Lately I've been Sewing For ...

The Sweet Cheeks, Art Caddy Swap, where the purpose was to add your flair to a simple pattern.

I was designated a little boy almost turning 3, so went for something with a cute applique and space for some great jumbo crayons or the giant tripod pencils, perfect for those little hands.

Its' the very first Art Caddy I have ever done and something I'd like to make more of.

Instead of a layer of flannel, I had some beautiful soft interfacing that I have used in many bags, which made for a nice padding or softness.

This Ryan's Art Caddy, his mum is keeping it to give to him for his 3rd Birthday which is coming up shortly, what a lucky little boy!

Applique prior to putting Caddy Together

(Above & Below)

Then there was the cute little number for Miss Ruby Rose. This little girl is utterly adorable and I can not wait to be able to post a picture of her adorned in her new outfit! Miss R's Mum brought the fabric and I popped it together for her, then completed the outfit with an appliqued elephant top (orange button eye) Notice the elephant's truck is pointing upwards signifying GOOD LUCK? I couldn't resist some little yo yo's as Miss R's, the talented Mumma G creates gorgeous hair accessories and I am looking forward to seeing what she has done with them! {before you ask why I haven't put buttons on them, Mumma G is quite handy with a needle and thread herself too, lol}

Overall thoughts, this is very CUTE!

Then there is little Baby Damien Riley, brother to D'Arcy and Matthew. This is part of his gift, I'm still working on a few little pieces, but have been trialling using terry towelling as bib backing and a few different shaped bibs. Very cute tractor fabric and it seems the little tie applique is a hit with mums and their baby boys! Who am I to deny sweetness?

Above (before button holes) & Below (finished pieces)

Wouldn't you know it, a few days after finishing
my self-covered button kit turned up in the mail! lol
Always the Way!

And lastly Jaxon, of whom I have been trying to make some simple play pants for home. At first I was excited, I was doing so well, following the pattern, adding a hem-band (with a gorgeous Riley Blake FQ I had), but all the time thinking, "boy these pant legs look a lot longer than Jaxon's legs!"

As you can see, what is meant to be a size 3 (according to the pattern I brought and Jaxon does normally wear size 3 pants) actually fit his older sister Jaida (who is in between a size 4 & 5 in leg length now) ... so unfinished, knee patches pinned on, these have gone back into the wardrobe with some extra fabric for an applique perhaps in 12 months time? I'm actually going to use this pattern just to whip up Jaida a pair of pants (same size) to wear under her Pre-School dress through winter! (so not a complete waste of time!)

As you do, I went back to the drawing board, and with a size 3 rise and a size 18 month leg length, I have a good final leg length for Jaxon (I guess it probably didn't help that I was sewing at night and couldn't try as I went as he was tucked up fast asleep in bed.) The 18 month leg length is a great length, but to achieve that hem band next time (now that Jaxon has tried these on and we have measured) we would have to cut at the 6 to 12 month leg length which would allow the hem-band to give that extra length!

Its' all a learning process and for me, with my children's own unique measurements, I am learning the artful skill of tailoring to their specific needs. I still have applique to go, a waist to finish sewing and a good iron! Never fear young Jaxon, Mumma B will have them finished soon!

March Sewing Round-up!

My Goodness, how quiet my humble blog has been of late! A quiet echo of nothingness ...

I am in awe that April encroaches so quickly, so a quick round up of some sewing that I have completed during March, (and yes although I missed the Feb knit sewing challenge due to lack of finding material (I do have hopes of making something from knit in 2010), there will be a softie making an appearance in the coming week or two!!) ...

March also saw a Janome over-locker join our area of creative chaos courtesy of the recent Aldi sale (and a kind teaching colleague needing replacing, hence funding my new purchase!) Its' purring along like beautifully, although 2 spools almost need replacing (wish me luck with those tiny knots!) I am locking the ease of over-locking and the beautifully finished seams it is creating! How have I lived for so long without it?

March Round-Up ...

Quilted Bibs ~ Just trying something a little different. I ended up making my own bias for the neckline and straps, I had been trying store brought bias to wrap around the entire outer edge of the bib and turn into straps, but I was having some "trauma" with evenness of the bias on each side (my bias may have been too wide for it as well.) .. I really like the softness of the bibs, so will trying a few more and a few different quilted designs (not my simple lines (lol))

Reversible Pinafores size 00 - This was just trialling a pattern that I brought off Etsy to create some little gifts for friends. The size 000 wouldn't even fit over Jaida's cabbage patch doll's head, so became rehashed with applix for the doll collection. The size 00 was more accommodating and has been promised to a couple of friends. I think if I were to make it again, I'd rather do a sweet little button hole join on the shoulders (so stay tuned.) .. I like how it is reversible though :)

Sweet Little Baby Skirts - These are all size 00 and just adorable, made from a simple fat quarter. Loving the ease of creation with the overlocker with these little skirts. All are going out as gifts :) And there has been requests for more! So sweet!

A little 0-12 month Caroline Dress - this was just to show a friend who wants to start sewing, what can be achieved with some scraps of fabric from your stash while your children sleep! I have gifted it ...

Another Super Twirly Skirt using some beautiful Amy Butler fabric (we have a holiday coming up so just adding some more skirts to Jaida's suitcase, although I think this one has a lot of growing room.) This time instead of the 3 joined pieces at the bottom, I used two long 42 inch strips, it pleased me greatly not having to fit that third seam into joining at the bottom, just beautiful matching side seams! I also used my gathering foot, this time with a tension of 6.

I am signing off for a week as well to have a much deserved sea-side recuperation with the family as well, so until then, happy sewing!

Tractor Bibs for Jacob

I couldn't resist making some very cute boyish little tractor bibs for young Jacob, the latest addition for our cousin J, her husband G and their little girl H. I think they are pretty cute and can't wait to pop them in the post.

Sweet Chickpea Bibs on a Saturday Evening

It seems that life is springing up from around me at the moment, and you know that means special sewing for those cute little newborns that you can't resist a cuddle from. I've decided that I can do a "gift from the heart" and I know my friends enjoy those special things that just seem to make it extra special! lol

The only thing is that I have to "ever so impatiently" wait for is to see whether these gorgeous babes are actually girls or boys which ultimately will influence the material that I decide to use. In the next 4'ish weeks, another three new babes will join the world on their earthly adventure (2 friends and my beautiful Sil will welcome new babes), two have already arrived, a gorgeous little girl born at home in the last week, and a beautiful little boy arrived this morning.

After thinking about what it was I would like to try, I thought I'd give the simple baby bib a go first. Make a chickpea bib was the pattern that I tried tonight using some of my left over max new fabric from Jaida's skirt (these bibs are for a gorgeous little (um ha .. big) girl) .. lol

It was a very easy pattern to follow, I used medium interfacing on the patterned material to give it that extra soft quilting feel, and the back is from my red christmas material (this is like never ending material that goes on and on and on! (lol)). Therefore the bibs can actually be reversible, and once made right side out, they have been top stitched around and joined with a velcro dot.

Caleb, Jaida and Jaxon's bears model the chickpea bibs



Flash is off to try and highlight the colour of the fabric more.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out and how heavenly they feel upon the hands. These will go to the gorgeous little girl. For the little boy, I'm off to the quilting shop tomorrow (I think its' open from 10-3pm??) and am going to try a baby blanket using 1 yard cotton/flannel, 1 yard minky, 2 yards quilt batting and of course some coordinating colored thread (so wish me luck!)