The Finished Product

Fabric: Baby Pink 100% Linen
Appliqué: Linen/Cotton Blend
Size: S Weight 6-8kg (13-18lbs), Height 61-67cm (24-26.5")
Variations: Pocket sized to fit handmade appliqué
Modeled by: 'Ceejay' 11.5 weeks

Baby's First Dress

Tuesday I decided I needed to finally get around to making a pretty dress for my little girl. She meeting all the boys at coffee group on Thursday and it would be nice to have a "going out" dress!

So Wednesday I needed to make sure we 'made the time' to sew... I had decided a while back to try out Simplicity 9642, a simple pinafore type dress.

My day went ....
Wake up; morning feed; check emails; put baby in cot to play while I start organising pattern, fabric, machines, eat breakfast; baby asleep... quickly cut out fabric; baby awake; take baby from room to room as I cut, sew, iron, feed, change, sew, iron.....

Decided to try my hand at a flower appliqué for the front of the dress. Too nervous to attach directly to the dress, put it on a pocket. It was quite easy really.

This was an easy pattern. The hardest thing that I found was turning the straps the right side out. Is there an easy way to do this???

Photos coming of the finished product!

Coverstitch Machine?

I've always been hesitant in working with knit fabrics, I haven't been satisfied with the finishing I could get on seams and hems.  My attempt at baby merino singlet (without a pattern) although very functional lacked the professional finish I like. It was the first item of clothing used on my newborn - I was worried about the neck size so got that big enough, but the armholes were probably a little small for a singlet! It's getting a bit small for her now and looks more like a muscle T!

Now wanting to do some work with merino and bamboo knits, I started to investigate how I could get the 'double line with back overlock' stitch used on bought clothing.

I initially thought it was just a different type of overlocker I needed and I did one for many $$$$ but then learnt I really only needed a coverstitch machine not a combination overlocker/coverstitch machine that had the added hassle of switching between the two stitch types.

Coverstitch machines are still quite expensive especially when you are trying to reduce expenses with only 1 income and an extra new person in the house :-) I finally decided that a Merrylock 3564 (which I gather is the same as the 3040) would do the trick - now just to sell more items on Trademe (New Zealand's answer to eBay) to raise the money.

All was well till this morning when I realised/remembered that I would probably need a binding attachment to do those necklines and sleeve edges so common on baby clothing.... panic over ... although there doesn't seem to be an attachment for the Merrylock it looks like a generic binder attachment will do... even if I do need to use blu-tack to attach it!

First Blog

I've had this blog here for a while but never got around to actually using it.  Now that I'm home most of the time ruled by my little 11 week old, I'm taking the next step - 'The first blog'!

Here I'll share my new mum experiences and my adventures in outfitting a little girls wardrobe (and hopefully mine too) using my long time passion for sewing.

My mum taught me to sew when I was little, giving me an old sewing machine and scraps of fabric, but taking away the foot peddle till I could handle it. I made my first wrap around skirt at 7 years working the machine by hand only.

I love natural fibres/fibers and would like to see my daughter dressed in quality original outfits in linen, silk, merino wool and bamboo fabrics.