[Tamara]

Gah! I have a half made pair of class picnic shorts sitting on the cutting table surrounded by other distractions. I thought I had lost the pattern and went to download the digital version but couldn’t due to the printer without ink. Luckily the paper version was located so when the pdf copy does finally print off I can have a spare – just in case.

I have to finish them off and then make another hoola hoop skirt as this has now been proclaimed the “perfect” skirt for tennis! She needs new clothes anyway tennis or not!

I have been watching the couture craftsy class and really wanting to make something for me! I will get the shorts out of the way first.

[meleliza]

I had the babysitter take them to soccer this morning so hubby can work on the basement for a while and I have the ENTIRE weekend blocked out for sewing! What luxury! Costumes are the first order of business, but also one more baby doll dress since K’s birthday is on Friday! But I just might sneak off to fabric row for a coffee and to eye up some materials for an everyday skirt.

[needlewoman]

Goodness, you’ve all been super busy/productive, too. How old will K be, Mel? and what’s happening for her birthday? Dying to see the costume you have nearly finished for your friend/client. Did you tell us what your kidlets are wearing?

I haven’t done any sewing since posting all my work last Tuesday. However, I spent a long, tiring and satisfying day yesterday sorting and cutting out ‘stuff’ (mainly so I don’t forget what I thought was a good idea when I thought of it). My little nest is filthy and a tip, and I feel torn between sewing the next yummy stuff, and cleaning. However, I’m finally getting a new roman blind for the kitchen window installed next Tuesday (i’ve only had to wait 3 1/2 months) so I think that ‘pride’ will force me to tidy up a bit more before next week. Too embarrassing to have the tradesman see all the grot! Although, I suspect he will make more mess spreading plaster dust everywhere. Will let you know which impulse wins.

[Nicole]

I do envy your cosmopolitan life style Melanie. You have coffee and fabric stores, I have a big brown snake in my chook house!

I finished my first Liesl+Co pattern the Weekend Getaway.

Gorgeous! Clever Liesl.

I really want to sew a white linen blouse version now but Hugo is turning 16 (and going for his licence)! next week and would like new jeans for his birthday. It will be easy enough, this pattern http://www.flickr.com/photos/motherof5/8749541660/in/set-72157632840136861/ still fits and he has chosen some very light stretch denim.

I also have a piece of Liberty to make him a new shirt but he is still wearing his original one. I really don’t think he needs two….

[meleliza]

Well, cosmopolitan is what I always wanted. I used to watch Sesame Street and think about growing up to live in the city. And practically the minute I turned 18, that’s what I did. Philly, NY, London, Vienna and back to Philly. I did see a snake on Monday, though. I took the kids to our natural history museum. 🙂

My friend’s costume is nearly finished, but I have about 5 yards of black satin pressed and pinned waiting to be hemmed. Yikes! I need to find some good light and a good TV show. I wonder how many hours it will take me? But a machine hem would really ruin the drape. She is a photographer so we will be sure to get photos.

Kitty will be three on Friday and we’re having 5 little girls over for a tea party!!!!! And their baby dolls! We are overwhelmed with cuteness. I think I’ll be baking all week. Plus, I’d better come up with a backup birthday dress because I’m just not sure I’ll finish the smocking project I had going. Not with all that hand hemming to do.

16! I can’t yet imagine having such a big boy. Though my oldest is going on 8 and sometimes acting like a teenager.

[with love Heidi]

I have enlarged the sandbox pants to a 10 and 12. This was not the easiest pattern to enlarge as the side seams don’t follow an obvious regular pattern, but I got there. Now to quilt and bind the quilt top I made last week then on to other things.

[Lightning McStitch]

I just made a Nature Walk hoodie in velour, and as much as I’d love to sew something else next, the kids need hats. So tonight I’m cutting out hats.

[needlewoman]

Oh Mel, a three yr old’s T party – sounds gorgeous. Cupcakes might be the go; don’t worry about too much baking – they are only interested in the icing at that age! Trying combine cutting out and housecleaning, not very successfully but I’m getting there slowly. I really like the Sandbox trousers although I’ve only made them once. I may have to buy the bigger sizes because although a relaxed pattern, it’s very attractive. Hope everybody’s week goes well, and I really hope you can get shot that snake, Nicole. Don’t imagine they are healthy for chickens.

[Tamara]

Oh Nicole! My commiserations on the snake! Murray had several encounters with them last year around the chooks – but then he just can’t seem to stop at a simple sized amount. He has to go and hatch 64 chicks from the incubator and then worry where to put them (and right before harvest too) not to mention the ten broodie hens about the place.

Needlewoman no not healthy – if it wasn’t the heat last summer ours died from bites also.

Yay for Hugo! Do you have the log book thing in SA? We have to be 17 to get our actual driver’s license but 16 and 9 month to obtain the learner’s permit and they have the log book before they can legally drive solo. Hugo on the other hand I am guessing would have the knowledge and experience of handling a vehicle on the farm so it will be rather smooth sailing – no stalling at the lights for him – am I right?

In the nook yesterday I decided to get started on Noah’s bed quilt top (the one that will really fit the bed this time). I got him to help me figure out placement of fabrics and then cut all the bit out. But found I was short of the chosen border fabric so will have to put that in the next order. We are using the Out to Sea range to make a quilt out of the simple retro book by Camille Roskelley. So to combat the dilemma of having to wait to get more four inch squares I decided I was going to piece in strips not in blocks. And it has proved successful in the fact that I am more than half way through putting the top together which means I can possibly have this plus Imogen’s version put together by the end of the weekend.

I envy those of you making fun things to wear to fun occasions. Imogen asked me yet again why we couldn’t go trick or treating – she couldn’t care less about dressing up, she just wants people to give her the treats – like watching Sesame street Mel, all her watching is about halloween at the moment.

Kitty, three! How time flies! Sounds perfect for a little girl’s birthday.

Everyone is so busy sewing away. Today I might get to do another couple of lines of the quilt top but the week is proving to be a busy one already so we shall see how far we can get.

[with love Heidi]

Not exactly sewing but I put a deposit on a new sewing machine today! A Bernina B380! 🙂 🙂 🙂

[lattemama]

Oh, a new sewing machine is always exciting! Hope you like it.

I sewed up two All Hallows capes for my girls. The fabric was crushed velour at $4/meter and it shed like crazy. It also got stuck in my cutting mat when I used the rotary cutter.

I was so happy to have them done and the girls have not taken them off since. They both walked around the house last night “swishing” the capes around.

I have a Playtime tunic cut out for Sofia that I want to sew up to get it off my desk, as well as a Roller Skate tunic for Isabel that I cut out for back to school sewing but never got around to.

I’m also planning to enlarge the Playtime leggings to fit Isabel. I have the pattern piece traced out I just need to find the time to do it.

[Tamara]

Heidi, I’d call that sewing in anticipation…. Of sewing!

Today I was sewing with wood! Helping Imogen’s class with woodwork, making a model aeroplane – the sewing part was the measure twice and cut just the once method of application – not to mention reminding a certain young man of how to patch his recently hot glue gun scorched pencil case, using a piece of really old t shirt and a simple running stitch.

Oh and I was also sewing with fabric, stitched two rows of the quilt top. Tomorrow I hope to knock the rest out.

[with love Heidi]

I am quilting the quilt top I made last week, it has been sitting in my “do next” before I can do something more fun pile! I quite like piecing, well strip piecing, but the quilting is not my favourite. I do 4 rows and then stop and do something else, then another 4. I am dreaming about my new machine and seeing how it would be so much easier with the new machine! Still probably not my favourite but easier.

[Masha Richart]

Trying to psych myself up to have another go at the Late Lunch Tunic pattern – I have some Lisette lawn that I think I can squeeze a top out of. In the meantime I am sewing mittens for all the kids. I have yet to make a perfect pair – one pair had two right-hand mittens (but it’s for the baby so I’m not sweating it), one had two drastically differently sized mittens, and the thumb is wonky on one of the mittens from the third pair. Perhaps the fourth or fifth time will be the charm. I’m making them out of thick fleece and it’s hard to sew that little 1/4 seam allowance!

Older daughter has a sticker chart for the days she goes to preschool without fuss, and when she gets five stickers she can request me to sew something for her. (To give you an idea of how it is going, we have just started the eighth week of school and yesterday she earned her 9th sticker). If she gets her 10th today that will be the second set of five and she has already told me she wants a mermaid top to go with the mermaid tail I sewed her. Thankfully I already have the pattern worked out and it won’t take but an hour or so, minus the hand-sewing of sequins which I can do in front of the TV 🙂

[with love Heidi]

I’m looking forward to seeing your next late lunch tunic! And the mermaid top sounds so cute, but not the tantrums!

I have half quilted my Bargello quilt so I am having a break and sewing up the nightdress I drafted with A friend a few weeks ago from the music class blouse, it is looking very cute. I’m off to check out how to do a placket and do that next.