A different blanket

Scroll down for english, please. 

Antes de costurar qualquer prenda, costumo procurar alguma inspiração na net. Quem não? Ideias para prendas para miúdos custam-me sempre a ter, por isso foi com alegria que me deparei com esta no blog It's Always Autumn. Guardei-a durante antes, mas nunca cheguei a experimentar. Uns anos depois, voltei a cruzar-me com ela. Não fiz exatamente a mesma coisa mas serviu-me como ponto de partida. 

Before I sew any gifts, I usually search for inspiration online. Who doesn't? Finding gifts for boys is always hard for me, so I was pretty happy when I found this ideia by It's Always Autumn. I saved the link for years but I've never really got to make it. All this years forward and I came across this again. I didn't exactly make it as in the original but it was my starting point to what I actually came up with. 

Primeiro pensei em fazer o jogo, tal como na inspiração, para o filho mais velho de uma amiga. Mas como tinha de fazer outra prenda para o mais novo também, acendeu-se-me a luzinha. Porque não transformar isto numa coisa para os dois? Para jogarem precisamente juntos. Então criei uma manta que é também um jogo de tabuleiro com duas caras, de tamanho gigante. Infelizmente estava de chuva quando tirei as fotos e não consegui fazê-lo na rua, que era o que pretendia para dar uma perceção mais realista do seu tamanho. 

First I thought about making a chess board game as in the original idea for a friend's oldest son. But I had to think about a gift for the little one too and that's when I hit the light button. Why not putting them together?! So they could actually play together. So I created a two sided huge fabric board game for both kids. It was rainy when I took these photos so I couldn't take them outside, which I wanted to, so its size would be more perceptible. 

Num dos lados da manta fiz um jogo, o três em linha, com círculos em feltro em cinzento e em preto para jogar. No outro lado da manta, o segundo jogo, as damas. Para este usei círculos de feltro, ligeiramente mais pequenos em cinzento e branco. Já não estou 100% segura, mas penso que a manta mede 80x80cm, e comecei por fazer o lado das damas. Depois fiz as contas para que o do três em linha ficasse certinho também. 

In one side of the blanket there is a game, three in a row, with grey and black felt circles to play. On the other side of the blanket there's a second game, chess board. For this one I cut slightly smaller white and grey felt circles. I'm not really 100% sure anymore, but I believe the blanket is 80x80cm, and I started with the chess side. After doing the patchwork for that one, I made the math to make the other side even. 

De forma a ter os círculos organizados quando não estão a jogar, fiz também uma pequena bolsa com os restos dos tecidos que usei nos jogos. Também pensei em fazer uma mochila para que pudessem carregar a manta para diferentes sítios se necessário (tal como o parque, a praia ou algo assim), mas fiquei sem tempo. Como quase sempre, a minha filha pediu-me logo para fazer uma igual para e para o irmão. Só mais uma coisa para adicionar à lista. Não admira que seja tão extensa. 

To keep the circles organized when the the kids aren't playing, I also made a little pouch using scraps from the main fabric used in the games too. I also thought about making asmall backpack so they could carry it if needed (for a trip to the park, the beach or so ever), but I got short on time. As often happens, my girl loved it so much she recuested one for her and her brother too. One more thing to add to my list. No wonder it is so long. 

Glasses Case

Scroll down for english, please. 

Se há coisa que gosto mesmo é de dar presentes feitos à mão aos amigos e família. Gosto especialmente, de dá-los àqueles que sei que apreciam as prendas feitas à mão tanto quanto eu. Uma das melhores partes do processo - a meu ver - é tentar acertar em algo que a pessoa em particular vá gostar ou achar útil (tenho tentado esforçar-me para ter este ponto mais em conta ultimamente para evitar o acumulo de coisas desnecessárias em casa dos outros, tal como procuro fazer na minha). Assim, se acertares, todo o tempo e dedicação que colocaste na peça valem mesmo a pena. 

I really enjoy making handmade gifts for my friends and family. I especially like to dedicate time to those I know appreciate a handmade gift as much as I do. One of the best parts of the process - as I see it - is to look for something that particular person will like or find useful (I've been trying to work hard on this last matter to avoid clutter at other people's houses, just like I try to do in my own). Then if you get it right, then all the time and dedication you put into it is so damn worth it. 

A prenda de hoje, foi feita para a a minha querida amiga Susana. Ela cria coisas maravilhosas, e tem imenso jeito para tudo aquilo que mete na cabeça fazer, seja lá o que isso for. A minha amiga usa óculos, e imaginei que pudesse gostar de uma capa para os proteger mais um pouco. Não fazia ideia se já tinha alguma ou não, mas fiz. Fiquei feliz por assim ter sido, uma vez que me disse depois que queria uma. 

Today's gift was made for my dear friend Susana. She creates wonderful things, and she's quite handy at anything she sets her mind in to make, whatever that is. My friends wears glasses, and I figured she might enjoy a case to keep them safer. I had no clue if she had any already but I went for it. I am happy I did because she then told me she wanted one. 

Enquanto procurava ideias giras na internet para me inspirar, curzei-me com um passo-a-passo de capa para óculos, que acabei por mais ou menos seguir. Não me apeteceu ir até à impressora e imprimir o molde que o site fornece, por isso desenhei o meu próprio molde olhando para o da imagem no pap. Usei tecidos que já tinha em casa. Tinha este dos gatos que adoro, e que era um daqueles que gostamos tanto que nem o queremos cortar, sabem como é - mas sei que ela também gosta de gatos, por isso usei-o como forro, para que tivesse uma pequena surpresa ao abrir a capa. 

So, as I was searching for cool inspiration ideas on the internet, I came across this tutorial for the glasses case, and I sort of followed it. I was lazy to use my printer and print the pattern, so I drew my own pattern guided by the image on the tutorial. I used fabric from my stash. I had this one with the cats which I adore, and was saving, because you know, you love your fabric so much it gets hard to cut it - but I know she loves cats too, so I used it for the lining so she could have a nice little surprise once she opened it. 

Bowling Pin & Ball Game #2

Scroll down for english, please. 

Não foi a primeira vez que fiz este jogo de bowling em tecido... mas já passaram alguns anos desde a primeira vez que o fiz. Desde então que tinha vontade de voltar a fazer um novamente mas nunca surgia a oportunidade, e sabe muito bem quem costura que a lista do que queremos fazer nunca termina. 

It's not the first time I made this fabric bowling game... but a few years have gone since I first made it. I wanted to make another ever since but the oportunity was never around, and I know that all the sewers out there know that our to do list is a never ending one. 

Porém, neste último Natal consegui fazer várias prendas, entre elas este jogo para um menino muito querido de quatro anos. Os tecidos comprei-os numa loja local. Escolhi três dentro das minhas cores preferidas que jogassem bem entre si e não podia ter gostado mais do resultado. Acabei por aproveitar o tecido para outras coisas também e ainda tenho muito. 

This last Christmas though, I was able to make several of my gifts and this game was one of them, I made it for a sweet four year old boy. I bought the different fabrics at a local fabric shop. I chose them within my fave colors and I made them match, I couldn't be happier. I actually used the fabric for a few more things and I still have a lot left. 

O molde é da Mignon Prider e aparentemente o link que eu tinha no post do 1º jogo, cujo molde testei na altura, já não funciona. Por isso, a quem possa interessar, sigam este novo link AQUI. Na altura do teste, fiz apenas 3 pinos, era bem mais lenta a costurar porque agora tenho a sensação que levei mais tempo com esses três da altura, do que com estes 6 agora. 

The pattern is from Mignon Prider and aparently the link I had in my first set post, for the pattern I tested back then, isn't working. So, for those that might be interested, just follow this new link HERE. Back when I did the test, I made only 3 pins, as I was much slower sewing and I have this feeling that 3 of them took me longer to make than all these new 6. 

E para terminar, só para vos mostrar como ofereci o jogo ao menino. Arranjei uma caixa de cartão cujo tamanho era perfeito para os seis pinos. A bola ficou ali perfeitamente e ainda me deu foi vontade de fazer mais uma para preencher o espaço vazio. Resisti à tentação. 

To finish, I just wanted for you to see how I packed it for the boy. I got a card box with the perfect size for the sis pins. The ball had a perfect space for itself and I swear I wanted to make a second one just to fill in the empty space. I resisted though. 

Rainbow birthday dress |& cake|

Scroll down for english, please. 

Quem é que ainda se lembra desta publicação, onde mencionei o vestido que fiz para a festa de aniversário da minha filha? Há quatro meses que o fiz, mas nem sei bem porquê, fui sempre adiando a partilha do mesmo. Hoje é o dia. 

Who can still remember this post, when I mentioned the dress I made for my daughter's birthday party? It was made four months ago, but somehow, I never made it to share the dress. Today is the day. 

Quando lhe dei a escolher entre três temas diferentes para a festa, a minha menina optou sem qualquer hesitação, pelo tema arco-íris e eu soube de imediato que roupa lhe queria fazer para acompanhar. Uns meses antes tinha visto o vestido anita ou ice cream da Sara (Made by Sara) e queria fazer algo inspirado nele. O tema arco íris era perfeito.  

When I told my daughter to pick from three different themes for her party, she didn't think twice and chose the rainbow theme, and I knew write away what to sew her to match it. A few months before, I had seen Sara's (Made by Sara) Ice Cream dress and I had been wanting to sew one inspired by hers. The rainbow theme was perfect.

Mais uma vez, como quase sempre, não gastei nada para o fazer. Queria um molde simples, a parte de cima com as cores do arco íris, e como fundo do vestido, queria um azul claro que fizesse lembrar o céu. Usei um molde que já tinha, da GYCT Designs, o Firecracker Dress/Tunic (que já tinha usado aqui, aqui e em parte aqui). Usei basicamente retalhos (já cortados) que me sobraram da colcha para criar o meu arco íris, e para o azul, usei restos de um lençol de algodão que já tinha usado em alguns projetos no passado. Alterei ligeiramente o molde, arredondando um pouco os cantos de cima. Tão pouco coloquei as alças como sugerem as instruções, eu cosi-as entre o tecido de fora e o forro, tanto na parte da frente como na de trás. Usei o mesmo tecido azul para o forro, já agora. Para a saia não fiz quaisquer medições, usei apenas o resto de tecido que tinha, tanto em altura como em largura, mas não creio que tenha sido muito diferente daquilo, que mais uma vez o molde pede.

Again, as always, I didn't spend anything to make it. I wanted a simple pattern, a colourful rainbow top, and as a background for the dress I wanted a light blue to remind us of the sky. I used a pattern I already had, I used GYCT Designs, The Firecracker Dress/Tunic (that I used ppreviously here, here and partialy here). I used (already cut) scraps from the duvet cover to make my rainbow, and for the blue, I used leftovers from a cotton sheet I had used in past projects. I slightly changed the pattern by rounding a bit of the top corners, and also did the straps different from the instructions, sewing them between layers, in both front and back pieces. By the way, I used the same blue fabric for the lining. For the skirt I didn't measure anything, I just used what was left from the fabric, in lenght and width, and I guess it didn't turn out too different from the pattern instructions. 

Este vestido foi realmente um vencedor. Não houve ninguém que não tivesse adorado, principalmente a sua dona que ficou muito orgulhosa e feliz quando o vestiu. Estava linda, claro. Foi ela quem escolheu o calçado para o dia também, as sandálias da Sininho que ela tanto gostava mas que calçou poucas vezes por lhe magoarem os pés.

This dress was definately a winner. Everyone loved it, especially its owner, who was so proud and happy to wear it. She was beautiful, of course. She also picked the shoes to put together that day, her Tinkerbell sandals, which she loves but didn't use often since their hurt her feet. 

O vestido não foi a única coisa arco íris que fiz... houve um bolo também que me levou cerca de 5 horas para fazer. Fiz a massa do meu bolo habitual, dividi em 6 taças e adicionei um colorante diferente a cada uma delas. O primeiro a fazer foi o roxo e não correu muito bem, felizmente consegui salvá-lo e arranjei solução para fazer os seguintes. Depois de fazer a torre com todas as cores achei que seria um bolo pequeno para o número de gente que iria estar presente, por isso ainda fiz mais uma base, onde misturei várias cores, ficou um mármore avermelhado. Decorei apenas com as nata e bolinhas pequeninas. Foi outro sucesso! A minha filhota não gosta de ser o centro das atenções e regra geral, esconde-se quando todos lhe cantam os parabéns. Ao menos desta vez não chorou. E sim, há duas velas no bolo, pois este ano festejámos o aniversário dos dois juntos, já que existem apenas 3 dias entre um e outro. Num lado estava a vela dos 4 anos dela, do outro a vela de 1 ano dele.

The dress wasn't the only rainbow I made though... there was also a cake, which took me about 5 hours to make. I made my usual cake mix, then I divided it into 6 bowls and added a different food coloring to each. The first piece I made was the purple and it didn't go that smoothly, I was able to save it though and fixed the problem for the next ones. After making the tower with all the colours I thought this would be too little for all the people invited so I made an extra base cake with all the colours mixed, it turned out a marbled reddish cake. I decorated with cream and little balls. It was a success as well. My daughter doesn't like to be the centre of all attentions so she usually hides when happy birthday is sang to her. At least she didn't cry this year. And yes, there are two candles in her cake, because we have celebrated both kids birthdays together. In one side there was the 4 candle for her, and in the other the 1 candle for him. 

Top Stitchers Today: Me vs. Call Ajaire

EDITED Feb. 5th 2018: I just went to Becca's blog and brought my entry from there to this post I had over here. For the simple fact that I wanted to add the photos I didn't add in my personal blog back then. And why did I think of that right now? Because auditioning for the next season of PR&P is on and I am going to try it out... why not? I like a little presure when I sew after all, so that challenge should be a good one.
Anyway... I tried to see from my fave entries and I had to pick up this one because it is all I love about sewing: comfortable clothes for my kids, that cool style, adding some details, and above all: refashioned items!!! Oh! I was so happy with this look. So, if you're reading this: wish me luck!

When I signed up for Top Stitchers and then saw the list, I knew exactly what my specialty was: Upcycling of course! Then we got our prompts, and it took me so long to picture what my daughter would grow up to. I pictured a lot of things in my mind, but the answer came from her. She's always singing and dancing, like a true rock star. So, I thought, would I like her to become a rock star? I wouldn't! As long as she was down to earth, a strong woman, a sensitive person, true to herself. All I really want is for her to become whatever she will want/wish to. And I went with the rock star look.

I used 8 existing pieces of clothing to create this look. I first pictured a complete outfit, from head to toe including 8 new pieces. Unfortunately that was over my head and not possible to make. I ended up with 5 item and one unfinished that didn't make into the challenge. The 5 items I finished include a pair of briefs, socks, shorts, t-shirt and one jacket. I used 1 men's leather jacket, 3 women's shirts, 2 women's button shirts, one girl's skirt and a women's jeans. 

I started by making G. a new pair of big girl's briefs, using Serger Pepper's pattern, I did the smaller size, of course (3), and I did them using bits of the striped shirt and the solid red t-shirt. They fit perfectly, and I swear she was wearing them in the photoshot, but I just won't post any pictures of my girl in underwear. You'll just have to take my word as I tell you they fit her perfectly. You can see photos of the briefs (and more) in my blog today. 

Then I did the t-shirt. I adapted an Ottobre's 1/2015 pattern #25. and turned it into a wide neckline top (as was but) sleeveless. I finished the neckline with bias tape and the arms holes with slim bands. It looks pretty as a one off shoulder top. I used the white t-shirt to resize it to her size and patched a lovely girly skull into it. I google for an image like so and then I free hand drew it to paper and cut into fabric. it was the kind of thing I used to do a lot a while ago, and now I don't do that often. That was something this challenge made me realise, and that's why I loved taking part even more. I was able to stretch my imagination, my creativity and make things I really, really wanted, as the jacket, something I did as I was going... but more on that in a second. Because I still had a lot from the striped shirt and I love such prints, I decided that adding a pair of socks to the look would be fun. I used The Sewing Rabbit's tutorial to do so. I tried to make my stripes match, but I couldn't because I was re-using the existing hem and there was no way to make them match. 

The next thing I finished from my list was my favourite one (although I really loved the shorts too). I made my little lady a leather jacket. From all my endless pattern stash, I didn't have a single jacket pattern that I would like for this project. At least not a single one that fit her size range. I didn't worry though and embraced the challenge. I din't do this for so long, start with nothing, no pattern and then make exactly what I had in mind. I actually used Titchy Thread's Rowan tee pattern as a skretch for my jacket. I did all the changes and adjustments, such as shortening the lenght, and making it a two assimetrical front pieces. I changed the collar too. I finished the jacket's sleeves and waistband with ribbon knit bands saved from a refashion from the past. To close the jacket on the front, I used a zipper on the left side of the piece, and underneath, on the center front, I attached 4 kam snaps to make it easier for G. On the shoulder bands I stitched a few lines forming squares in a contrasting thread, red in this case. I finished the inside of the front flap with bias tape. 

The last thing were the shorts, of course. I had just tested Petit a Petit new pattern, the Morocco Pants and Shorts and I just knew I had to use it. The pattern is just about to be launched and I asked Celina permission to use it for the challenge and post even before it's out. But don't worry, it's not long until you can get it, and you will want to. I love all the details, and the professional finishing touches. So, I used jeans to make this pair. In the front pockets and the back welt pockets, I have used the light denim button up shirt, and the other button up shirt as lining. I had plans to make a sleeveless button up shirt for the look too, for layering, but there was no time and it was left unfinished. Back to the shorts, they have a zipper, a snap in the front, and an adjustable elastic waist. I used a lace band from the white skirt to add it to the shorts hems. 

I didn't get all the 8 pieces done, but I am pretty happy that I got these done because they were big hits in our house. And I had fun, really lots of fun for participating in this challenge. I felt free! So thanks Becca, Ajaire, readers and all the rest involved in this. 

Today I get to participate in the Top Stitchers 2 challenge, organised by Becca, over Free Notions. Myself and Ajaire from Call Ajaire are competing for the upcycling theme. Click here to see our posts and vote please. You can vote for both of us, giving more points to one or the other according to what you believe to be fair. I was already pretty wordy in my entry at Free Notions, so here's a few extra photos for you.

I hope you've enjoyed them all because I sure did enjoy making them. 

WIP: Duvet Cover

Back in July 2013, I realised I didn't have a single duvet cover that would be big enough for my bed. We changed our regular bed for a bigger one and suddenly nothing would fit. So, I thought about making one myself. A patchworked one. I searched for inspiration and I finally decided what I'd like. I still don't own a rotary cutter or a mat, so all my cutting is made by tracing and using a scissors. Extra work, yes! But it has been worth it! I started it not long after I thought about making it, but of course, there are times (weeks and even months) when I won't even touch a single scrap from it.

I haven't blogged about it either. I did show you a bit of it when I did a round up of my 2013 creations (here) but it has only been through facebook that I shared a few photos from it every now and then. I've been so excited about it these last few days that I want to share my work in progress with you all and share details for the ones interested! 

Here's the pattern I made to organize myself. It will have 1025 scraps sewn together when finished, and it's made out of 72 patched blocks. Gorgeous! It's been a great way to bust my stash and it has always been great to sew, because everytime I attach a new scrap piece, it reminds me of any other projects I have done using that same fabric. I tried to count how many different fabrics I've used so far, but I got lost so I will try to do it again once it's done. 

And here are the photos I've been sharing along through facebook, just in case you missed them. They are taken since the first scraps until around the last time I touched it a couple of months ago. 

I still remember how happy I felt after sewing together the first row of blocks... then looking at it and thinking... Crap, there are another 7 of these to make!

please excuse my dirty iron board, but I have two cats that don't help at all

Just a few days ago, I started working on it again. I started writing this post a week ago, and then I had

- 3 entire rows (of 9 bloks) sewn together 

- one row (of 9 blocks) sewn together waiting to be attached to the other 3

- 9 other squares pinned to the yellow stripes to be sewn together and make a fifth row

- 16 other squares finished and 

- 4 squares half way done

Today, I have:

- 6 entire rows of 9 blocks finished and put together (see photo below)

- all my blocks finished

- 7 blocks have the yellow tripe sewn together, so there's nearly another row of blocks ready to be put together. 

When looking at it like that I don't think there's much left to do. I'm way over half the work and it feels really good. I can't actually wait to see it finished. I thought I'd really have to hurry to get it done before baby two is due (in July), but I am very positive about it now. I need this for summer and I know that if I kept postponing this, I wouldn't ever finish before this baby arrives... and after that, who knows when I would I be able to finish, right? 

Here's some of the latest shoots. I like some blocks better than others, but I don't really follow an order to sew the little scraps together, so that had to happen of course. I surely have spent quite a while contemplanting it already. It already fits a regular couple's bed, and it's just beautiful to see. 

My daughter has been asking me to make one for her bed too. Maybe as her 3rd birthday present?! Who knows? Since she's going to share her room with the baby, I might wait until I know the gender and perhaps I'll be able to do something coordinate for both. 

The Sew Off week 2 < A new Entry... >

NOTE: Heavy post!!!

So, here I am, second week of the The Sew Off competition. And this time around, the theme is Home Decor. When I first read the news that I did make it to the 12 contestants I sort of panic. When I made it to the 9 contestants I really did panic!

What was I suppoused to do now?! 

I was comfortable with the children's look because I was already sewing along Sew-vivor and PR&P. I never thought I could make it to the competition. Although I did audition for The Sew Off, I just thought I wouldn't make it anyway and was going to enjoy a light sew along... but, I made it, and suddenly I realised I would have to do bigger and better than I had previously believed I would. I have to do the best I can, for me and for the judges who picked me! 

So, back to my first idea - I tend to get lost, sorry - I decided it was about time to make my G. a brand new playhouse in which we could hide all her toys that usually makes our floor so messy. I was sure I didn't want to make something just like what I had been seeing around. I wanted to make something special to us, and on a imnsonia night, it clicked me!

As you may, or may not know, we live in Portugal, more precisely in the Algarve, the most southern region of the country. Right above us, there is one of the most beautiful and richers regions, the Alentejo, which I adore. As a tourism student, one of my projects was to write and present on a school trip the entire region of Alentejo, all its typical stuff and so on. Ever since, I still remember every single thing I talked about, and one of the most interesting ones for me is their typical houses. That's how I planned to make my playhouse like...

But my playhouse project died the moment I saw Amy's from Nap Time Crafters. Although I follow her blog for years, only recently I found out her playhouse, and I knew any other I would make would just look tiny and basic compared to hers. I did not give up on the entire idea of the playhouse, I just couldn't make it in one week. So, not done now, but certainly a to do project for the future.

I knew I had made it through another week last Monday, and let me tell you that, back then, I wasn't still pretty sure of what to do. I don't usually sew decorative stuff, or very seldomly I do. The only thing I could think was:

- I will never beat my baby's nursery project! or the mini sofa...

- There's no way I can do better than that... 

- Can I cheat and say I did that now?!

- Perhaps I can make a coordinate something to go with it?!

- Crap, that took me months to get done... and I only have a few days. 

Pfff... I was totally lost and hopeless about this week's theme. Honestly I still am. BUT, I had to get something done. I HAD to try my best, and I had to get whatever it was going to be, done ready.

I thought and thought and thought... and went through some magazines, searching for inspiration. It hit me when I saw a technique ("Catedral de Windsor" - free translation: "Windsor's Cathedral"... please correct me if I am wrong, because I'm not really familiar with it). I saw it in a magazine I had bought a few years ago, and that's from where I addapted my nursery pattern. There it was, I would try that.

I had to open my doorway to take this picture... since I have no angle at all for good pictures/or nice light for photos. 

Again, I have to say I am not a pro with the patchwork and similars, nor do I have specific items to sew it with. As I mentioned in a previous post, I don't even own a rottary cutter... That bad! But, I decided I should expand myself and try something new and different for this challenge. And I did it!!!

My very first try with this technique results are here:

So... I centered my attention in my entry after all. I bought this cube shelf about a year or so ago, and I meant to sew some fabric baskets ever since. Another project I never crossed from the list until now.

Here's how it looked before:

a total mess, I know.

I knew I wanted a place for all the mail we get and also a place for G.'s shoes. Next to the shelf there's a cabinet for our shoes, but it's full... and since she has so many little shoes, it would be nice to have a place on the entry to store them too.

there's a on work patchwork piece here too, but just because I didn't want it to look so empty!

My first idea for this project was to make four baskets and two pillow covers, but I ended up with only half of the first idea. I knew I wouldn't make it all in time. And when having to choose from 6 badly finished pieces and 3 well finished pieces, I went with the second choice.

I picked my project colours after the ones used on the picture that's hanging on the entry's wall. And always trying to adjust it to my already existing stash. I am pleased with what I got.

For the baskets I used diaper card boxes, covered in white paper sheets because the fabric from which I sewed the baskets was linen and would show the image below. In the front of each basket I added the words MAIL for one, and SHOES for the other with the same yellow I used on the pillow cover. I interface the letters, which were cut on free hand; and, I sewed them to the linen with a straight stitch carefully.

For the lining, I used a very sentimental fabric for me. It's white with little yellow/brownish polka dots. It used to be a sheet from when I was a child. I still remember when my mom bought it together with another one full of little pink hearts. One for me, one for my sister.

If you need to make your own baskets, again Amy's got a great tutorial on her blog. That's not how I made mine, but it's a good one if you need it.

For the pillow cover, I used 5 different fabrics and tried my best to coordinate!!! Again, remember it was my first attempt at this new technique and after I sew all the squares together I only had to unpick 3 of them when it was time to press seams and I realised 3 weren't even sewn together... arghhh... I hate unpicking, but it was a necessary mean.

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And this is it. Sorry that this was such a long post.

Now again... if you liked what you've seen, go HERE and vote for me!!!

The Quilted Chevron Dress - PR&P week 2 (and sew-vivor week 3)

If you've been reading my blog, you surely know that all I've been sewing lately has been created with fabric and supplies that I already had. I made a commitment of using what I have, before I buy any more. Why am I talking about that again? Well because it is The Riley Blake Chevron Week at Project Run and Play, and I didn't have any chevron fabric at all. 

My first thought, was turning this fabric into a chevron pattern, but then I had the last week of Sew-vivor sewalong in mind too, which theme is quilting. Well, I'm not a huge quilter, I don't even own a rottary cutter for sake, but I thought it was an excellent idea to combine those two themes into one project to allow me to sew along both challenges, saving me some precious time. Now even more, since I am competing for The Sew Off. 

I kept this dress pretty simple on the pattern. I used Emma Hardy's book cover pattern, but I had to adjust it to what I wanted. I really like the book, the good pictures and instructions, but I'm not so happy with the pattern sizes, just as I mentioned here.

What is there to mention about my dress then? The chevron quilting, of course.

This time I used left overs from a blue cotton sheet that I used in the past to make baby slings, and also a scrap of floral printed cotton too. I created a single chevron line all around the bottom of the dress. I choose not linning it except for the strap of patchwork. This was my second time quilting, I am terrified of doing it. 

Again I completed the look with non-mommie-made pieces. White tights, a simple white sweatshirt and a blue cardigan were the pieces I used to complete the look. We tried to get some pictures without the cardigan, but it was getting windy and cold again and we didn't want to risk it. Nothing's worth my kid getting sick, right?!

Again I went with something that already fits and might fit for quite a while still. The straps are adjustable and quite long to grow as she does. She looks terrible cute in it!

My unperfect patchwork

It feels like I've been creating more than I have been blogging. Phewwww... I don't even know when was the last time I actually crafted more than I blogged, or just read other blogs. YES, I know I still spend too much time online, BUT I have been creating too, and that makes me feel a little happier. 

And now I'm just getting so in the mood for starting my Christmas crafts. I even made the list of people I have to make gifts for. Didn't write nothing (what should I make to each of them) but the people list yet, but that's a start. 

But, more than presents, I have been wanting to make stuff for the house. I want to make my first quilt for Christmas. Something small and simple of course. So, last monday I have started practising my patchwork. I made this:

detail

It's not perfect, can you see?! That's why I have to practise harder. I didn't follow any pattern or instructions, it was just something that came as I went. I like it, but I was kinda lost, didn't really know what to do with it. I had a few ideas but none seemed right for me. Today I have decided, and I am working on it already. As soon as it is finished, of course I will come and share. 

The greatest thing though, is that the exact same day, and even though very late, I have finished my Tilda Santa Claus. It was supposed to be made last Christmas, but I got stuck in the middle of its creation and was there, left on a lonely corner waiting for me to put my hands on it. I didn't have the opportunity to take some pictures of it, but as soon as I do, you know, I'll share too. I'm just thrilled I have finished a past started project... I guess taht's my sort of challenge this month. I have been doing that without aiming for it.