Here's some I prepared earlier

While the hex's seem to have taken over my life, I do have some other stuff to show off that are actually a few months old now.

I made these shorts for the boys for Christmas.

I "made" the pattern myself, by following some instructions on how to do this using an existing pair of shorts and tracing around them. Unfortunately I cannot find the link to the instructions right now, so I shall describe what I did.

• Fold the existing pair of shorts in half - so that the "fly" part is folded in the centre (hope that makes sense?!)
• Neaten and flatten them out, place them on some paper and trace around them
• Add a bit for seam allowances to the tracing
• Cut out the pattern piece and cut the fabric

I've probably missed something there, but it was really as simple as tracing around a pair of shorts that already fit, cutting and sewing. Don't forget to allow extra at the top and bottom for the waistband casing and a hem.

These actually turned out a little bigger than I would have liked, but I did learn a few things and I will have a better idea of what I want and how to get it if I try this again. Either way, the boys love them and wear them so all is good!

I also knit this little skirt for Miss F early in the new year.

The pattern is loosely based on the Pinwheel Sunhat. Next time I would make it slightly bigger, but as is it fits ok. If she didn't wear cloth nappies it would fit better! Must work on toilet training her!

Playing with Fabric

I don't have a large fabric stash (at least compared to my yarn stash!) but with my hands still playing up I decided it was time to look through and see what I had and what I could make.

This is what I came up with.



I had the denim fabric leftover from some shorts I made for the boys for Christmas (must remember to post those!) and the patterned fabrics were a couple of fat quarters I picked up at a craft fair almost a year ago now! I loosely followed these instructions but I adjusted the fabric measurements a little to make it more F's size.

I'm really happy with the way they've turned out, and I've certainly learned a lot about hems and waistband casings! I don't own an overlocker, so I also finished the edges of my seams off with a zig zag stitch. I didn't do that on the shorts and the denim frayed terribly after washing. Hopefully the zig zag stitch will prevent this happening, or at least minimise it.

No action shots but the recipient is definitely happy with them. She likes wearing them over her jeans when I'm not trying to get photos of them to blog with.

A couple of softies

More Christmas gifts made by me, but this time on the sewing machine.


This was my first time making softies like this, and it was kind of fun. Up to the point where I had to sew up the hole left for stuffing! But I worked it out in the end. Not perfect, but not too messy either. You can see the Matryoshka Doll's head looks a bit flat.... That's because I left the opening at the top, instead of the bottom. And then there wasn't enough fabric at the top to sew it up properly. Oh well, live and learn. There's a bunch more of those dolls on the fabric piece, and I remembered to sew those ones correctly!

I'm a little disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm over them from the kids, after all my efforts! But really I should have expected that. What with all the dinosaurs, remote control cars and shopping trolleys that were under the tree as well.

Both of these fabrics are by Kristen Doran. I really want to get the Matryoshka embroidery panel too. But I really don't need another thing on my list of "to do".

Oliver + S - Popover Sundress!

With the recent heatwave my inclination to sit and knit has waned a little. And since my sewing machine's recent lack of use has been playing on my mind a bit, I decided it was a good opportunity to do some sewing instead.

I'm still VERY much a novice at this, but this cute little pattern - Popover Sundress - was pretty easy going. The instructions were really clear (even if I did manage to attach and sew the first arm strap on wrong!). Once I worked out what I had done it was plain sailing from there. I also managed to burn my thumb twice while pressing the straps, before I decided to turn off the steam.

The fabric is just some from the quilting section at Spotlight that I picked up some time ago. Fortunately I had contrasting shades in the same print so they go well together. And they were the only pieces that I had enough of to not have to go and buy more.

Seems to be a hit with Miss F. She arrived next to me at the computer this morning with it on - albeit inside out and not over her shoulders, but the fact that she had both wanted to put it on AND managed to do that much herself, impressed me and tells me she likes it :)
The sewing bug has bitten!

Some sewing

In a frenzy yesterday morning, fuelled by the thought that if I did something constructive it would take my mind off the shocking headache I had, I made this.
Does this fabric look familiar?

I had a bit left over.... perfect for making a matching cushion cover for our new couches. Although I'm actually going to put this cushion on our *old* chair from IKEA.

I followed this tutorial for making the cover. Super easy to follow. My first time inserting a zip. It was really easy to do. Sadly my workmanship is still lacking a little, so I won't show you the stitching around the zipper LOL but it is good enough.

I have a few more I need to do so I'll be more careful with the next ones. Turns out I was sick anyway - the headache was the beginning of something worse :( - so that's my excuse for my less-than-perfect stitching, and my can't-be-bothered-unpicking attitude.

One of these is not like the other.....

Oh. Wait. Hmmmm...


I'll leave you to ponder this one alone.

Sew Cute!

Last week, with F's 1st birthday looming, I decided that it would be lovely if I made her a little outfit for her birthday. Let's not mention that the only thing I've sewn so far is a couple of bags - nothing anyone has to wear! Anyway, after a bit of help from the Crafty Mamas forum, I was direct to this pattern. Super easy! I had some fabric lying around from a SL sale, so all I needed was a bit of elastic and ribbon and I was away!



I think I did pretty well. Although I will admit to a bit of trickery in the photos. The waist on the skirt is not finished - I just have to sew up the elastic and I'm done! I'm going to leave the casing open so I can easily change the elastic, as this skirt will likely fit for a very long time! I couldn't find maternity elastic (or whatever they call that adjustable stuff) at SL. Will have to look around for it because it would make life so much easier! The little butterfly applique was so much fun too. So sweet, and I can't wait to see my little girl in an outfit (almost) entirely made by me!

New Toy

Looky what I got for Christmas.



Let's not talk about how I am not a sewer at all. I plan to learn. Well I did do a little sewing in high school. You know... the door snake type sewing. That was part of Home Ec in Year 9 though, which I failed I might add. Totally failed. I got a "U". The lowest grade possible LOL I really didn't like Home Ec, and I didn't do my homework, so I failed. I was far more eager to get over to the other side of the hall, where they did metalwork, plastics and woodwork. Now that was fun! So anyway, it's not like I've never used a sewing machine before in my life. The machine's actually easy to use (surprisingly to me!), it will be constructing things and having them look as they are supposed to look that will be the challenge. I've already made a bag - it's a reversible project bag and I used this tutorial to do it. I still need to get some ribbon to put in as a drawstring, but the sewing part is done. And it looks like it's meant to!! Yeeha! It was quite fun. Took me about 3 days all up, but probably only about an hours work total. My problem is not having a dedicated place to put the machine, and children who keep *needing* me as soon as I try to do something that they aren't the centre of. How rude!




I did get some knitting done over the Christmas period also, but I can't talk about it. Not just because it's secret knitting, but because it became a knitting disaster :( I've only just yesterday been able to bring myself to undo the part that was a disaster in readiness to do it again :( While trying to ignore that problem I cast on a pair of socks, which I'm almost done with. There wasn't a lot of time for knitting though, with DH on holidays for two weeks. We did lots of stuff out and about with the kids and had a lot of fun while we were at it. One of the highlights was cherry picking, and apart from the 2kgs of cherries we've nearly polished off in the fridge, we have another 2.5kgs of *seconds* cherries in the freezer waiting for me to decide what to do with them!

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and here's to plenty of crafting in 2009!