more...Sewing Clothes Kids Love

More from Maggie's new winter wardrobe, using the Sewing Clothes Kids Love patterns.

I trimmed the sleeve length a little too much, maybe not such a great decision for winter! So today she wore another top underneath as we were going for a picnic at a waterfall with her bestie Felix.

I topstitched the side seams and maybe on the next pair i'll use a heavier contrast coloured stitching.

I think i'll also use some braiding on the back pockets next time.

Unfortunately you can't really see it but i used lampshade trim on the front pockets.

I'm so lucky that Maggie loves the clothes I make her, she's always so excited to wear them. Well I guess that's what it says 'on the tin' hey?

Sewing Clothes Kids Love

I’m wearing a very satisfied smile at the moment and Maggie-May is wearing a very smart new wardrobe for winter.

Once again my favourite patterns from the Sewing Clothes Kids Love book have just proved themselves as possibly THE BEST for everyday trousers and tops. The Dortje trousers are such a cool style, more like jeans. Nicely fitted around the tummy/bottom/thigh area, a kick flare at the bottom and a fake fly. High enough to ensure vests stay tucked in yet not so high that your little one ends up looking like Simon Cowel.

The best thing about this pattern is that it’s so easy to put your own personal design touches to make your creation unique. Use contrasting threads, oversized stitching, knee patches, add buttons, ruffles, braids and ric-rac. I love to make these with needle cord and jumbo cord. The next pair I plan to make will be with velvet, ou la la!

I use the basic Inka top pattern as a block and play around with it a little depending on the fabric I’m using. The basic pattern as it is works great as a basic jersey cotton top (choose either long or short sleeves or both), but with some easy alterations you can use non-stretch fabrics, or a combination of the two. And once again you can never over embellish these tops. They look great with a big appliqué design on the front too, or a hood. When I made Maggie’s pyjama tops with this pattern, I appliqué a big M on the front. M for mischief that is! I use the ‘Cooper’ font for letter appliqués. It has that retro high school footie sweater style.

I have to say that for me both the top and the trousers pattern have abit too much flare at the bottom so I trim this a little, but that’s just a personal thing.

So, inspired? I promise you will not go wrong with these patterns. They are so straight forward, with easy to follow instructions. And the best thing is there are no zips or buttons holes. The most difficult part is probably the neck, but this just takes practice. Trust me if I can do it, so can you.

More 'Gypsy Dreams' Clothes

I'm so pleased with these cute little hippy/gypsy style fur waistcoats I made using some teddy bear fur that I had picked up at Vinnies just before I left Aus. It was sat on my sewing table when I returned. By the way, the bird fabric isn't upside down, it's ......... whatever it's called when it can't be upside down ........ hehehehe. I think you'll know what I mean!

I've pretty much used it all now making four waistcoats but that's the way it goes when you make things from recycled. You only have what there is, there's no going back for more and when it's gone, you have to come up with something new. But that's what I love about making everything out of recycled stuff.

What have you all been up to? It's been a while hey. Just gonna pop over now to the new 'Our Creative Space' to have a good catch-up.

My Creative Space

After coming over all inspired, refreshed and excited by my new book Sewing Clothes Kids Love, in my creative space I have been working on my new children's clothes range for the Made with LOVE Bazaar and I have to say, it's been a big hit with little Maggie-May. She has given me lots and lots of feedback on every miniscule detail! Her favourite was the wolf on the 'little red riding hood' ribbon.

I'm still trying to maintain the gypsy theme, so lots of ruffles and bright mismatch colour but I fear the style is more imaginary than real-life.

I made more recycled blanket jackets which I posted about before here, here and here as well as some trousers using the Dortje pattern. I love this style because it's given them more of a jeans look than just plain pyjama style pants. I've been looking for a pattern like this for ages, although I did alter it a little by straightening off the kick flair for the smaller sizes. I like the kick flair for older children but hate that 'Elvis' look it gives toddlers.

Of course I'm still using the usual op-shopped fabrics, bed linens, doilies, table clothes, tea towels, zips and buttons but mixing it all up with my very special new ribbons from Farbenmix.

I've also been playing around with my jersey knits more than I ever have. It's especially handy the way these curl over on the ends, I love that for a change from the normal seams.

I can't wait for our next market as I missed the last when we were away at the surf competition, which Kim came 3rd in - stoked!!!! The fancy dress theme is 80's and at the moment I'm thinking Karate Kid, Breakfast Club or Dexy's Midnight Runners and as a back up I can always get a disgusting satin prom dress from my local Vinnie's that has the best dress-up hire upstairs.

The market is on Saturday 9th April between 9am-1pm in the Artscape Building, Jackson Street, Wynyard, Tas. I wish you could all come, you'd love it so much.

Thanks for continuing to host My Creative Space Kirsty, it gives me an aim every week. See more here.

Farbenmix

Mr Amazon sent me a parcel last week containing a book that has been on my christmas wish list for two big fat whole years. He's nice like that isn't he. I'll tell you all about the wonderful book, that had I known it would just cost me $14 from kind Mr Amazon I wouldn't have waited so damm long for, another time. Maybe it's a case for the return of Monday Morning Book Club. Anyway, what I want to share with you now is this, Farbenmix ribbons.

I'm now speechless! Just go look for yourself. I've ordered heaps:)

More on Ugly Seams

I have a question. Oh by the way, the photos are not related to the topic of the post, they're just for fun. A question of the utmost importance.

I'm sure it's something that we all ask oursleves whenever we make little 'muck-ups' that make us say those bad four letter words.

It's a little snesitive, maybe to some, but i was just wondering, is it really really imporant that all seams line up. Like perfectly, like Mr Exactamundo has quality tested them.

Because whilst I have a bit of perfectionism in me, sometimes things just don't add up, right? And it'll be such a shame to dwell on such a silly little thing when overall the rest is pretty damm cute. I hope and pray that everyone agrees! But I have managed to tidy up the ugly seams to an acceptable level. But more on that later peeps. Hope you're having a fun weekend.

My Creative Space

It's been blankets, blankets and more blankets over here! With the gypsy theme in mind, I'm starting to create a new range for winter, all made from blankets. So time to get stuck in.

The range will include hooded jackets, similiar to the ones I made before here, trousers, flat caps and mittens.

I'm hoping to create lots of unisex styles with that 'thrown together' look. I'm starting with the grey blanket, which is surprisingly soft and we think may have angora in it! I love the red edging.

Of course I'll also be 'decorating' this little jacket with all the usual bits and bobs that I manage to find to recycle; buttons, ric-rac, ribbon, beads etc.

I'm still deciding on the pockets; side ones like these or just patterned patch pockets? I'll wait and see what looks best once I've put on the buttons.
 

 
This one will be for one of Maggie's besties Felix. You know how the first ones are always abit of an experiment.
 

 
What have you all been up to whilst I've been away? I'm heading over to Kirtsy's now to check out more lovely projects. Why not join me.

My Creative Space

A friend recently had a baby. We didn't know if it was going to be a girl or a boy. I wasn't really sure they'd like my quilts - but really who wouldn't? And I'm kinda bored of making soft toys. So I thought back to when Maggie was born and tried to remember our favourite presents, you know those that you couldn't be without. It was easy to remember as we still comment on how brilliant and completely gorgeous Maggie's little sleeping bag is - thanks Lisa and Walshy.

So I'm now making this little sleeping bag for new baby Jake. I choose the fabrics before he was born. Red and purple are so great together and perfect for a little baby boy or girl don't you think? The hand stitching around the arm holes was a bit fiddly as there are so many layers.

I turned to baby Jake's daddy for inspiration for a little applique. He has a silly monster truck type car so I found a photo of that and did a little applique with Jake's name as the number plate.

This has kept me happily consumed this week. It's been fun doing something different, something so blokey:).

I finished it just in time for this post, unfortunately not in time for his birth though! To check out what else has been happening in blogland and to play along in My Creative Space too, have a little lookie here, plus check out Kirsty's gorgeous pony skirt made using a pattern from from the new 'Meet Me At Mike's' book.

My Creative Space

Hello, how are you? It's been so long. Fancy a quick Catch-up? Whatcha been upto? Me? Oh not much. Just abit of pottering around the house. Some spring cleaning. And it's been great to get in the garden again too hasn't it. I've also been really enjoying getting creative making Christmas pressies. This is the hobby horse I made for Maggie. I used the Melly and Me giddy-up pattern. It was so quick and simple and I love his dorky expression.

He's such a cute dopey looking dude don't you think? I'm sure he'll be a perfect little companion for Maggie.

I've also been really digging candlewick again too, or chenille as it's also called. I've given it abit of a back seat in the last year or so, so time for a resurgence I thought when choosing fabric for some pyjammas for Christmas pressies. These have candlewick fronts and vintage sheet backs. I'm sure the tassles around the bottom will get abit yucky over time but who cares for now, they look so cute.

I just can't get enough of these big gathered pockets at the moment too. They've been apprearing on everything I make; the cute A-line mini skirt I made for myself back in July, Maggie's market skirt and now the pj's too. Thanks so much Dana for the tutorial. They're a little bit fiddly, but well worth the effort. A little tip though, when ironing the seams all the way around the edge, I've found it's worth quickly tacking around to secure, saves heaps of time faffing with those damm edges and burning your fingers with the iron.

And all my sewing now has neat little overlocked edges. I'm so chuffed with my overlocker that I bought at a jumble sale in Byron for $30 and carted around for four weeks on our road trip. I spent half a day defluffing, dusting and cleaning it. My mother-in-law was an absolute superstar at threading it, setting all the tensions and giving it a real fine tune and then Kim did abit of oiling and mechancial maintenance and what do you know, it's going like a dream. What an absolute Barry-argin!!! Just gotta try and get hold of a manual now. Any suggestions very gratefully received. It's a Janome MyLock 534D.

So there we have it.

I hope you've enjoyed this little catch-up and I promise it won't be so long again. I've really missed you all in blogland and look forward to having some more catch-ups over at your place, where I'm heading now courtesy of Kootoyoo so stick the kettle on.

Laters alligators.

Welcome Back

Welcome Back is what I feel like saying, which seems strange as it's me that's back and you can't really say welcome back to yourself can you?  But what I think I mean is welcome back real world, Claire's world, my fulfilling, creative, comfortable life that I've created here in Tassie!! Being away certainly makes me appreciate the space, comfort, freedom and convenience of the things around me.

Whilst we've been unpacking, Maggie-May has been playing the "keep myself out of mischief" game really well.

Showing off her 'market skirt' perfectly for you. I made it before I left for the road trip and thought that it was too small but I love how short it is on Maggie. The pockets will hopefully be better next time. The tutorial is so good and gives measurements for all sizes.



With most of the unpacking finished, the sewing room floor is now the only floor which remains unseen. I'll tackle that tomorrow whilst Maggie's at childcare and maybe even pick up one of the many projects I'm itching to get on with.

And as soon as I get all that put away, I'll show you some pictures from Stitch n Bitch. Another lovely weekend was had by all, even if I did manage to get little done. Don't miss the best bits: our Stitch n Bitch mascot called Fleur:)

My Creative Space

It's been a bitsy week, bits here

........bits there

........bits and pieces everywhere!

It feels so good to finish Georgie's jacket, make a good start on Maggie's jacket and finish 'the village' bags which I will soon be sending to my new stockists; Sally Ruth and the Crossed Spoons Cafe at Boat Harbour, Tasmania.

Now for those who are not familiar with the 'my creative space' phenomena, head over to here to see what it's all about.

By the way, the Crossed Spoons Cafe is mine and Maggie's favourite place to lunch at the moment; good healthy nutritious food at a reasonable price with lovely new owners and very child friendly. The type of place where you could easily end up spending a couple of hours chatting or relaxing reading newspapers over lunch. You've got to go there, it's on the main road (Bass Highway) between Wynyard and Boat Harbour - also known as Killynaught. Lets support them to become a success, they deserve it and we need a good new cafe.

Resist the Plastic!

With little Maggie-May's birthday recently upon us, conversation turned once again to present buying for kiddiwinks. I always procrastinate way too much on what to do for birthday and christmas presents for our little girl.

I want Maggie to grow up realising that toys and belongings are special, are to be valued and do not just get given willy-nilly to be then thrown away a month later when they become broken or get bored of it. I also want her to experience the joy that is had in making and creating toys, games and amusement ideas.

Check out this blog the homemade dolls house. A mother pledges to "engage in one-on-one playing for an entire year" and they create the most wonderful little 'dolls house' world. When I read this I thought it was just so special, a real character building project. I think it's so important to feed our children's imaginations, let them experiment with their abilities and express their feelings in ways other than the obvious.

I hate all those horrible plastic toys, particulalry those that have mass consumerism 'branding' plastered across them. I just don't think they're neccessary - like mosquitos! I'm also very concerned about the social and environmental issues in mass consumerism but that's a whole other soapbox:) But then I feel torn with guilt. Is she missing out? Is it unfair to put all this on her when she is still so ickle? But I guess she'll still get given all the 'plastic toys' that other kiddiwinks have.

I always like to make Maggie a present and when the gift she receives from us is as cute as this upcycled rocking horse, I don't feel so guilty.

Next time you head to your local charity shop, check out the toy section too and see the potential of those toys. It's such a good feeling to recycle and recreate.