They were all yellow....

Miss G was lucky and got two completed dresses from my sewing weekend - ironic really as she is the one who gets the most hand-me-downs but she is also not yet in school uniform every day. (That's my excuse and I am sticking to it!)

This is a very sweet little Kwik Sew pattern, number 3940, a yoked dress with button up back.

More awkward smiling...

She insisted on including her lizard in these pictures - and no it's not real!

The yellow fabric for this one was purchased with another project in mind but suited this dress so well that I grabbed it.

It's from the Lisette range about 12 months ago.
The pink is a little pieces of Sherbet Pips, yep I still have a little of that in my stash.

Again this is a Kiwk Sew medium and is probably one size too large, I won't need to sew dresses for a while now will I!

The yellow is a lightweight cotton - lovely and floaty. 

Not as soft as a voile but not a quilters cotton - it has a lovely breezy feel to it, perfect for hot summer days.

I'd been waiting for the perfect project to use these striped buttons on as they are quite a vivid shade of pink but they were just right for this dress.

Oops - should have lined that yoke up better before I took the pic!

I wasn't overjoyed with the way the inside yoke on this was finished - it was overlocked and left exposed - I think next time I would use some Vleisofix tape and position the yoke to align with the top yoke and then stitch it in place with the edges folded under.

Also I wish I had top-stitched one needle position closer to the edge, not a big deal I know but just a personal preference thing.

Oh, and in case you couldn't quite see in the other pics - the tooth fairy has made two visits in ten days to our house.
It's going to be gappy smiles for a while to come I think!

Gorgeous Gappy girl!

P.S. - the post title refers to one of my favourite 'Cold Play' song titles in case it was too obscure!

Little Red Rides again

As I mentioned this time at Sewjourn I decided to sew for the girls - and this was my fourth make, the second dress for the smallest kid.

This is a Riley Blake print that I could resist, it tells the story of Red Riding Hood, with a slight twist as it mentions her 'harmless wolfie friend'.

Design wall photo!

I used a very basic A-line pattern from Kwik Sew 3862 - I love that for a dress like this the fabric does all the work.

It's super-easy with front and back facings, a front and a back - that's it, zip in and away you go.

The plan is to wear it with sandals - not tights and long-sleeves

The border print is very sweet and she loves this dress.

I made the Medium (7-8) and so it's a little big for her - but that just means she will get lots of wear out of it.

Perhaps the most adorable border print ever

I didn't pay enough attention when cutting it and so the back seam is ever-so-slightly off at the back where the zip went in - but it's well-matched at the side seams.

Easy to wear and a great basic A-line pattern.

I didn't get a photo but as we've had unseasonably cool weather here in Melbourne she did team this up with her Red Riding Hood cape - just as I expected!

The sun is shining today so I will try and get pics of the other dresses too.

Bend and stretch...

then flip upside down!

This kid is gymnastics mad at the moment, so when the gym exhibition called for a 'Space-themed' outfit I took her shopping, and this is what we came up with!

Long, long legs...!

She knew exactly what she wanted and I was very lucky to have been given a pattern by Kelly that she no longer needed and it was perfect for this outfit, having leotard and leggings in the one pattern.

It is Kwik Sew 2725.

Raspberry and silvery white, stretchy, stretchy, stretchy.

She wasn't keen at first but I convinced her that a small silver piping strip down each side would look good and I am glad she let me as it really sets off the star.

Always the wrong way up!

The shorts are quite snug - I would probably go up a size next time, but she says they are perfect, and they certainly didn't cause any performance problems on the day.

It didn't take much encouragement to get her back into it!

I realised I hadn't taken any shots of just the leotard, so here she is, bad indoor evening shots - sorry!!

When she raised her arms up the creased section disappeared, without any 'wedgie' factor!

I added 5cm through the lower body of this leotard as she is very long in the torso.

She measured a size 5-6 but length was size 10!

I made a size 7 with the extra length and it was perfect, did not need to be pulled at or adjusted at all.

I think she will be wearing this again and again - and I certainly plan to make her more leotards using this pattern.

To complete the outfit I made two tiny scrunchies that she wanted to wear on two little hair buns to keep her long hair at bay as she was performing.

She was more than a little proud to receive her very first trophy - it was a demonstration day so everyone got one, but that didn't diminish her excitement. She is working hard and loving her gym and deserved something special.

I'm playing along with Blogtoberfest. 

Join in!

Finally....

getting into some sewing!!

For me, for me!

A light and summery top - come on sun!

I'm doing view B - the top on the right, in this 'wings' fabric that I got off the Spotty bargain table ages ago.
If I mess it up or hate it, well I've only blown $5 so that's a good thing.

Thanks for all the Billy love in my last post.

I also think it's hillarious that there were another three confessed 'Billy' lovers who have them in their craft rooms.
Cam, Lizzie and Shell; I think you all have great taste!!
And Carmel - go on, do it, you won't be disappointed!

Making a splash

Warning - VERY pic heavy post ahead!!!

So here's the rundown on the bathers (swimmers, togs, swimsuits, whatever you like to call them!)...

I managed to finish two fluorescent pink with white dots racer backs, one red with gold dots tank-style one piece, two pair of bikini bottoms in blue stripes and blue with dots, one dotty skirt and a matching tank top.

Phew!

Tank top is the Brooklyn from the book Sewing Clothes Kids Love

The patterns I used were both Kwik Sew - numbers 3605 and 3785

Don't be put off the envelope images - they look pretty dated, but imagine them made up in something you like!

I'm thinking I'll stitch an updated version of this embroidery...

Kwik Sew give you great instructions for adding length through the body so there are no more wedgies  or small girls pulling at bathers to be seen!!

There are two points at which to add body length - the chest and the crotch.

For Miss L - I made the medium and then added 3cm in the length at the chest and 2cm at the crotch.

These suits got plenty of action during the last week!

These fit her beautifully, they have enough length that she is able to move comfortably and not worry about her bathers pulling.

Miss A's medium sized bathers have 4cm at the chest and 3cm through the crotch. As I've mentioned before the girls are long and very lean.

(No wonder I can never get store-bought swimwear that fits properly!)

Does anyone look good in goggles???

All suits had lining in the front and for some I used it in the back too.  The lining fabric is slightly thinner than the main fabric and 'skin-coloured' so not very attractive to look at, but functional!

This is the Kwik Sew 3785 view A. 

These bathers have a seam down the back and that probably would have put me off this pattern but I had read about it on Cindy's blog and so knew that her kids found them to be comfortable, and there was no comment at all from my girls about it.

In fact it made me more aware of the construction of other suits and I saw a number with this back seam during the week.

The skirt stayed on for most of the week!

The two-piece pattern has a number of top options, but I prefer a tank-style top so went with the Brooklyn from the book Sewing Clothes Kids Love.

But the biggest hit was the swimming skirt - I have orders for two more of these!! (and it was super-easy to make).

Ready to hit the water!

If making this again I will lengthen the top first as it could be a little longer.

I did a simple rolled hem on the bottom of the skirt and top so they were quick and easy to make.

These Kwik Sew patterns were a breeze to sew, I really enjoyed making them.

They were straight forward and simple to use with great instructions and easy clear pattern pieces.

Apart from the body length adjustments for fit all I changed was the elastic measurements.

I found the elastic in the legs to be a little loose when they were made so I took out 1-2cm and re-stitched them.

Someone is pleased with their new bathers...

I will say I prefer the rubber elastic to sew into bathers rather than the plastic elastic, which I find slippery and not as firm.

This is not sitting properly!! But it was great in action.

These were a huge hit with all the girls - and I am delighted they now have bathers that fit them well that have been really inexpensive to make.

As mentioned previously, all the fabric was remnants and so each pair cost only about $5 to make including the elastic.

I'm looking forward to making more up and having time to experiment with a few details and finishes such as a few ruffles here and there and also putting a 'hole' in the back as per Katy of No Big Dill's tutorial.

Do you sew swimwear?

If you have any hints or tips to share then let me know - or if you have any questions feel free to fire away.

Stretchy sewing

There has been lots of lycra on the machine lately, as all the girls seem to have grown out of their bathers and are in need of new ones.

We are spending a week of the school holidays somewhere warmer than home and that of course means swimming for my little fish!

This bunch of lycra is from Rathdowne Fabric and Remnants (the blue solid, dot, stripe and red with gold dot) and The Remnant Warehouse in Sydney (pink with white dot).

Each piece of lycra from Rathdowne cost me less than $9 and from each piece I will get 4-5 swimsuits.

Good value I think, don't you!

These are a mix of two Kwik Sew patterns and a singlet pattern from Sewing Clothes Kids Love.

I'll be back with some shots of them 'in action' at a later date.

I hope you are finding time to put your feet up these school holidays, and perhaps getting some sewing in.