Owl print summer shorts

Last post I wrote about making (and having made for me) shorts for Cooper.

The pattern used was the Rohan Skater shorts (by The Crafty Kitty), a freebie a friend found for me via the Birch Fabrics blog .  
Loooove it when the pattern research is done for me !!! :D

 Well as it turns out this pattern works just as well for girls shorts too- here is a pair I made for DD:

Skater shorts front

Skater shorts back (with contrast yoke and wasitband)

And on :

She loves them! They are great for all the running/jumping/climbing activities she loves to do (not hideously skimpy like some of the RTW ones out there) and the back yoke gives an option for contrasting fabrics.

 The fabrics used here were both quilting fabrics bought from Spotlight. The pink Eiffel tower print yoke/waistband fabric scraps left over from this apron project (finished project pics here).

Millie's shorts were made from the exact same pattern that Elle made Cooper's camo print shorts from, I just shortened the legs a fair bit. If I went down a size or two they would look more like the original Crafty Kitty Rohan Skater shorts.

Have already received a few compliments when out with the kids in their shorts (kudos to the pattern design and styling)!

Am sure to be sewing up a least a couple more pairs of these in the near future.

Til next time

Happy sewing!

Kate x

Some summer shorts

So very recently a friend- after hearing me bang on about how I need to sew my kids some summer shorts but there's not enough hours in the day-made my son a very trendy pair of skater shorts:

Totally unbeknowst to me...she just rocked up with the completed shorts randomly one afternoon (as sewing friends are apt to do)!
How stoked was I and Cooper?
I addition to the shorts was a little folder containing a cut out pattern (in my son's size) and a good length of the camo fabric that the original shorts were made from. How.Totally.Awesome! Honestly now that I am a mum I soo appreciate these kinda things! No pattern cutting? Yippeee....
 In other words I pretty much had all I needed to make up plenty more:) 
No excuses!
Ok OK hint taken (but thanks for the kick up the bum hun !), I am ONTO this! 

Soo with pattern in hand -and a few of hubbies old button up shirts lying around (I wasn't too sure how I would go and was keen to "upcycle")- I crossed my fingers, got out "ye olde overlocker" and whipped up these shorts:

Two business shirt made these shorts- can you tell? #sodidnotpatternmatch

 I did add a little to length and the seam allowance all over (as insurance against my son's growth spurts), so these have a more "surfie board shorts" vibe than the original skater shorts pattern, but I am happy with that. Actually I LOVE both of the different looks this pattern has given! :)

This WAS a $50+ shirt (bought from a big name surf wear store). Very nice fabric, gorgeous hand, much prefer it as shorts for my little man :)

Why I LOVE reusing mens shirts; chest pockets easily become back pockets! Not quite convinced of the tension on that bottom hem though :(

 And on:

He picked this pose (I swear)!

Sorry Elle I don't (as yet, I will remedy this!) have any of your original [camo skater] pair being modelled.
In my defense: they ARE getting worn so much (often in the process of being washed or on the line) that usually the photo op is missed by the time I think of it! 
Will try and get a pic so everyone can see the difference in fit an extra 5/8" in seam allowance gives.
As to the pattern? It's a FREEBIE!!! You can find it here. Be aware that I ended up with the side seams of my legs not matching up exactly at the side seams- given that I did not really refer to the instructions this could be an "operator error". 
If this happens to you? No probs, just do what I do and cut a nice new (straight) bottom leg hem-equidistant from the crotch seam- on each leg.
A rotary cutter and quilting ruler makes this easy peasy :) 
If you only have shears I would pin the legs together after marking to make sure there's no distortion from lifting up the fabric to cut.

Until next time...

Happy [boys skater/boardie shorts] Sewing!

Kate xx

Grey Sorbetto

This is my second Sobetto (by Colette patterns) make but my first time blogging it. The previous make was so "not me" that I could not honestly happily post about it. 
This time turned out much better: 

The first Sorbetto top I made was done by selecting the size that corresponded to my measurements. First make was a little "blousey".
Next time I decided to go next size down. Much better fit, maybe could do with a little more room as the side seam does curve quite a bit instead of being straight:

 Oh well just more tweaking for future versions! 
A few individual things I did on this top...
Added my own "handmade" clothing label:

Embellished the neckline using the "feather stitch" option on my machine:

Finished the hem by using a zigzag scallop stitch and then trimming near the stitching:

Persisted with sewing up this top after realising my tension was totally wrong and being reassured by a fellow sewer that the stitching would not come apart (good thread!):

For such a simple top this has been quite a learning curve! Am looking forward to the day that I can make one of these up with minimal thought!

You can find the [FREE] pattern here.

Happy Sewing!

Kate :)

Free pattern goodness from the web: the Fushia Skirt (Lolita Patterns)

I am amazed by the amount of new independent pattern designers that are currently popping up all over the web - it seems like every other day I am finding or being referred links to new ones through social media such as facebook, Pinterest and Bloglovin. 
Lolita Patterns is one such venture, a quick look at their site states their starting date as 2013 but already they have a very nicely designed brand logo and website. 
At the moment they only have one pattern (The Fushia skirt) in their repertoire but it's a FREEBIE and covers sizes 0-26 (yes they sure do know how to grade up!), so I am thinking that this little number is going to be very popular!
They also have a sew along section with step-by-step instructions for sewing the pattern, so if you're new to dressmaking this might be the [free] pattern for you.

In the meantime...

Happy sewing all (and let me know if any of you make this skirt up!!!)

Kate :)

Look what I found...

This just came up in my blog feed, a limited time only (April 12th-19th 2013) FREE download from indietutes:

How lovely is this smock top AND sun smart (has sleeves!) so great for daycare/ kindy tops! Now all I have to do is wait for Little Miss to grow big enough for a size 2...
Indietutes is a big fan of refashioning/upcycling old garments (YAY!) so the top pictured here is actually remade from an old adult shirt. 
In Charity's (indietutes pattern designer/ blog author) own words:

"The Oh Suzanna Smock pattern is one of my favorites because the pattern was drafted to facilitate a reconstruction from an adult shirt.  I am a big fan or reusing or upcycling previously loved garments.  Not only does it cut down the resources used but worn, well washed garments contain fewer chemicals than new fabric, which is treated with a variety of potently toxic substances (flame retardants, starches, dyes and such).  Also, if you have a child who is sensitive to fabrics, previously worn materials feel softer on the skin." 

So BE QUICK if you want a chance to download and try this pattern for free- you only have until April 19th!!!!

P.S check out her Etsy shop too if you like her pattern style. I really like the Willow Wayfarer Hipsters for Slimsters and at $4.00 USD its really affordable!

P.P.S This is NOT a sponsored post - all view's expressed here are purely my own and totally uninfluenced by ANY outside parties. Being a part-time working mum sewing on a limited budget I love to share free (and cheap) pattern information, in the hope of helping out others in similar financial situations!


Happy downloading/printing/taping + sewing ;)

Kate :)  

Free pattern goodness from the web!

Look what I came across-a post by Craft Gossip showcasing this little gem of a freebie from Hot Patterns (available for download from Fabric.com)- while catching up on blog reading:

Click on image or Craft Gossip link above to go to download page.

I'm so excited about this one I printed it off straight away!
Don't you think this just takes tank tops to a whole new, and uber-glamorous, level?
Lounging around the house has never looked so good! This is just one of many great free patterns I have come across lately on the internet.
I have been adding them to my "Free Sewing Patterns" board on Pinterest so I can keep track of them all- currently I have 268 pins on there, so if you like free stuff go check it out!
BTW I have still to go through and double check all the pins from other pinners work and are correctly linked- if you notice any going to places other than where they are supposed to please be a star and let me know! Thank you :)

Happy Sewing/downloading/printing and taping!

Kate x