Putting paid to the Terrible Twos

Three is Two on steroids.
Three is loud.
Three has opinions.
Three is determined.
Three pushes the envelope.
Three is all grow-en-ed up, thank you very much.

Apparently Three is also stealthy.

Three crept out of his bedroom in the dead of night. Let himself into the study. Rifled through drawers. Found a self-inking gadget. And Three stamped PAID all over everything.

Terrible Twos indeed.

The truth about downloadable dressmaking patterns

I haven't done this in a while.

I am sitting on the floor, with a large pile of paper. When I say large, I mean 72 printed pages. Looking at the stack I'd say it would be similar in size to the first half of the Oxford English Dictionary. But while that would give you everything from aardvarks to Kurdistan, it appears that this is a singular garment pattern.

I am on my hands and knees arranging the pages in rows and columns; painstakingly folding blank edges and matching registration marks. Each edge is being carefully taped in place. I'm trying to beat the breeze which intermittently blows under the door and disrupts the pages before they are secured. Curses. And trying to fend off the family member of short stature is helpfully shuffling the stack of paper. Double curses.

The problem with downloading and printing patterns at home is the deception. The downloading and printing is ever so convenient. And cheap. And marvellously quick and easy. (I don't know about you, but more often than not I find myself disappointed when I head to a store to buy a pattern. Out of stock, they say. Well, that never happens online - its all about instant gratification.)

Sounds peachy, yes? It is. Until the 72nd page spews forth from your printer. Its only then that you have second thoughts. But by then its too late: you've paid; you've printed. You're committed. Hours of folding, lining up and sticking await (and I'm afraid I don't do tedious that well).

The funny thing is that the 72 page pattern, which I am using today, is for a mere t-shirt. Goodness, can you possibly imagine printing a pattern for fancy frock with numerous views?

Yes, it was taping together the 250 pages for the bias, floor-length lined dress that finally sent her stark raving bonkers. Such a pity because the download only cost $2.99 ....

On sausage fingers and other afflictions

As I've grown older, I have come to accept many things.

I will never, for example, be a concert pianist. Or an Olympic swimmer. And dreams of tap dancing in stage musicals, fell by the wayside years ago.

So, I am unsure as to why I suffer certain delusions when it comes to handicrafts.

Let's take this project for example. My eagerness to produce something delicate and sparkly for a swap has led me to overlook a number of facts.



Sequins and beads are teeny tiny.
I am long-sighted and have sausage fingers.

On the face of it, bugle beads and a lack of manual dexterity do appear mutually exclusive. Let's see what happens. If the beading is successful, maybe my next stop will be an audition to tread the boards in 42nd Street?

I just head to buy it

I saw her sitting on a shelf amongst a dozen sisters. Discounted said her ticket. It wasn't a surprise - most of her neighbors had lost noses and other polystyrene features in somewhat mysterious circumstances. She on the other hand looked quite intact ( ... so far as one can say this about a disembodied head).

I couldn't resist; I knew she'd be awfully useful. Even if only time would tell for what (here's hoping that Roswell don't ask for her return).

In the meantime, at least I can say I really got a-head in my sewing this weekend.

My creative space

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

This week's space is just a bit of fun: watercolour pencil scribbled on a large white jotter. No reason; no purpose. When life gets a bit crazy* isn't it nice to do a few things just because?

* I mean crazy in the sense of being the mother of a three-year old who emits as many decibels as a jet plane at take-off

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space (or to join in), head over here.

Burn baby burn

Burn baby, burn
Is it a viscose inferno?
Burn baby, burn
Work out what I found.

The purchase of a mystery print from a thrift shop, seemed like the perfect excuse to set something alight.



Man-made or natural? I secretly hoped the whisper soft, lusterous yard was something special.



But frankly identifying fabric using fire, was harder than I imagined. It didn't want to ignite. Even with my concerted arson-round.



It wasn't until I consulted this ready reckoner that I realised this wasn't such a bad thing. It seems the stinky, charred remains were most likely silk ( ... and possibly the best $1.00 I have ever spent on fabric).

Embracing the flatlock (or overcoming sergephobic tendencies)

A most wise and learned man once said "you can't change what you don't acknowledge". So in the spirit of this advice, I have decided to come clean.

My overlocker scares the (satin-backed) crepe out of me.

Yes. There, said it (if perhaps a little uncouthly. Ahem, sorry.). But now I have got that off my chest I feel a little better.

Maybe there is someone else out there afflicted so, too? You know: you'd be the type who felt a little bilious should the old tying-the-new-thread-to-the-old-and-pulling-it-though-the-needles-and-loopers trick goes pear-shaped. You know, thinking that you might actually have to thread that confounded contraption up. Yourself. Manually. Quick pass a paper bag for breathing into ... and, while you're at it, a brandy wouldn't go astray, either.



Anyway I digress. I think I was talking about change. So change it is. I've decided to overcome my fear of my overlocker (which is similar to my children's fear of the dark, but they cry less). I am going to enter uncharted territory. I've heard that overlockers can do more than finish seams; grand tales of decoration and embellishment.



So my journey begins with flatlocking. This 3-thread technique involves serging two pieces of fabric together ...



... then opening it out flat, so it has this lovely stitching on one side ...



... or this fabulous ladder effect on the other.



You can even curl hem allowance into a little S -shape and then serge the edge ...



... to create this wonderful effect on the hem. Ahhh .... I'm smitten. Just think of the wonderful possibilities. Especially if you used beautiful decorative thread.

But of course, that might involve threading the machine ....

The year I went crazy and made Kwik Sew 3513 a hundred times

Only ninety-seven of these babies to go.

After dinner this evening, I got out the scissors and overlocker and cut and sewed another Kwik Sew pull-on knit skirt. This one is a gift for my sister.

I made her skirt using a length of crinkle jersey and a sequin and lace embellished, tie-dyed mesh. The mesh was pretty tricky to work with, but I did manage to sew the whole skirt from start to finish using just my overlocker. I used the rolled hem feature for the first time and I quite liked the way it finished the mesh fabric.

It feels reassuring to have a pattern in my repertoire that is so quick and easy to make. Learning dressmaking is challenging - and sometimes frustrating or demoralising - so quick wins are a great counterbalance. (Did you think I was only joking about the other 97 skirts?).

Tip of the day

When attempting pattern drafting for the first time ...

... make sure its for someone who cannot complain about the fit.



This cuddly canine is visiting from kindergarten for the weekend. While he is here I am making him a new shirt. Do you think I should make it in barkcloth?

My creative space

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

Clockwise from left:

• Reader's Digest Complete Guide To Sewing (a surprise gift from someone very generous)
• Burda World of Fashion 8/2008
• Bengaline suiting

Sitting on my sewing table this week is a Burda World of Fashion pattern for some trousers. I have no real experience of making ladies trousers, but am aware that I will need to make a few alterations to the pattern. I am currently reading about how to accommodate a sway back and the kind of derriere that would be best photographed using a panoramic lens.

The pattern is rated as being "Easy to sew, with simple features", so I am hoping that altering the pull-on style won't be too complicated. (Did you like the way I glossed over the fact that I am making trousers with an ... ahem ... elasticised waistband? A little bit wrong, but oh so right.)

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space (or to join in), head over here.

Grand opening

Argy's plaster cast has been removed. The joy of a liberated arm was bettered only by the use of a noisy power tool.

The hard white shell has been kept as a temporary souvenir - a reminder of five weeks of tricky bath-times; funny dressing; and victorious cast weaponry (never take on a sibling sporting half a kilo of plaster).

Cutting out fabstravagance

Fabstravagant (adj): Given to lavish or imprudent yardage estimates.

I have a bad sewing habit: whenever I get to a cutting counter I often ask for more fabric than my pattern requirement specifies.

Like many bad habits, it started innocently enough. A little extra for directional prints, a nap or narrow fabric. Or a bit extra to cater for tricky layouts. At some point it graduated to being more an insurance policy against stupidity. (Ooops. Cut-2 instead of 1-on-the-fold. Never mind, I'll just whip out the rest of the bolt.) And a way out of indecision. (T-shirt or ballgown? Heck I have no idea what I'll make out of it; I might as well take 6 metres to be safe.)

But this week I decided enough was enough ( ... as opposed to enough is 1.25m extra, just for good measure).



I located a favourite piece of fabric; a gorgeous "remnant" found at Tessuti some while ago. The slinky viscose-rayon - with a striking black and red floral print - has been a conundrum. Its large pattern repeat seemed best suited to a skirt, but at just 1.3 metres it seemed unlikely it would cover my lower half with any sort of dignity.



So I decided to be creative. I employed sheer determination and various embarrassingly unorthodox layout and cutting methods. Somehow I managed to squeeze out the better part of another Kwik Sew 3513 pull-on knit skirt. To cover the inevitable shortfall, I bought a bit of black poly-cotton interlock for the waistband. Plus a wee bit more for a lining.

And when I finished sewing up the skirt I felt triumphant and resourceful. Hooray! A skirt with a 1.85m fabric requirement made with a 1.3m remnant.

Now all I need to do is work out what to do with 50cm of excess poly-cotton interlock. (Ahem ... old habits die hard.)

Playing it safe

77 felt hydrangea blooms short of a table runner
27 short of a place-mat
4 short of a coaster

When on a long-haul journey, always familiarise yourself with the emergency exits

What really matters when you are four

Argy and I baked a cake this afternoon.

Me: Let's take our pencil and trace around the tin. Now can we try cutting out this circle of baking paper? Now let's weigh this butter - what numbers can you see on the scale? Oooh ... look what happens when we mix lemon juice and milk together. Can you stir this until we can't see the flour any more? Let's watch the clock until the big hand is on nine, so we know when the cake will be ready.

Him: Can I lick the beaters yet?

My creative space

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

Clockwise from left:

• Dried hydrangea from the garden
• Absolutely delicious, hand-dyed blue felt by Ewe and Me (do look at Trudi's other colours)
• Glass beads in shades of blue

This week I have a plan for a table runner. You see, our beautiful redgum dining table is currently under a large piece of plastic. Its a little bit nanna really, but I make no apologies. I don't want Argy and Bargy touching the surface of that table until they are at least 28.

Do you think a hydrangea-inspired runner will divert attention from the fact that the rest of our napery is PVC?

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space (or to join in), head over here.

Vintage ornaments

These little treasures are from my childhood collection.



They were known to me as orderments



You know ... in the same way that pasta was known as besghetti.



And large medical facilities were hostipals.



This was my nice little collection of wooden people and aminals.

I've just got big stomach bones ... no really, I have

At some point in the not too distant past, I believe I was the owner of a waist. The recollection is a little hazy (being on account of both my memory - and anything in the abdominal region - having being trashed by child-bearing). Still, older parts of my wardrobe seem to tell a story of a torso that once went a little bit in and then a little bit out again. All in the right spots.

Now as I look in the mirror, there's little evidence as to its prior existence. Ever. My pre-baby figure was never particularly perfect, but the hourglass bit seems to be indelibly stamped in my sense of self. Brown hair, brown eyes, 5-foot-5 and a waist.

Being waistless feels a little bit sad and a whole lot exasperating.

Some clothes no longer fit. Others do, but drape oddly or don't look particularly flattering. I seem to take a pile of wrong things into the fitting room when trying on clothes. And there's been more than one sewn muslin abandoned - just because something fits, doesn't mean you should wear it. I am beginning to see I am attracted to sewing patterns that are likely to produce more misses than hits.

I wonder if once lost, a waist be recaptured? Realistically the odds of it happening again in my lifetime seem somewhat slender. Sure, I could lose a little weight (ok, ok, maybe quite a bit ... or a lot even ... I realise that the I've just got big stomach bones excuse would never wash at Weight Watchers), but I suspect that even as I begin the process of trimming-down, my basic shape is unlikely to change.

So I have been casting around to work out what the new body shape is and how I should dress it. Google helpfully profers shapes and fruits. Am I a rectangle? A triangle? A pear perhaps? Or maybe an apple? Er no, no, no and no.

Just when I was beginning to think I should call myself a paw paw and be done with it, I chanced upon a website called Shop Your Shape. This site has a good body shape calculator. You input your bust, waist and hip measurements in inches and answer a couple of additional questions and the calculator ascertains your shape. (I do have to point out that none of the questions relate to kilos or pounds - afterall the site's by-line is Its Your Shape Not Your Weight That Matters!)

Once the calculator has deduced your shape, you are directed to line diagrams of trousers, skirts, dresses and jackets that are most flattering for that shape. I had a genuine light bulb moment when I saw the recommended styles and colour blockings. Only a few were things I would have intuitively chosen; some I would have actively rejected. But once I saw the logic behind the shapes and lines, I had to agree that I'd be inclined to give them a go.

So now I can shop and select patterns with the confidence of knowing that my body shape is a "Spoon". (Of course the irony of the probable role of the spoon in the disappearance of my waistline, is not entirely lost on me.)

Shop Your Shape
http://www.shopyourshape.com/
Body shape calculator and dressing hints online.
Free. Registration on the site is available, but is not required.
Links to a selection of clothing stores are provided.

Necessity is the mother of invention

Keep your pattern in place whilst cutting - without pins - using pattern weights.

Giddy up (or why I made Kwik Sew 3513)

Following the great Butterick B5206 Bodice Fiasco of March 2010, I've been a little disheartened. If only I hadn't been sewing with something quite so sheer. That sheer stupidity is always so difficult to work with.

With my confidence dented, pieces of B5206 have languished on the sewing table since last week.

So yesterday I decided to pull myself together and climb back on the horse. I found a straight-forward Kwik Sew pattern and some lovely heavy cotton lycra knit, then got to work on a skirt.



I cut, I sewed. I overlocked. The pattern was simple; the fabric was pleasing to work with. I was happy - what a gratifying project.



I rode into the home straight, preparing to admire my finished skirt. When I noticed. Oh dear, I'd sewn the waistband to the skirt inside out. Quelle surprise.

Yep, still on the horse. But clearly riding over the finish line, with one foot caught in a stirrup and hanging upside down in the saddle.


Kwik Sew 3513
Ignore my misfortune - this pattern for a pull-on stretch knit skirt is great! Its very quick to sew (even if you have to cut the waistband off and sew it on again) and comfy to wear. I have posted a review of 3513 here at PatternReview.com

My creative space

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

This week's creative space contains Butterick 5206 sitting about in pieces. Lots of pieces; some might say, more than intended.

The pattern I am using is meant to be a mock-wrap frock with a flared skirt and tie. The project was going quite well until The Monumental Mistake.



You see, I failed to heed the warning signs.

Front and back bodice sides don't quite match? Front longer than the back?
Heck, just ignore it. Throw caution to the wind.
Sew up the side seam. Without question as the cause of the mismatch.
Yes siree, keep sewing that knit fabric.
Use lightening stitch; a teeny tiny zig-zaggy stitch.
Follow Butterick's instructions to the letter. Sew the seam twice.
In black thread, on black fabric.

Ahem. Can you see where I am going with this?

Yes, by the time I realised I had forgotten to sew the bust dart (which incidentally existed only because I added it as part of a pattern alteration) unpicking the side seam was impossible. That baby was stitched tighter than Sandy's bodysuit in Grease. So after a hasty purchase - along with more cutting and sewing - I now have a skirt and two bodices. One of which is a little bit wrong (but sewn very securely).

Let's hope I remember to sew the right one to the skirt.

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space (or to join in), head over here

Today is Wrensday

Another old pencil sketch I found whilst cleaning out some mess archives.

Long exposure

Can you see the car?

I have been playing around with the Available Light setting on my little point-and-click camera. The addition of a tiny tripod - in place of a shaky hand - has allowed some photography in the dark.

I was so taken with the car in this long exposure, that I hung about at the gate waiting for the next transitory object. It was only as the camera let out an audible click and whirr, that I had second thoughts.

Quick, hide the camera you loony.

The suited gentleman striding down the street, might be less enthused about my experiment. Especially if he knew I wished he was wearing a miner's helmet so he too would produce a light stream.

I slunk away before he could wonder what the crazy woman was up to.