Kid’s clothes week challenge
Re-fashioned adult t-shirt into toddler pants

All in all, it’s a fairly rubbish effort for a clothing challenge, but I’ve not sewn for ages and I now recall my machine is in desperate need of a service. The bobbin tension is off and it’s not sewing that well.

At any rate. I’ve had a t-shirt of DH’s in the wardrobe for the very purpose of making some sleeve pants for the young master. I used this pattern via Whip Up. Totally quick, completely easy - two seams and you’re done. They fit the big nappy bottom, as you can see, so job done.

I am going to TRY very hard to make something for each of my kids this week…..fingers crossed. My machines have been packed away for far too long.

Worn, wee’d on, washed and worn again………………and so it goes.

Apparently the ones on the t-shirt are kissing.

Long sleeved T - H&M
Pants by me with bias trim cuffs

I made myself time to sew this week, being wholly inspired by the craft retreaters in Melbourne. They know who they are!

I have had the pattern for 20 months and the fabric for 16 months.

Miss Coco is rapidly growing out of her pj’s, so some stylish and impractical linen pyjamas are hers for the british winter.

Despite only being 3 pieces, it was a bit fiddly and am glad I spent some time doing this in the daylight as I blindly added all the red bias to the left front without considering the sleeves…….. So the purple sleeve edging is a design feature that just evolved with some repurposed buttons from Mum. I remember them being on one of her handmade dresses from the 70’s.

The disappointing thing about this was that I’d planned on making bottoms as well, but didn’t have the foresight at the time to properly pin the pieces down together. I waved them over it and said ’she’ll be right’ and it got me in the end. All I needed was 4 cms in the width for the front….very, very annoying. I may be in luck if I pop back to IKEA this week, but I very much doubt they will still have this design. So, I’ll see if I have some plain white linen somewhere. So, the moral of the story is that this pattern eats fabric.

Despite all of this I love the way the fabric completely changes according to the time of day and the light level AND the little miss says it’s comfy. So, I am winning after all.

New Look 6333
Size 2
IKEA heavy weight linen 1.5m

A simple gathered top for Miss A’s second birthday. Bizarrly, we were watching the final show in the F-Word series last week and Graham Norton was wearing a shirt in the same Liberty fabric.

You can also see the decking is finished. Hoo-bloody-ray!

You know when you’ve got a deadline and you’re worried you won’t get things finished in time………..and you’ve complained to DH that you’ll need weekend-baby-free time in order to do such finishing……….there’s always a distraction. Just to set me back a few more hours.

Little tote bag for: a drink, teddy, a book and a snack. A little girl needs a smart bag at a wedding.

Knitted bolero and fabric = wedding outfit for the little miss

Now I need to agonise over tights or socks……..

Gifted to me from my cousin in the US. Made by me 10 years ago. I love my family.

Simple tie top dress
One of my aunt’s patterns (probably vintage Butterick or something similar)

A simple Christmas stocking in green with Liberty print horses and fans, cotton lace and linen. Embroiderey to follow on the long car journey…….

Baby Sling
60″ fabric from IKEA
small amount of charcoal embroidery thread

I get so excited when friends have their babies, too excited, in fact. I was due to see a dear friend today and already had a big bag of practical bits, a teething toy and clementine’s kimono….but decided that just wasn’t enough. So, I whipped this sling up while Coco was snoozing.

The pattern was pretty straightforward. I’m not very good at working from notes, I’m a visual person, but I worked it all out in the end. I lined it but didn’t add any interlining because his mummy will mostly be using it indoors. A small amount of handstitching, mainly so she can remember which is the outside and which is the inside and it was done. Wish I’d made one for myself…..next time, eh?

I may even make a small one for Coco to carry about any number of her menagerie!