[meleliza]

Finishing a flannel picnic dress inspired by this weeks frigid weathere and K’s recent growth spurt. Really, I want to be on to my own Liberty dress that is completely cut out and waiting for a school event In one weeks time. I hope to finish it before my communion dress fabric arrives. Or at least before I can start on the communion dress. Probably I’ll want to just sit and stare at the fabric for the first day. Then maybe touch it a little. Don’t you have to move slowly with such expensive stuff?

I’ve lost the entire day to trying to apply for health insurance. It takes hours to figure out which plan and then the application form is outrageous. How on earth am I supposed to remember every single illness, prescription and date that all 5 of us have had over the last 5 years? Isn’t that preposterous? Good grief, poor K had like 6 ear infections her first year. Do they really need all of those spelled out? Do I remember which antibiotic finally worked for her? No, that’s why the doctors have records! I worked on it for two hours and now hubby’s taking a few pages. I’ve never needed to buy my own before and I simply can’t believe the hassle. I’m really angry about the delays this is causing my sewing.

[Tamara]

Oh I really feel for you meleliza. It can be terribly frustrating when things get in the way and all you want to do is sew something pretty. I’m going through that right now with kids and cabin fever and we are one week out from school going back! Times a ticking and now the supplies have been topped up I’m good to go but now there are other things to deal with. Like a Pre teen exercising her frustration over my foot! Some things they just find so hard to understand but the sooner they learn about the challenges put in front of them the better they will cope the next time it happens.

Sorry to hear they led you on a wild goose chase re the health insurance. Sometimes they can be so picky! As for doctors and records, you should be allowed to have access to those for the information you need to gain for the insurance company. Have you tried speaking to your doctor about this? Not sure what the protocol is as every place is different but if it is information that is required for health insurance you should be able to have access to it.

So now, that the storm has subsided I might go and hide and trace pictures on to steam a seam in order to get these school thins on the road. Oh wait here comes hubby on the motorbike so I better put the kettle on first!

[with love Heidi]

I made a mock up of the woodland stroll cape, unfortunately for my shape it sat like a sack and made me look huge! I was quite frustrated. So I shortened the sleeves, we pinned in the sides to follow my curves and we might just be getting toward something that might look OK. It’s made out of polar fleece blankets and the moment so nice and snuggly.

We are going to a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party this weekend so last night I made a “princess hat” for my niece. The cone shaped ones with the floaty veil off the back in shiny purple (hat) and shiny black (veil). I finally found a use for my 10m of heavy weight interfacing!

Now to work out my own hat.

[Sarvi]

Heidi, have you made the Amy Butler Weekender bag? I’ve had one partially cut out for something like eight months, waiting for more heavy weight interfacing, that project uses loads of the stuff.

[with love Heidi]

Sarvi, other than really basic tote bags I’ve only made the Oliver and S messenger bag! But I’ll put that idea away for later.

[meleliza]

Heidi, I know what you mean. Without waist definition I look ginormous! I have been looking at cape patterns with a tie belt – maybe you could add that to the woodland cape?

[with love Heidi]

We did think about a tie belt, but not sure due to my proportions of very long legs and short waist. Bit of a wait and see I think.

[Tamara]

Well you could always put it to a panel to help you decide?

Still busy sticking bits of fabric on panels of fabric. I worked out how to do the pencil cases so now it is just doing the outside and working my way in. Hoping to get the appliqué done and dusted by Friday and then I will have the weekend to make them all up. hopefully I am leaving plenty of room and if not they can take their old tatty ones the first week to give me time to get them finished. But I am hoping it won’t have to be that option. Start the year a fresh and organised I say!

So I have one robot, a set of cars and two kokeshi dolls to do. Before he sewing really starts.

[Robin]

Heidi, I’ve been thinking about adding shoulder pads to the cape. Wondering if that would help the silhouette.

[meleliza]

So I’m finally deep into my new Liberty dress! I hope to finish it for a school event Thursday evening. I made this pattern last summer, so it’s smooth sailing, but I am going to try something a little different in the back. My fairy tale dress fabric arrived today and after inspecting it carefully and gingerly, I put it up on the mantle to just look at for a while. I’ll need to practice with it, but it’s just so awfully special!

[needlewoman]

Justsit, I may have missed it, but did you find the school uniform fabric, the pattern etc etc. Dying to know the outcome of your searches.

Home from holiday, and spent most of week getting flat back in order – all the jobs that I ran out of time to finish. Lots of washing and ironing. Now begun sewing again, and finished a size 7 pleated skirt from “One Yard Wonders”, and getting on with first Playsuit – after making two incredibly silly mistakes. Must be Long Weekend brain but I admit I often get muddled up with trousers/rompers. Just posted pics of skirts/dress I took away to give to the intended recipients, and the dress making fabrics I bought at quite reasonable prices.

Mel, looking fwd to seeing Liberty frock, and I agree about pondering Communion material. It is worth thinking abt it as you go about other tasks, and the back burner part of your mind will anticipate/solve sewing/handling problems.

Would like to second whoever it was who suggested a new Topic for What you are sewing Now (2013). It’s getting a bit challenging to sort through the 117 pages we racked up in 2012, and before.

[lattemama]

I cut out two Class Picnic blouses for Sofia this afternoon. I let her pick the fabric from my store stock – that way I can use them as samples as well.

My machine started acting up though when I applied the ricrac on the yoke. The tension was off somehow and not even a vacuuming of the interiors helped. Once I was back to two layer fabric it worked fine (even though I did switch to what should have been the appropriate settings for the extra thick layers).

I still have side seams and hems to do on them both but that will be quick tomorrow evening after work.

I have also graded the Field Trip trousers for Isabel and I found a length of army green twill in my stash to make them up in. I’m only cutting out shorts to see if the waist, rise and thigh work on her and to make sure everything still matches up.

After that I have two Jump Rope dresses planned. One view A for Sofia from a sweet floral – I picked a white collar/placket combo for that (thanks for your help with that ladies!) – and one view B from some store fabric to use as a sample/sell if Sofia doesn’t like it. Time to use those O+S license labels I bought.

Not sure if I should do the Jump Ropes first just to have them out of the way.

[Tamara]

Lattemama, you sound as though you are back in the sewing swing of things. Good on you! Can’t wait to see photos of your finished outfits.

Needlewoman, I haven’t seen the uniforms yet, but n Thursday the uniform shop is open so I can go and get some samples then. I am hoping that one of the plaid fabrics I found is the one to go with. If it is then I will buy in bulk and make up her dresses myself. Mind you I don’t like the fact that all the school fabrics I found that could be remotely close to the plaid description are all polyester – yuk! Can you imagine in heat over 40 degrees c? If I can’t make the dresses because of the fabric then I will still be able to make the shorts and skirts. Apparently the shirts have the school emblem printed other so it will be a little more difficult to duplicate them successfully. They won’t know the difference by the time I’m done. So will keep you posted as to how it pans out on Thursday.

In the meantime though I am currently doing the appliqué on my oh so elaborate school things – chair bag, pencil cases and reading folder. This woman doesn’t do things by halves!

[with love Heidi]

Isn’t getting the uniforms on Thursday cutting it a bit fine for school next week? What If they’re the wrong size or there’s other issues. One of my frineds has the same issue here, School starts next week and the uniformd are only avaliable on Thursday! And she needs to make some size changes.

Hope one of the fabrics match!

[cybele727]

I am not sewing as I am waiting for my replacement machine, but I did an awesome thing on Saturday. I took a tissue pattern fitting class.

Cut the fitted bodice out, did lots of slicing and dicing, spreading and folding, and now I must retrace the new bodice pattern for this Collette Peony dress. I learned how to accomodate a fuller bust, a small, shallow back, and to match sizing via my high chest measurement, for “bone structure” for proportion and scale up for the chest and tummy.

But what is really cool is that during the fitting it dawned on me, despite the neckline, I can use this for a blank for ALL kinds of sewing for me. Any fitted bodice dress with a back opening, just match the arm scythes, and then redraft the neckline!

This is really exciting. I haven’t been sewing for myself b/c I no longer fit the standard pattern due to my post partum pudge that has stuck like cement. I am sort of a rectangle with boobies! 🙂

So… while not sewing, I am learning new skills. I feel so empowered.