Catch up and Christmas sewing.....Warning....Long post

I have been distracted by Christmas sewing instead of finishing the stripy dress in the last post but more on that later. I have just worked out I can put my SD card straight into my MacBook Pro so lots of photos!!

In September school holidays my beautiful boy and I went to Toowoomba just at the end of the Carnival of Flowers. Toowoomba is a two hour drive from Brisbane and it is a lovely city on the top of a mountain. It was just a couple of days but really fun.

Alexander's breakfast

Alexander eating my breakfast!

Some of the beautiful flowers (nice smoker in the background!).

Sewing room mess in process of being sorted! (random photo drop!)

This is the Motorcycle Museum on the way to Toowoomba.

For motorcycle enthusiasts - there are A LOT of fantastic, rare, special and weird bikes here all privately owned!

Now to the dress I started about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Pattern reminder. So I stalled as the fabric is quite thin I decided to buy some Steam-a-seam - where has this been all my life?? It is great to fix those seams and hopefully make sewing around the neck and armholes - I say hopefully because of course when I finally bought it and used it, I broke my twin needle - arrgh! They are so expensive so I had to make a trip to Spotlight. Finally today (after Alexander's piano concert) I will finish it to wear to Simple Minds (at A Day on the Green at Sirromet Winery with Devo, the Church and Models [?]) tomorrow. But I have proof of my stripe matching of which I am proud!

Dress in the make - nearly done

Stipe matching pride!

I've made two sets of Christmas napkins for teacher gifts. One is a set of 4 and one is a set of 5 matching the family numbers. It was as remnant fabric and I used my No 6 rolled hem foot. Most machines come with a No 2 but I bought a set with No 2,4 and 6 a couple of years ago. Great for napkins, hankies, hems, aprons and tea towels. I have also made two little Christmas dresses for a cousin's 1 year old and my new neighbour's 10 week old baby. I used Butterick 5326. I changed it a bit for the 1 year old's dress - I didn't put buttons all down the back..just put 3 buttons on the bodice. The baby's dress will have buttons all down the back. Actually I'm still to finish the baby's but will do that today. Actually the buttons are just for show I have put snaps to make it easy for on and off with little ones.

Christmas napkins - school teacher and piano teacher gift.

One year old's Christmas dress gift

Pattern used for Christmas dress

On another note, as evidenced above, I am clearing out my sewing room and have started an Etsy shop to sell the patterns I have used, never used, just hoarded or bought because I liked them but will not suit me. I will also sell some of the fabric I have because I have too much and some is just not me but I recognise as beautiful. Some patterns and fabric is vintage so when it is running I will let you know and have a giveaway! Stay tuned - I'm just in the process of photographing it all - boring but necessary! Till next time; happy sewing!

Trying a vintage togs pattern.

Hello, it's been a while again. Not as long as some bloggers who have recently returned to blogging...up to 7 years, but I'm glad people are coming back. I never joined Instagram as I'm not that fussed on 'social media' and more with people who write about their sewing. So back to sewing. I picked up this vintage McCalls togs pattern. It's quite a good value pattern as there are three very different and interesting swimsuits included. That's pretty rare. It's a size 16. I decided to make view B. All of the patterns have pieces for the bra cups too which is really great. Photographed with it is a Burda beach wrap. I can't find the magazine number right now, but it's at least 10 years old. Basically it's a large square of fabric with arm holes cut out. The fabric is genuine 70s towelling. I know because Mum bought it to cover our 'fantastic plastic' vinyl couch. Vinyl was preferred back then...

Kwik Sew

So recently Spotlight had Kwik Sew patterns - 3 for the price of 1. I don't really need any patterns as I have plenty but some took my fancy and I'm keen to sew some up. I have been really liking the waterfall jackets... I have a Butterick pattern (not mentioned yet but brought over from the US with a friend... that's another post though), a New Look cut out and I liked the length of this Kwik Sew one too. I was seduced by Kristy's beautiful version of the jacket on the right. Don't expect to see it fitting me so perfectly but it looks nice and easy and it's a bit different and a bit timeless too. I was thinking of sailor type pants but when I saw this shorts pattern, I thought I could make them up and see if they suit and I may be able to lengthen the legs and not have to trace out a Burda one. Not sure how KS patterns fit me as I've only made a dress a while ago now. I have these cut out from a leftover piece that was not enough for anyth...

Island night... PNG cruise

Well hello again. I've just come back from a cruise to Papua New Guinea and I made a dress for Island night. Island night or any theme night is just a suggestion... there is no organised event, meals, activities; just a dress code suggestion. As soon as I read that, I searched for this vintage surfie fabric I bought years ago at an op shop. I was thrilled to use it. I needed an easy pattern that I could make 2 days before the cruise departure and one that I would wear again. I used this Style 2911 pattern that I only bought online a few months ago. Style are my favourite patterns. I cut out a size 16 but had to reduce it to the 12. It's a great simple but elegant pattern and it went together perfectly. My machines liked it too... they cooperate when they like what I'm making and it was a breeze. I cannot believe that we didn't get one photo of it on. I was thrilled with it and even tho there is some ink staining you can't really see it as it's so busy. I had ...

Sew Darn Tired

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