Slowly slowly

With it being school holidays I have had very little time for myself, these 4 boys of mine are running me ragged. Not on the agenda today was a trip to the Shopping Centre to buy X-Box games, but it's ds#1's birthday next week and the games he wanted were on sale for 1/2 price. What can you do?

Anyway, I did find half an hour to cut out the knot front sleeveless top from Simplicity 4076. This top will be the first article of clothing I am making for the Autumn Sew Along (or Spring for those of us downunder). Yay, I am finally underway!

I have waited for this pattern for a while and I am eager to see how it makes up but I can't sew tonight.

The fabric is a black ribbed knit and it's hard to see what you're doing with black fabric at night, especially when there isn't much light in the dining room to start with (yes that's where I sew). I also have a scrapbook LO due for the Inspiration Team, which I must get done tonight.

Hopefully I will be able to get it sewn up in the morning, looking at the pattern it shouldn't take that long. I have not made this one before but made up a Khalia Ali knot front top a while back, but the method of construction on this one looks so much easier.

I have dropped the idea of a trench for now, it's already too warm and the idea of making one for it to sit in the wardrobe for the next 6 months does not appeal to me at all. So far the amended plan looks like this ...

1. Pants or skirt - no idea yet
2. Sleeveless Vest - Kwik Sew 3618 (maybe)
3. Layering Piece - totally undecided but possibly an overshirt or tunic
4. Shirt - McCalls 5664
5. Top - Simpicity 4076 - cut and ready to sew
6. Top - New Look 6891

I wonder how many times more I will change my mind before I get this done?

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check this out .... so cute!

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Mmmm

Despite best intentions there has been no sewing this week. I have had my hands full trying to get the garden sorted (it badly needed attention), helping kids with assignments and experiments for school, getting ds#3 ready for camp (tomorrow), organising the Council to fix a leaking water meter, visiting my parents for Fathers Day, as well as all the usual housework, study, etc.

The postie just delivered a parcel of fabrics I purchased. There is black stretch cotton shirting with a white stripe (enough for a skirt and shirt and vest), 2x2 rib in both aqua and black (for tops), and white jersey with a black, pink and gold print (for a top).

I don't need these straight away but I will wash them ready for when I do. After a bit of housework and I finish packing for ds#3's camp trip I might get around to getting the next project (whatever that may be) cut out and ready to go.

Happy sewing,

Next Project?

I am undecided ...

After making 3 tops and a skirt in a week (even though they were very easy) I am eager to get stuck into some more sewing and have a go at something a little more complicated.

I have so many things I want to make but I don't know what I want to do first. There is a trench from Burda 1/2008 in poplin, a Kwik Sew vest in denim, a couple of blouses and tops, and goodness knows what else. I have accumulated a little stash of patterns and fabrics and I am looking forward to making a dent in them, the only trouble is finding enough time to get anything done between everything else I have to do.

I did manage to trace off the trench pattern and I have washed and dried the poplin ready to go, but the vest pattern is calling my name and I have also washed and dried the black denim for that. If I can't decide I might have to make both of them!

I wish there were more hours in the day ...

Today

Today I went out with the intention of only picking up the 5/2009 issue of Burda magazine from the library (which I did) but while I was out I decided on a side trip. I stopped at Spotlight on the way home, which actually entailed a 15 minute detour.

I managed to get two patterns I'd been wanting, Kwik Sew 3618 and Simplicity 3786, some thread and a few other notions I needed, and some poplin to make up the trench for the Autumn (Summer) Sew Along.

The Simplicity patterns were on sale for $7.50 each with another 10% off for being a VIP. I ddin't know they were on sale and only had two numbers with me but I might go back for a couple more I have my eyes on before the sale ends. I also discovered they have a special on McCalls, buy one get one to equal value for free, so I might look and see if there are any of those I want too.

Gotta love a bargain, and speaking of bargains ....

On the way out of Spotlight I saw a VIP special on floor rugs, and they just happened to have one the right size, colours and pattern to suit our loungeroom. I wasn't really looking for one, even though we've lived here 14 years and I always thought a rug would be nice, but when they were on special marked down from $129 to $49 I couldn't resist.

I think I better stay home tomorrow, going out the front door usually costs me money!

Autumn Sew Along

The girls at Sewing Guild have proposed an Autumn Sew Along for Sept to Nov and I have thought about it for a while now and I have decided to join in. I am a bit worried about my level of skill and lack of time, but I will give it a go just the same.

The aim is to complete a wardrobe capsule of co-ordinating pieces that will see you through the next season and add to what you already have. It's Spring here now but who knows what the weather will throw at us, especially after the last two weeks, but I think I will plan as though we are going to have a Spring and not jump straight into Summer.

With that in mind, I will be aiming for 6 pieces. I have only decided on two patterns so far and think I will make those first and decide on the other items as I go along.

1. Pants or skirt -
2. Sleeveless Vest - Kwik Sew 3618 (on shopping list)
3. Lightweight Trench Coat - Burda 1/2008 #129 (traced yesterday)
4. Shirt -
5. Top -
6. Blouse or Top -

I have been adding to my little fabric stash and I am pretty sure I have enough fabric to pull this off. I have black denim, white drill, yellow denim, white stretch shirting with black/grey stripes, black/white/yellow floral stretch cotton, black rib knit, black stretch cotton with pinstripe, and a few more pieces that will also co-ordinate. Hopefully I won't need much more than a few zippers and some buttons.

Of course this is subject to change as I am more than likely going to change my mind at least once, or twice, or ....