Linaloo

Hers 'n' hers

 

This weekend I have been reacquainted with my sewing machine, it feels like a while since I've sewn anything and I needed a simple project to get back in the swing of things.  Amy Butler's lounge pants again.  I've made quite a few of these now and I'd been saving this particular sheet with another pair in mind.  They really are super comfy and there was fabric enough left over to whip up a pair for my daughter.

I wasn't sure if she'd go for 'hers 'n' hers' matchiness.  She politely declined. Unfortunately, it seems she has yet to inherit my appreciation of old sheets, although she did say that she might wear them on my birthday (so as not to hurt my feelings)!  Ah well,  on the bright side, they fit her really well, so I will use them as a template for some flannel pjs in time for Christmas perhaps.

More pyjama fun here.

Built by nervous

Not really refashioning per se, but made from some of the fabric I bought for the big red and white quilt which barely got used. 

And guess what? It fits!! Yay! 

I am still ever-so-nervous about sewing clothes and I figured this top was so simple that I couldn't possibly screw it up ( I did end up sewing the first sleeve the wrong way around and unpicking it - but every good project needs some seam ripping right?!).  I would definitely make this again, the elastic neckline helped me avoid the gaping-at-the-bust, snug-on-the-hips look which I too often achieve with clothes sewing (I'm a classic pear shape). I might even be so adventurous as to add some darts on the next version

A good solid confidence boosting start I'd say.

I'm thinking of a Barcelona skirt next and I would be ever so grateful for any other simple pattern suggestions that you might have.

Giddy

 

When I'm thrifting for fabric, every once in a while I catch a glance of something that makes me giddy with excitement.  Last week it was this pillowcase that made me gasp.  I know it's not everyone's cup of tea... but to me it shouted "summer top"!  I used this excellent (and easy)tutorial from Betz White  to turn into a totally wearable item.  I even wore it this weekend to a bbq and my son's soccer match without worrying that someone would recognize it as their old bed linen or a piece of dodgy homemade clothing.

 

It's usually these kinds of thoughts and self consciousness which make me shy away from making clothes for myself, it's just a confidence thing...but I really want to keep going.  So I just happened upon Nikki's wardrobe refashion blog recently and have now taken the pledge to refashion, renovate and recycle preloved items for myself for the next 6 months.

Wish me luck...I'll be drowning in the deep end!

Square eyes

 

Thank you for your healthy snack ideas...seems that frozen grapes and smoothies are universal favourites!

So here's Tommy's quilt so far. Not perfectly pieced but I'm sure he won't object.  I don't have a never ending fabric stash, but I do reuse everything I can and that's why the only new fabric for this quilt will be the backing (and even then it will likely be a thrifted sheet if I can get my hands on something suitable).  One of the reasons it's been hard to piece is the mix of different weights, from denim to flimsy gingham and left over curtain fabric to old pillowcases, but I'm happy with the overall effect.

I love how reusing fabric breathes life into a new project.  For the record this quilt is made from:

• 2 Laura Ashley remnants picked up over 6 years ago in the UK
• 2 of my husband's old shirts
• a dress that my husband bought me shortly after we met for my 25th birthday (um a UK size 8, no way I was ever getting back into that!)
• 2 pillowcases,
• some denim scraps from tote making
• canvas from a curtain sample book bought at a neighbourhood garage sale last year
• left overs from the roman blinds I made for Tommy's room when we moved in 2 years ago
• and gingham remaining from Ruby's Dorothy dress.

Not quite heirloom quality, but lots of love and good memories are going into this quilt and that's what will make it special. 

Summer sewing - made by mama

 

My girlhood memories of summers in the seventies often feature homemade clothing. My mum was a good sewist who made my sister and I dresses, partly out of economic necessity but also because of the enjoyment and satisfaction gleaned from making something for a loved one from scratch. Perhaps this is why I have felt compelled to make a simple summer dress or skirt of some description every year for Ruby. (Tommy however is sadly neglected in the made by mama department for which I have yet to make amends).

As each summer passes I am acutely aware that this may be the last year she accepts my offerings, before casting them aside with embarrassment. I remember when I made my mum knit a sweater for me aged 13 and snubbing the final result, it must have broken her heart. But I accept that making our own choices about clothing is an inevitable part of growing up.

 

I'm usually ruthless when it comes to decluttering but I will treasure these little outfits, despite their amateur construction (several of them have required more than one mending session!).  This year's effort is a shirred sundress made using Erin’s tutorial. From a thrifted pillowcase (I think this kind of goes without saying) which could be best described as "Pacman meets apple circa 1982" I'm thinking.

Fru-cool

I'm still thrifting most of my fabric these days. I could claim that I'm part of the new "frugal is cool" movement but quite frankly I've always been a tightwad. I was the only one of my friends at university who never had an overdraft, I'd walk everywhere to avoid tapping into my beer money and used my student loan to fund a year backpacking in South East Asia once I graduated.

That's not to say I'm cheap, in fact the opposite. I'd rather have fewer, high quality, orginal items than lots of inexpensive and mass produced "stuff". Anyhow, I digress. On our recent trip to Toronto I actually bought some brand new fabric in a fabric store (the expensive variety in a quilt shop). 6 fat quarters to be exact. The first new fabric purchase in almost a year can you believe? I'm not sure if this is genuine self control on my part or the fact that there are no decent fabric shops nearby to tempt me. I have ordered fabric online from the US in the past but quite frankly I don't like being fleeced (pardon the pun) for the shipping charges and taxes.

I put my new purchase to good use straight away, mixing it up with some of my stash (sheets) to make these simple spring placemats for the kitchen table...although I can't decide if I trust my children to use them yet or not. Perhaps I should have made them in ketchup red. Or there's always this alternative...

More fru-cool sewing ideas in the works over the next week.