Week 8, aka little bits

I had grand plans for last week. Something to sew for a special event. A dress to make. A top cut out. A growing pile of simple bags to sew for the School Fete Carnival next month. All ready for Craft Camp with lots of prep achieved in windows of time here and there. Cutting out in front of the TV at night. Picking up materials in my lunch break.
But the stars weren't aligned. The whole family it seems has been struck down with one ailment or another. So I had one (lovely) day at camp, with some more cutting and a bit of sewing and some chatting and some resting. But much more sewing and work required to finish things off.
While resting/recovering from my head cold I have at least been able to finish off my contribution to Lisa's 100 doilies project, so that is something finished off this week at least. I just need to get to the post office now (fingers crossed it travels safely).

Week 7, aka more than one garment a week.

The key to getting something made each week I think is to snatch moments of time that appear here and there, and to do something with them.

As a result of which I've been able to draft up and trace, cut out and sew up a couple of pants for A (filling in the gaps in her handed down wardrobe), as well as drafting up and trialling a few bag patterns to sew up for our upcoming school fete. Not all done within a week, but finished on the weekend at least.

So far this week I've been in cutting out mode, and am looking forward to a plenty of unimpeded sewing time on craft camp this weekend. Unless you count being impeded by too much food, conversation, laughs and the fun of the country shops.

Pants:
Fabrics: two way stretch knit and linen remnants from Tessuti
Leggings Pattern: Pattern S from Lovely and Innocent Girlswear size 100cm (a bit long for now, but room to grow).
Pants Pattern: approximately Size 3 upsized version of pants I drafted off  a pair of Bonds Roomies last year.

Bags:
Fabrics: Ikea outer with some leather and cotton lining scraps from the stash.
Patterns: Self drafted, based on advice from the Fete Guru Sooz.

Week 6, aka Valerie

A couple of weeks ago I received a huge bag of hand-me-downs for A, which has kind of changed the priorities on my sewing list. She still needs a few things but I thought I could slip in a little project for myself before I get on with some projects for other people.
Fabric: Some slinky charcoal black fabric I picked up on sale from Tessuti when they first opened in Melbourne.
Pattern: Tessuti Valerie top, size M
Thoughts etc: I love it. Like the Lily dress it's simple and easy to wear, and I love the diagonal line of the gathers on the side.
The neck opening is a very close fit overhead (perhaps the next one I'll tweak it a little), and the bindings do take some time but it's worth it.
The bindings are the same technique as for the Lily dress but the use of tear away Vilene makes a huge difference when working with slippery light fabrics. The pattern includes detailed instructions for the single fold binding which you can also see here, although my first attempt at the end joins didn't initially work (I sewed the wrong diagonal) and I suspect a line is missing from the instructions re which side of the fabric to pin the binding on to start with (the right side).
The fabric I used was 150cm wide, and it only took 1m, which means perhaps I can consider my next one being in something a little more upmarket...

Week 5, aka blue bag

 

On the weekend, after finishing off  C's lunch sack (I'm not totally pleased with it, but he loves it and it works well so I really should just put my ideals aside and be happy, no?) I quickly whipped up simple shoulder bag for him to use as a Library book bag at school.

Fabric: the cute blue stars I received from Flowerpress in the handprint swap over a year ago, plus some beige Ikea "Aina" linen and blue cotton for the strap.
Pattern: None. Two 45cm squares of fabric,  top hem, shoulder strap, Bingo.
Thoughts: I'll probably need to change the strap, and perhaps I should add a lining, but we'll see how it goes in use tomorrow on Library day.

On the weekend I was also joined in the studio by a new friend. Looking forward to making some things with her help.