Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Snow & A vest


Well its snowing here still...











A few weeks ago I was working on a muslin for dd's dance vest. The first pattern I tried was the Unique pattern sold for Highland dance, but the fit was awful. So then the new Ottobre arrived and 1/08#36 looks very similar although with a straight hem that I thought I would try it for fit. I haven't gotten the buttons, button holes or rivets on it yet, but initial fit was great - I lengthened it 4cm (due to long torso) and widened at the waist as she has a belly. I think I'll need to make a few mods so the pattern more closely matches the style of her dance vest - but its much closer than my initial muslin of the unique pattern.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

A new designer....

My daughter was going to a birthday party this week and she needed a present for her friend. She decided that we should sew a skirt. So we looked through the stash and found some pink poplin and some pink with heart cotton that she like. She decided that it was to have white lace trim around the heart shaped pockets and above the hem ruffle. Below is a picture of her modelling the skirt and then her posing with her design work.


Birthday sewing....


This week it was my son's 7th Birthday. Here is a picture of the fleece jacket I made for him modelled by his youngest sister, made in black fleece bonded to red mesh. It's from Ottobre 4/06 #39 but I didn't really follow the instructions - I didn't sew the front/back in separate pieces/colours, but just topstitched where the seam would be. I also eliminated the pockets and on the hood folded the seam allowance out to add the contrast. Cuffs and hem bands are done with the fleece turned inside out.


Not sewing, but a birthday cake...



Here is the "Tow Mater" cake made carved from a 3 layer cake.


Some dyeing

My daughter wanted yellow tights for her yellow exercise suit that I made last year... I searched all over and couldn't find any so ended up dyeing 100% nylon tights with vinegar and food colouring :) Here she is all dressed up. It was a good colour match.... unfortunately being thin nylons they haven't lasted long and have a huge run in them, and now she wants another pair :) (glad they came in a two pack)

My Jeans

Here is a slightly better photo of them.... They are really dark stretch denim so are very hard to photograph. The wrinkles are probably from the way I'm standing, with the 2yo on my hip - she had to be in the photo too...

Upcoming projects
Now to get on with sewing for my oldest daughter - her birthday is in a week and I have nothing traced. I'm going to do the dress on the cover of the latest Ottobre and the Ottobre bodysuit. She also needs a swimsuit....

Monday, January 21, 2008

First Items Completed in 2008! And its for me!


I finished my jeans (KS 3315) tonight, but no pictures as they are way too dark to see anything at this time of night. This is my 3rd pair from this pattern and they went together quickly...

Added photo: Not the best, but maybe I can get one of the kids to take one outside today as its very sunny!

Saturday, January 19, 2008

No sewing but fabric shopping...

So no sewing today... but I did go out shopping with my mom and my two oldest. We headed into Vancouver and went to Dressew and Rokko's. I got some good deal on elastic, picked up some bra parts and got a piece of pink embroidered cotton, oyster coloured bra satin and black powernet. My son also purchased some fabric with martial arts on it to make himself a bag for his equipment. Now tomorrow hopefully I can get some sewing done.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Ottobre "Juliet" Vest 1/08 #36


Got my new Ottobre today.... I think I'll make the "Juliet" Vest (#36) up for my daughter... and then overlay the pattern onto the Unique Highland Vest Pattern if its a better fit.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Highland Dance Vest


Started a muslin for A's dance vest... good thing I ... it really doesn't fit her body type. Before cutting out in muslin fabric I lengthened the bodice 2.5" between the waist and armsyce ! Overall length is a good fit now. Areas still needing adjustment:
  • hips/waist/butt too tight
  • upper chest/back too big
  • too long in upper torso/shoulder area
Didn't get my new Ottobre today... so guess I'll try another muslin

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

First Sewing in 2008

I can't believe I haven't done any sewing since Dec 23!!! But tonight while doing laundry I managed to assemble a pair of jeans for ME! They are Kwiksew 3315 and I cut them out in November with some thought that maybe I'd get them done before Christmas - I don't know what I was thinking.... I got them to the stage to try them on, and I need to make a few slight changes and then serge & topstitch before adding the waistband and hemming. They are made in a nice weight stretch denim that I picked up and a local store.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Snowman Craft

Snowman Craft
Snowman Craft
Originally uploaded by leahholland
Snowmen, snowmen and more snowmen.....

Painted bricks with fleece scarfs...

Some Christmas Sewing


Christmas Dress
Originally uploaded by leahholland
Christmas Clothing

Here is my daughters new Christmas dress... Ottobre 6/2007 #17. Butterfly print fabric is quilting fabric left over from my Gram's 90th Birthday Memory Quilt. Stripe is a coordinating cord with eyelet trim.

J-skirts
Christmas "J" SkirtsChristmas "J" Skirts for two

Christmas Gifts
Below is a small list of the items I made for Christmas Gifts
  • teacher gift - bag & notepad cover
  • small makeup bag
  • binder cover
  • teacher gift - bag, notepad cover & lunch bag
  • handbag (blue cord)
  • Housecoat
  • Princess Bag

Teacher Gift 2: Bag and covered notepad Small bag (outside)Binder Cover (inside)Bag, Notepad and lunchbagCord Bag Housecoat for GramSmall princess bag

Other Items Sewn:
  • 2 pairs of KS2704 PJS (photos soon...)
  • nightie for my mom
  • lap blanket
  • mitts and hooded scarf
  • nighties, pants and doll clothes

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy 2008!

A new blog for a new year. My old blog is here.

2007 Sewing Totals:
Yardage In: 58.0m
Yardage Out: 129.1m

Projects Completed: 178
UFOs Finished: 17
UFOs Created: 0
Current Projects: 2

2008 Sewing Goals:
  • Use more fabric from my stash than I buy or receive!
  • Don't create anymore UFOs and finish some of those filling my sewing room.
  • Sew for myself as well as my family
  • Complete at least one project for my husband
  • Organize my traced patterns



New Years Day 2008

Imported from my old blog at blog.ca
Wow a busy year. I haven't finished totalling up my stats from 2007.... but this past week I didn't do any sewing.

2007 TOTALS

Yardage In: 58m
Yardage Out: 129.1m
Total Projects Completed 178

UFOs: 0 New, 17 Completed

2 Projects started but not completed

2008 goals:
- continue to use more of my stash than I buy
- complete more UFOs (don't create any more)
- organize my patterns

Happy New Year