Month: December 2007

children's clothing, craft, crochet, kids clothing

Crochet cotton cardigan for Clare

What a crochet feast!  I’ve been away from home for a week (just back today) so without my sewing machine I’ve been powering along with the crochet hook.  First up, a crocheted cotton cardigan for Clare (love that alliteration!)

It’s in 8-ply cotton from Bendigo Woollen Mills (and it didn’t even use up one of their big balls of cotton), the colour is “lemon drop”, and the pattern is a freebie from the LionBrand website (called “Lacy Child’s Top”).

I didn’t do a gauge swatch first (naughty naughty) as I figured that if it didn’t fit Clare, it would eventually fit Stella.  It does fit Clare, although it will only fit for this summer.

Luckily she likes it too (and it’s not pink).

bags, craft, sewing

Frenchy Bag for Donna

I really enjoyed sewing this bag – beautiful fabric (Amy Butler, from the Nigella line), both in pattern and quality, and a terrific pattern (also Amy Butler – the Frenchy Bag).

Once again, it has many of my construction alterations, although the pattern is very comprehensive.  I used thin fusible wadding throughout, but didn’t add interfacing, since the fabric weight was heavy enough.  I added a key fob, and divided the interior pockets into two (thanks to handy tips from those who’d already made it and added their review to the Pattern Review website).  The pattern included the use of a magnetic catch.

This is the shoulder bag size – the pattern also includes a smaller handbag.  Another tip I gained from the Pattern Review website was that it is difficult to effectively topstitch around the top of the bag to join the lining to the outer – after trying briefly on the machine, I ended up handstitching the two layers together.  It gave a much nicer result.

And I made a matching cosmetic purse and tissue cosy.

Donna says that when not using it she is going to hang it up in her house as an ornament!  What a great way to think about bags (especially when you have a few) – they are not only useful, but can be ornaments!

adult's clothing, craft, crochet

Mermaid scarf

Another Christmas gift!  This went to my cousin Freya.

It is so difficult to photograph scarves properly!  The pattern is the Mermaid Scarf, available free online from Interweave Crochet (you need to sign up to their newsletter “Knitting Daily” to access the free patterns).

I used Cotton 8-ply from Bendigo Woollen Mills.  The pattern was fairly simple once I got into the flow of it, and has worked up into a lovely ruffly scarf.

It made a nice change from the Boteh!  I’ve also been busy on other crochet projects – I’ll blog them soon!

bags, craft, sewing

Handbag for Mum

Christmas is over for another year – lots of food eaten, drinks consumed, laughter, conversation, and gifts.  It’s lovely to be able to share time with relatives!  We had a beautiful two days with my parents, brother & sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins’ children.  There were 34 of us, including four babies under a year old.  The children interacted beautifully, and the farm is always such a refreshing environment.  Thanks again to my aunt and uncle!

Now I can blog some of the other Christmas gifts that I made!  Firstly, a bag for my mother.

I’ve used this pattern a few times now – it’s Vogue 7812.

The fabrics are the same one’s I used for Koula’s bag; the Manzanita line by Joel Dewberry.  I’ve done all the usual things I do when making bags; it’s fully interfaced, both with a light-weight fusible interfacing and with fusible wadding; magnetic snap closure; there is a inside patch pocket, inside zip pocket, and key fob; and the base contains fast-to-fuse to maintain it’s shape, as well as bag feet.

 

Mum really likes it!

baby, children's clothing, kids clothing, sewing

Another outfit for Stella

I’ve been wanting to make this pattern for ages – it’s Butterick 3405.  So cute and girly!

Flutter sleeves on an A-line top will win me over any time – as will a simple bias bound neckline.  The little pants/shorts have an elasticed waist and the leg elastic is threaded through casings, keeping it clear of baby’s delicate skin.  The back of the top closes with snaps.

This photo shows the fabric and the front pleat detail a little better:

It will be lovely to see her wear it!  I didn’t make many baby clothes for Clare, since I was studying when I had her and barely had enough time to complete assignments and do exams, let alone sew.  I’m enjoying dressing Stella in things I’ve made her myself (that aren’t hand-me-downs).

Merry Christmas to all!  Thanks for your encouragement since I started blogging – I’d never have believed that my little “show and tell” sewing & crochet blog would average over 200 hits per day!  It’s helped me to keep on sewing and crafting, and I am constantly inspired by the blogs that I read.  Have a lovely holiday!

children's clothing, kids clothing, sewing

Clare’s White Dress

My machine is back from it’s service, and has already been pressed back into duty!  I can’t quite believe how quietly and smoothly it runs now …

Another Christmas dress for Miss Clare!

This one is New Look 6613, view C without the ric-rac trim or bow but with the overskirt from view F.  I added some trim around the hem (I would have added the same trim to the overskirt but didn’t have enough in the stash).  The fabric is beautiful – it’s an allover embroidered cotton from Darn Cheap Fabrics.  The photos don’t really show it off well, unfortunately.

The square neckline is very flattering on Clare, and I love the gathered straps.

The elasticised back makes it very comfy and easy to get on and off.

 She loves it!  Yay!

craft, sewing

Door stops

The last of my Christmas gift sewing is done – YIPPEE!  A host gift for my aunt and uncle who will be having the family en masse on Christmas Day.

It’s a modified version of the Nine Patch Door Stop by Elizabeth Green at Oh, Fransson!  What a terrific tutorial!  I didn’t have enough time to do the patchwork front, so just used a feature fabric and quilted it (and the back of the doorstop, in the same quilting design).  It’s filled with beans (it takes quite a lot) and has a zipper at the bottom so it can be emptied for washing.  I’m going to make loads more of these – they’re useful and attractive.  Actually, I made one the same for me.

My presser foot mechanism on my sewing machine gave up the ghost just as I was completing the last seams of the door stop.  It is now booked in for a service.  No wonder!

bags, craft, sewing

Make-up purses

Nikki gave me this lovely little kit & pattern for make-up purses (although I’ve made plenty of bags, I hadn’t made any purses like this with zippered tops before).  Here is the result!

I really like the boxed corners – it means that these little purses hold much more than those made from two square rectangles.  Both are lined with contrasting fabric (should have photographed the inside too, I suppose.  Too late now!)  I’ll be whipping up LOADS of these in the months ahead to add to the “little gift” stash.  The tissue cozies have come into their own as teacher gifts etc already, and I think that these would fit the bill perfectly as well.

You can find the pattern here: (just scroll down a little).  By the way – Happy Birthday Nikki!

bags, craft, sewing

Seagull bag

The Seagull bag (another Christmas gift, let’s hope that the recipient doesn’t read the blog) which is made from the wasp bag pattern by machenmachen.

Fabric from Ikea, with the outer bag interfaced with light wadding.  This bag was constructed a little differently to usual, but has worked out nicely.  The handle detail is cute!

 

On the inside I’ve inserted a zip pocket, patch pocket and key fob.  And yes, there is a magnetic catch. 

It’s quite large and squishy and would definitely hold a day’s worth of “stuff”.  I’ll use this pattern again some time!

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