My Little Pony jackets...

I've been getting patterns from other blogs the last while and I need to pay my dues with one of my patterns.

Before starting new sewing projects, I usually Google and find out what patterns are available (for free) or look at other blogs for inspiration. But when I Googled clothing patterns for My Little Ponies, I didn't find much in the way of apparel for My Little Ponies - instead  My Little Pony Halloween costumes.

So I got out the felt, was inspired by a little dog jacket from another toy and came up with this outfit.

As promised, here is the pattern for the little jacket. It's super easy and could easily be sewn by hand, although I used a machine.

Good luck. If you need any help, please post comments.

Summer time... hats!

The other day I mentioned making a sun hat for my little girl. It's summer here now, so having some protection is essential.

I know the current style is to make a tutorial with photos, but sometimes I find a sketch is clearer, so this is my first experiment.

Baby sunhat pattern ages 6 months to 2 years

By the way the photos is taken by a friend of mine who used the application poladroid to get the retro feel. Love it!

Craft yourself stylish

I am a sucker for ideas on how to re-use things we usually throw in the bin, so this CD spindle light appeals to me. It's from Kaytet on CraftStylish.

Here are some other super creative ideas from this great craft site:
wall art with vintage fabrics
wall paper decorations (definitely one for the new house)
mosaic with old plastic
baby toy with crinkly plastic (i love the re-use of nappy wipe packets)

ikea + shwe shwe = awesome

This is my latest creation. On request of my friend Dave, I made a cushion cover for his Lillberg chair out of Madiba range shweshwe. I wouldn't say it is a total Ikea hack - for me this is something you can do if you've got a sewing machine, can sew, and the patience to measure 3 times over at least.

To save you the trouble, I have made my plan open source.
I am going to be making some for myself and am still deciding which fabrics... what would you do?

This is what you need
At least 100m length of cotton thread
1 x 90cm zip (35.4")
fabric, 90cm (35.4") wide, about 2m/78.7" long (3.5m and I got 4 cushion covers)

These are the pieces (2cm/0.8" allowance)







To put it together, follow these simple steps
1) Sew the zip on using the two zip/back pieces, effectively joining the pieces together.
2) Sew the two sides pieces (right sides together) onto the zip piece.
3) Sew the front part onto the other three pieces making a tube.
4) Pin the tube onto the top and bottom pieces, right sides together (sew inside out and remember to leave the zip a good bit open so you can turn it right ways in the end)
5) Turn right way and do a top stitch around the edge of the top and bottom pieces.

If you want to make the top cushion (which I will in the near future when we arrive in CT) note that it is smaller (obviously the same width, but at least 17 cm/6.7" shorter. I am not 100% sure).

Burdastyle

I've known about Burdastyle for a while - it's a tight community who share patterns and blog about their sewing. As they put it "open source style" - that byline appeals to my geeky nature. I browsed their pattern library on friday (my mommy-at-home day) and was thrilled to find loads of free and very reasonably priced patterns. I love the way everyone makes them and uploads their photos - so inspirational!

I am bookmarking

• envelope clutch, the origami in me says yes
• urban hammock (for the new garden) I would love a knitted one, but can't be bothered to diy
• frilly shirt called JJ (love this, but I am too scared to attempt)
• toddlers dress called Vivienne (love the names also)
• mock tux bib
  

little boxy pouch

Today is my first day back at work (since August 2008), so wish me luck. (If my manager is reading this, please note I scheduled this post, I didn't actually post it at 9am today). Baby C is with a very nice Dutch ouma and oupa and hopefully being a good girl - eating her veggies, sleeping on her own and not crying too much.

ANyway, I found this great tutorial for a cute boxy pouch. I also love the fabric. There doesn't seem to be much else on that site, but since it's such a fantastic tutorial (I love things which look unusual but are actually quite simple).

Weekend designer

I am just blown away by this blog, Weekend Designer - there are a lot of blogs with howtos and free patterns, but this one is for serious dressmaking. Don't worry though, his (I assume it is a he, not sure why) instructions make it easy for the averagely experienced sewer (that word always looks funny). According to him 'it ain't rocket science'. The patterns featured are super hip (from the world of fashion and design) - another thing that sets this blog aside from the rest - they weren't created by the average crafty woman who gets excited by tissue box covers.

My old jean pant ... wift a belt

So I had an even older pair of jeans (the painting pants) which I decided to cut up and transform into baby shoes. I used this pattern from Michelle Q which was slightly bigger than the first pattern I found from Stardust shoes. Both are pretty similar.

I used the old denim for the outer and sole and an old t-shirt for the inner. The first pair I made were too narrow - the instructions to enlarge the shoe (baby has a big foot) say to make it longer but I found that I needed to make it bigger all the way around and the heel longer and wider at the bottom (not the fold side).

It was a fairly straight forward pattern. The only tough bit was remembering how to do a button hole on my own machine (Elna 2004). Sewing the heel on the sole I only got 100% right the third time - it's hard to pin right and I made the fabric pleat instead of just unpinning the rest of the seam and moving the end along.

It would be nice to add some embellishment (like a bow, a felt or embroidered heart) but I have enough to keep me busy and she needs some easy to slip on shoes.

A useful thing to sew, giant floor cushion

Another one from my useful things to sew book. It's a giant cushion and the thing I really like about it is the button detail on top. Enjoy

In my home, with all my stuff it's quite a weird thing.

The baby c is all sorted (somewhat of an adventure to Ikea without a car to get her a new crib because she definitely outgrew that moses basket) and we are trying to get into a new routine. Let's see how that goes.

I found a new sewing site by accident this evening. http://www.sewing.org/

my highlights
- Fat cats quilts - i should make that and freak out B :)
- rice bags - a classic+easy pattern & I use mine all the time.
- teenager furniture - very cool but when I was a teen the stuffing cost wouldn't have let me.
- mittens - a very appropriate pattern (the shops here only have summer gear)

There are so many patterns here and I feel I have got enough good idea projects for 2009. Yay. Have fun, just don't go into the fashion department or prepared to be horrified with lots of 80s, the stuff you want to forget about (except for that cute strapless dress).

I would love to checkout this software but unfortunately I am running the unsupported Apple.

more bags - this time a clutch purse

I have some fabric perfect for a delicate clutch, bought from Irma's Sampler store in Haarlem. When i would use it is not exactly clear, but it's nice to dream of a day when i don't have to carry nappies around ;) I also like this amy butler stash and dash pattern which could double as a toiletry bag.

Here is a free clutch purse pattern (pictured) I'll be trying it out when I next get a moment to breathe. It's very sad but I'm going to be leaving a lot of half started and inspired projects behind in South Africa.

Clearance sale of sewing patterns, anyone??

I have some vintage sewing for sale. They must go by Thursday - so please take a look.



uncut patterns
1960s simplicity patterns
mixed bag of patterns
patterns for boys and girls

All offers considered!

Useful things to sew

I was cleaning out my bookshelf and I found this little gem - the Reader's Digest 'Useful things to sew'. Here is the barrelbag (cos I am in the mindframe of making bags for the market). Enjoy.

ps: I will put some photos up of my bags soon. It's a brilliant and simple pattern designed by Helen.

Free Finnish patterns

From the same place (Ottobre Design) that I got my cloth nappy pattern, I discovered a wealth of great + free PDF patterns. Like a cute mouse toy complete with clothes, a teddy bear rattle, or a "dotted dream" purse (pictured).

Their website says: OTTOBRE Design is a magazine specializing in children's and youth fashion. Each issue includes more than forty trendy designs and complete patterns and instruction for sewing.

I'm keen to get a subscription - based on the free goodies, the magazine must be full of inspiration for someone like me.

Plush cupcake anyone?

Cute and unusual (cupcake, fortune cookie, loaf of bread, etc) plush toys... patterns from Cherry Mix here

Baby changing mat

I made this bubble wrap changing mat while I was still pregnant and then again after my original mat fell out of the bottom of the pram.

It's pretty simple to make:
1) decide how big to make your mat (mine is 63 x 38 cm).
2) cut two pieces out of your chosen fabric (I choose easy-to-wipe vinyl usually used for table cloths).
3) cut one piece the same size out of bubble wrap.
4) sandwich together with the bubble wrap on the inside and the right sides of the fabric on the outside.
5) sew around the edge.
6) neaten the edges with bias binding (this step is easier if you round the edges so you can use one piece for the diameter).

This took me literally 10 minutes to make (although I do admit the bias binding is very untidy - so don't zoom in :).

Shwe shwe cushion covers

Making cushions is an quick and easy way to give your room a fresh look; have a few to switch around. When making cushion covers, don't bother with zips or fasteners - use a pillowcase design.

Don't these shwe-shwe pool lounges look great? I spied them at a friend's house.

I love the intricate design - always a feature of shweshwe...


Here are some free patterns so you can make your own. If you need fabric, check out my Etsy store to see what shwe shwe I have in stock.