22/08/2011

Pea Pod Baby Carrier

To be honest I’m a bit of a mad Ergo baby carrier devotee. I’ve recommended it to so many unwitting mothers that any day now Ergo will call and announce that, as their unofficial sales rep, 5c from every carrier will be donated to me. So before this becomes an Ergo rant, I must press that no baby carrier (and we’ve tested a few) has compared to its comfort and convenience, especially for a mum who goes handbag / pram-free when she can get away with it.

Thus, it was for cosmetic reasons alone that I fell in love with the Pea Pod carrier designed by Sascha of Piccoli Piselli (a must-see blog for boy sewing inspiration) and went out and bought the same Heather Ross fabric and contrast. I’m highly imaginative, you know. There were no pre-expectations for the Pea-pod to compare to beloved ergo and no hard feelings if it just turned into pure hip-candy.

and the verdict…

We love our Pea Pod! I followed Sascha’s recommendation of making the shoulder strap wider over the shoulder area, than the original measurement for added comfort. So even with the weight distributed off-centre it supports this 10kg bruiser with surprising comfort. A great pattern with easy construction. Not to mention it’s mighty purty too!

24/06/2011

Cloudy with a chance of…

Boy Makes

Here’s a hoodie from a while ago that was forgotten amidst all the excitement of celebrating the summer boy. Its a knit version of Heidi and Finn’s comfy yoga top, also seen here and here (truly a loved pattern). Definitely an appropriate print for a boy who has his head in the clouds. The cloud print is from a pre-loved ladies shirt we’re now down to one front panel (sob, we had some good times together).

18/06/2011

Pirate Revival

Boy Makes

Aaaarrrr ye know what they say, betterrrrr late than neverrrr aye! This was the 3rd and final installment for Celebrate the Summer Boy. Another re-fashion and another pilfer from daddy’s ever-shrinking wardrobe.

Did you see Dana’s rad board short tutorial? I will agree that unless you make boardies in regular cotton, like these beauties from Made by Rae, cool swimear fabric is few and far between. So can you imagine my excitement when these actual men’s boardies retired last summer?! As for their construction; it was a first attempt at a pants re-fashion and it did come together in the end but the insides are butchered!

I’ve been eyeing off this men’s surfie tee and awaiting its hand-me-down, knowing it would make the perfect little boy’s summer singlet. I’ve never made a singlet before and it was much the same as constructing a shirt pattern from an already existing one. The contrasting ribbing is a stripey knit fabric and I think I will coin this creation a nautical ensemble with a hint of pirate.

AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

11/06/2011

Aqua, white and all things nice

Boy Makes

And now may I present to you, unapologetically, another pair of Oliver and S sailboat pants. Maybe its time for a new gig…anyone tried the sketchbook pants? I wanted to make this version in dreamy aqua and white for the last few days of Celebrate the Summer Boy, and then its back to reality…winter.

I did forewarn that there would likely be a mass ‘pipification’ of everything following this project.

So when my local ran out of the real thing there was no choice but to DIY. I’d never have thought it was as simple as slotting some cord inside bias tape; so obvious now.

The best part: my gentle pestering finally paid off and this vintage photo tee was generously donated to our cause; that is to be hacked up and re-fashioned from daddy to Archie size. No part of the beast was wasted and even the ‘v’ neck made it across.

07/06/2011

Hot Chips and Seagulls

Boy Makes

I’m so excited that Dana and Rae have announced a summer edition of Celebrate The Boy. I’d been mourning the loss of Celebrate the Boy month since it finished up, and pining for the next one. I’d be quite happy if we celebrated monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, whenever. So even though we are approaching winter I couldn’t resist jumping on board and pretending its already summer… maybe the clothes will fit come the real thing.

A thrifted men’s mustard shirt re-fashioned to Oliver and S Sailboat pants, also seen here.

This top was experimental sewing in action! I was dreaming of something slouchy with a hint of nautical. I traced one of Archie’s shirts to get the basic pattern, and kept the original front piece of this women’s size 14 shirt. Its super stretchy so I thought to try cotton stay tape on the bottom seam and also the shoulders so it didn’t pucker. It worked like a dream! I wanted to add a little detail on the sleeves and added a tab / flap (plucked from a dress, complete with button holes) and some thrifted buttons.

The window of opportunity for capturing this human pinball is ever shrinking. When our backdrop becomes a cocoon and I can see myself turning all ‘stage mom’, we call it a day.