Bubble Dress meets Fairy Tale Dress

Since I really like the little capped sleeves on the Bubble dress I paired it with another Oliver + S dress I really like; the Fairy Tale dress.
Laying the bodice section of the Fairy Tale dress over the bodice section of the Bubble dress, I traced out a new pattern piece.
The skirt is the pattern pieces from the Fairy Tale dress.

To assemble the bodice section, I followed the instructions for the Bubble dress stitching the neck and sleeve outer fabric and lining together (after the collar was basted in place, of course) and then switched to the instructions for the Fairy Tale dress. Getting the zipper in was a bit tricky but with patience, worked out just fine.

 I made a matching hair band using ribbons and a random button.

The Bubble dress bodice works well with features of the Fairy Tale dress and I really like it with the Peter Pan collar.

For the hem, I turned it under half the amount that was called for on the pattern, ironed it well and then turned it under the same distance again, and ironed that well too. Then I stitched about 3cm (1 inch) up from the bottom edge of the last fold creating a little tuck.
Finally, I turned that last hem fold down and ironed the whole dress. The hem was now neatly tucked away.

 Miss C loves her new dress and the froggy too.

……. off to make more bubbles…...

Bubble Dresses

The Bubble Dress (Oliver + S pattern) has always been my go-to dress. The little capped sleeves on this pattern are just so sweet and the bubble skirt adds the fun.
Best of all, it seems to work with just about any type of woven fabric with any size print.

I recently found a pretty summer border print and it works perfectly. The neck and sleeves are piped in light mauve, one of the colours in the print.

My daughter found a Christmas dress she liked from Gymboree and asked me to make something similar.
I found some curtain fabric for about $6.00 in the Home Dec area of a fabric store that looked similar to the fabric of the dress she found to make a knock off.

Not knowing I had the fabric, my daughter noticed the store dress was on sale for $16.00 and thinking it was a bargain bought it.
Well, I made the knock off anyway, even though it's a duplicate.

Our model needs to be wearing some stockings to complete the holiday look but on a hot and humid day so this will just have to do.

I glued on some gems following the same design as dress in the store.

The glue instructions say it will hold after several washing. Hmmm. We'll see about that! Just in case, I have a little bag full of replacement gems.

I piped the dress using leftover satin from a bridesmaids dress I once had to make. The cording or filler for the piping is cotton yarn.

I also glued some gems onto a hairband as a girl simply needs accessories!

Gathering the skirt using the rather thick and slippery curtain fabric was difficult.

First of all, the fabric frayed like crazy, so I serged the edges.

Instead of stitching 2 or 3 rows of gathering threads, I zig-zagged over crochet cotton and slid the fabric along to create gathers.

But when it came to attaching the bodice to the skirt, the neatly collected gathers would get pushed out from under the pressure foot. The fabric was almost rubber like!

In the end, I couldn't get the gathers as even as I would have liked. 

No matter. 

The dress turned out just fine and …. oh, I can't resist …. it has a nice drape.

Back in the Home Dec section of the fabric store was a remnant of a heavy dupioni-like orchid and silver fabric. It was around $6.00 like the last remnant of Home Dec fabric and it was calling me to make it into a Bubble Dress.

But this time around, instead of gathering the skirt with unwieldy home dec curtain fabric, I decided to make pleats in the front and back.

Between the stiffness of the fabric and the bubble design of the skirt, this dress came out extra poofy. Fun!

I used pre-made store bought silver bias binding but couldn't find buttons that weren't too shiny. These ones will do until I get around to making self covered ones.

Since I recently learned how to knit, I tried my hand at knitting a necklace with 28 gauge silver wire.  The best results came from spool knitting (a.k.a. corking) and added a little initial pendant.

Since this dress pattern only goes to size 5, I traced out what I hope is size 6.
Looking at the space between the tracing lines for size and 4 and 5, I guessed at what the difference might be between size 5 and 6. I'm sure it's not the correct way to re-draft a pattern but I'm sure it's not too far off.
This dress certainly seems to be a size larger than the last two size 5 dresses I just made.

All our model needs now is some silvery stockings and a silvery knit shrug which means more knitting.

I saw this cute little shrug complete with a free knitting instructions from the blog Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days.  click here
There was a sale recently at a yarn store near here and I bought way too much yarn some sparkly yarn that will work perfectly with this pattern and the orchid Bubble Dress.

Photo from http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/pink-sparkle-girls-bolero.html

Garden Party Sundress

Whenever I sew a pattern for the first time, I treat it like a test run. I never know if it's going to fit nor if the wearer and her mom will like it.
When I saw an inexpensive border print remnant the other day, it seemed like the perfect fabric to use for the Garden Party dress test run.

I cut off the navy trim from the bottom of the fabric print and used it for the waistband pieces. For the bodice, simply used the white non-printed section of the fabric.

This dress is size 5.  The fabric is really thin and not very good quality but it'll be ideal to wear on a hot muggy day.

Since there was a little bit of border print leftover, I cut up the pieces and sewed them together (not matching at all) and made a Bucket Hat using the free download because yours truly lost Sheet#2 from Little Things to Sew book and guess which sheet the pattern pieces are for the hat? Geeze.

If this size fits, I'd like to make this dress again using some eyelet fabric from my stash.

Sunny Day Shorts and School Bus T-shirt

Summer is here and there are Pirates on the lake!
Mr. A is all set to plunder, pillage and hopefully still have an afternoon nap.

The School Bus T-shirt pattern was so easy to make so if this one fits, I'll crank out a whole bunch for not only daytime wear but also for jammie tops.
This one is 3T made with knit fabric from my stash.

The free download Sunny Day shorts pattern was quick and easy too.  These are 3T and the fabric is a lightweight denim from my stash.
I used the pocket pieces from the Sandbox Pants pattern. The waistband is also wider because I noticed that when Mr. A bends over, his diaper pokes up.

If these fit, I'll be cranking out a bunch to use as shorts and jammie bottoms too.

Hide and Seek Dress

In my stash I have at least 3 meters left of a 100% unknown fibre pink check fabric that looks like wool but of course it isn't. It was really inexpensive when I bought it and now it's merely languishing in a stash bin.
So I decided to use that for a test run for the Hide and Seek pattern.

I didn't bother with topstitching or edge stitching as per the pattern instructions. I didn't even add piping as I normally do.  I just wanted to get 'er done as the expression goes.

I like the welt pockets.
I'm not too crazy about my hem finish though. I should have used my Coverstitch machine for than but next time around, perhaps try a hem facing.

I made the sleeves a little longer than the pattern pieces and I really like how the cuff on the sleeve is constructed.
In hindsight I should have cut down the width of the front skirt making it less full.

If this dress fits and is liked, next time around I'd like to use linen and embellish the front panel with heirloom style stitching from this book.
The dress is size 5.

Lullaby Layette

Whenever there is a baby born amongst my friends, I never quite know what I should make as a gift.
Enter the  Lullaby Layette pattern and the problem is solved!

I found some yellow pique in my stash and literally whipped this outfit up in no time.
It's been washed and ready to go but it truly needs to be worn by a baby in order to get a good photo.

Instead of adding bias binding around the outside edge as per the pattern instructions, I left an opening in the lining at the side seam. Then I stitched all around the outside edge and then pulled everything through the lining opening. To finish, edge stitched around the outside edge and hand stitched the opening in the lining.

The fabric is a delicate yellow with little chicks. Perfect generic baby fabric.

I like the little back pocket details on this pattern.

I'll make up the bodysuit too from this pattern so I'll have a small stash of baby gifts when the occasion arises.
And since I just learned how to knit, make a few hats and cardigans to go with them too.

2 In Threes

Over the past two weeks I was able to crank out 2 more cardi's from the pattern called In Three's, by Kelly Herdich. (click here for the pattern)

My daughters friend admired the ones I made for Miss C. So my daughter asked if I would make 2 of these cardigans as birthday gifts for her friend's little poppets.
Done!

All I need to complete them is to find nice looking buttons and they can be wrapped up and gifted.

The aqua one is size 3T and yarn is Red Heart Soft Yarn, deep sea. The green one is 24mos and the yarn is Loops & Threads Impeccable, soft fern.

Knitting not sewing

I feel I must catch up for all the years of not knitting.  I think my dear sewing machines are collecting cobwebs.

I've been scouring the internet for free knitting patterns, buying yarn that's on sale and in general, creating a new stash to bust.
Life doesn't get any better.

Here are my latest projects.

First off is a free download pattern called Daisy Chain by Amanda Lilley.  It's available on Ravelry.
I used 2 skeins of Patons Canadiana yarn and size 4 mm circular needles.

The pattern was easy to follow until it came to picking up stitches to do the edging. I was totally stumped as I had never done anything like this before. Do I use the left needle? Do I use the right one? Do I double back and turn everything inside out?

Well, it turned out that the left needle is used, sliding the stitches back on the needles (and wire) then pick up the stitches placing markers where they are called for in the pattern and then follow the instructions.  I guess I was over-thinking the process.

It turned out just fine but the bottom edges need a little extra blocking.

The embroidery was easy to do. I used a fabric marker to make the vine line but in hindsight I should have simply basted a thread making the line to follow much more visible.

I wonder if a little bling might be fun to use for say a Christmas cardigan?

The second project I completed was a vest.  I bought this pattern on Ravelry.  It's called #256 Basic Vest for Children by Diane Soucy.

I used 1 skein of Paton's Canadiana.  This pattern worked up really quickly and the instructions were easy to follow.
The neck band is different than on most V-neck vests I've seen and was a no-brainer to make.

Instead of using DPN's for the neck band and sleeve bands, I used 3.75 circular needles. Better than stabbing oneself!

A new trick I learned from this project was how to do a 3 needle bind off on the shoulders. Gah! I'm going to use that technique from now on.

I am pleased with the outcome of this project and Mr. A can expect many, many more vest's.

Off to knit some more…………...

Knitting obsession

During the first week of January this year, I enrolled in a local knitting class with a neighbour.  The instructor asked the group what we wanted to make so I showed her a knitting book my mother had used to make sweaters for my children when they were little.

I bought 4 balls/skeins of Paton's Astra maize coloured yarn, needles in size 3.25mm and 4mm and I was away to the races.

Casting on was a nightmare and it took me several days before I cast on 38 stitches and then attempted a second row to begin the rib stitch hem.  I was sure I would never figure it out but was determined not to let it get the better of me.

During the following 3 months as I plodded away on the project I learned how to knit, purl, cast on and off, seam, block and most importantly, read a pattern.

I need to practice on button bands and seams. Seams sure are difficult. It's not like I can shove them through my serger. That would be much easier.

The bottom line is … I did it.  I made a cardigan with raglan sleeves, a folded collar and button bands.

I know that with practice my tension will get better too.  One pattern I made as an extra circular activity while making the yellow cardigan, was called In Threes.  The pattern was easy to read and perfect for practicing tension.  So I made it again using Lions Brand Baby Wool (orchid) that was on sale for $1.99 at Michaels. I bought 4 skeins and cranked out another In Threes pattern in size 3T this time.

It all went well except I totally screwed up on the band at the front.
Oh well.  Good excuse to get more yarn and keep practicing.
The Chickadee agrees.

I think this cardi would look good with a white long sleeve shirt underneath and a jean skirt or a pair of jeans.

More knitting

I'm on a roll.
Now that I figured out how to cast on, cast off, knit, purl and read a simple pattern, I'm quickly becoming addicted to knitting.

In a knitting shop recently, I spotted this pattern: 4402 by Hayfield with cable stitches up the front.
The whole pattern looked fairly easy with the exception of the cable stitches: C4B and C4F.

So I looked on You Tube for C4B and C4F and found this demo here.

It was easy!

Using yarn by Hayfield called Bonus Chunky I made a cable knit sweater in size 2/3 for Mr. A.

I had a difficult time with the neckband and the seams are awful.  I definitely need a lesson on seams and bands. Toss in a lesson on blocking too.

But hey, I did it and it looks not too bad at all.

Here's a closeup of my knit stitches and the cable. It's not perfect but for a second attempt at knitting something other than a scraggly scarf I'm happy with the results.

….. off to knit something else……….

Knitting

Knitting is something that has always eluded me.
When I was really young, like maybe 10 years old, a friend showed me how to "cast on" by twisting yarn between her fingers and then slipping the loop onto a knitting needle.
Then she showed me how to do the "knit" stitch.

Over the years, and I'm talking decades, that is all I've been able to master. Casting on a bunch of stitches and knit until something roughly resembling a scarf appeared on the needles.

When my children were little I desperately wanted to make them something nice knitted. I made the girls smocked dresses and sewed many of their outfits, but I couldn't master knitting needles to make them something that looked half-way decent that was knitted.

My mother could whip out Fair Isle sweaters like nobody's business but she was unable to teach myself, or my sister for that matter, how to knit.

Now I find myself a grandmother. What is the measure of a grandmother?
The only grandmother I had lived in England and I only met her twice so not having a role model, I have invented my own grandmotherly standard.  And that standard say's that among the home crafts like making costumes, fancy clothes, toys, beading, weaving, and felting I must also be able to knit.

In January I went with a neighbour (whom coincidentally has grandchildren almost the same age as mine) for knitting classes.  Neither of us were too hopeful that we would actually produce anything, but hey, it's worth a try.

Well guess what?

I did it!
I knit something that actually looks like what it's supposed to look like!

Oh sure there are lots of mistakes in the sweater and I ripped it out many, many times before finishing it but the bottom line is …. I made it with yarn and knitting needles!

I found that pattern thanks to Cindy.  Her mom (also a grandmother) used this pattern to knit two of these sweaters.

The pattern is called In Threes by Kelly Herdich and I bought it as a download from Ravelry.com

At first I thought it might be daunting but persevered and in the end, it wasn't so daunting at all.

The yarn has pilled somewhat and I suspect that's because I ripped it out so many times.  But no matter. I have learned volumes about yarn, tension and all things knitterly.

And there verdict?
Dad likes the sweater and the style.
Mom loves it and say's to make more but is sorry I didn't conquer knitting when she was young … oh, and she wants me to show her how to knit.
Miss C loves it too and told me I was a "good knitter". Music to my ears.

Spring dresses

This past week it's been -28 oC in the morning and snow flurries in the forecast.  It's been a long, long winter with record low temps and snow amounts. However there are spring shadows shaping up when the sun does make an appearance and that's been putting me in the mood to make some spring dresses.

A dress pattern that appeared in Sew Beautiful magazine issue #80 way back in 2002 has been on my bucket list for, well, I guess the past 12 years. I like the bateau style neck, the non-puffy sleeves and the raised waistline. The dress is called Pascale and was designed by Laura Jenkins Thompson.

Since there's no time like the present, I found some mauve micro-check cotton in my stash and finally, at long last, made a Pascale dress.

The dress came together beautifully and easily.
Instead of white piping, I went with a greeny-yellow colour and made self covered buttons too.
There wasn't enough fabric to make a wide sash so the thin one will just have to do.

I made a decorative hairband too to go with the dress; grosgrain ribbon with a purple pansy.

I am more than pleased with the outcome of the dress as it fits well and it was so easy to make.

For the next two dresses, I used the "Tinny" pattern from Straightgrain.http://www.straight-grain.com

I have to say that whenever I hear or see the word 'Tinny' I think of our aluminum fishing boat we fondly call The Tinny.

For the first Tinny, I used Aneela Hoey fabric called Walk in the Woods and used the pleated skirt style from the pattern.
I made two belt loops to hold the red leather belt I bought her from Nordstrom.

When I initially made the dress, I felt the hem wasn't long enough and overall it might be a tight fit.
Before I put in the sleeves, we had a 'fitting'.

Good news .. it fit!

So I put in the sleeves that I made a little longer than indicated on the pattern but simply created a thin rolled hem.

For a hairband decoration, I made a little fox face in felt and stitched it onto some grosgrain ribbon.

For the second Tinny dress, I used the circle skirt that's included in the pattern.

The collar was inspiration from the dress Rachel made made from the Belgian book Stof-voor-durf-het-zelvers.

In discussion with Rachel, she suggested using Oliver + S pattern Playdate dress, and using the bib section, play with it by folding into pleats.  So in other words, the collar flap piece was a deep U-shape and folded into pleats.
I cut mine out smaller than hers with fewer pleats and tried it on before adding the sleeves.

It fit and looked okay!!

I put in the sleeves but was annoyed at myself for not adding some length to the hem.  Using a 3mm rolled hem foot on my machine, I made the hem.

I didn't make matching decorative hairband much to Miss C's chagrin.

Duly noted and I'll get on that right away!