My Creative Space - A new dress for Miss Madeleine

Good old Kwik Sew pattern 3169 strikes again. I've made it longer, tunic style and added embroidered doily pockets. She says she loves it so fingers crossed she will wear it.

Do you think the dress needs a flower brooch on the neck or is that too much?

Check out more Creative Spaces here

Sewing for Children by Emma Hardy

When we came back from the school run this morning, Eloise and I were extremely excited to find a Fishpond parcel waiting on the doorstep. It was Emma Hardy's latest book: Sewing for Children. I have all of her other books and love the way she explains things. Her books are beautifully illustrated too and full of gorgeous things to make so when I saw she had a book aimed at children I had to have it for my girls.

It's aimed at 3 and above and Eloise (aged 3 1/2) was desperate to get stuck into learning to sew as soon as the book arrived. She chose to make a spoon dolly, which was lucky as it was the easiest project in the book and this was her first time handling a needle and thread. The only sewing involved was a running stitch across the top of the dress to gather it, but she just loved it!

The button is her nose in case you hadn't gathered that!

As soon as she finished this one, she immediately wanted to make another. Could you resist this face?

Needless to say we now have to go and buy some more wooden spoons to replace the ones that are missing from the kitchen drawer.

Cath Kidston - Sew - bag sewalong

After reading Megan's post on her Simple Pleasures blog earlier in the week, I decided to have a go at making my bag kit that came with my Cath Kidston Sew book. I  lined the bag (which is suggested as an alternative version in the book) and turned the facing pieces into a pocket.

The fabric is really quite stiff and had I had the time, I would have put it all through the washing machine to soften it up before I started stitching. The stiffness of the fabric makes the button loop a tricky project. The book suggests that you sew it right sides together and turn it out. With canvas, this is nigh on impossible and I'd highly recommend doing it this way:

EASY ROULEAU STRIP:
Turn both long edges into the middle and press.

Fold in half lengthwise again and press.

Stitch along the long edge and you have your rouleau strip without any frustrating turning.

To make the pocket out of the facing I did the following:

Put the facing pieces right sides together and stitch along the long edge.

Fold in half lengthwise and press. Cut along the fold.

\

Straighten the pointed end.

 

Stitch the pieces together so you have four strips.

 
 

Cut out a piece of lining fabric the same size and stitch right sides together with the outer pocket piece. Leave a gap of about 6cm to turn. Clip corners.

Turn right side out and top stitch.

Fold lining piece of bag in half and price to mark centre. Line up centre of pocket with the fold on the lining and pin and stitch in place around three sides, double stitching at the top edges.

Here's my finished bag with the pocket peeking out.

It's the perfect size for me to take to the Craft Market on Sunday so thanks Cath Kidston... loving my new bag!

Yes honestly, this is as tidy as it gets...

I'm just about to go and make a big mess in my sewing room so here are some 'before' photos. Don't expect any after ones. I can't work tidily. It destroys my creative process (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

The machines and the music.

Close up of my ironing board. (You needed to see how cute this fabric is.)

My inspiration/pattern/random board. (Note to self, buy bigger board).

Packed to the rafters. I need to find more time to use this stuff and do less shopping. It's almost time to bring the winter weight fabrics down off the top shelf and start using those. Maybe I should go to the beach today instead.

An old kitchen unit we salvaged when neighbours were getting a new kitchen. It's the perfect size and height for my "couldn't live without it" self healing mat, ruler and rotary cutter. The picture above it is by Sandra Waine. It's called "Letting Love slip away" and is a reminder to me to spend less time in here and more with my family. (Very deep I know).

and finally, my gorgeous, bodacious, fabulous handpainted doll by Jennie of A Little Vintage. You can see both Jennie and Sandra at this weekend's Devonport Craft Market if you happen to be in the area.

My Creative Space

Today, I'm working on a secret project for a friend. It's pretty tricky knitting in black and yellow as it tends to assault the senses but I'm enjoying the challenge.

Mum is helping with her own piece. I'll add a photo of hers later as she's just taken it off with her. (I've just added it at the bottom of this post.)
If you want to join in, you can do by visiting this blog.

I've also been making my sewing room pretty. I made the ironing board cover yesterday from some fabric I found in the Spotlight sale. This is the second ironing board cover I've made using Emma Hardy's Sewing in No Time book and it's really quick and easy. The birds came from Chandler Market in Brisbane. You can probably find something similar on Trade Me or Ebay.

I found this old shelf unit at the op shop last week and it's perfect for my overlocking threads which tend to get lost in amongst all my fabric and magazines on the shelves.

And here are some of the wee cuties that I've found in op shops over the years that had to come home with me. My girls play with them when they are in my sewing room. You can just see the legs of one of Jennie's dolls. I'll take a photo of her another day.

Pop over to Kootoyoo for more Creative Spaces.
Have a great Thursday!

P.S. I've just finished the Jolly Roger piece.

and here's Mum's finished piece:

It hasn't photographed very well but trust me it looks awesome.

And the winner is....

Da da da da.........

Strickbombe! Email me your address A and I will pop your goodies in the post to you.

My Creative Space

There's such a fun game going on over at Kootoyou .

Here's my Creative Space for today.

It's blazing sunshine outside but I'm knitting a snuggly kitten sweater for Miss Eloise. It's from a gorgeous 80s Vogue pattern book that I stole from my Mum.

I've added some stripey sleeves because I had some balls of wool to use up and I wasn't sure I'd have enough of the pink. That last ball is always nail biting for me! My lovely parents arrive for a visit from Australia today. I will give Mum the other sleeve to do. She hates to see me knit when she has nothing to do herself.