Sweet Summer Swing Top

A month or so ago I picked up a pair of soft denim shorts for Emma (for $5, such a bargain!) and had been mulling over a top to make when I found this tutorial at Prudent Baby. The instructions for making a basic top from something already in your wardrobe were easy to follow, and I think the top turned out really well!

I've had this fabric for while, another gift from Mum. But I was never completely sold on it, and was really unsure as to what I'd use it for. Now that I see it made up for Emma I think it's perfect - very girly and feminine.

I had thought I'd put a ruffle down the middle, or as in the tutorial a white rectangle and sew the buttons on top (kind of like a bib), but sometimes simple is best right? Two covered buttons and it's so sweet, I didn't want to complicate it.

Now I'm onto a project for Harry...

Pillowcase Dress

I do love a pillowcase dress for summer. There are a million tutorials around for these, but one of my favourites would have to be this one, at Aesthetic Nest. Of course there are the beautiful finishes (think french seams) and gorgeous fabric choice, but the instructions are great and I found it really easy to follow.

So this dress was on the top of the list for Emma, but I was having a crisis of conviction with my chosen fabric. I bought a bundle of Amy Butler fabric when Sew Mama Sew had it on sale recently, but suddenly I wondered if it was all too much and I should go for something a little less retro and a lot more 'little girl'.

But I love a bit of retro, so I jumped in anyway. The fabrics were Passion Lily and Laurel Dots from Amy Butlers Soul Blossoms collection. Don't you just love the names?? And here it is...

It's a bit big for Emma, at one point I wondered if I might even be able to wear it as a top myself! I love the bright colour on her, and if she gets two summers out of it, all the better.

   

Dreaming of Summer...

If I start now, Emma and Harry will have a whole wardrobe of handmade summer clothes, right? That's the idea anyway. And it is very nice to be working with lovely bright colours rather than more muted ones for winter.

 

 So first cab off the rank - a simple skirt and appliqued  t-shirt for Emma.

 

No pattern for this one, I found a waist measurement for a size three skirt, and worked from there. The material came from Mum some time ago, and I absolutely love it.

Emma does too - she's been asking to wear it since I got her to try it on. I'll have to hide it away somewhere!

And after that short break...

I was beginning to think that starting a craft blog when I was about to have a second child and thinking I'd be able to maintain it, was an impossible goal... not that I'm completely convinced otherwise, but at least I have an update! In between cuddles, feeds and playing with Emma and Harry I managed a new winter dress for Emma.

I've had the pink cord for a little while, and heaps of it, and was always planning a dress for Emma, I just couldn't decide on the style. I finally picked the jumper from One Metre Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins.

I think the pattern is better suited to lightweight fabrics, but I'm happy with the result. At Mum's suggestion I added some pin tucks across the bottom, which I think looks great when I've used a solid colour fabric.

I've started on the next project... I've decided if I start on winter items now hopefully I'll have a few things ready before the season starts! so hopefully the next update won't be too far off.

It's a boy!!

Not so much sewing going on here - I have much more important news. At 3.19pm on March 24 Harry James arrived! We are so very happy to have him arrive safely, and very excited to have had a boy. We're all so in love with him, tired, but definitely in love.

Emma is a doting big sister; her enthusiasm needs to be reigned in every now and then, but for the most part she seems comfortable with our new arrival. That said, we have had a few nights where she's been very reluctant to go to sleep (to put it nicely), but I'm hoping that it won't last.

Since my last post, my one lonely goose turned into three for a short time, a flock if you will! Although the yellow one has already left the nest for lovely baby Amelie, and the denim one is now sitting proudly in Harry's room. The last one to leave the nest is destined for my friend Alex's baby due in August.

I just love this gift and I hope my friend loved it too.

Mummy's Turn...

Continuing on with the theme from last entry I decided I really am in need to new pj bottoms. Whilst being pregnant, and bending over at odd angles to try to reach the floor, I've ripped two pairs (admittedly they were also VERY old and a bit shabby looking)! And even better, I've been adventurous and made up a pattern for myself!!

Now as expert as that sounds, I did follow the instructions from Emma's Make it Perfect pj's, and I also based them on a pair that I already have, but still, this is an achievement!! As I was a bit unsure I chose fabric I already had in the stash, and that I wouldn't be too upset over if they didn't work out.

I will make some changes for the next pair (I'm sure I'll need another pair, and have just the material for it!), but overall I'm very happy. I just need to find a long sleeve white tee, hopefully with buttons for easy breastfeeding, and then the set will be perfect. I did think I'd take them in to hospital with me, but have since decided that it would be wonderful to have a nice new pair of pj's to wear when I come home.

I suspect that things are about to go very quiet on the sewing front. I have exactly two weeks before I'm scheduled to go to hospital, and with a 2 year old and a new baby I'm not sure exactly how much sewing time I'll have, if any (I'd bet on the later!). I still have a long list though, and I'm hoping that I will just have a short break, and come back a little slower than I've started the year. And that's OK - I have actually surprised myself with the amount I've already done this year. And that feels quite good!

Emma's Pajamas

I never buy Emma pajamas. Mostly because when I'm looking at what I need for her for the next season I never think of them, but also because nearly all the pjs you see are covered in brands, logos or TV characters. Emma has heaps of time to wear all that commercial stuff (and hopefully she won't be that interested), so until that monster rears its ugly head I'd like to avoid it if possible.

So, with the weather starting to change I thought I should get stuck into some winter pajamas for Emma, and luckily my Make it Perfect book by Toni Coward has a great pattern! You can take a look at this book here.

I'm in two minds about the result. I've never sewn stretch material before, but I had this piece already in the stash and thought it was perfect, and so gave it a go. I also had a long sleeve white t-shirt from Target that I picked up for $3, again perfect for pajamas. So here they are...

Sewing stretch is much harder than I thought, and even after putting these together I'm still not sure I have it right. The t-shirt is a bit puckered, and I'm worried the stitching on the seams of the pants won't hold. More investigation (and of course practice :) is needed!

And a picture in action! Emma was not a particularly willing model today - its SO hot that wearing winter pjs around for a little while didn't interest her one little bit (not that I can blame her). But I did get one good shot!

They are a bit big yet - but as there are a few months yet till winter I wanted to give her some growing room. Looking at this photo again - they are just so cute!!!