All Things Mum

They say if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. That being said I have a list of things that I am GOING to sew. You heard me say it here. Well, that's my plan anyway. All Aboard Navy Project 1 Toddler Backpack for my Little Man who started day care one day a week and loves it. This is the Made by Rae pattern which I bought today. I've seen some great bags made up in this pattern and it's a bargain at $6US. Gotta love how our dollar is going strong against the greenback. Hunky Dory Cream Project Two Same backpack for Little Miss who will cry the house down if she doesn't get a new bag either. I really love the pinks and musky colours in the picture. It took me half a day to pick out the perfect fabric on-line at Kelani . I just didn't want to buy something that I wasn't going to be happy with and I have a budget to consider. That being said I am hoping that I have enough in my stash to make up the rest of the bag but I'm sure I need to find nice piping and...

I sit here on a really rainy day with this on my table. It's the start of my wool skirt. First things first, I must get around to the most important part of my project : the cutting layout of my pattern. Every sewer knows it is crucial to select the correct cutting layout so you have enough material for your pattern. I've discovered that there are terms I either get confused with or don't know while reading my instructions so here's some things I picked up in my journey... 1. Your pattern will include how to layout your material. In most cases I fold my fabric placing the selvages together. The whaaaat you say? The selvages are the woven ends of your fabric where it is uncut. Sometimes there's those dots running along the length of them. Just don't ask me how they got there. Anyhoo, selvages look really neat and you shouldn't use it when you cut your pattern. Now, the cut ends are on my left end and right end and sometimes need to be trimmed straight so the...

The Turtleneck Project: Cutting the Pattern Today I had the time to trace out the patterns that I needed for the turtleneck top. I spread out the massive pattern paper on the kitchen table and stared at it for a good... let's say 10mins. I pondered, I squinted, I sighed, I read what I could and then I actually found what I needed, except for two missing pieces. Here's what I cut out (the front, back, sleeve and collar) and here is what the book says on the layout for cutting... After a bit of research I've discovered that I am meant to draw up my own pattern for the cuffs and the waistband. Can you see where there is extra writing under the sleeve block? Well, there are numbers written on it that specify how long and wide to make my new rectangles. I've done them and cut them all out so I guess it's a matter of sewing my pieces together now.

I did it! I did it! My gosh I bought it! I bought a Japanese Sewing Book from yesasia.com. I've been dying to get some inspiration from patterns and finally after a night of scouring on-line stores and checking out other blogs I made my decision. My book should arrive some time early July and I just can't wait. I guess it will give me time to buy materials which isn't a bad thing. As soon as I saw her face I knew it was the book to buy. She reminds me of my little one. Oh and thanks to Jade for suggestion I make this top from the fabric in the below post. She's so talented. Will do my best Jade. Oh so many projects to start... I'm tickled pink.