I took this roll of material up to the counter and it didn't have a price tag.  "We'll just make it $3 a meter," the shop assistant said.  Fine by me!  So this light little Winter jacket, made with only one meter of material was great for the budget!
The pattern is from the Japanese pattern magazine Cucito, Spring 2012 edition.  The sleeves had elastic around the wrist, but I didn't really like that - maybe on a younger child it would look cute - so I kept them wide.  I took extra time to do bright orange top stitching everywhere to give a little bit more detail, and I added some denim elbow pads which give the jacket some great character.
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He has so much fun in front of the camera !
Problems...well I had to re-cut one of the front panels when I realised I had not lined up the print.  What an oversight, lucky I had spare material.  And, this was the first time I had used press-studs.  They look great, but I'm scared if he pulls at them too often they might rip straight out of the material, though I hope not!  I machine stitched the blind bottom hem - another first - which I had to do twice to get it right.  It looks good from the front, but you can see the stitch from the inside...I suppose when you want it done fast (like me) this is a great way to go.  But on more important projects I think hand stitching would be better.
And the jacket styled another way.....
undone, rolled sleeves, my little rock star in the making, ha ha :)
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Peekaboo Bonnet 09/05/2012
 
I love love love this bonnet
The Peekaboo Bonnet pattern has been designed by Made-By-Rae and can be purchased from her website.  It has very clear instructions which made it easy to make.  It is reversible, one side being a very light denim, the other cotton.  I interfaced the denim, because it had a slight stretch. I should of interfaced the cotton also as this would of helped the brim and centre band hold its shape a bit more.  I had never made my own piping before, actually I have never even used piping, but that wasn't too much trouble to do and it finishes off the hat beautifully.
I joined the strap at one side with a press-stud and put a little button over the top to finish it off.   The only change I made to the pattern was that I only joined the two sides of the hat together at the front of the brim and around the neckline - not through the centre band.  I couldn't do it without my stitches showing on the wrong side and it looked really messy.  Especially because I had to use a navy blue cotton one side and white on the other.  It took a bit more time, but it was worth it.  She wore it a few days ago and I couldn't believe how many people commented on it!  Probably because you don't see too many bonnets being worn nowdays!
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The Tiffany Dress, named because of its beautiful colour.  I had big hopes and dreams for this dress.  I wanted it to be the dress she would wear to a cousins engagment party - an afternoon of drinks and canapes at a riverside restaurant.  However....
....I knew things weren't going well when at the first fitting my husband said, "Is it meant to be that...um...big?"  On the defensive I said yes, it was meant to be flowy and sweet!  But I immediately zipped the sides in two inches.  I should of made it a size smaller, the problem really is in the width of the shoulders, and because of the contrasting fabric, the lack of fit stands out.  What a shame.
Well, she loved wearing it today around the house, in the rain, and to the shops, so although it won't be to any fancy occassions, it will still get worn.  She even told Nona on the phone last night, "New dress!  Blue!"  She loves it, that's all that matters :)
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Does anyone else sometimes get consumed with an idea?  I remembered I had the pattern for this little lamb scarf and bag in a Cucito magazine (Winter & Early Spring 2012) on Saturday afternoon.  I went to the fabric store, bought some wooly fleece and pink felt, and by Saturday night I had finished them.  I did all the cutting out while the kids were in the sandpit, I did all the hand stitching while I listened to the kids try and settle themselves to sleep, and then while my husband was out watching the football I had peace and quiet upstairs to sew it all together.  I never thought I would spend a Saturday night sewing, but look at me now, hahaha!  It was such a fun little project with an adorable result :)
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Easter Pillows 02/04/2012
 
I'll don't think I will be making anymore pillows for awhile.  Daybed pillows, two for newborn babies, and now four for Easter gifts - I'm all pillowed out!  But on the up side, I'm now pretty competent at zips!
We have a family tradition that dates back to before my parents were even married, that every Easter we go camping.  So I thought I would make my two kids and my two nephews some camping pillows.  I found some fun animal material and put an applique of a bunny with a fluffy tail on each one.  Each child has a different coloured bunny, and to 'girl' it up on my daughters, I added some stick on diamontes. I think I will also include a little easter egg, because although they may like their pillows (hopefully), at their age they really do only care about chocolate on Easter morning!!  :)
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Rainbow Tu-Tu 24/03/2012
 
My little girl LOVES dressing up, and what is more fun than a brightly coloured tutu?!  All you need to make this is non-roll elastic, tulle, and an hour and a half in front of the t.v!  There are plenty of tutorials on You Tube explaining how to make them, but all it is, is tying knots around the elastic.  The hard part was getting the tulle, which I ended up ordering through a Chinese company on Ebay.  It took 3 weeks to get to me, but you can't buy it here so I had little choice.  It is soft like bridal tulle and the rolls are already cut to around 20cm wide so you just have to cut the length...this saves ALOT of time!  It is such a fun little skirt!
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I made this pillow as a present for a beautiful baby boy born last month.  I put his initial on the front and used a very close zig-zag stitch to finish off the edges.  My mum gave me a great tip for this....instead of using an iron on adheasive, you can use 'Bostik BluStik' which can be found at most newsagents.  On the packaging it says that it adhears to fabric and washes off, so it is perfect for applique work.  Word of warning though...apparently don't use it too much because it can get onto your needle and then into your machinery.  I put little ribbon tags down one edge, because it looked pretty plus the new little man might just enjoy fiddling with them!
And unlike the cowboy pillow, this zip has been put in properly, thanks to a little lesson from my mum, thanks mum!
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These animal print shorts were made to wear to my son's Safari themed birthday party.  I made them from a material called drill (similar to cordoroy) and I made a matching yo-yo flower for her top.  The big side pockets were a big hit for all her girly things - necklaces, bangles, my car keys.... hahaha :)
The pattern was from the Japanese magazine, Cucito, Winter & Early Spring 2012 edition.  They used a standard short pattern and inserted a side panel with a pocket.  Because of the additional width, they ended up quite 'billowy' (is that word?) so I took them in slightly through the centre front and back. 
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In the latest edition of Cucito, Spring 2012, you'll find my kids showing off their matching kimono pajama's.  If anyone knows Japanese, I would love to know what is said below their photo!  Since it is my favourite source of patterns, I was pretty happy when I saw thier little faces in the magazine!
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My husband made this day bed atleast a year ago, and only now have I made pillows to go on it!  It might be a tad more comfortable now to lie on :)  The fabric is recycled from some old curtains we used to have hanging upstairs, so it is thick and durable, perfect for outside.
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