[Lightning McStitch]

Justsewit that school of yours is formidable with their costume requirements! I say sew some elbow patches on their regular clothes and they can go to book week as authors! (but I suspect you’re a more generous mother/sewist than that)

ndeporto I have only tried sewing for myself once or twice and never with any great success as I just don’t have the patience to check fittings and adjust things and it would seem I’m not as straight up and down as a pattern size requires. The shapelessness of small children is much easier to sew for.

I’ve packed the sewing machine away for a few nights to allow us to eat at the dining table, so I’m trying some hand sewing and have just done some reverse applique using freezer paper for the first time. It’s quite satisfying. I’m putting together a mini quilt for miss A for Christmas for a doll’s cradle that’s being restored for her. Of course, now I just want to buy nice, matching quilting packs of fabric rather than use all my mismatched scraps….

[Tamara]

I feel as though I have made enough costumes to clothe the nation! I will still make the cape but I doubt it will be used because it is red not black for a Batgirl costume, She will just have a choice to wear a black leotard and skirt with her homemade cape or go in a decent dress with a red cape. Either way it will be a costume without such a lot of work that I have with the others. As for N, He has the choice also between the Chief which is ready to go or the rtw Green Lantern costume which needs the mask located which isn’t a big deal. It is after all what they will have to wear for the whole day so they need to be comfortable with that choice.

I have just found out that my Sunday has now been allocated to other things. Oh joy of joys … I was really hoping to be able to do some sewing. Time is definitely not on my side right now.

[with love Heidi]

I am nearly finished my first class picnic top, the pattern came in the post yesterday so it won’t even make it onto the ‘Dead Horse’ list. Then stretch pants for me.

[Tamara]

My patterns turned up today which is fantastic as the digital copy is still in pieces somewhere under the rubble. I re arranged my sewing cupboard yesterday and have found that I need to get sewing in order to make space for the excess fabric – you lose track of how many parcels fill such a space and I have filled the space I have made this year already… All the more sewing fun to be had.

Can’t wait for Sunday!

[katybellabug]

I have a black denim sailboat skirt and a pink cord sunday brunch skirt cut out and ready for a quiet afternoons sewing. I am putting the finishing touches to an Ottobre dress that is very Ice Cream in style, and winging its way to me via UPS is some fabric for the jump rope dress I have planned.

I am planning on some self indulgent sewing after all that. I need, stress NEED, some tunic tops and have a couple of patterns I haven’t tried yet. I always find it harder to choose fabric for myself. The children just seem easier to choose for somehow.

[with love Heidi]

I forgot I needed to wash my stretch fabric before I sew with it! I definatly don’t want it shrinking after I make pants. It’s drying now. I am making grey Sandbox pants instead, my first for my Harry Potter costumes.

[Nicole]

Heidi,consider washing it twice.

I had a tragic result with the beautiful CityWeekend knit,so now I wash twice and even take the sporting equipment from the tumble dryer to pre-shrink it.(I store footy’s,netballs and tennis balls in my huge front dryer as I don’t use it that often)

Katy,I am in the same boat,I desperately need a few things for myself. I can heartily recommend the Lisette Portfolio.

I am cutting and sewing school separates but maybe after that.

~Nicole~

[with love Heidi]

Thanks for the hint Nicole, it’s currently in the dryer (as it has been grey, cold and rainy here all week 🙁 ). I love the image of all the sport’s equipment stored in the dryer!!

[Tamara]

Speaking of washing fabric, I have to stick my Modern Workshop knit in the wash again. Our lovely female feline decided my fabric cupboard was a great place to snooze whilst I wasn’t looking and has made huge dirty marks all over it! I have rearranged that shelf so she gets the message that she’s not allowed in even if dad does leave the door open – I’m still yet to put the sliding doors on but I have to take some panels back to Ikea to exchange as they broke on the courier.

We have visitors today so really can’t sew this afternoon/ evening. Boy am I hanging out to get back in here and bond with the machines. I have birthday clothes to make and that infamous red cape!

[lattemama]

One Badminton dress size 8 from IKEA fabric done and one size 12 to hem. I would have had it hemmed but the scallops are a bit time consuming. But they are cute so they get to stay.

Sofia has approved of hers and is wearing it right now.

[Mama_Knowles]

I am wanting to make the red cape too Tamara. I just not sure if I can cut into my red cord. I was wanting to make Sweet pea her a 2+2 dress but maybe I just need to run to the fabric store for more. 😉

I just finished Mr W sandbox pants and next up are three sketchbook shirts. Two for Mr W and weeny size for baby C. I need to get them all done before school pictures on Thursday too. My sewing has been so slow going these days. Not enough hours in the day for everything.

~Sharon~

[Tamara]

Ok, so I pulled out the Fairy tale pattern today with a pile of different fabrics for Imogen to choose from and told her I’d be back in five minutes with her verdict. She had them all in two piles I like I suggested for the two views of the pattern and then I got her to pick her absolute favourites from both piles. She chose the same print for both but in different colourways – the Eiffel Tower print by Michael Miller. She’s opted to go without the crinoline which is fine by me and now all I have to do is make a toile of the bodice, fit it, make adjustments, choose minipiping find zippers etc and I’m ready to make two dresses!

I still don’t know if she wants the rep cape, I haven’t asked again but I have time to whip it up before Friday.

[lattemama]

I bought red satin for Isabel’s Fairy Tale and I have fitted the bodice on her. Turns out my grading was spot on. I need to lengthen the bodice slightly though, maybe about an inch. And there will most likely not be darts. We’ll see.

I have a second Badminton dress to hem before I can start that though, and I might slip in two Jump Ropes for Sofia as well. The Badminton was big in the chest on her in size 8 so I believe the size 7 I have traced will fit nicely.

[Tamara]

I made a muslin for the Fairy Tale this afternoon and it doesn’t look quite right at the back. I’ve taken photos of a fidgety Imogen to show you all so that I could maybe possibly get some ideas as to how to fit it well at the back. She has a waist that is much larger than the pattern measurements yet her back is concave, leaving the back looking baggy in the middle but very snug at the hip. When you see the photos you will know what I mean. I think I could keep the darts in at the front but it is the back I am having issues with. I sot of had a feeling this would happen but I thought I would have more issues dealing with the bust measurement because that is larger by a cinch.

I have alotted three Fairy tales for this week and if I work on them as a trio I stand a good chance of having them finished before her birthday in a little over a week. Of course I am hoping to get much more than three dresses done between now and then …. but we shall see. Let’s conquer this dead horse first!

[lattemama]

Badmintons are both done. Sadly the size 12 was too small for Isabel so I will have to put it away until it will fit Sofia. Luckily the dress should be easy to enlarge for Isabel. She needs a bigger neck line and armscye. That should be easy enough with that model.

Not sure what to go for next. I think I’ll hold off on the Fairy Tales a bit longer since I had planned them for Christmas. Wouldn’t want any sudden growth spurts to make the dresses too small for either of them, so next up would be either a larger Badminton or two Jump Ropes for Sofia … I think I’ll make something for Isabel first so Badminton it is.