Snappy Toddler Top

Thanks to Prudent Baby for the free download and tutorial for the Snappy Toddler Top.
http://prudentbaby.com/2010/05/baby-kid/snappy-toddler-top-free-downloadable-pattern-2/
I made this version for my girl

Including a matching headband from http://thelongthread.com/?p=669
And a cute daiper cover from http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-the-perfect-diaper-cover.html

cute full outfit.

Upcycled boys boxers

I love the idea of being able to reuse old Tees so although i am a bit afraid of stretch fabrics, I could try this idea because it is costing me nothing.
I came across this at http://www.sewastraightline.com/2011/03/lets-celebrate-with-underwear.html and thought why not give it a go.
And for the cost of a bit of elastic, this is what I came up with.

Not too bad for two (almost) free pairs of cute Big Boy undies for my little boy.

Now i just have to figure out how to make them in bigger sizes??

Beach Party Dress

I came across this pattern a while ago and made Paigee a Red Gingham version and its really cute.

Im not a huge fan of the tie neck but otherwise it is a great pattern.
Ive kept the dress to use as a top for next summer since the elastic back makes it adjustable.
The best news is that I revisited the site http://fiddlehead.blogspot.co.nz/2009/06/finally-let-beach-parties-begin.html and now there is a multisize pattern so Im gonna give it another shot as a dress for next summer too. Will probably make an adjustable elastic neck this time.
I will put up a photo of the new version when I get round to making it.

Thanks fiddlehead. Looking forward to my next version.

Superhero Masks

These felt superhero masks are fantastic. The kids love them and they are super easy to make.

Sorry about the blurry photos but the kids were far too excited to stand still for too long

Check these out at http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.co.nz/2009/06/childs-felt-mask-pattern-and-tutorial.html

They are quick and easy and keep the kids occupied for ages.

The masks are now a staple in the dress-up box.

Lovebird Tunic

Im loving this tutorial by craftinessisnotoptional.com.
 http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2011/10/lovebird-tunic.html
I have so far made two for my daughter

this one using a pattern i made myself but the armholes were not quite right and it is a snug fit...

The second (green) one is slightly larger. I just used the same principals but modified a size 3 paper pattern by extending the front to make the pleat.

THEN

I made one for my niece, for her birthday, using a size5 paper pattern

And one for my friends daughter for her Birthday...

with a matching belt made using this tutorial http://prudentbaby.com/2010/02/baby-kid/diy-fabric-belt-for-toddler-2/ again

I am sure that i will be using this idea many more times.

These tops look great with tights or skinny jeans which is why i like the matching belts.

It saves me from trying to find a belt to match.

Fleece Dino Hat

Thanks heaps to Pamela at http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/fleece-dino-hat for this cute Tutorial. My little man loves his Dino hat, especially when he wears it to chase his little sister around the house Roaring.

Doily Lightshade

I really have to say a huge THANK YOU to http://dosfamily.com/2011/01/lace-lamp/comment-page-8/#comment-75501 for the fantastic tutorial for this awesome doily lightshade.
It now hangs in my daughters room and she adores it.

I did a few things differently,
First, I couldnt find a fully round balloon so I used a beach ball.
I pulled apart one of those paper lantern lightshades (from the dollar shop) and kept the top ring and the centre wire part.

I marked out where the wire ring would fit then I coated the ball with vaseline so that the doilies wouldnt stick

then I pasted the doilies with a paintbrush and slapped them onto the beachball making sure that the edges met neatly and i could cut them off around my drawn circle at the top

I hung it on my front porch for a few days to dry.

I deflated the ball and pulled it out of the lightshade. Then cut off the doilies around my pen circle.

I persuaded the wire inside and sewed the ring into the top if the shade. 

I did use an Ecobulb as suggested in the tutorial because I dont want it to heat up and it works wonderfully.

And this is how it looks in my little chickens bedroom.

Beautiful!

Girlifying the boys bike

My little chicken needed a decent bike and happily this coincided with my sons fourth birthday so...
Nana and grandad agreed to buy the boy a "new" (second hand) bike for Bday and we handed the Dinosaur bike down to my little girl.
Of course the problem was that the bike was quite boyish.
I had seen this great tutorial for a bike basket at noodleheads.blogspot.com so i went to the shed and grabbed anything that would come off the bike and traced everything and replaced them.
The basket came out great using the heaviest iron-on interfacing i could find to give stiffness.
The whole makeover was a great hit and the bike is now called "My Pretty Bike". Success!!

Before - Dino boyness

After - My Pretty Bike

Pinnies

Soooo... Ive been busy busy sewing pinafores to sell on TradeMe.co.nz.
Ive finally managed to get enough finished and listed.
so here is a peek:

And finally, after asking weather every finished pinnie was for her, I have now made one for my "little chicken". I just have to figure out how to keep the nasty white fluff off the black corduroy!

Weekend Blouse

I made this for myself for my Birthday in October. It look about half a day. Working around two kids. No overlocking (serging) but came out great and I wore it that night.

This one is a little long but i was in a hurry. I will definitely make it again, I already have fabric picked out.
http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/weekend-blouse

Upcycled Dress

My Mum gave me a bag of clothes to give to church and I rescued this beautiful buttercup yellow linen mix shirt to make Paige a dress. I had this, from Prudent Baby, on my list of "to dos" so here is my version of the Snappy Toddler Dress.

It looks very cute and breezy on her. And she Loves the pocket!

Thanks Prudentbaby

http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/09/snap-wrap-dress.html

Little Bakers

I have been trawling the internet gathering ideas on how to make an oilcloth apron and bakers hat for my two children, who love to empty out my tupperware drawer and pretend to bake. I dont mind a bit. It actually beats trying to do "real" baking with four extra hands.

This is the final result and I am really happy with it. Especially as the kids love them and have worn them at least once a day since they were finished.

Christmas Day Dress

Ooh, its been far too long and sooo many people to thank for ideas. But I just have to put up a photo of the dress I just made for my little girl for Christmas Day. She currently has a huge bump on her head so I wont be getting her to model it for me.
 I have had this idea from here http://sewingin-nomansland.blogspot.com/2011/03/butterfly-dress-and-headband.html in my head for ages and finally teamed it up with some super cute apple fabric.

The biggest booboo I made was that I forgot that I had the actual pattern pieces so I made my own and it was a bit short. I just added a couple of rows of apples onto the hem and its perfect. Then I thought that the flower headband is so cute that i had to give that a go too. It was nearing 11pm last night and i was fighting with the fabric flower so I just made a basic gathered one that looks fine.

Also, no outfit is complete without a nappy cover from Dana at http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-perfect-diaper-cover.html.

Outfit complete. Now just to get her to keep it clean long enough to get some photos!

Square wrist Pincushion

The funny thing is, I hesitated when deciding to make this pincushion. And its one of the best things I have ever sewn. It even came out a little wonky but it doesn't matter. It is attached to my wrist most of the time. I just have to remember to take it off when putting my daughter to bed as it holds great fascination for her.

this is the photo my son took of it sitting on our kitchen bench

thanks http://www.planetjune.com/blog/offset-square-wrist-pincushion-tutorial/ for the great tutorial.

Easter Bunnies

My kids are only three and 18 months and are not really that into chocolate so while looking for something to make for Easter I came across this great free downloadable pattern for Jack Rabbit Softie. Thanks to http://the-polka-dot-umbrella.blogspot.com/2011/04/jack-rabbit-softie-free-pattern.html
I made one for each and they absolutely love them to bits. They each hold a special place on the kids beds and get lots of cuddles.

I haven't made anything like this before and I was so proud when my son took his bunny to kindy for "news" and told everyone that the Easter Bunny had made it and left it for him Easter morning.

Jarmies

I made the kids some Jarmies. I only had a little of each fabric so i made a simple pant and just cut an applique of the same fabric and sewed them onto some cheap long sleeve tops.

I used this awesome product called Craft Smart Applique and Embroidery Positioning spray. I bought it from Spotlight in Henderson, Auckland. It keeps the applique in place while sewing it on then washes off in the first wash. I bought it for little singlets i sewed doilies onto and am surprised how many times Ive used it since.

Peasant Top

thanks to http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/baby-clothes-pattern-peasant-top.html for this great versatile pattern. I have used it for three different patterns. One, a short sleeve with elastic waist. The second a longer version with flower attached. And a third with 3/4 length bell sleeves.

This is the dress, with a lace and flower trim

And this is the top with elastic in the waist.

toddler pullover

Im really happy with how this came out. Even though I put in a little garter strip of my own by accident. I obviously wasnt paying any attention so the strip doesnt even go the whole way!
This site has a few of these great patterns.http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/05/tssp.html
 I may even get brave enough to try the girl version but next time i will make it a little longer.
I knitted a flower to cover the accident. thanks for the flower http://www.fibrespace.com/inspiration/2010/04/retro-girl-free-pattern/

So here is my next effort. Much better fit. I used pure wool and it came out great.
My daughter has worn this lots and it has become one of my favourites.

Twiggy

I found this adorable little top on Ravelry. This was my first knit using circular needles and I LOVED IT! It is so much fun. I especially loved the fact that there is hardly any purling. Not my favourite thing to do.

Thanks so much for the great easy pattern http://knitterswithoutsitters.blogspot.com/2009/03/twiggy.html

Seems like a good idea

Well, Im not entirely sure why I even have a blog. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. It has grown from the fact that I want to post photos of some of the great projects I have made using other peoples free patterns and tutorials. I thought it was about time to give credit!
So basicly thats what I indend to do with this blog.
That and post photos of my own projects. Even if it just inspires other just a little bit.