Making do and mending in space and time

So, the Sewing Bee is over, and KCWC too. It's time start sewing again instead of just watching other people making things. The only problem is the mending pile. This is the dark side of sewing: it's so practical and useful that it can easily become a bit mundane.

Which is fine, but not especially relaxing, and not necessarily much fun.

Although sometimes the repairs can take on a life of their own...

Recently I've been hearing the term 'home sewing' to describe, well, home sewing, and I  like that way it encompasses what we do, whilst completely bypassing the question of why we do it. It avoids the whole issue of whether 'home sewing' is recreational or functional. Is it a utilitarian life skill, or an artistic endeavour or a self-contained hobby? It doesn't matter - 'home sewing' brings sewing into the same bracket as cooking or DIY: virtuous and necessary, but with the potential for enjoyment and perhaps a bit of quirkiness.

And it does make me happy when all the facets of home sewing come together in one uber-satisfying Who-themed knee patch.

Oh, and there's a reason why the boy has holes in his trousers. Here's how the Tardis looked the next day...

More mending is sure to follow.

There's sewing all around us...*

It's day#2 of Kid's Clothing Week.

And the final of The Great British Sewing Bee.

And my local sewing shop is doing crochet classes.

And I have a lovely new dressmaking book.

And my friend Lucy is looking for a pattern to make a first-ever dress home-made dress for her daughter.

I'm not sewing anything. All the activity is just too distracting.

But I am making a bid for Lucy to try out the Oliver+S Rollerskate pattern, on the basis that every little girl should have at least one. This version was constructed with her daughter in mind, knowing how very important pinkness would be to her, and with the elastic casing dropped to waist level to appeal to the 4 year-old/princess aesthetic...

Must go - there's so much sewing to watch, read about, discuss...

I might even do some.

*(to the tune of 'Love is all Around', of course).

A trail of internet inspiration

My little runciblegirl had a birthday last month, and she's at an age where presents for her doll count as presents for her. 

Preparing for her birthday was a bit like arranging a very tiny baby shower.

First, a nod to the practicalities with some nappies made from a pattern by Skip to my Lou, and a tutorial from Bee in my Bonnet. The moment of true sewing genius in the tutorial comes when she suggests using flannel for the lining because it clings to the outer fabric and eliminates the need for pins. Oh so clever. I'm not a great lover of pins, and I do like a timesaving shortcut.

The little case for baby wipes was copied from Making More with Less (and incidentally, she also links to an alternative pattern for dolls' nappies, as well as an elegant little changing bag). I only had tiny scraps of the floral by this stage and was using it sparingly.

The little wipes are just pieces of flannel cut with pinking sheers and ironed to give them a crease - yet they're one of runciblegirl's favourite things in the whole set.

Of course, a baby will needs some bibs. I used a miniaturised hybrid pattern based partly on my own bibs, and partly on a scaled down version of another favourite (life-sized) pattern from Amy at Lots of Pink Here. The Paddington fabric has been in my stash since son#1 was born over a decade ago, so it was a joy to use it again.

Such a well-equipped doll might need to go on excursions outside the house, so I added a Teddy Bear Carrier from Little Things to Sew - quick to make, and a chance to use some beautiful buttons.

And then, the day before the birthday, up popped a bag pattern on Pinterest which was just right for the last remnants of dolly fabric. I'll do it differently (= much more carefully) next time, but runciblegirl loves it, so all's well.

Just a quick note on the bag: the pattern is in Japanese (I think) which I don't speak, but the photographs are meticulous and take you through ever step. My funny little bag was made in haste! Next time I'll be more particular about copying the proportions of the illustrated pattern pieces.

Happy Birthday, little runciblegirl!

And thank you, to all the generous people whose patterns I've used. They are being well used and well loved.

Beautiful on the inside

This post is heartfelt (if a touch belated)

THANKYOU

&

OBRIGADA

to the lovely Ana Sofia at S is for Sewing, who sent me a parcel of goodies from her recent giveaway.

Ana Sofia sews for her children, making them beautiful clothes which manage to be practical+fun as well as beautiful+timeless. I had previously thought of these two categories as being mutually exclusive, especially in the context of children's clothing, and so am a bit in awe of her beautiful sewing. 

Now, the giveaway included the Oliver + S After School pattern together with a piece of baby pink wool, and Ana Sofia's question was 'what would you do with these?'

My answer: a dress-length version of the After School top, for my daughter to wear through the winter.

And I really meant it... 

And yet, somehow, instead we have a scrumptious new skirt (all for me) lined in this cosiest of cosy warm wool.

Here it is in all its glory.

Oh - and that's just the inside. It has an outside view as well...

It's the Perfect Attire skirt pattern from Anna Maria Horner (view A), and I do indeed feel perfectly attired in it. 

And very warm.

Luckily, Ana Sofia's length of wool was more than generous, so there's plenty left to make something for my little runciblegirl as well. And she will definitely want the pink on the outside.

A 12" doll babygro: pattern and (very simple) tutorial

Remember the Merchant and Mills mantra?

'Sew cloth together patiently and with care for your industry will be rewarded beyond all measure.'

Well, it's true. My recent forays into sewing with wool and silk have convinced me of that.

And yet... sometimes the exceptions prove the rule, and here's another exception: 

dolls' clothes.

There are moments when dolls need new outfits in a hurry... and this babygro can be made from an old T-shirt during a toddler naptime. There are lots of very lovely, and more sophisticated doll clothes patterns out there, but not many for teeny-tiny dolls like this one, so I've included a template which will fit a 12" doll. I've made it using various knits, mostly harvested from the children's old clothes, and it seems quite forgiving in most fabrics.  

Here's what to do...

 Cut one babygro front (on the fold) and two babygro backs using this template. The back pieces have sticking-out-bits at the centre where they will overlap, and which I will call 'placket extensions' until I can come up with a more elegant or accurate description.

Stitch together the two back pieces - with right sides together and 1/4 inch seam allowances - starting the the base of the placket extensions, and pivoting to stitch down the centre back.

Press the seam to one side. This will naturally lead to the placket extension on one side folding back on itself, and the other side extending over it - perhaps the picture below will help to explain this a bit better.
It might be worth pinning them together at this stage to keep it all lying nicely.

Place the front and back pieces with right sides together, and mark the centre of the top (the blue pin in the photo below). Mark one inch either side (the two red pins). Stitch front and back together along the top seams, with 1/4" seam allowances, leaving an opening for the neck between your markers.

 Press the seam open, then fold and stitch a narrow hem at the ends of each sleeve (it's easier to do this before the next step, which will be stitching the side seams).

Now match front to back, right sides together, and stitch the side seams and inner leg seams, with the same 1/4" seam allowances as before.

 Add a press-on snap at the back of the neck. The snap will catch the folded upper edge and folded-over placket, and hold them in place.

You could even add another snap or two.  Or buttons.

(This is a felted wool version with more carefully finished edges.)

And it's done.  Here it is in real life, as it were...

Happy sewing!