the joys of making sparkly Olivias and the 3.5 yo!

Sorry for the lack of blogging.  But I struggle to write blogs without clear pictures of what I am talking about.  But you must understand, when you have a 3.5 yo and a 5yo who will not stay still for photos, the photos are rather boring, or out of focus!

You get photos such as these

Pattern Olivia by Farbenmix. Fabric some sparkly polyester stretch stuff from Spotlight.

Not sure how it will wash up, but mainly for dress ups anyway, its not everyday wear sort of fabric. Got the idea from Sara at Willow and Moo.

Rolled hem and cuffs using embroidery thread. I usually iron up the hems but as its polyester i didn't feel confident adding heat.

Since posting this I have been informed, by the mother of the owner of the pink one... that being my sister... that I have created a big rod for her back. Not only is it likely that Indi will love her new dress, but its unlikely she will ever take it off. Its her new sleep in, play clothes, have bath in dress.

Modified Olivia- tutorial

arnt they georgeous!
This is a modified version of the Olivia pattern by Farbenmix.  If you have girls this is a must have pattern.  So easy and quick.  Typical me- instant satisfaction dress.

I was looking for a way to use only 50cm of my favourite knit fabric, yet still make a dress.  So here is my effort. I was inspired by this one that I saw on Flickr.  Sorry if you cant see it, but I cant find the blog address for this talented seamstress.
This fabric is JNY knits and also stella from Crafty Mamas

Started with the bodice of the Olivia dress. I just traced the front and then copped it off straight about 4cm under the arm.

Traced it out onto some more tracing paper to make the whole bodice.

Ruled a line from one shoulder to the bottom. I lined it up with the outer shoulder seam. I also filled in the part of the neck that was left with no paper.
The 2 lines are an error. There should only be one line.

Cut along the line

cut 2 in the opposite. If you are using directional fabric make sure that you notice the direction (yes saying this from experience). Also add a seam allowance on the bodice and skirt so that you can sew them together. I didnt add any seam allowance to the neck as it would have made the neck too small.

Cut out the back as per normal (just the bodice part), sew the shoulders together, and then add your neck binding. I did the traditional neck binding, but you can do it just right sides together, it just means that you would add a seam allowance and top stitch. I did sretch the binding slightly, but not as much as I would on a normal neck.

pin is all together and sew along your stitch line where you top stitched the binding. Make sure that the join at the intersection is sewn well, as there will be a lot of pressure on that seam.

then sew your pocket onto the skirt
attach your front skirt and back skirt, and top stitch.
add your sleeves. I did 2 tone sleeves.
The new from your hem right around to the end of the sleeve. Make sure that your seams match at the bodice and under the arm. You may want to use wonder tape of loads of pins.
Hem as per normal.

Hope you enjoy, and dont forget to show us all when you give this a go.

a one imke, two imke, three imke four... five?

Yes that is right, I made 5 imkes over the past few weeks.

Imke is by Farbenmix, and you can either buy the pattern serperatly, or you can buy it as part of Sewing Clothes Kids Love.  Its a wonderful versatile top for both girls and boys.

so my 5 are out of focus, but ill show you a close up of my favs.

and of course my girls versions.

The fabrics on these was Stella from Crafty Mamas, as well as some Campan and some other knits from Crafty Mamas.  Ribbon is Farbenmix and embroideries by Huups.

They did take me ages to put together and embroider, but the results are worth it!

Ellises Farbenmix Amelie

This is the version I made for Ellise.  Fabric spandex french terry, and jersey.  Embroidery by huups.  The main thing I learnt from this, as the neck is just turned, you need to take extra care not to stretch it.  I used a walking foot second time around.

Lilys Farbenmix Amelie

Ellise and Lily together with Snuffy and Doggy

Detail of the embroidery by Huups

Back of the dress

Fabric is Spandex french terry, and campan

This is such an easy design to trace then sew up!  I did 2 in one night!  And its so effective.  Whether you have an embroidery machine or not, you can jazz it up and tone it down!

The princess approves too! 

Feliz

Pattern from Crafty Mamas in the Sewing Clothes Kids Love book, also a Farbenmix pattern, fabrics from spotlight, worn by the very proud birthday girl!

Happy 3rd Birthday Lily, Hope you had a wonderful day twirling in your dress!

frills and frills and more frills- oh and dont forget the bias!

Its the little girls birthday coming up soon!  And of course she is frilly and pink.  So what should I do?

Feliz of course

Now we all know that a project this size cannot be completed without some sort of stuff up!  Such as ruffling 3.5mt of purple gingham instead of the pink!

And then of course you have to chose the colours of the bias to hem it with... white, pink, purple!  And of course  'they' don't sell powder pink bias anymore, making the colour choice that much more interesting... I turned to the white bias!

So it will be 5.5mt + 3.5mt (9mt) of ruffles plus 5.5mt + 3.5mt+ 3.5mt (12.5mt) of bias! that's not including the 3.5mt that I ruffled by accident!

Well its either the bias or I am making best friends with my rolled hem.  Not yet fully decided on that.

sorry OL- it will probably be the bias.

Lets hope I finish this soon, as I still have a chair bag and library bag to complete!

Has it really been that long?

Has it really been that long since I blogged?

I hope everyone had a fab Christmas.  My niece and nephew got spoilt with a little of my sewing.

Ottobre 3/2009

fabric: denim from SL

Farbenmix Hilde with an added hood

farbric stella from CM

And a 4yo boy who would not co-operate!

patchwork skirt for my niece, designed by me

Fabric: various places.

Farbenmix Vida

.

One green apples, one orange apples

Fabric: Sandi Henderson Farmers Market.

Pattern: Vida from Farbenmix.  

Great stash buster... only mine did require a little outside help from a couple of other crafty friends.  Also a great pattern to either go overboard on embellishments, or leave as is, both with great results. 

Good idea to follow the instructions with this pattern too.  I would have normally skipped ahead, but I'm glad that I didn't 

Girls verdict, they love their new dress!

30th of Blogtoberfest: stripy top Olivia

this pattern is a must have for any sewer for girls.

Farbenmix Olivia,

I altered it a little to have the contrasting bodice.

And then sent her to kinder in it for the added green paint blobs.

16th of Blogtoberfest: Langeness

With my sudden swollen tummy and painful belly button, I have been somewhat sluggish in getting back into sewing.

Well a few nights ago I cut out my Farbenmix Langeness .  Its a 3 panel (I think its 3, its 3 front and 3 at the back) a-line skirt.  Mine is just a denim skirt, but I really like it.  I changed it slightly to suit my painful bellybutton and ... well... I haven't taken it off!  I was going to do the hem panel but it would have looked a little cover-up-ish so I chose not to.  The waist I did a 35cm yoga waistband instead of a zip.  Next port of call I think ort to be to hassle jean brands to make their jeans with yoga waistband!  You might actually see me wearing jeans to school drop off if they made a pair of Lee jeans like this! (and not just maternity ones)