top no. 3

For this one, I had an idea of what I wanted to make, but no existing pattern, so decided to customise/draft it myself. I used this pattern to get the basic shape, but changed the neckline, made the armholes bigger and took out the darts. I made a muslin to test the shape and fit, making notes of more changes. I re-traced the final pattern, then cut it from my fabric.

I followed this online tutorial for the button placket (my first buttons and button holes!) I drafted it on my computer, and used the print out as my pattern for cutting the fabric, and as a guide for the button placement. Once the placket was done, I sewed the top together, and finished the armholes and neckline with bias tape. Last step was sewing in the buttons by hand.

BAM! Top no. 3 finished! Feels great to learn and make new things.

another new hobby

I decided recently that I wanted to learn to crochet. I bought a few supplies and followed these online tutorials. Now I have a slowly growing pile of colourful granny squares, the beginnings of a blanket. I'm using some soft cotton yarn – Peaches & Creme and Sugar'n Cream (check out the groovy retro labels) – purchased for only around $2 a ball from Walmart and Hobby Lobby. The weather's still pretty hot here, so I've been happy to stay in and watch episodes of Futurama or 30 Rock on Netflix, while I crochet my squares and drink cups of tea.

july?!

Already? I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but I really don't know where the time is going. We've been here nearly a whole year.

Summer's here, it's pretty hot, and our plants are going gangbusters. I'm totally amazed at the comeback our tabasco chilli plant has made. Only a few months ago, it was so dried up, I was about to pull it out of the pot and throw it into the dumpster (I may not have been watering so regularly back then!)

I noticed a little bit of new growth coming through though, and decided to cut the dead bits back, and leave it to do its thing. Now it is big, leafy and covered in flowers and chillis!

We are also growing a few other things – tomatoes, capsicum, and some mint and thai basil that are doing really well considering they started from cuttings.

Growing tasty stuff is fun!

Also, top no. 2 is finished! I bought the pattern online. It was much simpler to make than my first top, and is nice and light for summer.

busy sewing

Been doing a bit of sewing lately. Here are some pics of things I've made:

A fun bunting and bibs. Made for our month-old niece with lotsa love, and miles of (handmade) bias tape. The pattern for the bibs is from my Martha Stewart book

An embroidered handkerchief – I guess, but I hope no-one blows their nose into it... The pattern is from Clover

And my very first top! It was a little tricky at times, but good to learn and get experience making a garment – sewing darts and sleeves, and using interfacing.
I even customised the pattern a bit, shortening the length and using sleeves from
a different pattern. The fit is pretty loose, but overall I'm happy with it, and definitely looking forward to more sewing projects :)

colourful cotton

Some necklaces I made recently with embroidery cotton and nice wooden beads from a local bead shop (tutorial here, by Jenny of Wiksten/Wiksten-made). I'm also keen to try some different styles of embroidery, like cross-stitch and sashiko. My new Martha Stewart book and the purl bee have lots of lovely looking projects.

(Oh, the possibilities!)