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At the moment I feel like I am behind in everything. My softie progress has slowed significantly, housework has been neglected, and I have been behind with my blogging. What have I been spending my time on? I couldn’t say really, the days fly by at present.
Anyhow the other day I received a copy of Homespun in the mail, and would you look at who’s inside….
You can find Moby the Whale in the current “Go Green” issue of Australian Homespun. It has loads of other fantastic patterns inside including a very cute apple lunch tote by Meredith Harmer.
If you do make Moby the Whale I’d love to see a picture!
Rachel
Hi there,
Lots of sewing going on here but nothing to share just yet…. I’ve been sewing lots of toys for something exciting that’s coming up, and making some clothes for the kids, Ottobre Jodpurs for Hamish and some very large bellbottoms for Cadel. In other news we had a new addition to the family yesterday… a kitten called Peanut. He is very friendly and the boys are besotted with him.
Apologies about the photo it’s almost impossible to get a good photo of him awake as he is so playful.
In other news, those of you interested in making a Patsy Rabbit for Easter can find the pattern in the current issue of Patchwork and Stitching Magazine. Patsy is a gorgeous little rabbit, and a relatively simple toy for those new to toymaking.
Rachel
Whats your favourite op shop? Mine are the ones in Bega, NSW. I haven’t had a dud haul yet. We were in Bega recently visiting the in-laws and I was lucky enough to have some spare time to pop into a couple. I ended up getting some great books.
A 1977 Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. I already have a general garment sewing book, but this is loads better, every page is full of diagrams of everything from sewing on a button, to more detailed sewing processes. Christy has the same copy and rates it highly.
A Soft toy book and the sweetest cross stitch design book, here are some of the designs in it
Cadel wants me to make the train cross stitch for him, and Hamish wants the truck. I wish one of them wanted the sweet bear/ mouse above though!
a huge stack of Golden Hands books, I now have nearly all of them up to 20. These book are fantastic for the amount of detail and variety of crafts that they include. You can see more images from these on my flickr stream.
I also got these super cute plates for the kids
And some lovely old books for them as well
And a couple of smaller ones that made the long car trip home with them more bearable.
Sydney peeps, I am looking for op shop recommendations because so far as I can tell my local ones are full of overpriced junk.
Rachel
A couple of weeks ago I made a couple of skirts I had got a new fabric order from Quilthome. I already love my New Look 6594 skirt and wear it all the time with a navy t-shirt. I thought another was in order. So I whipped up this little number with a couple of pieces of Amy Butler from the Lotus range.
I say ” whipped up” because this skirt comes together SO QUICKLY. I think I had it made in 40 minutes. The only changes I made were to use an invisible zip and to hand sew the yoke down on the inside which I think looks far more polished (my hand sewing is pretty neat).
In the same sewing session I also made another very modified Barcelona skirt out of this Asiany floral fabric which is really lovely.
I find the Barcelona skirt quite flattering on me and a good day-to-day skirt, I usually make it less A-Line, and in this case I didn’t line it as the fabric was so thick, I just bound the waistband. I didn’t take a photo because honestly if I waited to take a photo of it before blogging I’ll never blog it as they’ve already been waiting a couple of weeks. I’ve worn both quite a few times already!
Rachel
I have been madly sewing away… I am not sure that I am thrilled with the results.
I made Butterick 5211
I made a 14 and graded it to a 12 at the waist and hips. Its okay though I think my bust makes it look a little boxy. I probably could have added a couple of centimetres at the tops of the shoulders. I have quite broad shoulders and I think the dress would be more arm flattering if it were a little longer at the shoulders. Dan says that he likes it on me and asked if I am going to wear it to dinner on Saturday night at Bilsons. I won’t be wearing it anywhere dressy, I think this is going to be a hot day dress for at home and trips to the park.
I also made Simplicity 2586
Again its okay. I made a size 14. I think perhaps I could go down a size, around the chest, but then I think it wouldn’t fit well at the shoulders and underarms. I have decided that these loose-fitting dresses just aren’t right for my body type, which is why I suppose I’ve never actually made anything from my Japanese pattern books. Again I am not sure I will be leaving the house in this either.
That said though I am really happy with the construction of these, not that there was anything very complex involved. My facings on B5211 were perfectly neat as was the neck binding on Simplicity 2586.
Yesterday I was also working on my New look 6594, which just needs to be hemmed so I’ll have that to show soon.
Rachel
As I mentioned yesterday I have been thinking loads about spring wardrobe sewing. I haven’t sewed clothes for ages and I am bursting to get my overlocker out.
I have been stockpiling some fabric for a while.
Cotton poplin from Spotlight, probably for this dress
Butterick 5211 (view B the purple one) a very simple dress for trips to the shops, the park, and weekend outings.
Blue linen blend also from Spotlight… the same as Leslie’s though I wished I’d come across it in Black. Also a mid weight charcoal denim.
I think that the blue Linen would be nice in view A. The charcoal denim is for this skirt
I also plan to embellish a few bought tops. I love how Vintage Dutch girl has adapted hers, and I really like the necklace tanks from the Sew Darn Cute book.
So, I am outlining this to you because honestly I spend much more time thinking about things I am going to make and buying fabric than actually sewing (oh how I hope Dan doesn’t read this). And I hope that by telling you all of my plans it will be a digital kick in the butt to actually make them. Feel free to remind me if I get off track with these.
What do you think? Do you have any Spring (or Autumn if in the Northern hemisphere) sewing plans.
Rachel
I’ve always been a little uncomfortable being the centre of attention… or rather receiving much attention at all, so I was a little uncomfortable when Patchwork and Stitching askied if they could publish an interview with me. That said though I agreed (hoping to drive a little traffic over here- as you do) and it came out along with my pattern for Leander the Lion (or Leola if you prefer). They are in Patchwork and Stitching Vol 11 (2) which is the current issue.
I have been thinking a lot lately about a direction for The Two Windmills. I’m loving that I am fortunate enough to be able to work on my softies, and soon I wil have a massive 2 childfree days a week to devote to softying, pattern writing, etc. I hoping to take it slow and see where it goes. The one certainty I feel at the moment is that I am not ready to go back to working in my profession, I think I am a little burnt out, but then who knows what the future holds, and in a few months I might just change my mind.
Rachel
So back while we were away after finishing these cross stitches I decided to do more. I started thinking about Robots and designed and stitched this.
I was so pleased with it… its even cuter in person… that I wrote it up as a pattern.
The PDF pattern features a complete chart with colour guide, and separate charts for all 26 letters of the alphabet so that you can monogram it for your little one.
It also has instructions for cross stitching if you’ve never cross stitched before.
It along with Moby is available in my Etsy shop.
Rachel
