KCWC Day one / Black-bird-butt

Today marks day one of the Elsie Marley Kids Clothing Week Challenge! Not next Monday. As I thought this morning when I woke up, casually, sauntered downstairs, casually, had a semi-casual breakfast, then sidled over to blogger, where I noticed every second post had ‘KCWC’ in the title. Still casually, I thought: ‘wow everyone is really getting into the preparations this time’ and then I read ‘KCWC day one‘ and realized mid-mouthful, and less casually that KCWC begins today. So first, the bad news: Preparation is nigh. But the good news: I didn’t choke on my poached egg. And it’s actually a good thing that I didn’t spend a week cutting things out and setting myself for an epic KCWC (which I can’t help). Between Hudson turning two this week and Archie having some dentistry done under general anaesthetic next week (quietly fretting), mama is full to the brim with life ‘stuffs’. So by default I’m happily taking the no-plans-see-what-gets-done approach.

To eeeeassse into things I decided to attend to these half finished Sarouels which were abandoned for lack of blue thread and an inclination to get more. I used the same tutorial as these Sarouels which have both been worn to death (literally, they are filthy) all winter. I used ribbing for the cuffs and drawstring and got the rest of it out of this men’s tee. As far as plans go for the rest of the week, I’d really like to use up some more of these thrifty finds for re-fashions.

01/07/2012

For a girl

Boy Makes

And it’s not mine. Don’t freak out mum. Max set the task of sewing something, um, pretty, for Little Sister Week and it had me in a spin. What do I sew for a girl? Do I have a girl style? Would there be pink? Am I the frilly type? But more importantly, who was I going to sew for? As you can probably tell, babes of the girly variety are in short supply around these parts. And the extended family isn’t much help either. So I decided to make something purty for Max’s little girl, Edison..a whimsical frock based on one of my fav boy patterns…can you guess which one? Find out here!

14/06/2012

Not another blooming pair of…

Boy Makes

Yup, it’s anothery. This time a in teal corduroy (thrifted) with mock antique brass anchor buttons (not thrifted). Sitting alongside a vintage transfer singlet and a new fedora made with this dress’s leftovers and this pattern.

I went back for the Oliver and S Sailboat pants pattern to use as a bloomer base again here and I’m pretty smitten with this pair. It’s nice when you like stuff you make. The difference between these and the hot air balloon version is bloomer cuff here fits a lot closer to the leg so there’s a decent amount of puff, which I like.

So you’ve seen the lounging squid singlet here but it’s back again as the perfect partner in crime for these bloomers. They were quite literally made for each other. Why, all of a sudden I’ve been struck by the urge to make little ‘ensembles’, who knows. Anyone else afflicted? Best not to question and just get on with giving this style a fitting title…how about Vintage-Pirate-Modern? Sure, you can use it. And if you want to bloomify some pants for your lil’ man, the tutorial can be found here.

Maybe you’ve started to notice the number of hand-made stuffs photographed ‘on the wall’ out-numbering ‘on the kids’. Clothes on the wall don’t wiggle, since these days ‘photo sessions’ always turn into dance-offs between my one and four year old. On the stairs. On the table. No music necessary. These boys rock to their own beat. But me…I cannot verk in dees conditions!

07/06/2012

Hot air ball-oomers

Boy Makes

Between Kids Clothing Week in April and a jam-packed month of May I feel I’m just coming up for air now. As much as I love the thrills of sewing for a purpose or a challenge it’s nice to return to some slower paced, soul sewing. And that means I’ve finally had the chance to make more vintage boy bloomers! This time I ‘bloomified’ the Basic Pocket Pant from Growing Up Sew Liberated instead of the Oliver and S Sailboats from the Vintage May tutorial. I could try and make it sound glamorous but since the tutorial really only involves gathering the leg openings and adding cuffs, you can use any kids pants pattern you like.

In between scouting for thrifted fabrics and old shirts, Etsy is still my go-to destination for amazing children’s fabrics. There’s still plenty of mileage to go with this one; a japanese linen cotton blend with a charming yesteryear print that lends itself to things like pea coats and boy bloomers.

When I think of vintage clothing, I think of attention to details and there’s no shortage of fun to be had with them here. I widened the waistband for a bit of Harry High Pants and added self-cover buttons (you could add suspenders). Then used a sort of thrifted chambray from the stash for contrasting pocket backing and cuffs. And lastly added piping along the pocket edge. Given my stance on piping, I exercised great restraint here (I ran out).

Paired with a vintage transfer tee they make for a perfectly gentlemanly outfit.

31/05/2012

Squid on a sofa

Boy Makes

While Selma Sack Dress is under construction I’ve got summer singlets and a cringe-worthy story: For a while now I’ve been growing more and more comfortable with sewing knits, maybe even starting to think I’ve got this thing nutted out. Except for the hemming. No matter the stitch length, or how slow and carefully I go, I always end up with puckers. I couldn’t understand it, I’ve been using a walking foot. Haven’t I? Well, last night I found my real walking foot. The one I’d thought was the walking foot was actually my regular foot, and I assumed it must be the walking foot because it moves up and down like, well how a foot walks. It gets worse. Here is a quote from my Kniterview at Made By Rae: ‘I can put all knit sewing success down to the walking foot’. A Kniterview where I was presented as some sort of authority on knits? Someone even went out and bought one on my recommendation. I’m sure it won’t be the last time I make wild sewing allegations in public. But now I’ve actually found and used the real walking foot, it really is fantastic so I am officially re-recommending it.

After the great success of ‘man with antlers’ tee for Vintage May I’ve been itching to make more transfer tees using Leslie Rylie’s unbelievably amazing artist transfer paper. I’ve stocked up on fantastic vintage images like squids on a sofa and a steampunk airship from here. Addicted? Just a little. And Rae’s flashback tee makes the perfect canvas. I should probably be starting to leave sleeves on things but have been swept up in summer singlet action…first inspired by Kristin’s vintage strongman, then Inder’s stripey version and I’m loving the colours and style of Jessica’s singlet here. Kristin’s has a very helpful how-to for modifying the flashback tee to a singlet, which is not just a matter of shearing the sleeves straight off as I would have probably done.

I’m down to the last of what’s been a really great pile of thrifted fabric and having used up most of the bright stuff, am left a muted palette, like these two. It’s kind of refreshing. Maybe it’s the weather getting cooler. Another thing in favor of a good basic like the flashback tee is the fun you can have with mods. Sleeves or no sleeves, patterned or plain, embellished, colour blocked, ribbing or no ribbing. Instead of using regular ribbing for arm and neck bands, I wanted the same fabric as the shirt for the squid one and a contrast stripey knit fabric for the other. Since neither of these knit fabrics are as stretchy as ribbing, the length of the bands are only 1/2 ” shorter than the arm and neck hole measurement instead of the recommended 1″ and it seems to work well. I couldn’t love these any more. Oh, and good news…one just came out of the washing machine with the image intact!