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Sewing for ME

That's right I finally got back my sewing mojo - well I have been sewing but not for me (and obviously not blogging about it either) and after some inspirational reading of other people's blogs and a quick fabric shopping trip I pulled out the Colette Patterns - Parfait

I wasn't sure how breastfeeding friendly it would be but it works a treat.

I'm not very good at fitting and I know I should have put together this first in calico and made some pattern adjustments but I feel I am time poor with a babe in arms... next time I will do the pattern adjustments
will probably save me time in the long run.

So I am very happy with this dress. Fabric purchased at the Sydney sewing social thanks for organising Little Betty Sews
Fabric is a heavy Linen, purchased at 50% off

I mostly had fitting issues with this dress due to my post baby belly.... how long can you claim post baby belly.... and due to taking it in at the sides a bit the straps need to be moved at the back - I think I will unpick and fix this up

As the fabric is quite thick I had a lot of bulk in my seams even after grading them
next time I would use a lighter fabric for the facings of the bodice.

As for the breastfeeding - it is great only small changes I would make for next time instead of putting in the button holes think I might just put in some press studs and a button for show that way it is easy to get on and off one handed

I am going to sew this again actually think it will be my next project as I bought a lovely blue cotton/rayon from the remnant warehouse on Monday which will look perfect and as it is lighter might be a bit cooler - think I might add some white piping and side pockets.

L

Breastfeeding Top

Yes I finally did it... I made something for me.

Its been awhile but my wardrobe has been lacking in variety and colour recently. There is only so much you can do with a maternity singlet. Bring in the Anna Maria Horner Handmade Beginnings Four Corners Tops
I made this up in some bright coloured fabric from spotlight and the stash.
This was a great top to put together, very easy instructions to follow even if I had to read it a couple of times and got it all done in no time at all.
Would have been quicker if I didn't have to unpick the straps as they weren't straight and I knew it was going to annoy me but I highly recommend making this top.
Not sure why I didn't make this soon as I would have got some great use out of it

Look forward to seeing what my mothers group think of it tomorrow

L
x

First Christmas Present

So I finally finished my first ever jelly roll quilt. I used a Moda Jelly roll "A Walk in the woods" and followed a online tutorial here 

One Jelly roll was used and still has some left over to bind the edges - the perfect cot size

It was relatively easy - I still need to work on my exact cutting and sewing.
I backed the quilt with some minky which is lovely and soft, I read somewhere that it makes it a lot easier if you use some fabric spray then pin to quilt. It made the pinning process very easy as the fabric was not slipping around.
I used my walking foot to quilt but gave up with it half way through. Maybe it needs looking at but it stopped walking and was pulling on my fabric might need to read up to see what I did wrong or take it back to the sewing shop.

I machine bound the edges using this tutorial here

I think it looks great as long as you don't look too closely as my stitch in the ditch isn't too straight next time I might try free motion!!!

This has now been all wrapped up for my daughter for her first christmas.... I may have started a tradition

Now off to make the christmas pudding

Merry Christmas

The Dress

Here is an update on how the Baptism dress went, after following CINO Charlotte dress tutorial here I decided that it would look lovely as a simply Baptism dress.

So I went to Tessuti's and found some beautiful silk on the remnant table and very soft cotton also on the rememant table.

This dress took me longer than the previous dress probably because silk is so much harder to deal with.
Although I followed the pattern from CINO dress I did make slight changes. I changed the pattern slightly to fit my bub.

I lined the bodice with the silk and also used some iron on interfacing to give the silk some body. I also inserted some piping which I think really makes it look perfect.

I also altered the sleeves by putting in a pleat rather than gather.

The dress is lined with italian white cotton which is so lovely and soft, it gave the skirt some body. the skirt botton and sleeves are finished with some bias tape also from Tessuti's. Overall I am so happy with it.

Everyone thought it looked beautiful, her flower headpiece was purchased from etsy here when she was a newborn the so elastic had to be replaced for her bigger head. I just got out the hot glue gun and glued it on a new piece.

House Update - Room by room series

More on our house update - here is the nursery

BEFORE

 

The person that was in this room smoked and it was disgusting, the colour of the walls had discoloured due to the smoking and the smell was so strong I was unable to stay in there too long.

We took the hose in through the window and scrubbed down the walls.

Under the carpet we found partical board and then lino under that.

It took a couple of weeks for the smell to go and I think a couple of coats of new paint helped

 

AFTER

 

 

I always knew this room would be the nursery, it is the smallest room and works perfectly as a nursery. This room was painted with Antique White USA and Ceiling White.

I replaced the wardrobe doors with fabric due to cost as per the previous bedroom. The curtains in this room are the only different ones in the house, its a lovely linen multicoloured polka dot backed with a heavy white cotton.

Like the lovely hand knitted blanket on her cot... thanks to her Mimi

 

We were very lucky with all our nursery furniture, the little cupboard was my great grandma's and the change table and cot are second hand that we purchased on Ebay for a total of $100 and a friend gave us the basinette.



House Update - Room by room series

I'm planning on doing a series of post of our DIY house renovations. This first post will feature my spare bedroom/craft storage room

Before

Yes terrible dark patterned wallpaper and original dark green carpet.
We ripped off all the wallpaper and carpet and found beautiful pine floorboards. The doors to the minature wardrobe came off and were replaced with fabric which I bought in bulk from a fabric shopping trip to Cabramatta. It was going to be too expensive to replace with doors

After

We painted the entire house in Antique White USA and Ceiling White

Do you like my quilt??... from a quilt pack that I bought a couple of years ago from the lovely ladies at prints charming

More posts coming soon