tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89440169189035135582024-02-02T06:02:09.159-08:00Les Petits AnglaisKathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-74614342451742623852012-09-03T12:09:00.004-07:002012-09-03T12:30:43.612-07:00Crochet Bolero pattern<div><br /><div>For people who can't get to this pattern via the Google Docs Link, here it is! The nice people at Blogger have made it possible to cut & paste from Word into Blogger so I've finally been able to make it easy to get to. Phew. It doesn't look very pretty and I have no idea how it will print out, but at least it's get-at-able. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I used Paton’s 100% mercerised DK cotton for this project. The cotton comes in lots of beautiful colours and has a delicious sheen to it, perfect for showing off the lacy pattern. I used a full 100g ball for the age 2-3 version, plus a small amount of 4ply for the scalloped edging. You could do the edging in DK yarn but it would have a less delicate look.<br /><br />Gauge: One pattern repeat = 1 ¼”<br /><br />Requirements: 1 ball DK yarn, size 4mm crochet hook, 1 ball 4ply yarn, size 3.25 crochet hook. A small button<br /><br />BACK<br />Using 4mm hook, make a chain of 64 stitches. This will make 10 ½ repeats of the pattern, which the turning chain will turn into 11 repeats.<br /><br />Foundation row: Chain another 5 stitches for the turning chain. 1tr in 6th chain from hook, [2ch, skip 2 ch, 1tr into next ch] repeat to end This makes 22 ‘holes’.<br /><br />1st pattern row: Chain 3 for turning chain, [1ch, 3tr into next tr (this is the shell stitch), 1ch, 1tr in next tr] repeat to last treble, into which you should be working a shell stitch, then 1ch and 1 treble into the top of the turning chain.<br /><br />2nd pattern row: Chain 3 for turning chain, [2tr in first treble of shell, 1treble in second, 2 treble in third, then 1treble in the lone treble – ‘extended shell stitch’ ] repeat to end, finishing with 1 treble into the top of the turning chain<br /><br />3rd pattern row: Chain 5 for turning chain, 1tr into 3rd (i.e. middle) treble of the shell [2ch, skip 2 tr, 1tr into next tr] repeat to end<br /><br />Repeat these three pattern rows twice for a short bolero, making three pattern repeats in total, ending with 2nd pattern row<br /><br />Decrease for armholes: 2 turning chain, 1 slip stitch into each treble (not the one at the base of the turning chain though!) up to the lone treble in the middle of the extended shell. 5 chain, [2ch, skip 2 tr, 1tr into next tr] repeat to last extended treble. End row with the treble in the middle of the extended shell. You have now decreased in total by 1 pattern repeat.<br /><br />1st pattern row: Chain 2 for turning chain, 1 treble into base of turning chain, 1ch, 1 treble in next treble, [1ch, 3tr into next tr, 1ch, 1tr in next tr] repeat to last treble, then 1ch and 2 treble into the top of the turning chain.<br /><br />2nd pattern row: Chain 2 for turning chain, 2 tr in next treble, 1 treble in next lone treble [2tr in first treble of shell, 1treble in second, 2 treble in third, 1treble in the lone treble] repeat to last half-shell, working 2 trebles in first treble of last half-shell and 1 treble into the top of the turning chain<br /><br />3rd pattern row: Chain 3 for turning chain [2ch, skip 2 tr, 1tr into next tr] repeat to end<br /><br />Work 6 pattern repeats straight, ending with 3rd pattern row. Fasten off. You may want to add another pattern repeat if you think that the resulting armhole is not going to be deep enough for your child to wave her arms around comfortably, particularly since the sleeves are crocheted directly onto the armholes so there isn’t much ease at the top of the sleeve. If you do work an additional repeat, don’t forget to add the same repeat to the right and left fronts, so they match the back.<br /><br />FRONT<br /><br />In order to create the curved bolero front shape, you need to increase on every row by half a pattern repeat. This is something that takes forever to explain in words, so I have created a chart for the right and left fronts that make it clearer. You can get away with just doing two fronts the same, and that is what I actually did on mine – the back and front do look a tiny bit different but only an expert could spot it. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 376px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 441px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5784033225540625106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3X17aPNRnZENo-oxyht9D840VcE2SVb2Vtf9CYAHB88mfKeB5bGePM7uOMpmXxhF9BOctOkaY6AiAIxTWK8UY4A4x8A5mS_BWEWjlvC8v0OYFI6ONWgXhtuR7DTFK4I7onTj6CZM6eM/s400/front.jpg" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 455px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 542px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5784033230096919922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp-Hyu59p0plqv4iqda_ARnKH3M1osckMhUhsLNUlCYzzQJFTOocdZGDiRChL9t7zrlw7-aa2tCy6fYHzGTjkKWbnkbPVc2rjQEnzK8q3UAD9jdTnng-MNayGBsFb0krMp6n8pJBvdD4/s400/fronta.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>You may notice the lack of instructions for a buttonhole on the right front. This is deliberate – the beauty of crochet is that you can use one of the gaps in the fabric/edging as the buttonhole. </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>SLEEVES<br /><br />You are going to crochet the sleeves directly onto the armholes. This means that there is not a great deal of wearing ease to the armholes so you need to make sure that the armhole is fairly roomy around the child. If you have any doubts, add another pattern repeat to the back and fronts.<br /><br />Join the shoulder seams.<br /><br />Foundation row: Join thread to the front corner of the armhole with a slip-stitch. Double crochet evenly along the edge of the armhole to provide a base for the sleeve. Do a multiple of 6 to ensure easy patterning. When you reach the back corner, squeeze in the last double crochet and slip stitch up the turning chain or treble crochet at the edge to go up to the next row.<br /><br />1st row: 2 ch [skip 2 ch, 1tr into next dc, 2ch] repeat to end and join to the corner at the edge with a slipstitch.<br /><br />1st pattern row: Chain 5, [3tr into next tr,1ch, 1tr in next tr, 1ch] repeat to end, omitting the final 1ch.<br /><br />2nd pattern row: Chain 3, [2tr in first treble of shell, 1treble in second, 2 treble in third, 1treble in the lone treble] repeat to end.<br /><br />3rd pattern row: Chain 5, skip 2 treble, 1 tr into next treble [2ch, skip 2 tr, 1tr into next tr] repeat to end.<br /><br />Repeat 1st and 2nd pattern rows once more. Fasten off.<br /><br />EDGING<br /><br />Seam the side & armhole seams. You may wish to block the garment now (though I didn’t).<br /><br />Using 4ply yarn and 3.25mm hook, double crochet around the edge of the sleeves to provide a base for the edging. You can do any edging you like bearing in mind that<br />1) too narrow an edging will mean that you cannot do up the bolero at the front, and<br />2) you will need to do the correct multiple of stitches since you are now working in the round. The one I used is Fan Flair from the Harmony Guide to Crochet Edgings & Trims. I would reproduce it here but my lawyer’s instincts won’t let me breach copyright. So, if you don’t have a copy of the book, this is an edging that should do the trick...<br /><br />Multiple of 6 stitches.<br /><br /><br />Round 1: Chain 5, [skip 2 dc, work (1tr, 2ch) into next dc] Repeat to end, join with a slipstitch to the 3rd ch in the turning chain<br /><br />Round 2: Chain 3, 2tr in each 2ch space, 1 treble in each treble. Repeat to end.<br /><br />Round 3: Chain 5, [miss 2tr, 3tr into next tr (this is the shell stitch), 1ch, miss 2 tr, 1tr in next tr, 1ch] repeat to end and slipstitch into the middle stitch of the turning chain to join.<br /><br />Round 4: Chain 3, [2tr in first treble of shell, 1treble in second, 2 treble in third, 1treble in the lone treble] repeat to end and slipstitch into the top of the turning chain to join.<br /><br />Round 5: 1ch. (2ch [treble 2 together, 1tr into next tr, treble 2 together this draws the shell back in], 2ch, ss into next tr,) Repeat to the end, joining the round with a slip stitch.<br /><br />Round 6 for picot* edging: 1ch, [2dc into 2 ch space, 1dc into next treble. Into the next treble: dc, make a picot*, dc . 1dc into next treble, 2dc into 2 ch space, slip stitch into slip stitch] Repeat to end and slip stitch to join Fasten off.<br /><br />* Make a picot = make 3 chain and slip stitch into the 3rd chain from the hook.<br /><br />Join yarn to the edge of the bolero body at the corner of the front neckline, as marked on the chart. Double crochet down the right front, along the bottom and up the left front to the neckline corner. Work 7 dcs into the loop that marks the start of the neckline and continue working dcs up the left front neckline, along the back and down the right front neckline. Complete the round by working 7 dcs into the loop/treble at the end of the neckline and join with a slipstitch to the start of the round. The middle dc of each of these 7dc corners marks the neckline’s start and end.<br /><br />Continue to work the shell edging in rounds along the fronts and back, replacing the pattern with double crochets. This will make the bolero more comfortable to wear and also looks neater. For the final picot row, work [2dc, make a picot] between the neckline corners.<br /><br />Weave in any loose ends. Block to size. Sew a small button onto the left front. Find a pretty dress to wear under it and it’s good to go.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br />Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-21652348622483253882012-03-31T04:04:00.013-07:002012-04-02T12:25:04.838-07:00Cotton petticoat tutorial. You may need a ruffler foot for this!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0gi4CfIvft3tFoN5VvQlwnGYMMgOCHI9B471PhRKUxb4sfazsGbBLuEKRy6WYZfir69m95YnXecr00CVNAJm5MFS45Cbqrz1ONE3sN6JYG3svqPNF8-9hFi6gCIxQ-5XX6jvp2e8_cU/s1600/DSCF2508.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726833483486865346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0gi4CfIvft3tFoN5VvQlwnGYMMgOCHI9B471PhRKUxb4sfazsGbBLuEKRy6WYZfir69m95YnXecr00CVNAJm5MFS45Cbqrz1ONE3sN6JYG3svqPNF8-9hFi6gCIxQ-5XX6jvp2e8_cU/s400/DSCF2508.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I had a petticoat in my head that I needed to get out of my head and onto Laura. In my head, it foamed under her cotton dresses, the layers rippling beautifully. In my head, it was made of cotton and deliciously old-fashioned looking. In my head, it made her full skirts stick out charmingly. I really needed to get this petticoat out of my head before it expanded to fill it. I realised that this was a job for THE RUFFLER FOOT!!! (and its less glamorous but even more useful sister, the narrow hemming foot).<br /><br />For this petticoat I used 3.5m of cotton lawn. Yes, 3.5m for an underskirt for a 4 year old. Beat me about the head if you like - I know I deserve it! I started by measuring her waist and deciding how long I wanted the petticoat to be. She has an irritating habit of pulling anything with a waistband down below her belly button, so I had to allow for that too. I took 9cm off the length measurement (to allow for the addition of a waistband) and cut strips of lawn to the correct depth right across the width of the lawn. I cut four strips - these would be the body of the skirt. I then cut another 9 strips that were half the depth of the first lot. These would be the ruffle. Finally, I cut two strips 20cm deep. I joined the body strips to each other and the ruffle strips to each other and started hemming. It is a lot easier, believe me, to hem both strips now, before you start ruffling. I used a narrow zig zag stitch with the narrow hemming foot that came with my machine - the lightweight cotton lawn just skimmed through it beautifully. If I'd had to press, pin and stitch, I'd still be at it now! Just do the bottom edge of the skirt body, but both top and bottom of the ruffle.<br /><br />Then came the fun bit - ruffling the short-strip ruffle. I used the pleating (number 6) setting turned up to its highest, and set a short stitch length - I wanted the pleats to be almost doubled up, so as to maximum the ruffle. I then sewed the ruffle, can-can style, to the skirt body, lining up the two bottom hems. Don't worry too much if the top edge has to undulate a bit to get the bottom even - nobody will notice, not even you!<br /><br />I wanted the skirt body to fold out into ripples, rather than bunch out from tight gathers. I therefore used a technique I had learned when making a dressing-up classical tutu for Laura (I know, I know - sometimes even I have to despair at myself). Anyway, this technique on stiff tulle will create a skirt that will just about lie horizontal a la the magician's floating lady. On drapey cotton lawn, it creates satisfyingly foamy ripples. And I will demonstrate it to you now..<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 328px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726060118271517586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIplweZoZzQ7_Z3myErRaUspCLHSeN7LZshpI3pJy_bVKFXYGlB__iAhtB9aVCRYZAmbhNPL0c8QjWAzw7R2YSr0hQezedjRvi9Zr48h4ZTkc4QGpY7H4DXTbEGL_1Noqw_9EQ5JeaOWQ/s400/IMAG0189.jpg" /><br />Grip the fabric in your left hand and fold it from back to front across your thumb.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726066959073485698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5tml2ykrV5kBOtm8RSZqrbeWr9UG6PkcdQ7gUznXeQY0PuUJ5C8EVy1G9RAklKQNCUBlNKjLdjHFgJ3ETgK8KMiWpLzELGGw8EUcHmhH0KNwN1GsnBt_Uuu_vs98Jvf8MKiM7qwjuuo/s400/IMAG0188.jpg" />Fold it back on itself and grip the three layers firmly between finger and thumb. The folds should be about an inch long - just eyeball it, you have dozens of these to do and only a masochist would measure each one with a ruler. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 385px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 373px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726066952403678786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lw8UynqWGz2TEI8ibugKeK0pEifOsiYu6aTIKfXZoUfsxHDUNqqEoztsTVd9Au_HU7NaL5NHNhPrr5QYnFBFA97AnqnefQDR3Q1Dle5Q7jxxr4TjyswjuGa_lHUK-IGDIy2s9x4NcIw/s400/IMAG0190.jpg" />Continue the front fold, sending it round the back...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 433px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726060106772711330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu4ekH0tY7NzSKRz_38pnjnJkV6B2oYoIdoan09en8I_Io46GH_Ci0sRdT1Dfx99sKi48FBG46unNdoDdY46Kk8hZAyIFNNmb9KUPL6wRMQ2JRFBmcduklNqafh1nJnuAh3jBvjWl8jw/s400/IMAG0191.jpg" />Catch that fold too,<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 407px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 448px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726059623443306674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpldZCj3HvASLctwbB0OdN_VUpPQ3bZFmO8Nhs2njMbBqC18QdTrXefoGUWOaeLlfIgL0Z76NiEyiP2SAH8Vqs1Idq1G3OKpRlhYtxvf-YMbys6T5zNnS2etrU51QpS0FgL9SPBDy9Qo/s400/IMAG0192.jpg" />and then send it back round to meet the front again.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 395px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 351px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726059620233736850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnJz8-8C7wmJrhHd_3fVz4ZFJoYs28tRWCvCW2a5mX079sdGiLLNuFXEo06BoVe_ak0x8FnZDktLkTEOc2i6HYurlRpQyUUFuzWEiRF0yBKBM0uqWu4eEd1srHMBN06qxSvRgWDrrTLc/s400/IMAG0193.jpg" /> And there you have it - a beautiful double pleat. From the top it should look like this:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 441px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 416px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726059613709315410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCdIU79oWtS__Bvri64l7dNBvWjey_KXdydP9Q4ZZytSaqc7VsuqBbwo49kx3UfMhd_K9uc6SOEOqnzIIQ1nYT2P9ixUP9HFRm9yyLZU-tIPPEggAJ6bpOi3kXle9srPlStvxj-kde6U/s400/IMAG0194.jpg" />Gorgeous isn't it? Stick a pin in it to keep it nice and continue pleating in this way until you run out of skirt body. Machine baste along the top of the pleats. Then join the two waistband strips (remember them?), and attach the top of the skirt body to the waistband, right sides together. Press the seam so the seam allowance is pointing up to the waistband.</p><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 355px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726060111393786802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcrCNq3jnHg3vqSX5lAbI3MSk0XkdreTsIRC_TCf3-dZNCQzi7UodX6EsQlJSnqV46AKWLzE_cj8V8yacKW9CZtWtNu0ArLUHaVn1FC-SaLS9QQfdmFh7lKNyvjmFumoNjoo7ONIqIEc/s400/IMAG0195.jpg" />From the front, the waistband seam looks like this:<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726059610202073970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvRojDxMGklgftodMxD-IxhuCXHUDQ-PSDsaAmWu8P8fr98xTFSu_3xSOUGcLM4dRAx4gXnNbZn4tZgE-qcZCzfSufcZQ0_sYb5dZsZFCfX_eZMafzQaj8WeKNEHBRGK_hyphenhyphen2I9NDcY6Y/s400/IMAG0187.jpg" />Now you can join the skirt so it's a circle. I just put the skirt right sides together, making sure the edges of the ruffle would be caught in the side seam, and serged from the top of the waistband down to the hem. Press the seam. Cut some waistband elastic to the right length and iron a narrow hem into the top of the waistband. Fold the waistband in half lengthwise so that the hem meets the waistband seam. Press the fold and pin a casing into place, about an inch from the top of the waistband. Do a line of stitching along the pin line, leaving a gap so you can feed the waistband elastic through using a safety pin. Join the two elastic ends, being sure not to twist them. Stitch the gap in the casing. Then stitch along the waistband seam to catch the hemmed edge, like so: </p><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqViGPkg87FHr6__xWVOqx_ZhIDcu4QQ2BzlxhTQ9Eegr_r85IA-rbAgVLc81qBmuw8aFZZeFqPdOaFvXBAnZdaFBv46-G1_TMeKb7CoGPp9QPRL3sd71gheKi8K6y3JowXxBwtGb6tOY/s1600/IMAG0208.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 407px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 490px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726059602154156642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqViGPkg87FHr6__xWVOqx_ZhIDcu4QQ2BzlxhTQ9Eegr_r85IA-rbAgVLc81qBmuw8aFZZeFqPdOaFvXBAnZdaFBv46-G1_TMeKb7CoGPp9QPRL3sd71gheKi8K6y3JowXxBwtGb6tOY/s400/IMAG0208.jpg" /></a>This bit is trickier than it sounds, on account of all the ruffling and pleating and acres of fabric that are desperate to get in on the act. I found I had sewed random bits of fabric to the seam in at least 3 places. But take it slow and stick with it - this is the last step. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Remove the petticoat from the machine, clip off any loose ends, stand back and admire and wish you too were 4 years old and able to wear a foamy cotton petticoat to Sainsbury's. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Actually, I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I don't see why society has set its face again 44 year old mummies wearing a Kate Middleton wedding dress to Ikea, or a kitten costume to do the school bus run. Wouldn't life be more fun if we could all wear whatever made us happy, no matter how unconventional it might be? I think so!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-78737594158608204572012-02-13T08:09:00.000-08:002012-02-13T08:29:37.411-08:00How angelic are we?<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIQDMewt5RVubSb3ofn5tnSYJETEFTJgFdirm__TlTMTw54VClS0F8h1NBmAOhHYHgLYwoePx3U7kZP1owhMQIIXjdqu5i6LdQezaLsGIESvZE8MbY3oQs93l2bnG2ArIYuVIvRV2HTE/s1600/newKathrynDressesFeb12_20080301_0122.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 345px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708654323167199026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIQDMewt5RVubSb3ofn5tnSYJETEFTJgFdirm__TlTMTw54VClS0F8h1NBmAOhHYHgLYwoePx3U7kZP1owhMQIIXjdqu5i6LdQezaLsGIESvZE8MbY3oQs93l2bnG2ArIYuVIvRV2HTE/s400/newKathrynDressesFeb12_20080301_0122.jpg" /></a>These are my four little models in some of my First Holy Communion dresses. This photo was taken yesterday outside St John the Baptist Church in Knowle. It was cold and the girls were very cold. We all agreed that the next session would take place in summer. I suspect this may require a level of organisaion and forward planning that I do not yet possess, but I'm working on it!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks to Kelly Rock for her awesome photographs. <br /><br /><div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-51661086097559096272012-01-05T11:59:00.000-08:002012-01-06T10:23:24.743-08:00How to lose 40lbs in a year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi0nwQ255layyJLF7HroD9Caa5P-THWVq_owgNYPovfWuLTLGUnXfTCO5chOtrDvEtFJk3iTvSXMt2SBhEKNBCeyR7nn0vAmwJwiJq9APNPNHo_pkMQelDq-BgOM4WZCleT_1mfp_MBM/s1600/IMG-20111006-01077.jpg"></a> <br /><div>My New Year's Resolutions last year were to stop biting my nails, to be less shouty with the children and to lose 3 stone (aka 42lbs). Well, my nails are still bitten to the quick but I did manage to shout less (not congratulating myself too much there - having both children in full-time education helped enormously) and, as you may have guessed from the spoiler in the title, I lost 40lbs. Not quite the 42lbs I'd aimed for but it still translates as 4 dress sizes, which is really quite significant. ("Really quite significant" is of course hugely underplaying the pride I feel in this achievement. A more realistic description would be "yyyaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!! I'm slim! slim, I tell you!) </div><br /><br /><div>This weight-loss has not gone unnoticed by friends, family, or anybody who knows me. And do you know what is the thing I am asked most often? It is "Have you been <em>trying</em> to lose weight or...erm...?" The alternative to 'trying' is never vocalised and at first I thought people might be wondering if I had lost loads of weight through some kind of illness, but since they invariably then say "you look so well!" this was clearly not the case. And I finally realised that they are hoping I am going to tell them that weight loss is actually terribly easy once you know the magic secret. So I do tell them the magic secret: hunger + sweat = weight loss. And their faces always drop. </div><br /><br /><div>Because the truth is that losing weight is, in fact, really quite hard. The theory is simple enough - you eat less, you move more, you lose weight. Back in March 2011, I tried moving more when I started running (using the Couch Potato to 5k programme - highly recommended by the way). I could see my body changing but I wasn't losing weight. So I moved a lot more - I did hooping, cardio tennis, ballroom dancing. All great fun but the scales still didn't budge. </div><br /><br /><div>The penny was starting to drop so I added in some eating less - you know the kind of thing: cutting out sugary snacks; eating less fat; yada, yada. My portions remained the same and .... you've guessed it!... the scales didn't budge. So I eventually joined Weightwatchers and the scales finally started to oblige. </div><br /><br /><div>Don't believe the Weightwatchers advertising puff. Believe me, if you do Weightwatchers, you <strong>will </strong>know that you are on a diet. For the first 4 months I was hungry for 19 hours every day. Truly. But eventually, I got used to eating so much less, and now only feel hungry at the normal times. And I have only 7lbs left to go to reach my ultimate dreams-come-true target. </div><br /><br /><div>I guess what I'm trying to say here is that losing a lot of weight is a serious commitment to make. It's especially hard to do when you have small children because it involves making time for yourself. This is not trivial. You have to be selfish - even a 30 minute run never takes only half an hour. If you don't want injuries, you have to warm up and cool down. The time all adds up and we all know that mothers of young children do not have time to spare. And this is where I do have a magic solution to offer.... and that is Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred! (NAYY)</div><br /><br /><div>This is a flipping brilliant DVD for the reluctant or time-starved exerciser. It takes just under 30 minutes to do, including stretching, and as long as you take the DVD out of the sleeve, put it in the DVD player, and follow Jillian's instuctions, it really will work. Or at least, it did for me. Not on its own - I like to vary my exercise regime so as to reduce boredom and injuries - but when you need a short burst of indoor exercise, Jillian's 30 minute workouts are the business. </div><br /><br /><div>Not least because they helped me to realise that exercise can be fun. </div><br /><br /><div>I know lots of mums who run. I suppose I can see why - it's free and it's effective, but by golly, it's dull. I never really took to it. The good news is that there are lots of other forms of exercise that are nearly free and much more exciting. For example, I do taekwon-do with James, so we get some family time while working out. It also helps his coordination and confidence so we all win. Zumba is great fun and very social and not hugely expensive either. Ballroom dancing won't get me thin, but it's fun to do so, why not? My husband has lost 3 1/2 stone using a stationary bike. Now THAT is dull, but it's working for him and I think that's the key. Find something(s) that work for you and suddenly, exercise becomes to fun part of losing weight and keeping it off.<br /><br />So there you go... how to lose 40lbs in a year! But what would any gloating weight-loss post be without the before and after photos? Truth to tell, I don't have many before photos. When I was fat, I hated having my photo taken. By December 2010, I tipped the scale at 'obese' and I wasn't queuing up to have pictures taken of that. But Nigel snuck one in....<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694534138810549874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94nYGyPasx4UFX2iaV-rTyNRZqYO6ke-nK9Dp0Q733LlTu8rGABOLrQpsPp6r3hulur-SoJVm1nR5hISi0UI85zzJrSSvJpQYJrjI-QUtJZhP8BIL6P1hRC0psdIrB48HCpjI3_F2B2s/s400/6647179619_2be0a04ede_m.jpg" />This is from our summer holiday 2010. As you can see, I'm not slim. But I still managed to add another 8 or 9lbs before Christmas 2010.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694534139013890642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1suTN0c4vcu_AO17M8Dy46EJin2OJ38F00VQqgm-Xd2JuQ9BPp07cnM8lWTJuFjtPp5_ccN70_adUfPOdw-ZmIwSjIlUBSNC4Y99hCIUZnKKP25vCzXbsdzEZjSu37FhRB8wwcoooduE/s400/6647150479_a3c4fb3093_m.jpg" />Christmas Eve 2010. That's actually a fairly flattering picture by the way - thanks Nigel!<br /><br />And now for the after. Again, I'm not so photogenic that I like having my picture taken, but in the interests of inspiring other mummies, here goes....<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694538271343430306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqMvOTY3Eyr-Zo4qbE0pFH5Q2J2Nihfe8axKIvqZjWB0vlJhf-w2NTsvUaXs9GLEGwdqLPrp3VmK8GC53LWc9OhuVfB2ma2RGj58SKAAxIcIGarrByTUkRqZs3KWGvg9E1aibDVHLzp8/s400/IMG-20111210-00111.jpg" />As you can see, still a bit of a way to go - 7lbs to be precise - but I now feel as though I can eat cake in public without people tutting at me (yes my slim friends, people - even some fairly rotund people - do audibly tut when they see fat people eating cake in public. <u>It is not helpful</u>.)<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 140px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694583022273110242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK86NLM8oCwjojbp0xCF-b0PhPWK2dQL2-r-P3FkUm-Y86wZG4WzIloR8FTevPnbfMUmt7VKOKOpGx_xGqw1Nyx9CrAUwP8kqPctyRnheSsdiuNQ_Xz-8QzvnfObuGUI1II5isHWH9vk/s400/4360739364_152a152af8_m.jpg" />And I finish with a different kind of 'before' and 'after'. The above photograph is of a coat I made in winter 2009/10. It was a fab coat - swingy and flattering, from the Ottobre Salma pattern, and it fit me beautifully and got loads of compliments. It was also size 18 to 22. I hated it. I could now fit two of me in it. So out of the 3 or so metres of fabric, I made this beautiful formal coat for Laura. It's also an Ottobre pattern. Now this coat, I unreservedly love!<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694584977274986306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQk2zznMEqovT5m9SYT_irEPHjp4hjIwEsrSL06qtH4fO_3svqIjo_y0PABytHC0BMbtz6VJYsy68AVQOZc6QlBxdLeaP4q5tV2uH5ftko_2GXuItvV7kDDWI3mQQaHelRg-9v36XlQ8/s400/IMG-20111106-01180.jpg" /><br /><br /><p><strong>Credits </strong>Thank you to Maria who dragged me to cardio-tennis in January 2011, thereby making me realise that I was quite frighteningly unfit, to the guy who developed the C25K programme, to Jillian Michaels and Weightwatchers and all those people who complimented me over my hungry journey for the last year. Especially thanks to my darling supportive husband. I couldn't have done this without you. Mwah! Mwah! </p>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-88266619570884546892011-07-01T12:58:00.001-07:002011-07-01T13:47:49.043-07:00Birthday overload (dodgy photo overload, too)If you are thinking to yourself "well blow me! Kathryn Driffield's done a new blog post. I thought she was dead!" then I don't blame you. As you can see, I'm not dead, but I have been manically busy. Up to my eyes in birthdays, sewing orders, face painting, summer fetes, and other fun but somewhat draining activities. No time for blogging (though I have rediscovered Twitter and am now a proper fan). <br /><br />Anyway, dealing with the procrastination sewing first.... a skirt for me. I have since Christmas been exercising hard and dieting reluctantly. With the result that I urgently need some summer skirts that actully fit and have pockets for my phone. When I'm a size 10 I am going to treat myself to a Desigual skirt but since I am still two sizes away I ran up a Desigual knock-off. It's kind of hard to achieve that edgy Desigual look when you mostly have kids' prints in the stash, but I gave it my best shot....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqzBmbcpQka90vAFZ847NxMqzAU_SUM27-vC9z2miJjodlcssK39mLsoFlAIu-KePzhSRoxOOMR0UteN0hK3YAs4A0K7wH7bguANJ4Y2wPHh4jAV7wBSXe_e4mWdXXiLCVL8Pib7HGYI/s1600/264943_2059860665608_1517412949_2230150_7174787_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624479344675009618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqzBmbcpQka90vAFZ847NxMqzAU_SUM27-vC9z2miJjodlcssK39mLsoFlAIu-KePzhSRoxOOMR0UteN0hK3YAs4A0K7wH7bguANJ4Y2wPHh4jAV7wBSXe_e4mWdXXiLCVL8Pib7HGYI/s400/264943_2059860665608_1517412949_2230150_7174787_n.jpg" /></a> It's comfy, it fits, and it has pockets. Result!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwwJAjr3oUtflQvq6wXxD5O1hXG8Wc-MzOBpYz_NNEE42SUyaKYwrpSDPa8WeyopH1ox6zdUGLbiVVaYFWhX4KI-q9q0LtPGmWdU5dsytpty1q2kiAAw_5-EixwKvtYEV70DxwdT_hIw/s1600/267621_2059858905564_1517412949_2230146_2185778_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624479344069326210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwwJAjr3oUtflQvq6wXxD5O1hXG8Wc-MzOBpYz_NNEE42SUyaKYwrpSDPa8WeyopH1ox6zdUGLbiVVaYFWhX4KI-q9q0LtPGmWdU5dsytpty1q2kiAAw_5-EixwKvtYEV70DxwdT_hIw/s400/267621_2059858905564_1517412949_2230146_2185778_n.jpg" /></a> Then onto Laura's pressing need for summer skirt & leggings combos. These are intended for wear at Hatton Country World and other places where protection from fast slides and grazed knees is required. I ran up 4 sets over the course of a day - it's an Ottobre pattern and has pretty much gone viral in the sewing for girls community. I love it!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjro-7dgiBvsKVcehG-WaU5zpg9MdVtIiQPRXkcU1IYaBxBYDCgfZF8T3_Td7bO54jP6fEiB0rrJTIIFAFDq1AMTnh9YL2lMJWsAkVcbSDoDiOrzqj5N6xVGQxFbYKxyYc6guWXqoVB-yU/s1600/249820_2015628359828_1517412949_2176598_7274249_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624479321605712930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjro-7dgiBvsKVcehG-WaU5zpg9MdVtIiQPRXkcU1IYaBxBYDCgfZF8T3_Td7bO54jP6fEiB0rrJTIIFAFDq1AMTnh9YL2lMJWsAkVcbSDoDiOrzqj5N6xVGQxFbYKxyYc6guWXqoVB-yU/s400/249820_2015628359828_1517412949_2176598_7274249_n.jpg" /></a><br />And now for the birthday sewing... James turned 6 last week and here's his new jacket. Ottobre strikes again! It's in an outdoor wear fabric that was very cheap at Fabricland in Bristol. It was an absolute swine to sew, so I bitterly regretted choosing a pattern that featured welt pockets. It's not my best work, but it's the best I could do and James really likes it. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NCdCuyD5fw3u0atUZ2ZFV1Y4qDUs6c-yR6Fh7Q_kYYSTcdxhQokAPZ3I9hOcuMTcUSgoNbtyX8U7T88GbJ2Cyv_NI_4I2ivQmy2avIfXdYSDIMJJ7qGbevi674nXeXPHNX1lxeBOru4/s1600/251049_2036954532969_1517412949_2205315_5301040_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624479312596735330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NCdCuyD5fw3u0atUZ2ZFV1Y4qDUs6c-yR6Fh7Q_kYYSTcdxhQokAPZ3I9hOcuMTcUSgoNbtyX8U7T88GbJ2Cyv_NI_4I2ivQmy2avIfXdYSDIMJJ7qGbevi674nXeXPHNX1lxeBOru4/s400/251049_2036954532969_1517412949_2205315_5301040_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Though not as much as he likes his new shorts. Also an Ottobre pattern and huge fun to make. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh6UPbVK5UmV60ZA8cn4XcH5pfWwKGiQ-8yTd7hAzTGQ2w5Pz96dXX2EdP08BQqUrdvWOBMHaES9zefsTNDo6Og08quMi-aut2-QqWd4Kj0Lq5cmNImc5UU8Th8zCRM1rDcDqlSoQgbw/s1600/251000_2036952812926_1517412949_2205312_6703810_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624479304188470306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh6UPbVK5UmV60ZA8cn4XcH5pfWwKGiQ-8yTd7hAzTGQ2w5Pz96dXX2EdP08BQqUrdvWOBMHaES9zefsTNDo6Og08quMi-aut2-QqWd4Kj0Lq5cmNImc5UU8Th8zCRM1rDcDqlSoQgbw/s400/251000_2036952812926_1517412949_2205312_6703810_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Then came a crochet aquarium for my father-in-law on father's day. Trouble-free fish! He saw the funny side. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb90X2PBmdNBUfYu6mOSTKTkufe0M7iRddmu8et4CFw_QtdLpyOiw1CXCCIr1X_v1FaaJUoMz6Q5y7wcjI5fG6YQsOmdYpreAyWz_1tapdgPWc8lrQKax2rKpm2q51KqEsLxbCXRLGfBE/s1600/264200_2049850695365_1517412949_2217518_7462441_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624478876807547618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb90X2PBmdNBUfYu6mOSTKTkufe0M7iRddmu8et4CFw_QtdLpyOiw1CXCCIr1X_v1FaaJUoMz6Q5y7wcjI5fG6YQsOmdYpreAyWz_1tapdgPWc8lrQKax2rKpm2q51KqEsLxbCXRLGfBE/s400/264200_2049850695365_1517412949_2217518_7462441_n.jpg" /></a><br />Laura's birthday is the last on the list. Believe me, the four weeks from June 9 to July 8 is tough going in this house - five birthdays, one after the other, with Father's Day thrown in just to make life interesting. I hardly have time to catch my breath! But Laura's is the last birthday where I feel the compulsion to sew. This is her birthday jacket. It's an Ottobre pattern (no? really?), which should have been made up in wool but which I did in fleece. Laura does actually need a fleece jacket and I was getting tired of hearing about her best friend's coat which is pink with flowers, so I embellished the fleece with heart pockets and some flowers. And pom-pom trim just for fun. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QR3M0MFzUbOuFxH2giyYn6U27OUyPTDH5RqymRa-s1HFWwE3_d38LmpGy67maLFicF_xHHzkvpopbp2oKmIfFc2iS_SY9Lo80yPMLEK9OxCKn9DEeJoway7AyheFUdQYFJCPfaMrcYY/s1600/263644_2045073375935_1517412949_2212958_2906049_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624478865606493170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QR3M0MFzUbOuFxH2giyYn6U27OUyPTDH5RqymRa-s1HFWwE3_d38LmpGy67maLFicF_xHHzkvpopbp2oKmIfFc2iS_SY9Lo80yPMLEK9OxCKn9DEeJoway7AyheFUdQYFJCPfaMrcYY/s400/263644_2045073375935_1517412949_2212958_2906049_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It even comes with a zip-up hood. She will simply love it! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuThwKnWB4yJUarEIDSUmZfF42I7dDuRJyIh15Rbv7daiyemsw64tWzQk7dtdC0XrcEZjJfBgDyvanP0ipKOVcMbRyu7mvTFjNlW7Z-c4knfT-whoat0SVCGQ_ob4wM2hNMaWDod1rwIg/s1600/261296_2045075175980_1517412949_2212961_6120280_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624478860541708290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuThwKnWB4yJUarEIDSUmZfF42I7dDuRJyIh15Rbv7daiyemsw64tWzQk7dtdC0XrcEZjJfBgDyvanP0ipKOVcMbRyu7mvTFjNlW7Z-c4knfT-whoat0SVCGQ_ob4wM2hNMaWDod1rwIg/s400/261296_2045075175980_1517412949_2212961_6120280_n.jpg" /></a><br />I'm not so sure about her dress, and I think she'll be a bit 'meh' too. She really wanted something twirly, and this combination just isn't. Also, I screwed up the collar somewhat which doesn't add to my dress-love, but I think the real problem lies in the fabric choice. Both are pretty enough but lack drape, so they somehow don't flow. I suspect the pinafore will get a lot more wear than the dress, especially once I've added the strawberry buttons. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBot_kZza5IZUexM6PqS_OtyEfLFkZyfZzdMp43Wo9syI_EeyK7v8alIvI4gypiLRGOcES0ADXlwVc07n4uiHmu3Ne8l6mQy6Vevcae9B_C4yfnMjejPHZmzPL5YJtCRhkSm3PUokqIc/s1600/260063_2052059230577_1517412949_2220927_831513_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624478852035618786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBot_kZza5IZUexM6PqS_OtyEfLFkZyfZzdMp43Wo9syI_EeyK7v8alIvI4gypiLRGOcES0ADXlwVc07n4uiHmu3Ne8l6mQy6Vevcae9B_C4yfnMjejPHZmzPL5YJtCRhkSm3PUokqIc/s400/260063_2052059230577_1517412949_2220927_831513_n.jpg" /></a><br />I felt a wee bit guilty about imposing my own dress choice on the birthday girl (I can't tell you how much she wanted a twirly dress) so I painted some faux Lelli Kellys for her. Don't get me wrong - I don't think they rival the real thing, but they cost me a mere £12.50 (and a fair amount of time). I used sequins, fabric glitter and fabric paint from stash, and hoped to keep them secret from her until Sunday. Unfortunately, she opened the box when they were half-finished, and the cat was out of the bag. She liked them then and now they're blinged up, I just know she'll love them. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZHl0RfpxuDJdnbfGZ0RPjaqI6l7Hpp0k_UomNYe5-Su1emCCbIzrmQXKrNREFH7EFksq1tLteKGenPYve0meEuNe_fSB_Lkl3JNDiS_qxklU06Pc_XCVk-6aEzOegbG_ocyNCvPP7zo/s1600/260347_2132715526934_1517412949_2256924_7219130_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624478851007633218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZHl0RfpxuDJdnbfGZ0RPjaqI6l7Hpp0k_UomNYe5-Su1emCCbIzrmQXKrNREFH7EFksq1tLteKGenPYve0meEuNe_fSB_Lkl3JNDiS_qxklU06Pc_XCVk-6aEzOegbG_ocyNCvPP7zo/s400/260347_2132715526934_1517412949_2256924_7219130_n.jpg" /></a> Speaking of cats, she decided last week she wanted me to make her a kitten costume for her birthday. With claws on the hands. Now that's a challenge I decided not to try to rise to but watch this space for a Halloween post! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-5307715438535075932011-05-09T12:32:00.000-07:002011-05-09T13:20:43.522-07:00The wedding dress of the year... cut down to size (3T)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5Se9NvK77w9rSn_zQoiw8impISFn1kv0TeCY1mwALC2lkijBkrrVatbyXRbBhIzABo7nOfZuq0NaMK4Bd6SS-azjrl7UUOzCi11kVCXn5zvjSIvZ0oNg5PkBk1VTv_iQbUUAr0xDfio/s1600/IMAG0165.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604802683766506642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5Se9NvK77w9rSn_zQoiw8impISFn1kv0TeCY1mwALC2lkijBkrrVatbyXRbBhIzABo7nOfZuq0NaMK4Bd6SS-azjrl7UUOzCi11kVCXn5zvjSIvZ0oNg5PkBk1VTv_iQbUUAr0xDfio/s400/IMAG0165.jpg" /></a><br /><br />You are probably now shaking your head in wonder that any 3 year could be so over-indulged. I have to tell you, I can see where you're coming from but I can justify my insanity by telling you about her most-wanted list, every item on which has been refused by me/her daddy on the various grounds of:<br /><br />cost (Lelli Kellys)<br />parental idleness (kitten(s), puppy, rabbits)<br />lack of space (4 horses)<br />lack of age (a rainbow car, ballet lessons, a DS)<br />health and safety (old yogurt, cilit bang (for the benefit of international readers: a hard-core cleaning agent), candles, turning the hot tap on and off)<br />all of the above (mobile phone)<br /><br />Some of these things she will get when she has her own money. Others she will get when she has her own house, though I hope she's not holding her breath for the 4 horses. Now I'm not losing any sleep over the rainbow car decision but I do sometimes have pangs over refusing the Lelli Kellys - other little girls in her class have them and, heaven knows, I'd have stepped over my mother to get a pair when I was three. But £50 for a pair of shoes she can't even wear to school? No way! <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYwCasCElfatvOYE5hWBkSD7x5QYK2LMP1XCl__XBsWmyQ5Vs5Y8JaFBzBtI-Z93JVuCdSaqRLyqP09YYQpBo0KRvK5TB5XRyLImnxjGo0xc8rQ1qM4LqBLESAOBOp-rIJtLIsdIZ6mM/s1600/IMAG0167.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604802678544356594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYwCasCElfatvOYE5hWBkSD7x5QYK2LMP1XCl__XBsWmyQ5Vs5Y8JaFBzBtI-Z93JVuCdSaqRLyqP09YYQpBo0KRvK5TB5XRyLImnxjGo0xc8rQ1qM4LqBLESAOBOp-rIJtLIsdIZ6mM/s400/IMAG0167.jpg" /></a><br />So when she watched, with open mouth, the Royal Wedding last week and announced that Kate Middleton's dress is much nicer than <em>any</em> of the dresses that mummy had made for her, I decided to really indulge her. It's a dressing up dress, complete with stretch lace overlay, 3/4 sleees, small train and long veil. It isn't quite full-length - something that has not gone unnoticed by Laura! - so she can even scoot in it. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr5C3rBdunopu8gnWV7zOtxxZv-9vveD07pf4Cfr9bKrpo2SVComRL-w9lLPYQE1Duda4HWbV-gVEwZpsNecA5jeO_ucOyVWi6tWuV2JmDOkA7upx1ARYANkUn0JGP1mfVeIBbuDJbZA/s1600/IMAG0181.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604802677180948658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr5C3rBdunopu8gnWV7zOtxxZv-9vveD07pf4Cfr9bKrpo2SVComRL-w9lLPYQE1Duda4HWbV-gVEwZpsNecA5jeO_ucOyVWi6tWuV2JmDOkA7upx1ARYANkUn0JGP1mfVeIBbuDJbZA/s400/IMAG0181.jpg" /></a><br />I say it's a dressing up dress because that's what it's meant to be. It's actually a 'going everywhere except nursery and mass' dress. We got a fair amount of attention in Ikea until I shoved her into the Smaland playzone so her brother could get the funny looks instead of me. I understand the nice childcare assistants had a lovely time playing with the veil...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe1rp10TAMb847cFBPWMpSt928CsnTeny1odA22JemAMEDLZx_bQ-RqMgDLZniTWuJiquegp4GPlV6mw_wH8PP-8bAA-VwcOKNqQ7jsL4HVfZgguhyphenhyphen7tuV-aO5zSw5gzzsnMJ0tu6IV4/s1600/IMAG0189.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604802668730558914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe1rp10TAMb847cFBPWMpSt928CsnTeny1odA22JemAMEDLZx_bQ-RqMgDLZniTWuJiquegp4GPlV6mw_wH8PP-8bAA-VwcOKNqQ7jsL4HVfZgguhyphenhyphen7tuV-aO5zSw5gzzsnMJ0tu6IV4/s400/IMAG0189.jpg" /></a><br />And even I had to laugh when she accessorized it with raincoat and umbrella for going to the library. But we have to pick our battles in this life and you know what?, I bet the Duchess of Cambridge would love to do her shopping in her wedding dress, so I'm going to continue to let my 3-year old mini-Duchess do just that! <br /><br /><em>Notes for other over-indulgent mummies - I hacked the Farbenmix Olivia pattern for the dress body and sleeves. The train is just a pleated length of satin. The collar is a length of lace sewn onto the neckline. Or you could just buy one from my Etsy shop! </em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-43173422688444587012011-04-02T07:55:00.000-07:002011-04-02T10:25:04.425-07:00Spring sewing<div><br /><div><br /><div>Has it really been over a month since the last post? Oh dear, I'm slipping! My excuse is, as it is for all bloggers, that there's not enough time in the day. The nice weather has brought shoppers to the Bentley Heath Country Market and I'm having a job keeping up with demand. This is, of course, A Good Thing. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In between orders and sales, I've been working on a posh frock line. More specifically, a line of communion dresses. It's been great fun sourcing and using beautiful silks and cottons and trying to come up with dresses that will set them off. And then of course I had to find a right-sized model to set off the dresses. My friend volunteered her daughter and we had a lovely modelling session. My two are at the "fixed smile & funny face" for camera stage, so it was so nice photographing a child who looked completely natural. And it doesn't hurt that she is also an extremely pretty girl, so even I can take good photos! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 317px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591001751793737042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi-o-94oQGt84nJDexRckqYFtXxccdJy7MB-GnS3M6tqTIV_4IShJ-3GgTh7Qu8LTk8qAVTm50uczqIvA-H1z293QR3E9AfRSG8yvSFhAv6GJ0aHpBn66toR7RPrxPygF9PzejGbqIE0/s400/DSCF2161.JPG" /></div></div></div><br /><p>First up was the crochet dress because this was the one I was most anxious about. I kid you not, I made this dress twice - I don't think there's a stitch in it that hasn't been done and re-done at least once. But I finally got it done and made a little viscose slip for under it. To finish it, I made 5 little crochet flowers and put them on hairslides. They looked like little daisies growing in her hair and gave such a pretty organic look to the outfit. I had many a crisis of confidence about this dress while I was making it, but like all good fairytales, it had a happy ending.</p><br /><p>Next up: the traditional dress. Well, traditional with a modern vibe, I hope!</p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 401px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591001749687323234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd2lrKMUubOzMKtp1C21GdmLWCOzerzNvBKJV7uv4B3i_N4KV_FoI9cdHSHnNsAhDvIcg0FnseT7_FoTNxytkxEzFqdBhFM-R9vXH9eipDo3-gL37PnCmvzdlZj8jDXeiT0IaqJhesOM/s400/DSCF2168.JPG" /></p><br /><p>This one has a pleated sash over a paperbag waist. I love paperbag waists but no matter how much weight I lose, I'm never going to be able to wear one (there is no diet that can turn a middle-aged apple into a young beanpole) so I'm living vicariously here. The skirt is a self-embroidered lawn, which I hand-beaded to embellish the flowers. You can't see it in the photograph and I did wonder if it was worth doing, but in real life, the little beads make all the difference. There is also a semi-detachable bow at the back. Very traditional, very charming. And since it's getting harder and harder to find all-cotton communion dresses, I'm hopeful it will find a market. </p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 411px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591001761309932434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeISxWXkQS_CPmLXCHC9TGXeEFcNd8nMQdxvutYykx_Y1ztR8DDOA7TVauS6HpH3iSNc4mOUvtZX7hYJYBsutfBNRYozEIGCpjUkvv4QpNeBIobj2CzRnPltGewfsHpuGYvXdxOXANeE/s400/DSCF2180.JPG" /></p><br /><p>And finally, everyone's favourite: the silk and tulle dress. I found the pattern for this in a Japanese pattern book. I made up a smaller two-colour version for my daughter to test the pattern (photos to follow in another post) but found that the sizing wasn't quite right and so the dress has gone into the shop. She's gutted! I also found that I didn't like the bodice so I played around with another couple of patterns and this is the changeling that emerged. </p><br /><p></p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 249px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 406px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591001756606598082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy1__IGlkoKYBaMA8TN8CM9IUOhqS-0nGCitqFgHFa5SaY7PqiATOIv8Wrenoci9lVqVY0zgQxwYTweLwKOxQsevuLhUhhE4vj8pG3bRSQZbNxdxONEhOxF5JjKJ-KcKwKi1d31QrhKs/s400/DSCF2178.JPG" /></p><br /><p>I knocked up a tiara to match and my model loved both dress and tiara so much she didn't really want to take them off. The dress is lined with habotai silk and it feels so cool and smooth - there is nothing like a silk lining for making a dress feel just sumptuous!</p><br /><p>All that remained was for me to actually stock the shop. I've now added an Etsy shop to my stable so I had two lots of stocking up to do, but four episodes of ER got me through the tedium of uploading photos. I'm about to start on some Farbenmix baby clothes using some gorgeous fabrics from Dots & Stripes - it will make a change to use colours again!</p>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-88178248444670544382011-02-17T01:47:00.000-08:002011-02-17T02:18:10.809-08:00Useful sizing chart for children - downloadableI know that buying garments for women is a bit of a minefield, what with vanity sizing and all, but sewing garments for children from commercial patterns is no less tricky. Especially if your child is not a 'standard' size - my daughter for example is all round dinky with very short legs (alas! her mummy's genes won through there!) while my son is of average height but super-skinny. <br /><br />And if you're sewing garments to sell, it's even worse! I <em>never</em> know how to label mine and generally end up erring on the side of caution. I recently bought a Japanese pattern book and want to make a Communion dress from it for the shop but I wasn't sure what size to go for. So... I put together a sizing comparison chart. It might look like a procrastination task but it's actually been very useful. I shall be passing it onto my sewing pupils and thought that you might find it handy too. So here's the link - <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BysBb2pJoYVwMzgzMDhmMjYtNDExZC00YjQ0LWE3MWMtYzVlYWZjMTg0OGMw&hl=en&authkey=CIyz_McN">Sizing Comparison Chart</a>. Now you may wonder why I haven't just included it in the blog post - the answer is I created it as a Word document and can't just paste it into the blog. So I resaved it as a PDF and posted it on Google Docs instead - that way everyone can download and print it, no matter what version of Word they may be running. And it also means that I can never lose it... yes, there really is no such thing as altruism!Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-2026093189250300872011-01-22T10:03:00.000-08:002011-01-22T10:24:59.268-08:00The Klimt party dress and reinventing the wheel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OM2yoweqkLu3cetgF5TgqcfSGbHGb52Qa33BhBVlBhkLldidStC1S8Xmn4QJnUFa3_pW5rHIwhzztB7ygYwDmuAxE9VS7Oy93fa9dJLhhv2FnYi_7TOf-UszPsZVsvfQEKbHR4y1u6w/s1600/P12148974.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565074145471867682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OM2yoweqkLu3cetgF5TgqcfSGbHGb52Qa33BhBVlBhkLldidStC1S8Xmn4QJnUFa3_pW5rHIwhzztB7ygYwDmuAxE9VS7Oy93fa9dJLhhv2FnYi_7TOf-UszPsZVsvfQEKbHR4y1u6w/s400/P12148974.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />For some time I've been thinking about doing a garment inspired by Klimt's <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Klimt-The-Kiss-Canvas-Art/4147268/product.html?cid=133635">The Kiss</a>. The trouble was, how to recreate those beautiful patterns he used. I dithered over using fabric paints but decided (I think correctly) that I'd just run out of talent. And then I realised that the beautiful little symbolic flowers he used so often could be rendered in crochet motifs. So I started hooking..<br /><br />Twenty motifs in, and during a brief vacation from the virus that's been dogging me since early December, I started thinking about joining them. I had an idea that I could do it in a laissez-faire free-form way to build them up into a bodice. I used Ottobre's sundress pattern from 02/2002 as the block for the bodice. Once I'd twigged that the easiest way to shape the fabric as I was building it was to pin it to the bodice lining, it worked out great. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ2ANVRqUqWHQM2DN9CqEGpYjkLNoUNb4rvejlXzT4FXClkvgOnIC_CrSC64fu7SfryqvjhfqWp7EvLKtlYTmK-ZUFHBSFUkO2toRWZg-K-eBAIepPMEZtKOlmOr6Vl-bd5c7-6htDTM/s1600/DSCF2064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565074140127785042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ2ANVRqUqWHQM2DN9CqEGpYjkLNoUNb4rvejlXzT4FXClkvgOnIC_CrSC64fu7SfryqvjhfqWp7EvLKtlYTmK-ZUFHBSFUkO2toRWZg-K-eBAIepPMEZtKOlmOr6Vl-bd5c7-6htDTM/s400/DSCF2064.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I kept to the Ottobre pattern for the back - I love that lace up detail. This is a dress that will fit Laura for quite some time!</div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcWFacsvyzQrK-1UCMoqS7sUltz6WivonIEh9ztc6XOv1WinFBOcREAdx0QvivRWUdGosYjqVyi4EKEMQJBbVPoZPgmg7j6D3C3EXZYjO6n7f-D0NZjIJjHDseMn652X_Ml1-3hJDC8A/s1600/DSCF2062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565074136048130530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcWFacsvyzQrK-1UCMoqS7sUltz6WivonIEh9ztc6XOv1WinFBOcREAdx0QvivRWUdGosYjqVyi4EKEMQJBbVPoZPgmg7j6D3C3EXZYjO6n7f-D0NZjIJjHDseMn652X_Ml1-3hJDC8A/s400/DSCF2062.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Now this post was going to be along the lines of 'ta-dah! look at my wonderful new invention: FREE-FORM CROCHET!!!! And then I googled free-form crochet (kind of patent checking, you know?) and discovered that it's actually been around since the 1970s when it was invented by James Walters and Sylvia Cosh. Go figure! Those gits even stole my name for it!!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYJFpYLvWsl3xsuW6PTkb4fC7nFizOORnjmMI6BdW320Czp47kRdCflfckC-rWSgKjERyj3ftzzI0ZxH4vzfD8RHZGdFD8mTqNMHfFtbGmYAuDE3XxjeTHIO2ISndvqPHPlOcUkx6U50/s1600/DSCF2058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565074128868762914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYJFpYLvWsl3xsuW6PTkb4fC7nFizOORnjmMI6BdW320Czp47kRdCflfckC-rWSgKjERyj3ftzzI0ZxH4vzfD8RHZGdFD8mTqNMHfFtbGmYAuDE3XxjeTHIO2ISndvqPHPlOcUkx6U50/s400/DSCF2058.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Stolen glory aside, here is the finished dress in all its yellowness. It's actually much more yellow in real life (no, honestly, it really is.)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB4qxqId85P9OwvYMAZNIMvw6J6jpYoWKKj-SG6IYeio5vxxOETOZ4NCS-Mi9eO2KZLYi5GtDPCcTqkHFy1MEw8BHm7oOvc2VJkJs78yzagHiW_NDG5KtJZycZrMEfHgR6nuY8pn3YQg/s1600/DSCF2057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565074124929287970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB4qxqId85P9OwvYMAZNIMvw6J6jpYoWKKj-SG6IYeio5vxxOETOZ4NCS-Mi9eO2KZLYi5GtDPCcTqkHFy1MEw8BHm7oOvc2VJkJs78yzagHiW_NDG5KtJZycZrMEfHgR6nuY8pn3YQg/s400/DSCF2057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I'm already planning the next - maybe a nod to Monet? If I'm going to skank from fine art, I might as well skank from the best.... </div><div> </div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-66551745987267854692011-01-08T10:41:00.000-08:002011-01-08T10:52:22.836-08:00Two useful pieces of information...Number 1: Nicole over at Dots & Stripes is having a <a href="http://www.dotsnstripes.co.uk/category_open.cfm?id=245&menu1=140&menu2=0">sale</a> on her Autumn/Winter fabrics. Obviously I have already done my shopping... do you really think that I'd post this if I hadn't???<br /><br />Number 2: If you subscribe to the <a href="http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/free-italian-pattern-drafting-book/">Fashion Incubator </a>you will already have heard that there is an Italian pattern-cutting book free for download over on the Library of Congress download site. If not, then here is the link: <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/IlModellismoIstitutoBurgoMilano">Il Modellissimo Sartoriale</a>. Fear not: the book is in Italian <strong>and </strong>English and looks pretty good. And if you don't already subscribe to the Fashion Incubator, then I really recommend that you do so. Kathleen Fasanella knows an unbelievable amount about garment making and shares her knowledge most unselfishly.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-29468348915241393812010-12-31T11:15:00.000-08:002011-01-01T01:47:24.811-08:00Here's to a kinder 2011...It's been a ho-hum kind of year... Between sickness & bereavement, I can't say I'm sorry to see the back of 2010. My father-in-law has the right idea - we shut the door on 2010 and face 2011 without fear. He's a sensible man.<br /><br />So, although I'm not a New Year Resolutions kind of person, we made some resolutions over tea tonight:<br /><br />Laura - I lobbied hard for her 'using her manners' but she went for 'being nicer to James.' And stopping biting her nails. Sometimes I'm not sure she's only three, you know...<br /><br />James will 'stop being mean to Laura'. No arguments there!<br /><br />Nigel will go to bed earlier so he will have more patience the next day.<br /><br />Me - I will be less shouty (I wish I'd videoed James as he nodded wisely at this one). Oh, and to also stop biting my nails. Laura and I are going to do it together, and as our treat at the end of each gnaw-free day, we will rub a little riotously expensive Neals Yard Remedies nail-cream into our formerly ill-treated digits.<br /><br />I also need to lose about 3 stone (aka 42lbs) but didn't mention this to the children - they have very healthy attitudes to food and I don't want to give them any mixed messages. I am, however, mentioning it to you to give you a taster of the very dull 'loss/gain' posts that I'll be spewing out in 2011. You may want to switch off your sets now...<br /><br />But before you do, I wish you all a healthy, peaceful and, above all, kind new year.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-13675079497058940322010-12-13T11:04:00.000-08:002011-01-02T10:59:59.121-08:00Pattern-drafting & scrap-busting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4ZZa2lLYk4tHIeD8gLmhvGLHVvRCqDnNCFMvC7LI6Oj1v3vg6rQ9ONS7yb7ueK0EUy8smPRi7CHLCL5W_ACF5f4idqsFcrOlUxE5olxoEdYU0MZO_p6bhi-RKpS8FGyiikvcVTK40gY/s1600/DSCF1962.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550953691898411874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4ZZa2lLYk4tHIeD8gLmhvGLHVvRCqDnNCFMvC7LI6Oj1v3vg6rQ9ONS7yb7ueK0EUy8smPRi7CHLCL5W_ACF5f4idqsFcrOlUxE5olxoEdYU0MZO_p6bhi-RKpS8FGyiikvcVTK40gY/s400/DSCF1962.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Farbenmix afficionados will immediately recognise this t-shirt as the <a href="http://www.farbenmix.de/en/antonia.html">Antonia</a> pattern, which I've had in my collection for ages but only got round to using last month when I realised Laura was in urgent need of long-sleeve tees. It is now officially my favourite t-shirt pattern and great for scrap-busting. The neckline runs a little wide which means that you don't need to use ribbing to bind it - always an advantage for UK fabric buyers!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFwzI2gIc152E8YXqhmJjr06NinDOJF1ti6PZPBR-6u4rIREicLU6Yoq3ew0AZ7W-sNZMFTIzTfX0Yjf90G4LFnd1HMqe4ciAdQjHrJMLXlKyulC9Vivjx-kk143AjoL5PKGLVpAaFY4/s1600/DSCF1985.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550953678678024642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFwzI2gIc152E8YXqhmJjr06NinDOJF1ti6PZPBR-6u4rIREicLU6Yoq3ew0AZ7W-sNZMFTIzTfX0Yjf90G4LFnd1HMqe4ciAdQjHrJMLXlKyulC9Vivjx-kk143AjoL5PKGLVpAaFY4/s400/DSCF1985.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>But for the ultimate in scrap-busting, you can't beat dolls clothes! I have a very large box overflowing with tiny pieces of fabric that I just can't bear to bin. On the other hand, my sewing room only has so much space. So I put <a href="http://www.ikatbag.com/2010/07/drafting-part-i-overview.html">LiEr's drafting series</a> to work again - it's gratifying to know that it works just as well for 16" dolls as 3 year old girls! At some stage, when I have a bit of free time (so not before 2011!) I'll post my drafted block as a printable pattern.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodDoZCnmoVVtGFK7LPqK4QULgHfK7m0mGnNeJJyo9XpUgNJqZX2psbxT6Vpm5bGv9zQJKR_bjmcZSEnk8jXL5nAssxCGYcbN2eWTi7DWi2u4b3IGLEgXC1lwVldg-9HxckNM2D9eWmPc/s1600/DSCF1979.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550953671987432258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodDoZCnmoVVtGFK7LPqK4QULgHfK7m0mGnNeJJyo9XpUgNJqZX2psbxT6Vpm5bGv9zQJKR_bjmcZSEnk8jXL5nAssxCGYcbN2eWTi7DWi2u4b3IGLEgXC1lwVldg-9HxckNM2D9eWmPc/s400/DSCF1979.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>A few tweaks of the basic body block produced this little blouse...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JxaKYXAwkRWXM6bbloovKtmlb1I1hhk2uqCWRJCccEvOZa7r1nRnHhQx27-3pq-ALR4TRHFmD6wXYsQfmv9sMoxGgUPsyZjR6uq42jqMy1qJea5kSdi7uUEcZZ-uxUmn2mOH0Mw53Cs/s1600/DSCF1976.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550953664729342914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JxaKYXAwkRWXM6bbloovKtmlb1I1hhk2uqCWRJCccEvOZa7r1nRnHhQx27-3pq-ALR4TRHFmD6wXYsQfmv9sMoxGgUPsyZjR6uq42jqMy1qJea5kSdi7uUEcZZ-uxUmn2mOH0Mw53Cs/s400/DSCF1976.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />and a very sweet velour dress that has already found a buyer, despite being made up of different dye lots.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpPOjTasqKbqFmyDGdP_TFib069GpplIGA_r15lqwujmWu4I7MwoEtktyyPOtxWwt00khAJq3ZRfMweInLpEA-PXXWlRgEfL14lzoWwjSqLvCglGrJQFNKSaC8vFsB-NkzL_t4YHaOgI/s1600/DSCF1988.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550953661929332786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpPOjTasqKbqFmyDGdP_TFib069GpplIGA_r15lqwujmWu4I7MwoEtktyyPOtxWwt00khAJq3ZRfMweInLpEA-PXXWlRgEfL14lzoWwjSqLvCglGrJQFNKSaC8vFsB-NkzL_t4YHaOgI/s400/DSCF1988.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />But this is my favourite outfit - a teeny tiny Antonia top and embellished bootlegs. Too cute and another quick sale!<br /></div><div>And I'm starting to think if a scrap of fabric is too small even to make a doll's sleeve then the chances are it shouldn't be in the scrap box. What about you? How small does a scrap have to be for you to consign it to the bin? <div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-53010352990818439212010-11-14T11:53:00.000-08:002011-01-02T10:36:41.422-08:00LiEr made me do itOK, so perhaps that's overstating the case somewhat. She didn't actually stand over me and whip me into submission, but what else would you call it when someone does a <a href="http://www.ikatbag.com/2010/11/drafting-epilogue.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ikatbag+%28Ikat+Bag%29">drafting series </a>that enables you to take a dress out of your head and put it on your daughter? <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpASGOAZGBRIp6cLiLhKGDvcd-gQLvxRFJNlH1PHqJ8Cb9Q-vmOd2LjVfEUlKIUQFEJhdfgwttQdnYzmVQYuNlk4MjHuxUZNs09YzAg6Ah6ow7-mtW9Usqb8mYXbUmnH5tTSAF-vsUks/s1600/DSCF1938.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcLW2WADNGOMDhet_hJ-18t0YwP4sIzkUfznVLtBZEy7kyE4uPnVDW9SSY7xlMYg2MEgfLx0OQoKMRAUf2df59XGvmKxSFINHVOIz7OC7dp2MWDmSoeiyOj389gJ8wiBOHapZOPfpHzc/s1600/DSCF1939.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539507876135489922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcLW2WADNGOMDhet_hJ-18t0YwP4sIzkUfznVLtBZEy7kyE4uPnVDW9SSY7xlMYg2MEgfLx0OQoKMRAUf2df59XGvmKxSFINHVOIz7OC7dp2MWDmSoeiyOj389gJ8wiBOHapZOPfpHzc/s400/DSCF1939.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I mean - what seamstress in her right mind doesn't want their three year old to fling up her hands and say 'let me eat cake!' ?<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539505215475480514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_uJebiwCms8MrZ_hcW7bL8_Jpi06rCW-ExxC90qZImLT_wRiRIvU5y44AeMFbsGb0xqli4E16DErcyYUVMhlDCDDUtapAWQGsj51Yr6WJKEBUcdmhx17aUfFtoVeI-6Mi32jh7jE2_o/s400/DSCF1947.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>I have, for some time, itched to learn how to draft a sloper for a child. Winifred Aldrich's excellent book set me on the road but she just tells you what to do and not why. LiEr's series didn't so much fill in the gaps as become a replacement resource. I used it to draft a very snug block and this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Patterns-Fashion-v-1-Vol-1/dp/0333136063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289767667&sr=8-1">Patterns of Fashion</a> book helped me to do the rest. I didn't get the fit of the block 100% perfect - the shoulders are just a smidge too wide and I'll have to re-do the block once Laura has got over the trauma of my taking a full set of her measurements. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9ZfThAT6-ThM_4kaFy5_Z7SpzQMJI9qY1_g3LbJldvg9kbMlPn9AsxiABYa8TAYHy3svY0eM6jOQ8iFV7TWsX6vEjNuugqK-CAgVc_6IcJ5mDvOV6-AtIHb9ykXjbZnFwnQq7IgOI_g/s1600/DSCF1945.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539507872720143618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9ZfThAT6-ThM_4kaFy5_Z7SpzQMJI9qY1_g3LbJldvg9kbMlPn9AsxiABYa8TAYHy3svY0eM6jOQ8iFV7TWsX6vEjNuugqK-CAgVc_6IcJ5mDvOV6-AtIHb9ykXjbZnFwnQq7IgOI_g/s400/DSCF1945.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think the back came out particularly well. The fit is so snug I was actually quite surprised she could lift up her arms!<br /><br /><div><div><div>Oddly enough, it was the underskirt that gave me the most trouble. But faults aside, I'm thrilled with my first attempt at a posh frock from scratch and I think Laura is too. Now I just need to find her somewhere to wear it...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzmTWDtxuNzbchcrimrNVjiypfghIgA3DvRp69-uJETzAVmfu7Si-4UrJJHE1CDI8YPWJuGRjR5ABRPZeVmZD3AeMc9Jd0t-bnJX191bDS5SocPLSoLZUdB6VRetouZ0upSwL0L6SZ2g/s1600/DSCF1942.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539505206882277122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzmTWDtxuNzbchcrimrNVjiypfghIgA3DvRp69-uJETzAVmfu7Si-4UrJJHE1CDI8YPWJuGRjR5ABRPZeVmZD3AeMc9Jd0t-bnJX191bDS5SocPLSoLZUdB6VRetouZ0upSwL0L6SZ2g/s400/DSCF1942.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-73739045233190269722010-10-04T05:00:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:37:00.884-08:00How to make a mermaid's tail<div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524188769875567218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJnXamhRIv2Mg2I-QMlFNOQdqgZ_N2x_CCrq1gcQVgPwX5qADlSrbCeI46rfh7ERYtIriV091AvV8dCKu4LFU5LbeHJYhm3e7480zis3y2SPEViI3a9Cta5oiXRYnQ3n30mQqv2C8QI0/s400/DSCF1898.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div>I defy anyone to come up with a more daunting request for a costume than: "I want to be a mermaid, mummy!" I Even a novice can see that the challenge lies in making a mermaid's tail that won't send the mermaid to casualty once she starts to run in it. </div><br /><div>For once, Google was less than helpful so I had a bit of a doodle and came up with this. </div><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524167756939909410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 383px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6xXRLkkA72ilT3ws7iI8U6MCl0PnRYpUeQZhWZvwAAdJkV4Z7hCvBbCk1xKE6pu1WYsNvcQDGAHLyoQvH6Xqehyphenhyphen0CLvxQ8W0cqisVR5AcAjqM7EztPT312w5XBYxiXJ4ieKN_WLqltg/s400/mermaid0001.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div>It's a less than spectacular drawing but you get the gist. And this is how it translated into fabric.</div><div></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524188773072571442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AVH-QwBtGtN2xhyGCqMwx0IhWbfnq7rvwrouvyBwryYkEy8YrKAl-Ymhoy-rQeapTb-JJlV9N5XcUvAXjZGt0IiR7G3xh_jBMlevKWY4QnHBepFLrqJ2cN-KuKmnRiGCkZlGJ50XEV4/s400/DSCF1904.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Requirements: 1.5 metres of hologram satin or medium weight vaguely fishy fabric </div><br /><div>1 metre of satin lining for the fins</div><br /><div>1 metre of lame/organza for the fins</div><br /><div>1/2 metre of nylon chiffon for the seaweedy trim</div><br /><div>1/4 metre of ribbing for a comfortable waistband</div><br /><div>1/4" elastic. - about 50cm. </div><br /><div></div><div>Waistband elastic - as much as you need to fit</div><br /><br /><div></div><div>1. Take your mermaid's measurements - waist, waist-to-floor and waist-to-knee. On a very large sheet of paper, draw a rectangle where the width = the waist measurement divided by 2, and the length is the waist-to-floor measurement minus the width of the ribbing. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524188760292649010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmS2JJ-1SMmrp2bbFgo3oMvMjDkEQen4I22_yu7SzgwplQc7uDihb-3Y9etUBY7iU-YUMZwX7g357mb2fL6cNHk7lJCg34dLVxeGi9dS1ZJch_jWmUuULM2Wx9n3fdY5uFOTLDYkqK0g/s400/pattern+1.png" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>2. Draw another line a few centimetres outside the right-hand length line and attach it at the top to the waist line with a sharp curve. The picture explains this better. The outside line is the side-seam and the curve makes a nice fishy shape once it's sewn. Put in the fold lines on the left-hand line and you have the back panel of the skirt. Cut it out and trace around it onto another sheet of paper. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>3. For the front panel mark the waist-to-knee measurement on the fold line. A couple of centimetres down from this mark, do a curved line to join the fold line to the bottom of the side-seam. This forms the scoop of the skirt.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524188764322176242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 376px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_z7LO2eHQaRfEIAK9McFb5F50O61A8AtsNLXG2K7N8WdyOMVrT8dQvSfLa84mLwekBIlw6q9OttwLjOYG5ovPpi4soBIs4XzpxQl6cXHZfNfH0vJXa3_pBDxtxEEXVIPVIdvlOcFTGo/s400/pattern+3.png" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>4. Fold the fashion fabric in half along the grain and cut out 2 x back, adding seam allowances as you cut. If your fabric is inclined to fray then do good wide seam allowances so that your stitching will be last longer. Then put the front pattern over one of the (still folded) back pieces and cut out along the scoop line (no need to add seam allowance). Keep the scooped out fabric piece for use later. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>5. To make the fins you need to cut out a rectangle of satin lining about 50cm long and the same width as the bottom of the back, seam allowances inclusive. Then cut diagonally across the rectangle like in the picture.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524216481001662242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jLWuvXh8ARVGv8CjkZBc84Jjit5KnWrFp41s9W3IWJf900ghTH9539a9GMyoPqFKUrlojMQF-ydOFVP1eJMLB9-PiNY2CGzrPbKo_1m6lwYtur_2wCsz5qNrFTPYhd79RtdK8frDDls/s400/fin.png" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Do the same with the fin fabric and put them and the lining pieces to one side. </div><br /><br /><div><div>6. It's now time to start sewing. First construct the fins. If you are using the kind of nylon/poyester organza that I used, you will need to stabilise it by sewing each fin to its respective lining. Believe me this will make things a lot easier for you when you come to join them all up. Just place the fin fabric face up on the top of the lining, pin them together and do a row of stitching just outside the seam line along the four sides. Do the same for all four of the fins. Then put two fins together RS to RS and stitch them together as normal, leaving the top straight edge unsewn. This is the side you will be attaching to the bottom of the tail. Turn the fins the right side out and do the best job of pressing them you can, given how horrible the fabric is. Top stitch to help them hold their shape. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>7. To attach the fins: Finish the curved edge of the piece you scooped out from the front. Sew the fins to the WS of the bottom of the back, with the fins pointing up towards the waist. Press seam allowances towards the waist. Using a 3-step zig-zag sew the 1/4" elastic along that seam allowance, pulling the elastic to its utmost as you sew. This will gather the fins. The easiest way to attach the scoop is to fold over the bottom edge to make a hem. Press in place and then sew it in place over the elastic with a zig-zag stitch, pulling the elastic & fins taut as you sew. Top-stitch the scoop in place along the curve. </div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524167383053554770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE0JEKjsOqoWI6x4MVJWlmH2I9CztcHFnzx7dxuwXjpAKHYFpJeOzC4jp2RirBWhB3vGugj9W4quelX2-nT5nXRK62Ro4ZuirdGhZIKLPjPYihEncQExShbPjmI8JrqoouYfGtRqXNwA/s400/DSCF1893.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>8. Hem the front of the skirt. I did it with a narrow rolled hem. Sew the side seams RS together. My fishy fabric frayed like mad so I overlocked the seams first and then seamed them again a good centimetre in from the edge. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524167380449158274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZfWVxYZhXh-L4WHlbuGCEuoGSXx_SNpWSESWLRzEhi4nBWUBbuptWWREjI80Jruc6FV0et1Vi_ZikHCeksPG5Y62K2VZ5YZyfHbSPIMT2L6AgHGFHQ6M0RyAlS4a8KwfjkgOU1zMgew/s400/DSCF1892.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>9. If you are going to do drapey seaweed, cut four spirals from the nylon chiffon. Cut a circle about 20cm across (I eyeballed it with a rotary cutter). Then cut into the circle in a spiral shape - it dosn't have to be absolutely perfect. Stitch them in place along the top.<br /></div><br /><div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXj8ORZF3dda855Jx18czktfTudkyudMizNA5LEoHh6eZEazqxHqaIngYOmAOI1Ziu73cDCEKnODMfbWAyj7cw8KVaHT3GzsM1CSagL0DiAjJfXdpkfud4GiAIi5fxbQSaFXheYim6S8/s1600/DSCF1894.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524167373521234530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXj8ORZF3dda855Jx18czktfTudkyudMizNA5LEoHh6eZEazqxHqaIngYOmAOI1Ziu73cDCEKnODMfbWAyj7cw8KVaHT3GzsM1CSagL0DiAjJfXdpkfud4GiAIi5fxbQSaFXheYim6S8/s400/DSCF1894.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>10. Attaching the waistband. Decide how deep you want the waistband - it's better if the ribbing casing is just slightly wider than the elastic. Cut the ribbing to (2 x desired depth) plus (2 x seam allowance). If the ribbing isn't tubular, seam it into a tube. Gather the waist to fit. Attach the band to the waist RS together with a zig-zag stitch. Fold ribbing to inside and press. Top-stitch in place catching both layers of rib, leaving a gap to insert the elastic. Push the elastic through with a safety-pin and sew ends together. Sew up the gap. You're done!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2MlLvTrR7l5DTeftcaEoTrWV4mvqLJdyLOPOfWWKXmc-CfdDk8KQld9yPp8gApC5or0kxj4oP0DC3lSZr4kz-pz2L7pkrzpVZty1EjtblWR3Vx7zu7FB-UHngyOau4ZrdfriGhdmnrg/s1600/DSCF1891.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524167370241666978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2MlLvTrR7l5DTeftcaEoTrWV4mvqLJdyLOPOfWWKXmc-CfdDk8KQld9yPp8gApC5or0kxj4oP0DC3lSZr4kz-pz2L7pkrzpVZty1EjtblWR3Vx7zu7FB-UHngyOau4ZrdfriGhdmnrg/s400/DSCF1891.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div>I attached a D-ring between the fins so that Laura can carry the tail on a bangle for when she's outside. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For the top I used Ottobre's Floral Top pattern #7 from 02/05. I lengthened it, added a chiffon ruffle and elasticated the back. It's cute and age-appropriate. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you find this tutorial useful, please consider giving a donation to <a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/Fundraising.aspx">MacMillan </a>nurses. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div align="center"><em>In memory of Aileen Driffield, who loved seeing Laura in her 'too many dresses' </em><em>but missed this one</em></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-3042938487748724282010-09-24T10:17:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:37:31.258-08:00Two new ventures and the new collectionFirst new venture: I'm taking Les Petits Anglais out into the real world, aka Bentley Heath Country Market.<br /><br />This is both exciting and scary. While it's great spending Friday mornings with people who don't expect me to discus the finer points of Dora the Explorer or follow me into the loo, the responsiblity of producing garments that people can feel and touch and criticise <em>in front of me</em> is weighing pretty heavy on me. Every time I see someone taking one of my garments off the rail I'm sure they're examining it for flaws and will denounce me to the market manager.<br />I have to keep reminding myself that I <strong>can</strong> sew, my stuff <strong>is</strong> nice and people <strong>have</strong> bought it before and seemed to like it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fX8xUIaLrKf_4hUpMGjH5fEtg1MRoFa4siYw0_hVguUGv-WNVJJMPTTPGR3zOWhjqkkNWx6sNx1lY-7nN5oE6NijpPwvalBVwJD2vodZuIgNPE2P0zAyMidVF6cliWMrTmMoYE_LzbM/s1600/DSCF1843.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523165220195703858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_MTRB1a3hvhWKsgMn6zg10coI3Oc5fvxwE-qgFAAT-QDtXiKrjSrhQL0tVixf0kiRekuKoKSK2HT9SMTQhK_Z2RuU-cfRHP2tc3uzuEXzVqO0VIlvYZRUhI9F-_f-snsZj9UzzRFaaU/s400/DSCF1807.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And finally I remember that all this agonising is entirely moot since people rarely go to Country Markets to squander £28 on a dress for a child.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523166161733680322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fX8xUIaLrKf_4hUpMGjH5fEtg1MRoFa4siYw0_hVguUGv-WNVJJMPTTPGR3zOWhjqkkNWx6sNx1lY-7nN5oE6NijpPwvalBVwJD2vodZuIgNPE2P0zAyMidVF6cliWMrTmMoYE_LzbM/s400/DSCF1843.JPG" border="0" />For what it's worth, the feedback I had today was entirely complimentary and I might actually convert compliments into sales soon.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523165207920993874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt4utRe2ZNSJ6eIQANcJ_mu5IArC4jSm0yOpmVRVt9NMN-1iNtrWzzcxoVrfiW0Z_xhp8KtXaBA1jLcLIceUTToG1yLKvfKwSySSJKTFYX5T28xeKVXYkJ3sFaI66Ta5VOrhNBQ3ThMc/s400/DSCF1790.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Though I say it as shouldn't, I really do love this new collection and I'm only sorry I don't have the time to let Laura have one of everything. I'm letting her choose just one and she went straight for this 'mingoes dress'. Its a bamboo/cotton velour Olivia dress with Juule hood. The mingoes are of course flamingoes with sequin eyes. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LN-rkahB9takumQ8i42BxAj0Nd-WVVb-Rt99UwWwRvIxVQAdCAmjHq-73l_L6H5pRG_EBrgNG4SMtmZK0oIw-zlwut4IXrQxmGmTFFlG0I6Z3vSR96cMfkhR95fxMHg2WIlOt1hyQtk/s1600/DSCF1835.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523165198198430242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudUZ7TTwe3RJPK1AYd5DNPQYtt24-g9Oiu7pfTwSHLrlrM1cu21sQaXS4C6LdnleBq8GHZj17BzrMNM6G8gFpKwVj5st25R_lPhucCXXOk_7dMXiu5DmA5wEez8vXEXW_w7b-BZbpgOE/s400/DSCF1781.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>All of the new collection is now in my <a href="http://www.folksy.com/shops/LesPetitsAnglais">Folksy shop</a> and I only wish I could take better photographs! The denim garments are so cute in real life and look so terrible in these pictures. </div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523166155166294162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LN-rkahB9takumQ8i42BxAj0Nd-WVVb-Rt99UwWwRvIxVQAdCAmjHq-73l_L6H5pRG_EBrgNG4SMtmZK0oIw-zlwut4IXrQxmGmTFFlG0I6Z3vSR96cMfkhR95fxMHg2WIlOt1hyQtk/s400/DSCF1835.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>The denim pinafore is especially sweet but can I get a good picture of that round yoke? Nope, not so much!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CQxssg5PeV3vaeyuoGZsWMxN_9j_GrvMZcnQDmpnR2D5zXLBVJhgnN8vN3BHXt37bC6qoKMKi6Jp7pNS4PI_C5LrvlGyqfmq_CbRySwnQbtnxpPl4MUOCdrrCvdNsxw6gN5dzddn2Ow/s1600/DSCF1863.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523165227094505282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CQxssg5PeV3vaeyuoGZsWMxN_9j_GrvMZcnQDmpnR2D5zXLBVJhgnN8vN3BHXt37bC6qoKMKi6Jp7pNS4PI_C5LrvlGyqfmq_CbRySwnQbtnxpPl4MUOCdrrCvdNsxw6gN5dzddn2Ow/s400/DSCF1863.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Even the peacock doesn't come out well. I think it's probably time I started looking out for a photography course.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Loef5kxqR7c2FxA4SKFq49HQra1OHaqALHVzdlJqzXx9ZUIwjGTKaGXAk7WGADoU0rZPLtcBl4NkutOEuJ9abNxNTaaovVIMlzaRXT4B8lxfSFfGc9kQKOEJfJva0AwsjPsJEI-TyRI/s1600/DSCF1820.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523165214000416034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Loef5kxqR7c2FxA4SKFq49HQra1OHaqALHVzdlJqzXx9ZUIwjGTKaGXAk7WGADoU0rZPLtcBl4NkutOEuJ9abNxNTaaovVIMlzaRXT4B8lxfSFfGc9kQKOEJfJva0AwsjPsJEI-TyRI/s400/DSCF1820.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Speaking of courses, this brings me onto my second venture: teaching two people how to sew. My first pupil is a complete novice but she has now made a skirt for her daughter and sewn a button on her husband's shirt. She's hugely enthusiastic (well, not so much about sewing on buttons, and who could blame her?) and is doing well. My other pupil has some sewing experience but her foot-wide perfectionist streak prevents her from setting a stitch in case she does it wrong. Our target is to get her to complete one of her 4 UFOs, and she is very nearly there. I'm proud of them both! <div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-18202451367342874412010-09-04T12:08:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:38:02.018-08:00Back to School Sewing, UK-style. Do not adjust your sets!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu8PBVl9de3N9QUe57UiCgWUIP0nBGQ090VUg3eJUchiiC_4DL9nGMjcEccz4YijTkDWIRg07G4NU3w6GMbI2nzkQGaPusT8mX5T2S78UDiBtWETyen18Dk6BaWidn9-2iTuZIlEiPbE/s1600/DSCF1707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513144430685310530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 343px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 393px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu8PBVl9de3N9QUe57UiCgWUIP0nBGQ090VUg3eJUchiiC_4DL9nGMjcEccz4YijTkDWIRg07G4NU3w6GMbI2nzkQGaPusT8mX5T2S78UDiBtWETyen18Dk6BaWidn9-2iTuZIlEiPbE/s200/DSCF1707.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>In theory, I love school uniform. It looks smart, it's non-divisive, and it cuts out a lot of pre-breakfast argumentation. On the other hand, the only fabric UK school uniform comes in this year is poly-viscose. It looks great, it's easy to care for and it feels soooooo yucky to touch. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu8PBVl9de3N9QUe57UiCgWUIP0nBGQ090VUg3eJUchiiC_4DL9nGMjcEccz4YijTkDWIRg07G4NU3w6GMbI2nzkQGaPusT8mX5T2S78UDiBtWETyen18Dk6BaWidn9-2iTuZIlEiPbE/s1600/DSCF1707.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlniqtjEKq5P_hNQ1fsy8KOgQZptm3_KhfIMsQ84wi6hATjEDMj9brgZR4yAod7CHc5Riku9BZkIBs13o-RAm9k_g6uHKHCeLeA6iziJY0bXd78OTwPkL7opsVH8TlsMAByZ5POQ0bXqY/s1600/DSCF1660.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513139894841081154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 410px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlniqtjEKq5P_hNQ1fsy8KOgQZptm3_KhfIMsQ84wi6hATjEDMj9brgZR4yAod7CHc5Riku9BZkIBs13o-RAm9k_g6uHKHCeLeA6iziJY0bXd78OTwPkL7opsVH8TlsMAByZ5POQ0bXqY/s200/DSCF1660.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So over the last two weeks I have made 5 pairs of grey cotton moleskin trousers complete with pockets and fly fronts. The belt loops fell by the wayside for the last 3 pairs though. I tested a couple of Ottobre patterns before settling on the slim-fit version to which I added back-darts because we don't call James 'Bitzer Moloney' for nothing! </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplboDuOsi2StyIU0hd2LkxK0TzphQgqm-0RPdkRa2hvghsd9WwHt-8kLCBGl6ZgQSIQ_JH8_pCqCKoGfsRitcsVap2KRPPCg4bWYs7MZlDXmQzOzdUeQDLCiY6qNzLi7ZATZZ6DtCgv8/s1600/DSCF1723.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513139923906302514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 368px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplboDuOsi2StyIU0hd2LkxK0TzphQgqm-0RPdkRa2hvghsd9WwHt-8kLCBGl6ZgQSIQ_JH8_pCqCKoGfsRitcsVap2KRPPCg4bWYs7MZlDXmQzOzdUeQDLCiY6qNzLi7ZATZZ6DtCgv8/s200/DSCF1723.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Naturally, the sun was splitting the stones at the start of term and there was just one pair of grey shorts in the house, which were left over from last year. They were a bit tight but did him for a day until I knocked up a pair that actually fit. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IDtClZX5Gc9NGAQX7c_JEDJBLc3-PiYd0DYAPvRDWE4Yi6nBFGJmf7panWXwDmAfbyNlRybzJF3E0Yxxu5uo2OHg7Veo1_CM7CAffD_aDXPxPbW0TEL7dBBZyj8WOND92MBfqV1vQXo/s1600/DSCF1718.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513139910926897442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 335px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IDtClZX5Gc9NGAQX7c_JEDJBLc3-PiYd0DYAPvRDWE4Yi6nBFGJmf7panWXwDmAfbyNlRybzJF3E0Yxxu5uo2OHg7Veo1_CM7CAffD_aDXPxPbW0TEL7dBBZyj8WOND92MBfqV1vQXo/s200/DSCF1718.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Laura's uniform consists of a royal blue sweatshirt and black or blue jogging bottoms. I had every intention of buying these but was foiled by the complete dearth of age 2 joggers. So, out with the Ottobre magazines again. I've done 4 black pairs and have a pair of royal blue ones cut out, just to vary the monotony. There was no finessing on these, I can tell you! Only two pairs have pockets and not one pair is beautiful. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I have now officially had enough of dull sewing and am looking forward to the next couple of projects in which black and grey will definitely not be featuring. </div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-49048410118076696902010-08-20T11:26:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:38:22.760-08:00Unclean! Unclean!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYb2PihzgUdBpPlw7vSohSl9rE28Es0LB27CVFk0bhyphenhyphen2kqDtF97wvQHAwPapKHNkhpfoYYML5LsZ0n_h00mrL54BEslYHHRvgT18s-Acc3qI5Vf2-8SSJBeN53-8swQRoeFC7b2uBRrE/s1600/DSCF1368.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507562472723064082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYb2PihzgUdBpPlw7vSohSl9rE28Es0LB27CVFk0bhyphenhyphen2kqDtF97wvQHAwPapKHNkhpfoYYML5LsZ0n_h00mrL54BEslYHHRvgT18s-Acc3qI5Vf2-8SSJBeN53-8swQRoeFC7b2uBRrE/s320/DSCF1368.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>North Devon is a great place to holiday with children. It rains a fair bit but at least there are plenty of wet day activities. There are lots of slightly old-fashioned towns to potter around, and the beaches are just brilliant. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The highlights:<br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07fLYpRGvaMiw_lK9e6rvMblKQfcTfrfVPVwCNH0_09PBv7Y6rZR8EEXzYLFxAhfmi2mjC9xqdKSZaXLax0G40pkkK8Cm14IddhIB48lnbAhhZjPCODnWIaOMFpFRIEKltucQ9XNOmVI/s1600/DSCF1579.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507562491441727314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07fLYpRGvaMiw_lK9e6rvMblKQfcTfrfVPVwCNH0_09PBv7Y6rZR8EEXzYLFxAhfmi2mjC9xqdKSZaXLax0G40pkkK8Cm14IddhIB48lnbAhhZjPCODnWIaOMFpFRIEKltucQ9XNOmVI/s320/DSCF1579.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><a href="http://www.watermouthcastle.com/wc/wc_home.htm">Watermouth Castle</a> near Ilfracombe. Be warned: this is not your usual theme park. Cool 11 year olds will find it all a bit cheesy and embarrassing, but my two were thrilled by, inter alia, the crazy golf, the water show and the Archimedes Screw. </div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07fLYpRGvaMiw_lK9e6rvMblKQfcTfrfVPVwCNH0_09PBv7Y6rZR8EEXzYLFxAhfmi2mjC9xqdKSZaXLax0G40pkkK8Cm14IddhIB48lnbAhhZjPCODnWIaOMFpFRIEKltucQ9XNOmVI/s1600/DSCF1579.JPG"></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeV2Cuk33_8-7g3INhiqBUcxhCfpChyphenhypheniyfhXeCK8h8CCziYavKmi7D0h8TZpMgpdoSPoUkLh1YaNFWjPE7BK_auMXV09Zps2RuXu9hvaFJ3w8H9VYIrK6rwxfw0Mw8OEzze25tizRFgo/s1600/DSCF1629.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507562486272956722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeV2Cuk33_8-7g3INhiqBUcxhCfpChyphenhypheniyfhXeCK8h8CCziYavKmi7D0h8TZpMgpdoSPoUkLh1YaNFWjPE7BK_auMXV09Zps2RuXu9hvaFJ3w8H9VYIrK6rwxfw0Mw8OEzze25tizRFgo/s320/DSCF1629.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Isn't this just amazing? 15 minutes of lights and water - it was better than Coronation Street!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeV2Cuk33_8-7g3INhiqBUcxhCfpChyphenhypheniyfhXeCK8h8CCziYavKmi7D0h8TZpMgpdoSPoUkLh1YaNFWjPE7BK_auMXV09Zps2RuXu9hvaFJ3w8H9VYIrK6rwxfw0Mw8OEzze25tizRFgo/s1600/DSCF1629.JPG"></a></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm2HOfNLVanG1AILs542PHDW5APbnhyIc7Rom7RC_x1HbfWjluKiBrTGAKiZzwYuzu12iJIFB6q_VaenaRqc4qkCRxYC2fJSr83nqC4S3i5xFgz3YGhb6QkFEk5sviISpygebtR7h89s/s1600/DSCF1511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507570619558064962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm2HOfNLVanG1AILs542PHDW5APbnhyIc7Rom7RC_x1HbfWjluKiBrTGAKiZzwYuzu12iJIFB6q_VaenaRqc4qkCRxYC2fJSr83nqC4S3i5xFgz3YGhb6QkFEk5sviISpygebtR7h89s/s320/DSCF1511.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div>Diggers! <a href="http://www.diggerland.com/">Diggerland</a> in Devon was pricey but worth every single penny. It was such serious fun for James that he couldn't even smile. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHEL_8BIP4TUANZ1QZTbBt-NIMcBOda4yJh_QrTgvGHooer7hO4m_nP1EZ9ISgy0Bo9006Xeo6l9KyjIdD-1DpHUT6YlTqCPZQAASIESqxuy1iNN2Bi7gEVFQr0F6z-uYv2jAgvxgW0w/s1600/DSCF1487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507570627791357794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHEL_8BIP4TUANZ1QZTbBt-NIMcBOda4yJh_QrTgvGHooer7hO4m_nP1EZ9ISgy0Bo9006Xeo6l9KyjIdD-1DpHUT6YlTqCPZQAASIESqxuy1iNN2Bi7gEVFQr0F6z-uYv2jAgvxgW0w/s320/DSCF1487.JPG" border="0" /></a>There were real diggers to be driven and real earth to be moved. If you have a digger-mad child or husband, then this place is well worth a special trip. Marvellous ....</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI3KrPmZcm4CT8h7rSqh_Tqs3eORyywupOg6V7OgtTiCyu0P9z6a7m0vHOZDnDh-nxM8jy9752k3dOooMUQl3GiGH5tfH95Hvdfmcoa-1XJcOM7RnVmKQc4FmvanhQFcvv6QwdkX6V7E/s1600/DSCF1397.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507562479698027698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI3KrPmZcm4CT8h7rSqh_Tqs3eORyywupOg6V7OgtTiCyu0P9z6a7m0vHOZDnDh-nxM8jy9752k3dOooMUQl3GiGH5tfH95Hvdfmcoa-1XJcOM7RnVmKQc4FmvanhQFcvv6QwdkX6V7E/s320/DSCF1397.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Blue bubble gum ice cream. This stuff doesn't come out of clothes and is even inclined to stain the skin. You heard it here first, folks.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI3KrPmZcm4CT8h7rSqh_Tqs3eORyywupOg6V7OgtTiCyu0P9z6a7m0vHOZDnDh-nxM8jy9752k3dOooMUQl3GiGH5tfH95Hvdfmcoa-1XJcOM7RnVmKQc4FmvanhQFcvv6QwdkX6V7E/s1600/DSCF1397.JPG"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmvLpxEyy4-0CmshvuOV92NlSLLmYPmI_MOLIogeTnUArgZcGfIic_YugeIDlB2Ki0rMkigwVmmV9hrkoteyg187Lrxmd5jY-8Um6IK8KVC9jQXFyKQ48XOu6BN0mxhTRDSW_0cHDYPA/s1600/DSCF1653.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507563462092909474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmvLpxEyy4-0CmshvuOV92NlSLLmYPmI_MOLIogeTnUArgZcGfIic_YugeIDlB2Ki0rMkigwVmmV9hrkoteyg187Lrxmd5jY-8Um6IK8KVC9jQXFyKQ48XOu6BN0mxhTRDSW_0cHDYPA/s320/DSCF1653.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmvLpxEyy4-0CmshvuOV92NlSLLmYPmI_MOLIogeTnUArgZcGfIic_YugeIDlB2Ki0rMkigwVmmV9hrkoteyg187Lrxmd5jY-8Um6IK8KVC9jQXFyKQ48XOu6BN0mxhTRDSW_0cHDYPA/s1600/DSCF1653.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>We returned with several pounds of weight gain, some rather nice hand-painted ceramics,</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiJ_dwfW7X4GyIEH5zcOzILMBNI_jLAplZHQUW4CpQPEl2qdW42hAUN4YPPnJU7CPtIvWGAo5H_SnOVJeO-qejqaUoRWB_HqNUrEULq5WKLWZMbwObpULppQQDg4-H_-Sif1E7IErH74/s1600/DSCF1655.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507563463005750418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiJ_dwfW7X4GyIEH5zcOzILMBNI_jLAplZHQUW4CpQPEl2qdW42hAUN4YPPnJU7CPtIvWGAo5H_SnOVJeO-qejqaUoRWB_HqNUrEULq5WKLWZMbwObpULppQQDg4-H_-Sif1E7IErH74/s320/DSCF1655.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />and... chicken pox. Laura is spotty and we are pariahs. Any other time of year and parents of small children would be beating a path to our door, getting the lurgy out of the way. But school starts in two weeks and who wants their child to miss those exciting first days? So... I'm ringing the handbell, calling out'unclean!' and hunkering down for a lengthy course of cabin fever. </div><br /><div>Incidentally, the shop is open again with a range of knit dresses that probably should have been listed in March! Anyway, in between cuddling Bottomley Potts on the sofa, I'm doing some drafting ready for a Christmas collection, including a posh baby dress. Which on my current form, will probably be in the shop for Valentine's Day....</div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-28237570094369455722010-07-16T10:27:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:38:45.642-08:00Making a dragon pinata<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIZNgeBe9mqqn7j5Rl32gjsue44Syo84AMhDu81DC0GCM6QW0uUf6gNdA8FVj4K-kyKYmDoL7qkPAmtCxJrKBAwOsywA9FAsQjGfwfT4HSpw0v0LMYtMWoXoi1uRrgO6QFHg-KLt0KkU/s1600/Image1220.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558249742702066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIZNgeBe9mqqn7j5Rl32gjsue44Syo84AMhDu81DC0GCM6QW0uUf6gNdA8FVj4K-kyKYmDoL7qkPAmtCxJrKBAwOsywA9FAsQjGfwfT4HSpw0v0LMYtMWoXoi1uRrgO6QFHg-KLt0KkU/s400/Image1220.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What is a knight without a dragon to vanquish? Just a dude with a sword... So I had a hunt online for a dragon pinata and found one for sale that was a) empty b) £12 and c) out of stock anyway. But thanks to this <a href="http://www.stormthecastle.com/how-to-make-a/how-to-make-a-dragon-pinata.htm">lovely</a> tutorial, I saved my £12 for buying chocolate coins to fill the dragon, and set about making my own.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558211180158018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 374px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk5f6m6A1HFso_bmzbaWiZm8KoD2aakQTMlBa0zSHQe04CEMG-HI2v9648WNGNEY3tzZlDXz1_jNegW_zcEMC78nmYrXpdgo7Hbb5TBbqhNgktIWmPToZQ7VV9GjWWe-hL1Q9Imb8zEM/s400/Image1208.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I made the papier mache glue by cooking 3/4 cup of flour with 3 cups of water and a handful of salt (supposedly this inhibits mould. It didn't get a proper test so I can't verify that.) I used a paper towel tube for the head and some rolled up paper for the tail and lots and lots of masking tape to attach the head and tail to the balloon. Then I applied the strips of newspaper to the balloon using lots of the paste. The first layer took nearly two days to dry despite the weather being very hot. The second layer dried much quicker. Or so I thought! I only did two layers of papier mache because I wanted the children to have a fighting chance of getting to the sweets.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The jury was out whether it looked more like a swan or a dinosaur (votes were cast for both a diplodocus and a brontosaurus, which split the dino vote). </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558222582303010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 342px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj555I8hh5q9P3Cay9hXd9v3XpSh_1jypiSMdTVMVpvETuNYMlk3_TDp67BbkQ89hYw89f3TkZPEWJ4G4bAta-1ss0xgZUdrgkQzVtKUGyGGRn7EpGJS-xHcg238Kd1fBecsSwG3fyeRWc/s400/Image1211.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div></div><div>The children and I filled him with several hundred chocolate coins, and then painted him. The jury conceded that he was looking a bit more like a dragon, particularly when his lovely rotund torso collapsed in on itself. I panicked and used the hairdryer to speed up the drying process before it dawned on me that hot air and chocolate coins were probably not a great match. So I let nature take its course...</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558235855557394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 385px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 348px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin11ojuPfRqaJX78LsaGZvcZ9pqWa5fZYWoHFd1Q18DJVXNr7OX4ZmP5zE1M6i4Ol2V852Fj0UMLVnj2U4dGyibq5JIaZFcfBA2idrYfyzbbApJ6PNRjitGzFMIu33au_rPSxj-qZ8KxM/s400/Image1214.jpg" border="0" /><br />I cut up cardboard for the dragony paraphrenalia and stuck it on with double-sided sticky pads. It is now indisputably a dragon!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbHNR833CPjyhZ2CqnyYJ9F7kWO2Rt4X3oy4r7FTJki5cNJhuuvrHcrGHOBErT-2seuEy_2c8E0R7Q0LeBFh7qWoga67tLWa2tImSreXdkxDQlssnV2IQSe-UNs5KUzIzuGiU4Wu-0S0/s1600/Image1213.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558225685803666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 431px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 465px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbHNR833CPjyhZ2CqnyYJ9F7kWO2Rt4X3oy4r7FTJki5cNJhuuvrHcrGHOBErT-2seuEy_2c8E0R7Q0LeBFh7qWoga67tLWa2tImSreXdkxDQlssnV2IQSe-UNs5KUzIzuGiU4Wu-0S0/s400/Image1213.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I'd love to post pics of the dragon hanging from the swing ready to be whacked (he looked pretty impressive, I can tell you!) and of the children lining up in age order to whack him. And action shots of the two year olds viciously wielding the stick just to tickle his tummy would have been very sweet. Unfortunately I was too busy shrieking with laughter to operate the camera, especially when the mummies started beating him about the head. A lot of pent up emotions were released that evening and it was everyone's favourite part of the party. Even the little girl who came dressed up as a dragon cancelled her subscription to Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Dragons that day and beat him up with the best of them! Pinatas rock! </div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-10121044511533471372010-07-10T12:34:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:39:07.936-08:00Birthdays!!!!!It's been a very busy month. We've had four birthdays, two parties (still trying to work out how that happened), 8 cakes and a lot of sewing. It's a relief to be able to sit down and go through the photos. And here are the highlights..<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAna1YL-u5fajRToh4iuPb9X5YwF5dE5bPbvpAS0dX91vTu9HHHqn6qDkHJv1Uw4jcWqOgGZ85nP-w9VuJpELAucLFq7WrNJcclGwvoHQFiE3adgPcQBJdmb8GSfydc6iSGwBVwFAa_Xc/s1600/DSCF1141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492379242738781282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAna1YL-u5fajRToh4iuPb9X5YwF5dE5bPbvpAS0dX91vTu9HHHqn6qDkHJv1Uw4jcWqOgGZ85nP-w9VuJpELAucLFq7WrNJcclGwvoHQFiE3adgPcQBJdmb8GSfydc6iSGwBVwFAa_Xc/s400/DSCF1141.JPG" border="0" /></a> James' birthday outfit donned for the school fete. The children are bickering over who should drive the fire engine.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimn2aLz20yKpVrmQcFOCiGeW6pmujxwtNE1jAOAWjoV0NjSPmttvmEgnoxBJugOWACgYWVHAebCO7JTcxkB5Lq6-XoqSESYof5bXEEilqTTw4UZGVH0XAsn0Z2psKrUywcVy1AXgpP1Q/s1600/DSCF1140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492379236997404706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 341px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimn2aLz20yKpVrmQcFOCiGeW6pmujxwtNE1jAOAWjoV0NjSPmttvmEgnoxBJugOWACgYWVHAebCO7JTcxkB5Lq6-XoqSESYof5bXEEilqTTw4UZGVH0XAsn0Z2psKrUywcVy1AXgpP1Q/s400/DSCF1140.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>James won the argument but let Laura have a go a bit later. You can just catch a glimpse of Laura in Patty Young! I couldn't resist making up just one dress...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSz4HSQ8zFRJiBTbB-WizJfuEe6uNT350J2HAHayiAyGTkgTRBR7ObdGG3HVXGcSjjTqt7mqhJtojAQ5aJP2qkeVo6b8PNd_6FWrEJKfYNF92B4Joo180PiVZ1mmUpy3ruk1T1b5FBqW8/s1600/DSCF1130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492379231438863778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSz4HSQ8zFRJiBTbB-WizJfuEe6uNT350J2HAHayiAyGTkgTRBR7ObdGG3HVXGcSjjTqt7mqhJtojAQ5aJP2qkeVo6b8PNd_6FWrEJKfYNF92B4Joo180PiVZ1mmUpy3ruk1T1b5FBqW8/s400/DSCF1130.JPG" border="0" /></a> A closer view of the dress, still at the fete.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovZs7HXn7hzdeoTgDN8Y_GF-WcYrrHgpDzQX6ZgCXC7misqo_OOFjqvUIXygFjY4xBaa9FHP7ni5fpH34qk8_9Yl9Bs2LvY6uwqTVHhGipm59ocIsM_QAS4XmJtjuBQM_vAgQPL9UBdE/s1600/DSCF1090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492379216119688306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovZs7HXn7hzdeoTgDN8Y_GF-WcYrrHgpDzQX6ZgCXC7misqo_OOFjqvUIXygFjY4xBaa9FHP7ni5fpH34qk8_9Yl9Bs2LvY6uwqTVHhGipm59ocIsM_QAS4XmJtjuBQM_vAgQPL9UBdE/s400/DSCF1090.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ottobre's London polo shirt, complete with an appliqued 5. Just in case any of use could forget that James is now 5.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FMN9deN9CUkp7hCKXFNJDwfjVhU6pZTCWTCMQ0K6fTKahuOJwBEuhvdM_ZMWexqQG2INS2UMK4-ClgoSbyjjbOaIw1ywDbl9PMCq3KsFTwYuIc21kPQ-rB_iHnWG1Gp30Ak5Ez9vhfw/s1600/DSCF1055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492374103079253762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 341px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FMN9deN9CUkp7hCKXFNJDwfjVhU6pZTCWTCMQ0K6fTKahuOJwBEuhvdM_ZMWexqQG2INS2UMK4-ClgoSbyjjbOaIw1ywDbl9PMCq3KsFTwYuIc21kPQ-rB_iHnWG1Gp30Ak5Ez9vhfw/s400/DSCF1055.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492374099719856242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 188px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthpjxFVogfvJw6UW4_t-fWl_fCmug-H9cJDYeU7ZEVCPs_zvF4_wmS7BGl5jxVSxWcU_DipDkFuLuLCijVjFkE3kdgbTgIZqycsp2ENM4o9RctSsAI7THhzaci8JinPI9U-UHZnIR1Io/s400/DSCF1032.JPG" border="0" /><br />The first party: James' circus party, shared with his best friend. We had Conk the Clown entertain the children and I can't recommend him highly enough. Laura wore her Chasing Fireflies dress, complete with de-wonked hem and insipid pink ribbon. James eschewed the carefully made birthday outfit in favour of last year's stripey shorts and supermarket t-shirt. Pick your battles, folks, pick your battles.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30eM_DSqqflgLULbLNwbxpY0wl838vJ4DY-0zVPIvYOpx_vj3aH-_fESzvQ0PMHohCzmSVtujtFyUIA5T-yn7JE6kqbqagRjXfaXqx5RUHXoJc0yBdlSmxS6hP-1yQwZfcgLgu_sJgng/s1600/DSCF1151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492371041560547458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 248px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30eM_DSqqflgLULbLNwbxpY0wl838vJ4DY-0zVPIvYOpx_vj3aH-_fESzvQ0PMHohCzmSVtujtFyUIA5T-yn7JE6kqbqagRjXfaXqx5RUHXoJc0yBdlSmxS6hP-1yQwZfcgLgu_sJgng/s400/DSCF1151.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Laura's princess outfit. It started out life as a blouse and pettiskirt but Laura wears her skirts so low, the bottom of the blouse came nowhere near the top of the skirt. So I added a skirt to the blouse and it looks a good deal less like a weather girl's idea of what Cinderella migh wear.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfXSoUbWJd4KNUFPBb8VcT383ZzvLEaxGDKRtuyJZVFkBF1ozc4vvB_oUy3-OH69uJc0iSmo1s4rjE3ZQbSL7FsMEv6pP_vJUSvXkUwUkQ7JWcqbwgFVfLZsmYTzrv4zWEhRR_BfzvAI/s1600/DSCF1171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492371036260899682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfXSoUbWJd4KNUFPBb8VcT383ZzvLEaxGDKRtuyJZVFkBF1ozc4vvB_oUy3-OH69uJc0iSmo1s4rjE3ZQbSL7FsMEv6pP_vJUSvXkUwUkQ7JWcqbwgFVfLZsmYTzrv4zWEhRR_BfzvAI/s400/DSCF1171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A better view of the Chasing Fireflies dress. I also made the back loops shorter so that it doesn't gape.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vBSSmWhkeuElewY9UCUQuJdghsisG9bL4kHCy4u0WWBSkttmrbdGDsmKalQ0o36M9lTejxzoa-noInW-EJg734rNDgTMLdligTFZEwgnfa7hWkP6wBfYIsqP58HPAtMg_7JJFIvqkk4/s1600/DSCF1167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492371027833504914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vBSSmWhkeuElewY9UCUQuJdghsisG9bL4kHCy4u0WWBSkttmrbdGDsmKalQ0o36M9lTejxzoa-noInW-EJg734rNDgTMLdligTFZEwgnfa7hWkP6wBfYIsqP58HPAtMg_7JJFIvqkk4/s400/DSCF1167.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We had a Princess & Knights party for Laura. The children could build a sugar-cube castle,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfV3wcuE8modB8qe0SA_6aZF-27AleqDvgMTYs-Hpq0djxzUSnexKWKjzGzA4LNploBFjNS3OI4FpW_NDUezuWdFk_i7nslIHSYRgwWWdkp4TQ1ZNrgMrEiIUrRYE2LyrcDSjoQqWCuI/s1600/DSCF1244.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492368113528090658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfV3wcuE8modB8qe0SA_6aZF-27AleqDvgMTYs-Hpq0djxzUSnexKWKjzGzA4LNploBFjNS3OI4FpW_NDUezuWdFk_i7nslIHSYRgwWWdkp4TQ1ZNrgMrEiIUrRYE2LyrcDSjoQqWCuI/s400/DSCF1244.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />climb around a cardboard castle,<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKuPZhMqXtyFKhOxGmnAhQfUX_XnoxKnLYVYUwXrMyfnbZDlorvgKiYyPX7jdmKLzic_UovxvZiOgQl3r2ARX1_uwOAkfBrfKObwI6CnSixrYQjmNVAeG7ijdzlZCL4xZTNZvS4Ucnxg/s1600/DSCF1233.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492368112356361058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKuPZhMqXtyFKhOxGmnAhQfUX_XnoxKnLYVYUwXrMyfnbZDlorvgKiYyPX7jdmKLzic_UovxvZiOgQl3r2ARX1_uwOAkfBrfKObwI6CnSixrYQjmNVAeG7ijdzlZCL4xZTNZvS4Ucnxg/s400/DSCF1233.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />have tea in Ye Olde Tea Tente,<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JIAO991LPCxrgM6sq-SKHWh_huPanrjE1timUoKWSrgf3xRc31YPDO2SdP7ouo42RYxvWBKZ5HhnhwEXiD0aT7iioOWQWJiRttOjIkkCXh1-sH37own4IDFd7CFPjl2YForf89rIXdk/s1600/DSCF1232.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492368104409424418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JIAO991LPCxrgM6sq-SKHWh_huPanrjE1timUoKWSrgf3xRc31YPDO2SdP7ouo42RYxvWBKZ5HhnhwEXiD0aT7iioOWQWJiRttOjIkkCXh1-sH37own4IDFd7CFPjl2YForf89rIXdk/s400/DSCF1232.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />and generally have an absolutely brilliant time. I also made a dragon pinata, which was hugely popular. I'll post pictures in the next post. <div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-73519104948409801462010-06-26T11:54:00.000-07:002010-06-26T13:23:18.276-07:00Tag!A few week ago, Judy from <a href="http://everythingjustsew.blogspot.com/">Everything Just Sew</a> tagged me in a kind of questions and answers game. Three birthdays intervened so I'm only now able to take time out of the sewing room to play along!<br /><br />Onto the questions:<br /><br />1. Which pattern/vintage style have you been thinking about lately?<br />I'm half looking for patterns for tops for me! Yes, you read that right... I'm going to be doing some selfish sewing. There's some Michael Miller knits coming over the Atlantic right now, and while most of it is earmarked for the shop, I'd like a couple of hotchpotch tops. Otherwise, I've been doing fancy dress costumes for the children - photos to follow!<br /><br />2. What's the one place you want to visit that you've never been to before.<br />Rome. And Florence. And Venice. In fact, I'd like to spend a good month in Italy in springtime, just touring around with my DH. And the first year the children whine 'do we have to?' when we are discussing holidays, that's just what we'll do!<br /><br />3. How do you relax?<br />I sew. Has anybody else doing this quiz given a different answer? Actually, I also watch Coronation Street, which is on absolutely sparkling form at the moment - when it gets some airspace around the World Cup of course!<br /><br />4. What is your favourite holiday.<br />For our first wedding anniversary, Nigel and I went to Prague. It was December and the city looked like Christmas card land. It was just wonderful. I understand Prague has now been invaded by lap dancing clubs, which seems to me a desecration too awful to be true. I doubt we'll ever go back.<br /><br />5. What is one sewing skill you want to learn/try out?<br />I want to be able to pattern draft properly. Some day, when I have more time, I'll take a proper course. Learning from books and the internet is great but I can only do it in project chunks so I never seem to get a good overview. I'd like to learn the whys as well as the maths - perhaps do a suit from scratch. Or, since I never wear suits, some jeans and a top that actually fits. Bliss!<br /><br />6. Can you knit/crochet? Other crafting talents?<br />I'm a slow but good knitter, and a less good crocheter. I always have a portable project in my bag - at the moment it's a tanktop for James for his birthday. Which was on Thursday, so that ship's sailed but James doesn't care and anyway, it's a bit warm for tanktops here right now. On holiday, when I'm deprived of my sewing machines, I start my Christmas sock knitting. I love doing socks because you can really go to town on the patterns without feeling as though you've signed up to doing the same item for the next 6 months.<br /><br />7. What garment/accessory do you wear the most?<br />Jeans, t-shirt and cardigan. If it's very hot, I leave off the cardigan. How boring is that?<br /><br />8a. How much time do you spend reading blogs?<br />It varies but definitely a good few hours a week. I squeeze it in while watching television. I find if I'm doing something with my hands, I'm less likely to eat. Well, that's the theory...<br /><br />8b. Your motto/mantra<br />If it's cut out on the grain, it can always be fixed. And 'don't come in here - the iron's on!'<br /><br />Now, who to tag? I suspect most people have been done. But I love <a href="http://thejoyofjapanesesewing.blogspot.com/">The Joy of Japanese Sewing</a> and envy Marie and Alison their book collections. Michal from <a href="http://noniandlooli.blogspot.com/">Noni and Looli </a>makes gorgeous children's clothes - I love everything she makes. Millie from <a href="http://bred2make.blogspot.com/">Needles & Haystacks </a>combines farming with sewing and that, I think, is an unusual mix in this urbanized day and age. <a href="http://littlefishcreations.com/node/1323">Little Fish Creations </a>is a new discovery of mine so I'd love to find out more about Claire. And Ivey at <a href="http://iveyc95.blogspot.com/2010/05/nautical-inspirations.html">IveyC95 </a>makes the most adorable clothes - her sewing is impeccable.<br /><br />Tomorrow we have James' birthday party and next week it's Laura's birthday, so the next post will be heavy on photos. I've made Laura a fairytale princess outfit that inadvertently screams '70's game show host' so I'm guessing she's going to absolutely love it.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-77616288914736298382010-06-14T11:48:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:09:45.527-08:00The Psychedelic Raincoat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-D06VpRn6LkC5v0ES83xsqX2af5l5zB4dqPJ299PRJnotlAJceAxjcfrZz9cHWfOCj4iXAtQLevVcSaBjLKv1PZmP89sSvw5sAUabYkMiOsKqSRl-O8ulWLTPQzwNEV63MI4va84Rko/s1600/DSCF0932.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482704594723836178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 380px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-D06VpRn6LkC5v0ES83xsqX2af5l5zB4dqPJ299PRJnotlAJceAxjcfrZz9cHWfOCj4iXAtQLevVcSaBjLKv1PZmP89sSvw5sAUabYkMiOsKqSRl-O8ulWLTPQzwNEV63MI4va84Rko/s400/DSCF0932.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Pure Carnaby Street, don't you think? I'm not sure what the designer was on when s/he came up with these wavy stripes, but it was clearly powerful stuff. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I have a fairly significant stash of PUL (both solids & prints) left over from my nappying days. They were originally bought to make nappy wraps (aka nappy covers) but Laura's nappy rash precluded the use of any kind of plastic wrap. I had been wondering for a while if PUL would make a raincoat and decided, in the continuing absence of my overlocker, to give it a try.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1gDT_UMDr4Y7jRzKhmqRKUcWfslp8d62gzeEILyu899PHbZRiE0Od28_DigTCqQuMaqZdIaQecAIumI1MRrJiBuUAYAYDOp7k667NT8Gqc73O5rDEIJgyFBOFgmhOiRyONwiTZ60Y7M/s1600/DSCF0929.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482704584796939858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1gDT_UMDr4Y7jRzKhmqRKUcWfslp8d62gzeEILyu899PHbZRiE0Od28_DigTCqQuMaqZdIaQecAIumI1MRrJiBuUAYAYDOp7k667NT8Gqc73O5rDEIJgyFBOFgmhOiRyONwiTZ60Y7M/s400/DSCF0929.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I wouldn't say that it's the drapiest raincoat you'll ever find but by golly, you'd go far to find a brighter one! I lined it with spotty poplin, also from the stash, and you can see Laura coming from quite some way away. This, I think, is a good thing. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The pattern is Ottobre's #11 reversible coat from 01/05. It is, as you would expect, a really nice little pattern which went together beautifully. I love the retro A-line cut! It is indeed reversible, though I don't think the spotty lining will ever see the light of day. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>It hasn't been tested out in the rain yet and I will update this post if it turns out to be anything less than showerproof. But if all goes well, I have enough fabric for raincoats for the next 5 years, which is a thought to keep me warm on even the dampest day. </div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-77572788654032212242010-06-05T10:08:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:39:32.020-08:00A tribute to knit dressesI may have mentioned this before but boy, do I love a knit dress. Not for myself or the boys, of course, but for Laura. And who would blame me? They're an all-in-one outfit (great for husbands who occasionally have a problem understanding that cerise trousers may not go with a candy pink top), they can be folded up small to fit into a handbag (a boon during potty-training). They require hardly any ironing, which is always a plus but especially on holiday. They're cool in the summer, cosy in the winter, and they're very very cute. And you can make them - really quite quickly if you're unfussy about finishing seams - without an overlocker. This is quite important to me at the moment because mine is in the shop. Again. But enough of such misery - let's talk knits.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479340294569320610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRZwHGPF_fJ7r9PtyWgQcaulADc2jO4mxSwVdXk_lTIrDof8M-b1Xx8fO7vSmB-h_eDXxmMNcDxpTaS9q1r_Io_aFVRvlgCAyWVvrprXy_avHNOzXh3479XOEa7gUhhV3_6WALj_8ki0/s400/DSCF0907.JPG" border="0" /><br />At some stage I'll post a picture of the second knit Harebell I did. In the meantime, this is a dress I put together using the Farbenmix Zoe pattern as a starting point. I added a hood (from Olivia) and attached a circle skirt to the dropped waist. I see a lot of these knit dropped waist dresses around, and I always think 'why skimp on the skirt?' So I didn't. And you should see this baby twirl! <div></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479340317688176834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2RgOXhdKyWxVLiGwPEgemF8dwqtQmMMFP1Tcx4aplYnu57SeCBEK8xSA3SQmBnWZzUKVA0RExATgoC6LwqxvW8ueuQT6vvOxuiKQiQRy1xVfl-PHlXaxhDr7SGg4ura0g_VoqGQ-3zw/s400/DSCF0916.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Laura loves butterflies so I appliqued one to the front. It gives the dress something of an air of 'look at all the stuff I can do!' but I was making it for a not-quite 3 year old so I reckon the fashion police will let me off with a caution.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479340301502336418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RI4Np1uF3DfY0hVbMuLKwFp2OuQxlXWXgDqzeLH5Sk180abmi8xcTM4TQRktLoDAFjDzTvftmfbAN1t9gB4PB5hKX7HgUApmmShQ83NLoSelZ4r19EVt8qXHMFlRAO-ZUKqZ2Ys_CK4/s400/DSCF0851.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />The skirt of this Ottobre dress is definitely on the skimpy side. I used an adult t-shirt to make it - it was £1.50 in Sainsbury's and I loved the fabric so I happily threw it in the trolley only to discover that it was so badly cut as to be unwearable. There was a fair amount of fabric which I thought would transform nicely into the Ottobre knit dress.<br /><br />I was ambivalent about this pattern; it's another that I felt I ought to like but didn't quite. I was convinced to give it a go by the gorgeous versions created by Tiny from <a href="http://tinyskitchentable.blogspot.com/">Tiny's Kitchen Table</a>, but I'm not so in love with my own version to try making another. But it's a pattern crossed off the list and it was, until I introduced her to butterflies and circle skirts, Laura's favourite everyday dress.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479340312833862450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7cTXm5ypn30l-rkGDiRYsDHoVjEA-EV0-KD8XIdzo8VDQa3aNzp0JNuPA3MWWPFy-mN15LRwu3OoYn82LFdEVFRvO7VUcGPN8HAHhNdKuAcWJ9tfnd4jwRte59Mw-qkMRkYYV5X4_9E/s400/DSCF0866.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Now this dress I am not remotely ambivalent about. I love it. The pattern started out life as a woven peasant top, then became a woven dress, and then I did some slashing & spreading and general hacking about, and it became this Gored Peasant Dress. If I put it in the shop I'll try and think of a better name for it! It's a little more sophisticated than my usual fare and I'm not sure if that's entirely down to the fabric. I'll have a better idea once the Patty Young knits arrive and I can try out all these patterns in those gorgeous fabrics. Until then, I have shelves of knits to clear and birthday outfits to make for my boy so I'm hoping that the overlocker comes home soon. </div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-70709875473162824892010-05-29T23:16:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:35:52.185-08:00Ottobre chases fireflies<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476972137917442130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 416px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2UJmXna2H3mW6GZLViFBRWRo6yhZQxno-VwzT2OdGsKes7ULDjLhN4f2EFbyUQh-SUEI1VL4iIblxrTWhTA16bfxjXUOYoG3bTNwEWRuGCDkNWnT0P_TIwmA43c_mb4tLEXCIXTngJ0/s400/020.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Those of you with small girl children will probably have heard of a rather beautiful boutique called <a href="http://www.chasing-fireflies.com/">Chasing Fireflies</a>. It bills itself as "A magical array of keepsake-quality kid's clothing" and if you replace 'kid's' with 'girl's', then they're not wrong. Mothers of boys may find their offerings somewhat less spectacular, as is so often the way.<br /><div><br /></div><div><div><div>Anyway, during my hunt for Laura's 3rd birthday dress, I came across the Fairytale Chiffon Dress on the Chasing Fireflies site.<br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476947727748722802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggVkaqwbjCPvJKqWgAGma6tIgG95zPAYF1AK-lLBuiT7g_tjjYAIMQk0lLLgv6aLqh7JB5O7eAut2gH5ndk7WKqNRYRLqqYppOx7WfyYp1vboKnMCS-pc31UPERKegdZNZgCcZevouv8/s320/30865_p.jpg" border="0" /><br />Isn't it just divine? Of course, at $198 (plus shipping and duties) it would want to be. So if, like me, you'd rather spend your pennies on other things, Ottobre has the answer. (Is there a question to which it hasn't? you may ask, and I would say, probably not.) </div><div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476947721775944162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 386px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oAzMfATM1PtHP0kqLC_i-fkvtoDMtntVm3QW2tAgbK37y2ouEZdcA2tIFhBDGoCNqrxkL_0gTjVNaI8QxlmR_DgydZh9JEQHfvoChfZusDpZN8hLgRrQQUD9zMx2h6tnXIESwUgPd9U/s320/4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>I was somewhat underwhelmed by this pattern when I first saw it. I always felt that I ought to like it more than I did and couldn't see where it was missing the bus. When I compared the two dresses I realised that the Ottobre problem lay in the dress's proportions. I find that Ottobre dresses tend to run wide and this one doesn't have the length to make up for that, so it has just a hint of squatness about it. The line drawing illustrates this nicely. </div><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476947718870444034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlnXGNgf9JCttToBGM-9F1h9P1FmyWj3d23TyrA7y6q8rmVlYT1r2O9Wm16wZsBKmYBcauSPxeoVvJzsfyzJNfoRESfAFIYj2J-YAKfi8ahfh8ainFdoo9BwsInwUYTwejqVXM5xgB_U/s320/0-412661b9d4c0a9e8.png" border="0" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><p>But in its essentials, it is a great pattern for hacking out a Fairytale Chiffon Dress. </p><div><br /></div><p>My modifications:</p><ul><li>grade it down to a size 92 (even though I swore I wasn't going to do this again because I have a large pile of 'biggest-size-is-92' patterns to make 'some day' and since Laura is now definitely a 92, it appears that 'some day' is now here);</li><br /><li>lengthen the overskirt and add more width to take account of the filmier fabric;</li><br /><li>shorten the sleeves to elbow-length and add flounces;</li><br /><li>replace the front flounces with ruffles;</li><br /><li>deepen, widen and square off the neckline; and</li><br /><li>replace the zip with loops and buttons</li></ul><div><br /></div><p>So pretty straightforward really. And best of all, given my current stash-busting mission, the only new purchase was the tulle - which I got on Ebay for £3.20, incl. postage. In fact, the entire dress cost me less than £14, which made me wonder how Chasing Fireflies were getting away with charging nearly $200. And then I made the dress.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476972153620262578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2hcyRBl-4svVFdOD91sPsPcTtYV4nKUCCsCk8s_0rp7QtLanpTBlG8QWPS-fzxmEheUU6SqNXia6WkjE11PDRSdeEFMwROxBqchLHWQ6-GUJyLqXojae1pHH3c3EyZtbEuzU78z-6S0/s400/024.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>Folks, if you are the proud possessor of a Fairytale Chiffon dress and are now grinding your teeth at the thought of all those squandered dollars, grind no longer. This dress is seriously labour-intensive. Have you ever tried ruffling silk chiffon? Forget about the ruffler foot - it just makes nasty holes in the fabric. It needs to be hand ruffled. The overskirt also needs to be French seamed and hand-gathered. In fact, there was quite a lot hand-sewing involved in making this dress, including a hand-rolled hem on the overskirt's ruffling. Fortunately I like hand-sewing and I can honestly say that I enjoyed every one of the 17 hours I spent on the dress, but I now realise that $198 is actually a very good price for it. Once you've deducted materials, the cost equates to about $10 an hour - not much more than the UK's minimum wage. </p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476972148510378466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yO2nzW5cSL2QaiEORsHe9UbhyF4X47EwUKe6sbAlPMubKUDS5sG0krHxmKhOq4Hk63cTku_49VzEFNpiCOaokttwtI8K0sfvWPmlLFAa-CpQalnH-AaY7uh66obZCq_-BH7adPPsxYc/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>(Glass buttons from MIL's stash, loops made from mercerised cotton from mother's stash,ribbon also from mother's stash which was actually destashed to her by a woman whose daughter worked in a ribbon factory back in the days when Coventry was awash with manufacturing companies.)</div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476972134422851394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 311px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PwlO0NXwjDDvw6MtUyLHa18YAV9Y1BD8lq_fwWNZbhTJdFi3Y8Ucsslz7lS6AwWEQTZfNm1rKhnRvKwRLJREv52rtk337DTNlQV-1ai-cBdJZQGpNYCCBCpi4r9TUgCrtxVKj8BjIwM/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>And it was 17 hours very well spent, I would say. I love its dreamy charm, and Laura likes it too, though probably not as much as I do. For a start she would prefer a pink ribbon and I will cave on that, even though it will mean buying one because you have to pick your battles in this life. </p><p>I will also have to take up the left hand side of the hem quite a bit <em>and </em>even out the sleeve lengths. They're the kind of flaws that would really bug me and I would point them out to everybody who complimented the dress, so I might as well sort them out now. And then it can go into the spare room wardrobe until the day of James' party to which Laura will no doubt decide that she wants to wear pyjamas because they are the only garments she owns that feature Peppa Pig! Maybe I should invest in a Peppa Pig ribbon, just in case... Oooh! Could this be the basis of a new Chasing Fireflies range? Tasteful character-spattered clothing - now there's a thought!</p></div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-72152412315682220412010-05-23T07:52:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:34:23.749-08:00Adding sleeves to a sleeveless pattern. Not trivial!In fact, if it hadn't been for the good old internet, I doubt if I'd have managed it. However, with the help of many useful links (all of which will feature in this post), I finished my dress in time to wear it to the PTA summer ball. By way of a reminder, this is the pattern I started with:<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474486938397777058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-TD347rT_mUJ9RHWCul2Pi7d9H9hzr_kERD3Pou0-QszkxCWDee4Dx528w1RUMtiReum_6WD7QtSvWW1xoS4hYLv_sw1Nk1nSHEfJrhTDcE4MVZ0SRRz5_IFRn8T7Fd1G_kkQii7j9Y/s320/V2900.jpg" border="0" /><br />It's a DKNY design for Vogue and I fell in love with the clean silhouette, dropped waist and on-trend pockets. I wasn't quite so keen on the neckline - lovely for the day, not so great for an evening dress. And I do not do sleeveless dresses. So I made up a muslin, tried it on Mabel, and used this pattern from Ottbre to re-cut the muslined bodice, which I then used to make the final pattern.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK4oaurfT_bSpIeOGhkth8HCWYPEXHu6Y5rCKxKNlv9CIgoDhVefLzGhInI9Kbz-FdU9ilAY5vZS6M2dAPKoyA7DBP934kVzZLWJROalr0hfJVQWoREfahTMzdlGhyphenhyphenBFPxQ4grBOrUqs/s1600/ottobre.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474491943839146386" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK4oaurfT_bSpIeOGhkth8HCWYPEXHu6Y5rCKxKNlv9CIgoDhVefLzGhInI9Kbz-FdU9ilAY5vZS6M2dAPKoyA7DBP934kVzZLWJROalr0hfJVQWoREfahTMzdlGhyphenhyphenBFPxQ4grBOrUqs/s200/ottobre.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />It was a good plan and ought to have worked. But it didn't. This is primarily because I neglected to make up a complete muslin - sleeves and all. So when I had made up the bodice in the silk, all but the sleeves, I discovered that the shoulder seams were much too wide and gave the dress a dropped shoulder look, which did not go well with the high sleeve caps on Ottobre's sleeves. So... off to the internet for some help.<br /><br /><br />I spent an entire evening wading through Google where I came across some tremendously helpful links but the first real breakthrough came with <a href="http://magazine-directory.com/Threads.htm">this</a> Threads article on how to fit sleeves by ensuring that the bodice fits. I went back to Mabel and wielded my tailor's chalk to some purpose.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://agnic.msu.edu/cgi-bin/library?e=d-000-00---0usda--00-0-0--0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-preferences---00031-001-1-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=usda&cl=CL2.1&d=HASH01a70bab1ce1a89b538be722">This </a>doesn't deal specifically with sleeve fitting but is really useful for other fitting issues. The photographs of badly fitting garments are particularly instructive. If only I'd read it before top-stitching the seams of my dress....<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cutterandtailor.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=58">This </a>was useful, if wordy, on matching the sleeve and armhole.<br /><br />Once I'd re-cut the armhole (and then the sleeve), I was able to set in the sleeve. Ottobre recommended the method of sewing two lines of basting between the notches, pulling the threads to gather to size, and pressing to shrink the fullness. I did try this, but my pre-shrunk silk wasn't cooperative. I didn't want to trim any more from the sleeve cap (heck, I wanted to be able to move my arms in the dress!) so, back to surfing...<br /><br /><br />Gorgeous Fabrics' blog provided the answer. <a href="http://gorgeousthings.blogspot.com/2009/01/setting-sleeve-in-to-armhole.html">This </a>is an amazingly clear tutorial on setting in sleeves by simply pinning & tacking them in place. It doesn't look as though it will work, but it really does. As these pictures of the finished dress prove. The overall fit isn't great, but by golly, the sleeves are smooth.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvKW0T9RYV-NQCdXXLjWTy6QlJOTrLXbH1dqVOXHxe4kYcz_BFmVaRtKPX8nGZOiRLjVTfIOLe8W_t3CIocVxJtZk5DwMECPuy7FxbZTp5jJAfqNZwrzJhT1pK2A3lQNB-QKfdhfqyPI/s1600/Image1117.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474491929177088610" style="WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 350px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvKW0T9RYV-NQCdXXLjWTy6QlJOTrLXbH1dqVOXHxe4kYcz_BFmVaRtKPX8nGZOiRLjVTfIOLe8W_t3CIocVxJtZk5DwMECPuy7FxbZTp5jJAfqNZwrzJhT1pK2A3lQNB-QKfdhfqyPI/s200/Image1117.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Which just leaves the neckline. I wanted it to have some pizazz so I trawled John Lewis to see what was in style at the moment. There were a couple of dresses with pleating so I had a try at a pleated neckline. I used some organza for backing, cut some bias strips from the scraps of silk I had left, and set to work with the iron. It isn't perfect, but it looks effective.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sV0fWz9Fgpk_nVHpUtrsnoU3ytDv6rkNkGM49Vn3cG0D5Qnbvi3EULsbwtQaxpp-Jd-XJanscIV_VFq4onktTpF5p_6JifeCXC94FMGIbal_27lZxWR6s33-B4fBQ2fJTJG0vTK9904/s1600/Image1119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474491936868511890" style="WIDTH: 363px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sV0fWz9Fgpk_nVHpUtrsnoU3ytDv6rkNkGM49Vn3cG0D5Qnbvi3EULsbwtQaxpp-Jd-XJanscIV_VFq4onktTpF5p_6JifeCXC94FMGIbal_27lZxWR6s33-B4fBQ2fJTJG0vTK9904/s200/Image1119.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So I would say that I learned a lot from this dress. Not least that a dress that is snug before you add the lining is going to be uncomfortably tight once you've added that extra layer of habotai silk!<br /><br />(By the way, if you're looking for a UK supplier of nice quality silk at a very good price, I heartily recommend Beckford Silks. Excellent customer service, reasonable price for delivery, nice products. NAYY)Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944016918903513558.post-45985103943735382732010-04-28T11:56:00.000-07:002011-01-02T10:09:23.853-08:00Ottobre - guitars, reggae & wailersI sometimes wonder what the sewing mothers of boys would do without Ottobre. In a landscape dominated by ruffles and pretty dresses (and regular readers will know that I have a weakness for a pretty dress myself!) stylish patterns for boys are pretty hard to find. And then you discover Ottobre and suddenly, there's almost too much choice! The most recent issue was spattered with clothes that I fairly itched to make for James. So I devoted this weekend to some serious boy-type sewing.<br /><br />My recent makes have probably erred on the cute side. James is nearly 5 and my darling DH has started to query whether tab-hemmed turquoise shorts:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465273055474606866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 208px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IlkygyirNIWOu6SP_qUWpQUaj65HHKmW4li-DKK3gLmULjYAZoq6ZRmT0xCRmERNbO0l57kgwjN5NAdiFgctL_hz4-uWt1-cJIkF2uleL1hn5LvMikZKR9MXEBXiydHHDNpzJvpiaPY/s400/DSCF0579.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />with co-ordinating polo shirts:<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465273066178238466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoDczUvPDq13WhEZoMahex8n4IVat-VwCBjamru4r_sIoglSjqOm6tIIHypE1wT_dv8QB1c3olGxmZoKQIrwJovQRjdWOhtahhJcEToOLHsaFHDfV0NSA-2aC_1S6B3uuP0TQZMy8S1Y/s400/DSCF0568.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />and hoody tops featuring photos of the wearer and his special bear, each sitting happily in the pockets of the helicoptor applique:<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465273073783648146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 342px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicakSsG1uid8QwlswyUtmIMyPm09pEu93pKCEMTuKG_JJ6P9mYR9CjiFLAJobWTu7k0Ft6sqd3tcMDM10CPj2Ns8WZ3NVDxXn5AVjliGgJkZXT1F5DcwMR7BeSUhCjMsPUaIuvgu2Hjtg/s400/DSCF0665.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />aren't just a bit too babyish for our boy. Now personally, I'd see him in such garb until he's, oh I don't know, 20? But I can't deny that he looks a lot less streetwise than most of his peers and small children can be cruel. So... time to swap cute for cool.<br /><br /><br /><br />First up: the Guitar raglan sleeve t-shirt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465277073504913026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 342px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnbxNMp2i8Y7aQEVvBSBEd7erseamH3S0tcbMoXlf6AC2Up7zKPHdH7voUyoQ_U1jTujnXnAewvdi6xmTXu1BoXJwBcEweT6ejidcB91RfpEyzjY_ojS_5GfndSuR2bjBQ0pbkN8wG-k/s320/DSCF0797.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks to not reading the instructions (will I NEVER learn??) I put the applique in the wrong place. But James doesn't know that, and it still looks pretty good. I love the applique but am not at all keen on the pattern. The neckline is cut very wide and, even though I replaced the cuff binding at the sleeves with a longer underlayer, I think the sleeves are a tad too short. It's wearable and James, despite no interest in music or guitars, likes it very much, thanks to some careful propaganda along the lines of 'your big cousin Joe will really like this shirt because he likes electric guitars'.<br /><br /><br />Next: the bermudas that feature in about 4 different pattern versions, the differences lying in the pocket styles. I did the Wailers, which have bellows pockets on the leg, and used some Ikea plaid cotton. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465277085273116962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 346px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 410px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Uopgloh9geumP3cp0zzn1-Frv4BNybPUEflLHDo3KWL9QyZg-XBuq-hEDPYfnwRFiy11sRnJlQeCMMu0fEu5RVWQ9RMeTysLzY_OLA95kt9r87oaU9dKlJGxiWgAuIvAEq5PY_k3eIE/s320/DSCF0798.JPG" border="0" />I omitted the drawstring because the cotton has quite a crisp hand and I suspected it would crease at the front rather than fall into gentle gathers. I used buttonhole elastic at the back to get them to fit properly.<br /><br /><br /><br />You will notice that the plaid matches in the pocket and across the side seams. I'm pretty proud of this and simply love the pattern! James also really likes them so I'll be churning out another couple of them for the holidays.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465277090802112898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 163px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYLk0TZ9Qf0_-mlu0vgt-XUEddbz0bPpIcWNQIsMhZtWF7epTOdDSxpaU868RBKUY_1cTUNL_x3q4KhB6_AvtuQUGi6nG7QrYktQz_-faShoJYdDt51GSgP8EgVVx25KsHYKO9NxPbkk/s320/DSCF0800.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />And finally, the Reggae jacket, which is actually a retro-style bomber jacket.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465277056904192818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ9Iqms53Qy61vJ0EmN7jXWnWn3fzJC2yV4pDWzj_9odaZAKYN3IJHfRd3ttCp8qlqoT9JuULpW-FUGj4V-a7iuTW3R5hpZg9xppVzaVwuGjyMF7wSQaPs8Iq3oRm9S8U6jUp170jjGU/s320/DSCF0796.JPG" border="0" />Words cannot describe how much I love this pattern. I had difficulty finding ribbon elastic and am wondering if it's a figment of the Ottobre imagination. After experimenting with ordinary 1cm elastic and FOE, I found some stretch binding in the stash and this was thin enough to do the job nicely. I'll check out where I got it from if anybody's interested.<br /><br /><br /><br />I struggled with the pockets (this was my first time doing welt pockets and the Ottobre instructions were as sparse they often are for tricky techniques). In fact, during the two evenings I spent sewing this,I had to rip out quite a number of seams, so it's surprising how much I enjoyed doing it. When I had finished it, darling DH pointed out that it was lacking a touch of yellow (this can be a deal-breaker), so I knocked up a badge with a yellow rescue helicoptor on it, and told James that I'd made him a pilot's jacket. And James simply loves it!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465277100258475154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 525px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 404px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTWsg0nM5a0kdvAbp6mUGcVIeicIfFmCIWz9t699rSD11-eXkLcwSI0Rju9vT_kOOUXuZSFue9pg5138pTmVIv-7xNAzbVs-Y1lYcQJG29tqMobceoIM3PEHgvXEbufbIP6Il3dj-r8s/s320/Image1111.jpg" border="0" />Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314756880090901763noreply@blogger.com10