[Nicole]

I finished sewing the PlayTime tunic-as-a-dress for Baby Amaya.

Next up is to glue my Cappuccino PDF together.

[with love Heidi]

I’m making a slight detour to make a bear carrier for my niece to take her comfort toy with her on an all day medical visit on Monday.

[Masha Richart]

Tamara, it definitely does remind me of the Ice Cream Top (which I love and which has been a staple pattern for my girls’ summer wardrobes the last two years) – but it has a curved yoke, which I’m interested in trying. The key, I think, is in the fabric choice. I’ve seen a few versions that are very awkwardly puffy at the front (a failing of quilting cotton in this style, I think), so I am going to use voile, lawn and batiste in mine.

[meleliza]

So I just need to set the sleeves in the coat lining, attach the lining and then hem everything. I should be able to finish that today so she can wear it to church tomorrow. I need to start cutting her Easter dress, but I’m torn on the design. Maybe I’ll post some sketches on Flickr… eta: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24264063@N05/13652247234/

I found some vintage cotton laces in my Grandmother’s stash and I’m trying to wash them up. They have yellowed with age in spots.

[Tamara]

Yes Masha, voile would be perfect. Is the back curved also?

Meleliza, have you tried lemon juice? All I can suggest is never use bleach! And if you could find out what is actually in the stain it will make it is easier to get out.

I was interrupted in my muslin sewing yesterday so have to finish it off this morning – just have plackets and the sleeves to do and then I can get on with the real ones. My aim is to cut and sew three which will see me through what seems to be a week of events.

[meleliza]

No, I haven’t tried more than Woolite yet. I will avoid bleach, but maybe try oxy clean.

[Tamara]

I know it might be difficult to find out what is in the stain (grease, dirt etc) but it helps in using the right product and makes it a tonne easier to remove. I have heard Oxy clean helps.

Also I was searching, maybe soaking it in Milton? 1/3 mix but has to be overnight apparently.

The lemon juice and sunlight is an old trick but I haven’t used any of these so finger crossed one of them or all work for you.

[Nicole]

Did any of you watch ‘Cranford’? When they were lightening lace in milk or cream and the cat ate it?

Very very funny.

I made Tildy a PlayTime tunic as my cutting table was being used for sorting camp supplies.

If I get the ironing done in time I will have a go and glueing my pattern together.

[Tamara]

I haven’t seen Cranford in a while but they did have their moments of jest didn’t they?

I had three different pieces of fabric picked to make these Traveller dresses and only one of them is actually long enough to do the dress. I may end up with heaps of shirts by the time I’m done with the pattern but not at the moment. I have got some sateen in black and white which I am hoping will accommodate the dress. It has some stretch in it so would be great for active moments like helping in class or something.

For now though, on the cutting table is my half cut out Traveller dress in Amy Butler cameo print – the blue. I hope to get it sewn to wear tomorrow as I have a need to find fish – I mean shark – fabric.

I am tossing up over blue or black buttons for the dress – can’t decide.

[mcholley1]

I gave up on getting new easter clothes done in time. I’m not upset, was just stressing me out thinking of sewing for a deadline. My children surely have something nice I can pull out of their closets and make work. I am still sewing some, though. I’m almost done with a fairy tale dress I promised a little friend two months ago. Then I have a few more already cut things to get to.

meleliza – I soaked all the family heirloom batiste and lace things my kids wore as babies in biz. As long as it is all cotton it does wonders. Some of them I soaked for days, though.

[Tamara]

Mcholley is Biz something you would use to whiten cloth nappies /diapers? If so then it would be like what we have here – napisan.

All I know is that care has to be taken to not use bleach and that is you knew the source of the stain then it would be much easier to rid.

I had plans today to go get fish/ shark type fabric. Those plans are now boycotted! I will just have to make them into sea cucumber shaped sharks and use grey knit instead! At least then I can recycle and use the knit for its original purpose.

My traveller dress is only half made but because I have to stay home today I will work to finish it and another one. And THEN I will work on those costumes.

[meleliza]

I don’t know what half of those things are! But I tried Tide band Borax and soaked them overnight. Then I rinsed them well and laid them in the sun to dry, they came up super clean. There’s maybe one spot on the embroidered insertion, but as I have 9 yards of it, it would be easy to work around. Trouble is, I thought the laces were ivory and they’re nearly white. So after that I might tea stain them.

[Tamara]

Maybe they were tea or coffee stained to make them ivory? It is a fun way to get them to look antique.

[meleliza]

No, they were just old and yellow. It might have been 50 years old. My Grandmother was a great one for saving stuff rather than using it.

I just finished the pink coat! And I am positively thrilled with it. If I do say so myself I think it looks like something a real actual princess would wear. I included some flat piping from Liberty scraps on the inside where the lining meets the facing. I just love extras like that. And I think it calls for a glass of wine!

[Sarvi]

Little Liberty details always call for wine! Cheers.

KCW is shaping up to be BCW. I might be hard-pressed to get in a whole hour but I’ve loaded up a fresh needle and bobbin and cut out a few sets, so if my earache dies down I’ll be ready to go.