Apron for Mishka

This is my third sewing project, and I finished it before my second one, the tartan dress. I used this pattern from TidBits, but decided not to make the hat. This is a birthday present for my niece, who turns two soon!

This is the only photo I have of laying the pattern out. You'll note I used some printer paper taped together. The fabric is a thin gingham cotton. There's also some thin white cotton too. The thinness didn't matter so much because the apron is layered. There are no photos of the other pieces being made; not even the ruffle!

The ruffle was made according to the pattern. The technique she uses is perfect! It creates an amazingly even ruffle. Basically you set the stitch length to the longest (mine only goes up to 4) and set your upper thread tension to the highest. As you sew, apply resistance to the upper thread. This essentially pulls the thread as you go, rather than pulling it afterwards. Genius!

Here you'll see I've assembled a number of parts. The pocket, ruffle, and neck-tie are all done. The pocket is a simple shape with two pleats, based off the pattern below:

Since it widens at the top, adding the pleats creates the straight sides. I added a band at the top. Instant adorable!

Pinning, pinning, pinning...

This is what the apron looked like after turning. So cute!

There is one problem - the measurements for the waist tie were too short. :\ So I had a short tie, and amazingly not enough fabric to make a new one.

It wasn't that hard to track down some plain white cotton so I soon finished.

An overview of the finished apron

Pocket! This doesn't show you that the white band doesn't
actually encompass that pocket-ness, so the inside
is kinda ugly. I don't think anyone will examine the inside of the
pocket too closely, though.

I added some adorable little buttons!

The ruffle! The material was folded in half lengthwise so I didn't have
to clean up the edge...haha!

Overall a lovely project. The apron is probably going to be too big for Mishka, but the ties are all adjustable, so she'll just have to grow into it. :)

Sewing my First Dress

After my first sewing project, the apron, I felt a little more confident in starting a sewing project. Using a vintage pattern (in my size, amazingly!) I got started.

The only photo I have is from pinning it - most of the time it is too dark to take photos, and I can't be bothered setting up the tripod.

The dress currently has the zip basted in place. It will be the first time I'll be inserting a zip, so I'll probably get to use my zipper foot!

I think my favourite part to sew so far are the darts. They are so easy, but create such a pleasing result.

I'm hoping to clean up and learn to use the overlocker I'm borrowing. Currently it has been sitting stagnant for many years, and is covered in dust with a few cobwebs. It really would be hilarious and slightly traumitising if I discovered a spider has been living in it...

Creeper Crochet Blanket - Halfway There

An update to the first installment of my Creeper Crochet Blanket (see my Ravelry project here).

So far I'm about 50% done. I've needed to get another ball of black wool, and I'll need another aqua and light green.

I'm thinking of lining the whole thing with a shelled black border, and probably sewing the holes between the squares up!

Amigurumi Octopus Pincushion

After sewing an apron a couple of weeks ago, I came to the conclusion I was severely lacking a pincushion. Pincushions are great - not only are they useful, but they can be incredibly cute. I decided to take the pattern of a useless thing - an amigurumi octopus - and use it as a pincushion.

The pattern itself is very straightforward. I found I had to take a couple of rounds away from the ball to make a more spherical shape. Perhaps it was due to the yarn I am using, some sort of cream mercerised cotton. Louella doesn't really like it - she says it feels like burlap (it does). I made a crochet coinpurse with it some time ago. It is a fairly thick, rough thread - which makes for a fairly sturdy coinpurse.

Working the round

The completed pincushion

Yes, it is essentially a stuffed toy. But you can stick pins in it, and in the legs, too! I recently watch Coraline, and was worried the button eyes would freak me out. Gladly, it turned out to be rather cute.

Quilting - Sections

Almost every night the past few weeks, I have come home after work and pulled out the sewing machine and quilting squares. I'll probably end up cutting the rest of the fabric into squares, as I am constantly running out.

Sometimes the squares don't match up (grr) but I believe I'll have everything sorted when it comes to pinning the columns together.

I believe I'm about a quarter of the way through making the front. Below you can see some of the designs I've come up with for the sections.

My typical evening these past couple of weeks.
Usually accompanied with a bourbon and Coke...

Some of the designs. Hopefully they will all work
together in the final blanket!

I'll be purchasing a walking foot at some point this week. From what I've learnt online, you may as well not bother with a regular foot (too much shifting of the batting and backing).

A Napron

Finally I have sewn something I can wear!

With the help of Louella I chose some fabric and got sewing. :)

We laid out some newspaper because we didn't have any large pieces of blank paper, and drew the pattern on top (a semicircle skirt). The first thing to do after cutting all the pieces out was to create the fringe, which involved gathering a four metre long strip of fabric. Next time I think I'll do the short-cut way and loosen the top thread tension so it gathers as you go.

Ready to go!

Sewing the fringe to the skirt

The finished fringe - see how messy!

The complete apron

So I did a lot of things wrong while sewing this - a lot due to inexperience. Nonetheless, I'm fairly happy with the result. Next I might feel brave enough to make a dress!