Kleenex case

I made this Kleenex case a while back but have not got round to uploading the photograph until now. I made one that was too short first and had to make another one that I measured a bit better.

Pattern:
A combination of different tutorials and photographs I have seen online.

Material:
Blue and white fabric from IKEA and an old, white sheet for lining.

Next time:
Make sure the size is correct before you sew the corners. Measure against a pack of Kleenex.

It has arrived!!!!

A few weeks ago I ordered an old issue of Ottobre and now it is here!!! I went for the Winter 6/2008 issue because it had so many nice patterns that I want to try.

My scanner is not very cooperative at the moment so I have borrowed some photos from the Ottobre website.

One item that I would like to make for little F is the coat pictured below. Should (hopefully!!) be able to do that before summer is over...

♥ Sooooo happy!!! ♥

Another dummy holder

Pattern:
This time I left the opening for turning the band right side out on the long side instead of at the ends. Much better result! I also decided to add a button both ends so I don't have to use one of my precious clips every time, instead I just attach the clip to the band the same way as the dummy is attached. This decision was made after I cut the fabric so the band is a bit on the short side... I also wasn't able to pull the band thru the clip because of the button so I had to bend the clip a bit to get it thru.

Material:
Fabric from IKEA, clip bought on ebay and snap buttons from my 'stash'.

Next time:
Swap they way I attach the buttons on the clip side.

Oh.... my.... god...!!!

I have just tried my bias binder. IT IS SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! Except my overlocker and sewing machine this is the most useful tool I have ever bought. It is so easy to use and the result is perfect. Just position the bias tape in the bias binder, position the fabric as well and off you go!! All done in one step. AMAZING!!

My bias binder has arrived!!!

A week or so ago I bought this presser foot on ebay and now it has arrived!!! I can't wait to get home and try it out!! Just hoping it will fit my sewing machine... Will post update on how it went.

For little Thumbelina

Little F has the habit of sucking her thumb a lot. She will sleep with it in her mouth the whole night and as a result it is now very dry and the skin looks very sore and cracked. So me and H decided to try (again!!) to convince her to use a dummy instead. She has never been interested in a dummy in the past except as a 'toy' but this time it looks a bit more promising. Perhaps because her little thumb hurts...

So... I decided to get her a new dummy and make her a new dummy holder to make it even more 'special' and when I gave it to her this morning she was very pleased. ♥♥♥

Pattern:
Have seen many versions of dummy holders online and made one from memory.

Material:
Fabric from IKEA, clip bought on ebay and snap button from my 'stash'.

Next time:
Use a much thinner fabric and try to finish off the ends in a nicer way. Remember to attach name tag.

Another un-wanted creation...

I made this 'Taggie' for little F because she used to always sleep with something (like a blanket for example) in her hand. But... she was NOT interested in this one at all!! It now lives in her toy box and maybe it will become a blanket or something for a doll in the future.

Pattern:
Have seen lots of 'Taggies' online and made one in a size that seemed right.

Material:
Brushed cotton (flanell), white with ladybirds and red + some white ribbon.

Next time:
What 'next time'??

Curtains for little F

I bought this fabric last summer when I was in Sweden for a visit. I was going to make curtains and seat cushions for little F, but time went so quickly and in November we moved to a new house. For once I am glad I never got down to doing the curtains because they would not have fitted the new windows!!

Pattern:
My own. If you can call it 'pattern'... just 2 squares with a channel at the top and one at the bottom. Top rod is attached to the wall, bottom one just added as a 'weight' to give the curtain some structure.

Material:
Fabric and curtain rods from Sweden.

Next time:
This project went quite well so wouldn't do it any differently if I do it again, only problem is that H hates both the style and the fabric. ;o)

'Dagisväska' and tetra purse

This is my version of the famous Dagisväskan (nursery bag) by Knåpmodern. I changed it a bit and made it from 1 piece + bottom and I added a two compartment pocket to the inside of the bag. I also made a little tetra purse from the leftover material.

They are a bit creased now because they have been around the world... perfect beach bag when we went to Australia in November!!

Pattern:
Bag pattern is modified version of the pattern made by Knåpmodern and purse pattern is from ICA Kuriren but they seem to have removed it from their website so I can't link to it..

Material:
Cotton fabric from IKEA for the lining of the bag, oilcloth, home made bais tape and a zip for the purse.

Next time:
Make the openings on the bag a bit bigger.

Mouse-rat, hi and goodbye!!

This is Mouse-rat. Another 'old' creation that I have decided to put up here on my blog. The reason is that I have never made a soft toy before and since my daughter doesn't like it, it will probably end up in a box somewhere never to be seen again. By putting it here it will stay 'alive'... ;o)

Pattern:
Downloaded one of the free patterns from Ottobre. Mine had a nose too from the beginning, but it was soon pulled off by little F.

Material:
An old pair of trousers as the main fabric, some pink and 'skin coloured' felt for hands, ears, face and heart + stuffing.

Next time:
Will not be a next time...

Hippos for Red Nose Day

Today is Red Nose Day and the nursery where my daughter is have asked the parents to dress their children in red. So last night at 9.30pm I decided to make a fun red dress with white hippos on it!! It turned out well and my machines didn't act up like they do sometimes. So all in all a successful project.

Pattern:
An old A-line dress pattern I have. I made the slit in the back slightly different from what I have done in the past, because I never managed to make it look very nice with bias tape.

Material:
Hippo fabric from IKEA and white home made bias tape.

Next time:
Make it about 5 cm shorter.

Striped top with tie

I just love this top!! I didn't expect it to be any good so I just took a fabric that I have quite a lot of and when I didn't have a matching bias tape I just took one in a contrasting colour. And now I love the colour combination!

The bias tape has been attached in a way that I have never done before. No part of the bias tape is folded over on the righ side of the fabric. See photo below.

I still have not been brave enough to try the cover hem on my new overlocker (thanks H!!) so I will add another photo once I have done that.

Pattern:
Butterick 4277

Material:
Red and pink striped VERY stretchy lycra bought on holiday in Australia and blue home made bias tape.

Next time:
Try to use a fabric that is slightly less stretchy. Very difficult to sew in this fabric...

Crop trousers

I wanted to try this pattern because if it is good I will make lots of crop trousers for this summer. It is so cute!!! Wouldn't it look nice together with a peasant top?

I wan't very happy with the result though... but I am sure that with some changes to the pattern they will work out fine.

Pattern:
Butterick 3045

Material:
Fabric from IKEA and wide elastics in waist.

Next time:
Try them on F again and modify pattern where needed.

Peasant dress with dots

This time I made a channel and put the elastics thru it to see if it looks better than my last attempt. Don't think it did...

Pattern:
Butterick 3045

Material:
Fabric from IKEA and elastics for neck and sleeves.

Next time:
Use a fabric that is a bit thinner so that the dress doesn't get so 'stiff'.

Summer skirt

Not much to say about this skirt. Very simple with elastics in waist only on the back. The pattern included a belt and belt loops but I was struggling a bit with the belt so this time I decided to make do without the belt.

Pattern:
Butterick 4277

Material:
Fabric from IKEA and wide elastics for waist.

Next time:
Try to shrink to size '1 years' instead of '2 years'.