Retro tunic

There's no denying it, Esther is most definitely not our baby anymore. Making this tunic reminded me how big and grown-up I felt Freya was when I made her a dress from the same pattern a couple of years ago. I'm starting to understand that thing they say about second children never really growing up in their parent's mind. It's something we've got to watch out for, I know - to see Esther as she really is, right now - not just in relation to her older sister or to our own sense of her as the "baby". 

Anyway, the tunic looks looks nice too.

Seamless

The last 3 projects I've knitted have all been seamless.

And that my friends, may be the smuggest sounding sentence I've ever written! Of course, I mean seamless in the without-seams sense, rather than the "oh it went so terribly well" sense.

It all started with the experimental socks that I knitted for my brother - it was a last minute Christmas present dash, so no pics, but he tells me they stay up and do the things socks are supposed to, so that's good. I was pretty certain that of everyone I know, my brother is the most likely to be pleased by an experimental sock.

Then came this cardi for Esther. The pattern is the Seren Seamless cardigan from Katy Ferrall aka Ceradka. It was a super quick knit and had enough going on with thte yoke to keep things interseting. I used a cotton yarn which I think was probably a mistake as it's a bit more "hangy" that I'd like - especially the front hem. And the button bands are not my best work ever, but it looks nice on and whiled away a good few episodes of Masters of Sex.   It's also (I have just noticed) in Made by Loulabelle corporate colours. Good stuff.

The current seamless knit is a tank-top for Freya. Seamless it seems, is the way to go!

Perennial Dress

I've had the Sew Pony Perennial Dress pattern up my sleeve for a while now. It's nostalgic and pretty and just what my girls are drawn to.

The Heather Ross Briar Rose frog print fabric made me buy it before I  had a project in mind. But, for once, instead of going for just a metre, I decided to do the sensible thing and get two so I actually have a decent amount to do something with.  I toyed with the idea of making the girls matching dresses - for about 1 minute. I know they would love it, but I can't bring myself to go down that route, so Freya got the Perennual frog print dress, and Esther will get something else froggy but not samey later.

One word that makes me less than 100% happy: shirring... Oh little stretchy thread of elastic, why won't you be my friend?

We got there in the end, via a lot of tugging and a not so pretty wrong-side, but I just can't work out why it never quite goes to plan. All of the sewing people in the world of You Tube and blogland make shirring look so easy. I know it's easy, but, like my scones and yorkshire puddings, it never quite works for me. sigh.

 

There's a lot going on here - swimming frogs, gingham, pockets, mini pom pom trim, covered buttons, even (shudder) shirring. But I like to embrace the busy look! I guess, much as I love minimal, I'm just no good at it.

Kimono tunic

I'm cheating a bit really as I made this tunic a while ago, but I'm on a roll posting about things I've made for the girls, so thought I'd share this too. I first made a more traditional style baby kimono top just before Esther arrived. Since then, I've made a few different versions of the classic, straight wrap around version. This one is my latest kimono based creation. It uses the same basic kimono shape for the bodice, but fastens with buttons at the back and has a pleated 'skirt'. I was keeping my fingers crossed while I was making this  - I wasn't sure if Esther would look a bit swamped, but it turned out just as I'd hoped. It has a nice relaxed feel - looks comfy but cool and works really well in the soft drapey brushed cotton.

I've got plans afoot to make a download patten for this style, so you'll probably be seeing a few more versions over the next few months!

Geranium dress

Oh I am so in love with this dress. I have been very tempted to scrunch up and squeeze myself into it, but the thought of being discovered wedged in a few hours later, panicked and shame-faced has held me back. Probably for the best.

The pattern is the Geranium Dress download from Made by Rae. I know I'll be making  lots more -  it's quick to make, with a simple unfussy design but a really a great shape. I really like the scoop of the neck and the curve of the faux cap sleeves - just right.  It came up a little small around the chest, but that's more to do with me not paying proper attention to the seam allowance than any fault with the pattern.

The fabric is from Ikea (again) via my cupboard. Who could feel grumpy looking at that print of retro happiness? Freya wore her dress to dance class and 'Daddy's cafe' on Saturday and it got lots of comments - quite a few people recognised the print - and now we know that Freya's new dress matches an ironing board, some sofa cushions and a bed spread in East Oxford!

The properly drafted rough and tumble dress

People, I am taking a trip on the sewing train this month and it is going fast! woo woo! Sorry, don't know what came over me. In real English, I have found myself sewing a lot recently - more than usual that is - and am loving it.

This knockabout pull-over pinafore dress was inspired by a 70s book of sewing clothes for children that my buddy Emily gave me last year. I drafted the pattern from scratch (rather than my usual frankenstein's monster of changing existing patterns and tracing round clothes that fit), using Winifred Aldritch's Metric Pattern Cutting for Children Book and everything. The "being ever so proper" effect was slightly spoiled by having Flushed Away on tv at the time. But at least that stopped my little "helpers" from being too helpful.

Freya loves the print - it's an Ikea fabric- particularly as the rabbit at the top right looks like Totorro. Pockets are also a thumbs up - yay. But on the downside (in Freya's eyes) there is no twirl factor - boo.

The shape came out just as I'd hoped and I'm proud that I drafted it all properly with no shortcuts or fudging. On the downside, it's a little big at the moment, so looks better with a cardigan over the top to make it a little less "there". But, at least it will fit for a while - and so far, it's held up well to pre-school, playgrounds and woodland walks.

When good projects go bad... and then good again

Browsing through old photos I came across a couple from last year which reminded me how frustrating it is when a project you are looking forward to goes horribly wrong.  With the exception of the baby bloomers fiasco, I tend only to post about successes. But believe me, there are some pretty epic fails as well!

So, in the interests of disclosure, I shall now share a disaster story... but, one with a happy ending!

Imagine the scenario: after months of making nothing but baby & toddler clothes and bags, it was time to treat myself to a post-bump skirt. Flicking through my list of saved projects, I came across this fab 'paper bag skirt' tutorial from the wonderful  Very Purple Person. Here my friends, is what the skirt should look like:

Paper bag skirt from A Very Purple Person

Pretty cool, right? And even better, it's super simple to make. So, off I go to the fabric shop, tra la la to choose my fabric. But here, is the moment it all goes wrong.... enboldened by sunshine and the prospect of non-maternity wear, I become inexplicably drawn to a very loud, very large, floral print on a heavy cotton twill. 'Perfect' the misguided voice in my baby-addled head says. Oh dear, oh very very dear. 

Here is the not so cool result... 

I suppose technically it worked - the tutorial is great, and yes, it did result in a functioning skirt. But, the picture doesn't quite convey the amazing power that this skirt-beast had to suck all the air out of the room and focus the attention on nothing other than itself!  Some months later, it's amazingly obvious where it all went wrong: 

• Firstly, the fabric was way to heavy for the project which meant it felt bulky and on the verge of falling down - even with the belt. 'Unwieldly' is not an ideal property of skirtage.  
• Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, I momentarily forgot that, unlike the lovely Novita (aka Very Purple Person), I am not a petite Indonesian style-goddess. Novita uses the width of the fabric as the length of the skirt, but on me, this ended up slightly higher than mid-thigh length, which was a bit awkward when combined with the fullness of this skirt - I felt in constant danger of accidentally exposing derriere. Also, all that bulkiness at the waist made my not so hourglass shape look even more tree-trunk like.

I would still love to make this skirt again, but in a lightweight cotton or silk, with more muted tones and more length (and maybe matching 'saftety' bloomers for extra security!).

So now for the happy ending.... turn a bad skirt upside down, trim a bit off the width,  use it to create a pinafore bib and straps, and hey presto, you have a very full and twirly pinafore dress - perfect for a twirl-loving 3 year old. 

I am pleased to say that dress and owner are now living happily ever after. 

The 'strike a pose' dress

This has never happened before: I asked Freya to let me take a photo in the new frock I made, and instead of carrying about her normal 3 and a half year old business while I merrily snapped away, she started striking poses. Some were dramatic - a few power punches, a couple of Tree Foo Tom moments - some gymnastic  - arabesque, headstand - and some alarmingly fashion forward - she has the 'London Look' to a T. All highly amusing, but detracting somewhat from the dress!

Anyway, after much coaxing of the temperamental model, here are the tamer shots of my latest creation:

The shape is based on a mexican folk dress that she'd grown out of. The style is very basic but I like it's boxy smock-ness - perfect for a knock-about dress. I used a charity shop doilly for the neck trim and some broiderie anglaise and ribbon for the hem decoration. The main fabric is a 30s revival print and the yoke is a tangerine orange.

I roughly increased the size of the original dress by adding 5mm to the width on each side of the yoke and increasing the length. Overall I'm pretty pleased - it's not the most 'finessed' of garments, but I think it's got rustic charm! I was however, marked down a few points by my model for a lack of "twirliness". I must remember that twirls are very important these days - maybe that would have got me less of the "London look" and more "happy pre-schooler"!

When Santa came to town...

Okay, so Christmas is now just a fuzzy memory pushed to the back of our brains by snow, January detox diets and the whiff of spring.  But the Santa's elves who looked after our house have finally been discharged from their Christmas re-hab centre and want to show you some of the things they made for the Loulabelle little ones this year...

First they went to town with the Princess and the pea project  from the very clever Manda Gregory of Treefall Design, as published in Mollie Makes Issue 15.

15 quilts, a pillow, 3 fimo peas and a crown later, they decided at 1am one December night that they must also make a bag to keep everything in - oh, and of course, the peas needed their own little pea-sack....

The next "it'll only take an evening" project, was the mice family of 3 - also from Mollie Makes (issue 11). Santa's elves went a bit cross-eyed with this one and will NOT be sewing mouse clothes again, EVER, but were quite pleased with the outcome - even if it did take a week and not 3 hours.

The last thing that the elves wish to share with you for now are these textured bean sacks and their special pom pom  festooned home. The elfs got a little giddy with festive spirit, red wine and dark chocolate, and what was supposed to be 3 little bags for one little baby, became 10 sacks and a draw-string bag to keep them in. Each bag has a different filling - rice, lentils, dried peas. The outsides are made from textured fabrics - fake leather, cord, barkcloth - and there are ribbon tags and pom poms thrown in for good measure! This project was one of my (sorry, the elves) own, so I thought I might share a how-to in the next couple of weeks - as long as the elves give me permission of course.