Eva's Quilt

Designed by Eva using Ornabo blocks.

Sewn by me using Alison Glass Handcrafted and my favourite ever background fabric - Sketch from Timeless Treasures.

I used Circle Savvy Creative Grids ruler to cut the quarter circle blocks. This is a great ruler which cuts many sizes of full, half and quarter circles.

Yes I pin my curves, I've tried doing it without, but it always ends in disaster.

Little piles ready to sew.

I'm looking forward to see what she designs next.

New Look 6301 #2

I love the New Look 6301 I made in April so I made another one. This time I made the straight skirt version which I think I prefer. The fabric is from Textile Traders from their last 40% off sale, the girls thought it would be perfect for me as it matches my hair.

After struggling with my overlocker for this last year I bought a new one a few weeks ago and sewing knits is so much easier and enjoyable. I'll try and get a review of it done soon.

I said this last time, but I will say it again, this is a great pattern and I highly recommend it!

Gillian Wrap Dress.

I love my Jenna Cardi I made earlier this year so it was inevitable that I was going to make the Gillian wrap dress. I had some fabric ready to cut out the dress, but decided I really needed something different to my usual t-shirts to wear with jeans so I decided to make a top. I used some nice soft stretch fabric I bought recently from Textile Traders. 

I read the instructions before I started and the instructions for the band made absolutely no sense, I re-read them and then read every review I could and they basically said 'don't think too much, just follow the instructions'. This is definitely the best advice and it is a really clever way of making the hole for the tie to go through.

I love this top, I love the yokes at the front and back (and how the gathers mean I didn't have to do a fba), the ties are the perfect length, the wrap sits nicely and it fits perfectly. I'm sure I'll be making a dress soon.

Days for Girls

I first heard about Days for Girls from Cath and immediately wondered how I could get involved. It is such a brilliant idea. So when the local Community Centre decided to take it on as a long term project I was in. 

Some wonderful people got it all organised and got donations of supplies and a few weeks ago we spent 3 mornings sewing and we managed to make quite a few kits.

Such a simple idea that can make such a difference. 

Steam Punk Quilt Top

I've finished my Steam Punk quilt top!

I have really enjoyed every part of making this quilt. The templates from Amitie were easy to use and the curves were easy to machine sew. I even enjoyed hand appliquéing the circles. 

 It took me a while to choose a sashing and I eventually went with this black and white cross fabric. I thought about cutting the fabric so the crosses were exactly in the middle of each sashing piece for about two seconds and decided that I didn't have the patience so the crosses are a little higgledy piggledy.

In the perfect world I would hand quilt it, but I know that will never get done so I just have to decide how to machine quilt it.

Cinder Shawl

A new shawl for the perfect shawl weather we are having at the moment.

This is Cinder from Sock Yarn Shawls 2. This is the second Sock Yarn Shawl book by Jen Lucas and they are both full of great patterns, so many that is took me ages to choose which one I was going to knit.

I went with Cinder as I knew it would be an easy to remember lace pattern and I could knit it while watching the girls play netball.

I love the shape of this and how the corners curl.

And it is the perfect size, not too small and not too large. The yarn is Madelinetosh light in Cloak, one of my favourite yarns and perfect for shawls.

More details on ravelry. 

Patterns to Sew Again

I've made all of these patterns before and they have all been worn over and over so I've made them all again.

I found this grey ponte on the bargain rack at Spotlight last week for $3m. There was the exact amount left on the roll for another Stylearc Marie Jacket. It is worth spending time digging around the bargain racks there you never know what is hidden down the bottom.

A bright red Stylearc Fiona. I used some wool jersey from the stash. These cardigans are so comfortable and are great over dresses, skirts or jeans.

 Jalie 3352 is a great t-shirt pattern, I love the lower hemline at the back and it is so quick to make.

 I know I'll be making the Jalie t-shirt again. I'm not sure how many of the Stylearc jackets and cardigans I need, but I'm not going to rule out making more if I find the right fabric.



Nina Culottes

My wardrobe is in need of some basic pants or skirts and I've eyed off a few of the culotte patterns as they have been released. Most have been too wide or had too many pleats for me, but then I saw the Nina Culottes and Skirt pattern and bought it immediately. There are lots of variations in this pattern, very good value for money.

I used some stretchy lighter weight denim from Spotlight and some Liberty to line the pockets and waistband. I made the version with the invisible zip at the side. I didn't make a muslin and it fits pretty well. The waist is a little high for me and if I use this pattern again I will lower it.

As I was sewing them I remembered I made a pair nearly exactly the same in about 1989 and I can remember wearing them in winter with stockings and black brogues.

My girls think they are very odd, I'm not sure any of them have seen me in shorts before, but I love them they are really comfortable and practical.

Ottobre Dress





A new dress for Olive. I found a good basic pattern in Ottobre 1/2013 and some fabric from the stash that came from the sale rack at Spotlight a while ago.

She even let me brush her hair and put in a hair clip she found in the dress up box.

I have also been doing a little bra sewing. Don't panic I'm not about to model anything finished on here, but if you are thinking about making your own bras I highly recommend the Beverley Johnson class on Craftsy. I also read Demystifying Bra Fitting and Construction and made a couple of Marlborough Bras. Getting the fitting right has been a little tricky but sewing them is a hundred times for fun than shopping for them.

Kwik Sew 3801

I think I've had Kwik Sew 3801 in the pattern stash for a while. I have no idea where or when I bought it, but I must have seen some potential, but it has never made it to the top of the 'To Make' list. Then last week I saw this great top and it went straight to the top of the list. I used some grey stretch that came from Textile Traders. This pattern is very loose fitting so I cut a Medium which I think was the right choice. I would be swamped by anything bigger.

I finished the edges with a rolled hem on the serger. I am very happy with the finish and I'll definitely be using it again on knit fabric. (It is one thing my serger is doing well at the moment. I have been having a few problems with the left needle for the last year when I am sewing knit fabrics, especially thicker ones and servicing hasn't fixed it).

 I put this top on as soon as I finished it and I haven't taken it off. The pattern appears to be out of print now, but if you see it anywhere I highly recommend buying it!

Man Sewing

After seeing Lara's great Finlayson sweaters and Jalie t-shirts I thought I would have a go at sewing a few more things for Chris.

 I started with a V-neck Jalie 2918. I have always been a little bit scared of doing a V-neck, but the instructions were great and this was very easy to do. He has worn this black one a few times already.




I don't think he is as keen on this one, but I really like it.

 Next I tried the Thread Theory Finlayson Sweater. This is the second one I have made. The first was in some horrible red fabric and was too big, so I cut a size smaller (and took a couple of inches off the sleeves) and used some nice navy ponte (I think it was from Spotlight) and this is much better. The collar is still not perfect, but it is ok. This is a great pattern, it can also be made with a hood so I think I will be making one of those soon.

Winter Knitting

It's perfect knitting weather at the moment. I finished off my Inverto mittens. 

 Then yesterday I spent a great afternoon knitting with friends on the hugest needles I have ever used.

 In no time at all I had a snood. More details here.

I've been wearing both today while I decide what to cast on next.

Burda 8160



My winter coat for the last 12 winters has been a Mountain Design jacket, it is still going strong, but I thought it was time for something new. I really wanted a wool coat that was thigh length and had a hood. Finding a pattern was a little trickier than I thought. I though about the Cascade Duffle coat, but I had a black duffle coat in 1989. I also had stonewash jeans and bad hair and I don't need to go back there. I searched ebay and etsy and found the OOP Burda 8160.

I made a muslin and altered the arms and shoulders as I didn't want shoulder pads and cut quite a bit off the length.

 I used a wool blend from the stash which came from Spotlight a few years ago. I remember finding it on the sale rack and it was something ridiculous like $5 a metre. The lining is also from Spotlight.

 It is a well drafted pattern, the pockets are lined and worked really well and there are two piece sleeves which I always prefer in a jacket or coat.

 It is slightly big and I could easily have gone down a size, but I'm only wearing a t-shirt underneath so there is plenty of room for cardigans and jumpers.

Liberty Docs and Steam Punk Blocks

I had my sewing time all planned yesterday, everything was all set up to make myself a coat, but I couldn't get this idea out of my head. I had seen a little Japanese cross stitch of a boot and I immediately thought of making a Liberty Doc Marten so here it is.

I used some scraps of Liberty left over from making Olive a dress and the black is Sketch by Timeless Treasures.

It's freezing and cold today so back to making that coat.

I've finished my Steam Punk Blocks. I've just got to decide on the sashing fabric and I can sew them all together!

Vests, Ottobre and a Linden

The vest on this Japanese sewing book has been on the to do list for a while. I pulled out the left over fabric from a jacket I made for Eva a few years ago and realized I had plenty for a vest for Olive and one for her cousin.

 This is a very easy pattern, there is just a front, back, collar and pocket. You make it in the outside fabric and then the lining, pin them together and bind all the edges.

I had just enough vintage fabric left from the Louisa dress to line and bind Olive's vest

I used Liberty to make the lining and binding on the other one and used snaps for both instead of buttons. I made the size 100cm, which is the smallest in the book. It's a little big for Olive, but it fits and there is plenty of room for her to grow.

 Eva chose this fabric the last time we were in Spotlight which was the week the latest Ottobre arrived. There was the perfect pants in there. I thought about trying to match the chevrons for about 2 seconds and realized that was never going to happen.

Eva loves these and has already asked for more.

I finally made myself a Linden sweatshirt. I used some cheap grey fabric (it might be French terry or something similar) and it turned out really well. I need to get some fabric to make more.