Quilt for Sofia

I made this quilt top a good long while back.



Read more after the jump!

Jump Rope

I made some progress on that dress for Isabel last night. The placket and collar are both done and I sped through one sleeve to make sure I had planned it correctly.

It turned out well, but I am a little conflicted about the sleeve. I may have to take it out and make some alterations, but I'm not sure how to go about it.

I may have to consult my teacher (aunt) and see what tips she can give me.

Grading - how I do it

I talked to a friend about grading patterns the other day. She wanted to use a popular O+S pattern but it only went up to size 5. I have a few patterns in size 8 that I adore on Isabel, but she is migrating into a lengthened size 10 by now so this is something I have done a few times.

When I told her I had successfully graded the pattern in question to a size 6 she was interested to know how I did it.

So, here are some pictures of another pattern I was grading anyway - I hope it will give her and maybe someone else the general idea on how to grade a pattern.
It's not failsafe and there are probably many other ways to do it, but this is how I learned and it gives you a place to start - make adjustments as needed.

Also this works only on patterns where all sizes are stacked on the page.

New coat - KCWC Day 1

I spent the weekend sewing a new coat for Sofia. The one I made her this winter is too warm by now so she needed a new one.

I based it on the School Days Coat by Oliver + S but instead of a hood I put in a collar.
I also added some width in the back via a box pleat. Turns out I didn't really need to, but now it's there I sort of like it.

I still have to do some hand stitching on it. The lining needs to be sewn to the coat. I also have to find buttons that are large enough and make button holes for those.

The coat is so much fun to sew. It comes together easily and beautifully.

The size 6 is large on Sofia since it's meant to have a quilted under coat in it, so I'm planning on tracing a size 8 for Isabel and see how it fits her.
In a light denim with a cotton lining it should fit her with just a few minor alterations. Length, specifically.

This is part of the KCWC Spring 2011 challenge - Day 1.

Self improvement

It was a glorious 9 degrees outside this morning and I hope I can say that Spring is finally here.

The girls were both excited about the sunny skies and went outside with out their coats on. However it turned out to be quite windy and the breeze isn't warm enough yet to allow that.



They both wore their new dresses and looked very neat and prim. Isabel wore hers yesterday as well and received a few compliments on the dress.

I confess that is one of my favourite parts of sewing for the girls. The comments. No matter how simple a garment you've made, if people know you made it they are automatically impressed.
I never fish for comments though, but the girls are usually very proud of their new clothes and aren't afraid to tell people "Mommy made this!"

I also get a bit frustrated sometimes when people compliment and think that I'm being bashful when I focus on what I could have done better. They think it's false modesty, but I feel I'm at a point now where my results sometimes should be better.
I see the mistakes and the fudging I made but other people don't.



I've stopped pointing out my mistakes and I just soak up the praise but still I know I can do better.
For instance on this dress the collars aren't really to my liking. They stretch in a funny way as if one side is too short somehow. (And of course it doesn't show in a picture because I make sure to make adjustments before photographing it)
I still love the result it's just that after making so many collars I should do better.

Ah well. I'll keep practising and we'll see where it gets me.

Vintage flair

Well, here's the finished result. Two pretty Jump Rope Dresses for two pretty girls.

They picked the fabric themselves and I added the white pindot fabric for the plackets and collars because the fabric had a vintage flair to it and I thought the white plackets would add to that retro feeling.



This is the contented smile of my 6 year old getting to try on her new dress for real for the first time.



And here's my 3 year old showing her dress off. She does this easiest by dancing.

Sewing information: Fabric bought at Stoff och Stil, 100 % cotton.

Pink dress: Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress size 8 graded to a size 9-ish, placket lengthened 1", bodice lengthened 1", skirt lengthened 2".
Blue dress: Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress size 6 - no modifications.

Princess Di is wearing a new dress ...

Monday morning I cut out the last two pieces for Isabel's new School Photo Dress.

This dress has been on my list for a while. At first I didn't really care for it, but being the Oliver + S junkie that I am I still bought the pattern.
It has a hidden front pocket and an invisible zipper in the back. Both features that would normally put me off the project.

But then I've seen so many pretty dresses from this pattern in the Oliver + S Flickr pool I decided to make it for Isabel.

So I spent the weekend tracing the pattern onto some interfacing to use as templates and on Sunday night I pinned everything and cut out the dress.
I pinned the lining late Sunday night and didn't want to chance messing it up so I left it for the next day.

As the girls were hopping about Monday morning, getting ready for school and daycare I had a few moments to spare so I cut out the lining pieces and decided to get started sewing in the afternoon.



It was a lot easier than I had anticipated. The instructions to all Oliver + S patterns are always top notch.

So since I excel at following directions I had the dress constructed in record time. I would have had it almost completely done on Monday night, but my serger is a bit too loud to run at 11 pm, so I had to stop.

I finished up last night, and all I have left is attaching the lining to the zipper and sewing in the hook and eye and buttons. But I didn't want to do that sewing last night since the dress is white. I was sure I would prick my finger and bleed all over it if I attempted that at 10 pm.

More to come.

Sewing progress

Last night I started sewing a School Photo Dress for Isabel.

Now, I know the old saying: Pics or it didn't happen! But I'll leave this as a teaser for later tonight.



I will share these though. Popover Sundresses for the girls' dollies. I used my Oh-Cherry-Oh Layer Cake and Charm Pack to make them.
One layer cake piece fit one dress panel, so in total 4 layer cake pieces (2 for the dress panels and 2 for the bias tape) and one charm square to make one dress.
These was even leftovers to make an apron or a head scarf.

Oh, joy!

I'm sewing again!

I have only cut out the pieces, but I'm going to start sewing tonight.

After I come home from the fabric store.

I also signed up for Pink Chalk's Fabric Club. I'll get 8 yards of solids once a month, this first shipment will be in pinks.

As I was re-organising my fabric stash I realised I have very little solids or the equivalent of solids (tiny dots, stripes, checks). I guess when I buy fabric from the States I tend to get the prints since space in the shipment is limited. I need to get better about that.

So tonight, if the girls aren't too tired, hungry and cranky we're going to the fabric store.

I want to get fabric for linings and bodices, I'm getting oilcloth for a coat for Sofia, some acetate lining fabric, some broadcloth, my favourite gingham in several colourways, 2 pillow forms 16" square, zippers and thread.
I will try my very best not to get any more printed fabric as I have loads and loads of that at home.

I found some cotton heirloom fabric that I think will make a nice dress for Isabel and one for Sofia. They had two patterns and of course I preferred the one that cost almost twice as much as the other.

I also plan to get some interfacing to trace pattern pieces on. It will be a lot more durable than tissue paper.
I'm not a huge fan of tracing patterns though as it takes so long, but once it's done it will save me time.

I hope.

Enough is enough.

OK. That's it.

I have to get back to my sewing.

I was browsing the Oliver + S pool on Flickr and I saw so much of the pretty!

I also have to get my hands on some of the City Weekend fabric before it's gone forever. Only problem is how to chose.

I think I'll buy myself some for my birthday which is in two weeks.

Remake

I made this quilt for Isabel in 2004 just before she was born. Today I can't believe I actually got it finished. A pin wheel design isn't something for a beginner.

It's not perfect but it filled its purpose and now it's too small for her. So I've been toying with the idea to make her a new one on the same design.

I have some French General fabric at home that I had intended to make a dress or skirt for the girls from. But I'm thinking a quilt would be just as lovely.

Fore thought

Over a year ago I saw a video tutorial on Youtube on how to make a Christmas tree table runner from a Jelly roll. It was super easy and I really wanted to have it done before Christmas this year.

I bought Fruitcake by Basic Grey for Moda and it's perfect for this. I used part of the jelly roll block to make curtains for the lunch nook and I had well intended plans to make a runner before the holidays.

Then Sofia got chicken pox and suddenly it was Christmas and no point any more.



But when my free Saturday rolled around on Jan 1st I decided to start it and that way I might have the runner done by next Christmas.

I basted it last night and started quilting it on my machine, but since I used green thread on the top and white on the back it looked really bad on the backside.

So I've almost decided to pick out the quilting I've done and hand quilt it instead .. after all. I have almost 12 months to get it done.

Wordless Monday

Ready for a Playdate

There - one dress, ready to wear.

It needs to be washed. There are still some trace lines on the inside of the sleeves. Sofia asked to wear it tomorrow though and I agreed.

I'll definitely make one more - I had a thought on how to bind the neckline and add the piping in one go that I want to try.

I also loved the construction of the yoke. Almost like a puzzle - and no hand stitching!

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 18}

I started tracing the Birthday Party dress from Oliver + S for Sofia yesterday.

I have been a bit intimidated by the pattern. It has three scissors and is supposed to be a bit harder than the other patterns.
I made a Puppet Show Tunic for Sofia this summer and that was a three scissor pattern, so maybe it's not a huge deal.

I hate it when I'm coming over to a friend who says "You're welcome to come over, but please ignore the mess." And when I come over the place is spotless.

I told my friend who's coming over tonight that our place is messy, but yesterday we managed to get some cleaning done.

I finally got around to really vacuum under our beds. Rickard lifted one mattress on top of the other so it was easier.

I also changed the sheets in all the beds at once. I usually stagger it so that I change the girls' beds but not ours. Mostly for laundry purposes. But not this time.

I also put Sofia's duvet into the cover. She has complained about being cold and wanted lots of blankets and quilts. But when she's too warm at night she starts to cough so it's a fine line to tread.

So tonight when we get home I'll get some laundry done. Hopefully I can swing by the store on my way home to get some more yoghurt for the girls' breakfast tomorrow.
We also need some sort of supper.
And I have ground meat in the fridge that needs to be taken care of - I'm making meatloaf.

I also cleared the kitchen last night and this morning I emptied the dishwasher and loaded what was dirty, so the kitchen is still cleared.

I hope she's not intimidated.