Madeline Dress

I love pattern testing for Marina of Wink Designs and testing her Madeline Dress was no exception.

I knew it would be perfect for some Liberty lawn Mum bought back from London, but I wanted to make sure it fit Olive before I cut into it.

I used some red gingham seersucker for my first one and made a size 1.

 I left off the Peter Pan collar and added some little star buttons to the pockets, the same as I used on the back. I love these pockets. I love all pockets and this was a new way of making them for me.

 I could only find 5 so there are only three on the back. It fit perfectly and has been great over shirts and leggings the past few weeks.

 I cut into the Liberty for the second one. It is perfect for summer. The dress goes together so easily and I love the Peter Pan collar.

 This is a really versatile pattern. You can add the pockets or collar or leave them off if you choose, or make them in contrast fabric. You could make many different looking dresses from this pattern.

 I think it will be my go to pattern for the girls dresses this summer, especially for Olive.

Little Doll

I tried to clean the cutting table yesterday, I really did. But I found pieces of a prototype and some pattern pieces that I had discarded when I could not get the shapes right a few months ago. Of course I had to have another go and I am glad I did. The girls are off to a birthday party next weekend and I think this will be a perfect present. 

I used some beautiful linen for the face. My eyes are never neat when I try to satin stitch them on linen so I used safety eyes. I think I am a convert. I've already ordered some more.

Back to cleaning the cutting table I go.

Sewing Machine Cover

 I finished my little scrappy quilt. I had no choice, there is no more room on my cutting table for another unfinished project. I think I might have hit that point where I can't keep sewing and ignore the mess around me.
I used a scrap of batting and some fabric from the stash for the backing.

 I quilted it with some slightly wonky lines. Still my favourite way to quilt at the moment.

 Some green chevron fabric for the binding.

Some ribbon sewn onto the back.

Now I have a sewing machine cover. A great little stash busting/scrap using project.
I should probably clean  up the rest of the table so I can start something new!

Roar!

The new Homespun magazine is out today with my Lion pattern in!

 

 If you are overseas and looking for Homespun or prefer to read it on your ipad you can subscribe through zinio.

Something New

I started sorting some scraps the other day and decided to make a few little blocks.

 Which turned into this yesterday.

Hopefully I can quilt it today.

Jimmy Giraffe

My Jimmy Giraffe pattern is finished and now available to instantly download from Etsy, Craftsy or my shop.

You can make it in two sizes. The large one is 12 1/2" tall and the small one is 10" tall.

The pattern comes with a supply list and full instructions with photos to assist you. The pattern pieces are full sized and can be printed on A4 paper and there is a page of softie making tips and hints.

I'd love to see a picture if you make one!

Lowlands Beanie

As winter is never going to end Grace requested a beanie using the left over wool from her sister's hat. She chose the Lowlands beanie pattern and I made it the same shape as the Opus Spicatum I made her sister.  I love a worsted weight beanie, so quick, finished in a couple of days. The rest of the details on ravelry.

Giraffes and Mail

The giraffe pattern is getting a little bit closer.

Some nice mail this week from Miss Matatabi - cute cotton for a dress and some linen/cotton for a bag.

Bags



The crazy weather continues down here, we just had 24 hours without power which the girls found very exciting. Me, not so much. I did enjoy the Uno by candlelight and the big slumber party we had, but I could do without the piles of washing, the freezer to sort out and it is still too crazy to hang anything on the washing line.

Luckily I finished these late the other night before the power went out. It has been ages since I made some bags like these. These are just a combination of  my standard bag patterns I have been making for years.

 Just one big change - I used webbing for the straps and turned them into messenger style bags.

 These are headed off to Loft in town, though I am very tempted to keep that read one.

Dolls

It has been a good weekend for sewing, so much rain and soooo cold. I thought it was nearly Spring a few weeks ago, but since then it has been horrible weather. So the girls played, read and watched dvds.  We painted our toenails in case Spring does appear and finished these little girls.

Softies

There has been some late night softie sewing this week. Some of these are off to The Fremantle Arts Centre and some will be off to Loft.

 If you want to make your own platypus you can find the pattern on Etsy, Craftsy or in my shop.

 

 

Look who turned 1 today! Olive you gorgeous little thing, I can't believe you are 1 already!

Softie Sewing

It feels like ages since I have had a chance to make some toys. Making fabric piles and matching up fabrics for toys is one of my favourite things to do, but has become impossible with Olive. As soon as I make a pile it is destroyed. When I had an hour to myself the other day I made as many piles as I could and stacked them out of reach. So hopefully there will be more sewing this week.

The Last Week

The last week has been about road trips, cousins, mud puddles, cake and a house full of crazy small children. After a little cleaning and a few drinks to recover. I'm hoping the next week I might get a chance to sew a few things that are cut out and waiting for me.

Easy Fat Quarter Quilt Pattern



I have updated my Easy Fat Quarter Quilt Pattern and turned it into a pdf you can download from Craftsy. It can be found here!

 

Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

More Spring Sewing

I think I am nearly at the end of the baby sewing for the moment. It really is a lot easier then sewing for 8 year olds. Much less negotiation needed, I get to choose the fabric and pattern.

I knew as soon as I saw this Briar Rose fabric by Heather Ross I needed to make something for Olive for summer. This is another pair of overalls using a pattern from Ottobre 4/2011.

 

 

A couple of pairs of the Oliver and S Puppet Show shorts, they are pretty quick to make without the pockets. I remembered that these not that big so made a size 18m-2yr for Olive.

 I should have thought about the pattern when I cut these, I only managed to get a couple of cute foxes on this pair and they are both on the back.