat

 The hat I've actually completed since these photos were taken.http://livinglifenz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/hat-making.html

A small size Oliver & S Red riding hood cape

The last cape I made from this pattern was fun to make and very cute. Just waiting for time to finish this.

This is a self drafted pattern from a cute wrap top that I own. 

There is a self drafting challenge coming up with the sewing bloggers so I might get inspired to finish this. I need to make myself some detailed  instructions so that I get the sewing order correct as there are rolled edges and seams to get in order.

Possibly a summer skirt

I'm not sure if this one will get completed. Its a skirt, cut out but its leftover material from my nightshirt. the nightshirt has faded dreadfully so I'm not sure if its worth the effort to make this up knowing its not going to last.  Also the boys have pointed out that I'm in camouflage when I'm against our blue floral duvet.

Bluet Dress

I bought this beautiful dress pattern with some of  the other Wellington Sewing Bloggers.  Its from a small independent pattern house in France. Very fancy.  Unfortunately their instructions were not so fancy.  I love the back and after the second re cut I got it fitting really well. The collar instructions were almost non existent.

The very cute bow in the back

The front I mucked up by getting paranoid that it would not fit around the middle and I didn't have enough material left over to recut the front centre panels.  I had to cut off a couple of inches at the front neckline as it gaped quite a bit, then I added a self drafted facing to the front that I wrapped around the front to use as a button placard.  

The front before alteration

The final dress

I extended the sleeves, but lost any form of shaping in the process. I have since reduced the width of the sleeves but they could do with a button at the wrist edge to reduce width even further. 

Hat making

 I've restarted my hat making efforts. I made a very cute red hat last year, and it looked so great that I immediately bought some more material and cut out a blue and green hat. Then summer finished (it happens quickly in Wellington) and it sat around all last year. 

Oliver & S Bucket hat

I made it reversible in Mr F's favorite colors, but held my breath that although he'd grown a couple of inches last year his head size would be similar. Thankfully it was.  I didn't spend quite as long sewing circles round the brim as I wanted to get it finished and worn so it's not quite as well sewn as the red hat.  You can see in the photo below the set up at the fabric hoarders Sunday sewing - lots of big long tables to spread out on!

Reversible as well.

Mr F looking very happy with his surprise green hat.

I was also pleased to finish a hat for Mr D.  I had thought about making this for a Christmas present but knew I would be pushed for time so I didn't mention it. I did wash the material and dry on the line outside so it was hard to keep the fact I was making something starwars a secret! This is the Escape hat by Angel Lea Designs.  via PDF.  I made two hats, the first one a uregntly needed painting hat, which meant I used what I had to hand, which was a tan woven and a tan stretch - not the easiest combination to sew together. I also cut out sew in interfacing rather than iron on and decided to use that. It didn't have quite the same body to it but it was in use straight away so can't have been too bad.

In usage about 2 mins after making!

I added the fabric band that was included but only on one side to see how it worked. It was good to try it out but since it added to the sewing time I didn't bother in the starwars version.

With the fabric band

With a peek of geek

Or all star wars

 Apparently its perfect for cricket watching. Now only need to make one for Mr J and myself and we are all set for summer!

Sewing Bloggers Room Tour

I belong to a wonderful group of sewing bloggers, who are based in Wellington NZ (Hence the name WSBN - Wellington Sewing Bloggers Network. We are challenged by the mighty Gemma  to take picture of our sewing rooms on a day in July and post a room on our blog. Thanks to the Crafty Mermaid  for making me go next.
 
 My sewing room(s) tour starts here.

My sewing space

This is my sewing area in my share of our upstairs lounge. On the right is my cutting table, then my desk with my machines, my treads and a book case with my notions and material.

Bookcase of fabric

I have had periods when the bookcase held beautifully folded material in neat piles, but this isn't one of them. I used to have another book case, but decided it blocked the light so removed it from here. This means all my boxes of notions etc had no home so things got shoved around a bit.  The curtains are the last of my 12 tablecloths from our wedding. Curtains might be exaggerating a bit as they are held up with boxes, but they block the fabric hoarding from visitors.  Did I mention that I have a few more piles of fabric - damm Gemma and her demand for honesty in this post.

Curtain fabric under the couch

So this is my upholstery fabric on rolls under the couch downstairs. Its about 30 meters of curtain fabric mostly from the local plunket fabric sale and some for upholstering a bench seat should I ever be bored. I'm a sucker for sad fabric left at end of sales - they call to me and tell me to take them home.

fabric box under cutting table

This is a mix of decorating fabric and sheets for making muslins, and the box on the right is knit fabric bought before I focused on the quality of the materials I was sewing on. So a mix of polyester and merino. Mostly for making sweatshirts. Doesn't that sound like I've made more then 1 of them in my life to date? Anyway. For extra bonus you can see the train tracks that make up the obstacle course on the way to my half of space.

Bits and bobs

This is my mending pile, pictures waiting to be hung, muslin, linings, interfacing and a spare curtain that I use as reference to make sure I'm sewing curtain things on the right way around. Just above this is the cupboard waiting for repair before I can store these away. It needs a roof.

Sad empty cupboard waiting for fabric

 I have a vague recollection of Gemma saying we should write about what we are planning on sewing next. I prefer to have a range of options to choose from, depending on my mood.

WIP Pile

This is my work in progress pile. I've cut a few things out for when I get inspired to sew but can't be bothered starting anything from the beginning.The current pile consists of an Oliver & S Red Riding Hood cape and two of their bucket hats. Plus one a line summer skirt - no rush on that as Wellington summer is a while away.

Now its over to  The Dreamstress for tomorrows tour. Enjoy and Happy Sewing!



 

Short Tales

I made a couple of trousers from some black fluffy material (technical I know) and had a wee bit left over.

Fluffy material and merino from the Fabric Store.

Mr F's creche have tails that they like to wear, so I thought I'd make one for him. Took about 4 minutes, and he loves it. I made a slightly shaped rectangle hemmed on the overlocker down the longest side. I then measured his waist for the elastic, hand stitched it on the tail and all done. I didn't even bother hemming the bottom as its bound to get destroyed or lost before it wear out!

A very easy tail

I wished I had a photo of Mr F trying to catch it to show me - he went round and round in circles!

Tail in action

Gillian Merino Tunic

I recently took part in the Wellington Sewing Bloggers 'Whats in a name challenge'. The aim was to sew a pattern that had the same name as you. This then extended to your middle names, names of any women in your family, a name you would have liked to have been called etc in order to make something you'd actually want to wear. When I wore this to work for the first time and was doing a twirl (as you do) for my workmate she said that's very you. On that basis I christened this my Gillian tunic.

This is a self drafted merino tunic, made up very quickly as my workplace was freezing. I was very pleased with this when I made it as it kept me very warm. But after looking at the photos I can see that the shoulders are a bit wide and I know the back needs taken in. I self bias binding around the sleeves and neckline and managed to get the tension about right - which is a first for me after completing the Craftsy 'Ultimate Tee" course.  I'm hoping this will become a tried n true pattern in the future and have already bought some blue material to make this up in next.