The Willow Dress

A few months ago now, I was lucky enough to be included in the pattern test for the gorgeous Willow Dress by Nikki of Bubby and Me.

What drew my eye to this tester call were the gorgeous little flutter sleeves, and the chance to mix knit and woven fabrics.  The skirt is made from a woven, and the bodice from a knit fabric.  It makes this dress so comfortable to wear, and easy to get on and off for little munchkins that insist they can do it all themselves, and "don't need your help Mum!".

So I whipped up two of these lovely dresses.  The first was a size 4 for Hannah.  I'm not sure what type of fabric the pink with white spot is that I used for the bodice on this one.  It's very synthetic-feeling, light-weight, and feels like it might have some lycra in there somewhere.  Anyway, Hannah loves it because it feels smooth, so this dress has become known as the "smooth dress!" in our house.

The skirt I made out of a lovely floral cotton woven fabric that I got on sale last year, and that had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to be used up.

I found this pattern so user friendly, and so easy to come together.  I haven't used clear elastic before, but it's a genius way to stabilise the waist-band onto the knit bodice,  especially for the pink knit that was very prone to fraying and laddering.  I think I'll be using that method again.

Anyway, as usual when I find a pattern I like, I just can't stop at 1, so I whipped up this size 7 for Bethany.  The red knit I had sitting in my stash (actually I think I may have stolen borrowed it from my Mum's stash some time ago).  I matched it up with this quilting-weight cotton fabric I have had sitting in the stash because I liked it's geometric print when I spotted it on the bargain table at my local fabric store eons ago.  Bethany has worn this dress a tonne over our summer, because it's just a super comfy and suitable-for-any-occasion type of dress.  

Anyway, so this pattern has now been released, and is available via the One Thimble ezine here.  Thanks for having me on the test Nikki!

Pattern Test: The Nina Skirt

I was lucky enough to be included to test the Nina Skirt and Culottes pattern for girls by the very talented Marte of Compagnie M.     She has some great designs, and I felt very honoured to be included to test this new one.

This pattern will be available in the Compagnie M pattern shop from 24th June (and there's a discount if you're quick, plus an even better discount if you want the Women's version of the Nina pattern.  This is definitely a great pattern to add to the stash.  It's very easy to follow, and you can tell this pattern is tried and true ... the amazing Ninas shared by the other testers are so inspiring ... there are some very clever ladies out there!

This versatile pattern includes options for an invisible zip or a fly-front zip, and this is for both the skirt and culottes.  For the fly-front you can also choose between a large button overlap (like the one I did) or a smaller overlap.  So, really there are tonnes of ways to make this one up, and with a different overall look each time.  Love a versatile pattern!

Anyway, at the time of the testing call, Marte specifically noted that she hadn't seen many fly-front skirt options tested.  So I decided that, in my continued effort to cure my zip-phobia, I'd give the fly-front option a go.  I'm so happy I did ... for my first ever fly-front I'm so thrilled with how this came out, and I definitely credit that to Marte's pictures along with the instructions.  It was very easy to follow, and I was surprised how easily this came together.

Given it's winter in Australia currently, I chose to make a winter-weight Nina for Bethany.  I had just enough of this gorgeous purple spotty corduroy left from a previous project, and thought this would look great as a Nina.  So, I made a cup of coffee and got to cutting.  I chose 2 sparkly gemstone buttons, because, well, they're sparkly.  Enough said, right!

Instead of hemming the skirt as per the instructions, I decided to use a piece of jumbo ric-rac from my stash, to make a kind of scallop-look hemline.  This ric-rac was totally meant-to-be.  It matched perfectly with the pink spots in the fabric, and the piece I had fit perfectly around the hem.  Can't get much closer than that, though I'll admit there was a moment of panic at the half-way mark when I realised I hadn't measured to check it would fit ... whoops, then phew!

In terms of constructing this hem, I totally just made it up as I went along.  It was about mid-night, and in true What's Mummy Up To style that's when some of my best ideas happen.  I'm really happy with how it looks.  To do this hem, I:

- Overlocked the raw edge of the skirt hem.  

- Then, with the ric-rac on the right-side of the fabric, I sewed it along the egde, lining up my stitching with the top edge of the overlocking stitching, and sewing along the middle of the ric-rac.  

- I then turned the ric-rac under to the wrong side, and topstitched about 1/4" back from the edge on the right-side to hold it in place.  

Pretty simple and quick, and a nice change to a plain hem.  I also liked that it added about an inch to the overall length of the skirt, seeing as this is a winter Nina and all.

I made a size 8 for Bethany, and was really happy with the fit.  Marte gave a suggestion of adding adjustable elastic to the waist, but given Bethany's measurements I decided not to do this.  The fit is great!! 

So Bethany is happy with her skirt and coupled with a pink top, and her matching pink coat, and some winter boots, this has made a cute outfit for these cold days we've been having.

I think my next Nina will be the Culottes ... for Hannah this time!

The Boho Trousers and Shorts (and a discount code)

I got to do another pattern test last week ... and we all know how much I love pattern tests.  This time, it was for the lovely Heidi from Elegance and Elephants.  She contacted me to ask if I would be interested in making a pair of shorts or pants to test the pattern for her ... Ahhh, let me think about it for a whole 100th of a second ... YES!!!

Heidi puts together great PDF patterns.  You may remember these ones I did last year.  Anyway, I love that feeling of knowing that a pattern will most likely work out exactly as it should, and that's always the case in my experience with Elegance and Elephants ... I've never had one go wrong!!

Anyway, here's what I made ... Boho Trousers in Size 4 for Hannah.  She loves them as much as me, and I think this bright floral cotton poplin works great for this design.  Hannah specifically requested "butterfly" fabric.  Now, with a stash like mine, you'd think I could easily find one, but it actually took some hunting to find the right weight fabric in my stash with butterflies ... can you see them?  I promise they are there!  Ok, so  there aren't many butterflies I'll admit (maybe a total of two on this whole pair of pants), but Hannah can see them, so she's happy, and really that's all that counts, huh!

This was a super-quick sew ... took me less than an hour once I'd cut the pieces out, and I love a quick project like that.  The pockets are super-cute, and I love the way the waist-band was designed as it completely solves that annoying elastic-twisting issue.  And those shirred ankle sections ... be still my beating heart!!!  Hannah particularly enjoyed blinging herself up for this shoot ... funny little munchkin!

Now, you're wondering how you can try this one out for yourself aren't you?  Elegance and Elephants are offering a 15% off coupon code, but only until 22nd May, so be quick.  You can get the code, here, and here is where you buy the pattern.  The shorts are gorgeous too, and are on my to-do list for next summer!

Oh, and just so you know I have done this post voluntarily.  I was provided with the pattern in exchange for my testing of it, but I have decided to post about it too because I really love this pattern!

Now, to make a pair of these for Bethany too ... I'm off to do some fabric choosing!

Free Tutorial: Foxy-Loxy Lacey Pants

Don't you love it when abstract ideas meet inspiration?  Well that's how this project came about.  I'd been pondering about making a little pair of knicker-bocker-type pants for Hannah that were based on a little pair of gorgeous Sprout-brand pants both my girls wore when they were babies.  I loved them, and was so sad when I had to finally admit they were too small, and take them out of Hannah's draw.  They were lacey and girly and just plain cute!  I just knew I needed to make a pair in a bigger size, but I couldn't choose a fabric, and the design just hadn't come together in my mind.

Then, one day when I was perusing blog-land, I came across this adorable free pattern by CINO for a cross-stitch fox t-shirt.  And in that instant, this whole project came together.  I knew I had to make this little fox top, and that I had finally made up my mind on the fabric for those pants.  It was time to cut into my stashed fox fabric (you might have seen me previewing it on Instagram and Facebook) ... and here's how the little outfit turned out!

 I love this little outfit almost as much as I loved those original little baby-pants, and we've had some great comments from people when Hannah's worn this outfit too.  My favourite was from a school mum who knows I sew, and asked if I made this outfit, then went on to say that she loves my handmade stuff because it's just so different from anything you can buy in the shops ... for me that's pretty much the highest compliment a crafty Mummy can receive, and what makes that even better is when my kids ask to wear their Mummy-made clothes.  Melts my creative heart, and I'm determined to squeeze as much into these years where they love what I make, before I suddenly become the dorkiest, most uncool, embarrassing person in the world to them and they just can't wait to go shopping to buy the exact same clothes as their friends ... dreading that day, huh!

Anyway, you can find the pattern for this little fox cross-stitch here, and this was lots of fun ... a 1-evening job and I just used a store-bought tank top, and stitched whilst watching TV.  Super-effective! 

And if you want to make your own Foxy-Loxy Lacey Pants, with their little lacey pockets of cuteness, this is for you ...

You Need:
- 1/2 metre / yard fabric ... this is a printed cotton poplin (1/2 metre was sufficient fabric for Hannah's size 4 pants)
- Shorts pattern, or a pair of short / pants that fit to make your own pattern (I used the Kids Shorts Pattern by Made, which is my go-to shorts pattern, but you could always draft your own pattern very simply like I did here).
- 1 metre / yard lace or your favourite trim
- 1 yard 1/4" elastic for the waist and legs.
- The usual: Sewing machine, overlocker / serger (if you have one), coordinating thread, scissors

And here's how I did it:

1. Measure your munchkin from their waist to just below just below their knee, and add 2 inches, then take your shorts pattern, and cut the front and back pieces out, extending the length to your measurement +1" for the hem.  So, for Hannah, her measurement waist to below-knee was 16".  Her pattern pieces therefore measure 17".

2. Grab a scrap of paper, and draw a pocket pattern as per the one below (you could make it a little bigger if you're making a much bigger size)

... then cut out the pocket pattern and use it to cut two pockets from your fabric like so ... you might like to fussy-cut to make a feature of your fabric if you're using a cute one like these foxes.  I decided on a sleeping fox and a sitting fox ...

3. Finish the edges of your pocket pieces with either an overlocker / serger or using a zig-zag stitch to stop the pockets fraying on the inside.  The using your iron, press the top edge to the wrong side by 1/2" and the other 4 sides by 1/4" like so ...

4. Flip your pockets over the the right side, and attach a piece of lace to the upper edge, using a single row of stitching at the top of the lace.  This will sew down the top fold at the same time.  Press the over-lapping edges of the lace to the wrong sides of the pockets.

5. Grab the back pieces of your pants, and lay them flat on the table, with the curved edges in the middle like so.  Then arrange the pockets in the mid-upper section, making sure they are level with each other so you have level pockets in the end.  Pin the pockets in place, then topstitch them around the sides and bottom, approximately 1/8" from the edge, and ensuring the folded under edges are tucked under.  It's also a good idea to back-stitch at the beginning and end to give the pockets extra strength.

6.  Now you can assemble your pants as per the pattern instructions ... if you've drafted your own pattern, you simply sew the two back pieces right-sides-together at the top curved seam, then the same with the front pieces.   Attach the front to the back right-sides together at the inner-leg seam.  Then, right-sides-together sew the 2 side-seams, and you'll end up with assembled pants like this ...

7.  Now for the waist ... press the top edge to the wrong side by 1/4", then fold over another 1" and pin in place.  Starting at the back seam, sew the waist-band down as close to the edge as possible, making sure you leave a 1" gap at the end of your stitch-line to allow space for threading your elastic.  Then, again starting at the back seam, sew a second row of stitching 1/4" from the top edge of the pants to make your top ruffle.

8.  Using a safety-pin, thread your waist elastic through, overlap by 1/2" and sew ends together...  

... You can then stitch across the gap to enclose the elastic.

9.  Repeat this same process with both leg hems, but before threading your elastic ...

10. Pin and sew in place your leg lace/trim approximately 2-3" from the bottom of the hem.  If your using a less-busy fabric, you could even do 2 or 3 rows of lace at the base of the legs ... cuteness plus!!

11.  Then you can insert a length of elastic into each leg which is long enough to comfortably go around your child's calf ... Hannah's leg elastics were 10".

... you now have a cute little pair of knicker-bockers that look like this ...

... and this ...

... and coupled with her fox top, like this ...

 ... and when she's about to jump of the garden wall, they look like this!

These are really comfy versatile little pair of pants that are great for playing and pre-school and generally Hannah-ing around.  I can see a few more pairs of these in Hannah's future!  Hope you like them too!

Tutorial: High-Low Play-time Dress

I know that high-low dresses and skirts have been around for ages, and to be honest I haven't really liked them until now ... well lots of them anyway, especially the ones where the front is VERY short, and the back is VERY long.  Just not my cup of tea ... maybe a little too much like a mullet haircut... you know the old 80's business in the front, party in the back.  Hmmmm!  Anyway, I've seen a few high-low skirts and dresses in the shops with a much more subtle high-low effect, and decided I really liked them.  It's fun when my tastes change and a whole new world of sewing options open up!  I've also found my fabric-matching taste changing lately.  I never would have put stripes with a busy fabric like this before, but I just love this combo right now.

Anyway, so I decided Bethany needed a new dress (stop laughing ... I know my girls never really NEED a new dress!), and one that will hopefully still fit next summer seeing as our warm weather is slowly coming to an end.  I wanted a quick project, and a dress that would be comfy to wear, but also cute for going to a birthday party or out for lunch.  This is what eventuated... The High-Low Play-Time Dress, and Bethany's a HUGE fan.  She loves this dress, and if it's clean and hanging in her wardrobe, she will most likely pick it to wear for pretty much any occasion.

Dragonfly Love

Who loves cheap fabric?  Um, silly question ... I know!! It makes my day when I'm perusing the fabric store for on-sale fabrics.  My local fabric shop often have a discount for end-of-bolt fabrics, and they also have a sale table of fabrics.  That's my go-to section as soon as I enter the fabric shop .... cough ... not that I'm ever distracted by anything except what I went in there for, huh!!

Anyway, one particular day a couple of months ago this happened, and I picked up this adorable purple dragonfly fabric.  There was just a smidge over 1 metre left on the bolt, and I picked it up for $4.  Pretty happy with that.  This one didn't even make it into my stash.  It was sewn up immediately into a gorgeous little Rainbow Pieced Peplum using this amazing pattern from Shwin and Shwin.  These girls are very clever and creative, and have a whole bunch of free patterns too, most of which are in my to-do file.  They're very generous.

My top 5 posts from 2013

So, as I've browsed around a few blogs today, I've been reading some great 2013 run-downs and it prompted me to have a look at my blog stats and see just what my most popular posts of 2013 have been.  By far and away, my most popular posts are tutorials, and that's thanks to some great tutorial sites that often feature my posts.  You can see their buttons down the side of the page.  So here's the run-down of my top 5:

Number 5:  My Version of a Pillowcase (Kinda!) Nightgown … Hannah's Matching (but not) PJ's.

Do you remember this one?  This is what Hannah wore to Bethany's Pyjama-themed birthday party in March this year.  I like to think this one was popular because of the cute toddler chubby knees in this picture, and those super-adorable bottom 2 teeth, but you-know, a free tutorial might have had something to do with it too!

Number 4: A Heart Outfit for Valentines Day

This was a super-fun project for me.  I was gifted this fabric via a Tutorial Exchange on Totally Tutorials, and was given free-reign to create whatever I liked.  Can't argue with that really!  These have been a super popular post, and I'm still receiving messages from people about these.  Thanks lovely readers!

Number 3: Baby Change-Mat Clutch

Considering this project was only posted a few months ago, it's really been a hit to make it to number 3 in my list of most popular.  I love this design, and have made lots of them now.  I've also made them with different colour combinations.  Oh and (A-hem … shameless plug alert!!), there's one for sale in my shop right now if you're keen.  It's a really cute jungle-themed one.  And I have a girly one ready to add to my shop really soon too … keep an eye out!!

Number 2: Hoot Hoot Winter PJ's

This one was an exciting post for me for a few different reasons … I was using some absolutely beautiful fabric, that I adore … I only wish there was enough left of this for some Mummy-sized PJ's.  Also, This was a pretty detailed design for me, and I learned a lot technically while creating it.  Lastly,  and most exciting of all, was that this post resulted in my first ever contact from one of my readers with a picture of the PJ's she'd made using my tutorial.  Thanks so much Tasha!  She made some changes along the way to better suit her skills, and I think she did absolutely fabulously.  You can read all about them here.  It was enough to warm this Mummy blogger's heart!  Anyway, Bethany adores these PJ's, and whilst it's a little hot to wear them at the moment in the middle of our Aussie Summer, I made them large enough to fit next year too, so here's hoping for two seasons out of these!

And now, for Number 1 ……. drum-roll!!

Number 1: Super-quick Princess Pyjama's

You might remember that I made these using a store-bought singlet-top in time for Bethany's Pyjama-themed party.  And my readers are not the only ones who like them … I think they're one of my favs from this year too, and Bethany is still wearing them.  They're simple, cute, feminine and oh, so comfy!

Anyway, so it seems like PJ's were a major hit on my blog this year, winter, summer and pillow-case style.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, my most popular post of my blogging life to date is still the Matching Scraps post, which was my first ever tutorial.  Can you believe that!?!  Talk about beginner's luck with that one.  It continues to score lots of hits, and be "pinned" on Pinterest more than any other post to date.

Anyway, thanks for reading my ramblings, and for having a go at some of my creations.  I love, love, LOVE hearing from my readers so feel free to whisk me an email to show me what you're up to, or follow me on Facebook so we can chat more regularly.  Wishing you all a great 2014 filled with everything your heart desires, and some crafting along the way!!

Wen xx

Pattern Testing Fun

I recently volunteered to do a pattern test for Petite Kids Boutique.  There was a call for testers on Facebook, and although I've seen such call-outs before, I've never been brave enough to have a go, and was worried my sewing wouldn't be good enough.  

Anyway, after all the sewing I've been doing lately I felt brave for a challenge and volunteered.  I was so excited when I was contacted and asked to make the 18 month size in this Tiffany Dress PDF pattern.

Hannah generally wears an 18 month size, and her measurements seemed to match the measurements given on the pattern, but seriously, could this little dress fit her any better?  It's like it was designed for her.  Initially I wasn't sure about the red and white polka dot ... thought it might be too much, but now that the dress is finished, I love it.

And what was even more exciting than my first ever pattern testing experience, was that Wong from Petite Kids Boutique liked my little dress and my photos so much that she contacted me and asked if I would mind if she used my pics on the pattern sale listing.  How amazing is that!?!

A week or so later, Petite Kids Boutique put out another call for pattern testers ... this time for a skirt ... the Isla skirt.  I was keen to have another go, and here's the skirt I made ... again in the 18 month size.  The Isla skirt pattern has just been released ... here it is!

I think I may have found a new career ... pattern testing is so much fun!!  Pity it doesn't pay, huh!

And Hannah is definitely loving the modelling ... she'll say "Hannah wear pretties?" whenever she sees some new sewing, and there's no stopping her (or Mummy) then!

Oh, and I think the garden likes it too!