SEWING / CHILDREN : Racer Back Flower Dress

Sometimes a fabric jumps out of you.  This is exactly what this fabric did to Miss A when we had a girls day recently resulting in a trip to Pitt Trading.  The flowers are beautiful and the fabric is so soft. 

Armed with a few new patterns for her we were very happy when we walked out with a brown paper bag filled with a few things to make her a few special pieces.  I am finding it rather difficult to purchase RTW things for her at the moment.  She is quiet small and short for her age, she really does take after her mother this one.

I tried my hardest to talk her into the shorter version, but she would hear of it.  She had a 'long' dress in mind, she is very fortunate that she has a mother who can sew as this required a little bit of fiddling to get the length correct for her.
It was worth it though, it is already in very high rotation and also makes a great dress to throw on after being at the beach all day.

Pattern:  New Look (Tween) 6297
Fabric:   Pitt Trading Floral Knit 
Size:     8 
Alterations:    Altered the hem length by 10cm before cutting and then took another 5cm off once sewn.  Added cotton tape to the shoulders and down the sides to give it some stability (the weight of the dress kept making the length grow. Took in in my 1 inch on each side.
Didn't do the back bow, , instead made a tube from a co-ordinating fabric
Changes for next time:  I won't purchase as much fabric.  I was able to get this out of Amelia's length as the fabric was wide.
Location: Palm Beach; NSW.

 

SEWING // Star Board Shorts

It appears that with moving to a city where I have many great fabric stores an easy drive away, my fabric stash has exploded.  I continued to purchase patterns and fabric throughout the year although, the output wasn't matching what was coming in.  I am not going to tell you that I won't buy any fabric, but my purchases will be more planned and I would like to get some control over the fabric and yarn boxes this year. 

It appears that I have been bitten by the sewing bug. I did sew in 2015, I will have to share some of those photos with your soon.  Some how I managed to volunteer my time and co-ordinated and outfitted the cast for my children's school musical + four classes worth of accessories.

These aren't the first make for 2016, but they are the only ones that I have managed to get a photo of.

Pattern:  Patterns by Figgy's - Board Shorts

Fabric:  Light Cotton Canvas with Stars (gifted by Cath)

Size: 7/8 (which is the largest of this size range. My long lanky boy will be in these for a while)

Thoughts:  I only really used the pattern pieces.  The Instructions were mind boggling and I couldn't get my head around it.  I used these instructions to insert the side pockets.  I had fun doing top stitching details on these. 

Changes for next time:

• Pockets - The side pockets are a little on the small side and next time I make these I will make them a little larger so they are useful.

See also: Earthgirl Fabrics