Fabric Favourites

Sometimes it seems kids get to have all the fun. My son has shorts covered in little monsters, and another pair in sharks. He has pants with dinosaurs on the trim and a reversible hat with bugs on one side and vehicles on the other. 

My daughter has a skirt covered in rainbow spots and multiple items made out of different owl designs.

I shouldn't complain too much though as it can be a lot of fun shopping for kids fabric and as you can see, I'm building up quite the stash <3 <3 <3

Which one do you like the best?

Sewing tutorial: Toddler pinafore dress

1. Print pattern . Match up the numbers and join with tape. Place along the folded edge of the fabric and cut out. You should have two dress pieces and two facing pieces from the fabric. If using a light fabric, you could also cut two facing pieces from a light iron-on interfacing and iron these to the wrong sides of the facing fabric before sewing.








2. With right sides of the dress pieces together, sew down the side seams of the dress, leaving a 1cm seam allowance. Press seams open.








3. With right sides of the facing pieces together sew down the sides with a 1cm seam allowance. Press seams open.


4. Use a zig zag stitch or serger to sew along the bottom edge of the facing, to prevent fraying.






5. Place the dress inside the facing, so that right sides are together. Sew right around the arm holes, shoulders and neck, joining these two pieces. Trim corners and turn out the right way. Press.









6. Fold over the hem 1cm and press. Fold over again 2cm and press again. Sew along the hem.

7. Sew buttonholes in place on the back shoulder flap and buttons in place on the front shoulder flap. Check positioning by trying the dress on before sewing.

Spring has arrived

Spring arrived suddenly here in Brisbane. One day it was cold, and the next we were woken by the loud sound of birds in the park and creek next to our house. Sunshine, blue skies and colourful birds made me want to sew Mia some more summery clothes. I'd bought both of these fabrics a few months back when all of the sales were on and hadn't realised they were both full of birds. Coincidentally, since then our little Mia has become obsessed with birds. Although I'm not sure it classifies as a word yet, she makes the /b/ sound every time she hears or sees a bird, and at times even manages to get out the first part of the word... "bir"..."bir". I'd been wanting to try a reversible dress and had been eyeing off this design for a while. On one of my many trips to the fabric store, there happened to be a half price sale on patterns. It turned out very cute, but the sizing is a little big, so is a bit big for her yet. Can't wait for her to grow into it .

For the second outfit, I found this cute little cherry fabric on ebay and picked up a fat quarter for a few dollars. Just enough fabric to make this little top, using the same pattern as I used for the Yui Kokeshi dress. I made the bloomers from the reversible dress pattern, and they also turned out pretty big, but together these look very cute on my little one. 

 I've also been working on some Christmas presents:

This travel tote for chargers, MP3 player and other gadgets from http://www.marthastewart.com/266189/gadget-travel-tote?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/sewing-projects-tote-bags-and-purses

A remote control and gadget holder for the couch from http://sewing.about.com/od/homedecprojects/ss/armchairorganiz.htm in this cute fabric I found at a wholesaler.

These tote bags made from some cute tea towels and a stationery organiser.

I'm in the process of making a few other gifts in preparation for Christmas, and having located some of the wool I needed for Mia's blanket, I'm madly trying to get that finished in time for her birthday. The next new project sometime soon will be some hair clips. Looking around to buy some for Mia, I couldn't believe how expensive they were. I ordered all of the supplies online and could easily make about 50 or more of them for less than what four or six would cost to buy... all supplies have now arrived, so I'll probably start on those in the next few days. I hope she'll keep them in after all that effort :-)