52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: CATCH UP WEEKS THIRTEEN THROUGH TO WEEK TWENTY

I have been sewing, a little bit here and there. I just have not had the energy? Or motivation to photograph and blog about all of the items. I have felt a bit like the below photo of Jarvis.

Week Thirteen

I finished Chester's Avengers sarouels, and made him a pair of flannel sarouel pjs. The Pjs are huge on him. But, he looks adorable in them.

Week Fourteen

I thought it was time Tamika got a look in on the sewing, so I made her and Chester a pair of matching pjs. I call the fabric winter wonderland.

For Chester I actually used a pattern, rather than just winging it, yup an actual pattern. I cut, and sewed him a size one. But they swam on him. I took them in at the sides, but added an extra large cuffed hem. The flannel is from last years stash, and I found it to shrink a LOT in the first few washes. Tamika's was a guess (read no pattern), again I left them extra long to allow for shrinkage.

Week Fifteen

I finished off the yellow corduroy sarouels that Jarvis requested. Would not have been my first choice in colour, yet he loves them. I also made Oli a pair of winter wonderland pjs, I made them the same as Chester's, just slightly longer in the waist and leg.

Week Sixteen

This week Jarvis wanted to do some sewing, so I thought we would do something really basic. He selected the fabric, and we made a pencil case. Yes, It could have been better, yet, we made it with him on my lap (I did the sewing peddle) and he directing the fabric through the machines.  Jarvis loves it so that is all that matters.

I also made Jarvis a new pair of tartan flannel sarouels. The first pair of sarouels I ever made Jarvis were tartan, they were Jarvis favourites, so he requested a new pair when he gave his old pair to Chester.

Week Seventeen

I felt like doing some selfish sewing so I went through my stash and found enough of this material to make myself a skirt. Wizzed through it in two nights.  The colours are a bright orange and a plum on a white back ground. She is yet without a name. Any suggestions? 

Week Eighteen

No sewing, it was not a good week.

Week Nineteen

No sewing, but did struggle to the floor, and cut out a few items. Not ready to show these yet as the are for the Handmade Dress Swap. Like last year, I am making myself a matching dress. Yup, I am a dag like that. But in reality, I can also practice the dress on mine and hopefully get it right when I make it for my partner. 

Week Twenty

Holly Molly this is some serious catching up.

I made Chester dinosaur sarouels, and Jarvis robot sarouels.

Plus, I have made a big start on the two dresses for the Handmade dress swap. I am making myself one. Like last year, I practice on mine, if it works, then I do my partners.

I used New Look 6208. However, I adjusted the skirt, and the bodice. So not sure how much they are going to turn out like the images on the envelope.

On a side note, has anyone got/used a bias binding foot? 

Okay so massive catch up, and still heaps of finished projects to photograph and sew. Hope I will get these done in time for next week. 

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK TWELVE

Last night we made plans to go to the movies today, Jarvis requested that his Avengers sarouels be sewn up. This was easy as his, and Chester's, had already been cut out in last weeks sewing session. I am not normally into licensed clothes, I have a very strong dislike for any tshirt or any item of clothing that has licensed 'stuff; on it. I find it all very blargh. But this fabric was gifted to me, and I have to concede that it looks 'okay' sewn up.

Week Twelve

As requested, one pair of Avengers sarouels. I am yet to finish Chester's but will do that this afternoon. Chester got one pair of flannel sarouels cut in last weeks cutting session. So both boys are doing well.

I also went onto Spotlight today, yeah I know who goes to work on their day off? But with 30% off all fabric I thought it was the perfect day to get Jarvis his two of his three requests for winter. He has asked for a pair of tartan sarouels to replace the ones he handed down to Chester, a bright pair of cord sarouels, and a rainbow sarouels. I knew I would have no luck with the rainbow corduroy. But he selected fabric for his next two pairs of pants. 

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK ELEVEN

Week Eleven

Even though it is still hot here in Brisbane, I thought it was time to start working on the boys winter wardrobes.

I had a big cutting out session one night, two pairs of pants each and two pairs of flannel pjs each. Jarvis again choose which fabric for each and every pair. He is certainly developing strong notions of what he does and does not like to wear.

I love how I can cut Chester's out of the tiniest of remnants. Even though Chester is still so tiny I thought I would go up to a size two, to last him through the winter. Jarvis requested "super, super long pjs". No worries, as I thought he would get two winters out of them.

As of today I finished two pairs of pj sarouels for Jarvis. He had so much fun modelling asked to wear them today. After half an hour of sweating in them, I finally convinced him to take them off.

Chester got a pair of corduroy sarouels, and a pair of deer old man pjs, which I cut from last year's remnants of Justin's. The cords are fine, if not super long on Chester, but the pjs at size two swim on Chester, think these will have to go away until next year.

I think that is why I love the sarouels design so much. Not only for style, and comfort, but for the fact worn 'too big' they look cute, and allow extra wear out of them.

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEKS NINE AND TEN

Week Nine

With so much travel, my machine has been unloved. All I managed was a quick pair of boxer shorts for Jarvis. He choose the two fabrics and I love how he has managed to match/contrast them.

Image is the reality of the boxer shorts. After wearing them to bed, in the morning they get dumped on the floor, sometimes in the bathroom, sometimes in his bedroom, mostly willy nilly around the house.

Week Ten

Last week I opted to make something for myself. Jarvis again picked the fabric, and I got it made in quick time. So much so, I have already worn this new skirt twice.

The skirt has been named Honor, after Honor Blackman, the actress who plays Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger.

The fabric is 100% cotton, and as you can tell in me naming it, has cats all over it. As usual all seams were either given the Hong Kong seam treatment with yellow bias, or French seamed. 

Also to note, Jarvis's love of colour yet again influences my style, note only is the fabric pattern something I would not normally choose for myself, but the yellow is not a colour I have in my wardrobe. The posses were also directed by Jarvis. Yes, he makes my world fun.

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK SIX

I know, I have always been a 'tad' OCD, but sewing up my latest project, I realised just how bad I am. I will sew, and re-sew something, until I feel happy with it. I am up to version three, of the shorts I drafted and I still have ideas on how I can improve them.

Pockets! Everything is better with pockets. Plus I am thinking some cute trims would work. My head is filled with ideas.

No, photos of me modeling my shorts this week, cause I am currently sweltering in this heat.

I found this blog posting " Ten Ways to Ruin Your Sewing" and thought it was great so wanted to share it on here. It was written by Sarai Mitnick, of Colette. I know I have been more than a little guilty of a few of them. 

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK FIVE

It was hot in Brisbane last week, Tuesday was 36 degree celsius, (in fahrenheit that is 98.9). And super humid, one day the humidity was up to 85%. So pretty much all week I was covered in sweat. I was also bitching about not having anything to wear, while Justin and Jarvis were wandering around the house in their jocks.

One night, when I could not sleep because of the heat, I thought of an idea. I struggle with retail shorts, they seem to fall into two categories. One: shorts that are shorter than my undies. Or two: Mum shorts. Yes, yes, I know I am a Mum, I am a grandmother, but Mum shorts, well are just super daggy. Anyhow, in the heat one night I thought of making shorts that were more 'me'.

In the early hours of the next morning, before the heat struck, I got some fabric from my stash and whipped up these shorts. 

 Item One

They are kinda like a gathered shirt met a pair of boxers shorts. I am super happy with them, the fabric is a lawn so super light and breezy, but the length is more appropriate for the Nana I am.

Item Two

I love them so much I made a second pair late one night. They fit even better, however, the fabric is a tad on the see through side. Okay if I wear the shorts to the beach over togs, but that is about it.

I am already sewing up a third pair in a rayon. With each attempt I am tweaking the pattern just a bit to get them 'just right'.

But... finally I own shorts!

Jarvis was not happy with my modelling. I admit I really struggle on the other side of the camera, so these are his instructed posses.

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK FOUR

I got easily side tracked this week. I cut out over half a dozen things to sew. But then, late one night an idea came to me, an I just had to get up early one morning before the heat hit, to draft a pattern and cut something out.

Even though I got sidetracked I at least managed to finish two items.

Item One

Digger boxer shorts for Jarvis. Since the kid is still wearing size one boxers, I figured it was time for him to go up a size or two. Jarvis chose the fabric and I altered the pattern to fit a size four. His waist still measures the same from two years ago, so they are long, and super baggy. But Jarvis loves them.

I have to include all of his "modeling faces". He kept telling me to take another

Item Two

Jarvis wanted Chester to have apple sarouels to match his own. So Chester seems to be getting a bit of a fruit salad theme over the last two weeks. Chester is on the little side, so a size two sarouels is extra roomy on him, but it will give him heaps of space to grow.

Oh, and here is the little cutie in his pineapple shorts from last week.