Here is the princess dress I made for my 4 year old niece's birthday. I made a size 5, as this is a dress up costume, and you can see that it is huge too. Oh well, I suppose it is better too big than too small when sewing for children.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Sewing for Nieces
My SIL has sent me some photographs of my nieces modelling sewing presents. Here is my 2 year old niece wearing version 2 of "Sunshine" from AS&E 60. It is a bit big on her. I keep forgetting to go down a size for AS&E. The pattern is 24 months and the niece is 28 months. I did use a deeper ruffle than the pattern.
Here is the princess dress I made for my 4 year old niece's birthday. I made a size 5, as this is a dress up costume, and you can see that it is huge too. Oh well, I suppose it is better too big than too small when sewing for children.
Here is the princess dress I made for my 4 year old niece's birthday. I made a size 5, as this is a dress up costume, and you can see that it is huge too. Oh well, I suppose it is better too big than too small when sewing for children.
Friday, 26 December 2008
BWOF 12-2008-128 and 129, pyjamas
I made my daughter some pyjamas from the December BWOF. Fortuitously this magazine arrived just before Christmas, so I could slip them into her present. (Carol asked me how I was getting BWOF so early, and the answer is a subscription straight from Germany. Until recently there were not even 3 month old BWOF magazines in my local newsagent, of course, once I subscribed, the newsagent started to stock them....)
Here is the technical drawing from the BWOF site
I made the top from a lightweight cotton print, lined with white cotton broadcloth (I'm out of batiste) and the shorts are from a rib knit remnant. I used a lettuce hem on the shorts, and liking this effect for teenager pjs, I made a very long skinny strip of lettuce frill to insert between the outside and lining of the upper bodice neck and arm edge. I used red lingerie strap elastic instead of making fabric straps per the pattern.
My daughter and I both like the pyjamas, but I did need to adjust them to alter the high skin exposure of the original ling erie pattern, so that my daughter can wear these to sleepovers. The shorts are a good 5cm longer in the leg than the pattern. I also needed to take them in 3 cm on each side seam as the pattern is for a woven fabric, and these are knit, so were originally too big.
I made several alterations to the front bodice. My daughter's measurements are just below size 34, so I scaled down to a size 34, then made a SBA of 1/4 inch. I also raised the height of the bodice around 1 and 1/2 cm. The straps are also shorter than those shown in the model photograph.
The top was too big after these changes, and I had to make post construction alterations, as the pyjamas were a surprise present. I took in the side seams a litte, and increased the stretch of the back elastic. If I make these again, I will make the upper bodice smaller, particularly in the back.
Here is the technical drawing from the BWOF site
I made the top from a lightweight cotton print, lined with white cotton broadcloth (I'm out of batiste) and the shorts are from a rib knit remnant. I used a lettuce hem on the shorts, and liking this effect for teenager pjs, I made a very long skinny strip of lettuce frill to insert between the outside and lining of the upper bodice neck and arm edge. I used red lingerie strap elastic instead of making fabric straps per the pattern.
My daughter and I both like the pyjamas, but I did need to adjust them to alter the high skin exposure of the original ling erie pattern, so that my daughter can wear these to sleepovers. The shorts are a good 5cm longer in the leg than the pattern. I also needed to take them in 3 cm on each side seam as the pattern is for a woven fabric, and these are knit, so were originally too big.
I made several alterations to the front bodice. My daughter's measurements are just below size 34, so I scaled down to a size 34, then made a SBA of 1/4 inch. I also raised the height of the bodice around 1 and 1/2 cm. The straps are also shorter than those shown in the model photograph.
The top was too big after these changes, and I had to make post construction alterations, as the pyjamas were a surprise present. I took in the side seams a litte, and increased the stretch of the back elastic. If I make these again, I will make the upper bodice smaller, particularly in the back.
Post Christmas catch up
Christmas baking, work and socialising has interrupted blogging, so I thought I should catch up a bit. Unfortunately I have not been sewing very much - I would show you 5 dozen mince pies, apricot jam and raspberry jam, but they are mostly eaten or given away!
I did finish off a little bit of gift sewing. Here are capri pants (Topkids Issue 59) for one 4 year old niece. I used left over pinky brown stretch denim, and trimmed the legs with bias binding made from the same cotton print as her smocked top, which I wrote about earlier. I also used machine embroidery around the legs for fun.
Here are photographs of my 17 month old niece in her "Sunshine" outfit from AS&E Issue 60. I was so pleased with her reaction. This little one can hardly talk, but as soon as she opened the parcel she cried out "put on, put on" and insisted on wearing it straight away. She is a girl after my own heart, and will be receiving lots of smocking from her doting Auntie. The top is a little big, but I am not too worried as there are a good 5 months of wearing time left for this outfit, longer if it looks OK with a t shirt underneath. There are advantages to living in Queensland.
The last shot is of my children on Christmas day. I made all their clothes in the last 13 months, so it is vaguely sewing related !
I now have 2 weeks of almost vacation time (only an hour or two of work a day) so I am really hoping to have lots of sewing and knitting time.
I did finish off a little bit of gift sewing. Here are capri pants (Topkids Issue 59) for one 4 year old niece. I used left over pinky brown stretch denim, and trimmed the legs with bias binding made from the same cotton print as her smocked top, which I wrote about earlier. I also used machine embroidery around the legs for fun.
Here are photographs of my 17 month old niece in her "Sunshine" outfit from AS&E Issue 60. I was so pleased with her reaction. This little one can hardly talk, but as soon as she opened the parcel she cried out "put on, put on" and insisted on wearing it straight away. She is a girl after my own heart, and will be receiving lots of smocking from her doting Auntie. The top is a little big, but I am not too worried as there are a good 5 months of wearing time left for this outfit, longer if it looks OK with a t shirt underneath. There are advantages to living in Queensland.
The last shot is of my children on Christmas day. I made all their clothes in the last 13 months, so it is vaguely sewing related !
I now have 2 weeks of almost vacation time (only an hour or two of work a day) so I am really hoping to have lots of sewing and knitting time.
Monday, 15 December 2008
Fast Christmas Sewing
Some months ago, I had the bright idea of smocking dresses or tops for each of my seven nieces as Christmas presents. Well, I have given up. Somehow I managed to make 2 or 3 outfits for the babies and toddlers, one outfit for a 4 year old, and my smocking mojo has worn out before I reached the last family, containing nieces aged nearly 4, up to nearly 9. I will not feel guilty, as they all received smocked birthday dresses this year.
Instead, I bought plain white t shirts at Target, and made these quick and easy cotton print skirts with a ruffle. I have put these in a parcel with a book each, and expect to have 3 happy nieces. The pattern is skirt 24 from Topkids Issue 59. The fabric is from Spotlight via my stash. I have altered the pattern only by using elastic attached to a drawcord for the waist gathering, edge stitching the top edge of the casing, and using a rolled hem to finish the ruffle.
DD the younger really fancied these skirts. She wanted me to make her one too, so that she can match her cousins when they visit us in January. I tried to convince her to make it herself - this is a really easy pattern, but there was no interest at all. She made me a cup of tea instead.
Naturally, once I had whipped up the skirt, she announced that she had no plain white t shirts. I am pretty sure this is a fib, but admit she is growing very fast, and did not want to plumb the depths of her wardrobe, so made her Jalie 2787, which she has been hinting about since I made my own unsuccessful versions. On her, it looks fabulous. I now love the pattern. She really likes the flutter sleeve. I used fold over elastic for the neck and cross overs, and am very happy with the outfit. ( The top was too long again, I have taken around 7 cm from the hem)
Here is a last photo to show the whole skirt on my daughter. I quite like the waistband, but my daughter says she likes to wear her tops out, rather than tucked in.
Instead, I bought plain white t shirts at Target, and made these quick and easy cotton print skirts with a ruffle. I have put these in a parcel with a book each, and expect to have 3 happy nieces. The pattern is skirt 24 from Topkids Issue 59. The fabric is from Spotlight via my stash. I have altered the pattern only by using elastic attached to a drawcord for the waist gathering, edge stitching the top edge of the casing, and using a rolled hem to finish the ruffle.
DD the younger really fancied these skirts. She wanted me to make her one too, so that she can match her cousins when they visit us in January. I tried to convince her to make it herself - this is a really easy pattern, but there was no interest at all. She made me a cup of tea instead.
Naturally, once I had whipped up the skirt, she announced that she had no plain white t shirts. I am pretty sure this is a fib, but admit she is growing very fast, and did not want to plumb the depths of her wardrobe, so made her Jalie 2787, which she has been hinting about since I made my own unsuccessful versions. On her, it looks fabulous. I now love the pattern. She really likes the flutter sleeve. I used fold over elastic for the neck and cross overs, and am very happy with the outfit. ( The top was too long again, I have taken around 7 cm from the hem)
Here is a last photo to show the whole skirt on my daughter. I quite like the waistband, but my daughter says she likes to wear her tops out, rather than tucked in.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
More "Sunshine"
I had originally planned to make a traditional square yoke dress for my 2 and 1/3 year old niece for her Christmas present, but 8 hours into the half space wave full bodice smocking, I thought better of it. Instead I have made another version of "Sunshine" from Australian Smocking and Embroidery Issue 60, with my own, much less dense smocking design. I was still fancying half space waves, so I have put a little band of them at the bottom with a few bullion circle daisies.
As this top is for an older toddler, I have made a pair of knit shorts with a leg ruffle, rather than bloomers, which can look a bit too babyish on some toddlers.
My favourite part of this pattern is still the back ruffle. I wrestled a bit with the armhole curves in this version, interfacing both the facing and front, and clipping every curved seam at 3mm spacing, but although it looks fine hanging up, I can still see ripples. I am starting to think this is just what happens when you lay a curve flat. I wonder what magazine stylists do to fix this look.
I am also not happy with the colour balance of the photograph. The leg ruffle is the same colourway as the armhole bands, but looks different here, maybe it is something to do with the hot pink shorts? The little drawstring bag is the present wrapping. I am trying not to have tiny pieces of fabric lurking in my stash!
As this top is for an older toddler, I have made a pair of knit shorts with a leg ruffle, rather than bloomers, which can look a bit too babyish on some toddlers.
My favourite part of this pattern is still the back ruffle. I wrestled a bit with the armhole curves in this version, interfacing both the facing and front, and clipping every curved seam at 3mm spacing, but although it looks fine hanging up, I can still see ripples. I am starting to think this is just what happens when you lay a curve flat. I wonder what magazine stylists do to fix this look.
I am also not happy with the colour balance of the photograph. The leg ruffle is the same colourway as the armhole bands, but looks different here, maybe it is something to do with the hot pink shorts? The little drawstring bag is the present wrapping. I am trying not to have tiny pieces of fabric lurking in my stash!
Monday, 8 December 2008
BWOF 11-08-110
I have been sewing this week, but it has been too hot for the past few days to dress up and have my photograph taken. This morning is much cooler after some fabulous rain, so here is skirt 110 from the November BWOF. I am very pleased with it, although it seems to have grown since I wore it. This is no real surprise, as the fabric is stretch denim.
When I made the toile, I used calico (muslin for North Americans) and as I knew I would be making the finished garment from stretch woven fabric, I made the toile very close fitting. The skirt has 8 panels, so fitting for me was just a matter of trial and error taking in and out. It was not difficult but took a little while as I always seem to need two or three trying on sessions for each seam!
It does look as if I will need to take it in again, but I think the wrinkles look worse in the photograph than in real life. I have decided to put this skirt in my SWAP, as the colour fits, and I originally had two straight skirts from another pattern, so this can replace one of them. As it is denim, it allows a more casual look. I also like this skirt with the other blouse I made from the same pattern (Vogue 8034) as the cream silk one I am wearing here. The only real change I made to the pattern was to use bias binding, turned under for the hem. I cut out the skirt with no hem allowance (my legs are short). I felt that double folding the denim for the hem would make the godets too stiff. I think the hem of the skirt would look prettier in a more drapey fabric, but I still like this one.
I will write a full review at pattern review later on.
I am copying lots of other blogs with a parting shot. These are storm crocus in my garden. I think they are more commonly called autumn crocus, but in Queensland they flower after a lot of rain, so I have plenty in flower today.
When I made the toile, I used calico (muslin for North Americans) and as I knew I would be making the finished garment from stretch woven fabric, I made the toile very close fitting. The skirt has 8 panels, so fitting for me was just a matter of trial and error taking in and out. It was not difficult but took a little while as I always seem to need two or three trying on sessions for each seam!
It does look as if I will need to take it in again, but I think the wrinkles look worse in the photograph than in real life. I have decided to put this skirt in my SWAP, as the colour fits, and I originally had two straight skirts from another pattern, so this can replace one of them. As it is denim, it allows a more casual look. I also like this skirt with the other blouse I made from the same pattern (Vogue 8034) as the cream silk one I am wearing here. The only real change I made to the pattern was to use bias binding, turned under for the hem. I cut out the skirt with no hem allowance (my legs are short). I felt that double folding the denim for the hem would make the godets too stiff. I think the hem of the skirt would look prettier in a more drapey fabric, but I still like this one.
I will write a full review at pattern review later on.
I am copying lots of other blogs with a parting shot. These are storm crocus in my garden. I think they are more commonly called autumn crocus, but in Queensland they flower after a lot of rain, so I have plenty in flower today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)