[meleliza]

I’m curious about why some of you are sewing school uniforms? My oldest is off to kindergarten in the fall, so I’m just starting out in uniforms. They don’t seem highly practical to sew and, as mentioned above, they certainly wouldn’t be interesting! (He needs white shirts and navy pants with a tie and sweater.)

Now, the girls’ jumpers I wouldn’t mind sewing if it meant that I could make them from something other than polyester. But I can’t imagine where I’d find the exact correct fabric. Besides, I’ve got 6 years before I need to worry about baby girl at school.

[Nicole]

A roll of rugby knit from Ebay was $20,this made 8 jumpers which sell at the school for $55 each. The pleasure comes from saving the money to spend on pretty fabric.

[Tamara]

Got it in one Motherof5! Our kids have trackpants as their winter bottoms so it is better to make them as you will pay through the nose for one pair and can’t get any in black at places like Target or even Best and Less (which are the only places we have ready access to). Why pay for something when you can make three for the same price?

The school logo on the shirts and jumpers are screen printed and I don’t know where they get it done. I don’t mind paying for a jumper or two, knowing that they can be reused as they are unisex (the little fella is in dd’s school jumper from last year). I only buy one or two each and just wash them constantly and luckily they hold up. Making these would be harder as they are two toned with black and yellow so a bit more work to them.

I noticed you have labels on your kids’ clothing Motherof5. Do you make those yourself or get them from somewhere?

[wendy]

My machine’s been in the shop so I’ve been cutting, cutting, cutting and twiddling my thumbs. I’m looking forward to an Ice Cream Dress in a yellow tone on tone print with a soft gray linen for the yoke and hem, a Tea Party Sundress in dark blue denim with a navy and red print for the skirt. I’m really anxious to see this one. I laid it out after cutting and realized it looked like something my mum would have sewn for my sister in the early 70’s. I’m not sure if I actually like or if it’s just nostalgia working it’s magic. What else? Time to make a hat for the tyke since the sun is finally shining. Apart from that I have an embarrassing number of dresses cut out and waiting. Ridiculous. I pick up my machine on Friday. In the meantime I think my head might explode.

[Nicole]

Justsewit- http://www.apparellabels.com.au/ The site is a little granny looking but they are great to deal with!

wendyls,I feel your pain….I have a dozen baskets of sewing to get to when I get some ‘extra child’ free time!

I like the sound of your Tea Party dress!

[Tamara]

Motherof5 Thankyou so much! And here I was going to “make mine”.

Grannie-ish but looking resourceful. Thanks again.

A dozen baskets? I just have a mini pile on the dining room table and then another in the actual sewing area – in an attempt to colour code the piles of projects so that I don’t have to change overlocker threads constantly. My dozen baskets sit in my head along with the urge to purchase more fabric than I know what to do with. This is why the fabric stash has to be reduce significantly so that the need can be justified (somehow).

I like the sound of those dresses too Wendyls – nostalgia is good… most designers rely on it lol!

I have a half made hot pink corduroy School Photo dress to complete – but first lunch.

[Nicole]

I must say each basket is allocated to a pattern,2+2 etc. Only cut out in different sizes!

Two last minute Birthday invites has meant a late night drafting of the Ruffled Halter top in a larger size and one cut out in navy linen,the other in chambray.

[meleliza]

wow, Nicole, that’s a pretty substantial savings. I’d be happy to sew the jumpers too – but finding the fabric would be tricky. It sounds like your uniforms are less specific than ours. The girls at our school wear plaid jumpers and white blouses – traditional Catholic school stuff. The boys wear navy dress pants and white dress shirts. Lands End makes the pants with “iron knees” for $29 and shirts for $35. I don’t think I’d save much money on those and I could probably find them cheaper other places as well – though I want them to last for hand me downs.

With all the rainy weather here, I’ve been able to stay home and sew for a few days. I’m attempting to make myself some summer nursing tops and I’ve cut an ice cream dress for baby girl out of the same fabric. Not to be worn on the same day, though, lest it look a little cheesy, but because it’s a lovely soft comfy swiss dot for the hot weather. Unfortunately, I see the pesky sun peeking out right now and I’m guessing the boys will want to go to the playground after school. It’s hard to get sewing done in the spring.:(

[Nicole]

That sounds a very good price Meleliza,I purchased my husband a Lands End shirt 15 years ago and he is still wearing it!

I made up the denim Ruffled Halter this morning but half way through the construction my sewing iron blew up!

This meant I had to go to and fro from the sewing room to the sitting room to iron each seam! (My other iron is a big steamy thing that needs a cupboard to sit on).

Husband has gone to see a man about a dog(literally,a kelpie)and I have asked him to get me a new one as he is passing through a bigger town.

I really would rather wait to sew the linen version when I get said iron and it is not needed until tomorrow night!

So this afternoon I cleaned and rearranged my sewing room.

[meleliza]

I’m sewing another ice cream dress from a wonderfully soft swiss dot fabric. (I’m also experimenting with making a nursing-friendly top for myself in the same fabric, but don’t worry we won’t wear them together.) The fabric is nice and lightweight for sticky days, but the colors will move into the fall. I might use some leftover chambray to do a pair of puppet show shorts. I’m thinking of adding a faux tie like I’ve seen in all the stores this season. After that, I’m going to try out the picnic blouse. Even though it’s not really a summer pattern, I’m desperate to try it out. I bought some pink Art Gallery fabric for the first go.

[Toyota888]

Meleliza for me I have to admit it is not a cost saving but is really just that they wear uniforms every day so I get to feel pleased with myself every morning when I lay out their clothes for the day. I also sew a lot for my baby girl and now that the boys are in uniforms there is less I can sew for them and I know they feel pretty pleased when I make something for them. Our uniform is fairly basic so it wasn’t tricky to comply.

I have managed to get a start on the School Photo Dress I have had cut out for ages in a great fairy floss pink wool suiting I was given – it has been calling to me for weeks while I worked on boring work things most nights for a while. So annoying!!

[Nicole]

I cannot wait to see this dress Miranda!

A few more dark things to sew and then I can swop back to neutral thread on my overlocker and sew pretty things. I have a bundle of outfits cut from my beloved CW I want to do!

[Tamara]

Oh Toyota888 do you get fabric speaking to you too? I thought I was going crazy! It’s funny to think about but it really does happen, that it sort of jumps off the shelf at you and tells you what to make it into. I have four pieces of fabric sitting on my cutting table that are telling me that I need to use them for something but they will have to get in line as I’m working out exactly what size to use them for and I have other things to get on with the require more urgency. They will most likely be for Ag show sewing anyhow as I have to get on and do clothes for my one and only son.

The dress sounds terrific and lucky you scored the pink wool suiting fabric.

I have almost finished my hot pink School Photo dress and I lined it with some Pillow and Maxfield fabric from the Gypsy Bandana range. I just have the hand sewing to do and it will be ready for Wednesday’s assembly item. Miss 8 is rather excited she gets to wear a dress to school. I have almost finished a matching Music class shirt which is intended to go under the dress and that is made with the Gypsy Bandana fabric also. I don’t quite have enough for a warmer weather version so will try and get some more because of selfish reasons – I love that fabric!

I’ve finished two of the five Hopscotch tops (both in CW fabric) and just have the hems of two others (in Pink Stella fabric) to do but the last one requires a colour change (red) so that will have to wait. I’m in the process of cutting another lot of pockets for the pink Sandbox pants in corduroy as they were cut too small (I must have been half asleep or interrupted). Want to add something a bit different to the pocket just to make them a little bit different from the other pants.

Meleliza the swiss dot fabric is just a beautiful fabric to work with – so light. What you have planned sounds gorgeous. I miss sewing for babies.

[meleliza]

I can’t wait to see the pink school photo dress. I’m working on just a few things for summer, but I’m starting to plan for the fall. I’ve lined up my knitting already and I’m thinking of a wardrobe palette as recommended by the Colette Patterns blog. It seems early to think of fall, I guess, but I’ve got big things happening this fall. My oldest son is off to kindergarten and my baby girl will have her first birthday. My middle boy will start preschool – and we’ll have to do something extra special for the troubled middle baby so he doesn’t feel neglected.

For baby girl, I’m planning a Sunday brunch jacket in pink, but I’m open to suggestions on fabric? She’ll inheriting a boring navy snow coat from her brothers so I want this jacket to be pretty and wearable. I also want to do a jump rope dress (the simpler view) in light gray cord with some pretty to contrast on the collar and placket. What else is a good go-to fall wardrobe builder?

I can’t do much for my oldest, since he’ll be in uniform, but might do the vest from little things – I’ve an idea to line it with fleece or something so it’s a real wearable thing and not just a dress up item. Maybe the nature walk pullover could be made to match his uniform, but that wouldn’t be his favorite colors.

middle son wants the vest in pink. While I fully support his love of pink (it’s my favorite color too), and I buy him pink polos or dress shirts or ties, I just don’t quite see the vest in pink for a boy. I think he’d look a little like explorer Barbie. But maybe some kind of men’s dress shirt fabric with pink in it for the lining? and navy or gray on the outside? does anyone have suggestions?

[icicle]

Sunday Brunch jacket is k-i-l-l-i-n-g me! In stretch cord, which is honestly likely my real problem. Actually, it’s not so much the jacket but the binding — that back middle seam does not want to look good no matter what I do.

I’m thinking to rip out the bias tape and serge it but, heh, my serger came back from it’s tuneup UNTHREADED! GEH! Okay, so that’s my real rant. He put in a new needle plate and left it like that for pickup. Now, I do know how to re-thread it … but it’s a pain…

Okay, I’m whining now… time to eat chocolate, knit for a bit and wait for Scarlet’s ‘another day’…

poo…