[Toyota888]

Phew I just finished cutting fabric for two puppet show dresses and one set of the shorts. I was in fact planning to cut a tunic top and dress but accidentally cut the tunic fabric full length. I am going to decide tomorrow whether I cut it shorter or not… now that I have cut the fabric it seems silly not to make a dress. I am planning on sewing the dresses up at the same time – step by step to save time – has anyone done this and want to warn me off it? The only issue will be thread colour but for all the bits that don’t show I figure I can use the same neutral colour for both and just change thread for the top stitching. Is there anything else that might be tricky?

[lattemama]

I’ve been on a sewing roll the past two days. Yesterday I made the Bedtime Story pajamas for the little one. This morning after the kids and their daddy left for a day at the water park I made adjustments to the big one’s Ice Cream tunic.

She thought it was too short so I added a hem panel. I was gonna do a panel in the same fabric as the tunic when I happened upon a piece of Anna Maria Horner’s Chocolate Lollipop fabric I had in my scrap pile.

After that I started and finished (!) a 2+2 blouse for the little one.

Pictures are all on Flickr (user IsabelDecibel).

Tomorrow I start work again after a 5 week vacation. But it’s just for 3 weeks then we take off to NYC to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Just the two of us. Kids are staying with the grandparents.

So any sewing done now will be all for me I think. I start a sewing class on Sept 1st. I hope to make myself some pants and a coat.

[Nicole]

T888, I do that all the time, I rarely sew just one garment!

I use a pale tan thread on my machine for inside sewing and a clear/neutral thread on my overlocker, and just change my top stitching thread as needed.

Just be organized , and keep your pieces separate and you will be fine !

[Nicole]

Have fun Lotta

[Toyota888]

Thanks so much Nicole – I am guessing you have a lot of experience in this area!! A tan thread sounds good – I am doing a yellow dress and a pink dress – although I don’t have an overlocker I think that would look fine on my zigzagged edges too.

[sewinginthecity]

Nicole, it amazes how much and how well you sew!! Any other tips for getting more done in less time?

[Nicole]

Wow , thankyou that is seriously kind of you to say that !

I am very fortunate that I am able to leave my sewing ready to go, and the second my baby goes to bed ,I head for the sewing room. I try and do everything else with her when she is awake,so she has lots of stimulating time and chatter.

I sew in a craft room, so the older ones can be near me if they wish and I am still there for homework help or chats about the day.

I prep our meals in the morning and everyone helps around the house.

My husband works long hours, so my sewing stops me missing him too much.

Luckily , my baby still feeds frequently,and that is when I get on the computer and chat to you chaps !( and I do not work, hats off to working mothers)

[sayiamyou]

Nicole, very nice of you to say about working mommies! It is very hard to be away from my girl all day. And there are several nights each week I feel guilty about wanting to sew when I only get to see her for a few hours after work each night. She is still a co-sleeper though and I take great comfort in cuddling with her at night. I always respected all my mother did, but I never realized it would be this difficult. There are no enough hours!! 🙂

Nevertheless, I second SITC. Your output is quite amazing and of course your work is amazing as well!

[Nicole]

I mean it ( and I did it !, so I know what I am talking about !)

Little One is our bed too !

I am lucky to be able combine sewing instead of working, so far we are better off !( Don’t forget we run a farm)

[nancy]

I have new fabrics for oliver+s creations! actually, my weekend project was to wash and inventory all of my heavier cottons… the new stuff includes some cream cotton with a dainty floral print in violet, and then a deeper violet cotton with a dainty but more densely packed teeny tiny floral print in cream. (I will use the latter as trim (I had the 2+2 blouse in mind but one never knows)… the 3rd find is a taupe cotton with dainty swirls made in black + olive pindots! and last but not least is a deep blue cotton with tiny vines + leaves in dark blue that will go really well with denim (perhaps another 2+2 blouse?!! (happy camper, Nancy)

[nightknitter]

I’m in the midst of sewing school uniforms!

[Nicole]

Sounds gorgeous Nancy !

I love your uniforms,nightknitter !

[Nicole]

Finished 2 little pairs of Sailboat pants for Little One from the scraps of the Twins jeans, will post them later. I went away from my standard mother of pearl button and used red ones, just in case we have a blue one next time.

I must get on with the Twins Icecream blouse and Tunic, will not be able to sew tomorrow ,its our annual ram sale, almost as big a production as a pattern launch ( not quite as exciting and more pooh,mud and tipsy farmers)

[sayiamyou]

Maybe not as exciting, but probably funny still??

I think red buttons will look great on the sailboat in denim. A very nice contrast.

[Nicole]

Hopefully we sell lots of rams and then I can order all the patterns without feeling guilty ! ( Will order them anyway, even if I do feel guilty )

Thankyou Mel