[meleliza]

Knitsewread, I think a band across the bottom would look fine. I do that sometimes when I need to make up length. Maybe you Coukd make it look more purposeful by adding the. Band fabric somewhere else too, like fabric covered buttons?

[Tamara]

I’ve just cut out a whole heap of things to sew one at a time. My new patterns turned up Friday and so I’ve cut out a couple of After school tops to give them a go along with a multitude of other things.

Missy 8 still hasn’t decided what she wants me to make her for her birthday and we’ve got just over a week! The requirements are twirly and pink – wow lots of definite decisions there. Oh well I guess it is up to mum’s discretion and if she doesn’t like it then too bad.

I have a big floral print sitting on my cutting table calling me to make it into something – what? I’m still thinking….

[homefire]

I also have a heap of things cut or ready to be cut. It took two days of sewing time to get four jumprope dresses cut and marked but I’ll be so happy to get all of the collars and plackets done in one go. In the past the kids have been able to still wear some things from the year before when the season changes and that gives me a little grace period to get new things sewn. Not so much this year! The weather has changed very suddenly and as NOTHING fits ANY of my children I need to get busy.

[meleliza]

I’ve been working on a playdate dress in children at play fabric for the first birthday, but I’m having s hard time deciding on details. I got most of it together only to realize that the piping I had chosen didn’t look at all nice, so I ripped it all apart and found another color. Meanwhile, I promised child number 2 a special blanket for his birthday tomorrow so I’d really better finish that!

Justsewit – have you seen girl’s world? There are some great ideas in there. You could probably find something twirly and very pink. Also, one of the big crafty blogs sells a can can skirt pattern. I think it comes from made, but I bet you could Google it easily enough.

[Tamara]

Meleliza I have seen a preview of the book but I don’t own a copy. I did think about that dress in there but seeing as her birthday is in 7 days I have to use what I have. She’s decided on twirly and pink and has left the rest up to me and I have a twirly pattern and pink print fabric all I need now is a little time to make it.

Things are a little chaotic here at the moment – end of term, mil in hospital in Perth still and fil down there finding out what the heck is going on means S.T.R.E.S.S. in all proportions. It also means not being able to sew as much until all this subsides – blooming typical!

So I don’t think I’ll get alot of sewing done today if any …. I just feel like having a good cry instead. Life’s a complete pain in the rear end sometimes.

I hope the birthday dress turns out gorgeous Meleliza – can’t wait to see photos.

Homefire I felt the same way at the beginning of winter (here) where I had to make all the winter clothes and some are still half made waiting to be completed and my kids are on the growth rampage again – I wonder if the brick on the head trick really works? I’m tempted to just size up everything for miss nearly 9 as she’s just grown like someone just dumped a bucket of fertilizer on her! Her measurements are still size 12 though – just.

Hope you ladies have a lovely time sewing. I’m off to take frustrations out on housework!

Tamara

[rastis]

oh my little boy is growing like a weed as well… he’s a 3 year old in size 6 clothing this summer and it saddens me that patterns i thought would last much longer, he has already grown out of! it’s been such a shock for me to have such tall children (as i’m only 5’2″)… definitely comes from my husband’s side!! they will all tower over me soon enough…

[Nicole]

What am I sewing? A pain in the ### Burda pattern in the worlds nastiest satin available!

To be fair,the pattern is in German and apart from a few rude words my electrician taught me I do not speak German. But a six gored skirt without notches!!!! That is just being mean!

The recipient is a swimmer and I did make a muslin(nods to Carol)but it is the strangest looking thing on the hanger!

Please cross EVERYTHING for me to hope it fits.

Next up-Finish the Class Picnic blouses and then hopefully a Lisette blouse for me!

[Emily]

I’m back from vacation with my dreadful in-laws (no, seriously – my sisters in law, whose vacation I paid for, refused to speak to me or otherwise acknowledge my existence, AND played with Eleanor despite both of them having terrible colds and got her sick. BAH.) and after a week on Cape Cod, we spent a long weekend in Manhattan visiting friends. I got to make a field trip to Purl Soho and also to Mood! It was very exciting – I found some drool-worthy brick red wool and cashmere coating to make a winter coat for Eleanor, and some deep purpley blue dupioni for a party dress, and loads of other lovely, lovely fabrics. And the toggles! Toggles galore. So, what am I sewing? *sigh* I’m still trying to find some time to finish my Colette Crepe dress that I didn’t quite get done before we left. It’s very difficult, forcing myself to finish the already-in-progress projects when I have the siren song of wonderful new and exciting fabrics, begging to be cut into.

[Violaisabelle]

Nicole, I’m assuming you tried the muslin on her so you should be just fine. 🙂 Was the skirt by any chance Burda 8973 http://www.sewingpatterns.com/sub_item.php?item_num=8973bur&model=%&new_category=&view=gallery&brand=&category=search&pageGoto=36&pageFormat=3|186|186&pageCount=18&search=skirts&return=yes? I had the same issue with Burda 8213 http://www.sewingpatterns.com/sub_item.php?item_num=8213bur&model=%&new_category=search&view=gallery&brand=&category=search&pageGoto=0&pageFormat=3|186|186&pageCount=18&search=8213&return=yes ! I made several of these in very short order so I was able to get good at identifying the pieces…but I still made labels and put them on each piece, just in case I got interrupted or *forgot* where I was in process. 😉

Regarding German Burda patterns, last I knew, they still did not include seam allowance, is that still the way it is? I know the patterns sold in Canada and the us include the seam allowances.

Carol

[meleliza]

Tamara, sorry to hear about all that. I’ve got a list of life related stresses right now too, so I’m with you about the good cry! Probably the girls world book is not worth purchasing for someone as advanced as yourself. Mine was a gift and is more inspiration then substance – though I did just make one dress from it. How about a simple bodice with a simple but very full skirt and a sash to tie in a big bow? That’s what I think of and I was a little girl who judged every dress by its twirl factor! (truth be told, I still do sometimes:), though slimming factor has become ,ore important these days.)

[Tamara]

Meleliza, thanks – a good cry was had and made me feel a little better even though I didn’t get to sew at all yesterday.

I like books that are inspirational – I have ones in Japanese and I can’t understand what they are on about but I love looking at the pictures. I’m sure it would come in handy even if I didn’t actually make anything from it – miss nearly 9 made a doll all by herself the other day by hand with needle and thread so maybe Girl’s World could be a next step for her.

I’ve decided on simple sundress type style with smocking that takes two seconds (well a little longer but you know, a design that you don’t have to think too much about). I may even omit the smocking all together because I just don’t feel in the mood to stress myself even further and she can still have the twirl factor. I just have to commit the time to do it.

Funny you say that about watching for twirl factor – my girl assesses for colour aswell and if she doesn’t like a certain colour and the dress has it in the print, she won’t wear it. Same with denim! She just doesn’t go for it – but I make it anyway in the hopes that she’ll change her mind.

Today has already been delayed but in a good way I think. I was asked to stay at school and help my daughter’s class paint a scene on the computer room doors as set out by the current artist in residence. It was fun even though it was real wall paint that doesn’t come out and we were a few with buttered fingers for a moment – nothing a wet sponge couldn’t mop up but I discovered I have yellow fingers!! It’s nice to be able to see what goes on at school and nice to actually see a smile on dd’s face. One more day to go before the term break and boy am I glad (I’m just the mum and I’m more exhausted than the kids!).

So today, I’m going to endeavour to finish the two music class skirts and start on something else, maybe the sketchbooks shirt with bikes all over it.

[Tamara]

I managed to finish two music class skirts and shirts to match and all in record time too. I think I like this idea of cutting out in bulk!

Next I think I will finally finish the Jumprope dress (and that can be the birthday dress) and make some matching hats. I might even be able to get that bike sketchbook shirt done – while battling horrible sticky flies!!

[beachmom]

Projects on my machines include a hooded zip front jacket for my youngest since the temps have dropped about 20 degrees (brrr!) and a Jump Rope Dress for my oldest.

[Tamara]

I’m not exactly sewing today, just cleaning up the unholy mess that is my sewing area. I ran out of time before we went to the show as I was in the middle of trying to finish off what was supposed to be birthday presents – they are still unfinished but she got her Jumprope dress to wear.

So when I can find my table, I will be finishing off two Music class shirts and putting the elastic in two Music class skirts, then starting to sew the other items that are cut out and waiting.

After that, I think I will have to draft some patterns up a size as we are on the growth warpath again! The largest size bucket hat fits my daughter but my son has the biggest head ever – so I have to size that up as I intend to make hats for school.

[mle bb]

I am beginning to trace the Playdate dress pattern in size 2T in freezer paper for my cousin’s daughter. I just asked her tonight if I could make her a dress to wear for Thanksgiving and she loved the bib on this one. now I have to decide what fabrics…violet or green she suggested, I love to make these decisions! I am also sewing a sleep sac for a newborn and just ordered fabric to make two sets of bedtime story pajamas for two brothers.