[Tamara]

Katybellabug,

I found this pattern to be roomy – I made a size 8 for my daughter ages ago (when she was actually that size) and it was big on her. Sizing up on the other hand is ideal where layering is concerned. I’m wishing this pattern was in a larger size again because it never really got any use the first time around.

On my sewing table at the moment is a half made Music class shirt in Joel Dewberry print (the little pink flowers from Modern Meadows range). I have lengthend by some 2.5 inches because the one I made her last year is just too short! I also lengthened the sleeve. Didn’t do the pintucks this time either, only gathered at those spots. Hoping to have it completed by Friday.

I also have Afterschool pants size 12 in denim sitting in pieces waiting patiently for its turn.

In my sewing bag I have the main part of the Secret Agent trench coat in Berry corduroy. I have decided to hand stitch the binding instead of top stitching first (will do this after). I find that if I do this first I get a better result on both sides rather than pretty on one side and just plain horrid on the other. I did contemplate lining it but I figured I can always make another one for winter next year depending on how big it is now and how she grows.

Next after this trio is this Indian Chief costume for Wednesday’s school assembly item – no sweat!

[Emily]

Continuing the fall sewing marathon… This morning I sewed the buttons on a Seashore Sundress. I raised the waist by 4″ and did a gathered skirt all the way around, and I’m quite pleased with how it turned out. It was a practice one for the same modifications in a grey wool that I found on the flat-fold remnant table at Pendleton Woolen Mills in Portland last summer. The size 5 is roomy enough on Eleanor that it works as a jumper, so I’m thinking that she’ll be able to wear it in the fall and winter with a long-sleeved shirt and tights or leggings underneath. I’m planning to fully line the bodice with cotton lawn, and hide the waist seam in the bodice so it will be neat and finished.

I’ve also recently finished 4 Music Box Jumpers. I did one in a vintage repro print, 2 in corduroy, and one in Liberty lawn. Buttonholes have always been a bit of a bugaboo for me, so I took the corduroy and Liberty dresses to a local tailor to do the buttonholes. Today when I went to pick them up, I was SERIOUSLY disappointed – they were uneven and sloppy. Fortunately, she hadn’t cut the centers yet, so I’ll be able to pick them out and re-do them myself, slowly and painstakingly and up to my (admittedly nitpicky and perfectionist) standards. Sigh. I should know better than to look for a shortcut…

In the queue: 3 more Seashore dresses, a few Family Reunion dresses, 2 School Days coats (one wool and one laminate), and probably more Jump Rope dresses when I finish everything else. Yesterday was 20 weeks for me, and I feel as though the clock is beginning to tick a bit more loudly…

[Sarvi]

Emily, how did your Liberty jumpers turn out? I hadn’t thought of trying it in such a light fabric?

[Emily]

Sarvi,

I was really pleased with how the Liberty jumper turned out. I did a gathered skirt with the front and back each using a full width of the fabric (back split in the middle for the button placket) and I think it’s rather nice. I’ll post pictures once I’ve fixed the dreadful buttonholes. Eleanor is quite pleased – I used a small pink floral that she is enamored with, and likes that it’s super-gathered so it will “spin WAY OUT, Mommy!” The nice thing about the lawn is that it’s fine enough that the gathers don’t add a lot of bulk, so it was easy to sew and the seam allowance isn’t bumpy or bulge-y where the waist meets the bodice.

[Sarvi]

Ah, that sounds really lovely.

[Mama_Knowles]

I am still working on the fall sewing with two pairs of sketchbook shorts baby to finish up today. I am wanting then to get to finish cutting out the rest of my fall list.

one more 2+2 skirt (2total)

2 long sleeve 2+2 tops

2 family reuion dresses

5 sail boat tops in knit for Sarah and baby (Just got the fabric for this in mail!!)

2 hopschotch tops

2-3 sandbox pants

two music class tops

two music class skirts

plus a ton of pjs! The pj’s I am most excited about. I think I will have to start these next, at lest the first pair for all the kids. I am wanting to make each child 3 pairs a piece for the fall and winter. Plus I have a ton of other things I am wanting to sew this fall too but still need to find the right fabric for.

I did though pick out the perfect farbic for all the kids Christmas outfits and want to start these next month. I want them to be extra special this year! I am seeing a play date in deep red velvet with and off white yoke with small pin tucks made on either side of the buttons with some very girly lace trim on the yoke and sleeve ends. (I amready have the lace) and the boys with the sketchbook pants paired with a vest in a black pin strip suiting with an off white shirt to match the yoke n Sweat pea’s dress and a beauitful deep red tie to boot! I am super excited about these! To top it off I am going to be makeing all the kiddos matching pj’s too. I am just waiting on grandma for the fabric for these. Oh how I love to Sew!!

~Sharon~

[Tamara]

I am up and sewing on a foggy Sunday morning at 7.20am and going hammer and tongs all day (that is the intention anyhow). I have the Indian war bonnet made up and ready for the trim and elastic -feathers are so fiddly to sew and I only had really skinny tiger tape but we got there! Now I am cutting out the after school top and sleepover pj pants for the actual costume and I have fringing which will hopefully be plenty enough to adorn the arms and down the legs. I told N he has to wear this for book week also (next week) as I just don’t have the time to make another.

Little red riding hood is the next project. Easy done! Just size up the cape in the L.t.t.s. book and stick a dress on her we’re good to go!

I have a heap of pleating to do for smocking projects for the ag show season so I plan to do this this afternoon.

~Tamara~

[Mama_Knowles]

I can’t wait to see the indian costum! All your costums always turn out amazing!

[Tamara]

Hi Sharon, the costume just needs buttons and elastic and a bit more on the headpiece. It doesn’t look very authentic but then I’m an Aussie and it’s just for a thing at school. I will post a photo of him dressed but I don’t think I’ll put it in the group just in case it upsets due to the very stereotypical look it may percieve. This way people can have the choice to take a look if they wish. I’ve sort of stepped out of my comfort zone with this one besides the usual top and pants. I’m looking forward to getting on with things I feel safer with.

[Nicole]

Costumes can take so long,its great that it can be re-used for Book Week.

I have finally cut out the croquet dress in some City Weekend for Liddy and some rather unusual fabric for Matilda as part of my ‘You can’t make that pattern in that’! challenge.

Very quick to cut out once I had the chance.

~Nicole~

[Emily]

I am pleased to report that I have conquered the dreaded buttonholes. I sew on a 1952 Viking Huskvarna 21A that doesn’t have an automated buttonhole feature, so it’s a 6-step manual process with a lot of room for error and is generally tedious at best. I love my machine for nearly everything else, but it’s a bear to do buttonholes. However! I just picked up a Brother XL3750 for about $100 from Amazon to use as a back-up machine when mine is in for service or to take to classes with me (the Viking is all-metal and HEAVY) and it has an automated buttonhole!! With a minimum of fiddling and fuss, I was able to finish the buttonholes on THREE separate Music Box jumpers today, in under an hour! I’m feeling very pleased and quite self-satisfied and have anointed myself Queen of Buttonholes. It’s quite a triumph for me, and it’s something that I generally avoid at all costs so to have gotten over my fear of buttonholes is really making my day. I even managed to sew on the buttons on 2 of the dresses today on the ferry!

Tomorrow I’m cutting out a Seashore dress in grey wool (meant to be worn as a jumper this fall/winter). I’m lining the bodice fully in a cotton lawn to avoid itchies and to hide the seam allowances.

Sharon, those Christmas dresses sound really lovely! I think the Playdate looks really nice with pintucks or pleats on either side of the buttons, and I’m sure the lace will make it really special. Will you use cotton velvet?

[Nicole]

I am half way through the Croquet dresses,what fun.

Nice and quick to sew but still deliciously oliver+S.

Emily,I love those Music Box pinafores!

[with love Heidi]

Well done Emily on your button holes and Nichole I love how the fabric came together for Tildy’s dress. My friend and I sewed 5 modified badminton skirts while I was on holiday’s (Note:Must get pictures up) and introduced them to the wonders of Oliver and S. Nicole thanks espically for so many pictures of E & Z wearing oliver and S. The border print seashore dress was so helpful in showing how well the patterns work for older girls.

Working on another modified badminton skirt for a birthday present.

[Tamara]

I just found out today that my boss is having her first baby! So I have until the 11th of September to get something special together before she heads back to Perth for the city stint of the job – she’s due the day after my birthday! Such a nice person even if others in the office think otherwise and a first baby is a great excuse for something special – so I will probably make her an outfit with the hat from LTTS book in the smallest size which will be just right for a summer baby.

[Nicole]

Goodness Heidi,I am blushing,that is seriously kind of you!

Sewing for babies is lovely Tamara.

I have finished a tiny Apple Picking dress in Liberty,so sweet!