Buttons and Bobs

We can't have enough bandana bibs when a baby is teething so I have been experimenting. There are so many free patterns and You Tube tutorials on the internet that I was spoiled for choice.  On the first two I sewed on metal press stud fasteners. This is time consuming and can look ugly. I borrowed a Kam stud kit for the next two. These were easy to apply though the kit looked complicated at first sight and came with no written instructions. Again the internet came in handy for a quick tutorial. The result looks much more professional. Next time I use them I will interface the stud area to provide more strength. I am going to buy a Kam kit though I'm not sure what I will use them for once we do not need bibs anymore. Perhaps dolls' clothes?

These tote bags are slightly shorter  than the first one I made and they will be easier for 2+ year olds to carry colouring and st icker books ( or any other collections) in. I cut  the outer material (A) 24 1/2 X 11 inches straps (A) 16 inches X 3 inches lining material (B)  12 3/4 X 11 inches. The ones with applique take half an hour longer than the ones without but I'm getting faster.  Must stop before we are buried in tote bags!  The bags would make good party bags though someone I know insists that boys would not want tote bags. I think they might if the pattern includes pictures of subjects that interest them.

A search on Pinterest brings up  many free patterns for peasant dresses and tops.  I sewed this top for a two year old in an hour - it's that easy! I don't know if it fits yet though. If it does I have ambitions to make another using shirring elastic.  My daughter bought me a set of 32 sewing feet that I need to learn about. I have put the shirring foot at the top of the list. 

The authenticity of the text below has been investigated by David Mikkelson of Snopes.com He traced it to an edition of the Singer Sewing Book written by Mary Brooks Picken and published by the Singer Sewing Machine Company in 1949.

Pam from Australia has done lots of work collating free patterns and tutorials for girls' clothes . See the links on her blog "Threading My Way"   here  . I spend too much time on Pinterest and You Tube in the name of sewing research.  My latest fascination is with sewing magazines. I used to think they were expensive but I have been recently pleased with the free patterns that most provide.  I would love to hear where others get their inspiration from.

I really like the Izzy Top free pattern from Teri on a blog she called "Climbing the Willow" here . I have learned a lot whilst making four of the tunics though it is a very easy pattern. 1 I learned: The importance of accurate printing. When I measured the 1 inch test square I could see that my printout was measuring slightly less but I carried on just adding a little extra to the width and length. The resulting tunic fitted a 6 month old rather than a two year old.  When I printed via Acrobat Reader from my laptop rather than my Tab the printout was exact. 2 I learned: It is best to find out the makeup of the material. I bought the fabric for my Izzy 2 from a remnant stack in Aberkan Mill, Flintshire. I thought it was cotton. I pre-washed  and dried but then parts of it hardened and shrank when I added iron on Vilene to the bodice. Adding rick rack trimming can cause problems - I practised again and again making button holes and there was no problem. ...

I used the free pattern and tutorial from Oliver and Schwinn to make two reversible bucket sunhats. The hat above matches the tunic top made from the free Izzy pattern that will be linked on another post. I was pleased with the result at first but now I think I would like to tone down the colours. I bought the material that I used for the hat below on Birmingham market. Originally I was going to make another tunic top but when I pre-washed the fabric it creased heavily and frayed. I could not imagine having to continually press the garment after each wear. It has made a good hat though. Before sewing I I overlocked the edges of each piece so that there would be no fraying. If I had not got an overlocker I would have used a zigzag stitch around each edge before sewing the pieces together. I lined this hat with the same material.

I decided it was time to try applique. Creating a small bag seemed less risky than adding applique to a garment. The lined bag is for a young child to carry a notebook, crayons, I-Spy books and snacks when visiting the zoo. Materials  I used..... Fabric A for outer : 29 inches by 11 inches Fabric A for straps : 16 inches by 3/2 Fabric B for lining: 15 inches by 11 inches (Cut two) (All measurements can be adapted to suit the child. I have a tendency to overestimate size and this bag has not been tried out yet! Next time I will check out the measurements of similar items on Etsy.) Mix of scraps suitable for applique. A printed outline of a design.  Applique I used "Heat n Bond lite" and placed a piece over the lion template that I had reversed (More important when creating applique letters). Make sure the Heat n Bond is paper side up. Trace the template. Cut out the shape allowing a small margin around the edge - 1/8 to 1/4 inch.  As I wanted my lion to ...

Two items I purchased recently and love.  A wrist pin cushion  Mine was £5  from the John Lewis own brand range of sewing aids . It is pleasingly comfortable to wear and very useful in that my pins are no longer dropping everywhere. Sewing Gauge Ruler Mine was £1 from a market stall. It is ideal for accurately measuring hems and spaces.  

Of course I pre-wash material before sewing to allow for shrinkage but it is not always enough. When gifting my sewing I wonder whether I should add washing instructions. Then again makers of some of the  products we purchase opt for the simplest of instructions!

Above are three "baprons" and a long sleeved bib. Baprons I first found the pattern and tutorial for a bapron on the blog " Craftiness Is Not Optional ". The author says she can make a bapron in half an hour. I am much  slower but the results have been appreciated.  I use remnants or quilting material bought in "fat quarters" for the facing . Originally I backed my baprons with toweling and edged with bought bias tape. After lots of washes, however, I found that some toweling started to sag and some bias tapes puckered. Now I prefer to back with light fleece fabric and to make my own bias tape. Within a gap in the need for baprons I lost my pattern.   There is a You Tube tutorial for a bapron here . Though the author does not use the same material to make her baprons she kindly offers a free pattern that can be used with many fabrics.   (Download: From the comments -"  https://www.dropbox.com/s/pwhanluvxshx6g7/Bapron%20SW.pdf?dl=0...