Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Latest Sewing Projects


Wow, and once again it's been WAY too long since I last posted!!! My excuse this time? I've been sewing. A lot. And on the nights the sewing machine has stayed in our room, I just haven't felt like updating my blog. Hopefully this will be a revival of sorts!

Anyways, here's some of what I've been working on:



I used the Little Explorer pattern from Make it Perfect for these shorts and the turtle applique. I love this pattern, it's so super easy to follow, and the end result is AWESOME! These three were all gifts - the ones on the left and the right were for 2-year-olds, and the middle one was for a 4-year-old. They all went down a treat! Kason and Cohen both have several pairs of these shorts (four each, I think!) and a pair of the overalls, but the photos of those are on my other computer.


 
This tee-and-shorts set was a gift for one of the boys' friends who was turning three. I found the tutorial for the 'bib' piece on the t-shirt on good ol' Pinterest! I have made it before, for my niece, but I love the colours in this one! The shorts were just plain denim from Target, and I just added the bright hem onto them to make them match. I didn't think it was quite finished, so quickly whipped up the little tie belt to go with it, and I think it turned out awesome!



 
This was just a quick applique I whipped up for myself. I had this plain white t-shirt in my drawer which I never wore, and I couldn't find something cute in the shops, so I just used some scrap fabric, traced the birds on the branches onto the heat'n'bond, ironed it on, then stitched around it to stop it peeling, and done! I love how it turned out, and I love how quick it was! I always seem to get compliments on it, too :-)
 



Just a couple of weeks ago was my niece's 2nd birthday, and this child has EVERYTHING, so it's always hard to buy for her. My usual way to combat that is to make her something! This birthday was, obviously, no different! I used a Simplicity pattern for the dress, but mainly just for the shape (I can't draw to save my life!), as I didn't follow the instructions at all. The way it does up is different, and I made it reversible, so it's kinda two dresses in one! For the Dora PJs, I used the same Simplicity pattern (it came with a shorts pattern, too), but added the ruffles at the bottom to make them more girly, and the bow to just 'finish them off'. The top is just another applique on a plain tee - super simple! Apparently my niece LOVES them (I only got around to posting them to the Gold Coast late last week, and they only arrived today), so I can't wait to see pics of her wearing them.
 
 


I am LOVING these hoodies at the moment!!! It's The Reversible Zippy Hoodie from Kitschy Coo. I made these one from a drill cotton, and they are fully lined with fleece. I love that they are reversible...well, would be if only I could find a reversible zip that wasn't in a horrendous nude/beige colour!!! I'm not the best at sewing, so at least all the seams are out of sight! Cohen's and Kason's are (obviously!) on the left, and the one on the right was for a gift we gave this past weekend. The boys ADORE these hoodies, Kason especially! The first time I asked him to try one on, he would. not. take. it. off. And it was 35C outside!! There may have been tears when I finally managed to get him to take it off. There may also have been bribery involved. I am already on the lookout for fabric for some lighter-weight ones they can wear in the next couple of months as it cools down. As it is, these hoodies are the pretty much the only thing I'm looking forward to Winter for - the boys can wear them!


  
 
And not to be left out, Simon saw how Kason and Cohen's hoodies turned out, and decided he wanted one for himself!! Needless to say, the pattern doesn't go up to adult sizes, so I found another pattern (Simplicity, again, I think), used that as a guide for the pattern pieces (although I did still have to adjust them a fair amount), then used the instructions from The Reversible Zippy Hoodie. Simon loves it, and is hanging out for the nights to cool down so he can wear it on his way home from work! Sidebar: there is a 'cuff' at the bottom, Simon just likes to fold it under (if that makes sense!)
 
 
So, yeah! I've been just a bit busy! I also have another project I'm working on that will take me until late-November to get finished. I'll share more on that once it's all completed.
 
 
xxx