Cilla leaf dress

by
15 comments

I have been waiting for some materials to arrive from England for the project I told you about that I’ll be making for Ronja. Friday however, my mail man still didn’t bring what I needed, so I thought that I would make something else. Armed with the latest issue of Ottobre, I made the Cilla dress for Frida.

 Cilla leaf dress - mosaic

I made a few alterations – and really this dress kind of evolved in the making. I didn’t cut up the skirt section as the instructions tell you to – I cut it in one piece. The fabric I used is baby corduroy instead of wool-knit, and I hemmed it with a wide bias tape made from the same fabric I used for the facing inside the yoke panels. Finally, I lacked something to bring it all together, and I came up with the leaf appliqué which is my own design. Also, inspired by Karen’s beautiful version of the dress, I used snaps for the shoulder closures.

I really like the result, even though initially I didn’t know where I was going with the dress. I thought I was making a dress for every day use, but this doesn’t excactly fit that description – at least not in my opinion. I really like the pattern – it’s wonderfully versatile. I have no idea what she will be wearing this one for, but hopefully we’re going to a Christmas party or two within the next 2 months.  :)

Take 2: “Vilkas” pants

by
6 comments

Today I made another pair of pants for Frida from the “Vilkas” pants pattern.

 

This time I used fine corduroy only, which has no stretch at all. They fit fine, but I may make them slightly higher at the waist next time. As I did last time, I cut up the pattern for these as well (you should see my pattern – it looks like a jigsaw puzzle by now…) – only differently. I wanted to spice up the plain corduroy with some fabulous printed corduroy - also found in the new line from “Stof og Stil”. I think I’ll use that same fabric for making Ronja a pinafore dress – but that’ll be some time soon.

I went a little crazy with the topstiching… I don’t know if it shows above, otherwise maybe you can see it more clearly here:

 

Maybe it’s too much? Maybe I should’ve used a contrasting thread? You be the judge. :)

I wanted to show you…

by
11 comments

…something I made for me. I haven’t been sewing much for myself – I’m kind of hesitant because of the fitting-issue. Whatever you make for an adult needs to be fitted to some degree, and also the sizing just isn’t as simple as it is for kids.

However, I made something simple.

Ginger blossom top 

Or at least, it should have been. It has been in the category of unfinished stuff for quite some time – basically it didn’t turn out the way it should have. First I didn’t like the neckline from the original pattern, so I redrew the neckline while wearing the top and looking in a mirror. Then I wanted to finish the neckline and the sleeves with bias tape, but it just didn’t work out – I think I may need some practice in that department. The neckline kind of stood up in a funny way, so I undid the seam, and didn’t get any further.

A while ago, when my mother was visiting, she gave me the idea to make a facing instead. For a while I still didn’t get around to it, but this weekend, I did. I drew the pattern for the facing with the top as my template. Cut the facing in a different fabric to add a bit of contrast. And for something that initially didn’t turn out the way I wanted it, I’m pretty happy with it. This is me wearing my Ginger Blossom top. The pattern is an Onion pattern – 5005, however heavily modified.

And this is Frida – she knows where I keep my sewing machine…  :) Also, she models the “Vilkas” pants - already a favourite.

So this is where Mom keeps her sewing machine...

“Vilkas” pants – and a gift from the blogosphere…

by
10 comments

I have been wanting to make a pair of pants for Frida, that wasn’t as wide as the typical Ottobre or Onion pattern for woven baby pants is. After browsing through my patterns, I decided to try the “Vilkas” pants – again from the latest issue of Ottobre for kids. They are meant for velour, but I decided to go with the last bit of the velvet, that I have had in my stash since I used it for making another pair of pants for Frida (my first ever) - back in February when I first started sewing. I was going to show you by linking to them, but I just realized I didn’t even upload them to Flickr… However, this dress was made from the same velvet.

If anyone is unsure about the difference between velvet and velour – I was too. So I googled a bit and came up with two pretty good explanations:

“Velvet is a form of textile that is woven on a special loom. It is a tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, giving it its distinct feel. Velvet can be made from any fiber. Two pieces of velvet must be woven at the same time. They are then cut apart and the two lengths of fabric are wound on separate take-up rolls. Looms which weave velvet must have two takeup rolls. Velvet’s knitted counterpart is velour. Velvet was very expensive.
Corduroy and velveteen, when first produced, were considered the “poor man’s velvet”. Velour is a form of textile, a knitted counterpart of velvet. It combines the stretchy properties of knits such as spandex with the rich appearance and feel of velvet. It is used in dancewear for the ease of movement it affords. Velour is also popular for warm,
colorful casual clothing.”
“The term velvet versus velour specifically refers to the construction of the fabric, not the fiber it is made of.
Velvet is a woven backed fabric with the cut pile, no stretch. Velour is a knit fabric with the cut pile, stretchy.
Both fabrics come in all sorts of fibers, from silk to cotton and many synthetic blends.
Woven fabrics are stiffer and more durable, but only have a bit of stretch on the bias. Knit fabrics are softer and drapier and a bit less durable, but they are nice and stretchy.”

There, that should settle it. So anyway, I made the pants.

 

I cut up the traced pattern in order to combine the velvet with some pretty embroidered fine cord which I have used once before, but other than that, I didn’t make any changes.

  

Everything went really easy, and the fit of these pants is great. In spite of the fact that I didn’t use a stretchy fabric for them, they are easy to get on and off, and the material works really well for a pair of baby pants. They will be nice and warm for the upcoming autumn, so all in all, I’m really happy with them.

And now for something completely different….

Computers – internet – blogosphere… Don’t you think modern technology is an amazing thing? Don’t you just love the possibilities the computer and the internet brings us? And aren’t you amazed at how the internet and the blogosphere can bring people together and minimize any distance as shown on a map?

I know I am! Every time I start thinking about it, it just blows my mind. I consider myself lucky to have been born into the internet age, and I was reminded about it again yesterday when this arrived in the mail from California:

Children's songs - a gift 

Lisa who has the wonderful blog Bon Souvenir and her daughter Saga (“what a cool name”, Mads said – and he’s right too) sent a little something for Ronja and Frida. She wants to give them the opportunity to learn English from traditional English children’s songs by sending two music cd’s, which is such a sweet thought. Had you been here yesterday, you would have seen our two girls dancing around to the sound of Three Little Kittens, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Humpty Dumpty. And oh yes, Frida dances too – she holds on to the coffee table and bounces up and down – quite a sight, I tell you! Thank you so much, Lisa – we’re going to have loads of fun with this! I have no doubt you will be a popular teacher in your beautifully decorated classroom!

First day of autumn

by
6 comments

This morning we had bright sunshine and blue sky, but now it’s rather windy, and the sky is grey. Yesterday, when the calendar was still on the summer page, I got a shot of Frida wearing her flower girl dress.

Frida in the garden 

She was in the garden trying out the baby walker, however pushing it in the mossy grass proved a little too tough. Ronja was blowing soap bubbles as she very often does!

Blowing soap bubbles 

I have been sewing again today, but I’ll get back to that later.

Flower girl dress

by
16 comments

Sewing time is hard to come by at the moment. Frida doesn’t always sleep a lot during the day, and when she’s awake, she’s all over the place, crawling and standing up. She doesn’t pay much attention to her toys anymore, it’s all about discovering the world. Which keeps me busy! Also, with all my current running and training, I’m running out of (got that?) evenings…

Still, yesterday I managed to make this for Frida.

 

It’s the “Nasta” pinafore dress from the latest kids issue of Ottobre. I wanted it to be short enough for Frida to crawl, so even though she’s almost a size 74, I traced the 74 for width, and a 68 for length. And then I detached my head, and started to cut the fabric. Consequently, I forgot the seam allowance for the bottom hem, so it’s definitely short enough – maybe more of a top than a dress.

I chose a twill for the dress, even though the pattern recommends a knit, and it’s working perfectly - I have no trouble getting it over her head. I used striped rib for the binding, which also works nicely – I like the look of the two materials together. The twill is “My garden” in blue from Superbuzzy – it’s deliciously soft and I loooove the design. I’ll post a picture with my little flower girl when I get a chance.

 A few days ago, I made my first bias tape, using a Clover bias tape maker from Smaatekstiler.dk.

Homemade bias tape 

Now this is my first attempt, and the quality of this IKEA fabric is quite sturdy, but I still like the dramatic design of it, and it was so easy to make. I definitely recommend giving it a try!