Put it in a sock!

Posted on December 2, 2012 by H

It’s been a while since I posted anything new – I’ve been busy since going back to full time work and filling clothing orders. Busy but very satisfying :-)

As the christmas season is fast approaching, my present is the gift of christmas stocking patterns!

I have 2 designs to share, both have turned out lovely and the pattern will be available soon for free download:

I think I like the Elf style the best, although you can probably cram a couple more presents into the regular shape version. I think it’s the curly toe complete with jingle bell that just swings me to the Elf foot!

These are nice and big stockings – sized to fit lots of presents for special little persons. In our house the dog (read as biggest baby of them all) also now has a stocking – the first prototype, which will just about fit a bone or two and new squeaky toy!

These have received lots of compliments at the Christmas Fayres I’ve attended, I also have a few left over that are listed in my etsy store if you don’t have time to get stitching.

Happy Christmas :-)

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Sweet Summer Romper

Posted on June 17, 2012 by H

The first prototype for my sweet summer romper has turned out great. And I finished it just in time too as we had a mini heatwave last week so I think Ellie was glad to have something so cool (yes I meant that in both senses of the word!) to wear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really love the tab top fasteners that I did on this romper - rather than having a strap attached, I made it separate so that it buttons on each side of the romper to hold the whole thing together. I was going for a slightly baggy & billowy effect on the bottom so I added a box pleat at the centre front (also with a view to slightly disguising the centre front seam) and I cut the romper such that the crotch is slightly low. This, in combination with the button tab tops on the shoulders (which can be moved to give extra length on the body) should make this romper last through a summer of growing. Rompers & vests – Ellie just seems to out grow them way faster than any other items because they soon seem to get too tight under the crotch (I guess she must have a long body?) and then of course the poppers split when she sits down and it looks like she’s prolapsed her nappy!! I have a couple of tweaks that I want to make to this pattern and then I will resize it for everyone. It turned out awesome, I’m very pleased with how it looks and I am totally in love with the fabric so much so I rushed back to the shop to purchase more – I have a great idea for a summer dress that will also look fantastic in this material.

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Bloomin’ Ell’

Posted on June 4, 2012 by H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a quick newsflash really.

Ellie’s Easy Bloomers Sewing Pattern now has extra sizes added from 12 months up to 3 years. The pattern has been updated to include these extra sizes, existing users will need to download this one again to get the bigger sizings. It is still available at no cost.

Thanks, H :-)

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Punky Tea Dress

Posted on June 4, 2012 by H

I want to share my punky little tea dress modification.

I absolutely love how this turned out. In fact, I think it is the best version of this pattern that I have made so far.

Introducing my punky little tea dress:

I whipped this funky number up by very slightly modifiying the Tea Party Dress Sewing Pattern.

I cut the sleeves out of a contrasting fabric to the rest of the dress (mine is a punk-rock skull & roses pattern) and omitted the sleeve trims that are on the original pattern.

Instead of cutting the sash, I used a wide piece of black ribbon that I had. I cut this the same length as the sash would have been but it isn’t as wide so I ended up using a much smaller hem in order to get the length right on the skirt. When I stitched the ribbon in place of the sash I used the bare minimum seam allowance (not the 1/2″ allowed in the pattern) so that I got to see as much of the ribbon as possible. I think it looks great.

I further modified the pattern by adding a small collar to the neckline and embellishing with a further piece of black mesh ribbon stitched into a bow and sewn onto the front.

To add the collar:

Make a template for the collar by tracing off the front dress panel so that it is the correct size for the dress being made.

Only the top part of the pattern needs to be traced, so that the whole neckline and shoulder are present.

 

 

 Mark 1/2″ down from the neckline. This is the seam allowance and will be needed to also be included on the collar.

Using the 1/2″ guide line as the finished neck line, draw on the collar in the shape required. Remember to draw the collar slightly wider than it will be on the finished

article so that there is a seam allowance along the longest edge. The seam allowance for the narrow ends is already taken into consideration due to the shoulder seam allowance on the original template.

Cut out the collar pattern.

Note that there will be a fold line on the original shoulder seam edge.

4 pieces of fabric are needed in order to make 2 collar pieces. Cut interfacing too if a stiffer collar is required (I didn’t bother).

Right sides facing, pin the collar pieces together around the edges, leaving the top edge open. This needs to be done for both pieces of collar so that you end up with two collars.

Turn each collar piece right side out and press flat. Topstitching can also be added now if that look is required. I didn’t topstitch my collar as I thought the thread may contrast against my fabric too much so I left it as it was after ironing. 

Following the dress pattern, at the point where the bodice is pinned to the lining on the outer edge – the collar pieces need to be inserted before stitching. To do this, mark the dress centre front and place the collar pieces either side of this then start pinning them in place working from the centre out on each side. Continue pinning the collars around the neckine and over the shoulder seams until they finish at the back of the dress.

The collars should now be sandwiched between the right sides of dress bodice and lining and this seam can now be stitched. When it is finished, turn right side out and the collars will be fitted.

From this point onwards, continue the dress pattern as usual, topstitching the bodice outer edges and neckline with the collar in place (this helps to keep the collar folded down and laying flat on the neckline).

 

 

Ta-dah!

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Furry Toddler Shrug ( aka gilet / waistcoat / wrap / cover-up / body-warmer and so on….)

Posted on May 14, 2012 by H

Very, very cute (and strokeable – turn your baby into a cat substitute!) – furry toddler shrug sewing pattern.

I had a daft idea – make a furry shrug for Ellie. I hadn’t fully appreciated just how much of a mess cutting and sewing faux fur makes. We are still finding fluffy bits in the most unlikely places 3 days after the event! It was worth it though – the shrug looks great on and has made Ellie even more cuddly :-)

This is a really simple and quick idea to make (also cheap as you don’t need a lot of fabric at all. I think I used less than 1/4m). It is really only 3 pieces of fabric (same again for the lining) and a bit of ribbon (no messing with snaps or buttons). I think it took me about 20 minutes to knock together after I had constructed my original pattern.

I picked quite a wide ribbon for my fastening as I wanted it to be a bit of a statement and set the piece off. It’s quite a strange mustardy-yellow colour (a bit weird) but it looks really nice with the pale cream colour of the fur. I used a funky patterned fabric (I think it is supposed to be day of the dead themed looking at it – musical skeletons dancing around…) for the lining to make it a bit more edgy and less prissy.

Taking a half decent picture of anything to be “modelled” is somewhat of a challenge lately. Ellie is all go, go, go at the minute so I am not concerned with artistic merit here, rather just pleased to have caught her standing still and showing off the back of the shrug!

My baby and toddler shrug sewing pattern is sized for 0-3 years and can be downloaded for free here.

Happy sewing :-) – H

 

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Spongebob Squarepants

Posted on April 25, 2012 by H

I think we have inadvertantly conditioned Ellie into liking the aforementioned cartoon sea sponge. Daddy has maintained that she seemed to like watching it more or less from birth (yes – coincidentally he also loves spongebob). As such he has it on constantly at every opportunity. To the point where Ellie now does seem to respond to Spongebob – she lets out a massive grin if she sees a picture and she loves the theme song (Daddy sings it to her. A lot).

On a recent supermarket outing we spotted this rather dazzling spongebob T-shirt, which Ellie was grinning at when we showed her. I had to have it! But the smallest size was age 5-6. A bit on the large size.

To modify this shirt into baby size I first pinned out a smaller outline for the shoulders, armholes and neck. This changed the T-shirt shape into an A-line long tunic top.

I cut out the new shape and salvaged the sleeves from the original. I didn’t resize these but added gathers at the sleeve tops to use up the excess fabric when fitting them back into the smaller armholes that I had cut.

The neck opening was modified further to make an envelope type opening (I used bias binding to finish the raw edge as I had cut away the previous edging). This was necessary in order to get the shirt over Ellie’s big baby head without the need to add any type of fastening to widen a more conventional neckline. It was also more straightforward to cut a more or less straight-across neck shaping and make the envelope opening.

This project was really quick and easy as there wasn’t really any pattern work to be done – I pretty much just worked it all out by eye and by testing the fit as I went.

The finished resized shirt looks pretty snazzy though – you can’t tell that it wasn’t originally made in baby Ellie size and she loves this top. It is covered in sequins and they catch the light to create a disco effect when the sun is right. She loves sitting and waving her arms to make the reflections ‘dance’ on the floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peek-a-………………………………………………………………….Boo!

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A-Line Tunic Dress

Posted on April 24, 2012 by H

I recently made this smart tunic dress and matching baggy shorts. I am still working out the pattern sizings but I wanted to share this latest outfit as I am really pleased with it. In fact, I think it may be my favourite to date. It looks really smart on, I’m very happy with how it turned out and I love the fabrics that were used.

It’s sort of faux tailored if you like; rather than being a straight 2 piece A-line, I added extra seams to make it a 6 panel piece. Basically because I like the way this gives it a more tailored (expensive) look. Another advantage to cutting it this way is that you can get away with using smaller pieces of fabric so you have more chance of getting the pieces from off-cuts of other projects.

I added cute little pockets at a slight angle on either side of the tunic front. I like how they sit across the dress front seams – they look super cutsey in real life. I have tried my best to get some decent pictures of Ellie “modelling” this outfit to show all the detail off but she is nearly walking now and constantly on the go. I can’t keep her still (or clean!) long enough to get the shots I’d like. But take my word for it on the cute factor of the little pockets – they are there!

The little cap sleeves were cut as part of the side panels so there was no messing around with setting small sleeves. I think they turned out great.

I cut the dress short as I like the 60′s mini dress feel that the large print gives it and I wanted to also show off the matching shorts with peep-hole detail near the fastenings. I trimmed them with the dress fabric and I think they turned out fantastic. I was lucky to get a really close fabric match with the beige colour in the dress so these worked really well bring the look of the whole outfit together.

I’m busy busy busy at the minute as I have a head full of ideas for new designs (and I just had a new stash of fabric arrive so I am thinking of all the lovely clothes I can make) and I am also working on getting the Tea Party Dress design ready for download.

This pattern will be coming soon too though – it is on my list!

 

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The Birthday Party Dress

Posted on April 18, 2012 by H

Happy Birthday Lovely!

1 year old  – that is mad! I know everyone says how it flies past and you have to catch every moment and enjoy it whilst you have it – it’s so true, it does seem like yesterday that we brought Ellie home and now she’s celebrating her first birthday.

And to celebrate she had a spongebob squarepants birthday cake (her favourite – more about him in another post) and I made her a special birthday dress from some fancy green faux (machine washable – oh yeah!) silk fabric.

I used a pattern that I had previously designed last year and made up as a summer dress. This time I used smarter fabric and it really worked well to turn it into a party frock. I have resized the pattern and it will be available to download in the very near future. I had originally nicknamed it the afternoon tea dress (just because the original that I had made put me in mind of that kind of smart/casual dress) but I think it has to be appropriately renamed as the Tea Party Dress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEFT: The original dress worn last summer when Ellie was just over 3 months old. I added a couple of buttons to the front sash and made the matching easy bloomers.  RIGHT: The same pattern worn again at 1 year old and made up in fancy party fabric – the look is very different and the bloomers are bigger (+12 month bloomer sizes will be included in the Tea Party Dress pattern as I think they are a must with dresses whilst there is still plently of nappy flashing going on)  but the pattern was the same!

I can’t believe how much Ellie has changed before my eyes; she was so small in the first dress! Probably wouldn’t even fit over her leg now!

 

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Bug Towels!

Posted on February 19, 2012 by H

All wrapped up and ready to go…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been churning out the bug hooded towels. I did a bit of an origami job on this pair to fold the main body of the towel into itself and then tuck under the bug hoods. A piece of ribbon to hold in place and I have gift wrapped hooded baby towels ready to go!

Pattern for making these from standard bath and hand towels is available for free download here.

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Spring Jacket

Posted on February 18, 2012 by H

I just had to share this. Ellie looks so cute in her new jacket for spring/summer.

I used an offcut of curtain fabric (bought for £1.50 – still have quite a bit left over too!) and modified the winter coat pattern to get this spring jacket.

To modify my winter coat pattern, I changed the shape of the sleeves – they are still slightly gathered at the sleeve top but are not puff sleeves – they are one piece.

I also modified the opening to make it single-breasted and I changed the neckline so that there are no longer lapels. Instead I added a very simple straight collar. I thought it would look a bit oriental and would suit the fabric that I had.

You may also notice that there is a bit more fabric in the skirt. I cut that piece quite a lot longer than for the winter coat project. I then added pleats all the way around the back and side, so that it is pretty frilly – I thought it would stand out a bit more this way and would look really cute for a short jacket (which I think it does!!).

To finish I covered metal buttons with the same fabric as the jacket. I didn’t line this one as it is meant to be a lighter jacket for the warmer months. I did add a healthy dose of zig-zag stitich to all my raw edges though.

I wasn’t planning to make these coat patterns available for download as I hope the guide to making the winter coat will be enough for anyone to draft a similar verison. If there is a lot of demand I may be persuaded to size these properly and stick them into one pattern bundle. I’m thinking about it – the pieces could be mixed and matched between the two coats. Check back – I may do this if I can find time. Ellie’s first birthday is fast approaching so all my creative focus is on sweet little party dresses at the minute ;-)

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