Month: November 2022

  • Pattern Review of the Preppy Polo

    Pattern: Preppy Polo
    Designer: Ellie & Mac Patterns
    Fabrics: Cotton Lycra from Rubyjam Fabric
    Skill level: Confident/Advanced Beginner
    Measurements: Chest: 21″; Waist 20.5″; Hips 21″
    Size made: 2T
    Adjustments: I didn’t use the interfacing on the collar
    Pros: This is a super cute pattern that can be used for boys or girls.
    Cons: I’m not a huge fan of the way the placket is constructed. It turned out ok but it was just a bit clunky I thought.

    The Wrap Up:

    When I purchased this octopus material I was absolutely thrilled with how vibrant and beautiful it was when it arrived. I knew straight away that it would make a great top for my son.

    I am one of the testers for Ellie & Mac Patterns, who have weekly sales on 7 of their patterns, so when I saw the preppy polo was coming up on sale, I thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase not only the pattern, but also this stinking cute fabric!

    This is the first time I have made the preppy polo, so I paid close attention to the pattern instructions, however I chose to omit one big thing it suggested to do. I did not interface my collar with the knit interfacing they suggested. I often find when I interface things like neckbands it never stretches the way I want it to and I am often frustrated with the result, so I chose to skip that step. I don’t think it had an impact on the final look and I am very happy with how it turned out.

    I also wasn’t a huge fan of how the placket was constructed in general. I may investigate a different way to construct next time, but for this time it was fine and looks good. I did make sure I interfaced the placket pieces as it is important to interface when using snaps or it can pull through the material.

    A definite overall win for me though, can see many more of these being made!

    What next?

    Stop wasting fabric and time on projects that don't fit right. 

    Learn to sew with confidence and let me guide you to more sewing success.

  • Pattern Review of the Colleen Cardigan

    This article contains affiliate links throughout.

    Pattern: Colleen Cardigan
    Designer: Made for Mermaids
    Fabrics: Waffle knit – Lush Fabrics
    Measurements: Bust: 44″; Waist 37″; Hips 46″
    Size made: Yellow
    Adjustments: None
    Pros: Love the colour block options and oversized look
    Cons: None really

    Links:

    The Wrap Up:

    I first made the Colleen Cardigan from a Double Brushed Poly and rayon spandex in the colour block regular collar and absolutely loved it, so the next one I used some of my coveted mustard waffle I had been saving from Lush Fabrics Australia. I had zero regrets.

    It is such a nice light, oversized, comfy cardi to chuck over the top of tops when the nights start to get a bit chilly or in the cooler months over long sleeve tops. The only thing I wish I had done for both versions of the cardigan I made was add pockets. Bit of a rookie mistake, but I didn’t add them and have regretted it. However, I also think it would have changed the look a little if it was weighed down by say my phone in the pocket, so it could also be a good thing that I didn’t add them as well.

    I think on the mustard one I ended up doing the shawl collar which adds a little bit of extra coziness in my opinion as well.

    The colour block one is quite good if you have a couple of half metre scraps as well as you can put them together for this fairly simply constructed cardigan.

    Give it a go and tag me in your makes so I can see your me mades too!

    Gallery:

  • New Born Gifts For My Best Friend

    This article contains affiliate links throughout

    When my best friend told me she was pregnant earlier this year, I was so excited! I know how much she’s been waiting to make that journey from Maiden to Mother, so hearing that she was expecting her own bundle of love was beyond exciting for me.

    I was also excited of course at all the fun sewing opportunities. I love gifting hand made and I knew she would really appreciate anything I made for her. I got to work straight away thinking about what I wanted to make and the materials I wanted to use.

    The Wrap Up:

    The first set I made was two Waves & Wild Patterns. A pair of Over it Alls and a Pick n Mix Tee.

    Waves & Wild have some incredible kids patterns and are up there with one of my favourite pattern designers. Particularly the Over it Alls. I don’t even know how many of those I have made! They are so quick and easy and have a very generous size range. Newborn to Age 12.

    I chose to use some of Clover & Co. Fabrics Lounge rib as it is so incredibly soft and is made from 95.4% Cotton and 4.6% spandex, making it super breathable. The print is called Midnight Soleil and I fell in love with it the minute I saw it.

    I did the short version in 000 size, hoping that her bubba boy will get some wear early next year before the weather turns. I also chose to use plastic Kam snaps for the straps but I highly recommend interfacing or at least adding another square scrap of fabric for extra stability under the snaps. They get quite a lot of strain when pulling them off that if they are not properly backed, they will pull through the fabric over time.

    To pair with the Over it Alls I also made a teeny tiny size 000 Pick n Mix Tee. I chose this one for the envelope neckline which if you have kids, you’ll know if a lifesaver when they get covered in anything from poop to food. Not having to pull it over their head and spread it more in their hair, instead being able to peel off over their body is SO much easier!

    The awesome thing about the Pick n Mix is that within the one pattern there is also a sleep sack and body suit. The other necklines include snap neck and crew neck. You can also have either short or long sleeves and there is a handy fold over mitten option so those tiny little fingernails can’t scratch themselves.

    Again I chose to make it from Clover’s Lounge rib, in their Stripes of Soleil print.

    The next gift I made was one that I but a lot of thought into. Although my friend grew up here on the mainland, she now lives in Tasmania and is obviously where she is building her family. So through Clover & Co. I was able to use a fabric that has roots in Tasmania which I knew she would love.

    The design, called Wattle, is from Clover’s NAIDOC round and is designed by local First Nations artist, Annie from Pia Designs. My friends partner has lived and worked with First Nations people out at Uluru, Alice Springs and they both have incredible respect for First Nations people so I knew this print would be perfect.

    For this piece I chose to make a short leg Zippie from Peek A Boo Pattern Shop. I’ve done a pattern review before about the Classic zip PJ set, as its honestly one of my favourite sleepwear patterns to make. Both my kids LOVE their homemade zippies in funky fabrics. So much more than they ever did their Bonds ones. It also has a really generous size range of Newborn to 10/12.

    I was also able to use another incredible Australian supplier for this one, Dreamy Bag Hardware. Coincidently, another Tassie based business! I used their ‘Made in Tassie’ zip pull and number 5 zip tape. As the Made in Tassie pull is quite chunky, and I wanted to have a two way zip for ease of nappy changes, I chose to use a slim line pull for the bottom pull, still in the antique brass to keep it within the theme.

    So all in all a very Tassie themed sew for my Tassie based friend with her soon to be Tassie born babe!

    Seeing the joy on her face when she received these was so worth the trip down there, as was the beautiful 2 days I got to spend with her.

    I can’t wait to see her little man in these!

    Links:


    Video tutorial of the Waves & Wild Over it Alls:

  • Pattern Review of the Serendipity Sweater

    This article contains affiliate links throughout

    Pattern: Serendipity Date Night Sweater
    Designer: Sonia Estep Designs
    Fabrics: Printed Waffle from Clover & Co. Fabrics
    Measurements: Chest: 44″; Waist 39″; Hips 47″
    Size made: 20
    Adjustments: None
    Pros: Beautiful and comfy oversized Sweater
    Cons: The Sleeves were a little long for me, I should probably shorten them

    Links:

    The Wrap Up:

    Where do I start with this incredible sew? This sew was love from the minute I received the fabric till the minute I finished it and got to wear it.

    I am a big fan on oversized at the moment. I feel like it’s a big hug and also helps me feel a little less self conscious about some of my lumps and bumps.

    This pattern has two versions. The Bonfire version which is more of an oversized poncho, and the Date night version with is a crew neck sweater with side vents. I was a fan of both versions, but as we are heading into Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, I wanted something that I would be able to wear on the cooler nights but also be able to layer underneath in the colder months. Being oversized means I will be able to wear this year round with no issues.

    This was also my first time using Clover & Co. Fabrics waffle base. Safe to say it will not be my last. This is quite a light base to wear, but the square waffles give it such a cosy feel. It has more horizontal stretch than vertical, so wouldn’t suit leggings or any garment that requires 4 way stretch, but pj’s, jumpers, joggers and cardigans are perfect in this base. It is 95% cotton and 5% spandex, so also really breathable, which is important to me. The generous 160cm wide Width of Fabric (WOF) also means you can squeeze a lot out of the meterage. Worth checking out.

    So all in all a huge win for me on this pattern and fabric. The Serendipity is on sale until 21st November 2022 for $6USD OR, you can get it for free with the purchase of any other Sonia Estep Designs Pattern. I highly highly recommend the Iris shorts. I’ve written a review of that one HERE!

    Gallery:

  • How to add a knit binding feature to the Kids Discoverer Tee

    I love the kids discoverer tee. Its such a great, simple pattern with great colour blocking. It’s one of my go to patterns when making the kids basics.

    Recently, I’ve been adding a little contrast knit binding at the front colour blocking, just to give the pattern a little something-something and I really think it jazzes it up a little. The best thing is, its really EASY to do! In this blog, I’ll walk you through all the steps you need to take to add your own contrast binding. If you haven’t already, grab the pattern here:

    Let’s get started!

    The first thing you need to do is cut out all your pattern pieces as per instructed in the pattern. You should have the front top piece, back top piece, 2 bodice pieces (front and back), sleeves, neckband and the optional cuff and waistband pieces if thats what you are doing, as shown below. (I chose not to do those pieces and will hem my sleeves and tee so they are not pictured)

    The pieces you should start with

    Once you have cut those pieces, you are going to take one of the bodice pieces and measure how wide it is across the top. I’m making the 2T and its about 12 inches from side to side.

    Measure the top of your bodice piece as indicated here

    You are now going to cut a piece of knit fabric that is going to be your binding. You want this to be about an inch longer than what you measured the top of your bodice piece to be anything from a 1-2 inches in width. For this tee I cut mine 2 inches wide, but I think I actually prefer the original knit binding I did on the black and grey tee which I’m pretty sure was only 1 inch wide. You just need to take into account that you are going to loose about 1/4 of an inch or more when sewing it on.

    I used a clear quilting ruler to cut mine which made it really easy to mark out the 2 inches width and the length I wanted of 13 inches long.

    Marking out my knit binding piece

    Once you’ve cut your knit binding piece, fold it in half, wrong sides together and give it a press if you like. Then you are going to pin/clip it along the top of the bodice piece, raw edges together. It should look like the image below.

    Baste the binding piece to the bodice piece with a long straight stitch on your sewing machine.

    Clip/pin your binding piece to your bodice piece

    Now lay your top front piece on top of the bodice and knit binding piece, aligning the raw edges so the knit binding piece is sandwiched between the bodice and the top front bodice piece. The edges of the binding will stick out at the sides but thats ok, we’ll trim them after. Pin/clip in place and serge them together.

    Top front bodice pin/clipped to your bodice piece

    Flip the front bodice piece up and press the seam toward the top. Top stitch the seam in place using your preferred top stitching method. I have used a cover-stitch but a stretch stitch or twin needle on a normal machine will look nice as well.

    The seam has been pressed up and topstitched

    Trim the sides to neaten up your front bodice piece.

    Trimmed front bodice piece

    Tadah! You can now continue with the instructions as indicated in the pattern.

    Completed garment

    As I mentioned above, have a try with different widths until you get the width of knit binding you are happy with. I think adding the binding gives this tee such a snazzy look and helps give it a little extra something!

    Thanks for reading, I really hope it helped you add your own knit binding to your kids discoverer tee. Tag me on instagram with your makes, I’d love to see them! @sewandtellau

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