Thursday, February 18, 2010

out of the ordinary

mostly i make things people will get a chance to see. clothes, toys, blankets, curtains... you get the idea. but im pregnant. and that calls for a little out of the ordinary sewing. i finished up some nursing pads and cloth wipes several weeks ago, but havent taken pictures of them (because really, they are squares with serged edges, and circles of three layers of flannel, with serged edges) but today i had a better project in mind.

this is more than any of you want to know, but pregnancy makes breasts grow, and mine have once again outgrown my favorite comfy brown, white and pink bras. that leaves me turning to the ugly nursing bras that are very functional, and not so attractive. my favorite of the generously sized nursing bras is a white knit under wire, with no lining (i prefer lining, and the extra layer of fabric over this one helps). this morning i decided there was no reason i had to endure months of wearing an ugly bra just because i didnt want to buy a pretty new one, so i did a nursing bra remake. :)



i traced out the basic shape of the bra, and cut it out of some thin cheap red cotton knit that i had on hand. i folded over the edges, and used a zigzag to stitch it down. the only parts of the bra i took apart first are the loops at the tops of the cups where they can be unhooked to nurse, and the straps at the back, where they are stitched down to the top of the back band (so i could fold down my endge under them). it is far from perfect. its not even really neat sewing, but it took an hour and it makes me feel SO much better than wearing a boring old white nursing bra. (and those little hot pink ribbons dont hurt either!)

so there it is, something a little out of the ordinary. im planning to sew a shirt for me next, like one i have made before and can wear both pregnant and not. its new look 6775 view a cut to shirt length, and with generous hip room.

ribbons and animals

after seeing a post on a blog called Lu Bird Baby for an owl with little tags on his wings and as his feet (and then making one for george, and toby, and two more as a present) i had a great idea. how cute would a lion be? well look:



so cute, right? hes a little crooked, because i didnt use any interfacing on the applique, because i wanted him to be finished quicker. but emma loves him. and i have a giraffe (or two) and a turtle ready to sew up next.

more bugs

the bugs are multiplying around here. i was working on the head for the ladybug ring from the last post, and realised i started with the wrong color, so it became that little lady bug down there. but the ladybug was lonely. so i made the grasshopper, then the caterpillar (which i just LOVE) and those all seemed a little too friendly, so along came the snake to add a little danger. :) there is also an ant floating around the toy bin now, and a spider is next on the list. what can i say? im having a boy, and boys are supposed to like bugs. :)


Monday, February 1, 2010

bug rings

from a Lion Brand pattern. i followed the basics, but got tired of reading the pattern for the details and just made up the rest. crocheting this i learned a couple of things, 1: i do not enjoy counting stitches, 2: i like to join my rounds. i do not like the look of continuing, and changing colors (see the bee) i would rather join, and have the smooth joint show than the jagged line of changing colors.

the kids love to play with it though, and thats what counts! now i want to make more bugs into rings. :) i am having a boy this time around, and he will need something not pink to play with.





bazaar dresses and shoes

a long time ago, in the month of october i started sewing dresses and shoes for a holiday bazaar with several friends. we split a booth fee and loaded it up with cute things, like dresses, shoes, bibs, cloth diapers, and an array of hair clips and head bands and bows. the bazaar was a total flop for up, each person did sell enough to cover their share of the booth fee, but not much more.

now i have several very cute size 12 mo dresses and matching shoes that need a home!
the pattern is the same as the christmas dress, hand dyed green wish puff dress, and emmas blue dress with the little trees... or rather, mccalls m5791. :) i love it. it is quick and simple to sew together, and lends itself to lots of variation. i made matching diaper covers (that arent pictured) and shoes to go with each dress. this is a picture from late in the night, the day before the bazaar when i was checking to make sure everything was finished. dresses hanging from the blinds, and a pile of shoes!



there were seven in all, and i came home with all seven of them. i have since given away the one with a flower print bodice and denim blue skirt, and sold the light pink satin and flower one to my sister in law as a gift for one of her friends. the cream and apple/pear fabric i have decided to keep, unless something dramatic happens to inspire me to let someone else have it. ;)



see those little pleats? and that bright green? i dont even like green! but it was my favorite dress (next to the pink satin, which was made from the same fabric as my prom dress, and a baby dress my mom made for me.)



also, i love these shoes. emma was born with skinny feet. she didnt have the little sausages that baby shoes are made to fit. so i had to come up with a pattern for baby shoes that would fit her. there isnt a great picture of any of the matching shoes, but i do have one of the early pairs i made for her, the apple flats.



these little flats stayed on her feet. they were fantastic. these ones are closer to a size 1, and the ones for the dresses are closer to a three. the larger ones come off a little easier, but i added straps to some of them to look like little mary janes. i love the shoes.



anyways, just a late update on the first (and so far only) attempt at selling any of my work. it was dismal. but i loved the sewing. i just cant keep making things just for emma, the girl has too many clothes! and there are only so many hand made dresses i can give out as gifts. :) any advice?