A Lovely Package

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This arrived in the mail yesterday from Superbuzzy.

Lovely package

I just love it all! I have been cutting fabric for a summer top for myself – yes, that’s right – another garment for myself. I have decided to take part in Spring Top Week over at Made By Rae, so I’ve better make a few things to choose from… It’s a wonderful idea and a great initiative, by the way – you should really join in the fun. Click the button below to learn the details. (It’ll also give you an excuse to browse through some gorgeous photos from Italy…)

topweekbutton

Mads and the girls picked me up at the train station coming home from work today. We all went to Vallø Castle to take a walk in the park, and Mads had brought bread for the ducks there. It was a perfect afternoon. The weather has been beautiful today, warm and mild. Frida was chasing ducks, going “RAP, RAP” (Danish ducks say this instead of “quack”) with a huge smile on her face, Ronja was enthusiastically throwing bread crumbs, and we were all just lazily enjoying the fact that the weekend has started, and there’s definitely a change of season on its way. We ended our walk by going into the yard of the castle, to check whether the 12 Dancing Princesses by any chance would be dancing in there. They weren’t – and the girls rode on our shoulders back to the car.

In our garden, the leaves are coming out on Frida’s heart tree – it’s going to be a wonderful weekend. :)

Frida's tree

Frida and the “Kukkopilli”

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Just look at me! 

Frida isn’t using her dummy anymore – she stopped during the weekend. Or basically, we didn’t give it to her when we tucked her in – you know we had to get her off it. We were expecting her to just not go to sleep, and we were so wrong. It has been completely painless! The first couple of evenings, she had a look on her face that said, “mmm – am I not supposed to have something else, when I go to sleep?” and then she cuddled with her comfort blanket and went to sleep. I’m telling you – painless!

I started making this little tunic top during the weekend, but I didn’t have the right buttons for it, so I finished it Monday evening. When I go home from work, I have 10-15 minutes waiting while changing trains, and one of my favourite local sewing shops is close by. So I popped in to have a chat with her and get me some buttons.

Kukkopilli 

This is the same fabric I used for the baby shoes I made recently, and I’m just really fond of it. It’s an Ottobre-pattern from the latest childrens issue, called ”Kukkopilli” raglan-sleeve tunic top – and my version doesn’t have the appliqué, because I wanted a pocket there instead. A kukkopilli is a Finnish kind of rooster whistle, and they look like this – I remember seeing them in my family when I was a child. It would probably have been sweet as well, though – it’s been a while since I made an appliqué.

I love the pattern, and it looks so sweet on Frida – even if it’s hard to get her to not move too much in order to take a picture.  Here she is running away with her wet, combed hair – fresh out of her bath.

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Hogweed Silhouette Skirt

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This has been a nice and quiet weekend. Saturday, I traced and sewed a skirt for Ronja, using a half panama fabric, that I’ve used previously. It’s a nice heavy quality, which makes the skirt stand out a little bit, and I like it a lot.

Doing a little dance 

I edged it with bias tape, and used the same bias tape to edge the pocket. I did use a pattern for the shape of the skirt, but I altered it so much that it would be difficult to recognise it. However, the base was Onion 20021, without the top binder, and with a cased elastic for waist instead of rib. The pocket was made at Ronja’s request – they just love pockets at that age, don’t they? She did a little dance while modeling, and I can assure you she’s trying to look princessy!

Hogweed Silhouette Skirt - mosaic 

As little as I followed the pattern, I still should’ve drafted my own or found one that was meant for wovens. This one is meant for knits, and it would be great if it had just a bit more ease at the waist line. It’s fine once it’s on, but it could be easier for Ronja to put on and take off.

And now I’m on to finishing something else, that I started yesterday.

Wild Nature Top

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Ronja modeling the   

I made this top for Ronja during the weekend. It doesn’t go with the pants she’s wearing, so you’ll have to insert imagination here. But it looks like an easy project, right? Well, I can tell you, that I have never ever made as many errors with a project as I did with this one. It maybe due to the fact that it got rather late Saturday night, and I was tired and watching a movie while I was sewing - but still. When I picked it up to finish it today, everything kept on going wrong..! I did it all – stitched things together in the wrong ways, sewed through layers that weren’t even supposed to be under the needle, serged something off(!) that wasn’t supposed to come off… Yep – I did it all! It’s incredible really, because when you look at it now, it’s not really visible. It is a little bit on the inside, but that’s it. You may be able to tell when you look at me because of the hair I ripped out, though…

  

  

I don’t believe the pattern is to blame, honestly. It’s the “Wild Nature” Babycord Top from Ottobre 06/2008, it has a sweet shape, and there’s nothing very difficult about it. Except, who am I to say after this…

The fabric is wonderful – this too came from Jo-Ann’s and was a part of this parcel. It’ll be great with long sleeved t-shirts under, and for jeans or neutral skirts. I like it – I really do. I just hope my next project will fight me a little less…

Going Retro

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Do you remember when I told you about the wonderful cords, that Amy sent me? Well, last night I cut into some of it.

 

I made the “Nasta” pinafore dress once before, and I thought it would be perfect for this wonderful retro print. Also, last time I made it, I actually traced it one size smaller in length to make sure she would be able to crawl in it. However, now that she’s walking most of the time, I think it’s ok for her to have it dress length.

   

I still really like this pattern – I was totally unsure of what colour to go with for binding and pocket, but I think this works nicely – I’m actually quite fond of this one!

By the way, if you’re interested, the coupon for Fabric.com expires tonight Danish time - I believe in about 5 hours.

For you, my readers

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A little while ago, I had a very nice comment from Tracy over at Fabric.com, telling me that she had a little something for me and my readers. The reason was that I have mentioned them on my blog, which is true – I have several times, because I have bought lots of fabric there.

Therefore, if you’re going fabric shopping soon, they are offering a $5 discount when you are using the code blogastrid – the coupon is valid for one week. I think that’s pretty nice of them! It’s a one time only coupon, and there is no minimum purchase.

Free Shipping on orders $35+

So go take a look – it’s one of my favourite online fabric stores due to their huge selection, good prices, and great customer service!