A Review and Goals for next year

I'm pleased with the sewing I've done this year.  I think I've tried to do a variety of styles and a few old (and new) favourites.

I think my most worn item has been the first Louisa dress I made.  After wrangling with the zipper it fast became a very practical, yet nice looking dress.

Christmas Lily Dress

I have a tendency to only purchase PDF patterns.  I really don't mind the taping together of pages and I can get a new pattern instantly and not have to worry about shipping costs.  But occasionally I do splurge and order some patterns online and I'm glad I did with this one.

A chambray Louisa

Although I did battle with my last version of Compagnie M's Louisa dress it became one of my absolute favourites and with the weather being warmer I felt it was high time for another one.

Starry Charlie Dress

As is the season I have been pretty busy lately so getting some sewing done and photographing the results has been put on the back burner a bit.  But school is done for the year and I'm almost finished the Christmas organisation so here's one of my recent projects at last!

Marina Romper

This was actually the first Marina Romper from Cali Faye I made last year.  It was miles too big at the time and had to be put back in the cupboard.  Luckily it fits now and she's getting a lot of wear out of it.

Another pair of Lunch Box Culottes

 I knew I'd be making many more of these.

Striped Geranium Dress

I think I'm going to call this her Circus dress.

I have a very nasty habit of sewing a number of items until I only have the very last thing to do like attach buttons or sew the hem and then get distracted and leave it on the pile for ages. This is what happened with this dress (and a few more still in the pile).

Black and White Little Camper Dress

I love making dresses and clothes for Freya, but I think sometimes I fall into the trap of always trying to save the things I make for her to wear for special occasions and not use the things I've made enough for everyday. That's where The Little Camper Dress pattern comes in.  

Carousel Dress

Like the Oliver and S culottes pattern I bought their Carousel dress pattern as soon as it was released. I wasn't a huge fan of the ruffled hem version but when I saw the plain hem I was sold, and as Little Miss has a growing obsession with pockets I knew she'd like it.

Olivia Dress

Last year I sewed an Olivia Top pattern from Craftiness is not optional.  I liked it very much and meant to sew more but never got around to it.  When I saw this fabric in the shop though, I could straight away picture what I was going to make, et voila!

Lunch Box Culottes

Each season I find myself looking forward to the new Oliver and S patterns and this Fall range was no exception.  I knew there was a culottes pattern coming for the little people and I knew it would be one pattern I'd want to have a try of making for Freya.

Mara dress

Recently I'd found this lovely chambray-esque fabric at my local quilt shop.  It came in a few colours but I was drawn mostly to the blue.  I managed to squeeze two dresses out of it, and this was the first.  I LOVE this fabric. I can think of so many other things it would be perfect for but I think a whole wardrobe of clothes in this one fabric might be a bit much.

I really like the Compagnie M patterns and I'd wanted to make the Mara blouse/dress pattern for while.  I was a bit nervous about the round yoke and lining up the button loops but it all worked out well.  Making it a dress instead of a blouse needed a little bit of altering the pattern but the directions were very clear on how to do this.

Vintie overalls again

Wow, It has really snuck up on me how long I have been away from the blog but it's been a busy month.  Going back to work, an endless stream of colds and a teething two year old has meant I haven't had as much time for sewing and blogging lately.  I've also been sewing a bit for myself which always takes a bit longer to get the fit right.  Anyways I'm back.

I've blogged before about the short version of vintie overalls but a while ago I'd made a version of the long ones.  This time I left off the ruffle sleeves as I wanted it to be easier to layer in the cooler weather. I used some denim I'd had laying around for a while and they turned out very cute.  This is one of those outfits that as soon as it's washed she's wearing it again.

They went together easily.  There are a couple of ways to sew the underarm seam and I went with the laziest, just overlocking it and turning it under.  Next time I think I'll try another method to give it a nicer finish.  

Not much more to say really.  The pics are from my phone but sometimes the best ones are the impromptu phone shots rather than the ones I've got the camera out for.   The joys of photographing a toddler :)

The pattern was the vintie overalls from Tadah patterns.

Norah Dress

I finally got around to sewing up the Norah dress.  I love the style of this pattern and for some reason it has taken ages to get around to sewing it up.  So far I've made two but I can see more in Freya's future...

The first one I made was using this diagonal fabric (sorry I can't remember what it was called)  I'd already cut it out except for the back part when I realised I didn't have quite enough fabric.  I legged it to the fabric shop but unfortunately they had sold out except for two fat quarters.  Luckily I was able to cut out a shortened back piece and shortened the front piece by the same amount.  I figured that was a tunic/dress instead.  Luckily it looks really good I just haven't got any pictures of her wearing it yet.

The second one I made was out of this monkey print.  I'd bought a metre without any idea of what I was going to make but knew Freya needed something with sock monkeys on in her wardrobe.  The Norah seemed perfect to highlight the print without breaking it up.  The collar is from the same line and one of the monkeys is wearing a dress out of the same fabric.  I like this dress but if I'm honest I don't love it as much as I thought I would.

The pattern itself is well written and fairly straight forward to sew up quickly.  In both versions I've left off the ties but I think I may put some in the next one.  I actually like the idea of a dotty collar from the monkey dress on a plain black/navy blue dress...

Another Fawn Lilly

After loving my first version of this pattern so much I decided to quickly sew up another before I get distracted with some other project.  I'd had this blue fabric from "A day in the country" for an everyday skirt I had made for myself.  I'd always planned to use it for something for Freya and this was the perfect pattern, although I had to do some careful cutting to make sure I had enough...

This time I used a button tab instead of the crossover and just added piping on the yoke seam.  I used a plain blue fabric for the sleeves and I like how it turned out.  I find this version also fits over Freya's giant head a bit easier too.

The snaps I attached using my snapsetter tool and went on very easily.  I find whenever I can now I use snaps instead of buttons where possible.  It's just quicker and easier when dressing a wriggling two year old.  Anyways this dress turned out well, although my top-stitching wasn't quite as good on this version.

This was the only decent modelled picture I could get...

Hide and Seek Dress

I'm calling this my copycat dress.  I've seen some lovely versions in chambray sewn up on the Oliver and S Flickr group and I knew I had to make one too!  The fat quarter is one I bought at the Melbourne Quilt show earlier in the year (actually on the day Freya was having her epilepsy surgery, it was a great distraction!)  The blue is left over from the first Washi I'd made for myself.  I was originally planning to use it for a Family Reunion Dress but when I saw the two fabrics together I knew it was destined for a Hide and Seek Dress.

The pattern was pretty easy and came together very quickly.  I spent quite a bit of time trying to make sure the print lined up on the back and I think I did a passable job, although I've just noticed in these photos the front bodice has gone a bit crooked :(  The pattern has some lovely details but I decided to leave off the welt pockets on this version.  Freya hasn't quite discovered pockets yet and I was being a bit lazy that day.

This dress is a bit too big at the moment but I think it will be perfect in Spring when the weather starts to warm up a bit.  She seemed to like it though...

KCW Day 7

Today was a much more productive day, thank goodness.  I managed to fit in some sewing and did some chores so I'm calling that a win.  Today I did a few different things.  I finally managed to put the snaps on the dungarees and pinafore I'd made so I'll have some modeled pics soon. I also finally finished a dress I'd started a month ago.  I'd admired the Louisa dress by Compagnie M for a long time and had bought, printed and traced the pattern but I was a bit intimidated by the invisible zipper.  A few weeks ago I decided to just give it a shot and while it was a little wonky it turned out OK.

I seemed to have no end of trouble with this dress.  It took me a couple of attempts to get the piping evenly sewn in, the zipper took me a fair while to get right and I just couldn't get the sleeves set in nicely.  In the end I just needed to put it down and walk away for a while.  Today was finally the day I got back to it.  This time the sleeves sewed in nicely and the hems were all straight forward.

Perfecting the stare off into the distance pose.

I'd originally planned to use some light blue buttons to match the dots in the print but when it came to it the white ones just looked so much better.  It looks pretty cute on too, so much so I think I would sew it again.  I'm also quite proud of the print matching on this dress.  The front has lined up pretty well but my zipper issues meant the back is just ever so slightly off.  Freya seemed to like it though and was quite excited when she saw the zip.

Today I also embroidered another two shirts for my cousin and one for Little Miss.  No issues this time here either so all in all, a good day.

KCW 6, getting back on the wagon!

So things didn't exactly go to plan as usual the past couple of days.  I knew I wouldn't be able to sew/blog on Thursday but intended to on Wednesday. Unfortunately I had some schoolwork to do and just ran out of time and energy. 

Anyways when Little Miss went off to bed I got straight to sewing one of the tops I'd cut out on Tuesday.  I'd been eyeing off Imagine Gnats Roly-Poly pinafore for a while but figured I already had a crossover top pattern with the Heidi and Finn Sweet Pocket Pinafore.  When I saw it was on sale this week that was just the nudge I needed to buy it. 

It is a super fast sew! I just made it using one main fabric so I just had two simple pieces to cut out.  There's a nice, easy pleat detail on the front and then it's just a matter of sewing the pieces together, turning them the right way round and topstitching.  A great, easy sew that can really show off a great print.  I just need to add the snaps tomorrow and I can't wait to see how it looks.

KCW Day 3

So today hasn't gone exactly to plan.  Little Miss has been particularly clingy today and I haven't been feeling all that good either.  I still got at least an hour of sewing in though.  I've traced and cut out two more tops ready for sewing up in the next few days and did some embroidery.

I'm lucky enough to have an embroidery machine and have plans to embroider some long sleeved t-shirts for Freya and my young cousin.  After two stuff ups (designs facing the wrong way and bobbin issues, really not my day today!) I finally got one shirt done.

I've also managed to put the snaps on the dungarees I made yesterday but did them too late for any modelled shots.  They'll have to wait until the weekend.  

KCW Day 2

Today I started something I had cut out a while ago.  I have a weakness for dungarees/overalls.  That's actually one of the reasons I started sewing.  I wanted some nice, fairly plain dungarees for Freya and asked my Mum to go to Spotlight with me to choose some fabric.  She asked who was going to sew them and I decided I would.

This pattern was the Kangaroo pocket romper from Puperita and these are far from plain. I have used some of her other romper patterns and they came together very easily.  The instructions are clear with diagrams and photographs.  She is also a lovely designer who has messaged me a couple of times when I have purchased patterns.  I like many of her other designs too but Freya is at the end of some of the sizing and not quite at the beginning of the others.

These are lined with flannelette and I left off the pockets as this print is very busy. I'd had my eye on this fabric for a while and I'm very tempted to go back for more for a dress or a top. There were a couple of bits that had me puzzled but now I've made them once I think the next pair will go together much more quickly.  I haven't quite got them finished, just need to add the snaps tomorrow.

Sorry for the late night iPhone snaps but they're all I had time for :)

Red Riding Hood Vest and KCW day 1, kind of...

So this season I've decided to sign up for KCW.  Finding the time to sew luckily isn't too difficult for me but may become more so now I'm back at work but making a commitment to sewing every day for a week has made me think about my sewing plans a bit more carefully.  Although the Season technically doesn't start until tomorrow I made a start today as I know I have a late night at work coming up on Thursday so will have to skip that day.  I'm hoping to blog each day about my efforts, so here goes...

On Saturday I went fabric shopping and found this gorgeous Kokka Red Riding Hood fabric.  It was an instabuy and I knew what I wanted to make with it.  I've made a Pixie Hooded Vest from BigLittle before and loved it and knew it would be perfect for this fabric.  I lined it with flannelette like I did with my last version for some warmth.

The pattern is well written and fairly straightforward.  It  is also super cute with the pointed pixie hood and pleated back.  The last one I made came together very quickly but I kept making silly mistakes with this one so it took twice as long as it should have.

First I basted the button loop on the armhole seam instead of the front, but only realised after I'd sewn the front seam.  Luckily I'd sewn with a basting stitch so it wasn't too hard to undo.  Then I didn't enclose the edge of the hood in the seam so had to do that same seam AGAIN!

Frustrations aside it has turned out really well.  A pretty good start to the week.

Parsley Pants

When this pattern was released Freya was too small for the smallest size, and I looked forward to the day I could make these for her.  The Parsley Pants Pattern is a great simple pattern with lots of options.  You only need to cut two pieces to make the basic pants and it's a really easy, straightforward sew.  My favourite option is the flat front waistband. I find I will always prefer that option with any skirts and pants that I make.  It's fast become a staple pattern for me.

The first pair I made I used a thin chambray denim from Spotlight.  They were a great pair of pants for spring as they weren't too thick.  They looked great with t-shirts or fancier tops and got a lot of wear.

The next pair I made were very pink and flowery! This time I included the pockets and the pinstripe down the centre.  The photos don't really do them justice but the details look really cute.

The next pair have been the most worn yet.  Just a plain denim I had left over from making a skirt for myself.  I included the pockets and lined them with some fabric matching an ice-cream top I had made.  They looked great as a set but she has also worn them with many things.

Finally the last pair were made up of some cotton drill I had used for a dress for Little Miss.  They look especially good with a red top but the fabric is a bit thinner than I would have liked for a pair of winter pants.  Fortunately so far the winter here had been fairly mild so they've gotten some wear.

As you can probably guess this is one of my most used patterns.  I'm not a fan of the skinny jean trend for me or for Freya and they don't fit over Freya's AFO.  This is most certainly a staple pattern for me and I have plans for many more, I think I'm even going to try lining some with flannelette to make some warmer pants.