[Lightning McStitch]

I’m not sewing, but painting! Can’t wait to reveal my next project, but I’m waiting on some ribbing trim. I ordered from two different places in late August. One was in Finland (coming regular post) the other on the other side of Australia (coming express post). Can you guess which arrived first?

[Tamara]

Thanks for the links Heidi! I will find some time this school holidays to sort out the hood and get going – an idea for a Christmas present I thought.

Lightning are you serious?! I find Australia Post really really slack!! I ordered some fabric from the U.S express international and is supposed to take 3-5 working days. it was sent Monday and I was expecting it Friday and no it hasn’t turned up! Despite the fact my abode is classified as being in the suburb of Whoop whoop in the city of Black Stump, I have had parcels arrive much sooner using express and if there was competition between the services Australia Post would come last always!

Ok now getting off the soapbox.

I went to layout the Library dress pattern on what I was thinking was three yards of Heaven and helsinki square the square fabric and I couldn’t manoeuvre the pieces with success. Luckily I found somewhere in Australia that still has it – I know, the thought is it will take less time but I just couldn’t justify spending as much on the postage as the product in order to get it here faster.

SUCH a hypocrite I know!!!

So I have succeeded in cutting out a library dress size 12 in the red colourway of the City weekend print with the branches on it (name escapes me) and I have the aqua micro check as a contrast. This one is minus the collar but I really want to do one with.

Next is finding the perfect fabric to do the collared version and then onto cutting a couple of pairs of Art museum pants for the girl.

Sounds like alot I know.

[with love Heidi]

Finished my tiny Art Museum Vest, it is soooooo cute! Now onto making a wrap Hula Hoop skirt with narrow waistband for a 19th birthday this week. Then I think all the birthday sewing is finished for the year!

[with love Heidi]

Today I am sewing with silk!

I discovered that the Hula Hoop skirt I was making was silk! It was A random piece I got from an op shop last year for the Harry Potter robes, but I didn’t use it then because it is quite stiff. My friend who sews lots of silk was looking at the fabric and commented she thought it was silk and the burn test agreed. It was quite mind blowing to realise I had been sewing with silk! I have moved onto my second silk garment today, a petty skirt, but this is more classic silk it almost feels liquid.

[Tamara]

Sounds wundebar! I would love to get and sew something tonight whilst the Brownlows are on. At the moment I am helping someone practise.

Under the sewing needle I have a half made Library dress in size 12 and using cotton from Spotlight. I hope to be sewing the buttons on tomorrow afternoon – on this one and the red Cw one also if I am sewing tonight.

[cybele727]

I reserved a block of time and was rubbing my hands together eager to get a sewing as I haven’t done it in MONTH. I am so busy. But my daughter’s wardrobe and growth is making it a joyful necessity.

So I printed and taped my library pattern. I was contemplating fabrics. Then I realized I didn’t know what size. Looked at the handy chart, then went to find my measuring tape. I have been stalled out and stymied. I may have to bite the bullet and buy another tape. (I have 3 and cannot locate one!!)

Ms. Sassy has absconded with my measuring tapes! All of them. And while it is a cheap supply to replace, it threw gum into my wheel works and has stalled me.

I just know that when I buy another one, guess what will start popping up all over the house.

🙂

[needlewoman]

LOL many times, cybele. What is Miss Sassy doing with them, do you think? My new patterns arrived today. I’ve had a careful read of the instructions for all of them, and they really do look fun. What are you planning to make the Library Dress from – assuming you find/buy a new tape measure? Good to hear from you, dear lady.

[meleliza]

Here it’s the unseasonably cold weather that’s forcing me to look at some new clothes for K. I have received all three of the new patterns and though I want some very fast and easy play dresses, I might actually start with the Library dress. Not sure yet. I have a piece of Lisette lawn I think will be very nice for her. It’s burgundy with tiny ivory leaves all over. Just need to decide which pattern I want for it.

[with love Heidi]

The Lisette sounds like it would make a lovely library dress, don’t forget the Art Museum Vest for your boys it is such a nice sew with an amazing outcome!

I am finishing off the silk side of the petti skirt, I’ll gather the top with basting stitches as the ruffler seems to slide off it. I can’t wait to see how it looks all finished.

[Tamara]

My latest parcel of fabric arrived today so I will be busy edging and washing all these pretty Lottie da prints and funky glasses prints before sewing them.

You say unseasonably cold Meleliza, well it is unseasonably raining here! We are thankful as we are receiving some very good finishing rains and with the crops at all ends of the growth spectrum it can now be announced that what wasn’t there now is and harvestable! It will stop though after today as Spring is kicking up a notch with 30 degree c heat for Sunday. So maybe we can share a bit of that sunshine before you kiss the summer goodbye for the year?

I have about three hours before heading back to town so better get cracking on this dress that is waiting for me. I want to check the length before I make anymore. It is one thing I failed to do with the toile – basically because I was more concerned with fitting the bodice than anything else.

I am actually tempted to keep the acacia print for myself!

[cybele727]

I bought two lovely corduroys. I hope it ends up looking as I envision it. The waist trim is an animal print, and the dress a simple solid in a lovely peacock. I need warmer for here, as it is very cold already.

I bit the bullet and bought a new tape. I will hide it from her. Maybe she buried them in the garden. Last week she started crying during her “brush therapy.” For those of you unfamiliar, for children with sensory issues, they want you to use this brush on their arms and legs to get them used to stimulation and how to “deal” with it.

She said she was scared that she was growing hair and becoming a monster and that is why we had to brush her. Both heart breaking and funny. We keep showing her how we all have some hair and we aren’t monsters.

Anyway, she disappeared for like 5 minutes and when my mother went to find the brush she said, “I don’t know where it is Bama. It got lost.” 5 minutes. My mother looked and looked and couldn’t find it.

We just found it buried in the pebbles in the garden. (Stinker! Problem solver! Smarty pants!) Showed it to her, and she gave it the evil eye and said, “let’s get it lost again.”

We no longer brush her and are now trying another therapy. (Ball therapy where we roll a ball up and down her limbs.– She giggles and squirms and then begins to get restless and anxious.– She will learn to tolerate more over time.)

But I won’t get to sew until I finish a pleading for court, I am going on 15 pages single spaced and NOT done.

[Tamara]

Brush therapy sounds interesting. I keep wondering if my daughter has a very sensitive head – hair brushing is the huge issue, i even had a teacher approach me about it this morning. I understand of course that the brush therapy is for other stimulation methods. Still it sounds interesting.

I went to sew the front skirt on to this floral library dress and totally forgot the mid section and the flat piping so will have to start it over after typing this. I have an hour and a half now before heading to town so sincerely doubt the buttons will be ready to sew on by then. I might make up a grid on some remnant fabric to try out some new Canadian smocking designs I have discovered instead. The thought of a corduroy library dress with little smocked bows keeps whirling around in my head. Just to TRY the technique first in order to fill in an hour is the aim here and if it works the dress will appear at a later date – in a smaller size most likely.

[with love Heidi]

Cybele, your Library dress sounds lovely, I am impressed with her problem solving abilities! How frustrating to forget the panel Tamara!

I have finished the green petti skirt (the one that included silk) I was sewing and have nearly finished another one I started a few weeks ago but ran out of fabric, once this one is done that is 3 gifts off my Christmas list!

[Masha Richart]

Cybele, your daughter is a smartie! That made me laugh. I bet your missing tapes are indeed under a rock somewhere.

I am currently sewing a flannel nightgown using a Kwik Sew pattern. I was very disappointed that the seam joining the front and back yokes to the main skirt pieces is left exposed on the inside. It won’t bother my younger girl, but my older one with her sensitive skin may find it itchy. Trying to figure out how to maneuver a Class PIcnic-esque finish for the inside, but that would result my having to sew through five layers of flannel, one of which is gathered, and I think it might be too bulky. Oh well.

[Robin]

I made a class picnic out of flannel and it worked out fine. I bet you can do it for the nightgown.