Summer Blouse - zipped nursing version

Here is my first go at the summer blouse in Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing book. I just used a sheet for this go. This is a version for nursing, with the front opening with an invisible zip.

I split the front in two down the middle, so there is a seam going down to the hemline. I cut the placket to suit the zip length, rather than using the placket pattern in the book. I used this tutorial for putting in the invisible zip.

Sizewise, its a small (I'm a NZ 12-14, and would normally be a medium), and although I took it in on the sides (and lowered the neckline, of course) like everyone else when cutting the pattern, I can actually put it on even though I'm eight months pregnant. So, lots of taking in and darts to do after the baby is born.

Jansdotter Baby Snuggler

Here is my first go at the Lotta Jansdotter Baby Snuggler from her book Simple Sewing for Baby. Although I'll be ordering the book (its not distributed here in NZ as far as I can ascertain), it can take 7-8 weeks for books to arrive in New Zealand from Amazon in the USA, and my baby is due in 7 weeks. So I just did the pattern from the podcast. I enlarged it until the snuggler measured about 48 cm from top to bottom, as my first son was 55 cm (head to toe, stretched right out) when born. So this is a newborn size snuggler. Although there were no instructions on the podcast that I could find, and I couldn't figure out which issue number the magazine was (to even start trying to find it to buy it), I had no problems sewing it together. Although, note for next time, I think the two velcros labelled "left outside flap (prickly side)," could do with being moved an inch towards the outside edge of the flap. It felt like in their current position, it was in the smallest setting, and I'd have preferred to allow a tiny bit of room for growth without the velcro showing out the edge as bub gets bigger.

A Church near Porangahau, North Island, New Zealand

Simplicity 3750 top

Here is a test size 12 version of the Simplicity 3750 top. (Version E) I made it as a "muslin" but I like the fabric, so I would wear it as is. I made it as per the pattern, but added a cm to the length of the bust. The neckline is straight, its just me standing wonky (I can't be bothered taking another photo). Again, I had only expected to be able to pull it over the bodice, but I was suprisingly able to pull (albeit tightly) the lower bit over my 7 1/2 month pregnant tummy. Not that I would wear it tight like this for now. So I'll leave off hemming it until I'm wearing normal clothes again after the birth, as I may end up having to take in the sides. It took quite a while to make, but there was nothing too hard in it. I usually skip through instructions and sew whichever way I prefer, but with this pattern I had to actually read the instructions carefully and plod through all the steps. The instructions were really good.

Another child's apron

Here is another child's apron, this one with ruffles along the edges, which I made this morning for a 2 year old's birthday today, along with an eco-friendly bag to wrap it in.

Fleece hat for 3 year old

With winter coming, I made a fleece hat from this pattern for my 3 year old. That's almost the end of the old fleece bedcover now. It was great to be able to make something that fits him exactly, rather than getting a one-size fits all child's hat, which never really fits right. It was really easy to make, and the pom pom on top is not separate but is just the fleece at the top cut into strips. Couldn't be easier. I'd also like to make this pattern one day soon.

Amy Butler Lounge Pants

I had a go at the Amy Butler Lounge pants from the In Stitches book. They were easy to make. I loved the versions everyone else made on flickr, but I'm not so sure these pants suit me (and not just because I'm 7 mths pregnant). I feel a bit like I'm wearing clown pants, and they don't feel very flattering. I am glad I didn't buy expensive fabric for this test version - it is just a secondhand sheet. I also should have tried them on before sewing the waistband, as the rise feels a little bit too short, and I could have compensated for that at the time. I just turned the waistband over the usual amount one does, rather than following the pattern exactly at that point, so the fault there is of course mine rather than the pattern's. I'll unpick the waistband and add one made of extra material to add length to the rise once the baby is born. Nevertheless, I think I prefer the Heather Ross Pajamas for Everyone pants pattern (which I'll make in the right size next time!).

Wellington Harbour on a stormy day.

More Weekend Sewing pajama pants

I've made a couple of more pajama pants from dinosaur patterned-flannel for my son. I used the Weekend Sewing pattern, but used the instructions for the wide-leg pajama pants in Amy Butler's In Stitches book for sewing the pieces together. I liked the order of piecing better. I added cuffs & also sewed all the seams with a wide stitch on the overlocker, and then sewed them flat on the sewing machine (see pic of crotch seam right). I'm hoping this will make the pants quite a bit more durable and comfortable.