Two little tops

More sewing for myself, a comfy velour long sleeve T from the Ottobre CW303 pack and a rather funky black embroidered top from Ottobre woman 5/2007, pattern #12. The Vampiress is on the back and the bat is the front, both embroideries from Urban Threads.







I've enjoyed sewing for the January challenge, it's nice to make some things that I will actually like wearing. Amazing the difference a small alteration can make to the fit of a garment. I have to make a high round back adjustment to my tops, it only adds in 1/4" but what a huge difference it makes in the fit. The shoulder seams sit on my actual shoulders and I'm not constantly pulling my top forwards at the neck to make it more comfortable. I have to sew for myself more often, the results really are worth the time it takes.

Feeling the yoga love....

OK, not so much actual yoga, more those lovely lovely pieces of clothing known as yoga pants. Or trousers if you speak proper English ;P Enter my new favourite pattern for myself, Ottobre Woman 2/2008 #5. Very, very quick to sew up and incredibly comfortable to wear. Thanks to the ribbing waistband I did at first feel that I was wearing maternity trousers but I soon got over it! Ribbing and velour came from my stash and the embroidery designs are from Urban Threads and Emblibrary.



There is a third pair from burgundy velour but they have gone missing, I think they're hiding in the laundry basket. I really, really like the fit of these and will have to try out more of Ottobre's trouser patterns.

Busy, busy, busy!

No pics for you today, just checking in and letting you know what I'm up to :) Sewing Mamas is having a 2011 Monthly Challenge which I am participating in. January's challenge is

"January
monthly challenge:
holiday regroup - sew for yourself - clothes, a new purse or bag, a Nook cover, whatever, as long as it's for you"

So I have been busy working away on items for myself which has been long overdue, I know. Sewing for me has been on my ToDo list repeatedly since August but always got put aside in favour of something else and then pushed back for another month...and another month...and another month. Unfortunately I had only two pairs of trousers that fit me after the December excesses (eek!! Back to Slimming World I think!) and my wardrobe has had a dearth of long sleeve tops for months now. Fortunately the Challenge has come along and motivated me :)

I will post pics towards the end of the month when everything is done, right now I have to go find some decent cut away stabiliser for my Vampire top :D

Stacked Coins quilts

Yes, I did indeed get them finished in time for Christmas :) Using this tutorial and these instructions to make them the sizes I wanted, here are Toddler (blue) and Monkey's (pink) new bed quilts.







It was a bugger wrestling with the twin size while quilting, my shoulders were aching for two days afterwards. I tried out a few random spirals throughout the quilting too, just for a change. They need some work!





Both quilts are backed with Killington flannel which is so very, very soft and snuggly. And they are both pieced with a strip of coins running across them.





I love these quilts, I have enough coins left to make them a cushion cover each and then their beds are going to look so cute they might even be persuaded to make them in the morning without complaining :)

Dresses for Princess

These dresses may look a little familiar, I tend to use these two patterns a lot. What can I say folks, if it's a cute, well-fitting pattern then it will get made again and again and again :) Pink is Ottobre Autumn 2006 #10 and the lilac is Ottobre Winter 2004 #12. Both of these are for Princess, she chose the fabric combinations and ribbons as well as the dye colours for the second one.









Isn't the Italy fabric cute? One of my favourite prints, it's nice to use it for something.

There's another sewalong in the works for the first dress, I think it would be easier to post it as a pdf rather than a blog post as it has a lot of pics. Any thoughts on that idea?

More trousers for Monkey

She chose the fabrics and appliques herself. Nothing to do with me, trying to be a good mother I just bit my tongue and got sewing. Yes, they are indeed as garish as they look but she's four, everything pink is good! Ottobre Winter 2010 again, the fabulous petite fit trousers #12. I'll be posting a sewalong for these as soon as I find time to add words to the pics I took as I was making them :)

Teacher gifts

We asked the kids' teachers what their favourite colours were then I made them each a snowflake ornament using the embroidery machine. Quick, simple and very appreciated :)