Marbling on new tray

DH's tray works like a dream - though I had some issues with the day being very windy, not good for flat dyeing large pieces. I did not cure this for very long, as the turquoise dye was running everywhere. I am going to trial using my intense blue for a change.

I have thought of a brilliant idea for using my tray with the shaving cream dye thing, but not getting the marbled/swirly look. Stay posted if things work out.

My new dyeing tray and a meet up

Today I met some crafty mamas. This is Lesley with Katherine, Romi with Jasmine, with Jalisa and me at the front. We had a great time. Jalisa wants to play with Katherine again.
Here is the dyeing tray that DH made. He reinforced all the edges, waterproofed the corners and ever applyed tubing around the edges. The tray is huge 1.3 x 1.1m. I have already tried it for my marble dyeing and it is great (once I get used to dyeing the large pieces again)

Dyed goods, skorts, PJs...lots of goodies

So I have finally gotten around to blogging again. It hasn’t helped that we have been through 3 weeks of sickness and therefore sleepless nights (and everytime I go to use the camera, the batteries are flat). Anyway, I am just finishing my holidays and thought it was more than time to do an update.

First up, some PJs for Jalisa. I shortened a leggings pattern for the bottoms and used a singlet pattern for the top. Orange fabric hand dyed by me. I used picot elastic just on the neckline edge, I was too lazy to do it for the armholes as well.

I have wanted to create a skort pattern for Jalisa for ages now, and being on holidays has given me plenty of time for tracing new patterns. My inspiration came from a Mini Metalicus knit skirt – basically a yoke and a little gathered skirt. Attach some bike pants and it should be good. Well, the trial came out alright, but I did not like gathering the knit skirt.

Here is version number 1 in some hand dyed knit.

No more flashing!

I redid the skirt, flared it out. The skirt is probably ¾ of a circle in total. This looks better and is much easier to attach (no gathering). To do the skorts, I traced off some bike pant-length shorts from a leggings pattern and reduced the crotch depth by the yoke amount (but adding on seam allowances. When sewing, make a sandwich of the bike pants, skirt section and yoke and overlock it all together (having already sewn the pants and skirt seams/hems etc). Then do the waistband and ta-da. Modest girly wear.

I bought some plain white undies to dye using the LWI (low water immersion) method.

I found a white bonds skivvy and dyed if for next year's PJs. Jalisa wanted and rainbow. I am no Sara from Willow and Moo so this is what I came up with. Don't ask about my other attempt.

The other pattern I have been wanted to make is a tennis-type dress. Basically a singlet with a attached flared skirt. The first one is going to be a nightie seeing as the drop waist is too dropped. Fabric is dyed by me, a poor attempt at graduation dyeing.

This is my second version. I raised the waist seam by 4cm but I think it is still a little too dropped. Anyway, the top is a little loose, so it may look better next year. If I make it again, I will make the skirt part shorter too I think. I dyeing (dip dyeing) turned out alright I think.

At Christmas we are staying with my PIL’s at a beachfront unit rather than camping, so I needed some modest PJs…somehow my slip from last year wasn’t going to cut it and I need a cup of tea before I do anything else. the material is the same as the robe I made myself last year.The pattern for the boxers is traced from the Kwik Sew book (for adults) – shortening the pants pattern. I have already trimming the waist down on the pattern for next time – the pattern is pretty old and high waisted is not my thing. My coverstitcher was being silly, so the top was downgraded to pajama wear.

And finally, a basic white tee for me.

Thanks for looking.

Other quilty blanket

I mostly followed the directions of Thea's puzzle quilt (available free from Amy Butler's website) to make my TV blanket. Rather than having 9 blocks and borders, mine has 16 blocks and extra fabric at the ends to make up the length.

I used the A3 recipes from this site for the blue, green and pink (using turqouise, mixing red and golden yellow procion MX dyes) and then to get the lighter colours, I used the original dye baths (which is saved when you put the fabric into bags) and adding another cup of water. The purple is ultra violet, which ends up very pale with the addition of the extra cup. This site is fabulous because its recipes are very frugal and there is a huge variety of recipes to try. Of course, if you use a different base of primary colours, like I did, the results are different to the colours she has made.

Spent some time sewing...

How can three weeks have gone by since I last posted? Shocking. I have been sewing, but I haven't really finished anything until this weekend.

First I made myself a blouse. It is from my Burda WOF - there are a few different options to make the top different. You can have flouncey sleeves or little cap sleeves. You can have a collar or have a reverse facing. I used a red rayon/polyester that I found on clearance. It has a nice sheen and I just wanted to test the pattern.

Summer has arrived early, so I whipped up some shorts for Scott. I used my old faithful Kwik Sew shorts and added an extension to make a mock fly and Ottobre patch pockets.

I started this a while back when it was actually cold. We like to snuggle under blankets and watch TV and I thought it would be nice to have something other than the plain blue ones that we have in the cupboard. Jalisa wanted rainbow colours, so I hand dyed the fabrics. The recipe I used made vivid colours, so you kinda need sunglasses when looking at it. Yes, the panels are meant to be uneven. The idea seemed good in my head...

I probably broke a heap of quilting "rules." See, I don't like quilting. Dyeing the fabric, yes. Cutting the fabric, yes. Piecing the fabric, yes. Binding, yes. Laying layers on top of each other, egh. Quilting, yuck. Even just straight lines I am really bad at doing. I also only used, shock horror, polar fleece as a backing and no wadding. I ended up dyeing too much fabric in FQs so not enough for my "quilt" and the backings. Whatever.

It is a really windy day, so this was the best photo I could grab...it is not that uneven. :)

I am so rude...

I participated in a survey at snailblazer and my name was drawn out - Cass sent me some fab goodies including her traveller (which has come in very handy). So sorry that it has taken me so long, but thank you again Cass for such a great package. Here is my trophey from the State finals of the cotton creations. I came second for my red Bellville Sassoon dress. Check out the shears that I won - they are positively huge compared to my others. The gift voucher will be spent soon I expect.

I have have huge plans for next year, and I have decided I need to start soon and get some entries made this year. By the time the show arrives at Ipswich, I am generally in full swing with sewing the kids' winter wardrobes. Next year I will be schooling Jalisa too so I will have even less time.

More curved raglan sleeved tees

I think whoever designed this tee-shirt is a genius. It is my favourite tee pattern.

The latest issues had added a hoodie to the pattern and kangaroo pockets but I am still using the 2/05 version rather than adding on the extra features (already cut before my issue arrived). The dino drawing is from one of the Kwik Sew books (the toddler one I think) and the caterpillar was inspired by an applique I saw in Ottobre, though it must be in an issue that I don't have. Fabric is hand dyed by me.

Felty fun

I saw these little felt "boards" ages ago and added the concept to me list of gift ideas. With an invitation to a 4 year old birthday party, I thought this would be good to try.

The outside has handles and a pocket for storing the felt shapes.

I still have more shapes to cut, but they are fiddly and I dislike fiddly, so I haven't done them yet. I was thinking of adding accessories such as a hat, bag etc. There are some more hair bits that must have stayed in the pocket.

Jalisa has requested one for christmas. I hope the birthday girl likes it.

Goals for the rest of the year

6 months down, 6 months to go...I need some new crafty related goals to work on for the rest of the year.

1. Sew two items per week
2. Try out a new pattern (for me) each month
3. Blog more often
4. Sew kids Christmas presents by October 31st
5. Use my stash for summer clothes

Hmm, I think that is achievable.

Sewing for June

This is me trying to get a good picture for a competition held at Crafty Mamas. I did not succeed.
Jalisa is wearing a white cotton blouse (from Ottobre 3/07 I think) with a cord skirt (swirl dyed by me). Trim at the bottom is some mini pom poms. Scott is wearing a jacket ( I used the Kwik sew for toddler hoodie changed it to have a lining, and used the zipper version). I used an applique from Ottobre for the dog. The pants are also Ottobre. I used a brown stretch cord with a dog print for the pockets.

Here is the jumper I am wearing in the first photo. I think it is pattern 2993 from Kwik Sew. I used a mauve-ish sweater knit that I have been stashing since uni.

I made this last night. I wanted to time how long it took to make since someone asked me. Under two hours. This is a nice light grey marle fleece fabric. I found a Barbie zipper pull for $1 so I added that today. This is the same pattern that I used earlier this month, but I omitted the pockets.