...according, of course, to the good folk at Random.org...Fer! Well done Fer, and thanks to everybody for entering the comp. Sniff, sniff - it was so sweet to get so many lovely birthday and blog wishes. Thanks guys!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
And the winner of the Liberty Jersey giveaway is...
...according, of course, to the good folk at Random.org...Fer! Well done Fer, and thanks to everybody for entering the comp. Sniff, sniff - it was so sweet to get so many lovely birthday and blog wishes. Thanks guys!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Making our own
Grumbles, bless her heart, has decided that this summer she wants me to make all of her clothes for her. In fact, the cheeky monkey has insisted, and has even decreed that she wants to take the Hand Made Pledge (cos hand made is better, Mum!)
Since I took the Hand Made Pledge myself at the beginning of the year, and (apart from one purchase) have made my entire wardrobe this year, who was I to argue? Anything that stops suppporting the ghastly treatment of downtrodden textiles workers is fine by me.
So, even though the Melbourne has been grey and drab and frankly freeeeezing this week, I have begun to get a start on her summer wardrobe. I've had to - she had already outgrown lasts years shorts...last summer. It was all getting a bit too Kylie-in-gold-hotpants-looking, or in other words the kid desperately needs summer clothes pronto! Presenting yet another Three Way Dress from Ottobre Design Magazine 3/2009:
And one last reminder: If you haven't already entered, don't forget about the Liberty Jersey birthday giveaway. Hoorah!
Since I took the Hand Made Pledge myself at the beginning of the year, and (apart from one purchase) have made my entire wardrobe this year, who was I to argue? Anything that stops suppporting the ghastly treatment of downtrodden textiles workers is fine by me.
So, even though the Melbourne has been grey and drab and frankly freeeeezing this week, I have begun to get a start on her summer wardrobe. I've had to - she had already outgrown lasts years shorts...last summer. It was all getting a bit too Kylie-in-gold-hotpants-looking, or in other words the kid desperately needs summer clothes pronto! Presenting yet another Three Way Dress from Ottobre Design Magazine 3/2009:
And one last reminder: If you haven't already entered, don't forget about the Liberty Jersey birthday giveaway. Hoorah!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Liberty Dress
What's a girl to do when it's raining, it's pouring, the light is fading rapidly but she has a brand new Liberty jersey print dress to show off?
Get out and take a pic anyway, using her daughter's totally sophisticated bird umbrella as a prop!
Totally, totally loving this dress. The Liberty was an absolute dream to work with. It was so well behaved, and didn't do any of that nasty stretching or buckling that some jerseys can do when you sew with them. Bliss!
Project Details
Pattern: McCalls 5752
Fabric: 2.4m Liberty Jersey from Tessuti Fabrics
To be honest, though, I did find the pattern to be a bit needlessly fiddly. The mid section, for example, had you gather pieces which were then sewn onto a backing. All well and good, but then they ask you to sew another facing onto the back of that. Needless to say, I didn't both doing that, as it seemed (a) pointlesss and (b) like it would do nothing but add extra bulk to the mid section. Trust me - after having a child, you want to minimise bulk in that area at all costs!
Apart from that it was a fairly simple pattern to make. Although, you could probably make a sack out of Liberty, and it would look awesome!
PS: If you haven't already, don't forget to enter the Liberty jersey giveaway!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Happy Birthday to me... and a Liberty Jersey giveaway!
Today is my 33rd birthday - hoorah! As a way to celebrate the milestone, and also as a way to give a big thank you to all my lovely readers, I'm having a birthday giveaway.
What's this we have over here? Could it be... is it really... well, shake my boots - it's 1.5 metres of Liberty Jersey goodness!
All you need to do to get your hot little hands on the Rolls Royce of fabrics is to leave a comment, and be a follower of my blog. If you're not already a follower then scoot on over and become one. Really, it's too easy! Make sure you leave your name/blog address in the comment so I can find you easily. I'm happy to ship world wide (good grief, this aging business sure is making me generous!) so skedaddle to the comments section and give yourself a fighting chance!
The competition shall remain open until Monday 26th July. Best of luck, and thanks for being the best blog readers in the whole flipping world!
What's this we have over here? Could it be... is it really... well, shake my boots - it's 1.5 metres of Liberty Jersey goodness!
All you need to do to get your hot little hands on the Rolls Royce of fabrics is to leave a comment, and be a follower of my blog. If you're not already a follower then scoot on over and become one. Really, it's too easy! Make sure you leave your name/blog address in the comment so I can find you easily. I'm happy to ship world wide (good grief, this aging business sure is making me generous!) so skedaddle to the comments section and give yourself a fighting chance!
The competition shall remain open until Monday 26th July. Best of luck, and thanks for being the best blog readers in the whole flipping world!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sneak peek...
...of what I'm pretty sure is going to be my new favourite dress. Liberty jersey - what's not to love?!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Vogue 8511 - The Shorty Short Version
It was a beautiful sunny day, and Jorth was riding her bike to work wearing her new Vogue 8511 when she heard the tell tale siren of a police car behind her, warning somebody to pull over. With a shock, Jorth realised the siren was for her. In a panic, she quickly gave her bike the once over. Lights present and flashing? Check. Helmet on? Check. Reflectors in all the right places? Check. What could possibly be the problem?
As she pulled over and dismounted from her bike, the police slowed down, rolled down their window and said "Nice legs there, short skirt!" and then drove off in a puff of exhaust fumes and macho chuckling.
"Nagdammit!" said a red-faced Jorth, climbing back on the bike in a huff. "I knew I shouldn't have shortened the skirt by 16cm. What the heck was I thinking?"
She then rode off, all too aware of the breeze freely circulating around her nether regions and promising herself this would be the last time she wore such a short skirt whilst riding her bike.***
***I'd just like to clarify that this didn't actually happen. I am well aware that our policemen (and woman) are hardworking people doing what can be at times a ghastly job, and not only do I take my hat off to them but regard them with nothing but respect. I just let my imagination run away from me when writing this post in the hope that blog readers would get a chuckle out of it. Sorry for any confusion caused! It truly is nothing but a piece of fiction. However the sad chopping off of 16cm of fabric? That, alas, is the truth...
Project Details
Pattern: Vogue 8511
Fabric: 1.6m Japanese cotton from Tessuti Fabrics
Notions: 22" zip, hook and eye
Well, as regular readers will know this is the third (oh the shame!) version of this dress I've made. Really, I promise I will stop now. Even though it's so easy to whip up, and is super comfy to wear, and - apart from issues of public decency and self-modesty - is rather easy to ride a bike in.
What can I say? I like to get my money's worth out of a pattern!
As she pulled over and dismounted from her bike, the police slowed down, rolled down their window and said "Nice legs there, short skirt!" and then drove off in a puff of exhaust fumes and macho chuckling.
"Nagdammit!" said a red-faced Jorth, climbing back on the bike in a huff. "I knew I shouldn't have shortened the skirt by 16cm. What the heck was I thinking?"
She then rode off, all too aware of the breeze freely circulating around her nether regions and promising herself this would be the last time she wore such a short skirt whilst riding her bike.***
***I'd just like to clarify that this didn't actually happen. I am well aware that our policemen (and woman) are hardworking people doing what can be at times a ghastly job, and not only do I take my hat off to them but regard them with nothing but respect. I just let my imagination run away from me when writing this post in the hope that blog readers would get a chuckle out of it. Sorry for any confusion caused! It truly is nothing but a piece of fiction. However the sad chopping off of 16cm of fabric? That, alas, is the truth...
Project Details
Pattern: Vogue 8511
Fabric: 1.6m Japanese cotton from Tessuti Fabrics
Notions: 22" zip, hook and eye
Well, as regular readers will know this is the third (oh the shame!) version of this dress I've made. Really, I promise I will stop now. Even though it's so easy to whip up, and is super comfy to wear, and - apart from issues of public decency and self-modesty - is rather easy to ride a bike in.
What can I say? I like to get my money's worth out of a pattern!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Knitting Like Fury
Yikes! I really should have made some annoucement concerning my disappearing act during the school holidays. The truth is, I didn't actually mean to disappear. I had every intention of updating this old blog, but I was just enjoying being with Grumbles so much that I kept thinking "Ach! Blog can wait! I'll do it tomorrow..."
But as James Bond can tell you, tomorrow never comes. Well, not at least until now anyway.
Rest assured, dear readers, that it has not been all lying-on-couch-and-eating-bonbons. In fact, the last two days have been spent knitting like fury. You see, my dear friend had a baby rather unexpectedly (and darn quickly - 3 hours from whoa to go!) four weeks early, and the poor little chap had nothing to wear that would actually fit him, so to rescue came I with an impromptu handknit. Saturday afternoon found me rushing into the city for this:
...and then after knitting for four furious hours on Saturday night (oh yeah baby, we know how to party chez Jorth!) then another four on Sunday morning found me happily wrapping up this:
Ok, so I gave myself sore wrists in the process, but wee little Logan and his warmth needs were worth it. Besides, I can think of no better omen for a happy life than being welcomed into the world with a garment that was made by hands, each stitch done with love, and it was all done just for you.
Project Details
Pattern: Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss, size 0 - 3 months
Yarn: 3 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Needles: 4.5mm and 5mm
Note: The pattern calls for 4 balls to make the 0 - 3 size, but I used a scant 3 balls, which kinda ticked me off a bit. So be warned - that extra ball is simply not needed, so save yourself the $13.10!
But as James Bond can tell you, tomorrow never comes. Well, not at least until now anyway.
Rest assured, dear readers, that it has not been all lying-on-couch-and-eating-bonbons. In fact, the last two days have been spent knitting like fury. You see, my dear friend had a baby rather unexpectedly (and darn quickly - 3 hours from whoa to go!) four weeks early, and the poor little chap had nothing to wear that would actually fit him, so to rescue came I with an impromptu handknit. Saturday afternoon found me rushing into the city for this:
...and then after knitting for four furious hours on Saturday night (oh yeah baby, we know how to party chez Jorth!) then another four on Sunday morning found me happily wrapping up this:
Ok, so I gave myself sore wrists in the process, but wee little Logan and his warmth needs were worth it. Besides, I can think of no better omen for a happy life than being welcomed into the world with a garment that was made by hands, each stitch done with love, and it was all done just for you.
Project Details
Pattern: Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss, size 0 - 3 months
Yarn: 3 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Needles: 4.5mm and 5mm
Note: The pattern calls for 4 balls to make the 0 - 3 size, but I used a scant 3 balls, which kinda ticked me off a bit. So be warned - that extra ball is simply not needed, so save yourself the $13.10!