#1 Bodgeitandscarper’s 1st entryA little pair of trousers for 9 month old Clarry.
McCalls 7827 (which I used to make his reversible padded jacket).
The fabric is maybe a bit stiff, it's says it's a fleece backed cotton jersey, I though it would be sweatshirt fabric, but it's definitely two bonded together. Oh well, she wanted warm trousies for him...
These are so simple to make, just two pattern pieces as the legs only have an inside leg seam. I cheated slightly and sewed the ankle cuffs on first, then sewed up the leg seam, which I know doesn't give such a neat finish at the end of the cuff seam, but saves trying to sew round a teensy weensy circular cuff.
I made two buttonholes before I turned the waist edge over, so I could then thread both the elastic and the drawcord tape through them.
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Clarry seems to like them...
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#2 Starryfish's 1st entryKwik Sew 3817- Men's Fleece top. This is View B but without the bicolour sleeve. I must have made about 6 of these.
I used Navy fleece with cobalt blue contrast, size M for my DH.
My coverstitcher did not like the fleece so I just used a twin needle on my sewing machine.
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He has promised not to solder, paint, or plaster in it.
#3 Starryfish's 2nd entryThe pattern is from Pauline Alice Mini Collection. This is the tunic, which is based on a Breton fisherman's
smock. It buttons down the back, and the pattern has a front opening with a button and loop which I omitted.
I made it from a remnant of green check cotton, it is for my DD's baby boy and I thought it safer for a 12 month old without the loop.
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The Front
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The Back
#4 Morzel’s 1st entryBathrobe for my daughter
Pattern: I used a sweater pattern (
Paula) in the smallest Ladies size for my 145cm daughter. Lenghtened it, adjusted the hood (less deapth) and added an overlap at the CF.
My daughter had been complaining about her bathrobe being too small for a while. This schoolyear, instead of PE they go swimming, and so she had 'reminded' me of her wish almost every week... Well, the other robe really was too small. I had sewn a sort of surf poncho last fall, using discounted towels I bought at sales, but she has trouble getting into that (or out of it) all by herself. I had sewn another for my friends son and was planning a third for another friends son. But now, with everyone staying at home and my daughter doing homeschooling in the living room and me having to find something easy and not too mind-boggling to do (she needs to adjust to this homeschooling idea - it felt like she was asking about stuff every two minutes!) next to her, I took out the remaining towels and sewed up the bathrobe. I used the towelends as hem. The hanger loop I inserted into the back neck. The front I bound with jersey - I really like the raindrop print on it!
Daughter is happy with the robe, mother thinks she could have improved the pattern - the fronts droop a bit because of the large overlap. But hey, she's happy and it is a unique and quite cozy piece!
#5 Fabric Lover’s entry:I hadn’t intended entering this contest, since I admit it - I am not the most altruism of sewists generally!
But I saw this vlog from Mimi G for face masks to wear to assist in the Coronavirus battle and decided to make some for my family- I’ll post them to them in the next day or two.
Then I’ve offered to make some for my neighbours. It’s been a bit trial and error to fit one for my husband-
He must have a big head!
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#6 Brenda P's 1st entry What is it and for whomDress and knickers for my new great grand daughter.
Pattern used Kwik Sew 263 view A for the dress and
Simplicity 1447 for the knickers
A short description on how you made it/problems overcome/etc.Fabric from stash, poly cotton I think, but mostly poly and it frays like mad so I did French seams instead of using the overlocker, but I did use it for the "rolled hems".
It's been almost finished for over a week but awaiting the narrow elastic for the knickers and puff sleeves. This morning I'm in make-do-and-mend mood so I used four strands of shirring elastic instead and guess what. Postman has just put the package of elastic through the letter box!
Can't show piccies of Myah wearing this, partly because of the lockdown but also it's for 3-6 months old and she's still only 4 weeks old.
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#7 BrendaP's 2nd entry What is it and for whomDress, knickers and sun hat for my great grand daughter
Pattern used McCalls 6303A short description on how you made it/problems overcome/etc.Pattern instructions are to line the dress but it's a craft weight cotton so I didn't want the extra weight so I just cut lightweight facings for the dress. Otherwise dress and knickers were very straightforward to sew. The hat was quite fiddly and I made the channel for elastic a bit narrow so getting the elastic in was quite a struggle.
It's made to the medium size 16-18 lbs which I think is about 3-6 months. There's 'growing room' in the button placement, so it might even last into winter to be worn with a red top and tights
Again I can't get a photo of Myah wearing it; partly due to the lockdown and partly because she's only 4 weeks old so it will be far too big for her for a few more weeks yet.
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#8 Maliw’s entryWhat is it and for whomThese items are for babies born alseep
Patterns usedThe patterns are all from Pinterest or free drawn
A short description on how you made it/problems overcome/etc All items have been made from one deconstructed wedding dress.The deconstruction, washing etc takes longer than the sewing! Much of the fabric has originally been cut on the cross which means that there is a lot wasted and finding the straight grain can be tricky.Lining from the dress is just as important as the main fabric as this gives a soft inside to the items as the skin of the "angels" is very fragile. Bits of leftover fabric are used to make the embellishments where possible and all decorations from the dress are used as appropriate.
The hearts are given to the parents as a keepsake if they want one.
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#9 Morzel’s 2nd entrySimple face masks for health care workers
pattern: the dimension are given by the city of Essen, in western Germany. Many other institutions go with the same instructions published.
At the moment, Germany lacks face masks for all the health care workers there are. The existing face masks are reserved for nurses and doctors in hospitals with direct contact to patients that are vunerable or infectious. But there others working in health care (therapists, cleaners, security etc) for whom at the moment no face masks are provided. My friend was asked by a hospital to sew fabric face masks for those employees. The pattern is simple and the masks need to endure a really hot wash. So my friend asked around who would help and I am working on face masks now. It is a quick sew, I can chain piece the things and a very happy about my bias binder gadget. The thing that takes up the most time is making the bias binding. I use the method that my mother, a quilter, taught me- quick continuous bias binding. I started yesterday, am in my 20s and will hit the 50 mark today (done some preparation). And I did a 90°C washing test - they are heat resistant.
Apart from being concerned that self-sewn masks are needed (I feel the needed protection is not high with these), because professional ones are not available in sufficient numbers at the moment, I can see some other benefit with these masks for ourselves. Actually those masks are not to protect myself, but to protect others a bit in case I am infectious. I wore a mask yesterday for about 2 hours when I went out to shop and go for a walk. I realised that it also hinders me to touch my face while wearing it. So, those face masks might still help protect myself...
I do hope professional masks are being delivered in the next few days. Until then, some hospital employees will walk around with colourful face protection!
#10 Kenora's entryWhat is it and for whomA little girl's quilt which will be sent to the Ronald McDonald House in Cardiff. This is a charity which provides accommodation for families of children who have to stay in hospital for any length of time.
Pattern usedNo commercial pattern used, although the quilt block pattern is called the 9 Patch Swap. I've done many 9 patches before but not the swap version which I found while trawling online. The quilting was done using a single pass embroidery design called "Under the Sea" which I bought from Julia's Needle. It is made up of various sea shells which I thought appropriate as the fabric has mermaids, fishes and shells on it.
Short description on how you made it/problems overcome/etc.The actual quilt itself was straightforward to assemble. I made two 9-patch blocks, cut each one into three pieces, then swapped the pieces around between each block, and sewed the two blocks back together again. I made 12 blocks in this way altogether, so the whole quilt measures approx 36" x 48" including the small border. It is shown with an unpaid model (who does not look impressed).
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The hardest part of this quilt was the actual machine quilting which I did on my embroidery module. It's the first time I've tried anything like that, and it wasn't without its problems. I used a large magnetic embroidery hoop so moving the quilt around in the machine was reasonably easy. However, the magnets seemed to affect my machine's speed so the quilting was very slow. It took me 12 hours to do just the quilting, and I spread this over more than a week of afternoons spent at the machine. I also learnt that I had to add a wide panel of spare fabric all around the quilt so that the embroidery machine could stitch right up to the edge of the quilt - something I hadn't thought about until now.
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I also had problems with the fabric I used. Most of the quilt is made from 100% quilting cotton (and cotton wadding) but the plain white fabric is 200 count calico. It's gorgeously smooth but it "pleats" itself after being quilted. I've never come across this before. I did try to press out the "pleats" but they didn't want to know. The difference between the quilting cotton and the calico is quite obvious in looks but it won't affect the quilt's ability to keep a child warm.
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I was running out of fabric at the end so I made the binding by joining 2.5" x 4" pieces of the quilting cotton, lengthwise. I machined this onto the quilt and then hand stitched the binding down to the back as usual. Finally, I made a small label showing where the quilt has come from and the year it is donated.
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#11 Starryfish’s 3rd entryPattern- Pauline Alice Mini collection Dungarees in green stretch denim for my baby grandson. I made no alterations to the pattern apart from topstitching the edges of the bib and straps as I couldn't stop the facing rolling to the outside. It is faced in green and cream gingham.
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They are intended to be worn with the tunic I made for entry 2.
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#12 Toileandtrouble’s entryCurtains for a family who have to move during lockdown.
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The fabric was a length from stash, the lining a short piece of sheeting from stash. I had the tape and a jar of hooks.
Had to rely on my friend to measure the window. Showed her the fabrics I had (from 2m away) and she picked this one.
Got 3 widths from the piece, so plenty for 1.8m window. Had to wash it first because of a dust mark on the fold, so it became softer and matching was more difficult. Had to hem by hand because I couldn't get a good match of thread and it showed through a bit on the machine stitch.
So far only the picture of the leftovers, because I had to put them out for her to collect when they were passing so couldn't get a picture in time. I'm going to ask her to send me one, if she isn't too busy getting sorted - you can't have anyone to help at the moment. Should get one before the deadline.
(The bits are just about enough for a cover for OH's triangular pillow. Maybe cushion covers from the blue. On to the scrap challenge!)
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