Today is not a good day for sewing, the seam ripper seems to be out all the time. I’m off to play with my daughter but before I go I’ll leave you with some work in progress:
Doll Carrier: Sort of sorted
Last night I couldn’t sleep, mulling over how I could finish the doll carrier so that Little Miss Bossy-Boots could put it on all by herself. Early (and I do mean very early) in the morning I thought of adding an elasticated belt with the straps attached to it. This slightly unconventional solution means that the Little Miss can step into the carrier, hike it up to her waist, add the baby and pull the straps over her shoulders to distribute the weight comfortably.
Well, that was the theory anyway. Once I was awake and thinking more clearly I thought that it was a really rubbish idea and went on to make a belt that is closed with two d-rings. Admittedly, Little Miss Bossy-Boots can’t quite manage to put the carrier on herself but she can pull the belt tight which makes her very happy.
There are a couple of things I want to change so I’m going to sew another one tomorrow while Little Miss Bossy-Boots is in pre-school. This will give me a chance to think about the changes (and sizes!) and take pictures for a tutorial.
Flowers
I’m trying to familiarise myself with my new camera (yes, I’ve given up the pretence: it’s mine, all mine! Mwhahahahaaa!) and went out into the garden to take some pictures. Most of my flowers didn’t survive the summer but I have a few roses that are doing quite well.
I also found some very obliging insects:
A Doll Carrier: Work in Progress
Little Miss Bossy-Boots loves her dolls and often asks if she can bring one to pre-school. This usually involves bringing a pushchair which I end up carrying home again.
Lugging a doll’s pushchair around is not my favourite pastime so a couple of days ago I decided that I would make Little Miss Bossy-Boots a baby carrier (she calls all the dolls her babies).
Searching on the internet I couldn’t really find what I was looking for. Most of the tutorials were for slings or carriers that have to be put on by a helper. However, I want her to be able to put it on all by herself so that she can feel all grown up.
It’s still work in progress as I haven’t sorted out the straps yet. Hopefully I will get there soon and if I do I’ll post a pattern on this blog. Watch this space.
PS When I showed Little Miss Bossy-Boots what I was doing she said to me: “I don’t like it. I want a pink one!”
A handy pouch
A little while ago I made myself a handy pouch to keep my hand sewing kit in. I love hand sewing and get a little annoyed when I have to search for the right needle, thread, small scissors and thimble. Always wondering who moved them and always realising that it was me, myself and I….
I pulled out one of my favourite fabrics (Denyse Schmidt’s “Hope Valley”) in a lovely bright chartreuse, a few bits from Nel Whatmore’s “Happy Go Lucky” line and a purple zip and made myself a zippered pouch in which to keep my hand sewing stuff.
The lining is a patchwork of Nel Whatmore’s lovely fabrics.
Did you also notice the little thingybobby for my scissors? I couldn’t leave it rattling about in my pouch now, could I?
The flap at the front is actually for needles. I could, of course, have added some felt as well but didn’t want to hide the lovely flower. At first I only had the one button to keep the flap up but soon realised that the corners kept catching on things, especially when I had the pouch in a bag. I added the two poppers to make sure that I don’t lose any of my needles.
Now, the pictures aren’t the greatest as the weather here is really grey and horrible. It just shows me that I should remember to take pictures when the sun is shining. I hope you have lovely weather wherever you are.
Wordless Wednesday
An Old Favourite
I have this jumper. It’s my favourite. It’s ripped.
It’s not a big rip but as it’s at the front I felt that I couldn’t just sew it together and leave it at that. It would be too obvious. The solution was to make some fabric flowers, add some buttons and thus save my favourite jumper.
I went with blue flowers because I usually wear this jumper with my favourite jeans.
There are so many great tutorials for these flowers I thought I wouldn’t add another one. A quick search for fabric flowers and rolled fabric roses revealed lots of possibilities. I used Tea Rose Home’s tutorial for the five-petaled flower and My Sparkle’s how-to for the rolled roses. The fluffy one with the button centre was made from the selvedge of a Kona solid which I simply gathered to a circle and attached to the jumper with a blue button.
I’m wearing my jumper as I’m writing this post and I keep looking down as I’m so pleased with the result. Sad, I know….
Here Kitty!
I’m sorry I missed a blog post for yesterday. My day started at 5.20am when Little Miss Bossy-Boots woke me up and the early start turned me into a brainless zombie. I couldn’t even get myself to go anywhere near the computer. Hopefully it’ll be a one off.
Little Miss Bossy-Boots started pre-school again a few weeks ago and I had promised her a new bag and lunchbox. We went into town and picked out a new lunchbox, Minnie Mouse this time. She insisted on getting a matching plastic Minnie Mouse bottle and I gave in even though she has lots of good quality aluminium bottles which I think are easier to keep clean. It is nice to start the year with all new things, though, so I let her have the bottle too.
The bag, however, was always going to be made by Mummy. Last time I was in Switzerland I picked up some pink twill and light pink “Hello Kitty”cotton fabric. I also picked up a pink ribbon with an Argyle pattern in the same colours as the “Hello Kitty” fabric. I made a messenger bag with flap (the pattern is one that I have made numerous times before; quick and easy) and inside pockets for all the small stuff. I even made one for a pen in the hope that she will keep this bag for a while.
The little outside pocket is for her lunch money.
The embellishments on the flap were all chosen and placed by Little Miss Bossy-Boots. It’s a little busy for me but she loves it. She placed all the buttons on top of the ribbon except one which made me laugh. It seems so random but I’m sure she had a reason for it. When she went through my buttons she took out about 40 pink and purple buttons (oh yes, I have lots and lots and lots of pink buttons. I have no clue as to how they made it into my house. Honest!) In the end, however, she only went for a few and only one glittery one which surprised me no end.
Little Miss Bossy-Boots loves her new bag and I’m sure part of it is the fact that she had total control over the ribbon, appliqué and buttons. I have high hopes that she will one day sit next to me on the sofa crafting.
a mystery revealed
The mystery item (shown here) is:
A doorstop! I hope you’re not too disappointed. As you can see I’ve added a felt butterfly since. Can’t have something in Little Miss Bossy-Boots’ room that isn’t pink…
I made this one for the door of Little Miss Bossy-Boots’ room as she keeps banging it shut when she’s playing in her room. I don’t mind her closing the door, it’s the banging I object to. Waiting for her to get her little fingers caught or, worse, one of her little friends’ fingers.
She can move a regular door stop but can’t get a hold of this one as it’s on top of the door. Sorted!
Love
I cannot tell you how happy I am with my newest toy, courtesy of Master. That’s right, not only did he sort out my blog he bought me us a new camera. Is there no end to his greatness?
Check it out:
I have so many things I haven’t been photographing because I was getting frustrated with the quality of the photos. It’s a good thing I’m blogging daily this month, I might explode otherwise….
By the way, do you remember my little mystery? It will be revealed tomorrow.