Well, now my partner has got her items I can do an update of the whole outfit and the patterns I used. I sewed for dani and her cute little girl Hallie. if you would like to see a pic of Hallie modeling the outfit check out Dani's blog http://danil14c.blogspot.com/ .
The skirt was from vintage McCalls 3900 view B. I made it in a soft, light denim with hot pink top stitching using a three-step zigzag to add interest. It was quite a simple pattern but the waistband was a bit fiddly - it used three separate strips of elastic in the casing. I decided to gather the bottom band to make it a bit frillier and twirlier. Originally I was going to use the reverse of the denim for a contrast band and applique a few ladybugs to match the top but ran out of time, and also wanted it to be less matchy-matchy.
The top was based on New Look 6641 (sizes 3-8, another good one to keep in the stash). I had my heart set on making a layer-look long sleeve top and the only pattern I could find wasn't available in Australia. I could have down loaded it but couldn't bear the thought of printing and sticking together all those bits of paper. I decided to find a simple top pattern that included a puff sleeve version and adapt it to suit. I used white rib knit for the body and puff sleeves and hot pink rib knit for the long sleeves and bound the sleeves and neckline with the canberry stripe I used in the leggings. I was a bit sick of spotlight and dreading a trip to find the right fabrics for the top when I stumbled across a huge pile of ladies t-shirts at BigW. The pink was just right, and snapped them up and took then home to shrink them in the wash. They were perfect but it was suprising how little fabric remained.
I embellished the front of the top with some curvy lines of a zig-zag stitch in hot pink (think it was actually a blind hem stitch) and then added 3 little lady bugs made from the cranberry stripe and some shiny silver stuff from the stash. A few bits of hand stisching for antenna and it was done.
After I had cut out all the pieces for this top I discovered a pattern for a similar top in the latest Ottobre magazine - I really should have taken out a subscription!
It was so nice to hear that it was well liked - even if it was much too big!
These are the patterns I used to make the whole outfit - with a few alterations as the fancy took me. My plan was to make a set that co-ordinated but also that each piece would work alone with anything else.
These are the patterns I used to make the whole outfit - with a few alterations as the fancy took me. My plan was to make a set that co-ordinated but also that each piece would work alone with anything else.
The leggings were using Burda 9615 and lovely cotton/spandex cranberry and hot pink stripy fabric from Crafty Mamas. I followed this pattern to the t and was happy with the result. It goes from size 3 to 12 and makes leggings in 3 lengths so is a great pattern to keep in the stash.
The skirt was from vintage McCalls 3900 view B. I made it in a soft, light denim with hot pink top stitching using a three-step zigzag to add interest. It was quite a simple pattern but the waistband was a bit fiddly - it used three separate strips of elastic in the casing. I decided to gather the bottom band to make it a bit frillier and twirlier. Originally I was going to use the reverse of the denim for a contrast band and applique a few ladybugs to match the top but ran out of time, and also wanted it to be less matchy-matchy.
The top was based on New Look 6641 (sizes 3-8, another good one to keep in the stash). I had my heart set on making a layer-look long sleeve top and the only pattern I could find wasn't available in Australia. I could have down loaded it but couldn't bear the thought of printing and sticking together all those bits of paper. I decided to find a simple top pattern that included a puff sleeve version and adapt it to suit. I used white rib knit for the body and puff sleeves and hot pink rib knit for the long sleeves and bound the sleeves and neckline with the canberry stripe I used in the leggings. I was a bit sick of spotlight and dreading a trip to find the right fabrics for the top when I stumbled across a huge pile of ladies t-shirts at BigW. The pink was just right, and snapped them up and took then home to shrink them in the wash. They were perfect but it was suprising how little fabric remained.
I embellished the front of the top with some curvy lines of a zig-zag stitch in hot pink (think it was actually a blind hem stitch) and then added 3 little lady bugs made from the cranberry stripe and some shiny silver stuff from the stash. A few bits of hand stisching for antenna and it was done.
After I had cut out all the pieces for this top I discovered a pattern for a similar top in the latest Ottobre magazine - I really should have taken out a subscription!
The sleeves were easy but the neckline was a bit harder. It was unpicked at least twice, but I think it turned out nicely in the end.
As a little extra I covered two buttons with the stripe fabric and two with some denim topstitched in pink, and then added hair elastics so Hallie can match from head to toe!
I also threw together a special pack for Dani, because I can - and a swap isn't a swap without chocolate. That's a new rule I've made - feel free to join in...!
I'll be getting a return swap sometime after Easter so drop back then for pics of Jack in his handmade goodies.
