New Look 6429

I think I might have nearly recovered from Upmarket on the weekend. Thanks to everyone who came to say hi - it was lovely to meet you all and thanks for coming out in the heat.

New Look 6429. There is a reason there are so many reviews on Pattern Review. This pattern is fantastic. I used a cotton lycra which is painful to sew as it keeps rolling up,but great to wear. I bought a roll of it on special earlier this year which has been really useful because you can't go wrong with a good cotton knit fabric and because it was so cheap I don't make muslins on my knit clothes - I can just use this and if it works fantastic and if not I really haven't lost much.
I read a lot of reviews of this pattern and it really did seem to flatter every body type - there is nothing like a little ruching over the stomache to disguise a few problems. The shape of the back is really flattering too. A few people did have problems with the shape and had to make lots of changes and some found it too big, so I cut a size smaller then usual, but other than that I found it fit perfectly.
The only negative is the facings. They just don't seem to sit right and on the next one I make I will just use some clear elastic and sew that on then turn under and top stitch.
Otherwise it is the perfect summer dress (and will probably be the perfect winter dress with long sleeves).**
Thank goodness for our verandah on hot days (36 again today). The girls still get to be play outside.

** My head was originally in the picture, but thought the face and unbrushed hair might scare people today.

More Skirts

While I actually knew where the pattern was (not an easy thing in this sewing room) I whipped up two more skirts. This is some echino fabric with a red polka dot binding.
Some Far Far Away 2 by Heather Ross with some of her Lightning Bugs fabric for the binding.

Now off to finish some toys and hats for Upmarket on Sunday. It is on at UWA at Winthrop Hall between 10 and 4. I will be down stairs in my usual spot (probably wearing one of those skirts).

Skirt

A new a-line skirt from some IKEA fabric I bought earlier this year. I love this fabric - it reminds me of boab trees. The binding at the top is some Amy Butler fabric. I probably should have cut it on the bias, instead I cut 3 inches and bound the top like a quilt.
I did the top binding and then put the zip in tucking the top of the zip into the binding. Easy and quick.

The best of the photos the girls took this morning.

Square Quilts

Thsese have been finished for a while but I only got around to washing them this week.

Both are listed in the shop.

Hippos

Hippos. That is all. Now back to my little sweatshop. Literally, it is going to be 37 today.

Burda 7808

What do you do when you have so many half finished projects and things that should have been done yesterday? Sew a new dress of course. It was 36 degrees today and I am in desperate need of some summer dresses.
Burda 7808 had lots of promise looking at the pattern, it also had the 'this is just going to be a big baggy tent look'. I couldn't find many reviews so I cut it out and started sewing with some black cotton poplin from the stash. The first things to go was the back insert as I cut, I just cut a normal back and then cut a facing for it (though if I made it again I might cut the back how it is in the pattern without using a tie - I really don't like ties at the back of my clothes).
I did cut the collar out from view B but it made me look like a witch so that went completely. I also cut short sleeves, but it was so hot here today I threw them out. I had to cut of a few inches in length.
It makes me look less of a humungous witch than it did at the start, but it is not really flattering from the side, but I actually quite like it. It is a great dress for wearing around town and around the house, very comfortable to sew in (which is very important) and very cool when it is hot. I'm definitely thinking I might make another one, probably in double gauze.

The girls took some pictures of me. Here is one with me actually in the picture.

Sourdough Bread

I proudly present my first loaf of sourdough bread. It has been a few weeks in the making. I started a starter nearly 2 weeks ago using this recipe and information. Very simple to understand and to do. I tried to make a loaf the other day, but the starter wasn't ready and didn't rise. So I waited a few more days and kept feeding it and this one worked quite well.
Now I need to work on my bread baking technique. This was quite edible, but the crust we too hard and thick for me. I want something that won't make my gums bleed.
Load number 2 is rising and I am going to try some of the suggestions here to get a better crust.

Quick and Simple Headband

These headbands seem to be multiplying in this house. The girls want them in every different colour and pattern. Lucky they can be made very very quickly.
Cut 1 piece of fabric 16.5" x 4" and 1 piece 7" x 1.5". You will need a piece of elastic 4" long.

On the larger piece of fabric fold and press 1/2" towards the wrong side at both ends.

Fold both pieces in half, right sides together. Pin and then sew. My seams were 1/4".

Turn right side out. I use a pair of hemostats to help me (these are fantastic for helping turn small things).

Thread the elastic through the smaller piece. I do this by attaching a safety pin at one end. I then thread it through and sew one end of the elastic to the end of the fabric, then pull and manipulate the safety pin to the other end, remove the safety pin and sew the other end of the elastic to the fabric.

Poke one end of the elastic piece into the end of the larger piece and top stitch in place. I double stitched for strength. Repeat for the other end. Finished!

Verandah

Our verandah had a little make over on the weekend. Chris bought some blackboards from school when they were getting rid of them last year and Dad helped me put one up.
There has been lots of drawing out there already.
Dad brought down for me this fantastic pew from the Catholic church no longer in use at Kondinin. So my job this week is to clean it, sand it down and then oil it. It is perfect out on our verandah.

Plushie Palooza at Kid Independent

Kid Independent are having a Plushie Palooza Toy Festival all of November. Today my Banjo Bear is featured. Pop over and have a look at Banjo and all the other toys featured.

Hats and Rain

The last two days have been about hats and rain here. It is so nice to hear the rain on the roof after a very very dry winter.
So we have spent the time inside. Eva has been playing and I have been cutting out hats and then cutting out some more hats and then sewing them up.
I'm hoping I have lots for Upmarket on the 28th November.

Weeping Mulberry

We have been in our house now for 10 months and we are still getting new surprises in our garden. We have a beautiful weeping mulberry out the front. I'd always assumed ours was an ornamental non-fruiting type.
Aparently I was wrong. It is covered in fruit.

Under the tree is one of the girls favourite places. It is nice and shady and great for dancing and hiding.

Storing Rulers and Templates

I've seen this idea somewhere before on a couple of blogs and when I wandered past a toast rack in the hardware store yesterday I bought one to tidy up my templates and rulers. It is a fantastic idea - I can see them, find them when i want them and they aren't covereing most of my cutting table anymore.
There has been more softie sewing this week. The girls have all requested different toys for Christmas (got to love that they want something I have made) so I have secretly made them all things and hidden them away. Some extras were sewn and can be found here.

Giraffes

Four little giraffes appeared this week.
I will be popping them in the shop today.

Quilting Bee Blocks and the Fair

I have finished my second blocks for the Around the Block quilting bee. These were lots of fun to sew and I loved the colours and fabrics.
I am helping my friend Emma organise a fair in Bridgetown on the 4th December. The one last December was such a success and so much fun she is organising another one. There is a week or two left to apply for stalls so if you would like to apply send me an email to kate [at] twolittlebanshees [dot] com and I will email you a form.