41m of fabric later...

Beryl, Denise, Chris, Stacey, Kelly and I had a fantastic weekend shopping for fabric in Sydney.  Between us we bought 41.3m of fabric for $1222!

Stay tuned for photos from the weekend and a list of next years projects - we have lots of beautiful things to make from all of the gorgeous fabrics.

Can't wait to show it all off at the next sewing day.

xx

A Knitwit night

Twice a year the people from Knitwit visit each of the captial cities to show their current season fabrics and patterns.  This season Beryl, Denise, Stacey and I went along for a look.

It was a really worthwhile activity.  Getting to feel the fabrics and see the colours and patterns in real life enables an informed purchase decision (and entices you to buy more stuff).

I had little intention of buying on the night, but ended up with this pattern and fabric to make a fun and funky new dress (the fabric was on sale for $10/m, so it was a bargain)...

Denise and Beryl also bought new patterns.

I just have to be disciplined now, no more new projects until at least a few of my UFO's (unfinished objects) are complete.

Happy sewing,
Mel
xx

UFOs

I have a confession to make.  I have a PILE of unfinished sewing projects in my back room.  I think I get stuck on a project when the next step seems too hard, or I just get a bit bored with what I'm sewing.

I have made a promise to myself that I will spend the rest of this year finishing off unfinished sewing projects and NOT start anything new.

Just for the record, here's my list...

Take in Barcelona skirt (I made this just after I had Sadie, it's WAY too big) - DONE at last sewing day.
Alter Purple knit dress so it's not so long in the body (nearly finished this at the last sewing day, just have the hem around the armholes to go).
Do the binding on Sadie's Peter Rabbit quilt - this has become a UFO out of fear.  I put so much work into the top that I'm scared I'll stuff up the whole thing when I bind it.  I just need to bite the bullet and do it.
Finish my silver/pink long satin dress (need to make the bodice lining and put the whole thing together).
Make Sadie's denim dress (it's cut out, but that's all).
Take in two of Damien's t-shirts (I've done one so far).

Now it's on record I'm trusting you ladies will help me stay committed and stop me if I try to sew anything new!

Happy sewing,
Mel
xx

Sadie's 1st birthday

Sadie celebrated her 1st birthday in September.  She wore the very first thing I've ever sewn for her, a wee dress from Ottobre magazine (issue 1, 2009).  I've got some of the fine cord left over, I'm thinking it could be made into some pretty cute trousers for her next winter.


Sadie had a lovely birthday, Nanna made her a fairy mushroom house cake, and she got her very first truck from Aunty Stacey (it's been a HUGE hit).

Happy sewing,

Mel
xx

Sewing day ladies to the rescue

I haven't blogged for ages! Between looking after Sadie, buying a new house and selling our old one, free time has been a bit scarce!

I thought I'd do a historical post today, and give an example of the extraordinary sewing powers of a couple of our members...

The day was Saturday, November 22nd, 2008. We were in Pt Lincoln for my wedding. My dress had been lovingly (and brilliantly) made by mum, Stacey's had been made by her mum (with equal amounts of love and brilliance). The third of my bridesmaids, Ruth, had her dress made in Scotland. It turns out her's was made with neither love nor brilliance. She had warned me that it was a 'little tight'. One hour before we were due to leave for the church, she put her dress on. It was WAY too tight, unwearable in fact. Turns out the dressmaker had used a knit pattern for a woven material, disastrous (and not a mistake our sewing day members would ever make!). My response - I'll go get mum.

Mum and Denise had brought their sewing kits in case of an emergency. In a flash the dress was off Ruth, the back was cut open, the wrap was hand sewn in (and even flared out at the bottom to match the rest of the hem), the seams were pressed and the dress was back onto a now smiling Ruth.

We made it to the church on time.

Here's Ruth in her dress (she's the one on the end)...

And the skillful last minute seamstresses showing off their handywork (note how wide the piece they added is, the dress REALLY did not fit at all until they fixed it)...

Where would we be without our sewing skills? Thanks for saving the day Beryl and Denise!

xx

A lovely new dress

Mum (Beryl) has finished her birthday present dress (Denise, Stacey, Saidie and I gave her the material and pattern for her birthday). She used our favourite Vogue pattern (8575)...


(It looks great on but Mum wasn't too keen for a photo of her wearing it, maybe I'll try to snap one at a social event sometime).

The fabric is from Knitwit and is great quality (purchased over the phone, Denise gets the samples of their fabric so we can look and feel before we buy).

Mum modified it by adding a piece to the bodice at the back as it sat a little high on her, you can see it in this photo. She also stitched the tie to the dress at a few intervals across the back so it doesn't hang low when she's wearing it. Great improvements to the dress!

Mum is considering shortening it to wear as a top over trousers (might get more wear out of it like that) but for now it will be a dress, perhaps to wear with black tights and flats?

Stacey and I also have one of these dresses, and Gill is making one too, so we might need to put them on and line up for a group photo to see how different they all look.

Mum also finished a cross over top from the other material and pattern we gave her. This top looks fantastic, very flattering, I think I'll make one up for me too. (I think a photo of Mum in this does exist, but it's of Denise, Stacey, Mum and I stuffing our faces with cream puffs so not really for public viewing - who has that pic on their camera?)

Happy sewing,
Mel
xx

Catching up

After a good start to this blog I have been very slack lately. Wee Sadie seems to constantly catch horrid bugs from childcare, it feels like she's been sick all winter so looking after her takes up most of my time. Hopefully with Spring around the corner (and her first birthday) she will string together some "well" weeks.

I missed most of the recent sewing day :( but hear that everyone was VERY productive so you guys need to blog some pictures so we can see what you've done (or email pics to me and I'll blog them).

Next sewing day is September 12th at Gill's. I'll still be on "finishing off" tasks after not getting anything done last week...

Happy sewing,
Mel
xx