[with love Heidi]

How exciting for you Nicole that you need to sew some more dresses for Tilly!

[Tamara]

Heidi! It only gets sad when they grow out of the pattern!

Ok, after the semi dramatic “I can’t do this hem right” moment, I sat down, had a cup of (really horrible) coffee and then went back and worked it out (with the help of my sewing brains trust that is). The hem is now a lot more beautiful that it once was and the dress also has buttonholes! I will sew the buttons on during a hand sewing stint.

The pink dress is still in pieces but seeing as the white one is (almost) complete and I now know what I am doing regarding the pattern, I can get this done tomorrow. Along with figuring out where I put the mini piping cord and writing a rather extensive list for Murray to go shopping at spotlight for me – as part of my permission for him purchasing a new motorbike (ya gotta be fair).

[Tamara]

Heidi! It only gets sad when they grow out of the pattern!

Ok, after the semi dramatic “I can’t do this hem right” moment, I sat down, had a cup of (really horrible) coffee and then went back and worked it out (with the help of my sewing brains trust that is). The hem is now a lot more beautiful that it once was and the dress also has buttonholes! I will sew the buttons on during a hand sewing stint.

The pink dress is still in pieces but seeing as the white one is (almost) complete and I now know what I am doing regarding the pattern, I can get this done tomorrow. Along with figuring out where I put the mini piping cord and writing a rather extensive list for Murray to go shopping at spotlight for me – as part of my permission for him purchasing a new motorbike (ya gotta be fair).

[with love Heidi]

I’ve done my yellow size 8 Art Museum Vest! The welt pockets were so much easier the second time around, not that they were hard the first time, but so much more intuitive. I have now cut out a sketchbook shirt from a piece of op shop fabric with a self stripe. I am making it with French cuffs this time. It will go with the vest for a birthday gift for next week. Hopefully I can work on it tomorrow.

[meleliza]

Coral linen sounds really lovely!

Nothing sewn yesterday. Probably nothing today or tomorrow. Too tired. Too much work. Why do they need to go to school?

[needlewoman]

9Oh Meleliza, you do sound down. They need to go to school to get an education so they can get a job, and eventually, leave home, get married and give you grandchildren that you can sew for!!

Coral is one of my favourite colours, and suits most complexions, and on Tildy, it will look divine. Justsewit, those name day/baptismal dresses sound incredibly sweet, and look forward to seeing them.

Flickr is down at the moment – big time!! There was a “flashing” notice when I was accessing it yesterday about “maintenance” happening on Friday but what time zone it was referring to is anybody’s guess.

Nearly finished the roller skate dress from which I unpicked the ric rac – very tedious as I’d had tucked the ends into the back seam but after a good hour of remedial stitching this morning, I’m back on track, and up to the hem. Have decided to have the ribbon tying a bow at the back, and maybe a small decorative bow at front yoke. Missed out on lunch with Roller Skate’s Mum today, (because transferring her grandmother to nursing home hit bureaucratic snag) but now have another day to deliver it – washed and pressed ready to be packed for Bali. Will be glad to see the back of this one, but have cut out a Size 7 in same fabric, and hopefully next RS will go more smoothly. No matter how straightforward the pattern, the first time one sews it, there are always a few bugs to sort out. Mind you, I found sewing the armholes quite easy, and I love the shaping of the shoulders, and the proper ‘cap’ look of the sleeves.

Really hoping to get onto Vintage Romper dress (c/o Sew Beautiful/ Mama Knowles) in pink corduroy for Miss (just turned) 4 on weekend for a change of pace.

[Tamara]

Gosh! meleliza you sound like me last year! Running around in a seemingly directionless direction and wondering why I had to put my kids through the rigmarole of school. I suggest a break, as much as you can. Peruse the lovely stash of patterns you have and plan. It might help you ease back into things without becoming more tired and well it will cut down on the time of planning because you’d be doing just that. There is no harm in dreaming of sewing – it comes as part of the activity I believe.

They don’t HAVE to be in a school to be educated but it seems you have made that choice and if they are happy stick with that choice. If not consider homeschooling (I have on numerous occasions and regret ever applying for a bus stop) but I do warn you, it isn’t for everyone. The first few weeks of the school year are always trying at this end too so I do understand. But once everything has settled down you will be less tired and more able to sew. And I hope that day comes sooner for you because it sound like you need to have some mummy sewing time.

Ok, it is 5.03am I have been awake listening to heavy rain on the tin roof and have now decided to get up eat have coffee and go turn the sewing nook upside down in a reasonable manner in order to locate the mini piping cord I KNOW I have (and of course put it back in order). It is to finish off the half made dress I had intended for the smocking section for last year’s show. If I can get that and the pink dress done today I will be very very happy!

I can’t wait to be able to make welt pockets on the art museum vest and a big girl library dress would be grand also – all that will happen NEXT weekend.

[meleliza]

Fiona, you are right – eye on the prize! I will keep images of grandchildren in my head, though that is about 20 years off. And Tamara, you’re right too, the first weeks are hard to adjust back to the grind. And it was a long tough summer too.

I had a rest and some lunch and then managed two seams – but they were flat felled seams on denim! And then, hubby surprised me and came home early from work! And while the kids were having their movie night, I finished up the little skirt. He promised me some time on Sunday too. 🙂 That will be for the Liberty blouse. And I’ll have to stop thinking about Halloween costumes.

[Tamara]

Yay! A little goes a long way so they say. Good on you for finding the time to sew it does wonders for uplifting the spirit doesn’t it?!

I have just spent 7 hours in the sewing nook trying to complete the half made dress. I haven’t quite finished it. I just have the hem to stitch and the buttonholes and then the rest is hand stitching. I made Imogen try it on and she says it was too tight but I thought it ok. She could get some use out of it this summer but only a little I think.

I am now going to make myself have a rest and then go back and do another long stint – this time the pink silk dress.

[with love Heidi]

It’s a pity Imogen thinks it’s too tight. Meleliza, you have a great husband making sure you have time to sew 🙂

I am working on the white self stripe almost sheer (I can almost read the instructions through it), the shirt is so satisfying! It is making me seriously think about making a mens button down shirt, probably Collette Negroni. My husband is requesting one in a sheerish fabric like I am using. 🙂

[Tamara]

Oh I have been thinking the same thing about the Negroni pattern – I feel like I have been stalking the colette website! Sheerish fabric, sounds interesting!

Back to the grindstone!

[needlewoman]

Goodness, you are brave Heidi; sheer fabric gives me the shivers. What a nice compliment that your husband wants one, too. So glad life went a little more your way, Mel. Everybody I know who is intimately connected to schools – whether kids, parents and teachers – all find the first fortnight of the new academic year, very trying, demanding and stressful. The weather never helps either. When all else fails, I take a book or my cross stitch to a really nice cafe, and sit with a coffee – or two. Just veging out, and watching the world go by, while staying cool, always helps me feel more positive in the last month of the heat before autumn properly arrives.

Cut out a popover sundress tonight; I’m flipping it slightly by adding a band at the bottom, a la the Ice-cream dress, and adding some bias trim between the yoke and the dress (and maybe between the dress, and the lower band) a la the Little Lisette pattern I have. In the best of possible worlds, it would be finished by Monday for the Bali holidaying family, but if it’s not, no big deal. The Roller Skate is washed and drying in the bathroom, and it should look fine when the ribbon is done.

Which reminds me, Nicole, how do you actually do the trick with the hot knife to stop ribbon fraying? Do other people do this, or something equally clever? If so, I’d really appreciate the info. Thanks.

[lattemama]

I can answer for how Nicole does it, but I have a box of matches in my sewingroom and I use a match to gently melt the edges of a cut ribbon. Don’t hold the ribbon directly in the flame, just far enough away to ctch the heat but not to set it on fire.

I finished Sofia’s Library dress. She asked for snaps because her hair got cught in the buttons in the back. So I Frankensteined a covered placket in the back for her. It looks good on the hanger but she hasn’t tried it on yet so I’m not sure how it looks on.

Next up – leggings.

[with love Heidi]

I have sewn on the collar on the white shirt, it is looking great but I’ll be glad not to make it again for awhile once this ones done!

[Lightning McStitch]

Fiona I do it the Nicole way: Take a long handled knife you no longer treasure (it will get blackened) and heat the tip in the flame of the gas ring on the stove. Slice the ribbon with the red hot knife tip. Make sure you do it on an old chopping board you no longer care for as you may burn a wee groove in the board. Works a treat.