....Because I needed some more patterns

In recent weeks I have revisited one of my addictions, shopping for retro patterns on line. It seems like a harmless enough pastime.  That is until you decided you really really need to buy one pattern and then it doesn't stop there, oh no. There's another one that looks promising and no-one has made a bid on it yet. I probably shouldn't, but why not. If I don't win the bid then so be it.  I do have a certain limit.  I am mostly looking for a good bargain.  Recently all the patterns I bought were under $5, then plus some postage in some cases.  I'm guessing other shoppers are more selective and will pay a whole lot more for say a single special pattern.

Isn't it just amazing how much time you can waist on the interweb looking at patterns. And I'm guessing a lot of other sewers do the same thing, building a larger and larger cache of patterns.  Sometimes I'm really good and use the pattern almost as soon as I get it. Then there are the other patterns that get forgotten in a pile somewhere because I'm distracted by the newly arrived goodies.    So here are some of my purchases in the last fortnight.

 

 

  

 

Then this weekend just gone, I was a bit sick with a cold and heavy dose of the hayfever to boot and found myself on the interweb again and bought more more more.

 

I bought these 2 patterns thinking I may make adjustments to the design.  For the first frock I think I'd make it with shorter sleeves for the summer months. I wouldn't really get as much wear out of a long sleeve dress I fear here in the tropics. Certainly looks real nice and comfy and easy to make. The second pattern I was taken with the bodice and tie. Though rather than the A-line skirt maybe doing a gathered skirt. Obviously that would change the 70's look, but I think the bodice would suit a 50's style too.

Pretty much bought this bargain because of the blouse which I thought looked really cute. I could however see myself making up the pinafore in the cooler months. Looks rather smart.

 

Top and skirt basic

I wasn't sure about blogging a fairly basic sewing project, however, I thought the ensemble looked pretty good together.  A few girls at work said it looked a bit rockabilly. The reason I think was that the fabric is pink and white gingham, but of course you can't tell from the photos. I bought the craft fabric from the Spotlight craft section. I wanted to make up this material in a very basic top and decided to use a vintage dress pattern and just turn the dress into a top.  

I would love do a version of the dress if I could find a lovely vintage
 floral like the one on the packet

Very simple top to put together, just a little snug pulling over the head as there is absolutely no give in the fabric.  The shame about the fabric is it's 100% cotton so it starts to look creased pretty quickly.  I read recently a trick to getting stubborn creases out of fabric was using water mixed with white vinegar.  It does work. I wonder if it would have some use for keeping the crease factor down when wearing the creasy garment. I think vinegar softens  fabric. I use in in my washing machine when I'm doing towels. It does work as a fabric softener in that instance.

I made the black skirt earlier in the year.  It is just the simple 2 rectangle and waistband skirt. I use a Cynthia Rowley pattern to do the pleats whenever I do this style of skirt.  It's a good versatile skirt for work. 

Megan Dress - Love at First Stitch

I've been meaning to start making something from this book for yonks and decided to start on the Megan dress.  Finally I got to pull out my tracing paper. I bought that ages ago to start working on one of the Japanese sewing books, but still haven't braved any of the 4 books I currently own.  So I spread out my pattern and get the pattern paper ready to start tracing.  And whatdoyaknow the crinkly sound attracts my caticus domesticus onto my dining/sewing table. 

So tracing started off ok after removing unwanted feline from the paper.  I checked my sizing against the sizing in the book. Not trusting things after the Emery debacle I decided to compare the bodice piece with one of my trusted patterns.  Again, sizing took a trip to Wrongtown.  Gets me frustrated when other bloggers don't appear to have this issue. So after already cutting out some of the pieces I had to size down.  It is a very easy pattern to make. Just a little on the short size for my height, but that's ok it can be a winter frock for wearing with tights.  The only problem with the finished product is that the neckline sticks up on one side and the sleeves are too wide.  Overall it got some nice comments from the work folks.

   



The material is a lovely waffle textured cotton from Lincraft, bought in one of their regular 50% off sales.  The pattern may be a bit busy for the style. I think it loses some of the detail.  It reminded me a bit of the old test pattern that used to come up when a tv station was finished broadcasting for the night.  Pretty sure the kids out there don't know what I'm talking about. I don't think tv stations close down at night now not like that did back in ye olden times.

I would try making this pattern again, hopefully I made note of the sizing issues for next time. I will be interested to try something else from Love at First Stitch. Will just have to make sure I measure things out before I start tracing away.

Something crafty

Here is my first attempt at a stuffed toy.  And what do you know I chose a cat. I was thinking of a baby gift idea for one of my friends and thought I'd give this a try.  The material is quilting fabric from Lincraft. I found a decent looking template on the interweb and based my kitty shape on that.  I have buttons-o-plenty so just had to decide on which colour/type to use.  The whiskers were just done with a regular cotton thread with a double hand stitch.  Surprisingly stuffing the wadding into the toy took a longer time than I expected. I figured if the kiddy doesn't like it it should look nice from a decorative perspective. 



This is one of those occasions where it was hard to capture the colour of the fabric in the photo.

 

I know what you're thinking the resemblance is uncanny

 

I seem to be, in my middle age, surrounded by chums having babies, or simply breeders as I usually refer to them.  And this does actually impact on my sewing as I am making lots of clothes, that aren't getting as much wear as my social life is a little on the spare side with all these friends in the throws of parenthood. Now I always like a new sewing challenge and a few years ago with the baby births imminent it got me thinking of gift ideas.  It started with putting a felt cat face on a onesey for one of my friends and then I moved on to mobiles.  Steeling the idea from Etsy I found some terrific felt mobiles.  My first was for my friend Steph who lives on a property just north of Brisbane. Inspired by her chickens and cow Bessie I made this farm themed mobile.  

 

  

 

Mobile no. 2 was for a good friend who is a dog lover.   

The mobiles certainly aren't on par with the ones people do make and sell on Etsy but I think friends do appreciate the effort. And thanks to my dad for whipping up the centre pieces for me.

 

Now I am shortly to become an actual aunty for the first time this year so I guess I'll have to come up with another idea.  Taking inspiration from my stuffed toy, I might try something smaller with a rattle inside. Not sure if I feel like tackling a mobile again. It is certainly very time consuming work hand sewing all the details onto the felt.  But always glad to give it a crack.