Super Simple Stretch Skirt

I'm really excited about this one. To give some background, I ordered this skirt from Etsy, made by Teclur, a few months ago ...

but

It didn't fit.

I thought I'd wait a few months until I'd lost weight, but when I tried it on again the other night I realised that it was just not the right shape for my body, no matter how much I worked out.



So. I decided that I would make one myself, as the way it was made is similar to the skirts I'd just made. Using the above skirt, I drew up a new pattern, making some changes to it, and then cut out my fabric (hoping my calculations were right!) and sewed it up and had it finished all in the same night.



Waistband can be folded, or unfolded to make the skirt longer.

And? I LOVE it!

I wore it to work the next day and it is the comfiest skirt I have ever owned, and one that I can either dress up or down. And. No ironing required. Hooray!

So the first thing I'm going to do on my return from holidays is see what other colours the fabric comes in, and make some more. And eventually play around with some applique, and be the owner of the

 

Coolest. Skirts. EVER. 

Simple Skirts

This was my second project in our sewing class! The other girls had made some of these skirts before and decided it was time to make some more in time for summer, and they were very easy. I got my fabric from Funky Fabrix and love both of them. I actually have one more half done, but have decided I will finish that in the New Year. The band is made out of stretchy material (Seaspray) and they are lined as well.

Beanbag

This was my first proper project for our sewing class, we used the instructions from here Lincraft Beanbag. I made the adult sized one, together with a calico insert for it. It took a lot longer than I expected, just because of how HUGE it was, but I'm happy with the end product and it's very comfy! It was also my first taste of the dreaded zip, which I survived.

I actually finished this a few weeks ago, but hadn't got around to taking a photo (and, yes, it needs more beans ... )

Cute Dress for Miss J

I'm so excited and just a little proud of myself on completing this dress, as this is the first time I've made something using a pattern (well, unless you count my pathetic attempt years ago in school, but I really don't think you should ... ). I also pretty much figured it all out by myself, except for some moral support by Ash whilst doing the buttonholes (which don't scare me as much anymore!).

I used the pattern Simplicity 5489 (with some changes, including lengthening it a little) and the fabric, called "Raindrops Stripe Pink", from the "Rainy Days and Mondays" collection, is by designer Riley Blake whose fabrics I just love. I bought it online from Funky Fabrix.

I had planned on using some dark pink buttons, but Ash suggested the green ones instead and I really think they make a big difference and love the look.

It's for my niece's 4th birthday in a few weeks, who lives in Fiji, so I hope she likes it.

Camo Backback Cover - One for the guys!

This one isn't actually one of my projects, but my Husband's that I'm proudly going to share :)

I came home from work a week ago to the sound of my sewing machine whirring away, which is probably the last thing I would expect. Ash had got a new backpack for his birthday a few days before (a swanky one with a compartment specially for his camera and all it's gear), so he'd decided it needed a waterproof cover. He'd mentioned it to me earlier, to which I said it was a good idea but I didn't have time straightaway to figure it out (up to my eyeballs in sewing projects right now), so he decided to give it a crack.

He went to the camping store and bought a camo poncho (hmmm I don't think I could imagine a boy's camping night with ponchos ... perhaps that's why it was on sale... anyway ...) and then converted that using cord, webbing and a toggle and buckle to secure it. Here's what the end result looked like:



Toggle fastening (buttons are from original poncho)



Buckle fastening to secure around the back of the backpack

We went away the morning after and, given the wet weather here at the moment, it got well and truly tested and passed with flying colours.

I think I better keep an eye on my sewing machine in the future. I may have to start fighting to use it ...

Notepad and Pencil Wallet

Yay, I've finally finished this wonderful Notepad and Pencil Wallet that has been in progress for about two months now (it hasn't taken the whole two months I might just add, just other things have been getting in the way). I followed a tutorial from Skip to my Lou which worked perfectly, just needed some tweaking as my notepad was a different size. 

It was made from the same fabric as my Toddler Bag Handle for the same lucky man (he loved the dinosaur fabric), who now has a gorgeous baby sister. Master T definitely loved his dinosaur notepad and pencil wallet!

I've already started on the next project, I'm using an actual *proper* pattern for this one, so fingers crossed ... I followed Catherine's advice and spent all last night tracing out my pattern pieces.

Watch this space ...

Look at what arrived in the mail today! Hooray! Even my husband was a little excited for me (he helped me choose the fabrics, because I always love them all and can't choose).

So keep a lookout between now and the end of the year for what these gorgeous fabrics are going to be used for. I hope I will do them justice.

Funky Runners

Since I got my new sewing machine, I have - ironically - hardly had any time to play with it. Well yesterday I decided it was time to ditch my priorities for the moment (all that fun housework) and finally got around to one of my many projects that I'd been wanting to create.

What started off these two ideas was 1) Being very protective of my piano and blanket box and desperately wanting to protect them from hot cups or other items that could leave nasty scars behind; and 2) My parents are visiting from Sydney this week and I wanted the house to look as good as possible for their first visit, so I thought some extra colour may help that along!

I got my inspiration from this Mug Rug project so each of the runners has batting inside to give it that added bit of padding and protection. Now, my original plan was for both of the runners to look like the one on the blanket box but, stupidly, I miscalculated how much stripey material I would need and so had to put on my creative hat. I'm not sure if it was a good mistake ... or a bad mistake ... ??

So here they are.

Sewing Machine Update

I got my very own sewing maching today! It's a Janome Sewist 625E, and I picked up the very last one on sale at almost half the price from the Metro Sewing Centre at Preston. I'm very excited, and looking forward to testing it out. So bring on all of the projects I've got lined up!

Just stuff ...

Thought I'd update on my happenings in the world of sewing in the last few days!

1. I had my first sewing lesson on Thursday night, which was really great. I did sewing at school about 14 years ago for a term, with a teacher that was not very helpful (and that's putting it nicely) and so I muddled my way through, finally getting a final grade of "D"! So, many years on, I've finally discovered that sewing CAN be fun and now am looking forward to learning it properly, and probably finding out that the last few months have caused me to pick up some bad habits .. hmm. Even better? My sewing teacher is my lovely mother in law, and my "classmates" are my sister in law and good friend.

2. I'm getting a new sewing machine! I've been using my mum's old machine and, while it's served it's purpose up until now (while I proved the sewing thing wasn't just a passing phase), it really is a little old and has a few issues. Mum and Dad had already offered to pay for a sewing machine for my 30th birthday in Feb next year, but I realised I would need one sooner. Well, when Mum heard that, she straightaway deposited the money into my account as an early birthday present (woo hoooooo!) so in the next week I'll hopefully own a brand new machine! This is the one I've got my eye on at the moment (I've been doing the Librarian thing of doing heaps of research) Janome Sewist 525S

Toddler Bag Handle

I followed this tutorial from Make It and Love It, and it is so, so easy. It's for a lucky little boy who will be getting a baby brother or sister in about 7 weeks.

It's for the Little Man to hold when Mum's hands are occupied, e.g. with pushing a pram. It can be attached to her handbag (as shown), or even to the pram or shopping trolley handle.

The "Montana Bag"

My little neice Montana is turning 4 on Wednesday, so I thought I'd test my sewing and creative skills to make a present for her. I'd looked at some online tutorials of bags, and they were either beyond my skills (plus I was working to a deadline) or just not what I had in mind. So, I decided to jot down the design I had in mind and let my artistic husband decipher my scibbles and turn it into a pattern, which he did!

It was very easy, and I plan on making more. As with all self-designed projects, I've thought of improvements I can make to it, but I'm sure that Montana will love it anyway. If she doesn't, I already stocked up on some funky Smiggle stationery supplies to go inside the bag that will make her happy :)

Wrap Skirt

I was very excited yesterday when I could finally wear my skirt - the first article of clothing I've ever sewn - for the first time!

Let me share my journey ...

I found a tutorial online on how to make an easy wrap skirt, which I very optimistically thought "I can do that!". I already had some funky patterned material which I absolutely loved, and decided would feature in my wonderful creation, and so took a trip with my wonderful husband and picked the main fabric for it. At first, it was all going great, I was seriously thinking I would have it finished by the following day, and then came the problems ...

I will just point out that I'm not sure whether it was the tutorial that was lacking in information, or me that was lacking in experience (I suspect a bit of both, which is why I haven't included the link to the tutorial to be fair), but in trying to follow the instructions given I kept realising that it Just. Didn't. Work. My husband was great - he kept me going with suggestions and encouragement - and in the end it all worked fine. The skirt was initially meant to be a wrap skirt which tied at the side, but right at the end we realised it just didn't work so I gave it some funky buttons instead and removed the ties. I also lined it, which wasn't in the tutorial either, so I can be quite proud of my own little creation. 

I've decided though, that the next article of clothing I make will be from a pattern :) 

Front

Back

More hair accessories

I've discovered that, with not much effort, hair accessories are so easy to make yourself. I'm always after something different to put in my hair (to make it look like I've done something different, when I really haven't!) and so these ideas are perfect for me.

Button Hair Tie

Button Clip

A big thanks to LiDDesignsSupplies for the gorgeous buttons!

My First Project - Hairbands

The other day I decided that I was going to attempt my very first "proper" project. I've been sick of buying hairbands, only to find that they either slip off or are so tight they give me a splitting headache. So I thought I'd make one that I can tie up at the back instead (plus it was decidedly easier to make!)

I found lots of tutorials on different blogs on making fabric flowers, so I decided to pretty up the hairband by making a ribbon flower as shown on Hope Studios' Blog.

I was pretty happy with the outcome (I honestly thought it would be a big failure) and am now all motivated for more creative creations!