KissKus

# 7

Phew, let me catch my breath for a second..
Ok, I think this last piece was the greatest challenge of all seven... but I'm thinking isn't it appropriate to end a challenge with a challenge?

 

This particular pattern (Ottobre) wasn't what was causing the problems, but the circumstances were. It's hot here. Sticky hot, the kind that makes you break out into a sweat if you do as much as wiggle your toe. The kind that makes children go whiny and babies less content than they usually are. The kind that makes mothers sleepy and lazy and not wanting to sit behind the sewing machine. That kind... I'm sure you know what I mean.

Nonetheless, as this was the last day of my challenge, I simply had to produce a piece of clothing. And that piece of clothing was this summer dress for Amber. It's made of a thrifted duvet cover, and I do hope it doesn't look as if my girl is wearing bedding. I haven't been able to check, since my model went to bed long before this dress was finished (which also explains the light challenging photos...).

Question: is a blind zipper supposed to be invisible?! Cause mine obviously isn't ;)

If you look closely you'll notice that I haven't made buttonholes nor sewn on buttons yet; I'll do that after I've finished this post. It'll be ready for Amber to wear tomorrow.

So, I challenged myself to sew seven things for my children in one week... and I did! Next post I'll do a little recap. Now I think I need a little rest (after I've finished the dress ofcourse!).

# 6

It was Simple Sewing Sunday today, did you know?

I whipped up these shorts for Linus just before our house and garden filled up with family and a friend. I used fabric from my stash; the stripy fabric was a FQ Christmas present from my sister. I didn't think very long about it, but I like how these two fabrics combine.
Linus seems to have a bit of a Dutch theme going on with his bibs, cuddle cloth and blankie. He'll be all matchy matchy.

I used the same pattern as for these shorts and didn't sew the wrong sides together, which made these shorts even faster to make. Because it was such a hot and humid day I didn't iron them, which doesn't look so pretty on the photos... sorry about that!

Even unironed, Linus liked them.

# 5

Today it's Simon's turn...

I made him these long shorts. At least I think they'll be long shorts on him, but I don't know for certain. Although the children are home from the oma's, they were already in bed when I got back home from work tonight (I did get to kiss and cuddle... I missed them!). Tomorrow I will have them try on the new clothes, so that I can see if they fit.

I used this pattern, again from Ottobre. It was very straightforward... easy peasy pants! The only thing I'm not really happy about is that the hems are slightly puckered, but I can live with it.

Something that I am happy with is the binding I made on the pockets. I made it up while I went and it turned out really well. (Honestly? I didn't really understand the instructions and I didn't have that special binding that I was supposed to use... that's the real reason why I started my experiment ;))

I was just thinking that this fabric (did you recognise it?) is just perfect for Simon. The busy print is a great camouflage for all the dirt he collects when he's playing outside.

And I found an Ottobre Flickr group yesterday... very cool to see what everyone does with the patterns!

Hope you're all having a great weekend! I'll be back tomorrow with the next piece. What will it be? I don't know yet myself...

# 4

A few weeks a ago I picked up a pillowcase at Ikea, because I liked the embroidery on it. I thought it would be ideal to make a simple top/dress for Amber. I've seen so many examples of it already that I thought it wouldn't be a problem to make one too.

I tried to come up with the easiest way to go about it, but it was a bit of a dead-end street. And I didn't want to just cut the fabric for fear of ruining it. In the end I decided on using a pattern. This one:

(The same Ottobre again... this one's really worth its money!)

I changed it a bit. I lengthened the body and decided not to sew a skirt on it. I didn't have enough fabric for that anyway. In fact, I didn't have enough fabric for the top alone either, because it was supposed to be completely lined. I have no white cotton in my stash (for some reasons I can never find white cotton anywhere, I've been looking for years!)... what to do? I decided to use another pillowcase. Not an old, spare one, but the good stuff that we actually use. Oh well, all for a good cause!

Things went well until the situation above. Somehow I forgot to sew the side-seams together... hello seam ripper!

What I find most difficult about sewing clothes is determining which step is coming first. I sew two things together and then I find out that I should have sewed something else first. Definitely not a forte of mine, although it gets easier to more I practice (isn't that the case with everything you do?).

Nevertheless, I got it done! I used the pleads from the pillowcase to make the hem... isn't that clever of me?! And I think the top turned out very lovely and romantic. I hope it will fit Amber and that she will like it.

But now onto the best bit...

The back! Aaah, ribbon love! It reminds me a little of an easter egg, but a really lovely, pretty one! I don't know whether it will be very practical to wear, but for once I think that's of secondary importance. Sometimes something merely has to be esthetically pleasing.

So what was supposed to be a simple top took me almost a whole day to make, but it was well worth it, I think! And if Amber doesn't like it then I will just hang it on the wall and stare at the pretty ribbon!

# 3

I had a surprise visit from both my sisters today, which slightly mixed up my sewing schedule (well worth it of course!). I'll just have to sew a bit harder tomorrow to keep up with my challenge!

So what do we have today?

I made this skirt for Amber using this tutorial from House on hill road. It worked well. I just left out the waistband and tie, because I found it more practical to make a casing and use elastic. I think that elastic really is most useful for young children. They can dress themselves without any help, which is especially practical when they are at school.

Does the fabric look familiar? It's not that I don't have a whole room full of other fabrics, but I just really like this one. I thought it would be fun to make something out of it for Simon too, but I don't know... perhaps it's a little too much Von Trapp?!

When you look closely you see that the two fabrics don't really match, but I still think that they look nice together. That hem fabric was a thriftstore find.

Unfortunately, no photos of my girl twirling away in her new skirt yet, since she and Simon are staying with the oma's at the moment. Naturally, I will add them later.

 More twirling here. Oh, and there's a Flickr group too!

# 2

On offer today are another pair of shorts for Linus, but very different ones!

I'll have to admit that until yesterday I had a great fear of sewing knitted fabrics/tricot. I was convinced that my sewing machine wouldn't be able to sew them and that it would become one big mess. But I'm not afraid anymore! On the contrary, I love sewing knitted fabric now... it's so easy with my overlock stitch. Go try it for yourself, everyone!

I used another pattern from my Ottobre magazine. The pattern was very, very simple... only two pieces! I thought it would be a breeze, but I sewed the wrong sides together and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what I did wrong. I felt so silly, but decided to phone my mother and 30 seconds later I saw my mistake. There was no way that I was going to unpick the seams, so I just cut them off, which worked well.

For the legs I used two bits of tricot board (I don't know if that's the correct English term for it...). I had never used it before, but it worked well. And I don't really mind the fact that it isn't quite the same blue as in the fabric, I think it looks fine.

I bought this brown shirt to go with the shorts yesterday, but I will have to see how it will look on Linus. Perhaps a little too dark for a baby? I don't want him to be a big boy yet!

Unfortunately, no photo of the babe wearing his new outfit today as I had to work and didn't really have time to stage a photo shoot. Of course I will post a photo later! It's later now!

Ok, tomorrow I'll show you something different from trousers and for a different child as well!

By the way, I created a set on Flickr to document my challenge.

# 1

This is the first piece of clothing that I've ever made for Linus and I'm happy with it!

I used this pattern from this summer's Ottobre. It's the first time that I'm using this magazine to sew clothes and it works really well for me. It has good photos, the patterns are easy to make and the descriptions are clear. I will be using more of its patterns this week... just wait and see!

I used a checked lightweight cotton, which I initially bought for myself, but then thought would be really nice for some summer baby trousers.

I added this application that I had kept in my notions' box for many many years. I think it looks nice there. It says something like: for eating, for playing, for making dirty and for cuddling... very appropriate for a baby!

I had to run some errands today and when I walked into my favourite store it turned out that they had a big sale going on: 70 % off selected items! I bought some shirts for Linus, so that he would have a complete outfit and not just a pair of trousers.

Well, and here is the little man himself wearing his brand new trousers! Doesn't he look handsome? I'm afraid he's going to have to fight off many French baby girls when we're on holiday!

So one down, six more days to go. Thank you for all the encouragement yesterday... the harder you cheer, the harder I sew ;)

Personal challenge: a whole week of summer sewing

I woke up this morning feeling very determined. I told myself that today is the day that I finally start my summer sewing for the children!
I have so many ideas going on in my head every day and I have so much fabric lying around and it's all just in my way! I have do something about it NOW... before summer is over!!

So the challenge? I will post something that I've sewn for one of my children everyday this week. I'll start tomorrow and next Monday I'll post the last piece of clothing. This means that by the end of this week I should have at least seven items made.

I know this is a very ambitious plan, but I feel that if I don't set a challenge for myself then I will never get round to it.

I've already been working hard this morning. I've cut out all the patterns that I will be using and I collected all the fabrics that I will need.

Ok, I'd better get going... wish me luck!!

Wriggly

I made a blankie for Linus today. I really wanted to make another ever since I made this one. It has proven to be so practical. Perfect for covering him up when we're feeding outside, excellent to use in the pram or car seat and very easy to wash.

And it's so very simple to make too. Choose a pretty and light fabric and sew that onto a cotton diaper, topstitch the lot and you're done! 

I actually also "quilted" this one, following some of the wavy lines of the print, which made this very quick project a little more time consuming.

I used one of my favourite fabrics. I'm trying to use more of my good fabrics lately. I keep telling myself that I'll enjoy them more when I make something out of them than when they are put away in a cupboard... still, it's difficult sometimes!

Anyway, after I finished it I wanted to take some photos. And Linus was just thrilled to see me! As you can see he was so excited that he simply couldn't keep still... so different from two months ago!

Therefore, the photos are a bit blurry and they don't show the blankie so well... but how could I blame him, my wriggly baby?

That smile makes up for everything! (and he likes his new blankie!)

Bring it on!

At long last the summer holiday in our part of the country started! It feels as if we're the last on the planet to finish school for the summer, but as from today Amber is home and we're all determined to enjoy it.

The fun started yesterday evening when Amber and Simon cuddled up together into one bed. It was one of things they wanted to do this holiday and they didn't waste time. They looked so cute and snugly together! And although they admitted that they chatted for a bit, we didn't hear a thing. Tonight they want to sleep in Amber's bed.... we'll see.

Another thing that was on the holiday to-do list was eating choco-muesli for breakfast. So that's what they had this morning. They were still in their pyjamas and quite frankly, I still am!

We have many more plans for the next six weeks: fun days with all the opa's and oma's, at least one trip to the beach and we'll go to France for two weeks. We're counting off the days already!

The only thing that's not cooperating is the weather... it's like autumn here. So wet and chilly... brrr. I do hope this summer will be better than last year's! It's so funny to think that in other parts of the world summers guarantee warmth and sun; here in Holland it's always a surprise what kind of weather we'll be blessed with. I suppose it keeps things exciting?

As soon as the rain takes a break today I will let the children play outside. Michel made such a wonderful ladder for Simon the other day. He is so pleased with it. His new favourite game is to climb up the tree and to hide something there in the branches. Then Amber or I have to come and see the treasure that he'll pull out which usually is a stick or something.

Look at his little happy face! I will miss him so when he'll start school in September!

Oh, look at these gorgeous flowers that Sarah sent because I attended her wedding! They're beautiful and they bring some much-needed brightness into our house... thank you so much, Sarah!