The Christmas wrap-up

Hi everyone

I just wanted to say, quickly, that I hope you had a fantastic Christmas day and that you are recovering from the compulsory over-eating and drinking that often goes along with it.

I did get my Christmas dress finished in time - and I've got to say that I'm pretty happy with it.

Thanks Tilly for coordinating this great blog and thanks to everyone who inspired me with their handmade gift ideas. Count me in for next year!

Stitchybritt

Christmas Aprons - Done!

I finished my Christmas Aprons today. (I posted about them here recently) They're little extras for the Little Tornado's Nan and Great Nan.

I adapted the pattern a little and added the embroidery to personalise. My first attempt at these, so hopefully they'll go down well! More about it over on my blog

Happy Christmas and a happy, healthy & prosperous 2011 to Tilly and all at The Crafty Christmas Club.
Miss P xxx

Christmas Aprons......

Further progress on my Simplicity 2512 will have to be stalled while I knuckle down to sewing up a couple of little cuties for J's Mum & Nan for Christmas. From my stash I've dug out a lovely chambray for the main fabric and a Cath Kidson floral (which began life as a duvet cover!) for the contrast.

The pattern is Butterick, a collection of 1950's style pinnies that I bought about 2 years ago as a beginner project but never used. The final aprons will be a "fusion" of the styles on the envelope. A half apron, with a wide shaped waistband and ties, with 2 patch pockets, one floral and the other cut from the chambray but emroidered with each of their names.

I didn't like the shape of the waistband piece, so did a little re-shaping of my own. It's testament to what a bit of practice and training can do for your sewing confidence. When I bought this pattern I was too scared to even cut it out, let alone start adapting the design and reshaping the pattern pieces. Hopefully finish these tomorrow....

Oh Knickers!

I'll be honest, I attempted to make a pair of knickers from a pattern I had made in tutorial #1. They weren't great.  I thought they were so hateful, they went straight in the bin! The fabric was all wrong, it didn't compliment the lace, and I hadn't thought through what I needed to do before I dived in.

I did stick with it to the end though, and learnt some handy lessons for this attempt! I used different fabric, different lace and all in all I'm happy with my first second attempt. Plus, I can only improve with practice and I definately intend to make more! It's a fun, quick and satisfying project. Once I'd tweaked it a little.....and with the right fabric and lace would make a cute little Christmas gift. Perhaps with a matching camisole..... Tutorial here.....

The bloomers are finished!

The good news is that I finally finished the bloomers that I was making for some good friends of mine. They look pretty cute, don't they? (and sorry, no, I wasn't game enough to model knickers on the internet)



I am going to package them up with locally made soaps for my buddies.


On another note, here's a little felt angel that I made for the top of the tree a few years ago.

Meanwhile, I've just blogged some ideas for a more sustainable Christmas at the Stitchybritt blog, if you're interested in having a read.

Pyjama party

After Karen's post on some gorgeous warm pyjamas, it's funny as that's what I've been concentrating on. I wish I had a source of cheap fabric, but got mine on-line, opting for cotton lawn (not particularly cosy for winter!) I made three sets of PJs with a matching camisole for my three girlfriends ...perhaps we should have a sleepover (when it's warmer ??!)

The PJ bottoms have all got heart shaped pockets...

Bottoms tie up with ribbon. The camisole pattern is taken from a fab Japanese pattern book (Camisole & one piece patterns), more info on my blog. It's quick to make & as I'm not 100% sure of sizing it'll be loose & adjustable.

And to add to the nightwear theme, I've also made my Mum a nice long cotton nightie

using this pattern from the 70s & acquired from Ebay. Happy crafting everyone !

Fleece Socks

(Please excuse the paleness of my legs. This is my tan.)

Last year, I made up lots of these, for so little money. Just this one pattern has all sizes from baby to adult, and each pair only takes a little bit of fabric.

(I didn't do any of the appliques, just used cute printed micro-fleece - but aren't they adorable?)

I made my first pair ages ago, from a major label pattern (adult sizes only) that has since been discontinued (if I could find the thing, I'd tell you what it was, but it has gone missing at home), but then I found the above pattern a couple years ago, recognized that the pieces were exactly the same, though the finishing was different, and I was pleased as can be to have all the sizes.

This one tells you to fold over the top, making them more like a slipper than a sock, but I just leave it not folded. I don't even hem them.
If you want them longer, just add the same amount of length to the front and back pieces. I sometimes add or subtract length based on how big my remnant is.
If you find you need to adjust the foot length (I've had them end up way too long), you just turn them inside out and re-sew the toe seam to the right length.

Only three pattern pieces, and these take so little fabric. The adult size calls for 1/2 yd, but as the pattern says, you can get 1 1/2 pair from that 1/2 yd. I've made three pair with 5/8 yd. You need the length for the front of the "sock", but you don't use all the width. I buy the remnants for half-off, and get at least 2 gifts (more if I'm doing kids sizes) for under $5.

Or, if it's not that cold where you are, or you just don't like your feet being too warm, make these out of any knit fabric.

My kids LOVE their fleece socks. Just last week, Twin2 (the younger of the set, the boys are 18 now) careens into my bedroom at 11pm and joyfully announces that it's time to get out the fleece socks, then bounds off to his room to get them.

A happy teenager? Oh, yes, that was a worthwhile sewing project.

Renee's Crafty Plans

MAGNUM: Fast, soft, chunky goodness.

Hello crafty ladies! I am Renee, who blogs at renee's wardrobe relief. On top of being in the Crafty Christmas Club, I am also a member of the Crafty Slackers Club. BUT, this year I am going to try extra hard! Today I bought some amazing wool to make a skirt for my mom.
I don't know about you guys, but shopping for mom is the hardest thing ever. My mom is hands down the chic-est, most put together woman I know (we are opposites in this regard). This is why I am making her the simple high-waisted skirt from Vogue 8604. In CAMEL. Did you guys hear that camel is the new black? PSHHT. I hate camel on me, but my mom freaking loves it. I am going to make her a cute little belt to go with it. We'll see if she wears it!

Other crafty presents I am planning will probably have a lot to do with Cascade's Magnum yarn. (see top photo) It is the best. The real bummer is the price tag, but you can make a really long scarf in 1 skein. I have also made amazing hats with this.

More craftiness to come very soon! + I have a delicious treat to share with you all in time for thanksgiving!

The Christmas Dress

With my overlocker at the fix-it shop (as per my last post), a few of my sewing projects have been on hold. So what did I do? Start a new one, of course!



Everyone needs a new dress to wear on Christmas day, right? This is BurdaStyle's Danielle dress (without sleeves) and some fabric I bought in Copenhagen.



It's still in its early stages and I've done everything I can do until my overlocker comes home, but I think it's shaping up alright.

Big list this year, time to get cracking!

Hello everyone, my name is Kath and I live in Brisbane, Australia. I have far too many hobbies to list but my most recent endeavour has been my Etsy store bunnyhornet. I make vintage inspired jewellery there and I'll be adding a bit of that to my Christmas pressies list!

BUT!! My projects I have to tackle this year are:

1.    3 x personalised cushion covers for my nephews.
2.    3 x reversible tote bags
3.    Skirt for my sister-in-law
4.    Sundress for another sister-in-law
5.    A few simple make-up cases
6.    Flying pigs mobile (idea found on this blog!)
7.    Some little bunnies (also idea found on this blog - thanks!)
8.    Tuxedo bib for littlest nephew
9.    2 x capes for bigger nephews
10.  3 x aprons for sisters and mother-in-law
11.  Giraffe Toy

OMG! How am I ever going to finish? I don't have a blog of my own so I'll document my sources for inspiration etc here :)

1. Personalised Pillows

My sister-in-law sent me a link for this:

If you click on the picture it will take you to the webiste.

She wanted her own version for her new baby and I have two other little nephews so I've bought fabric for all three and some felt for the names.

I bought my fabrics from Superbuzzy who has some amazing prints and colours.

And the felt came from Etsy user litlbrownbird.

And this is the inspiration for colour scheme I'm working with!

How cute is he!

The fabric picked for Boy 1 is to go with this little fella and I think the oranges and blues will go nicely with his room....

I want to make one similar but that's only in the 'musing' stages at the moment, no concrete plans!

You'll also notice I've bought the fabrics for the 3 reversible totes. The pattern I'll be using is from Burda Style and is free!

Now this tuxedo bib pattern is meant to be for an adult (to look like you're wearing a tux shirt) but how cute would a version be for a baby? Argh! So cute! Another Freebie!

I'll also use some of the leftover fabric for the make-up cases. I'll just make these really simple pouches with a zip closure.

Love this tutorial over at Chezlin!

I also bought some of that felt to make brown bunnies like the ones shown on the blog and on the original website of Betz White.

 The flying piggy mobile I found on this blog here. I've already started on my own pattern - don't want to mess with copyright but as it's for a gift we should be ok! The skin tone and white felt I've bought from litlebrownbird will be for this one.

Ok, and that's where I'm up to with my ideas so far..... wheeeeeeeeee!

Now to find good patterns for the Sundress, the Skirt, the aprons and the capes. Any ideas?

Mini Bloomers

I've had this Collette pattern for mini-bloomers for a while (download it free here), thinking that I would make some in a silly pink sometime for myself. Then last week I realised that they would make great gifts for three close friends of mine. So! I bought some gingham in pink and purple and started to sew.


Unfortunately this is as far as I got when my overlocker decided to stop working (I have rethreaded it over and over and over but it still won't make a chain) so I have to wait until I can get to the sewing machine repair shop before I can go any further.

I think they will turn out pretty cute though. I will definitely post updates. I'm sure, if you weren't interrupted by a dodgy overlocker, that they would be very quick to make!