Thanks

Thanks all for the lovely comments on the birth of my son.  I would reply to all but he's crying for a feed (again).  We are enjoying the time that is passing all too quickly.  To answer some of the questions - Marie, yes I hope to sew some clothes for him, but not until his growth slows down.  I've already packed away some small clothes!  And I have no time to sew at the moment, so I'll probably sew his first clothes for his 1st birthday.  And Kat, no labour for me (unfortunately).  Hugo arrived via surgical delivery - but it was smooth, so no complaints.  I made a few nursing friendly tops before he arrived which I hope to blog soon, but for now I have to return my boobs to their rightful owner.

Oh, and just joining this Blog lovin thing.  Not sure if I have to leave the below on this post, so please ignore.
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My latest creation

I'm excited to announce the safe arrival of our little boy, Hugo, just before Easter weighing 3610g (7'15").  We've had a joy filled two weeks cuddling, sleeping, feeding and baby gazing.  He is so beautiful.

Nesting

I've published a few of these appliqued kids clothes on my blog before, so apologies if it's getting boring.  I'm pretty sure I'll be making/embellishing clothes like this for some time to come!  I thought I'd better make a few for my impending arrival.  Bunnies and an owl.  Put on teeny tiny size 0000 onesies.  So they will only get a short wear but you have to get baby a few new things don't you?  Most of this babies clothes are hand-me downs.  Actually, after making these I inherited a box of size 0000 and 000 onesies from a friend and there were forty-seven in there.  Forty.  Seven. 

It might get a little quiet on this blog for a while as I'm not sure how much time I'll get to sew/blog with a new baby.  I would love to get back into sewing quickly as it keeps me sane and I have a few projects I'd like to be working on.  Maybe it's easier the second time around.  Hopefully back soon with some cute pictures!

Happy Easter!

I've included this photo, below, of the appliques I did earlier in the year to show how they survive on high rotation wearing and washing.  These have been in circulation for about 3 months now and still holding up pretty well, if I do say so myself.

Bursting

In my last pregnancy I reached a point,  around the 7.5 month mark, where I hated every single piece of maternity clothing I owned.  So I went to my local fabric store, which at the time was 'Oh, Sew Noosa' and blew an extreme amount of money on this beautiful silk which was hanging in the window display.  I have since forgotten the actual amount.  It's not important anymore.  I made up this pretty basic maxi dress with a simple band top and gathered rectangle skirt - curtain style I suppose.  This dress got a bit of wear to social functions in the couple of months after I made it.

38 weeks

I've only just pulled it out this pregnancy to wear to a wedding on the weekend and ended up needing to add straps as I must have a different body shape this time around.  Can you believe this dress stayed up last time just by sitting on my bump!  Even without boning or support in the bodice!  Actually the bodice is pretty dodgy and is not going to last the distance.  I really love this silk and definitely want to remake the dress into a non-maternity dress, once I stop breastfeeding.  Unfortunately the straps I stitched on pulled holes in the bodice so I think that part of the dress will have to go.  I have a small piece of leftover silk, probably 40cm x 40cm, which I could use if needed.  What do you think I should make it into?  Keep it a maxi?  Redo the bodice (properly) with the same band design?  I don't think I would like a pieced skirt because the orchid print is quite large on it and really the feature of the fabric.  I would love to hear your ideas.  I won't be fitting into this much longer!!

PJs x3

Wrapping up what seems to be pyjama month around here, I've made some pjs for me.  Three pairs.  Excessive?  Perhaps.  I figure very soon I'll be spending more time in pjama's than real clothes so why not.  I also found so many pieces in the stash that would be potential pj's it kind of snowballed to three pairs quite quickly.  I did actually go to [expensive pyjama shop] to buy myself some new pj's as a gift to myself - but they are just too expensive for what you get so I decided to sew some.  As, sewists I'm sure you've found yourself in those situations many a time.

First up, my rose pj's.  I used New Look 6725 for the top (view A-C) and Butterick 4483 (OOP) for the pants.  The same I used for hubby's pj pants.

I managed to keep practising my piping and put some on the top which I think was a bit neater than on Owen's pjs.  I went through a smock top phase a few years ago and made heaps of these tops, but always thought they looked a little pyjamaish.

I decided to actually put a real drawstring in these boxer shorts because lets face it - who knows what my waist measurement actually is or will be in the next few months ... years.

I had 4m of this pale blue floral that started its life in my aunties stash, then migrated to my sisters stash and then snaffled by me.  What history!  I made the same New Look pattern in view D and long pants - although in a pregnancy brain fit I cut out an XS and ended up having to put a piece down the side of each leg (as I am definitely not an XS).  It's a little daggy I suppose, very Nana Button-ish but I think comfy enough to nurse a wee babe and running around after a toddler.

Again, I put in a real drawstring.

And lastly, this lovely piece of cotton from Finland.  The print is a bit crazy with bathing ladies on it and I couldn't think of anything else I could possibly make it into, so pyjama pants it was.  I cheated and bought a pj top and threw a few flowers on to match.  There wasn't enough fabric to make a top and bottoms out of.  I really should stop buying one metre of fabric.  There isn't too many garments that you can get out of that yardage and it is a bad habit of mine.  I recently read Tasia from Sewaholic buys a minimum of 3m of fabric when she doesn't know what to make with it.  Holy moly!

Apologies for lack of personal modelling of the pj's.  The tops can actually fit over my massive belly but they are not actually designed to and look a little ridiculous currently.  Also, I'm not sure if I want to put photos of myself in pyjamas on the internet!  Ok here's just one, to show off my new slippers from expensive pj shop.  They fit when I bought them and I only just squeezed my feet in for this photo.  Hopefully that fluid will clear off soon after birth!

SFB: Goodnight Sweetheart PJs

Last year I invested in the pattern book 'Sewing For Boys' and have already made a few of the shorts patterns up - for other kids!  But here's one for my little boy.

by Shelly Figueroa and Karen LePage

I made up the 'goodnight, sweetheart pjs' - a summer version - which I shortened the sleeves and pants length and make it in a cotton instead of flannel.  They are so cute!  The fabric is from my sisters stash (which I am 'looking after') but I think she bought it for some clothes for my boy anyway.  Pretty sure it is cotton from Spotlight.  I really like the piping around the facing but in making these I have realised I need more practice with piping.  I think the instructions are pretty easy to follow, but to be honest I only really refer to instructions when I need to.  They have rated this pattern as intermediate.  

 

I made them up in a size 2/3 which I suspected would be too big for Owen - and they are.  But for PJs it really doesn't matter and the bonus is they will fit him next summer.  The pants pattern is the same as 'bobby's bathers' and 'kickin' back sweats' just different lengths, so is it really 3 different patterns?  Anyhoo I cut these the knee length of bobby's bathers which is fairly long on Owen so won't be doing the full length for a while!  You can do an optional faux fly but I opted not to but in retrospect it is a good marker for the pants front.  My husband couldn't figure it out so I put a faux drawstring on the front which I think is a bit quicker and easier than the fly.  But it is nice to have the option.  Next time I make these I think I will use iron on interfacing on the facing as it has lost it's shape a little with wear.

I am still excited by my new sewing tool and so chose to put snap closures down the front.  But only 1 out of 4 worked!  I was kind of devastated by this (slight overreaction maybe) as the snaps seemed quite permanent.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned before, but I have the occasional sewing lesson and so at the next one I sussed out where I went wrong.  I thought it might have been because I bought cheap and nasty snaps off the net.  But no!  Turns out, I'm just a weakling and can't press the tool hard enough!!  Can I blame excess fluid from pregnancy weakening my hands?  Well I'm going to.  I got my husband to press all the snaps on the nappies I recently made and now all those snaps are functioning a whole lot better.  Damn, I should get myself to a gym.  I really like this pattern and will definitely be making a winter version, hopefully.  So far the book is looking like a good investment.  Currently on the sewing table, pj's for me!

Do you like your new pjs?

In action - room to grow.

The single functioning snap (no longer the case)

Valentine

My husband and I usually don't do Valentine's Day.  I'm a bit cynical about buying a gift just because Hallmark says you should.  The theory being a random surprise on any other day of the year would mean more.  In theory.  Actually these boxers were supposed to be a Christmas present for hubby.  Oops.  And his birthday is in November so it had to be a V day pressie.  The more important thing about these boxers is that it is the first piece of clothing I have ever made for my husband.  And they fit well.  Yew!  He did get them on the 14th but it takes me a while to blog.  Especially as the computer and I haven't been on speaking terms recently.  Here's the pattern I used pulled from my mothers pattern box, looks like it's OOP. 

So there's my February stashbusting challenge completed as well, but I still haven't made the pledge. More PJ's coming soon...