All Things Mum

We are in the thick of Autumn and Winter is just around the corner. Evenings are chillier and she really needs a jacket. I bought some nice black jacketing fabric from my local store just for this project. I decided to research a lot more on translating the Japanese text before embarking on another 'too long, too short, not big enough' Japanese garment for Little Miss. I found some more translations on the web including a new one on Flickr. If you Google Japanese sewing terms you'll see it. So I sat with 4 different papers and tried to find as many as I could recognise. Not an easy or fast task but I did find some new ones which I'd never seen before (as above). See the above chart which I found in the Sewing Notes of my Japanese pattern book (Sassy Girls). The first text translates to Height and next to it is 90 (cms) The next row is for bust, then waist and hip measurement. This was tricky with a wriggly 2.5yr old but I managed without strangling her with my tape. I j...

I traced out a pattern, was ready to cut out and sew and then... BAM... realisation...not enough material. Arghhhhhhhh. Nooooooooooo. When I started sewing I use to only buy 2mtrs worth of fabric. 1mtr would be enough to make the kids something but I had only ever needed 1.5 - 2mtrs. Now that I endeavour dresses, tunic tops etc. it hadn't dawned on me that I might need more fabric. So my stash is insufficient for this period in my life. Which brings me to my next photo. My tummy at 13weeks. I can still sort of button up my jeans but after a while it gets uncomfortable. My little man was curious about the flashing light and beeping as I waited for the 10sec count down on the camera. I'm also really enjoying our fresh roses from the front yard. It's dreary, rainy and really windy outside right now. Time to think about sewing up a winter coat for Little Miss.

I'm pretty excited. I purchased this Kristen Doran Sling Bag pattern from Kelani Fabric Obsession . I've been looking for the perfect bag to make which would also be affordable. I really love sling bags because I can drape them over my shoulder and push the pram. I think my sewing bug is coming back. I spent some time making up a skirt for Little Miss using some old broadcloth just to test the pattern. I am really sick of the Japanese patterns coming out too small for her. I'm pretty happy with the alterations. Once I make it up in the beige corduroy I will post it. I have to go now. I am tired. The Little Boy screamed for 20mins at 4am. After some panadol, a warm blanket and milk he finally stopped screaming. Phew. For all of us.

HAPPY EASTER !!! I know it's been a long while and I finally decided to try to get my sewing/crafting groove back. Seeing as it's Easter time I decided that Little Miss would need a little tote to 'tote' around the many easter eggs that she'll be recieving tomorrow. I really liked the idea of rabbits. Then I remembered that Elizabeth Hartman from Oh Fransson had a great little bunny doll quilt. She also had a great applique tute taht featured on Sew Mama Sew. I printed out the applique templates, cut them out and tried to gather the appropriate materials from my stash. I have a very, let's say... eccletic material stash where I have a mish mash of colours, textures and whatever took my fancy that day. I almost gave up in dismay until I found spare wool material for the rabbit body. You know me, I like shortcuts. I didn't cut out the bodice or undies for the rabbit. I wished I would have at least cut out the bodice cos the gap betwen the jacket and skirt is e...