Saturday, February 27, 2010

Cross Back Merino Singlet


This is my first ever total own creation item of clothing that I have made! Its a black merino tank with a tied cross back and a zipper rosette with a button in the center. I am so so excited as I did not use a pattern for this and I just made it how I pictured it in my head. I have always wanted to create my own clothing line, maybe this is piece number one!  I've even got the materials to make my own labels, just got to get around to doing it! Well here are the photos, as always let me know what you think!


Saturday, February 20, 2010

Photo Problems

I have been made aware that there are problems with the photos on all posts from the nikoro bag and before, I am working on this sorry! Just have to upload the photos again... what a drag!

Nursery Rhyme Book

This cute book is a present for a friends new born baby. I've had the panel for ages and finally got around to making it :)


Preschool Cushions

I was asked to make some cushion covers for preschool and found these two cute cotton prints.
Here is the final product, I love them...

Kwik Sew 3667 B

I liked view A of this pattern so much I decided to try view b, and I like this one even better.
I used a white stretch knit with pretty blue flowers, and a matching navy stretch knit for the waistband.
Let me know what you think...



Monday, February 15, 2010

Tea Rose Home Giveaway!!!

As you all know I love bags!!! and Tea Rose Home (one of my regular reads... go check it out!!!) Is giving away a kit for her newest bag and I just have to be in that draw!!! Click here to check it out! Make sure you enter yourself too... or maybe you shouldn't so I have more chance :P just kidding, go do it!!!
You can see her blog at http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/
Here is a sneak peak.... but go go go to her website to see more for yourself... (pic from her tutorial at UCreate)

Kwik Sew 3667


I have just finished my second ever clothing garment, well maybe I've made a few more than that but not in recent years.... it is Kwik Sew 3667, very easy pattern, I used a light weight stretch knit, I wouldn't recommend this, it really calls for something heavier... I am going to try it with sweatshirting, which I imagine will look much better. Anyway here's some photos...

Sorry about the formatting, its being a bit of a pain tonight.
Let me know what you think!

Friday, February 12, 2010

I'm so excited... and I just can't hide it....

Why am I so excited you ask....? Because.... I just got my new sewing machine today!!!
Check it out here!!! Its very exciting and runs like a dream. I love that it suggests the stitch length and width.

Can't wait to use it! I have done one small project on it, a cell phone cover for my brother but I've got much more in store for this baby!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Playing Pay it Forward

playing pay it forward

So, my blog friend, Lia ...told me to join this thing called Pay It Forward...so I thought...Why Not??? so I went to Lia's Space of Thoughts to be hers...

Here are the rules....


1. You must have a blog to play.

2. The first three people to comment on this post agree to play Pay it Forward by posting on their blog and playing with the first three people that comment on their blog.

3. I agree to send, sometime withing 365 days, a gift (handmade) to those same three people who commented on this blog post. (That is the "playing" part!) The gift doesn't have to be crafty, so don't worry about that...mmm...I think I'm going to tweak this a bit...mine would either going to be handmade...or...handmade supplies :)...

Sounds like a lot of fun, right! It really is as easy as it sounds, go head and leave a comment.  It is open internationally....

Come on and join in the fun!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Angela Tutorial - My first tutorial...



As promised here is the Angela bag tutorial. This is my first tutorial so I would appreciate some feedback. Any questions/ suggestions are welcome. As featured on Today's Creative Blog.
Supplies:
1m Outer material - I used vintage curtain material
1m Lining - I used light weight cotton.
1m Firm Iron-on Interfacing
This should have some material left over.

Download Pattern here . Print out and photocopy at 175% to fit on A3.



1. Cut fabric, placing pattern on the fold. Cut 2 outer, 2 lining and 2 interfacing. Decide desired width of strap and multiply it by 4, cut to desired length.





2. Pin lining right sides together.
Iron interfacing to wrong sides of outer fabric. Make sure the shiney side of the interfacing in against outer fabric.
Pin outer bag right sides together.

3. Sew the edges of outer with 1.3cm or 1/2" seam allowance. Do the same with the lining only leave a 4" gap along one of the sides for turning.
Use a 1.5 or 5/8" seam allowance for the lining.


4. Trim close to seam (about 6mm). I use pinking shears to stop any fraying but this isn't necessary



5. Finger press seams open. This can also be done with an iron, but with sturdy fabric finger pressing will work just as well.

6. Turn and press.



7. Fold handle in half and press. Open up and fold sides to the middle (If you want a wider handle and don't have enough material to make it 4x the width you can just fold a little material in instead of folding it all the way to the middle).





8. Fold back in half and press.

9. Pin and top stitch close to the edge, I sewed at 5mm from the edge.

10. Pin end of handle to the outer bag, matching the seam to the middle of the handle.






Sew in place using box stitch to secure.






12. Place outer bag inside lining, right sides together (i.e outer right side out, inner wrong side out). Make sure the handles are between the outer bag and the lining. 
Pin top edges together matching seams.
Sew at 1.5cm or 5/8".


13. Press seam to the inside.




14. Reach through the gap you left in the lining and pull the outer bag through. Make sure you bring the handle back through as well.
Sew the gap you left in the lining, close to the edge and press.
Push the lining into the bag.





15. Press the top edge. You can topstitch if you wish.

Congratulations, you have now finished your Angela bag :D








Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Shawl for Gran

I am making a shawl for my Gran's birthday and just had to share with you pics of the fabric I'm using...
When I saw this I just had to get it! and there is even material left over after the shawl. I haven't finished that yet so I'll post it when I'm done but take a look at this fabric....

Is it not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, well maybe I shouldn't go that far but it is gorgeous!
Do you think this will go with my Noriko Handbag? http://handmadebyauntyphyllis.blogspot.com/2010/02/noriko-handbag.html
I'm hoping so, I'm planning on giving her both.... what do you think?


Angela Bag


I have decided to call this bag Angela, it just seems to fit. It is a circle bag in a pretty vintage flower fabric, pretty sure it used to be a curtain :P the lining is pink cotton. It is the same pattern as my classic circle bag only double the size and I added a strap instead of the handles, which I think is much better! It was my first time doing handles through lining too!

I have a tutorial for this one, I promise it is coming, I just don't have the time to add it right now. Check back for it tomorrow!


Something Useful for the Kitchen

If you're anything like me, there are about a million blogs you subscribe to... I love that google reader puts them all in one place... if you don't have it, TRY IT!!! you must! http://www.google.co.nz/reader/view/?hl=en&tab=wy#overview-page sign up and add all your fav blogs, its so easy. If you're short of ideas check my blog roll for some AWESOME blogs.

If you're anything like me, you'll also have some blogs that you stay subscribed to even thou you never really read them or find anything interesting in them... I have a few of these... but today in one of these such blog was something really useful! Hurrah for hoarding blogs.

Now usually when I need a bag holder like this one below I ask my Gran to make it. Now I have found this great tutorial so I can make it myself! Check it out for yourself, these things are super handy, never again will you have to hide the mess of plastic bags. I have one of these for plastic, however I want one for all my reuseable bags too, so add this to the list of things to do :P
http://sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/502-nature-brights-kitchen-plastic-bag-keeperdispenser

Monday, February 1, 2010

Some of my favs from around the web

FREE "The Detour Diaper Bag" Pattern

This lovely diaper bag is a long time in the making. I designed, tweaked and perfected this one over and over. Guess how much I'm charging for it? It is yours FREE.Yes, here is a completely new free diaper bag pattern for you to print and use. This one is the real deal. Seam allowances and all that "real pattern" goodness.

free diaper bag pattern backfree diaper bag pattern back


DIY Maternity Yoga Pants
Here are some handy DIY maternity yoga pants instructions for you! No need to buy stretchy pants when you can sew these on the cheap and in fabrics you like. http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/maternity-yoga-pants.html

diy maternity pants pattern


A [wo]man, a plan, an inexpensive TV tray: new pressing board!

Pressing Board Top
This is a tutorial for a pressing board from a tv dinner table.
I love this tutorial! You must must go over to Oh Franson and check this out!  http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/01/a-woman-a-plan-an-inexpensive-tv-tray-new-pressing-board.html
Just what every sewing Goddess needs.



Cat pouch

Cloth pouch in cat shape.
Black cat pouch


Is this just not the cutest bag?!?! It is definately on my to do list! Put it on yours too... find the tutorial here http://nuno-runo.blogspot.com/2010/01/cat-pouch.html