Done!

This was a really fast sew, nothing more complicated than a few curved seams and some top stitching.

Too easy!

It still needs a press but apart from that it is done :)




This is how my SWAP looks so far ... but is subject to change ... I really wanted to add a jacket for more wardrobe versatility but the right fabric is eluding me.

If I can sew or buy one in time I will probably add it and leave something out but so far I have all these made plus a pop over top (not shown in pic).

Ready to go

The Fishsticks baseball t-shirt may not make it to swap, as it wasn't the item I had in mind to go with the other wild card item already made, but it is next in line for sewing.

The body and under-sleeves have been cut out in white, the top part of the sleeve was cut from the stripe used for the previous shirt and I have cut the neck binding from both fabrics as I couldn't decide which way to go. I am not sure what this will look like so I may change out the stripe and neck binding for a plain colour mid construction if need be.

I have to set it aside for now though as kids are back at school tomorrow after their Autumn holidays and Easter break and I need to start organising things for that and also start thinking about dinner. Hopefully I will get round to sewing it tomorrow ...

Pattern preparation

Sometimes it feels like this stage takes longer than the actual sewing, especially when you are using a PDF version of the pattern.

I have never used a pattern from Fishstick Designs before so it will be interesting to see how it goes together. It is just a baseball style t-shirt, but will be a good way to use up some leftovers from recent projects.

Hopefully before the afternoon is out I will have another shirt sewn for EJ. I have monopolised the dining table long enough and really need to put my sewing things away, so this could be the last thing made for a while.

SWAP progress

With the end of April drawing near there is only a short amount of time left to complete the swap. I have completed the three sets of one bottom and two tops each and one of the wild cards, with just one wild card to go.

So far this is how the SWAP looks all together ...

Happy t-shirt

I used the same pattern as for the black sleeveless, white short sleeve and black long sleeve t-shirts although this time I used a plain for the shoulders and a print for the rest.

Initially I intended to use black for the shoulders but I forgot I had already used the leftovers to make the black sleeveless shirt, so white it had to be. The patterned fabric was from Crafty Mamma's and while it is a tad expensive, compared to what is on offer in Lincraft and Spotlight, it is far better quality.

I don't know why but this finished t-shirt makes me happy and little man thinks it's awesome (which is all that matters really). Still unsure as to whether I will get another item done for SWAP but the rules state that one item can be purchased so that is always an option ...

Fabric and alternate swap item

This fabric arrived today - Janeas World Boyz-Lines Grey Bio-interlock - from Crafty Mamas. I have just run it through the washer and dryer, glad I did too as it looks like there was a bit of shrinkage. Anyway, hope to get it pressed and ready for cutting out tomorrow so I can make little man another t-shirt.

I think I will swap it out for the short sleeve blue top as this gives a bit more opportunity for combinations and adds a little pattern to an otherwise very plain swap. This will go well with the black shorts, the blue shorts and the grey pants. The only bottom it won't work so well with are the cammo pants, but I am fine with that.

 

Patterns for boys

I often think how lucky the Mums of little girls are having a multitude of different patterns to choose from. That feeling is not something the mothers of boys get to experience, even finding the most basic of patterns for a boy can be a task.

I had been looking for a pattern to make youngest son a jacket or hoodie to go with his SWAP clothes but I wasn't having a lot of luck. Most were intended to be fully lined or padded and with our climate that was a bit of overkill. Rather than buy one of those I wanted one intended for a single layer of fabric so I didn't have to re-think instructions. I eventually found this Burda pattern from sewing patterns dot com and decided it would do. It is nothing fancy but it is a hoodie and it has long sleeve or sleeveless options.

I opted for the download in order to get the pattern straight away and have printed it out but that is as far as I have got. There are quite a few pages and I will need the lounge room to myself so I can lay out the pattern, tape it all together and trace off the pattern pieces.

Another one crossed off the list.

Today was spent trying to get the bones of an essay completed for Uni but after spending most of the day working on it lack of concentration got the better of me. A sewing diversion was in order so I took the opportunity to attach the eyelets to the collar for little mans sweatshirt and finish it off. It did not all go smoothly though ...

It was all finished when little man tried it on and, despite earlier confirming it was the length he liked, he advised it was too short. Sigh. So with unpicker in hand I set to work, ruing the tiny stitches matched perfectly to the fabric and so very hard to see. I then added a double band across the bottom which gave it a nice finished edge (although it needs a good press to flatten it a little) and added the required extra length. So now it is done.

All I have to do now is either make a grey sweatshirt or jacket for the second wildcard or add an extra (purchased) shirt. It really depends on what little man wants and whether he needs another sweatshirt or a jacket?

Pop on top

Another one for little man ... a top to pop over a shirt if he gets a bit cool.

The neckline of this is split (open down to the yoke) and was meant to have Velcro (hook and loop tape) but little man asked me to leave it open with no fastening so that is what I did.

He may change his mind later and if he does it will be easy enough to add snaps or buttons.

Please excuse the funny look on his face, this is a  recurring theme with him atm.

Another t-shirt

It might seem boring to some but I am positive that had I not made little mans pants, shorts and the t-shirts in all their variations using the same pattern I would have taken twice as long to get as far as I have.

There are only 3 weeks left till the end of SWAP and, now I have completed the white short sleeve t-shirt (seen on little man in the pic), I just have two items to go. One item is nearly completed and the other is not yet started and I am not yet 100% sure what it will be which is a bit of a challenge.

Completing two items in three weeks would seem an achievable goal however I have the kids all home on school holidays and I have two essays due for university in the next two weeks so it may just be out of my reach but I will try regardless.

Smart(y) pants

Ok not smart (as in dressy) pants but they are smart enough for a young man to run, jump and play in.

These pants were made from a camouflage print narrow whale corduroy and were sewn using the same pattern as the blue linen and black drill shorts and the grey drill pants that are already sewn.

This version has built extra length to accommodate fast growing (long) legs. By adding a little extra length (about 3cm) for now they will sit on his shoes and give a slight scrunched look at the ankle but as he grows the added length he will need is already there.

One 3 piece set completed

Although I am sewing with a plan I have not been sewing items from each set together, if that makes any sense?

Now I have added the buttons to the shirt I have completed set #1. This set consists of black shorts with white top stitching, black sleeveless t-shirt and black & white striped short sleeve shirt.

All these pieces are great basics for him and he will get lots of wear from them.

I managed to get a quick snapshot of little man wearing them this afternoon but will have to take some better photo's when everything is done and hopefully he isn't pulling a funny face.