Girls' world...

It's been too long... It's been difficult to get to the computer. If I have any time.. I spend it sitting near my sewing machine.
But, very little time... very little proress...

A week before I had the babies, I got a package in the mail... I got the new book by Jeniffer Paganelli.. Girl's world!

My 8 years old picked out the dress and the fabric... . I would have picked a more live color, but still, she's happy with it, aand so am I.
I made size M, it's a little too wide on her, which is good, because the summer is nearly over and I want the dress to be used next summer.

Here it is...




I think that next year the fit will be great, and she'll enjoy the dress.

About the book
Such a pretty, colorful book! The colors are so bright, and the projects vary. I like most of the sewing projects, but I think I'll oly make the dresses, as I don't see my girls wering tunics or aprons.
The piloows - very pretty. I plan to make the big round one, and I plan to let my girl make the puppy pillow.

On the other hand, I don't like that the patterns are not presented well.. It's hard to get from the pictures the details of the pattern, and there is no back view.

The pattern - Josie Dress
I really like this pattern. It has a unique look, gathered front and a pretty sash. It's a bit big, but that's good. The instructions are good. The pattern pieces are drawn well, it's very easy to trace.
My 4 years old asked for the same dress, so I'll be making it again, But I'm not sure I'll make two of these dresses to each girl, as I mentioned, it is pretty unique.

Before I finish, just one more picture.. that I have to share!



Till next time :-)

Old debts - black and white Zucka

Things are pretty hectic around here… sleepless nights in addition to the Summer vacation, I'm so tired!
So, I don’t have a lot to show here.
I have some, because during the past month I've cut a couple of items, all ready to sew together, so when I have a couple of minutes I can have some progress, but it's very very slow. Most of my 'spare time' (when I don't feed/change anyone or spend time with the girls) I am doing laundry.. 
Anyhow, I have a couple of items I made and didn’t show yet. The first one is a black-and-white Zacka.




I made it before… in red, and loved it! (see right here). However, this time I forgot that the pattern does not include seam allowance, and it turned out a bit too snug on my girl. I don’t think she'll ever wear it. I'm considering giving this skirt as a present to my girl's friend, or leave it until my little one (ok, she used to be my little one… my middle one now  ) grows a little. What do you say?

Anyway, I love this pattern!!!

So blessed!!!!

Well, ten days ago, on a regular checkup at the hospital... The doctor said I was already in labor. Seven hours later, my little boy was out!


As soon as he was out, his twiמ sister decided to change her position... legs first.. so she had to be delivered in a C-Section. Lucky me, cut on both sides :-)


They are both fine... good weight for twins (2.600 KG the boy, 2.750 KG the girl). So tiny!!!!
I look at them... and I feel so blessed!
I have four amazing kids!



The nights are difficult... very difficult. I don't get enough sleep, and I still don't feel as myself. I still look pregnant :-( very pregnant! And I have waited for so long to put my old clothes on!!!

But I know after the coming few months, we'll get a new rutine, and it will all be just fine.

I have so much to blog about, two items I made before having the babies... two new books I baught, and I have prepared about fours items, all cut, just to be sewn together, piece by piece, when I have the time...
But it'll all have to wait until I have the time!

see you soon!

hardly any sewing going on here...

Well, I am starting week 37 now. I am very heavy, tired, huge and moody. I hope this pregnancy ends really soon, with two healthy babies...
So this month... I really did almost nothing, despite of all my plans.
But some things I needed to do!
First of all, in 4 days my daughter finishes the first grade. I remember her first day of school, how excited and scared we all were... She had a great year!
To celebrate the end of the year her class had a 'Torah party',each child got a Torah book, and they had a nice ceremony, really nice.
I was asked to bring the party cake, here it is..

as always, the inspiration to the cake is from the really great magazine by Taltalim right here...


Then I decided on a very simple dress for my 4 years old... I decided on 'Hanna Suterday's dress' from the new Israeli pattern Magazine, World Fashion.
Here's the catch... I wasn't sure which size to choose... I finally chose size 4, but decided to add to each side of the front and back top parts one cm. I'm glad I did... it would have been too small otherwise. I chose a simple fabric that I bought long ago as a leftover. It has some stretch to it, and this was not a good choice...
I made some changes to the original design -
1. I added to the lower (skirt part) another pattern piece, to make the dress a bit longer and to be able to play with fabric combination.
2. I only traced the skirt front piece, the skirt back piece looks really similar except it isn't placed on the fold. These days I trace as little as I can, since even this is a bit diffcult for me :-)
3. I added a riboon beteen the top and the skirt.
So, why do I say I chose the wrong fabric???? because when I finished the neck opening (with bias tape) it got stretched and lost its shape. If I make this pattern again I'll have to try it on before finishing the neck opening and make sure it fits.
This is the photos of the dress.. please ignore the neck opening... I fixed it later..



The day after I fixed the neck - I add two darts in the back and now it looks much better. I don't have a good photo pf that just yet, though...
Just this picture...

I'm not sure... Can you see from this picture that the neck is much more fit? It really is...
Basically, it's a cute and simple dress. not much work involved.
I found the directions pretty good, but then again, I didn't really need them.
My daugther likes the dress. And I just need to remember, for times to follow, to check the neck opening before I finish it with bias tape, just to make sure the problem is the fabric, not the pattern.

I have more to share, but it'll have to wait.. too tired now,
Good week all!

Red Zucka - another great pattern

I haven't been doing much lately... and I have so much to do... between my full time job, handling the girls and trying to get things ready for the babies... I've become lazy...
Take today for example, I was home today (it's a holiday here, Shavout!) and I did nothing (well, other then taking care of the girls, making lunch, etc.)
There's still a lot to do around here before the babies come. We don't have a room yet, or car seats, or beds... And I just can't handle it right now. Maybe this weekend..
Anyway, I managed one little skirt this week... and it's a big hit!
I got Farbenmix Zucka several months ago, looking for a skirt for my girl that will be good when she grows up a bit too... a less childish skirt. I've noticed she likes these types of cloths now, and that's the way her friends dress too... But it still should be really cute!
I've never made a skirt with so many parts in it!!!! 17 pattern pieces... can you believe it?
But I left out the back pockets.. I just wanted to see that the skirt fits first, next time
(yes, there will be a next time) I'll add pockets,
Anyway, here are the pictures



When I baught the pattern, I baught in German. I think (thougn I'm not sure) the English translation did not exist yes. But I found it in the net. This is the English Instructions document, and here is a very detailed photo guide...

So, the pattern review:
The English instructions and photo guides are great!
I did everything (except the back pockets) as instructed and it turned out great.
But - when I make it again I'll do one step different - in the photo guide the instructions call for completing the skirt and then adding the ruffles, I think it might be better (and more percise) if I attach each ruffle to a skirt piece first and then attach them all.. I'll try it.
I made size 134-140 for my 135 cm tall girl. The fit is great, but maybe just a bit too long. I may make it a bit shorter next time. I also wanted the underskirt piece to be more notable... I'll make it a bit longer next time.
What I like about this pattern...
A lot!!!!
Endless options for fabric combinations!
the pattern pieces (though there are so many...) are very small, making it a great pattern for using leftover fabrics
And the result - my girl LOVES twirly skirts... but this one is shaped differently, a 'big girl' type of skirt... she loves it! she wants another one, in purple... I need to find the fabric...

I'm not sure I'll be able to complete any more projects before I have the babies... But I'll try :-)
Happy Shavout!!!!

more Elodies...

This is just a little post to show I'm still here!
I'm on week 33 now, and it's getting much more difficult to move, to do anything...
But I had to make these two dresses... as the old Elodies I made for the girls last year has gotton too small for them!
(for last year's Elodie pictures see here, and the photo toturial look here)..
Look!






World Fashio Magazine
On another matter.. I think it is common knowlegde now among Israeli crafters, but just in case someone doesn't know (from Israel, I mean), there is a new fashion magazine, called "World Fashion", it's an Israeli magazine, and it is cute!
There is a void in Israel... and I think this magazine can really fill this void.
you can see pictures from the fisrt issue right here
A little review...
first - It doesn't look like a 'first' issue.. I looks very professional, pretty photos, nice and interesting designs in a good variety of sizes!
There are about 25 patterns there.. someof little girls' clothes, some for teens and some for women.
As in most magazines, I liked some of the patterns better then others...
The instructions are very detailed, much better then Burda's instructions, for example. Still, not as good or detailed as Simplicity, Butterick, etc.
I think it is great for Isreal crafters!
I also like that it is the first time to actually get a summer magazine.... well... in the Summer :-)
There are a few 'child sicknesses' the magazine should overcome... I think the girls' patterns should be in heights.. as most sewers are used to. The explnantions for the fabrics chosen for each design could be better..
Still, all in all, a very cute magazine!
I chose from it the 'Trapez Top'(I need to check if I cann add a picture here). I wish I could show you, but in week 33... no way the top can fit me now. I chose this pattern because it looks like a comfortable, wide top, that will fit me after I have the babies...
This will be a good time to show the pictures.
Anyhow, the pattern came out very quickly.. in one evening (well, it was a very eacy top to make). I think it'll fit great, the insturctions were good!
I think I'll post a good pattern review next week on the top, I just need to find a friend to try on this top for me!

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!