Sewing for a new Mum and baby

1 day old

The best thing ever has happened this week, my sister has had a baby! What's more, it's a girl so naturally I have been sewing up a storm of girly gorgeousness. This is my second niece and it's so lovely to have a girly outlet after sewing for my own two boys. Sewing for boys and girls is just so incredibly different. My sons always want something understated and 'cool' whereas I can go crazy with tulle, ruffles, hearts and flowers for the girls and they lap it up.

Here is what I've made so far:

The first thing I made was this breastfeeding top using Jalie pattern 3132. It is made from thickish t-shirt fabric. I was really pleased with this (modelled here by me) and my sister loves it. I will blog more about this soon.

Then I made this little outfit using Simplicity 7807. I made the newborn size, but it has turned out more like a 12 month size. In fact, my 6 year old could probably wear the pants (if he were that way inclined). This outfit was made with scraps left over from this baby blanket, then embellished with appliqued hearts and ribbon and finished with a strip of pink ribbing folded and stitched with a twin needle. It is pieced together based on the sizes of scraps I had. I think it turned out pretty cute.

After seeing the size of the above outfit, I quickly returned to the drawing board to make something that would fit the baby now. I used a 6 month size bodysuit to trace a newborn-sized pants pattern and made some weeny trousers from scraps of the knit fabric I used to make the breastfeeding top. Again I had to piece fabric together to have enough. This time I used a strip of printed jersey down the sides of the pants and some more to make a matching hat. The hat was made using this simple tutorial found on Freeneedle.

The 'ears' are tied together to make this cute design.

This outfit turned out well and was very quick and easy. I'm pleased to say that it fits and has already been modelled by this little sweetheart (one day old in these pictures).

My two beautiful nieces

My boys with their new baby cousin

I don't usually put lots of family photos in my blog, but this time I just couldn't help it. I am so besotted by this sweet little girl. I was living in England when my sister had her first baby so I missed out. I am not usually a baby person, but this one has captured my heart. My boys and my niece are also completely in love with her and have talked of nothing else since she arrived. A very special time in all our lives ♥

 

Chevron applique on a t-shirt

I recently pinned this idea from Sewing in no mans land and had to try it out as it looked so effective. I had this white t-shirt that I'd made with the Jalie 3132 pattern. It was looking a bit plain so I spruced it up a bit with the chevron applique. I love it.

 The tutorial I (kind of) followed has a downloadable chevron pattern, but I made my own as my printer is out of ink! I only had interfacing/webbing that was fusible on one side, rather than both sides, so I fused the taupe jersey knit fabric to the interfacing, then pinned that to the t-shirt and sewed it on. Easy.

Finished just in time to enjoy some late afternoon sun. Lovely.

P.S. I altered the Jalie pattern slightly by lowering the neckline and adding a fabric band around the hem.
 

More boy's PJs from a man's polo shirt - this time with a guitar!

My 8 year-old needed new summer PJs too, so I grabbed another of hubby's old polo shirts from work and got cracking with the method I used recently to refashion a polo into pyjamas.

This time the polo was black with a circular grey design on the bottom right. I incorporated this design into a guitar applique by adding blue lycra and white cotton and stitching guitar strings and knobs over them with free motion sewing. The top was lengthened with the stripe of blue fabric at the chest and I free-sewed 'I'm with the band' across the front and 'Rock n Roll' on the back. 

My little rocker was stoked!!

I would love to see your creations. You can upload them to my Flickr group, or my Facebook page.
Shared with some of the link parties listed at the bottom of this blog.

Pinspiration (inspiration via Pinterest!) - Embellishments

I love embellishments as a way to finish off clothes and homewares. It is also such a fun thing to do to add that unique touch to your item. Here are some of my favourites from Pinterest:

Beaded neckline - I love those colours on the white fabric

Lots of ideas for grommets. Definitely something to look for in the craft shops! There are lots more lovely grommet ideas if you follow the link...

Extraordinary holes - I just think these are awesome. I would like to try them on a cushion cover.

Reverse freezer paper stencilling - cool idea

Reverse applique - adorable (and simple) use of reverse applique. Must try this!

Distressed stencilling - with two boys of my own, this is also a 'must try' project!

I hope you are inspired to try something.

Abstract flower applique t-shirt with corded detail

My son was invited to a friend's birthday party. She was turning nine. Always looking for an opportunity to make some girl's clothes, I decided a home-made present was in order!

I used a bought t-shirt. A circle was cut from pretty tie-dye fabric which I had ironed on to some interfacing (I think it's easier to iron on the interfacing before cutting out the shape). I stitched the circle on to the t-shirt and then used some multicoloured embroidery thread in pinks and oranges to embellish the design.

My Bernina machine has a cording foot (I think that's what it is called) with a small hole that holds the embroidery thread in position while the machine zig-zags over it. This creates a very neat finish, but you can use an ordinary foot and just go slowly.

I just did a messy spiral shape which spilled on to the t-shirt fabric.

I left long strands of embroidery thread at the beginning and end and attached beads.

I also made a matching birthday card by sewing on a circle of applique fabric. Unfortunately I didn't have a girl to model this and my son wasn't having a bar of the idea!

Cosy winter suits for big BOYS

It has been really cold in Perth this winter. OK, I realise that a max of 15-18C during the day is not cold by North American or UK standards (I've spent several years in Canada and England so I know), but it still feels freezing! Every morning the boys come downstairs and immediately switch on the heater. I prefer not to have the heater on in the day so I made them some fleece all-in-one suits to keep them warm while they have breakfast and generally cavort around.

I used this Kwik Sew pattern, which I've used before several times, both to make fleece suits and to make a Yoda costume for my youngest (several modifications obviously necessary). It's a great pattern, easy and successful every time.

I had previously made these suits for the boys a couple of years ago. These old suits fitted everywhere except for the length and foot size, so I used the original pattern size with added length and bigger feet.

This is the kind of pattern you have to trace off the main page so it was quicker to do it this way (and used less fabric).

The boys requested appliques for their suits. Mr 5 wanted a sword from an X-Box game (thanks teenage neighbours!) called Soul Calibur. It's a blue crystal-encrusted sword that I made with blue lycra and silver fabric with black stitching detail. The main suit was made with black fleece. Here he is making his porridge.

 That's a sticker on the front :)

Mr 8 wanted a spider web with a skull and crossing swords amongst other things. I decided the spider web would be cool on its own (not to mention a lot easier!). I made it with white wool. I just sewed it freehand doing a star shape first, then the spiral part. I sewed the sleeves to the back before I did the applique so it could continue on to the sleeves. The suits were sewn together after the appliques were finished.

'Do I have to have a photo Mum?'

I made the cuffs different colours for each suit as it helps tell them apart when hunting for them on a messy floor in the semi-darkness. I made the sole from brown lino. It seems to be very hard wearing. I found it at the local fabric store. It looks like leather so I'm sure I can find other cool things to make with the scraps.

The suits have been worn every day since I made them a few weeks ago. A great success!