Sunday, July 31, 2011

Shopping and Haircuts

We had a busy weekend....


New lunch boxes were purchased in the City.




What you end up with in your trolley when you don't supervise the baby!




Does anyone know what it tastes like?


What you buy when your machine is serviced for free!




Yes,several pieces are japanese cotton and I DID buy them in Spotlight!


What you do for your daughters to cheer them up because school is not much fun!


Miss E had the chop!














Miss Z had a colour!








ALL SORTS


x N

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Sketchbook Re-discovered

(Sung to the Tune 'Lollipop' by Mika)

I was looking on the shelf one day
For some skirts I had cut in May
When to my great surprise
shirt appeared before my eyes!


Cut too much and forget to label and you're gonna miss the size
Cut too much and forget to label and you're gonna miss the size
OH YES
OH YES
Then you're gonna kick your self
OH YES
OH YES
Then you're gonna kick your self


Tiny seams I will have to sew
To give Son his room to grow
Longer cuffs and high neck band
Will add pomp to the collar stand

Big seams built in save the day Thank you O+S
Big seams built in save the day Thank you O+s

OH YES
OH YES
Or I 'd have been in the pooh
OH YES
OH YES
Or I'd have been in the pooh



Feeling tired I should really stop
Wanna do the collar before I drop
Collar down neat,collar up bold
The yellow goes under the fold

Always check before you sew or you're gonna stuff it up
Always check before you sew or you're gonna stuff it up 

OH YES
OH YES
The collar's on the wrong way round
OH YES
OH YES
The collars on the wrong way round


Well I sat down and had a big cry!
Then my Son came walking by
'Hey Mum,there's is no need to sob,
that collar is just the job' 

The collar can stay,he likes the look,Thank God for groovy sons
The collar can stay,he likes the look,Thank God for groovy sons

OH YES
OH YES
Cause it can stay that way
OH YES
OH YES
He likes it just that way
OH YES
OH YES
I'm not changing it any way!



Apologies to Mika



Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Speechless

I just 'won' this on  E-bay  
My Twins jumped around like I had purchased them Liberty!
I guess it will make nice Hopscotch dresses


I am just going to slink off and cry for a little while....

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Last Day of the Holidays

Today we went to the beach,it was cold and we made sandcastles.
I like the beach.






Words by Missy L
Photos by Son&Heir

Friday, July 22, 2011

Serendipitous Starling Dress Part 4

Sometimes,no matter how careful we think we are being,we make mistakes.
Sometimes,they turn out to be happy ones!


Let me explain.....
When attaching the zipper in the Wren dress,I stitched it in from the bottom of the yoke instead of the top!
It would have been easy enough to unpick but after consulting Miss E we decided to work with it.

Please note,the variation from the original pattern.
Thank you.




Apply interfacing to the back sides as directed in the pattern instructions.



Prepare your zipper by rolling it open and ironing flat.




If your zip is too long Charlotte has some tips on shortening it.




Like so!
Just look in the instructions.




Following the directions,pin the right side of the zip to the right side of the fabric.



Baste in place for ease of sewing.


Sew as close as possible to the coils of the zipper.



Repeat with the other side,basting the right side of the zip to the right side of the fabric.
It can be helpful to mark the other side with chalk to help match accurately.



Pin and baste in place then stitch.



The sewn in zip.



The top view.



Following the pattern instructions stitch the back seams together.





Perfect zipper(Can you see why I did not want to unpick)!

Nicole's mistake/alteration:




Press the seam allowance of the yoke inside.



Make a bias strip long enough to make three button loops.





Pin in place to seam allowance of the back yoke.
Sew in place,keeping your stitching in the seam allowance.




Fold the facings down and pin in place.





I chose to top stitch from the right side but you could hand sew the facings in place.



The finished 'mistake'

Gorgeous buttons from the Gorgeous Peta


A happy mistake.
Now,back to the original Starling dress.



The pattern suggests clipping and turning the hem of the facing to the inside which would give you a lovely neat finish.
As the broderie I was using was quite 'bumpy' I elected to neaten the edge only.

Pin the facing in place from underneath.



Taking care,topstitch the yoke in place catching the yoke facing as you sew.



Following the pattern,hem the sleeves.

Hemming the dress.
I was going to use pre-made hemming tape,but the dress was so pretty I couldn't bear to!



Following the instructions cut the hem binding.



Consider pre-pressing one edge.



Pin the binding following Clever Charlottes super simple method-I love it!



Ready to sew!



After pressing well,hand sew the binding ends together.



Sew in your gorgeous complimentary label.



Voila...The Starling Dress.




A darling dress.




For my darling girl.
















Shhhh...you will scare the starlings!


I have so many ideas for this dress!
Black linen with cream hand stitching detail or soft denim with lots of topstitching or a wool check with cream flannel yoke and flounce or or or...


Good instructions,very well cut pattern pieces and a very clever little frill detail make for a snappy dress that sews quickly.
The fit is roomy,very handy for those tummy's,but definitely not baggy.
Can't wait to see yours!
Thank for reading
x N