[Nicole]

You know to use a ball point needle of course? How frustrating for you. I must admit I do not like sewing knits and I have a cover stitch machine.

A second Bleuet finished (with ease) and it fits well (but the Twins prefer the tighter version). I have another 2 cut to sew but I will then move on to other camp sewing before I make a fifth one.

(I always make five school dresses so they hand down well).

Using the floral trims definitely makes the sewing more interesting.

[Masha Richart]

Yes, I was using a brand new ballpoint needle 🙁 I ran into the same issue when trying to zig zag around appliques on knits lately. This wasn’t a problem before so I wonder whether my machine is having some issues.

[Masha Richart]

Just finished a pair of Playtime leggings. What a satisfying sew! I’m just thrilled with both parts of the Playtime pattern. And having my own leggings pattern makes it possible for me to finally find leggings that actually fit my daughter properly. I made her a 2T lengthened an inch beyond 4T in the inseam. Perfect fit. Now to make a million more …

[Anonymous]

I know how you feel, RTWG. My daughter is a skinny string bean, so no rtw leggings (or any clothes, really) fit her properly. I made her a pair of the playtime leggings for school this afternoon, adding 2″ length to the size 5. They fit her perfectly. I found some amazingly soft and stretchy fabric at Girl Charlee. It is SOoooooo nice. Now I need to make some more for school and then hope to get some more of the same fabric in fun colors. School uniform sewing is so drab.

[needlewoman]

Hi everybody, I haven’t contributed to this thread for a while because I’ve been too busy sewing!! I’ve just finished a fortnight’s extremely concentrated work for two girls – nearly 3, and 6 who are off to the States for a holiday on Thursday. I’ve posted all the pics to Flickr, and I would love to have your comments. In summary, I have sewn for Miss 6 a Roller Skate dress, two Clever Charlotte Chickadee Skirts decorated with buttons, and a 2+2 short sleeved blouse. The blouse will complement the striped chickadee skirt, and a Music Class Skirt in hot pink pinwale corduroy that I made for her birthday, in July. For the littl’un, I’ve finished an Ice Cream Dress in navy blue corduroy and pink/navy checked quilting cotton (very fully lined), a popover sundress, and a Chickadee skirt in royal blue pinwale corduroy decorated with buttons from Spotlight to highlight the curved front.

These little girls are the great-nieces of my dear friend, Adrian who passed away on April 2. They have a big brother who has just turned 8, and they are visiting their uncles, (their mother’s brothers) and new baby girl cousin in Florida, and San Franciso during the next 3 weeks. So Oliver and S is returning to its birth place- worn by two little Aussies! Their mother has told me that she will be packing the Music Box pinafore, the Music Class skirt, blouse, and previous 2+2 Blouse that I made Miss 6 for her birthday, last July. And the Japanese fabric 2+2 blouse I finished for the littley a few weeks ago. And of course, the latest items I have worked very hard to finish on time will also be included. It would be lovely to think that an American O + S sewist recognises the garments, and comments on same while the family is away. But that might be too much to hope for.

The three children are looking forward to visiting Disney World with their Uncle Dave who has been stationed in Florida for the last 3 years; on an RAAF exchange with an American airforce member who has been living in Adelaide with his family since 2010. I am hoping that the “shut down’ of various tourist attractions in USA will not affect their holiday too much, but that is in the lap of the gods, or Congress.

Thanks so much ladies for your encouraging comments about sewing leggings c/o O+S Playtime pattern. Have sewed a little with knit in the past but not the sort of stretch fabric used for leggings. Have you caught Robin Bobbin’s Roller Skate Dress recently featured by Pink Chalk online store? The fabrics used are original and striking! Well done, Robin.

[meleliza]

I don’t think it will affect much in Florida and I suspect there is still much to see in San Fran. Here in Philly, most of our major tourist sites are closed! All the historical stuff is run by the National park service. So are the parks my boys and their friends usually play in after school. 🙁

I have a final fitting on my friend’s/client’s witch costume tomorrow. I’ve got hem it and finish it off, and so all of our Halloween costumes as well as Kitty’s birthday dress, still only half smocked, and the tiny dolly dresses she requested as a birthday present. But after Halloween (and by then I’ll have finished my diet) it will be time for me sewing and a few Communion dresses I’m planning as samples for next season. I’ve ordered all kinds of lace, eyelet, stains and anything you can think of in white.

[Tamara]

Needlewoman you certainly have been busy. The girls will be the best dressed Aussie representatives in the US for sure! They are very lucky to have someone to sew them beautiful clothes – one of a kind boutique without the pricetag pieces.

I need to sew but haven’t been sewing clothing lately. I have been too busy getting into the swing of school returning back from the two week break. I have however started on the quilt I am making for our bed as the doona has holes so we are surrounded with downy feathers – so it needs to be made.

I have a heap of resizing and tracing to do on the patterns and still haven’t figured out the mishap of the Art museum pants. That is the goal before winter next year so that I can at least cheat at the school uniforms a bit. It will give me a time to search for the “correct” fabric also.

Shorts are needed for the girl so I will be when I can get there, be working on class picnic and sketchbook shorts. And then skirts and and…. I’ll just a list I think.

[Masha Richart]

Wow, needlewoman, that is a lot!

Sewed two Playtime dresses and two pairs of leggings in the last few days – such fun! Now I am finishing up a mermaid outfit for my niece’s birthday today. I need to make an Art Museum vest for my new nephew – then I can send the parcel off to the U.S. for both kids. But the mermaid costume took a lot of my creative juice so I think next I will make a few pairs of mittens from LTTS – all my kids need new ones.

Then I really want to make something for me. I have a large quantity of lovely drapey denim-like something that I got from the remnants pile at G Street Fabrics. I have taken off 27 lbs in the last five months and for the first time in my life can rock the tunic/leggings/boots look that I have loved for so long. So I want to make a tunic. I am eyeing the Late Lunch Tunic but I didn’t love how it looked on the model. The few I’ve seen pop up on Flickr are very nice though.

[Robin]

Thank you Fiona!

[Mama_Knowles]

Wow Fiona! That is lot of sewing, I need some of your energy.

I finally finished up Sarah’s main dress for her costume. It came out very nice and should work for a Easter dress this next spring. It is the dress of all dresses for Sarah. I had to pry it off her body with her crying after she tried it on. Well she tried it on, then danced for a bit and then decided to jump up and down on her bed. It’s mostly white so I told her she could wear it in the morning for pictures as it wouldn’t get dirty. Next up the corset, bonnet and bloomers. I hope they come along quicker than the dress.

[meleliza]

Sounds exciting! I can’t wait to see!

[Tamara]

Corset?? Wow! I can’t wait to see also.

The kids have decided to take up tennis this term and I have been trying to get into the nook to make shorts. Imogen has grown out of everything pull on so will have to add zippers to make it easier for her to dress. So seeing as she has willingly told me she would like to try tennis also (she is NOT the running around type) I will have to take a look at some shorts patterns in lieu of some cool things to wear that are appropriate for sport and the weather. I have visions of retro with the cp shorts and the field trip t shirt!

Oh and I have to pull out the tutorial for shoe laces as the sneakers have broken ones. Then I have more hats to make for school as noah was wearing his dad’s cap with an in built propeller in it that has unfortunately broken. The hats in our house have legs!! So I will have to spend the weekend sewing many and put them in the hat box for replenishment.

Yay! Love these kids for making me have an excuse to sew something fun to wear.

[Nicole]

Just cut out the Weekender blouse for me!

[with love Heidi]

Look forward to seeing Nicole!

[Mama_Knowles]

Hurry and finish Nicole! I can’t wait to hear how this pattern is.