Bad, bad blogger!

I know.. I am doing bad! I use my blog for reference when I look at stuff that I made, I find it useful. This is why I keep going... at least I try to. anyway, Spring has started!
So I made the girls cute Modkid outfits. The bubble skirt, which I already reviewed (LOVE that skirt), the tie top (first time.. another great pattern) and the hair band...


Do I need to review? As always, great patterns, great fit, great explanations! Do I need to say more???
I also made a megan dress for m little girl. I made the 18 month size. (she's 20 months old). the fit is great. I highly recommend this pattern!

and last for today, I made Ks 3156 for myself. I liked that it's a pattern for fabrics with just a little stretch. I thought that if I worked well on the fit it will look like work pants. Nothing difficult with them, since there are no pockets, no zipper...

I made size M.. It was big (which is flattering, because I am BIG!) so I cut it again, an inch here, another one there.. then I came with this fit. It's pretty wide, I'll make it slimmer next time I make it. But I do like it. what do you think?
I think I'll be making more, next time less wide, and maybe add something.. a pocket maybe>
There is nothing to sa about the direction.. it really is easy pants. Only two patterns pieces...
Happy Passover all!

KS 3915, Birthdays, Purim

This was a hectic month…
We celebrated a birthday to my 6 years old!



We celebrated a birthday to my 2 years old nephew.


And on top of that, we started reparation of our house.. and we still live in it. It’s going to take a couple of months, of dirt, and noise, and overall a lot of headache… but we couldn't find another place to rent for three months for a family with 4 kids and two dogs.

I hope that once done, we’ll have our home in top condition, organized properly so every kid (and every adult!) has a little space for himself.
But in the meantime, it’s difficult. And I had to pack a lot of my sewing stuff.. I left out just a couple of patterns and very few fabrics, hopefully I’ll manage to make something… but not much for sure.
Other than the cakes I made another Megan dress for my 6 years old birthday:



And I checked KwikSew 3915 for myself.

This is the pattern:



This is my first try… The neck didn’t come out just right.. but almost. I think it is still wearable. What do you say? I left out the little loops because I was afraid I’ll mess it up…


This is my second try. It looks better in real life, but I think the buttons look “not connected”
For this attempt I sewed the neck by hand, very carefully, then I restitched with my machine.
Pattern Review:
A basic Tee with a twist. I like it because the neck is realy special, but I think the buttons, at least for me, are not a good idea. The top is comfortable, not tight fitting at all.
The instructions are clear but to be clear.. the neckline was tricky for me to make.
I sewed it by hand and only when I saw I like the result I repeated the stitch with my machine... Just so you know.
I'll probably make it again, at least for the Summer.
It's not my top favorite pattern, but it's a nice one and I'll make use of it!

And now. Purim! for my older girls I bought costumes. I wanted to sew but.. time was a big issue. But for the twins.. well, I thought that waisting money on a one time 'animal costume' was a shame... so I made them tiger outfits. Very comfortable!
The top is from Ottobre Magazine, 01-2009. size 92 which is very big for them, but all my other magazines were already packed when I thought if it...
The pants are Vilkas pants,, Made those in the past for my little girl when she was their age.
The fabric is knit tiger fabric, very nice... I
I did not bother with the finish of the costume..
The tail can be is attached using velcro, so I can take it off in case they find it uncomfortable...

So, a few pictures...

A big post this time... Hope to come back again soon with more.

His and Hers...

Yes, I wasn’t here for a while… No, I have no excuses… I keep wanting to update the blog but I have no time.
So I’m just briefing now..
These two are old patterns that I’ve used before…

The pants are Ottobre 04-2008-2. Made out of fleece, pink for my little girl and grey for my little boy. I don’t have a good picture of those, but trust me, they look so cute in it! (I actually have great difficulties taking a picture of both of them together, since they never seem to sit down, they always tend to grab each other, take things from each other or simply hug each other :-))

The pattern review, I don’t think I reviewed it here ever. It’s a simple pants for toddlers, nothing much, It is cute and tested so I chose it. I made size 80cm for my 1.5 years old. It’s slightly long for them.. but not too much. I would have made them more, since it’s so easy and a great use for fleece leftovers, but I have so much clothes for them… so why bother!

These two are the from Ottobre 01-2009-11, also size 80.
I left out the elastics in the legs’ bottom part… but I may do it anyway. Again, not great pictures, but they really so cute in it.
I placed just one pocket only on thr front. They really enjoy putting stuff in their little pockets.

for the pattern review I can refer you to the review I wrote years ago when I sewed this for the very first time.. pattern review

The last thing I made is a new top for myself, from Burda 09-12-104.. I really like it, It comes out comforatble and roomt. I made size 40. The only changes from the original design is that since I did not have enough fabric for the full neck part, I made it shorter... meaing the turtle neck is not as high as it should be. It's still nice though.

Here's what I plan for the coming month...
* birthday dress for my 6 year old
* two new long sleeves tops for myself.
* two new leggings for the girls (one per each)
* cakes for my 6 years old birthday


I have been working like crazy this past two months... I get frustrated of how little I manage to make at home, at "my other life". I'm sure this is not only me, I guess a lot of hard working mothers out there wish they had some extra time, to sleep, to craft, to just get some rest.
I assume that within a year or two life will get a bit easier. Until then I force myself to be happy with what I manage to make, and just 'feel' my fabric stash once on a while... remind mysekf that each fabric will get its turn to become somthing :-)

The Megan dress

My 6 years old... well, she didn't NEED a new dress, but as her older sister refuses to wear dresses at the time, and her younger sister is not walking steady enough to wear dresses yet.. she got two new dresses!

The pattern is The Megan Dress...

I got it from here... Isn't it pretty? and here's what I made of it...

The first version is from quilting cotton.

The second version is made out of denim...

Pattern review:
what a great pattern! So easy to make... so pretty! The dress is twirly enough to satisfy my girl, easy, because there is no need for zipper or buttons. I know I'll have plenty of use of this pattern in the years to come, I already traced the pattern for my little one. I pln to start dressing her with dressses this summer.
The sizing is great. I made size 5 for my 6 years old, and it fits really well. The instructions are very detailed and clear. I LOVE everything about this dress, and I highly recommand it!

a long time.. again!

I lost my camera over a month ago, my little boy threw some bread to the fish when we were on a trip, he got so thrilled he tried to throw his bottle too. I heroically jumped to save the bottle... but then my camera fell to the fish...

Can that explain why I didn't blog for such a long time???

I keep postponing blogging, because I really don't have the time to tell the whole story of what I made, how I made it, and how I feel about it.

But lately I've been using some old patterns again, and I realized that having a place with a full review of the pattern, notes to myself and pictures... well, it helps, because though I remember the stuff I made, after several years I may not remember for each pattern how good it was, or what conclusions I had for it when it was still 'fresh'.

So I decided that even if I don't have time, I can still upload a picture and write some notes about the pattern.

So, I can show some of the stuff I made lately

first - cakes, my girl turned 9!!! She's a young lady now, she almost broke my heart lately, told me that she no longer wants to wear dresses!!!! She'll return to dress though, right????? when she's a bit older????
And when did she get so 'old'????? She was a baby not so long ago!

And this one is for sister's son, he celebrated his birthday yesterday..

Now, some sewing
The pattern is Simplicity 2018

I made it twice...

The first version is roomy, but not too roomy. I made size 8 which is usually my size and the fit is good. The fabric is light weight and very stretchy. I need to take care when I lean that nothing is shown, but it's not too revealing.

This version is from a heavy weight jersey. Pretty fabric, deep purple... not very stretchy. I thought of making the top a bit narrower this time, good thing I didn't, because it's very tight as is. Here are my conclusions for future reference..
Great top,If I make it with heavy weight fabric I should make it a bit wider.
The instructions are VERY easy and clear, and it looks special, not your regular T.
Love it, will make it again, for sure!

I made some more items, but since I was without a camera I don't have pictures yet... Hopefully soon!

a lot to post about

but barely any time...
We had the holidays, long and busy. we had friends over or traveled practically everyday. Much more exhausting than going to work! Traveling with four kids, two of them babies that refuse to stay in their stroller, is difficult.
So I don't feel too bad for not being around.
And I wasn't. I didn't follow my blogs, nor did I check pinterest. I have so much to check now, to go back and see what I've missed, but I'm not sure I can keep up!
I created very little. Originally I thought of posting each project in its own post, but this will take too long.

So here comes - my latest projects with just a couple of words on each.
First - my KS pants, I promised a picture. But still not a good review, as I want to try it again and upgrade it a bit this time.

Second, my second 'real' quilt. This one is much bigger than the one I made before, It's big enough for my almost 6 years old, and it'll be good for the coming winter.

She loves and so do I.
But it was difficult for me. I promised my 9 years old a quilt and I'm not sure I can handle it. I mean, I can make the top, but sewing the three layers together... was very difficult.

I will not expand it much longer except for to say I'm proud of it!

And last... remember I wrote that from now on I will sew only patterns I'm excited about? Well, I saw this one on etsy. Viviene skirt. And I fell in love... I thought of it for awhile. I mean, it's pricey! and my girls really don't need any more skirts. I thought of it long and hard, and I bought it.
And here my girls model their new skirts

And a pattern review:
I made it twice. I sized my daughters and made size 9 for my 9 years old and size 6 for my 5.5 years old. It's a bit big. I should have come down a size for my 9 years old and maybe also for my 5.5 years old. But it's not bad.
The directions are great, nothing to get mixed up, really wonderful, detailed, great photos.
Fabrics: for my 9 years old I selected quilting cotton for the inner skirt and light weight denim for the outer layer.
For my 5.5 I used quilting cotton for both layers. Both versions look great..
Changes from the original design... No, I don't think I changed anything.
Nothing much to add.. I think it's a special looking design, With elastic on the waist this skirt is both nice and comfortable.
I'm pretty sure I'll make it again, sometime... It's worth it! I hope to post soon!

new year...

New year…
Well, it’s not as if I did nothing these past few weeks, but I did very little. Not because I didn’t want too.
Still, it seems that I can’t find the time these days, and when I finally get to my hobbies I’m so tired…
On top of that, some of my latest “sewing adventures” lately have been a big fat failure!!!
For example – I made the adorable Redondo for my 9 years old…

Isn’t it pretty? I made this skirt so many time before.. always a big hit!
But this time… when she wore it the first time the fabric started to tear…

Note, it’s not the stitch that tore, it’s near it!

I understood (I asked around in the Israeli sewing forum) that the problem is the fabric. That it’s suitable for a different kind of garments, something that is less tight probably, and should have interfaced…
What a big disappointment!

Following I tried this Kwiq sew pattern for pants for myself. (I'll post soon about it, with pictures)
As I rarely ever sew pants for myself, I measured carefully and selected the size. It was HUGE!!!! I took down a lot, from all seams… then tried it again. It looked better this time, but nowhere close to the nice pants I wanted.
Still, now that I got the size right I may try it again, add some pants and ‘upgrade’ it a bit. Then I’ll post a review.
And a new quilt.. still in process (pictures will be available soon). I promised my girls a new blanket each, and I started with my 5.5 years old, as her blanket will be smaller. Wow, so many hours were invested in this (still unfinished) quilt, and it’s not as successful as I planned it. The part of stitching all three layers together – so difficult!
I will have to get some manual guidance with that from a friend, otherwise no way I’ll succeed to accomplish another quilt for my 9 years old!
The one successful item I made is this cake for my 3 years old nephew.

All these disappointments led me to an important decision…
No more ‘Practical’ sewing! No more ‘no fun’ tasks! What do I mean???
All those items I’m making because I can, not because I want!
All those ‘fixes’ or items I make for friends because they asked me too, and I felt bad to say no!
All those items that I’m NOT excited to start.
All of these – no more!!!
From now on, I see a dress pattern I like for the girls… Make it! So what if they already have too many dresses??? So what???
I see some cute pants???? A cute simple (small!!!) quilt pattern????
I don’t need those to be practical. I need to WANT to sew them!
And as for those ‘practical' items that I need (yes, pants for myself included, simple T shirts, even bags and purses) - buy them!!!!!
I hope I’ll keep this new decision, I want my hobby to keep being fun, I want to feel excited about the items I make. Otherwise, it becomes just another task in a day full of tasks as it is…
Happy new year all!!