Category Archives: Sewing Random

{Holiday Series} Sew: Leila & Ben Sweet Dress

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As I have mentioned before, I am always being inspired by beautiful friends. I very rarely have an original idea! I have recently been inspired, once again, by my gorgeous friend Jo. I took Evie around to Jo’s lovely new house for a play date with her daughter (and a Mummy-gossip session of course) and when Jo showed me a beautiful dress she’d recently made, I went straight home and made one for Evie. Luckily Jo swiftly emailed me the pattern link and I was able to stitch away immediately.

It’s a very basic style and pattern that I was able to whip up in an hour. I think it’s all about the fabric choice to ensure that this dress is eye-catching and much more than just a simple pattern.

– Sweet Dress -

I hope to layer it up over the Autumn and Winter with tights and long sleeve tops (in this case cream, black, blue or red/maroon).

I am also planning on making some more with some of the cute fabrics I have sitting around.

Thanks Jo!

Who inspires you?

Alison

{Holiday Series} Sew: Simplicity 3803 Maxi Dress

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I actually started making this dress in the summer of 2010, believe it or not. Then I fell pregnant and it sat in my sewing ‘storage’ until this summer, when I finished it off. It was a simple pattern, with a flattering v-shaped neckline. As it is an a-line style, I think it’s quite flattering as it covers all the lower bits that sometimes are best kept hidden (aka thighs, hips and tummy).

– much-loved, ripped pattern -

I wore it out to dinner with two of my gorgeous girlfriends (Shan and Brooke) and it wasn’t until later in the evening that they commented on it, and were very surprised to hear that I had made it myself. Later that same evening as we were walking back to the car, a stranger commented on how beautiful it was…needless to say, I was chuffed!

– What a beautiful sunny day! -

The bodice and the skirt are lined – I just used the same fabric to line it as it was quite reasonably priced fabric to start with. I purchased the fabric from Spotlight (great stuff, bad service!)

– What shoes to pair it with? -

There’s a couple of things I would change if I ever made another one. Firstly, I would get a longer zip (not sure why it’s so short – maybe I picked up the wrong one) and I think I gathered it too roughly around the sides, therefore adding bulk to my hips (none of us need that!!)

– The back -

What things have you made that people have commented on? OR you’re welcome to just leave a random comment – I’d LOVE that!

Alison

Sew: Please Inspire Me

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As my gorgeous friend Jo has stated recently, “I have lost my Sewjo”. I am not sure why or how or when, but it’s definitely gone. So, I am seeking inspiration from you, my beloved readers. I have HEAPS of fabric and HEAPS of patterns, but most of them are in storage (thanks to house selling that was and house moving, that is to be). I have three projects that are sitting there, ready to be made, but I just can’t decide which one to do first. I would LOVE it if you would comment below and vote for whichever project you think I should do first. Which ever one gets the most votes, will be the one I start (hopefully) next week, in the second week of my holidays.

1.

This is a pattern I found recently in an op shop and fabric I purchased in IKEA(which, as my mum would say, ‘needs a bloody good iron!’) . It looks quite simple and easy to make, but really seems like a Summer pattern. Maybe by the time I get around to finishing it, it will be summer?

2.

This is cute little jacket for Evie. I got the pattern online at Heidi & Finn’s Etsy Shop and the fabric and lining at Spotlight. I am worried that by the time I finish it, Winter will be well and truly over?!?! Or maybe not?

3.

This last one is a simple winter skirt that can be worn with boots and tights – I really like the shorter a-line one. I got the pattern (about three years ago) and fabric (recently) at Spotlight. The model on the pattern looks ever so happy in her skirt.

So, what do you think? I would love your vote and your inspiration….I promise I’ll show you when it’s finished!

Alison

Sew: Wide Leg Pants into Slim Leg Pants

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I found an awesome blog a few weeks ago titled Chick Envelopments, where a very clever lady, named Beth, makes alterations on many of her old clothes, as well as ones she’s found in Op shops, to create new and funky designs. I just LOVE this idea to bits! The latest blog entry she had, at the time, was to create skinny trousers from wide legged pants. This is when it occurred to me that I had plenty of older, yet perfectly good, wide legged trousers in my cupboard that I could attempt this with. So off I set, with my Janome and my pins…(and thanks to Husband for helping me pin).

– The closest thing I have to a before photo….I forgot to take a proper one -

– Another ‘before’ photo -

After pinning both seams, I stitched and then cut the edges (trying them on before cutting them to ensure I had the width right).

I then needed to overlock the raw edge to avoid fraying.

– Overlocking -

It feels like I have to do everything in bits at the moment, due to time restraints. If I added up the total time it took me to do this, it wasn’t very long at all – perhaps half an hour.

– Ta da! Slim leg pants -

I also took the waist in, as well as the outer thighs, as they were a tad too big.

– Side view -

And from behind…

– Butt shot -

What are your thoughts on wide leg pants versus slim leg pants? Have you ever altered a piece of clothing?

Alison

Sew: Bird Inspiration

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I love bird fabrics and designs. Any piece of fabric or hand-made item that has birds on it tends to catch my eye. Here are some that have inspired me…

1.

– Butter Brickle Baby (Etsy Shop) Birds Baby Blanket with Turquoise Minky Dot ($US29)

2.

– Lisa Jordan’s Little Bird Garland Handmade project

3.

– Such Pretty Colours (Etsy Shop) Autumn Leaves Birds Pillow Cover ($US13) -

4.

– Clothesworks textiles ‘Love’ quilt free pattern -

5.

– Gingercake Patterns and Design Katie Bird Pillow PDF Pattern ($US6) -

These are all so cute and inspirational.

Do you like bird things? Have you made any thing with bird fabric?

Alison

A Number 29.05.2012 #photoadaymay

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Sew: Friendship Bag

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I was trawling the internet a few weeks ago, looking for a simple, practical and modern patch work project. I came across a blog by a lady named Rachel Griffith called P.S. I Quilt . Rachel is a very clever lady and has many free sewing tutorials on her site – I especially like her Friendship Bag and so I followed the easy instructions, along with many photographs, so you can see where you should be at with each stage. I wasn’t sure exactly how big it would be, and as it turns out, it is quite small. This is a perfect size for Evie and it is great timing because she is at the age where she is loving girly things like jewellery, hair clips and handbags.

I love the fabric – which was actually from a quilting pack I had purchased and decided I’d never make the actual quilt, but that I loved the fabric and will make many other things out of it.

It has been well received.

Have you ever made anything from a pattern and it’s been a different size (or shape) from what you expected?

Alison

Something New 24.05.2012 #photoadaymay

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Sew: The Things I Want to Make…IDream

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As our house is officially on the market, we have to keep it neat and tidy, and we’ve got half of our belongings in storage to minimise the look and maximise the space. This being said, most of my sewing supplies are in storage and my spare time is taken up with tidying up after the whirl-wind toddler and generally keeping the house in order. I spend my day-dreaming time thinking about what I would love to sew and I want to share some items that are on my IDream list.

1.

– Latte Sleeve. Instructions can be found on the SInger website -

2.

– Stuffed animals for kids. Instructions on the Martha Stewart website -

3.

– Owl tag along toddler backpack. Recipe on the Moda website -

4.

– Mother’s Day cushion. Instructions on Home Life website -

5.

– Striped Table Runner. Instructions on Singer website -

Do you ever dream of things you want to do or create, but just can’t find the time?

Alison

What I’m Reading 16.05.2012 #photoadaymay

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Sew: A Bag for Shan

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After the success of making my own bag a few months ago, I felt confident enough to make one for my beautiful friend Shan, who is living abroad for a couple of years (she writes a blog entitled, Life and Times With Art). Shan’s birthday was fast approaching and I wanted to make her something personal and practical, that I could also easily post overseas. As I am in love with my bag, and I know Shan LOVES her handbags, I thought the Dapper Day Bag from Meg McElwee’s book, ‘Sew Liberated‘, would be perfect.

– Shan’s new Dapper Day Bag -

I really scrutinised over the fabric choice, as I wanted something fun and bright for Shan, yet the cording colour had to coordinate with the lining, the shell and the cotton.

– Colourful butterflies to brighten the day -

My bag is perfect in every way, except for the fact that it has no pockets. When my phone rings, or if I just want to check it (which is like a billion times a day) I have to fish around amongst all the other loose items (purse, sunnies, lippies, tissues, wipes, pens, keys – I could keep going, believe it or not) to find it. This causes me a lot of feelings of frustration and I decided that Shan didn’t need this and so I added an Iphone-sized pocket into the bag’s lining to avoid the regular and annoying bag-fumble.

– Added feature: Iphone pocket -

Happy Birthday Shan – many massive virtual hugs to you from me xox

Do you do the bag-fumble? What measures do you take to avoid this frustrating occurrence?

Alison

Someone Who Inspires Me 07.05.2012 #photoadaymay

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Sew: Beautiful Notebook Covers

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I currently have a few sewing projects on the go, some are gifts, so I can’t blog about them until after they’re given to their new owners. The others are just taking a back seat to the gifts, so instead of blogging about my sewing adventures, I thought I’d share some beautiful things that I love and that inspire me to get back into that room and keep sewing. This week I’ve been inspired by the following notebook covers – not the new type of note-book, I’m inspired by the old-school type – the type where you need a pen and ink. You remember, don’t you?

1.

- From Craft Blog, with a tutorial on how to make it -

2.

3.

- From My Patchwork blog, with a tutorial on how to make it -

4.

- From Rainy Tuesday Mornings Blog, with a tutorial -

5.

- By Tania Goranitis
From Robin Street Market online shop -

Do you still have an old-school notebook that you write in? Why haven’t you converted to the more modern notebook?

Alison

Sew: Ipad Sleeping Bag

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Since purchasing my Ipad2, I have worried that it would scratch, or be bumped around by little inquisitive hands. This project is very similar to a previous post, Sew: Iphone Sleeping Bag, but a bigger version.

I cut out fabric pieces that were 27.5cm x 20.5cm – two outer pieces (the fancy colours and patterns), two lining pieces (I used flannelette as it’s lovely and soft) and some quilter’s wadding for the inner padding (this was cut slightly smaller than the outer pieces).

I then stitched the Apple logo on and sewed them all together using the same process as the Iphone cover – satin stitch (or tight zig zag).

- Front of first cover -

- Back of first cover...funky fabric! -

- Cover 2...cosy Ipad 2 -

What do you do to keep your precious smart phones and tablets safe and cosy?

Alison