Holiday Debut Blog Tour

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Já está tudo em modo de festa? Ah pois é, Dezembro cheira a glamour e aconchego. E eu tenho o prazer enorme de participar neste tour, com tanta gente talentosa, e criações tão magnificas, perfeitas para estes dias festivos. Este tour, apresenta 3 moldes, de 3 designers que celebram assim, o fim do seu primeiro ano como designers. Os moldes são o Fishtal Kimono (Chalk & Notch), o Abby Footed Tights (The Wolf and the Tree) e o Blue Ridge Dress (Hello Holly Patterns), e eu, hoje, apresento-vos as minhas versões dos dois primeiros. 

Are you all into festive mood? Oh yes, December smells like glamour and cosiness. And I have the great pleasure of being part of this tour today, with a lotof talented people, and gorgeous crestions, perfect for the holidays. This tour, presents 3 patterns, from 3 designers that are now celebrating the end of a year as new designers. The patterns are the Fishtal Kimono (Chalk & Notch), Abby Footed Tights (The Wolf and the Tree) and Blue Ridge Dress (Hello Holly Patterns), and I have picked the two first ones to show you my versions today. 

Ambas as peças me deram imenso gozo, e foram super rápidas de fazer. Comecemos então por onde eu comecei também, que foi por escolher o tecido para as meias. A partir dai tive que escolher o tecido para o kimono, queria algo que fosse digno das festas, mas que ficasse bem com as meias e que desse também para conjugar com outros looks no dia a dia. E depois de analisar bem as possibilidades de todos os meus tecidos, acabei por escolher o mesmo veludo preto que usei para fazer os Bubble Shorts, o molde da Marta (Do Guincho), e que infelizmente já não servem à G. Infelizmente também preto e veludo não são propriamente a coisa mais fácil de se fotografar, e os detalhes nas costas do mesmo, ficam impossíveis de serem vistos nas minhas fotos, e é por isso que não há nenhuma sequer. Ó sim, e ela tem um buraco mesmo no meio da blusa porque caiu mesmo antes das fotos e rasgou-a, para grande tristeza minha, já que é uma das minhas preferidas. 

Both pieces were amazingle fun to make, and quick. Let's start from where I started too. which was the fabric for the footed tights. From there I had to pick the fabric for the Fishtail Kimono. I wanted something suitable for the holidays but alsowearable with daily looks. And after going throgh all the fabrics available on my stash, I picked the same velvet fabric I used for the Bubble Shorts by Marta (Do Guincho), and sadly don't fit G. anymore. Sadly as well, velvet and black aren't really the easiest thing to shoot, and the back details are nearly impossible to see in my photos (and that's why I am not posting a back view of this). Oh yes, she does have a hole in her sweater because she fell right before we started photographing, and it ripped, I was so deeply sad, because this is one of my faves. 

O kimono vem com opção de ajustar a altura das mangas e do corpo. As costas são compostas por duas peças, sendo que a parte de baixo é franzida no centro criando um detalhe interessante e feminino. E os tamanhos vão do XXS (18-24M) ao XXL (12 anos). Embora as medidas da G. a enquadrassem no S, eu fiz o XS e ainda bem, porque ainda assim, é bastante largo. 

The kimono comes with lenght and sleeve lenght adjustment cut lines. The back are built out of two pieces, and the lower one gathers in the center, creating an interesting and feminine detail. Size range starts at XXS (18-24M) to XXL (12 years). Although G.'s measurements would fit her into a S, I chose to make the XS and I am glad I did since there is a lot os ease in this pattern. 

O nosso look pode não parecer muito festivo, bem sei, mas não temos o habito de nos vestirmos formalmente nestas ocasiões passadas em família, claro que ainda espero fazer um vestido para ela, mas nada demasiado glamoroso. Mas continuando, e passando então às meias. Foram uma surpresa agradável. O molde traz na realidade dois moldes, um indicado para tecidos com elasticidade em dois sentidos, e outro para tecidos com elasticidade nos 4 sentidos. O meu, foi o segundo. A cintura também oferece dois acabamentos: cintura com dobra (tipo yoga) e cintura com elástico. Neste caso não segui as instruções e apliquei o elástico da mesma forma que faço sempre. São 17 tamanhos disponíveis, dos 0-14, e sim, pergunto-me se me servirão a mim também?! 

Our look isn't as festive as you'd imagine, I know, but we don't usually fancy up much for those family celebrations, of course I am still planning on making her a cute dress, but nothing too glamorous. Anyway, let's move to the footed tights. Those were a good surprise. The patterns comes actaully with two patterns, one for two ways stretch fabrics and another one for 4 ways stretch fabrics. I used the last one. The waistband has two ways too, one is a yoga waistband and the other one is an elastic waist. I went with the second option again, but I didn't follow the instructions tofinish it, instead I did it as I always do. There are 17 sizes in this pattern, from 0 to 14 years and yes, I am wondering if they fit me too?!

Alguém reparou nos outras peças feitas à mão desta publicação? São outras 3: A boina feita pela minha mãe (eu tenho um igual), a macaca, a amiga inseparável dela desde os 17 meses - aqui recusou-se mesmo a largar a macaca, já que tinha caído momentos antes - e também os calções (Morocco Shorts - Petit a Peit and Family) que fiz para o Top Stitchers em Maio. 

Did anyone spot the other handmades in this post? There are 3 of them: the beret my mom made (I have got a similar one too), the sock monkey, her best friend since she was 17 months old - she really refused to part from it in here, since she fell right before - and also the Morocco Shorts (Petit a Peit and Family) That I made for my Top Stitchers entry in May. 

E agora, só para quem quiser a oportunidade de ganhar um prémio composto por 22 moldes, um vale no valor de $120 para a loja da Rachel Allen Marcian, 'Sew Very Rachel', fica aqui um sorteio abaixo. As designers de Chalk and Notch, Hello Holli e The Wolf and the Tree, estão igualmente a oferecer 20% de desconto durante o tour, usando o código"Holiday"!

If you want to get a chance to win a grand price of 22 patterns, $120 fabric gift cards and a $25 gift certificate to Rachel Allen Marcian's custom clothing store 'Sew Very Rachel', make sure to enter the giveaway below. Besides, Chalk and Notch, Hello Holli and The Wolf and the Tree also have 20% off during the tour with coupon code 'Holiday'!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Não percam as publicações das outras bloggers que participam deste tour. Vale a pena.

Remember to visit all the other bloggers participating in the tour. You'll love it.

Monday, Dec 7th: Willow & Stitch | East & Eden | In a manner of sewing | Climbing the Willow

Tuesday, Dec 8th: Kaleidothought | Feathers Flights | Connected by a Thread | Call Ajaire

Wednesday, Dec 9th: Rebel & Malice | Free Notion | The Whole Sh-Bang | House of Estrela

Thursday, Dec 10th: Candice Ayala | Cindy Parrett | Hi and Hello | Made by Toya

Friday, Dec 11th: Just Add Fabric | Conversas de Hermanas | Glitter+Wit | Sew Starly

Saturday, Dec 12th: Paisley Roots | Petit a Petit + family | Life With Zeke | Made by Sara

WIP: Granny Squares

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Fazer quadrados tornou-se viciante. Basta começar para não conseguir parar. E isto de ter passado uma semana em casa da minha mãe, traduziu-se num grande aumento de quadrados para a minha manta. Estou longe de ter todos os que necessito, mas já tenho suficientes para se ver qualquer coisa. E o novo vicio ainda nos valeu umas risadas, quando me deu para ensinar a minha sobrinha(8) e o meu sobrinho(9) a fazer crochet. Só aprenderam a fazer a corrente, e ele tem muito mais jeito do que ela, fizeram uma corrente enorme, e mais outra e outra que ataram juntas formando uma única e que depois atámos numa palmeira pequenina na rua da minha mãe, mas uma das vizinhas, cortou-a toda assim que saiu à rua, alegou que pensava que era bruxedo, vejam só! Os miúdos ficaram super desiludidos! Voltando ao meu trabalho, estou a gostar, até ao dia que voltei (na terça), tinha 35 quadrados feitos e alguns deles já estavam unidos. Entretanto fiz poucos, uns 4, e passei mais tempo a unir mais quadrados, tenho 20 unidos. 

Making granny squares has became an addiction. I just have to start them and then I can't stop. And the fact that I spent a week at my mom's, has translated into an increase in squares made. I am far from having all the ones I need, but I already have quite a few. And the new addiction has given us a few laughs too, as I taught crochet to my niece (8) and my nephew (9). They have only learnt how to do the chain, he's better at it then she is, and they did a huge one, then another, and another and then tied them all together, and tied it around a small palm tree in my mom's street, although one of the neightbors cut it off as soon as she stepped out her door. She said she thought it was witchcraft, WTF?! The kids were super disappointed. Back to my own work, I am enjoying it, until the day I came back (tuesday) I had 35 squares finished and some of them were put together already. Since then I only made a couple, about 4, and spent some time putting a few more together, I have 20 together right now. 

WIP: granny squares - for a change!

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Desde que meti a manta de quadrados que a minha mãe fez, na cama da G. há uns dias atrás, que fiquei com vontade de fazer uma também. Já ando para fazer uma de retalhos, como a minha há muito tempo, mas esse tem sido um projeto sem começo sequer. Voltando à manta de quadrados, em crochet, bem... a ideia andou a rondar durante uns dias, e para me fazer decidir, descobri há pouco um blog espanhol que é uma perdição e que está neste momento a fazer um curso de crochet para quem se quiser iniciar nesta arte que eu não domino. Assisti às lições 1-5 e achei-as básicas. Parece que afinal até percebo qualquer coisa. Há duas noites atrás experimentei brincar com a agulha e um novelo de lã rasca que tinha comprado para o cabelo de uma boneca - como todos os novelos que faziam parte da minha caixa. Afinal, crochet e malha é algo que passo sempre para a minha mãe. No entanto, acabei por fazer uma pesquisa online. Não li nada, olhei apenas para as imagens e achei que conseguia começar qualquer coisa de jeito. Ontem, sai de casa pela manhã com os pequenos e comprei 5 novelos de lã. Pedi conselhos à senhora, a grossura da lã, o nº da agulha que deveria de usar (não comprei porque estava certa que teria uma por casa e acertei, o nº 3 e tudo como a senhora me indicou) e fui-me a elas. Olhando de perto para a colcha da minha mãe, copiei o esquema e lá fui fazendo os primeiros quadrados. Comprei 5 cores e juntei o vermelho que já tinha comprado o ano passado numa tentativa vã de fazer uma boina para mim. Cada quadrado tem 6 voltas, mas ainda quero juntar o branco para fazer uma volta a mais em cada um dos quadrados. Também quero usar o branco para os juntar a todos mas nem vou pensar ainda nisso. Primeiro, vou-me entreter a fazer quadrados e quadrados... depois logo se verá se sou capaz de mais. Hoje mesmo fui comprar o branco e comentei com a senhora que já levava 6 quadrados feitos, ao que me respondeu que já ia bem encaminhada. Depois disso já fiz mais cinco, mas o último (ao qual já acrescentei mais uma volta em branco) não aparece nas fotos. Só sigo dois blogs especialistas nestas coisas, o da Susana e o da Naná. Duas meninas que já tive o prazer de conhecer pessoalmente. Elas têm sido uma inspiração e têm-me dado vontade de aprender mais, apesar de saber que não é o meu forte. As cores dos seus trabalhos deixam-me sempre com um sorriso na cara, principalmente as cores mais fortes, e isso é o que gostava de ver na minha manta. 

Ever since I've put the granny square blanket my mom made, in G.'s bed a few days ago, I've been feeling like I too would like to make one. I've been wanting to make a scrap one for a while, just like mine, but that's something i couldn't even start yet. Back to the granny squares, in crochet, well... the idea has been around for a few days, and to make me make up my mind, I found the greatest spanish blog, which is hosting crochet lessons right now, for begginers, like myself. I watched lessons 1-5 and got the feeling that they were too easy and I actually knew a little about it. Two evenings ago I  played a little with the needle and a cheap wool I had bought to make a doll's hair - just like all the wool in my stash. After all, I always pass crochet and knitting stuff to my mom. Even though, I went searching online for granny squares. I didn't read anything, I just looked at the pictures and thought that maybe I was capable of starting something worth it. Yesterday morning, I went out and bought 5 balls of wool. I asked the old lady from the shop some advices such as the width of the thread, the needle's number (I didn't buy one though since I was sure I'd have one similar and I was right, I had the same number she told me which was n.3) and got to it. Taking a good look at my mom's blanket, I copied the pattern and started with the first squares. I bought 5 colors and used the red I already had, from last year, when I tried in vain to make myself a beret. Each square has 6 rows, but I still want to buy and add a white one to each of them. That's the same color I want to use to put them all together, but I won't think about that yet. first, I'm just going to entertain myself by make square after square.. and then, we'll see if I'll be capable of further. I bought the white today and commented with the old lady that I had six squares done already, which she answered I was on the good path. After that, I have made five more, the last one though (with a white round too) is not on the photos. I only follow two crochet and knitting focused blogs, Susana's and Naná's blogs. Two ladies I have already met in person, by the way. They have been a huge inspiration and have been making me feel like learning more about it, although I know that's not my thingy. The colors of their works always leave a smile on my face, especially those strong, vibrant colors, and that's exactly what I'd like on my own work. 

Refashion Month |The Land of K.A.|

Hi there! My name is Stacy and I blog at The Land of K.A. (K and A are the beginning letters of my kid’s names). I am very excited to be here to participate in Refashion Month! I have been sewing since I was 12, and since I am now 40…that is a long time! I sew for both my kids and myself. This is in addition to a full time job working as an accountant, and the kids’ activities. I still manage to squeeze in my "therapy" sewing time, though! My sewing style is very…ermmmm…creative? I occasionally use a pattern, but rarely keep it the same without making some change to it. I draft a lot of my own patterns, and tend to reuse a pattern that fits well over and over and over again. I don't do a lot of refashioning, but when I have clothes that no longer fit me I try to upcycle them into something for my girl. Come on over to my blog today to see how I refashioned this dress into a top for my girl:

My Weekly Refashion Share #2 |Bolero|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

This is a refashion that I did way over a year ago. A request from my sister. Back in 2012, I made a few dresses for all of us, for my cousin's wedding. I blogged about them here. Last year my sister had another event to go to, and wanted to have my niece wearing the same dress again. The problem was that it would take place in a less warmer season and she asked me to make L. a little cardigan or a bolero. 

 

I didn't have any orange fabric back then, so into the refashion pile we went. My mom had just brought me another bag of clothes someone else had given her, and she didn't want... so, into my stash it went. It was a woman's sized shirt, in a very light and slippery shiny knit. I kept it because I loved the embroidery on the front. I'm sorry the before picture isn't that good. 

When we picked this piece, I felt a bit sad I was going to lose that embroidery. I was able to use the shirt partially, I saved that piece for a future project. It's still waiting... and will for as long as it has to be, until I find the perfect destiny for it. 

But I did turn part of the shirt into a bolero for my niece. She loved it. You see the bag she's carrying? It's a crochet one and my mom made it for her. She was proud of her handmades, she loves when we make things for her, I wish she never changes because her brother is 8 and not so easy to satisfy. 

To make this bolero, I tried to "copy" the pattern from my daughter's 9M sized bolero. I loved the shape so much I just had to use it for the niece's. It was a bit trial and error, and although they didn't complain, I thought it was a bit wide in the end. 

Made by my mother I

For my niece's birthday my mother made her this cute little crocheted bag. It's made of a wonderful dark green, with some of the girl's fake jewellery, which I believe, gives it an adorable look. 

My mom came in for help to me to finish this though. She needed some fabric for the linning and a zipper too. Of course, not only did I handle her the materials she needed as i ended up cutting and sewing the lining as well as adding the zipper. 

My niece loved it and has been using it proudly! Sometimes I wish I knew how to knit and crochet the nice way - I can do a few stitches but I am definately a cheater when it comes to these, but then again, I already have so much with the sewing...