Bathers

Some sewing

December 13, 2012


These bathers are Juliette's handmade gift from us for Christmas.  I'm really happy with how they turned out and can't wait to see them on her.  I have adjusted the leg line at the front since this pic and made the whole front gusset section narrower as I was being a bit hesitant to cut too much originally.  I actually just traced them from an old pair of Isabella's.  There is no elastic in the legs, I just used the lycra as binding at about half stretch.  I bought the stripey lycra from Rathdowne Remnants - they have a great lycra and stretch collection.


I whipped up these little Christmas bibs for Emily and her little (big) cousin Poppy (little/big because she is older than Emily but little to me!).  The old fashioned Christmas prints are from Spotlight - purchased as single fat quarters.  I made some bunting with the leftovers which is hanging on our mantle piece (but didn't photograph well).

 
Bib backs.
 
Emily's poppy doll is in progress. This is the seventh one I have made!  I just have to finish the hand stitching and then dream up her little outfit.  I have also promised to make Isabella a pink dress as she is slightly lacking in the dress department since she is growing too fast.  The benefit of having three girls is that my hard work at the sewing machine gets loved three times!  Juliette is in dress heaven with her own dresses and Issie's hand-me-downs.


Our matchbox Christmas calendar is up again...I can't believe they all survived in tact from last year! 

I am linking up here today after a bit of a hiatus. What are you making for Christmas?
 
 

Baby

kcwc: Day two - Two little bibs

October 09, 2012


I'll be posting on projects the day after I sew them as I do most of my sewing at night so they will be photographed the following day.

On my first day of the kids clothes week challenge I made these two bibs for Emily.   I love a project that decreases (ever so slightly) the size of my scrap box.  I have had the main pieces of fabric for these bibs in my stash for about four years.  They were both not wide enough for a real garment but could be used here.  I traced the bibs from one of Emily's that I always reach for because of its good shape and closeness to her neckline (so no food slops on her collar!).  The one on the left is backed with polar fleece and the one on the right with jersey.  I like something soft on the underside to mop up any mess on little baby faces!  I made the binding myself which added some time to putting these together.

 
Emily is pretty happy about her new bib and it is now in the wash!
 
Project details:
Pattern - traced from own bib
Fabric - all from stash
Cost - I didn't outlay any cash for these babies but they probably cost around $2 per bib
Time taken - about an hour and a quarter for both bibs (applying the bias was fiddly!)
 
A sneak peek at my next project....
 
 
A dress for Juliette which I will hopefully have pressed and photographed for tomorrow's post!
 

Bibs

Babies

March 08, 2011

I had three gorgeous newborn babies to visit this week - Zoe, James and Indianna. So, gifts all round - I think I am making a rod for my back! I decided I didn't need to be lazy and buy cards. I found empty white cards with envelopes at local store and just added fabric in the insert. So easy and pretty cute for only 45 cents each! Here are some of the things I made...


The little bib was for baby James and the skirt for his big sister Zoe who turns three this week.  Zoe's skirt is a simple gathered number with elastic top made from Lovebirds fabric and a little red spotted pocket with red ribbon bow.

Bibs

How to make... a little bib (my first tutorial)

February 21, 2011

Hi there! This is my first sewing 'tutorial'. Thought I would go for something simple and cute... a baby bib. I hope you like it and find it useful. I would love to hear from anyone who uses it.

Materials:
  • 30 x 20 cm piece of backing fabric - towelling, polar fleece, flannelette or soft cotton
  • Assorted scraps for front (soft cotton)
  • Velcro tabs for fastening - 3 x 3 cm piece each of hook and loop
  • Bias binding - approx 1.3 metres (best to use 16-20 mm wide to enable 8-10 mm of bias edging)
Method:

      1.  Simply trace around an existing bib and cut around outline.


2.   Use bib pattern to assemble scraps for front of bib – allowing seam allowance of 1cm for all seams
(do not include seam allowance around outline of bib).  Press seams as you go.

     3.    Cut assembled scraps into bib shape using template to trace around.


4.   Pin bib front and back together – wrong sides touching. Place pins away from bib outline so will not get caught in bias binding seam.

5.   Open up bias binding and pin to outline of bib (do as I say, not as I do... I didn't pin as my bias was too narrow).  Sew in ditch of bias fold matching up edge of bias with edge of bib.


After you have done this, your bib will look like this...

6.    Fold bias binding over bib outline and pin.

7.    Top stitch around bias binding - 1mm away from seam (sewing on bib back).

8.    Pin velcro to bib ends - hook on underside of bib and loop on right side.

9.  Stitch velcro in place - ensuring is sewn securely and with back stitch.


And that's it! One super cute baby bib - modelled here by Juliette, who is just learning to stand up!