Butterick 5355

Pattern: Butterick 5355
Fabric: Georgette from Spotlight

The Good: Comfy. Comfy. Comfy. I made the round neck, straight sleeve version, and there is only four pieces for the top and two for the ties to cut out. Simple and quick sewing.

The Bad: After a couple of wears, I wish I had made the v-neck version now, and I love the print on the fabric so much I ALMOST went back to Spotlight to buy some more so I could make it. The round neck just feels a tad too high. One thing I did find, is mine sits shorter than on the pattern so if I wanted it to be that length, a couple of extra inches would be required.

Modifications: I didn't bind the neckline using bias binding as per the instructions. I couldn't match the colour just right, so just used some leftover fabric to make a facing.

Blue Kyoko

Pattern: Kyoko Missus from Modkid

Fabric: Cotton

Ive made this top before, but in a jersey. I have to admit I haven't worn it since then, its the whole elastic around the mid section, I love it on patterns but when it's a tad high like on this pattern it just feels like it's riding up all the time. So I decided to give it another try, but this time using cotton and the instructions on modifying the pattern to use cotton instead of a knit.

The pattern recommended going up and size when using cotton, which I did, and it's a teeny bit big. I omitted the elastic and while it looks very blerg in the photos, (really it's HARD to photography heavily patterned fabric) it actually fits ok. It's gone into my wardrobe and hopefully I will get wear out of this version. I am tempted to add a tiny bit of elastic just to the front, but I think I will wear it a few times first to see.

Tank and skirt

A rare opportunity for a night out with hubby and some friends last night called for a new outfit. A quick sewing session Friday afternoon and I came up with a new skirt designed using the Sew What Skirts! book and a black georgette dipped hem tank drafted from a favourite in my wardrobe. 

I've been on a bit of a sewing splurge this week and have a few more pieces to blog about.

SEW Craft Retreat

Yesterday was the SEW Craft Retreat run by Kristen and Mel and what an awesome day. A last minute spare ticket meant I got to bring my friend Sarah as my road trip buddy to Kiama and we managed to craft and chat all day, sans children for the first time.... well ever. We spent the day meeting other lovely ladies, crafting and eating pretty delicious food in a beautiful setting at the Sebel. 

In the morning we took our turn at embroidering with Kristen. It's been a little while since I did some embroidery and it reminded me why I love it. Picking the colours, using a combination of  different stitches, following the lines on the linen without having to actually follow a pattern. I could have stitched all day. After lunch, we moved on to the paper crafts with Mel making a tissue paper pompom, a birdie garland and lastly starting on a paper origami ball. That little birdie garland and pom pom are going to be so pretty in the girls room.

5pm came around so quick and it was time to head home. Bidding farewell to everyone, I can't wait for the next retreat and will be hassling Kristen and Mel at every Craft Group catch up we have until there is a next one. Thanks ladies for a lovely lovely day.

mac bag

Last week I bought a new MacBook Pro 13" laptop. Love. But being thinner and smaller than my old Dell Vostro, when I take it to customer sites it tends to slide around in the old laptop sleeve I made. Googling a few tutorials and not quite finding what I was after I decided to combine a few plus add a couple of extra features along the way.

I started with a basic zippered sleeve using the tutorial at A Crafty Mommy. If you are making for the 2012 13" MacBook Pro, I'll save you some time... your two rectangles for the outer + two rectangles for the lining + two pieces of thin batting will be 15"x11" each. (Note: Be careful with your seam allowances, once finished the sleeve my laptop is nice and snug, but if my allowances had been out it might be too snug).

After cutting out the pieces for the sleeve, I made a pocket with a magnetic closure for the front which is big enough to hold a charger or my iPad, and added an adjustable strap. (Nikki has a great tutorial on adjustable straps). Just make sure to triple stitch everything and secure those straps in good.. you dont want your laptop to come flying out of it's case now do we.

 

Bella's bag

My big girl, she knows her Mummy can craft. One afternoon she came to me with her four Littlest Pet Shop Blythe dolls and all their "stuff" and asked me to make them a bag each. Not to buy one, but specifically if I could make them.

Thinking a crocheted bag would be the easiest considering the small size needed, using some leftover Silky Tweed by Rowan from Eva's rubble this afternoon I got to work. Only standing as tall as a credit card, but with my limited brief from Bella, Im not sure if it's exactly what she was after so I'll wait until after school for her to check the prototype and if it passes her test then another three will be made.

w e e k e n d i n g

rubble

Pattern: rubble by Alison Brookbanks (raveled here)

Yarn: Silky Tweed by Rowan

The Good: Warm and cosy with a high neck and loose fit, perfect for running around. I do love a loose but warm jumper with lots of movement for kids. The yarn was on sale from my local shop so all up a beautiful jumper for less that $24.

The Bad: There was a couple of points in the pattern I had to guess what I was doing (of course I SHOULD haven taken notes, but didn't), but being a straight forward pattern easy to work out.


Modifications: I worked the body to 20.5cm before shaping for the arms as I like longer tops for the kids.

The design is made for 3/4 sleeves, however mine have worked out full length on Eva. It could be because it is a size 2 and Eva is still only 16months, but even trying it on Bella (7 years), the sleeves fit her well, so I have a feeling this runs on the large size. A couple more inches on the body and it would have fit her perfectly.