Sew Together

I haven't posted any projects on this blog for a while - caught between that balance of enjoying life and talking about it.  Our little family has been on holiday, and come back to the biggest change in K's life - she's started school.  I'll share some uniform pics soon, and maybe some travel outfits, but first here is a project I've been working on.

Yes... I joined the throngs... and made a 'Sew Together Bag' by Sew Demented.

The fabric is from Aneela Hoey's 'Sew Stitchy' range that I have used before (here and here) and given both items away - this one is for me!  I love the subtle link to stitch craft that the fabric range has - although I must admit to making this too pink for my general liking.

 

The outside of the bag is made in hexagons and triangles using Jaybird Quilt's 'Mini Hex N More' ruler.  I had heaps of fun piecing this - the ruler is fantastic and because of it's size is easy to use.  It is the same as the smallest size available on the larger 'Hex N More' but I really preferred it for cutting smaller pieces.  The layout is a smaller version of the 'Candy Dish' pattern by the same designer.

I am again going to a craft group I used to enjoy (before Playcentre and other pre-school jobs) and believe that this bag will be fantastic for holding all my sewing notions!

I know many have made this bag but here are my notes for 'next time':

• Use a stiffer interfacing for the pockets - I think mine was just a lightweight one.  I've started using different types interfacing and need to do some research on them.
• Check that the sides match up when you pin in the second side of the outside zipper.  There are many parts to match and I forgot one.
• Maybe make the outside piece slightly shorter (ie making the rectangle slightly shorter).  Even 1/4" off the piece would have made it slightly firmer.
• Remember to use the Quilt Barn's 'Sew Along' found here. 

I'm linking up with Amanda Jean at 'Crazy Mom Quilts' for 'Finish It Up Friday'.

New Best Bag

Over the last few weeks I have been working on a project that has kept me challenged.  Yesterday, I finished it....

I wanted to make myself a bag to carry projects and to take when I go on a day trip.  I had made a great bag using Elizabeth Hartman's tote pattern back here, and use it heaps.  The only failing of this bag is that is doesn't zip shut - it has only a magnetic closure.

So I thought about how I made that bag, using the multiple layers and QAYG.  I also thought about how I had played with the sizing of the latest Oliver+S Backpack (here) and how the lining was sewn in so cleanly.  I had in mind a smaller version of Amy Butler's Weekender bag, especially the one made by Elizabeth Hartman.  I do not own this pattern, but the style of the bag is fantastic and I drool over the projects being made using it on Instagram (#wsa2014).

Using all these inspirations I created my own pattern, planned fabric and then sewed!  My bag in quilted all over using QAYG (quilt as you go) and then the pieces trimmed and sewn together.

I used a selection of Sweetwater's Road 15 prints - mainly neutral and olive green.  I added in some Essex linen in olive, as well as using Kona cotton in (you guessed it) olive as well.  I had only just enough fabric so had to plan the cutting carefully, even needing to use some similar but different fabric to line the two large side pockets.  Unlike the Weekender bag I did not put pockets at the ends, preferring to just add some accent piping in.

The fantastic thing about designing your own bag is that you can specify the size of things - my side pockets are just large enough to hold an A4 sized magazine, and can be kept 'closed' by using the magnetic snaps I placed in them.

There are three pockets inside.  One (above) is 4" by 9" and allows for smaller items.

The other lining side has a zipped pocket, overlapped with a 6" by 7" pocket for my purse.

The lining is sewn in place into the bag (similar to what I did with K's backpack) and is not quite sized perfectly, but I'm super pleased with it.  I need to fine tune the pattern before sharing it - but this has been a BIG project so am not keen to do so just yet.  I have been pinching myself that it all turned out so well...

Maybe I should tidy my garden instead of planning day trips!

The bag finishes at approx 16" long, by 6" wide and 12" tall.  I've even worked out that it is just perfect as airline carry-on luggage.  Where shall I go to??

In the meantime I'll link up to Amanda Jean at 'Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday'.  What do you think of my bag?  I'd really love some feedback ...

Gifts for my girl

A lot of my crafting involves making gifts for other people - I like how it shows the thought and care put into the act of giving.  I always try to involve my daughter K in the process as well, especially if the gift is for a friend or relative she knows well.  When it comes to gifts for her I tend to stock up on ideas, then sew/create madly for a few weeks ahead.

This year, with K turning five, I was well organised.  I made her a school backpack in early March.  I also made her a nurse's uniform to match the one we gave to Playcentre.  To go with this I sourced a nurse's watch and a real stethoscope.  She's had great fun with both.

I kept up the Oliver + S 'Little Things to Sew' theme by making K a tutu.

I used a variety of pink tulles.  Some I got at Spotlight and were about 140cm wide.  Others I have had in the stash and were narrower.  With some overlapping and creative placement the result is impressive.

K loves it - so much so the other day she kept it on when digging in the sandpit!  This tutu is number 10 in  the 'Cover to cover' challenge from 'Bartacks and Singletracks' and number 85 in my O+S count.

I love to encourage K's creativity through play.  We also try to support her artistic skills and to help this I made her an art folder.

It was (very) loosely based on the Noodlehead pattern 'Road Trip Case' but I didn't get far past quilting the outside cover.  I love Anna's patterns but I had quite a few adaptations in mind!

K is a left-hander so I placed the drawing pad on the left side.  The clear vinyl pouch (my own design - partially successful) is attached by two pieces of binding.  This allows the side with the pens to hang from a small table and still be accessed through the gap in the centre.  We will use the vinyl pouch for holding scissors, stickers and other small pieces.

I need to add two small hand-sewn snaps at the top and bottom of the folder so that the pad is less likely to slip out.  I also should have made the fabric over the pen pockets bigger.  It pulls that side in.  But K loves her folder and has been having great fun drawing her interpretation of our life!

What a very lucky girl our K has been!

Four for Five

My little K turned five the other day.

The last month has been a flurry of finishing tasks (here and here) - as well as making the obligatory cake - or should I say cakes!  This year (and only this year) we had to do four!

Firstly there was a plate full of mini cupcakes to take to her preschool. 

Then there was a lolly cake for Playcentre.  This one definitely won the prize for simplest cake of all, you can find a recipe here.  K even added to the enjoyment by having her face painted as a zebra!

We had family around over Easter - K has five little girl cousins, all similar in age.  So to celebrate with them we had pizza and more cake!  This chocolate version (with matching icing) came from this great Sophie Gray book, as did my pizza base recipe. 

Then on her actual birthday she had friends and other grandparents around to enjoy a great pirate rumbustification.... with another chocolate cake!  This was the most planned of all and the one that K had specifically requested.  Needless to say we are still eating cake and trying to wear off some of the after effects!

As part of the pirate fun my H set up a 'plank' off our farm ute for the children to jump into a 'sea' of bags.  This was a huge hit with the children!

I purchased a number of pirate themed party pieces but did make a pinata in the shape of a treasure chest.  I used a beer bottle box and added one layer of paper mache over the joins and holes.  This was just the right amount of strength as they took a few turns each to burst it.

My super mother-in-law makes cupcakes for K's birthday every year - and this time they were 'X marks the spot' themes.  Yum!

A final image is of K and her cousins (oldest is 6 and youngest nearly three) waiting at the bar for their fluffies (hot milk with chocolate).  We're hoping that this is not a sign of things to come!

Point of sewing interest - all are wearing me-made clothes!  K couldn't wear her class picnic blouse as it was in the wash.

Exploring the waves

Last week we had a few days away - we went down to Cromwell and then further south to visit my family.  We had lovely weather and it was a good chance for K to explore new and familiar places. 
It was a great opportunity to give her one of her birthday presents, just a little early, an explorer vest and matching hat!

The fabric is the same tan coloured drill, with small animals embroidered on it, that I used last autumn to make K a music box dress.  I had originally planned to make the vest in red, but the image of a fisherman stirred in my mind!

I lined the vest in a light blue print with kites and used bias binding left over from the nurse's uniform I made recently to edge the armholes.

The pattern for both the vest and the hat are from Oliver + S 'Little Things To Sew' (again!) and they work so well together that I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it earlier!

I took these pictures with K standing on the back of her Pop's boat - but be reassured the boat was on land.  Unfortunately we caught no fish on our exploration of Lake Dunstan but K is imagining how big the one that never even bit our hook was...

Here she is with her Pop out on the boat - wearing a very safe vest instead!  Love the hat inside the hoodie look!

Next time... maybe... the fish will come home with us!

Two more items for my tally in the 'Cover to cover' challenge from 'Bartacks and Singletracks' (numbers 8 and 9) and numbers 83 and 84 in my O+S count!

 

Little Houses

My daughter K has a great preschool and although she's only been there a year she will miss it when she goes off to school soon.  So just as we did for her Playcentre, we've made a gift for them...

Yes - the little houses from my favourite book (as mentioned in the last few posts, repeatedly!)  Oliver + S Little Things to Sew - in case you forgot!

Mine do look quite different as I chose bright colours - but I still like how they look - well except for the over-large door on the house above!

 

I got extra creative for the blue 'shed' as the tractor was the only wheeled item I could find in my fabric stash.  A shed should work well for farm kids anyway.

Preschool has a large mat with roads and house on it, so these will add a extra dimension to the children's play.  I hope they can use them!

And more houses from a while back I haven't shared yet...

Back at Christmas time Santa made some houses for K using the 'Storybook Lane' panels by Kelly Le Creel.  Now Santa did two silly things - he forgot to purchase the pattern to go with them, and then he forgot about Liesl's awesome houses in LTTS.

Santa made these using Kelly's basic pattern (here) but adapted some to open up.  They look good, but could have been so much better!  It took Santa a while to work out how to do the finger puppets - but he made them work very well - they can both stand on their own and be used as a puppet, having an internal 'hole'.  A LOT of work for Santa.

There are many more puppets but I couldn't find them to photograph today - off on their own adventure!  I also have another background piece that can be used with the puppets.

The foam houses are number 7 in my 'Cover to cover' challenge from Bartacks and Singletracks and number 82 in my O+S count!

 

Who would like to come and play at our house?

Nurse

As with my previous post I'm working my way through the Oliver + S 'Little Things To Sew' book with some gusto at present.  So much so that I have made two bias trimmed aprons!

Only one is shown here - as the other is tucked away for K's upcoming birthday - and she has no idea!  This one is a farewell gift for Playcentre.  I made the smallest size and although it is a bit small on K it fits fine.

Medical set from our local Toy Library

I found some cheap blue poly/cotton blend from Harald's in Christchurch and used some to make my first puppet theatre.  Then I had my great idea - the fabric would be perfect for a nurse's uniform!  Originally I was going to adapt the 'Sleepover Pyjamas' by Oliver + S, but the bias-trimmed apron from LTTS seemed so much easier.  The only adaption to the pattern was the 'v' neckline - a very simple change.

I made my own bias binding and 1/2 metre of fabric made enough for two aprons, comfortably.  I placed the side pockets too high but they should be fine for some of the wee people at Playcentre (ages 0 to 5).  I used velcro at the back.

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The word 'NURSE' was done by writing the words in erasable maker then zig-zagged over with a 2mm wide and very short length stitch.  I did interface the fabric behind the words to give it more strength.  It really finishes off the outfit!

Another finished item for the 'Bartacks and Singletracks' 'Little Things to Sew - Cover to Cover Challenge'.  Number six!

And number 81 in my O+S count...  I love these patterns!