Abby Summer Top - Woodland Delight (Size 4/5)

This week I've been madly sewing Christmas presents for my niece and nephew as we're having my husband's family's Christmas do on Sunday. I thought I'd make my niece an Abby Dress out of the fabric, "Woodland Delight: Bloom in blue" by Paula Prass. Unfortunately, I was having one of those nights where everything I did went horribly wrong. I was too tired to think. So, with the dress I made, the bodice was far too big and the skirt was too small. I didn't have enough fabric to make another one :-(.

But, on the bright side, it looks like a fantastic Abby Top for a 4/5 year old. So, I think I'll take it to the market and sell it as a top, unless anyone else wants to buy it? :-)

Isn't the fabric gorgeous?

A Job for Suzie

My friend, Suzie, asked me to make some things for her nephews and niece for Christmas. Suzie bought the fabric that she wanted me to use, so all I had to do was sew all the items. Pretty easy!

Here's what I came up with...

I made 2 pairs of JACK PLAY PANTS shorts (size 3) and 1 pair of JACK PLAY PANTS (size 1).

These SOFT SOLE SHOES were made to match the size 1 pants.

And here's a MOLLY PEASANT DRESS (size 6 - 12 mths)...

...with matching shoes.

Sophie Tunic #2 - size 18mths - 2 years

A couple of nights ago I was able to make another Sophie tunic. I absolutely love this fabric. It's one of my favourites. It's not a difficult pattern, but it has lots of steps so it takes quite a while to make it, especially when it's still quite new to me.

The one problem I've found with this pattern is that the neckline is rather small and it won't actually go over many babies' heads. This one is 18mth - 2 years in size, but there's no way it will fit over a child's head of that age...

...so, what I think I'll do is cut a slit at the back and sew a button and loop. I think I'll do that for each tunic from now on.

Sleep Suit For Bailey - Attempt No. 2

This is my second attempt at making a sleep suit for Bailey. I really like the fabric and I think it looks great, as long as you don't look too carefully!

This fabric was much easier to sew with, but I still had issues with the zipper and the binding. They're such fiddly things!

My friend Laura suggested putting some sort of covering over the zipper to prevent little fingers from unzipping, or to at least slow them down! I've used a press stud for the zipper cover.

Sophie Tunic #1 - size 6 - 12 mths

Here's one of my latest new projects. I absolutely LOVE this pattern. It's so sweet. It can have long or short sleeves, as well as a contrasting panel and cuffs. The pattern allows me to vary the length of the sleeves and tunic. I can make it in any size, up to 12 years. I've also got a pattern in women's size.

This one is a practice one. I think I made the tunic too short and I think the sleeves could have been longer. It's supposed to fit 6 - 12 mths, but it's very much on the small side, especially the neckline. I'm certainly going to make more of these!

Sleep Suit For Bailey

My good friend, Laura, asked me to make her son, Bailey, a sleep suit. This was her request:

"My little monster loves sleeping bags, and won't go to bed without one, but I only have warm winter ones and haven't been able to find cooler ones for the spring and summer. I was wondering if your crafty talents would be able to come up with something."

So, this is what I came up with...

I used a light blue muslin fabric with a red knit trim.
I made it so that it's roomy in the legs as Bailey's a fairly active sleeper.

It's a very simple design. I decided to use a zipper at the front.

The muslin fabric was slightly fiddly to sew with as it kept moving around. I'm going to use a light-weight cotton for the next one.

Molly Peasant TOP - For Chloe

My good friend Suzie has asked me to make a couple of things for her 8 year old daughter, Chloe. So far, I've made her a Molly Peasant Top.


I threaded some black ribbon around the neckline to finish it off. I love the fabric (great pick, Suz!) and the black ribbon matches the look really well. I think these tops are going to be very popular this summer.

Molly Peasant Dress #2 - For Lea

Here is my latest creation...

I was asked by my friend Maggie to make a Molly Peasant Dress for her daughter, Lea. They came over and, from the myriad of fabric I have, Lea selected her favourite. The yellow will look really good on Lea.

Lea's wearing size 6 clothes now but Maggie wanted a dress that was about a size 7 or 8 so that Lea can grow into it and get a longer life out of the dress. I made the elastic to fit her now but added about an inch to it so that Maggie can let it out as Lea grows.

The flower adornment is a brooch so that it can be removed when the dress needs to be washed or for when Lea just wants to wear the dress to play in, and then it can be added to "spruce" up the dress for going out.

What do you think?

Molly Peasant Dress #1

Here is another design that I'm working on, the "Molly Peasant Dress". It's such a sweet dress. The ones I've made here are all size 12 months.

This is the first one I made (thanks, Sam, for buying this for DD!).

This is the second one I made. I experimented with a flower embellishment.

This is one of my latest creations. I absolutely love it. The strip around the hem really lifts it, doesn't it? This is such lovely fabric. I particularly like the colours.

I especially love the flower. I covered a button with some scraps. I think it really works well.

Abby Summer Dress - Size 1 For Leah

I've had my first order for an Abby Summer Dress - Yay! - and here it is...

I decided to shorten the straps with this dress. I hope I didn't make them too short. The dress is fully lined with a white cotton fabric. The outer fabric is from Ikea and it's such a funky print - feminine, but not too babyish. The black band really compliments the dress.

Abby Summer Dress - Size 1

I've been working on the Abby Summer Dress pattern in order to enlarge it to a size 1. I'm not very good at enlarging patterns, so in the end, I had to re-create the bodice pattern. I used a combination of two patterns. I took the bodice pattern from one dress and the straps from another, and combined the two.

Here's my first attempt...

After trying it on a couple of willing (or not so willing!) babies, I found that the arm holes were too long and the neck line at the front was too high.

I think it turned out pretty well, though. I'm not sure about the straps, whether they're too long or not. The good thing about them being on the long side is that the dress can be worn for longer as the child grows, and then it can be worn as more of a top (unless the baby grows outwardly!). Having said that, I still think they may be too long.

Do you like my little birdie? This was a practice one. I wanted to try out the pattern, so I thought I'd may as well put it on my practice dress. I think it's really cute.

Here's my second attempt...

I lengthened the arm holes and I think they look much better. I shortened the neck line and curved it slightly. I also decided to use the same pattern for the front and the back. I prefer this look. I kept the straps as they were as I'm still undecided! I discovered that this dress is a small size 1. So, for the more robust little girls, I'm going to have to make a larger size, probably a size 18 mths - 2.

Do you like the fabric? I found it at Lifeline. I think it's vintage, so this is the only dress available in this fabric.

How the Busy Bee Went...Baby Dresses!

So, in my last post I menioned that I had a baby-free day, so I spent the day sewing. Here's what I ended up making...Very sweet baby summer dresses.

The Abby Summer Dress...




Here's one with an applique design on it. I'm going to give this one to my friend.


The bodice and the skirt are lined. These ones are 0 - 3 months, which is the only size I've got in baby sizes. I'll need to adjust the pattern to make bigger sizes, but I'm a bit hesitant to do it as I'm no good at that fiddly stuff.

This is the latest one I've made.

I was able to find the pattern in a size 3 (approx). So, I can make them in 0-3 months and size 3. All I need to do now is work out how to make them in the in between sizes!

The skirt uses a LOT of fabric, so I didn't line this one, which I don't think it needs anyway. This one also has an applique cup cake design. Not sure if I like it though.

So, all in all, I've been pretty successful. I've been sewing like a mad woman. It's very addictive.

Being a Busy Bee

Well, today I'm totally baby free! I'm on holidays and my little one is being looked after by his grandparents, so I have the whole day to MYSELF! I'm a little excited, can you tell? What better way to spend the day than by sewing, sewing and sewing. I've got a new project I want to try out and I've got more shoes to make. You will soon see how successful my day has been...

My Blog

Well, I've finally gotten around to making a blog dedicated to my handmade baby merchandise. I hope that people can now browse through my goodies with ease and get a better idea of the things that I'm making. This has become a real love of mine. I'm really enjoying sewing and I'm especially loving buying all these gorgeous fabrics. I love things that are handmade, unique and a bit funky. Hopefully, that's come across in my handiwork!