[Tamara]

Do you know My latest parcel,from the U.S got to our shores in three days but it was Australia Post who decided to walk with it from Sydney to our PO, so I completely understand your ecstasy in finally receiving your parcel Needlewoman.

Those quilt blocks are from the quilt I made the children early this year – I still have to stitch down the binding on N’s. I will eventually take a photo of both of them finished. The current one is just a giant block (windmill) that I have chosen to do for our local show which is 80 this year so it is a bit special. Unfortunately they planned it for the same day as the football final and the local team plus most of the town will be out of town for that. I’d personally rather the show.

So I am doing this design on the white parts now called “blowing wind”. I thought it rather fitting because after all you need wind to blow the windmill into action. I will finish the quilt today and get on with other things.

[with love Heidi]

It is the E.H. Shepherd illustrations, but coloured in on a pale blue background. I was very lucky and got the last 70cm left, I may need to do some creative cutting. I must take a WIP shot for the flicker group, once I’ve ironed the fabric!

[Tamara]

Finished the quilting so just the binding to stitch down and we’re done.

[needlewoman]

Yes please, J and H – I shall look forward to seeing them.

[Tamara]

Ok, this week has been full of show exhibit prep but honestly, I am still going and I feel like it is going to take the rest of my life to complete the current project (I really hope I am wrong as I have heaps more to do). Tonight I discovered the most recent pair of field trip cargos are now deemed unfit to wear until such time as they are patched or replaced – a tear in the back seam! So it seems that either early tomorrow or on Sunday, I will be preparing yet another pair of field trip pants. I might do two just for the sake of it.

So to make sure the child had a decent pair of trousers to wear to the movie fundraiser, I had to quick change the foot on the machine and sew the side pocket back on – with gold embroidery thread because I couldn’t be bothered shuffling through the reels of cotton.

I hate mending at the best of times but if it is down to the wire of not being able to go out because of a pocket becoming semi detached, one would be looney not to do something about it. And to boot, they looked just fine!

[Lightning McStitch]

I’m sewing pants that are the hybrid love child of the Field Trip and After School patterns. Here’s hoping they work out.

[Nicole]

I am cutting out a ‘McStitch’ project. Something I want to sew for the pure joy of it.

I have limited sewing time at present so I want it to be fun.

[Lightning McStitch]

🙂 Awesome!

[needlewoman]

I feel I should give a ‘saga alert’ before I tell you what I’ve completed/working on so any members who’ve better things to do are excused.

Finally finished 3 x 2+2 Blouses, a 2+2 skirt, and a skirt which is sort’ve own invention due to discovery of flaw in previously cut fabric. Needless to say, “fixing”/redesigning a new size 2 skirt took 3 times as long as making up the original pattern but it does look sweet. I’ve just posted the pics on Flickr so head there for more details descriptions.

All clothing washed, ironed and delivered. The good news: recipients and parents delighted; the bad news: the turquoise corduroy 2 + 2 blouse with details specifically chosen to complement the Kokka fabric with vintage cars that I made the skirt from, DOESN’T FIT Miss 6 – or it won’t for longer than another week. Her grandfather measured her, and (as it turned out) got the stats wrong. As a result, the blouse is too tight across her chest, and the sleeves are too short, AUGHHH!

As there were impressionable minors present when this horror was revealed, I refrained from a full blown tantrum, and just got on with fitting the back elastic in the skirt, and measuring her ‘properly’. Miss 6 was thrilled with the skirt, and subsequently described it to her father as having cars and ‘spotty walls’ on it. Luckily, it is a lovely fit and length, and I found a nice cheap t-shirt in turquoise so that she can wear it to her cousin’s 4th birthday party this Sunday. I’ve passed the original blouse onto another child, and now have to make another 2+2 Blouse – this time in a Size 6 so that it should still fit by early autumn next year. Miss 6 told me that she likes dresses with “bumps” – I’m still not entirely sure whether she means frills, and/or shaped hems. I’m still chuckling over that one.

Onward and upward; I’ve been tracing off quite a few patterns – roller skate, sandbox trousers, and the popover sundress, and the Clever Charlotte Chickadee skirt. Amazingly sunny day here so sorted through stash, and organised some fabric combos that will FINALLY use some fabric that’s been in there for eons. Cut out size 4 roller skate, size 4 CC skirt in red corduroy, and size 2 Sandbox trews in brown wide wale cord, and a size 2 icecream dress in navy cord/pink/blue check. Have broken the back of the trousers – my first go at this pattern, and I can see why Sharon gets such a kick from dressing her little boy – they do look very cute. And meanwhile trying to catch up with a couple of dresses for Miss 4 that are woefully overdue.

All of above, and thank you for your patience if you’ve stayed the distance, sounds like showing off so I hasten to express sympathy for others forced to mend things, stuck on overly demanding projects, and those who aren’t getting to what they want to sew.

Fiona

[Tamara]

Consider me staying the distance and seeing as it is some hour of the morning where I SHOULD be tucked up in bed but am instead plagued with insomnia, you post was great entertainment Fiona. You certainly have been a busy lady. Pity about the top but then you figured it was the measuring that went askew on that one and obviously it wasn’t you who measured the first time. I do love the explanations of Miss 6 – dress with bumps could mean a multitude of things. Has she seen pictures of the pattern covers so she can interpret the appropriate type of “bump” for you?

It’s 3am and I should be sleeping because I know that if I go and sew now I will want to sleep the day away. Still going on the Meg’s garden quilt. I seriously think this is a “do it once only” project. I give myself the week to get it all done – or bust!

[Mama_Knowles]

Everything looks so beautiful Fiona! I am sure you were aggravated about the 2+2 shirt but I am glad to hear that another little girl was able to use it. (I love it!) This is one pattern I think I need the next size up. Last years skirt is tight on Sweet pea but it might fit better now that she has thinned up a bit seeing she has hit another growth spurt. You have gotten so much sewn but I can seem to get anything started.

I did finally get the hunting sketchbook shirt cut out and hope to have it sewn in the next couple of days. I would love to have the top and field trip pants done this week. I will still need to make a second pair of each in the same size. Wyatt’s pants will need to be altered so Garrett’s is first on the list.

Side note, I just got my Sew Beautiful magazine today and I am dying to make the red sailor dress in a pinwale cord for Sarah for Christmas!! I have to start on this very, very soon or it will drive me batty!

[needlewoman]

Oooooh, a sailor dress, S. Sounds gorgeous – especially for Christmas. It will be ages before that issue of SB arrives in the newsagencies here but i will be looking out for it. I’ve cut out 3 Vintage Rompers – two in a very pretty pink daisy floral for a pair of 2 yr old twins, and the pink cord one for Miss 4 that we talked about before your move.

Have you boys got a specific hunting/camping trip coming up? Sounds like you’ve got quite a bit of sewing ahead to get all of them outfitted.

Back to the 2+2 blouses; heard today from interstate that the Japanese doll top is bit too tight to go over Miss 2’s head so I’ve asked for it to be returned, and I’ll lower the placket to give more ease. But I think it must be something to do with wee people’s heads – ie bigger in proportion to their chest measurements than the ratio for older children. Eg. the turquoise top I passed on to Miss 4 (for whom I made the spotted one) had no problem getting it on herself. Neither does Miss 6 with hers. So go figure. I think the top could also work with a back yoke like the Puppet Show dress, or placket/dart opening with loop.

Nearly finished CC Chickadee skirt in red cord – looks very sweet. Want to make a Seashore Sundress for Miss 4 asap because she’s off to Bali in a couple of weeks, but very concerned that it will be too tight. Australian kids wear t shirts under just about everything that’s sleeveless because of our sun, and abiding fears of skin cancer. Anyway pattern only gives one inch ease above the body chest measurement (v. finished size). I thought of adding another 1/4 inch to each side seam = another inch ease. Any advice/experience about the fit of this dress would be very gratefully received. Ditto for same situation for Popover Sundress. Positive and/or negative experiences equally welcome.

[Mama_Knowles]

My dad, brothers and nephews all hunt in the fall/winter up here. The middle boys are wanting to try the hand at this too so the “right” hunting clothes are a must. I am making them like my dad’s so the can match grandpa. Grandpa is cool that I have been told they have to have the same as him. They also ordered Bucket hats just like grandpa’s too. I think this is so cute.

Well the sailor dress will have to wait, the magazine had a printing era in it, as in they didn’t print all the pattern pieces. One side of the pattern is the same on both sides so it will have to wait. I am going to give them a call in morning and hopefully they can send the rest of it.

[Tamara]

That is so cute! I bet your dad is really thrilled to have three little shadows!

I have worked out that I have about 26 hours of appliqué sewing left on this quilt – if I knock out six flowers an hour that is.

I have decided the library dress will be used for the two dresses I plan to make and so it will be rather simple to do two at a time but have both completely different.

Errors in Sew Beautiful! That doesn’t happen often. Not good to have half the pattern missing. They seem to be churning the editions out like there is no tomorrow.

Fiona can’t wait to see the cc skirt on flickr. I have the cc patterns but haven’t really used them – a simple thing called sizing up is required.

[with love Heidi]

I haven’t had any problems with the Popover being worn over a tshirt, as yes we do here in Australia 🙂 I have had more problems with guessing the wrong size and finding they were too big! But they were my first Oliver and S sewing and I didn’t measure the kids. And it can be cross tied at the back and still look very cute in the front. I would probably go up one size in the seashore dress, or one size in the bodice but I Haven’t made that one.

I am hoping to get back to the sewing machine today as I was away on women’s retreat wit my church over the weekend and ended up babysitting yesterday. I want to get my messenger bag finished and be ready for the new releases so I can sew up the new vest. I am loving all the new patterns!