hmmm...March Challenge - a Softie

Im thinking about some ideas for this challenge. I could make my girls a doll or animal but the thought doesn't really inspire me, probably because the amount of softies we have is just crazy and Im not sure they would appreciate one because of the amount of toys they have. Then I remembered seeing a tutorial earlier this year about easter eggs. Im thinking I might sew them some for Easter. I might make a few for each of them, sew a basket as well, and put little bells inside the eggs. I might sew a small chicken for each of them as well and put it in the basket. See, all I needed to do was blog about it and it would all become clear! I might get started today, Im having a catch up on the washing day so this is a simple project (hopefully) that I can stop and start.

I was just looking at the flicker group for this tutorial and saw that someone filled the eggs with rice for their kids. I might borrow this idea and do one with rice, one with a bell, one with just the usual soft fill and one with some crinkly plastic in it. I might use different textured material for Elyssas as well. This is going to be fun!

After typing the above I have kept searching and I have found a tutorial for an Easter basket that Ill make for the eggs to go in and Im going to follow this tutorial for a love bird but change it a little to be more of a chicken. I might put a little chocolate easter egg in the pocket instead of a heart.
I love a new project!!

Shell

Hoodie dress out of fleece - Febuary Challenge -make something out of Knit

OK I think I just out did myself! Im very excited about this jumper dress I made for Chloe. I bought a recycled T-shirt hoodie pattern off Etsy and adapted it to make this fleecy hoodie dress for Winter. Its totally my own design, right down to the heart applique!! I haven't tried it on Chloe yet because she is asleep but I hope it looks good and fits her! Im going to make her some strippy leggings to wear with it. The best thing about this little project is that even my sewing is good! All my seams are really straight!!!!! After I make some leggings Im going to make Elyssa a little matching one. It will be a little bit different though but I think Ill put a heart on it too and make her some leggings out of the same material. Im very excited about this hoodie though, Ill post a pic of Chloe wearing it tomorrow. I really hope I like it on her!...It would be wrong to wake her up, wouldn't it.....

I have just edited this post to add that I have just discovered that this little number fits the bill for the 12 month sewing challenge (see button on side) I wasn't sure if fleece counted as a knit fabric or not and it does (silly me). I had been planning on making leggings for the girls, I bought some material from Spotlight and also found some at the local op shop, I bought a pattern off Etsy but alas it wasn't to be! The pattern appears to be a corrupt file and I can't get it to open. Im waiting to hear back from the seller...waiting and waiting and waiting.....

The next challenge is to make a Softie which should be good fun. I might make a giraffe or maybe a dog. Mum made one for Elyssa for Christmas and gave me the instructions. It depends on how much of a challenge I want!

Sewing Challenge- January - Make something for myself

Well I have done it! I have completed the skirt that threatened to ruin the first challenge. I made a three tierd skirt for myself based on another skirt I own and like wearing. The original skirt was a black skirt with lining. Easy! I thought....

So I went to Spotlight and found some material that I loved, bought some tracing paper to make a pattern and some white lining...then got sewing! I measured out the original skirt, made a pattern, then cut out the material, including the lining. I spent the rest of the evening making my new skirt, noticing throughout that it didn't feel like my other skirt, much much heavier. Eventually it was finished and I was very proud, I put it on, looked in the mirror and laughed. It was awful! Much too full, heavy, long and daggy. I showed Ben and he said that looks like a granny skirt!...I would have been offended except that he was right!!

So I took it off and threw it over the sewing chair which is where it stayed for two weeks...until I decided to give it another go.

I pulled most of it apart, pulled out the lining as it wasn't needed, the material was heavy enough. I shortened the hem and adjusted the middle tier, ironed the entire thing as flat as I could get it and put it on....and I liked it! and Ben likes it (I think!) I would definilty make this skirt again but only if the material is on sale. The skirt cost about $25 all up. Definilty wouldn't bother with lining again unless the material was thin like the original skirt. So that is challenge one complete!! Yay me!!