Oliver + S: Sunday Brunch Jacket

 

Its that time of the year again to make mini jackets - my friends daughter is turning 4 and I wanted a pretty little jacket for her to wear to kindy that could still get thrown through the washing machine.

I never realised Spotlight stocked Oliver + S patterns until I spotted (heh) this on a clearance rack with 2 other patterns. I've always wanted to try them out so this one came home with me.

The fabric is leftover from this dress and the lining is a thin satin from Clear It in Melbourne, buttons are from clear it too.

The pattern itself is well drafted, the sizing is pretty much near identical to Australian kids RTW (I did some snoop shopping at Target with my tape measure!).

Some changes: I added more interfacing than required - interfaced the upper front and half of the lower front, using a medium knit weft fusible on the lower and some armoweft on the collar and the upper front for extra stability.

I added a lining as this fabric is a poly knit and I didn't want it exposed inside.
I assembled it slightly differently to the directions, so I could bag the lining plus I did some extra topstitching on the cuffs so when it gets washed everything stays where its meant to!

It didn't use as much fabric as the pattern said, only about 60cm x 150cms.

This is the third jacket I've made for Miss 4, first is here and the second is here.

New Look 6927: Childs coat

My best friends daughter is 18mths old and I thought it was about time I sew her something!
I had this herringbone wool fabric in the stash and wanted to use it up (its only 1m big). It was very ravelly and had quite a loose weave so I decided to blockfuse the entire piece of fabric with sheerweft fusible interfacing. I didn't add any extra interfacing as I wanted it to stay quite loose and drapey. I was going to do bound buttonholes but I didn't want to add the extra bulk to what is a tiny little jacket!


I added a lining


I didn't want to sew piping around the facings so I used flat bias strips and sewed them on at 5/8" then sewed the lining on at 3/8" which left a nice little strip exposed. I'm sure I read about this on a blog somewhere but I just can't remember (think it might have been on Sunny Gal Studios blog?)


I really enjoyed sewing this - it uses up those bits of material I always seem to end up with and its nice and quick to sew.

Get Creative 2002: third version

Third times a charm right? Umm, not for me! This shirt was meant to be a quick easy project and ended up being a complete headache! I didn't buy enough fabric to begin with so had to change from a proper facing to a skinny one, then I managed to cut that too short and had to join another bit of fabric. Plus I'm not really happy with the hem and I decided to leave out the side slits but might have to add some in as it tends to bunch up on his hips a bit.


But at least its done and I managed to match the plaid better this time!


i've been trying to finish off a few UFO's that I've had lying around, I really don't like to leave anything unfinished so its nice to clear out some stuff.

Get Creative 2002: Boys Shirt

I bought this pattern out of the clearance bin at Spotlight when I first started sewing, I've never heard of the pattern brand (I think it might be one made by Spotlight?) but it was well drafted and the instructions were pretty good.

I made the kids button up shirt (it also has men's sizes and a cargo pant in the pattern). I made a Medium with added extra width to the sides and arms and originally made long sleeves but they were way too short so they got cut off!
I followed Male Pattern Boldness's shirt sewalong instructions for the flat felled seams and construction, worked a treat - a lot easier than I thought honestly!


First time matching a plaid, took a bit of fiddling at the start and one side doesn't match perfectly but the front is pretty good.


Its a little tight through the chest so next one I'll make a Large and I want to change the front facing to an attached placket like in Simplicity 1941, it just folds back and is top stitched.

Licorice allsorts dress

Self drafted pattern (as self drafted as a couple of rectangles are, lol)

Fabric - Quilting weight cotton from Rathdowne Fabric



My daughter has a RTW dress that's too big now and she wanted a copy of it. The original dress has elastic shirring but I thought with this one I'd sew channels and thread thin elastic through.



I used the rolled hem on my serger for the first time, its so easy! I'm so glad I didn't have to hem it all with a normal narrow hem, would have taken ages!




She always complains about straps being too tight so I thought I'd make a channel of fabric and thread elastic through it as well

and because we both seem to have an obsession with pockets I put patch pockets on the front and put a couple of snap fasteners on them too to stop her stuff falling out (Gee, I didn't realise how uneven the pocket ruffles were till I took this photo!)




Ruffled front hides the bodice seam



and buttons from the Alannah Hill outlet in Melbourne



I like sewing kids stuff, its so much more forgiving than adults and hides mistakes easier, plus you can use bright patterned fabric that I love but would look silly wearing!