Finished, mostly.

I LOVE this quilt that I have been working on as a part of the medallion quilt-a-long..  I have loved watching it grow each month with each new round built around the centre medallion.  Triangles, squares, appliqué, circles.  I wish I had just a little bit more fabric for the final round which will be announced soon, but my layer cake will only stretch so far so I have to call it quits with this round instead. 

It is quite large which makes it hard to get a good photo of the whole thing.  I have my backing fabric ready, and I had said I would make a pieced back, but in the name of keeping it simple I may change my mind.  

I didn't really blog these when I made them, Possum's Christmas dress and Blue's Christmas shirt.  They have been worn for Christmas and the Santa photo and I am pretty happy with them.  The dress is a Make it Perfect cupcake dress that I whipped up the day we decided to head to town to visit Santa.  I love a quick project and so does Possum as she said 'wow, you finished something on the same day you started it', not my usual style for sewing!

I also finished a couple of very quick knits, both dishcloths.
I don't feel like I have been very crafty of late, but a few projects have been completed which feels good.  I just have to quilt the medallion quilt and I will be happy.

Cupcake Dress

Because as soon as I confessed to sewing failure I had the urge to sew!

This is the cupcake dress from the Make it Perfect book.

The pattern was simple and very quick.  Even better is knowing that for the first time I used my new overlocker to finish all the seams properly so I know this dress is well made.  I have not had much of a play with the overlocker yet so it was fun (and a bit frightening!) to use it for proper sewing.

A great way to dress up a cheap t-shirt into a comfy and stylish girls dress.  I will make this again!

Christmas Clothes and Kids Swap

Awhile ago I posted about what Possum received in the Kids Craft Swap.  Yesterday's post contained Blue's swap package and he now has some fun 'special mail' too.

A wooden car he is playing with as I type.  Some iron on transfers which I need to buy some new tees for and some frog stickers.  I am excited about trying out the transfers, I have never used them before! 

Thanks Marie :)

Yesterday I blogged the Santa Photo.  This is the dress I made that Possum is wearing.

It is the Make it Perfect Pinny #1 which is the same pattern I used the year before.  I love that it lets me use a variety of fabrics.  Once again I modified it by adding buttons to the straps instead of leaving them as ties.

I didn't make Blue new shorts as last years still fit him.  I feel a tad guilty so might make him a new pair in time for Christmas Day.



In Short.

Six pairs of Make it Perfect Little Explorer Shorts off the machine this week.  All made from gifted/op-shopped/Remnant bits of material and all great shorts for the summer play months ahead.

I modified the pattern by extending the length to leave out the contrast fabric band, and leaving off the pocket. I decided yard clothes didn't need the extra touches.

We also posted off our crafty packages for the Kids Christmas Swap :)

In short, we have been busy.

Flirty!

My Mum decided to get in on the clothes sewing act and borrowed my Make it Perfect ~ Flirty Skirt pattern. She also borrowed a few Fat Quaters from a recent Vintage FQ swap and set to work.

I think she did a super job!

This pattern is great value as it has this sweet skirt in Childrens size 0-5 and two different styles for Ladies size X.small - Large

THE dress

I have already shown off the Christmas shorts so thought it was time to show off the Christmas dress too.

I used the Make it Perfect Pinny #1 pattern.  I prefer this over the Pinny #2 pattern, but only just.

As usual I found this pattern quick and easy to follow and I will be making many more of these sweet dresses.

I put buttons on the straps intead of a tie.  Easier for the Mr to navigate and a touch neater in finish (I think).

While this is a Chritmas dress, I stayed away from trees and stars so we could use it all Summer.  All these cottons are from the Spotlight Christmas coordinates range which still makes it festive enough.

I did make a slight cutting error making tier one and inch short which was easily fixed by making tier two an inch longer.  Silly mistake which matters not a jot in the finished result.

Christmas Shorts

Baby Bug is ready for Christmas with his new Christmas shorts.

These are Make it Perfect Little Explorer shorts sporting a reindeer fabric trim. 

Did anyone notice that I have not yet found time to draw a winner for my giveaway?  Don't worry, I have not forgotten!  Yesterday was just so busy that I ran out of time, today will be the day!

Sunday Stash

Someone recently asked about patterns which got me thinking about how many I own, which is a few.  I thought it would make a good Sunday Stash mention.

I decided to start with the Make it Perfect range. Toni is a super clever Aussie Mum pattern designer who I can't say enough nice things about.  Go over and check out her blog!

From the top left in the photo the patterns I have are:
Summer fling top
The versatile wrap skirt
Flirty skirts
Lazy day hat
Little Explorer shorts
Pinny #2
Pinny #1
Bloom top

I want to add the Downtown boy jacket to this list very soon :)

Sunday Stash bought to you by 1/4 of an inch

Giveaway

Toni from Make it Perfect is having a monster size GIVEAWAY.

I have been sewing a lot from her pattern range of late and can't say enough good things about them so head over and put your name down. Have you seen the Make it Perfect Flickr group? Lots of inspiration there :)

My Little Explorer

Plenty of sewing at my house lately, and in attempt to keep things fair I decided to sew something for Baby Bug. I thought that the Make it Perfect Little Explorer shorts would be... perfect!

Using Tula Pink Anchor Stripe in Pacific for the contrasting fabric.

When my little explorer is big enough to explore we will be ready :)

Perfect Pinny

I had so much fun sewing for me that I decided to keep doing it. I pulled out my tub of fabrics and found something that would work. The spots were a remnant find and the flower fabric and ric rac were both sent to me via a haberdashery swap. A splash of yellow and TA DA!



The Pattern is the Make it Perfect Pinny #2. It was so very SIMPLE and came together really well. I am not much of a sewer, having started less than 12 months ago when I started this blog so if I can do it, and do it well it is a good sign!

My goal for the next 12 months is to make more clothes for the kids, and me too. I already have a lot of patterns and a lot of fabric, but I bet I need more of each before too long ;)

Blogtober #8 ~ Made

The last few of my blog posts have been about this and that, but not of anything I have finished myself. Seeing as I have done the odd spot of sewing here and there I thought I had better have a 'me' post.

I have two Lazy Day Hats, the first pictured is for Baby Bug, but is a bit big as yet so monkey has stepped in to be the model.

Possum lost no time in ousting monkey so she could wear her own hat, but I could not convince her to smile. Seeing as I did not do her hair, or put her in a clean shirt I decided the lack of a smile was the least of my problems :)

I have three more of these hats cut out and ready to sew, but for some reason I can not find the motivation to get started. It really is annoying as two of those hats are meant to be going out to people (Hi Tilly and Nephew T!).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy 1st Birthday Nephew T.
I hope you like your book, and the card that Miss Possum made her mark on:

And also the hat that I made for you to wear on all your outdoor adventures!

Hope your birthday is full of fun and goodness

xxx

Lazy Day

I made a hat! A Make it Perfect ~ Lazy Day hat! A small thing I know, but it has been that long since I have sewn ANYTHING that it feels like a very BIG achievement. Sad aren't I?!

Now for the actually sad parts:

• It is too small for Miss Possum, it shouldn't be according to the size of her head so I think it is just a small pattern.
• The stiffener I used was too heavy and doesn't iron on well, not the look I was after, I have thrown it out. Don't use stuff just because you have it...
• I have learnt that stripes are not a good idea here, they are on the inside of this reversible hat, and they are a lovely stripe, but it doesn't work on a round pattern. I should have known :(

For the Good parts:

• Once DH looked at the pattern for me and told me I had skipped a step, it all made sense and was rather easy to put together. It was quick too which is a big plus with a toddler in the house
• The Butterfly fabric was from the Haberdashery Swap on 'EB' I took part in, it is always fun sewing with bits from a swap!
• I will be happy to make another (larger) version of this hat, butterflies and.... not stripes but I will have something!

Back to the drawing board for take 2!