April… well, it is over, but though I was not around here, I kept sewing (though not nearly as much as I wanted!)
First, I made the tiger top for my tween. It’s the same pattern I made several times before, Ottobre 01-2014-28. size 146 cm. The fit, as you see, is great. She loves it. I don’t see the point in reviewing it again, couldn't find an easier sleeveless top..

Then I tried something new - an Ottobre top for myself. Yes, I renewed my subscription and included also the women issue. I hope to have at least one really good pattern at each issue.. at least…
I chose Faded stripes. Ot 02-2015-17. Can't recall which size I made. I'll have to update it layter.
I added a band at the bottom and on the sleeves, I like this way of finishing sleeves….
I like it, but I don’t know if I LOVE it though. The pattern is really easy, the fit is good. The instructions are clear. But it’s missing something. Not sure what, I’m not sure I’ll make it again.

I didn't take a photo yet, will do it soon...
Then I decided to make a pattern that is one of the oldest patterns I own, back from the times I just started sewing. simplicity 2268, size 3, for my soon 4 years girl.
Funny, back when I bought this pattern it was supposed to be for my oldest.. not almost 12 years old J
Well, it’s never too late!
I like it. It’s for woven fabric, meaning I get to use my cute fabric with cute prints! This fabric that two years from now I may have nothing to do with it!!! It has NO zippers and NO buttons!!!!
And it still looks cute.

The instructions are very clear and detailed. I remembered how I like
- Tracing patterns and cutting them – without having to to print and tape together…
- The step by step instructions of the big 4!

I think I’m back to paper patterns! After several years of PDFs…

anyway – I did everything exactly as instructed and I like the result – but if I make it again… (why if???? Because I lately counted,.. my 4 years old has 20 dresses, no less!!! I’ve started already a new dress for her birthday, bou after that I honestly doubt I’ll make her another one in the coming year or two…) I’ll make two changes
- Fully line the bodice
- Omit the piece of elastic in the back. It really is meaningless… the ties work well enough

Do I recommend it?
Yes! .lovely, and very easy!
Hope to back in less then two full months J

Corny and Tacky... part 3 - SImplicity 2388

So.. making these two matching bags wasn't enough...
I also needed to make them cute outfits for getting out of the hospital. I don't think I'll be making more outfits for them right now... because I have so much! But a special new outfit for getting out of the hospital with... that's a must, right?

So I picked Simplicity 2388


I chose the romper. The XXS size.
I didn't iron it.. It will look much cuter when pressed :-)

Here's what I made..





As you can see, I left out the tie on the boy's romper... still looks kind of girly I think... But it'll have to do.
In the girl's version I closed the leg opening with little snaps. In the boy's version I closed it with volcro. I'm not sure which is better.
The doll size is 40 cm, so I actually think this might be good for newborn babies. I haven't seen many newborn patterns that are really for newborn. Have you?
I don't like the tie, and if I make it again, I'll leave it out again, because the baby will be unable to lie down on his tummy with this tie. I wish I thought of that before.
As for the pattern instructions - very easy and very good. The pattern calls for snaps tape to put on the legs, but I didn't have any. I may have to buy when I get to a store.
The size, as I said, seems good...

Still a lot to do!
I have planned two dresses for the girls, bathing suits (maybe), baby bed sheets, maybe some baby toys...
We also have a lot to do around the house to get ready...

Will be back soon!

Simplicity 2924 - Diaper bag

When I was pregnant with my big girl, I baught this functional diaper bag, that was blue (in case I'll have a son a baby boy the next time). I didn't like this bag, but it served its purpose.
It's now pretty dirty and I was happy to replace it with a new bag.
This is the pattern I chose...


This is a pattern for a cute diaper bag, with a flap (that closes using volecro), two side pockets for bottles, one inside pocket divided to two and one back pocket on the outside.

But I made some changes...
For one thing, I want my bag to have a place for 4 bottles, not just the two on the sides, so I made similar side pockets on the inside of the bag..
I also added a zippered pocket on the front for my cell phone.
And two additional inside pockets, other then the two already in the pattern.
I think this bag will be good, I hope it has enough pockets...
For some of the pockets I used the lining fabric (denim) on the outside, to have some contrast. I like the result.
Here are the pictures...
The front..


The side pocket on the outside


The inside pockets(there are many :-))


And the zippered front pocket


I used cotton for the front, and denim for the lining, and I interfaced all parts...

The directions are very good. I recommand this pattern!!

Passover is nearly over... too bad...

Simplicity 3902 - another dress..

Fall has arrived. Yesterday it started to rain... good thing I already started sewing for winter already!
I always look for long sleeve party dresses for my girls. I know jumpers work well too, but they require a matching shirt under the jumper, so basically they require planning a head.. not my strongest side...
so when I saw this pattern



I thought it has great lines, and many possibilities.
It came out very fast. I made size 3 for my 3 years old and it is too WIDE. I should have checked... too bad.
I will have to try another dress...maybe this one again but after narrowing all side and back parts... maybe another one, more fancy and twirling, maybe Faliz again... don't know.
It's not a big deal...this dress will be ok in several month, and I do like the sleeves, don't know... would love to hear your thoughts on that!
But it probably will NOT be the dress my girl will have for my big girl's birthday party next month.
I did a rolled hem on the bottom and it doesn't look all that great. I'll put a red bias tape instead...
Now for the pictures
(Lady N is after a very long day... so she's not her smiling self... never mind that)



Buit I really don't get it! how come size 3 of one simplicity dress is too small and one is soooooo wide????

Simplicity 2396 - Revisited! (and more bags and stuff)

I promised a very good friend of mine a bag. She selected the fabrics, and she selected some thick, leather-like (am I clear? I don't know what's the name of this fabric is English) fabric.
She wanted a bag similar to my Simplicity 2396 bag, only smaller. It took me a while.. but I finally made it - two sizes, the original size (for me) and the smaller one (for her).
I hope she likes it!



Then over the weekend I went to my mother. I had given her about a year ago one flower garden that I made using this great toturial. I thought of making a runner or something, I thought this would be a great craft for me for the times I spend with the girls in the playground... but since they never let me just sit there.... despite all my hopes... I ended up with only two such flowers.. and realized this is the end of my career as a hand sewing mama...
But I gave one of these flowers to my mom. Look what she made out of it!




I have some not-too-great patterns to post about and review.. It depresses me.. (time and fabric lost). But I'll get to it soon!

NewLook 6613 and Simplicity 2467

new summer dresses for my girls!
These dresses are easy!
In fact, Newlook 6613 is one of the first patterns I ever tried! and it was great from the first try!
I already made it several times for the my big girl and some of her friends.
I really like the shape of it and how easy it is... but I don't like the exposed back.
This time I wanted to add a bolero.. I looked for a sleeveless dress to make to match... and NL6613 seemed just the right thing!

I already posted a pattern review for this pattern right here!

The bolero I chose is from Simplicity 2467:


And here are the results...







Now for some conclusions and thoughts...
NEWLOOK 6613
1. I like the dress, simple as it is. It can be embalished, but I chose to only add piping (my first piping!!!!) as I thought it will look better this way.
2. For my almost 7 years old I made size 8, and made the elastics in the back in a smaller size. I made ths skirt longer, since she really likes long dresses. The fit is great!
3. for my 3.5 years old... well - here's a problem I have and I had to see it coming... In all of her fitted dresses lately... they are very snug on her! I know why! I made her size 3... I should have made 4. I made the elastics pretty tight... In my mind she's still a baby! I can't seem to get over that! After I cut the fabric (or before, when I trace the pattern) it just looks to big for her! I keep forgetting that my baby is getting bigger! But that's my problem... Not the pattern!

Simplicity 2467:
1. I made the bolero - twice. Size 6 for Lady H, size 3 for lady N. They were both big! wearable... but way too big!
2. I like the shape - and how easy it is. So easy... took me about an hour to sew!
3. I changed the design just a bit - instead of a button and a loop. I decided to add ribbons on both sides to make the bolero two sided!

4. I'll have to make it again, but in solid color, something to go with every sleevless outfit my girls have...



I also have a skirt pattern to share... But it'll have to wait, as I still don't have any pictures...

Bye for now!

My new bag - Simplicity 2396

As promised, I made a new bag for myself, and I LOVE it!

The pattern is really very simple, I guess I could draft it myself... But I like it better to buy patterns and use them :-)

Here is the pattern:

This time I decided it will be my perfect bag! I made sure it looked big enough, I placed two pockets inside and a zippered pocket outside, and I even added a cute little 'thing' (see in the picture below) on a loop inside the bag, making roon for me to "hang" my keys so they wouldn;t get lost inside the mess in the bag!

And it is perfect!

Look!

The pattern Review
I really didn't need the instructions for this bag! It is so easy!
So I can't even comment on how easy or difficult they are...
The bag is very roomy, I like that about it!
Changes from the original design:
I added a zippered pocket on the outside and two pockets on the inside. (not zippered, but next time I'll make them zippered also).

fabric used:
quilting cotton, I interfaced the outer fabric, all the pockets and the shoulder straps.

Will I make it again:
Yes, a friend already asked me for a bag, just like this one but a little smaller, and I plan to make another one for myself too.
I love it, did I mention that?

Coming up next... an unsuccssful swimming suit experience, and an I'm-not-sure skirt...
soon, I hope...

Simplicity 2464.. new princess dress!

About two weeks since my last post... I didn't mean for it to be so long... but the days go by so quickly...
Anyway, we're very close to the end of the school year here... and the summer vacation will be here in notime! (scary!!!!)
In September my dd will start school... first grade. We are all very excited about that.
Last week there was a farewell party in her kindergarten. I thought of making her a new dress for the occasion (yea, sure, she really needs new dresses..). I was halfway through that dress when the kindergarten teacher annonced that all kids must come dressed in white. Damn!
So the dress was completed in time, but is still in the closet.
Still, I like it.
It's Simplicity 2464. I like the look of this dress.


I chose size 7 for my average build 6.5 years old. It's big, and long, but I managed it with the elastics on the back, and she has room to grow.
As for the instructions - great. The only thing I couldn't understand is the section of attaching the skirt to the bodice. I think they may have meant to attach the front skirt part to the front upper part and the same for the back, but I'm not sure. Anyway - I did the bodice back and the skirt and the attached the skirt to the bodice.
Changes from the original design - well, I left out the strip of fabric on the bottom of the front part. Don't know why -but when I added it the front part was too long... I just omitted it.
here it is!


I really like that the shoulders are covered in this dress, not much of the back is exposed. Makes it a good choice for the summer. My girl LOVES this dress!
I also managed over the weekend another top from NewLook 6106. I made it before - and I will make more, just probably not this summer :-)


As for my plans to come... I think that for the coming few weeks I'll only make kids' clothing... I've got a lot on my mind and managing 'grownup projects' is a bit too much for me right now... I might give a try to a new swiming suit for myself though. Maybe...
That't it for now!