Girl's camisole from recycled linens.

 

I haven't visited a thrift store for a lo-oo-ng time.  Not to shop, anyway.  I've dropped off stuff in the donation bin, but have resisted the temptation to step inside one for nearly a whole year.  I know that if I do, I will more than likely come out with five times as many things that I dropped off in the first place.

My sewing room is overloaded to the point that I can't move three steps in any direction without encountering a tripping hazard.  Between my op-shop-bargains which I have housed in secret for many years (shhhhhh), AND my addiction to fabric (AND now, also yarn), I have pondered that I quite possibly have a serious hoarding problem, and  I am making it my mission (as I have for many years before this one, and without much success), to de-clutter once and for all. 

But I can't bring myself to bin any of it.  Not one bit.  And, so thus begins a sewing binge.

I made this camisole for Sophie out of an embroidered pillowcase and an unused and still packaged up bed sheet. The front and back panels were cut from the pillow case, with the rest of the pieces being sliced from the sheet. 

There is a bit of a colour mismatch going on between the pillow case bits and the sheet bits, but nothing a soak in a bucket of Napisan won't fix.  Sophie wanted it to be dress length, but it looked to much like sleepwear, so it got the chop.

I used the pinafore pattern from this wildly popular Japanese sewing book - it is also  a wildly popular pattern  amongst the sewing-for-kids crowd, and for very good reason.  It's easy and versatile and can be thrown together in an hour once everything is cut.  And it just looks so good.  On it's own in the summer, and over t-shirts and tights when the weather gets cooler, it is a winner.  I have made a dozen of these in the past few years, and will no doubt make a dozen more.  And if you're looking for a pattern as someone who is beginning to sew, it's an absolutely perfect project.



 If you were thinking about getting this book, bite the bullet and just buy it!  All the patterns in it are sized from 90cm - 130cm (approximately aged 2 - 8), so it's great value. It's floating about Etsy and eBay at the moment (as you can see at the link I provided above).  I am never giving this one up, it really is one of the best books.  EVER. 

Rompers from deadstock shirts

I'm mucking about at the moment with a new romper design, which I hope to list in the shop in the near future.  It's actually looking a little over-run with rompers and bonnets at the moment, but I can't help it!  Rompers and bonnets are just too cute.

Once the pattern's all sorted, I plan to make them up in *proper* fabric, but in the meantime, I've been carving up some old dead-stock shirts that I have had lying about for months (possibly years).

These are a lovely, soft chambray and I've sliced and re-stitched several up already, into pinafore and bloomers for Sophie, and pulled one or two out of the pile myself for wearing about the place.

I've just about shredded and de-buttoned every single one, now.  And the romper is coming together beautifully.

A romper from shirt sleeves.

I found an awesome men's shirt from the op-shop in my most favourite shade of grey.  I had in mind that I was going to make Sophie a blouse and after I sliced the shirt up every which way, I somehow burnt a big hole in the back with my crappy excuse of an iron.  Oops.  My fault, I should have bought a new iron weeks ago.  The thermostat on this one is a bit emotional - sometimes barely warming up a couple of degrees after being switched on, and at other times it's over-enthusiastic and agitated for no good reason.  If it were human, it would be my twin.

The leftover sleeves gave me enough fabric to make this baby romper.  I made this using Simplicity  3508, which is a reprint from a 1950s pattern (I'm not sure if this is still available, but you could try your luck on eBay or Etsy). This will remain unworn for the foresee-able future as I don't know anybody who is pregnant nor small.  Which is probably just as well because although this is tiny and cute, it's not perfect.  I'm going to practise this one a bit more and make some changes.  Especially to all those buttons.  And buttonholes.  Moan.   Making buttonholes is like the worst thing ever.

I have another similar sized shirt in my stash and I'm thinking I might have another go.  Maybe I could get two rompers out of the next one?  I might try that on a day I'm feeling a bit clever, but not before I buy a new iron with a better attitude, I think.

Pants upcycle.

I am a woman on a mission.  I have been collecting op-shop finds and keeping old clothes for ages with the purpose of refashioning them, and then not getting around to it.  I just get way too distracted.  And now, my poor little sewing room is beginning to resemble a charity bin.  As we've been discussing moving house in the next year or two, my "collection" needs to be reduced to a more manageable size (if not culled completely), so I am making a sincere effort to work through it. I really, really am.

I made this sun-suit for Sophie from an old pattern which I had to adjust a bit (actually, a lot) to make it possible to cut the pieces from the original pants that I used.  The denim was very soft and floppy and a bit worn looking which really helped give it a vintage look.  I was able to incorporate some of the original seaming so it didn't look so home-made.  Additionally, the pants had elasticated cuffs that were nicely distressed, so I cut the bib from one of the legs to form the band at the top, just to add some interest.

I am sort of embarassed to actually show you the before picture of these pants.  I bought these from Kmart after Sophie was born in sheer desperation as I could find absolutely *nothing * to wear that was both cool and covered my legs in the 40 plus degrees celsius of summer (both my kids were born smack in the middle of summer, my least favourite time of the year).  They looked loose, comfortable and big enough for even me (who still looked like I had a baby whale stuffed up my shirt).  I was so tired, so sore and hot, sporting another stapled-up caesarean cut, and as mentioned previously, desperate for something cool to wear.  There were loads of these on the discount rack for eight bucks - yay!  I took them home without trying them on, and quickly discovered why nobody wanted them.  They looked expletively awful.

However, they look a hundred percent cuter now...

...and they pass the flexibility test.   Which is an all important quality when you feel the need to spontaneously show off your gymnastic abilities in the middle of the supermarket or cafe.

Ouch!

Men's shirt refashion.

There is nothing like pretty gathers, puffed sleeves and a lovely Peter Pan collar to impart the impression of innocence and sweetness.  Even when the wearer is sometimes lacking in both particularities (in the presence of immediate family, at least).

See?  Butter wouldn't melt in that mouth. 

The pattern is from the most gorgeous Japanese sewing book.  If  you sew clothes for your little girl (or would like to), I would highly recommend buying this book - so many beautiful things, all of which are quite simple to make.  Although, they are written in Japanese, the clearly illustrated step-by-step instructions make all the projects easy to follow.  If you've sewn projects from these books before, you'll know what I mean.

As it was my first run-through with this pattern, I checked through my recyclables and found an old men's shirt from Target, which is labelled 100% linen.  Now, I've made it up (and am thrilled with the finished result), I'll make it up again in a softer cotton.  The linen is lovely, but just a tiny bit stiff.

I might also forgo the sleeves next time and bind the armholes instead, so that Sophie can wear a long sleeved tee under it, or wear it comfortably under a cardigan.  The bands on the sleeves are fine for the moment, but I can see that they will probably be quite constrictive in the coming weeks.  This is in no way a fault with the pattern - rather a mix of genetics, a sweet tooth and an aversion to anything I cook. 

But, most definitely I'll be making this one up again, with sleeves or without.  I just love how darling it looks.  Even when teamed up with a Swan Lake tutu and a wicked laugh. 

Sweater recycle

 I'm currently drawing a few simple patterns and running up some samples out of fabric I already have at hand.  Just some baggy bloomers and a simple peasant top with a high neck, that wears more like a t-shirt.  It's still winter, but the last few days have been beautiful and clear and springtime-like, and I was inspired to make a start on Sophie's summer gear. 

But once I'd finished, it felt silly to have made something so flimsy with still a month to go until winter is officially over (and probably another three until it's consistently warm and storm-free), so I made something to throw over the top.  Just so it looked a bit cosy.

The jacket is sort of the result of a muck about, and is, quite frankly, a bit of a fail.  Luckily, I actually thought it might turn out this way, so I made it from a plus-size sloppy joe I found on the clearance rack in K-Mart for four dollars.

I had originally planned to make a blazer type jacket out of some navy wool crepe, but it's getting late in the season now, and Sophie would probably not get much wear out of a fancy jacket this close to spring.  I'll save that for next year, now. 

Oh, and of course, pom poms!  Partly because it looked a little boring without them, but mostly because my enthusiasm for pom poms is becoming borderline obsession.  I need to get a pet rabbit or something.

In between things...

I have lots on the go at the moment, but nothing is finishing neatly one thing after another so I've got nothing to post about...yet.  All my bits and pieces and projects will probably all be finished at the exact same time and I'll annoy you day after day with blog updates for about a week.  Sorry.

I did finish this t-shirt refit and some new tartan bloomers.  This is her second Foo Fighters t-shirt, sadly, the first one no longer fits.  I was lucky enough to come across this t-shirt a few months back.  I had planned to use it for Cameron, but he is getting too big to re-cut t-shirts for.  Boooo.  So my little tomboy scored it.  I've made it slightly longer and flared so it will hopefully last longer than the other one did.  She thinks the stars on it are pretty.

Who the heck are the Foo Fighters?

A sort of new hat from an old sweater.

 

I'm trying to draft up some hat patterns at the moment.  I'm going through another "I-should-make-stuff-and-sell-it-on-Etsy" phase, which will no doubt pass once I remember how little time and inclination I have between looking after kids and working a night job.  And possibly a second job, when I find one.  I know that people manage to do all this and more and still have Etsy stores, but I am not made of super-hero stuff like them.  Maybe when Sophie starts kindergarten next year and I'm able to sit down for more than two minutes at a time and focus, I'll set one up. She keeps me busy, crazy and mentally checked out to everything else.

Anyway, back to the hat thing.  

 

I drew up this pattern, and as I was not really sure how it would turn out, I didn't really want to commit it to spanking new fabric first up.  I've been botching things up so much lately.  So, I had a look about the local Salvos and found this boy's sweater for $2.50, and sliced it up to make this hat.  I lined it with some jersey scrap I had lying about and the striped straps are from a t-shirt that was already butchered to bits to make something else.  I am such a hacker.

Oh, and of course, you just knew there had to be a pom pom somewhere.

It didn't turn out too badly, although I think the fit could be a little bit better.  I think more the problem is, is that Sophie has inherited my oddly shaped head (my head is  wide and has corners) which is probably why it looked a bit poochy on the top.  I'm all for making things a size bigger at this age, but unless she is developing a cone-head, this isn't really working for her.  Luckily, I have enough of this maimed sweater left to try it out another couple of times.

Back to drawing (and chopping) board for this one.

Why is it that it's the littlest person in my house with the biggest attitude?  It's often said that you get the sort of offspring that you yourself were like as a child, but not me.  I was a good, considerate, complacent little girl and I have ended up with a daughter who thinks she's Ellen Ripley.  If you cross her path or answer her incessant questioning in the wrong way, she will smite you down with a single glance or scream.  What's worse is that none of my friends believe me when I tell them how full-on Sophie is; she is the perfect child when we're in the company of others.  It's quite amazing to see how she works and I'd love to know what's going on inside her head.  She's exhausting and fascinating all at once.

During my recent attempt at cleaning out my cupboards, I came across this Blondie t-shirt that I picked up at the op-shop a couple of years ago shortly after I had Sophie, having the intention of re-sizing it for her at some stage.  It was a woman's small size (whatever that means), but cheap and poorly cut with twisted seams, so twisted in fact it was nearly impossible to get the little t-shirt pattern I cut to sit on it evenly.  If the t-shirt pattern had been a size bigger, it would not have worked. I made it just in the nick of time!  I had to use another black t-shirt I had in my stash to cut the long sleeves (you can see the difference in shades slightly).

It's not really my intention to dress her in this sort of stuff all the time (I prefer to make her simply cut, vintage style clothes), but, hey, it's Blondie.  Debbie Harry was (and still is, in my opinion) Queen of Rock Chicks.  Beautiful and bad-ass - how I loved her.

I quickly ran up some tartan knickers from a pattern I'm working on for next summer.  And after sewing these, I will have to continue to work on it.  Not quite right, but getting there.  These are good for dress-ups, although I'm only guessing when I'm assuming that rock chicks wear tartan undies.  More than likely they don't, but they just complete the look.  Well I think they do, the whole early eighties is something of a vague memory these days.

And funnily enough, to add insult to the injury with regards to the blurry reminiscence of my tweens, Sophie calls this her 'old lady shirt'.  Ouch.  Apologies to Debbie Harry.

Sophie May is at her Nanna's today, giving my brain and ears some much needed relief.  While she's there, she will no doubt be like this....

...but knowing my Mum, she will feed her up on all sorts of treats and run her ragged, and she will be returned to me like this -

Oooo, I can't hardly wait.

Upcycled smock.

A couple of years ago, I made Sophie a romper from an upcycled denim shirt I found in a bunch of stuff my mother's neighbour left behind when she went home to South Africa.  There were actually two of these shirts in the bag - I completely forgot about the second one, and stumbled across it a week ago when I was starting to clean my room (stumbled being the operative word, my room is a bomb site).

And as cooler days are coming along really fast, I thought it best to selflessly ditch my plans to clean up my room and instead sew up a denim smock for Sophie straight away. 

 I used a pattern by McCalls from their Easy Stitch 'n Save range ( M5606).  I have drafted dresses similar to these before and had planned to grade up the last one I did, but when I saw this pattern for two bucks on eBay (with free postage!), I thought I'd save myself the trouble and the tracing paper.

Hand sewing the facing along those curves and around the armholes was a bit tedious, I'm thinking I might straighten out the yokes next time.  I will need to grade up a size in a couple of months time anyway (the pattern stops at size 3), so the whole thing will probably get a makeover.

I'm sad that's the last of those lovely big shirts.  The fabric is lovely - light but warm, and easy to sew.  It is rather a boring little smock really, but I love how you can throw these over everything.  We even manage to get a second wear out of t-shirts that may have been drawn or dripped on, which is handy in the winter when you're running out of things to wear while you're waiting for your clothes to dry (I am old school, and line dry everything).

Although I love the cooler weather, it comes with it's flipside.  The drippy noses and the colds have already started.  It's lucky I took this photo a few days ago, because she doesn't look this cute today.  And she's been using her new smock as a hanky, so it doesn't look too cute now either.  Eww, gross.

I don't know what it is with me and nautical themes lately when it comes to making clothes for the little one.  Nor the need to make summery-type things when it is either absolutely arctic outside, or miniature cyclones are blowing through my yard ripping my lovely trees apart.  I'm no doubt subconsciously yearning to be anywhere else at the moment - the sunny days are freezing cold, and when it's warmer, the weather frequently gets rather frightening, with severe weather warnings taking up much of the evening news, and neighbours' patios and letterboxes rolling down the street in the middle of the night.

I have wanted to buy Sophie a nice Breton top for some time - they are so classic! - but I can't really justify spending sixty dollars on one t-shirt which will probably spend most of its days covered in peanut butter and texta marker.

This little t-shirt is made from one of my old maternity tees, and some promotional tank top the pharmacy was giving away when we were buying cough medicine and other germ-busting drugs.  It was advertising a new type of whey-powder or something.  Who cares, whatever  - free fabric!  Wooo!

I cut the skirt bit from the maternity tee and threw the top bit away.  I just needed the bottom unbranded bit of the tank top, so cut it across under the armholes and the upper bit of that went into the bin too.  The side seams were then cut, so I had two flat squares from each garment.   I joined the plain white and striped fabric in pairs, and then used my new half stripe-half plain fabric to cut the pattern pieces.  The sleeves were cut using the original hem of the promotional tee, because I am lazy and I hate hemming (I have many garments hanging about in my room that are all but finished except for hems.)

You can see in the above photo the difference in the whites of both fabrics.  That maternity t-shirt got an absolute hammering when I was pregnant, but the promo tee was never worn.  Once I made the Sophie's new shirt, it was given a good soak in some Napisan, and came out looking pretty much a very bright and consistent white.

But this is a shirt for Sophie, so it's pretty much a dead certainty it won't remain that way. 

♫ One of these days.. ♫

...I might do something other than a shirt re-fashion.  Yeah, that'd be nice!

This is a re-fit for Sophie.  I originally found this Foo Fighters 2005 European tour tee at a local second hand store, snapped it up immediately and took it home with the intention of adjusting the boxy-ness out of it and wearing it myself.   Then I got pregnant and very fat and no amount of adjusting was going to make it fit, so I forgot about it.

I found it again when Cameron was about four, and made it into a shirt for him, but I sort of botched it up around the neck.  I think he wore it about twice and it's been shamefully hiding away in his bottom drawer since then.  I came across it the other day and thought I'd butcher it again, for old times sake, slicing it down to a size 3T sort of tunic thing, which Sophie can wear with leggings and sneakers.
 

Luckily,  Sophie likes cows.

This poor, poor shirt.  I sort of wish I had kept it in it's original state now, because I can get really grotty at work and I never have enough black t-shirts.  What are the chances of finding another one like this in this neck of the woods?  I'd say quite probably impossible.

Hand down

I made this outfit out of one of Paul's shirts.  The top bit, anyway.  I like the freshness of the fabric and it's a little crispier than regular shirting (which unfortunately makes it a real bother to iron - grrr).  The weather-men are forecasting cooler days next week, so something a little stiffer than the light cottons Sophie's been wearing of late might be just the ticket.  It will look cute with one of her little cardigans, too.  If they still fit. 

The ubiquitous bloomers are made from some cotton linen left over from something I made for myself (!) a while back.  The ruffly hem is not what I usually do;  it's cute, but would be better in a lighter, girlier fabric.  

 

These look like frilly combat shorts, and somehow, not quite right.  

But that might just be me.  My beautiful dog of 15 years is being euthanased in the morning, and I guess nothing is looking quite right today.  I will miss her terribly.  She is the most loveliest soul in a big bear of a body, but she is very old, mostly blind, completely deaf and can barely get off the ground, much less walk.  A recent visit to the vet has also revealed a nasty lump in her stomach, which they can't properly diagnose and subsequently treat without operating on her and I can't put her through that.  Not on top of all of her other ailments.  No way.

Still, knowing this is her last night hurts.  I'm off soon to give her a piece of chicken and a big snuggle.  I think I may have to wake her up (I can hear her snuffle-snoring from here!), but I won't care, not tonight.  And she is always happy to be woken up for a cuddle.   Oh, my big, furry, gorgeous girl - I love you!   Life will be very different without you.

Oooops, tearing up.  Sorry. 

Little(ish) tees

I was lucky enough to recently find a heap of concert tour tees at the op shop.  Mainly Australian tour t-shirts, but a couple of US ones, too.  I've been busy during the past week re-sizing a couple for Cameron.

Not a fan, and he has not a clue who they are, but he likes robots!

 I struggled as to whether to do the Aerosmith one: I'm not sure that it's age appropriate for an eight year old.  So, this one will probably be confined to our house.  It's actually a really good quality material, quite thick and warm, so it will be good as a pyjama top for the cooler nights coming up.  These are a little big for him at the moment, but at the rate he's growing, they should be fine in a couple of weeks!