Clothes Sewing

I had a completely crap sewing day yesterday. more unpicking than sewing and nothing great to show at the end of it. So today I sewed things I knew would end well. Another corduroy skirt this time with a panel of Ink and Spindle fabric off centre on the front.
A long sleeve version of Simplicity 3835. I love this fabric. I think I found it at Spotlight on sale in the quilting section, but it is not quilting fabric. More like a voile.

And now some giraffes need stuffing while I watch the girls do 'the bestest dance moves ever'. These should be the last of the softies for Stitches and Craft. Then I should probably start organising everything, clean up the craft room, maybe even clean some of the house.

Today...

Finishing wombats and caterpillars.

Finished the hem on another New Look 6775 smock like top. (Yes I am a little bit obsessed with this green Heather Bailey fabric).Making zucchini slice.

Laughing at Eva's dance moves.

Trying to dry washing before it rains again.

Feeling strangely calm despite it being less than two weeks until Sydney Stitches and Craft.

Don't forget to have a look here and download some vouchers before you head to the show. Just print out this voucher and save 10% at Two Little Banshees.

Fisherman's Pants

I remember finding some Onion sewing patterns in a store in Denmark when we were travelling in 2004 was quite excited to see sewing patterns that were a bit different as my total pattern experience were the 4 or 5 big traditional pattern companies. I somehow stashed a few in my backpack and they have sat around in various piles and cupboards for the last 5 years waiting to be used.
I love the idea of new patterns and planning what I will make, but then always go back to the tried and tested patterns and rarely try new ones. I really hate doing all theat planning, choosing fabric, cutting and sewing and then it doesn't fit or doesn't suit me. So yesterday I pulled out Onion pattern 0001 and sewed. I wish I had made them years ago. Easy and they fit. Fisherman's pants I will leave the house in. Not too much fabric to make you look humungous and very comfortable. The only drawback was the instructions are in Danish and there are no pictures, but if you have some experience you know what goes where.

I have tried to find references to this pattern online and I can't find any. It doesn't appear to exist anymore. There is the skirt version still available here. Look under women's specialty patterns.

Apparently pink skirts are the most perfect thing ever to wear especially with stripey stockings or leggings. Lucky they are easy to whip up. These have some Aunty Cookie fabric appliqued on to make them even more perfect.

Placemat Tutorial

Looking for a good way to use some of your favourite scraps of fabric? My placemat tutorial is now up on at Living Creatively. It is great for any size scraps and you don't really need to measure, just cut where you want and add the scraps in. Perfect for when you want to sew and not think.
Modern Retro Textiles is now stocking some of my patterns. They also have some seriously amazing fabric- pop over and have a look.

Sophie Tunic

I was going through the girls' clothes last week and realised Evie has grown out of nearly everything. None of her shirts were covering that not so small tummy. It seems the nickname of little sluggy has stuck and that is what her sisters call her. I'm just worried with the amount she eats I'll wake up one morning and she will have metamorphosised.*
Here is a new shirt, The Sophie Tunic by SisBoom. Actually it is the second one I made, the first in size 18m-2 years would not fit over her head. So with a few alterations I made one that would. I highly recommend this pattern - really clear instructions would make it suitable for even a beginner sewer. (Just check the size of your child's head first).

*Yes I know not the best way to talk about your children, but I have been told our family is not quite normal (usually by my Mum).

Corduroy Skirt

A new skirt using New Look Pattern 6317 which I have owned forever. It has a great basic, simple skirt with only 4 pieces. It was a bit boring in plain brown corduroy so I cut across the front a few times and added some pieces of a vintage curtain. Now it is a little more interesting. The sewing was also made interesting when I managed to sew my finger. I was sewing the zip with minimal pins and was just thinking how clever I was as it looked ok and somehow my finger ended up being sewed. It is ok now. I managed to find a Wiggles band aid and we all know they fix everything.

Apparently you can never wear too many hats.

Bags

I know I have been going on about Sydney and the Stitches and Craft Show, but it is dominating all my spare time at the moment and when I am not sewing for it I am wondering if I will have enough stuff or will I have too much stuff. Will anyone want any of it.
I finished some bags today and this is one I will be happy if I don't sell as I think it could become one of my favourites. Love this fabric. I bought it in Melbourne from these lovely ladies.

Yarn and Drop Bears

The favourites from my dyeing this week. Not much has been done this week as it has rained and rained which is nbot helpful when you need to dry wool.
So there was more time to sew and these little drop bears appeared.

A Controversial Topic - Copyright

I have read a few posts about copyright lately and the problems other crafters have been having with people using their patterns to make and sell softies. I wish these were small isolated problems, but it is obvious that it is not. You only have to look through Etsy and other sites to see people doing this quite often.
It can be terribly disheartening when you have put all that work (and it is a lot of work) into designing something and writing up a pattern and then you find people selling things made from the patter. This is made worse when I am trying to earn money selling my creations and someone is using my patterns and charging a lot less (I wonder if they doing much more than breaking even). I think some people are simply unaware that you can't use other peoples patterns without their permission, but others, especially bigger corporations just appear to not care.
I certainly don't want to discourage people using my things for inspiration and I am certainly not claiming that no one should make certain animals because I do. For example there are many brilliant hippos, giraffes and elephants around. There are all going to have certain characteristics the same, but we all use our own different pattern we made ourselves and have our own style which make them unique.
Ok that is all I have to say. Three little girls are waiting to make chocolate cake.

Ready to Quilt

I have been slowly working on a diamond quilt. It originally had a different border, but after looking at it for a week I unpicked it and added a different one. This is definitely better although Chris does't like it at all. He doesn't usually have very strong opinions on my work, but he did with this. How can pink and green not look great? I think I have enough of this green left for a smock type shirt for myself. I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this quilt.

Yarn

There seems to be yarn everywhere in my house at the moment, some on cones, some wound waiting to be dyed, some dyeing, some drying and finally some all ready to go to Sydney. On the left are two skeins of really yummy squishy cashmere/wool/sock yarn. Not sure how much of this I can part with.

Pattern and No Shampoo

I have finally finished some new patterns and will slowly put them in the shop today!

No Shampoo Update: It has been a year since I stopped using shampoo and conditioner and I don't think I will be going back. I admit I have used it a few times. I don't care what the hairdresser uses if I get a great head massage and a few weeks ago I thought I would use it and see what happened for a week. It went straight back to being greasy and not nice. So I am very happy using a bicarb soda mix every few days and a rinse of diluted apple cider vinegar. I haven't even being doing that for the girls. Their hair just gets rinsed with water and feels and smells fine. Life is so much better without the screaming that always comes whenever we tried to shampoo their hair. So I highly recommend giving it a go.

Edited to add: I use about 1 tbsp of bicarb in 1/2 cup of water and that seems to work for my hair, but I guess everyone might need a slightly different amount. I think I might use a few tbsp of vinegar in half a cup of water (I am a great measurer).

Socks

I'm still trying to knit using the magic loop. I think I could get used to it, but it is slow going at the moment.

Desert Twirl Quilt

A couple of pictures from of my new quilt, can't write more, must get back to pattern writing so I have it ready for the Stitches and Craft Show.

Holidays

And we are back. We spent a great few days down in Albany. The girls had a great time with their cousins and rode their bikes whenever they could. it was all pretty perfect until the last night when there was some vomiting, some more in the car on the way home and then some colds and croup. So another lazy day I think for all the children, while I dye yarn and sew diamonds together in preparation for The Stitches and Craft Show. I am dyeing lace and sock yarn, mostly kettle dyed I think. I am embracing the unexpected results and surprises that you get from kettle dyeing at the moment.

Interview

I'm enjoying five minutes, a hot chocolate and the internet by myself while I am on holidays.
No pictures to show or craft to share, but Amanda has done a lovely interview with me over on The Made On The Left blog. Have a great week!

Evie and my Scarf

There was only one child at home to model my scarf today. I managed one photo in focus. Evie has become the walking, climbing, child proof gate opening, draw emptying, hard to catch, house destroying child that makes you want to tear your hair out. Luckily she smiles and laughs all the time. Who could be cross at this little face?

Rain

My weekend consisted of rain, rain and more rain. It has been a struggle to occupy the girls inside without us all going crazy and to get any washing dry. Chris took them all for a walk in the bush for the little bit it wasn't raining yesterday and I managed to finish a few bags.
These have gone to Freo.

These will be in the shop soon.

Sewing Tip

I have been sewing strips from jelly rolls together which in the past would have driven me insane until I realised my Pfaff sewing machine has this thing they call an Integrated Dual Feed System that works like a walking foot. It is perfect for patchwork as you can use your 1/4 inch foot at the same time. It is on the back of the sewing machine and you just clip it into the foot you are using (I've drawn an arrow to it in the picture below) and sew away. It ensures that the top and the bottom fabric are fed through at the same rate and there is no puckering or stretching of one fabric. I have it clipped in all the time when I am quilting now and has made a huge difference.

Finished Little Quilt

I have finished binding the little quilt and it is ready to send to its new home. The sun finally came out for a few minutes so I could take pictures. It is slightly more 'green' than I wanted it to be, but I do love all the bright colours in it.
Thanks for all your scarf love. More pictures when it has dried. I wish I had thought of the fantastic colour combination, but I think I saw it here first. I used hald a skein of Socks that Rock Watermelon Tourmaline and half a skein of Farmhouse, both lightweight.