KCW, Days 5 & 6

Day 5: Slept early without sewing (again!).

Day 6: Another late night to make Miss S's new favourite dress, worn today. A pretty, pastel dream of a dress for our girlie girl.



Pattern:
Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress.  Size 4 to fit well next summer.  Great pattern which I have made once before here- that version was very well loved.

Fabric:
Liberty Tana Lawn for mid section- it took 40cm (of wide width, 135cm or so).  From Gardams a few years ago; I think the print is Poppy and Daisy.

Pink gingham from The Fabric Store- beautiful shirting similar in feel to the Liberty.  S loves this one- she has been taking this fabric from the stash and using it for dolls' picnics for some time.



Sewing:
Straightforward the second time around.  After putting on the pockets, I said to my husband 'I've lost my mojo' (no response as he was asleep!), but I decided to do just a bit more, and then it seemed so close to finished, I just kept going.  Soon (well at 3am), I had this pretty little dress!

I do love being able to go out as a family on the weekend and having one of the kids in something I just made the previous night.

I also love that she loves it as much as I do!

KCW, Days 2-4

Day 2:  Slept early and didn't sew!
Days 3 & 4: Another Class Picnic Blouse, this time for Baby Girl D.



Pattern:
Oliver + S Class Picnic Blouse in Size 12-18m for 11 month old Miss D.

Fabric:
Liberty Tana Lawn in Hello Kitty London print (Japanese release).  Had 75cm of 115cm wide fabric.

Sewing:
Lovely, as per last project in this pattern.  Sleeve hems even harder in this smaller size! This pattern is great for Liberty Tana Lawn.

Slightly big at neck- tighter elastic next time maybe.



Adorable on and received lots of compliments when out today!

KCW, Day 1

Stayed up late to get this top done in one night.

Pattern:
Oliver + S Class Picnic Blouse, Size 4 for 4 year old Miss S.

Fabric:
Liberty Jubilee paisley. This is old stuff. I don't think they make Jubilee anymore; it's a cotton/wool blend (mostly cotton). I made a skirt out of this in the mid '90s, but the fabric may be much older as it came from my Mum's stash back then. Got the Size 4 out of my remaining 95cm of 90cm wide fabric. Very soft fabric that frays easily and is a bit jumpy.



Sewing:
First use of this pattern, usual reliable Oliver + S instructions, cute result. Again I struggled with going over multiple thicknesses with my machine so the elastic ends were sewn in by hand. Sleeve hems were a little fiddly as too small to go around my machine's free arm.



So cute on. Slightly big on S who is really a Size 3.

Yay! This fabric owes me nothing now.

Kids Clothes/Liberty Week

So I'm interrupting my autumn knitting to do Kids Clothes Week again.  And after looking at my fabrics it seemed a good opportunity to use up some Liberty.  I don't think I've mentioned it here before, but I have heaps that I have collected since the '90s.  And I've made a total of two items out of this huge collection so far (and neither was blogged).  And now I have two little girls it seems silly to not actually use it while the girls are still little.  So KCW for me will be involving my Liberty stash in every project. Yes I will really cut up and use this beautiful fabric!



Just a small fraction of what I have to choose from!

Finished!

Chevron cowl (for me?).

Doll Kina.  

A nice quick read! And numerous pots of tea.  

Getting it together.

So it's March now?

2013 has not been the easiest year so far, for a whole lot of reasons. A tragedy close to us, one child starting school, another Kindy, and all except baby (bless her) have been needing extra attention. I am slowly accepting that our children, particularly our boys right now, might be orchids rather than dandelions. I have delayed going back to my job, which I'm sure was the right decision, but at times I'm really missing it. So it's my work this year to be a parent and a friend, to notice all the wonderful little moments of which there are still plenty, and to find little ways to nurture myself so I can be there for my loved ones.

A long-winded excuse for starting a new knitting project maybe?

Merry Merry Christmas!

The last of the ornament gifts to be given. Made of Dad's retired shirts and scraps left from kids clothes and quilts.

May the holiday season bring you great food, company and time to appreciate life's gifts.