52 Project Challege, 2012 - Page 29

[Smokering]

40/52: DS' lion waistcoat. Will get pictures when he lets me put it on - right now he's wearing a shirt and nappy, and apparently wishes to keep it that way.

ETA: Here we go. Couldn't get any photos of the back, but it had a wee tab with buttons on it. I made the trousers a few weeks back, and the shirt, again, ages ago.

Edited by Smokering - 10/29/12 at 6:52pm

[OkiMom]

Your son is so cute Smoking! Good job on the clothing! What pattern did you use?

[Smokering]

Thanks. :) The new stuff was all Ottobre patterns, usually modified a bit. I've become a total Ottobre snob - the patterns are just so much more detailed and well-constructed than the other kids' clothing patterns I've used. And because you have to trace and cut out the patterns anyway, it encourages adaptation - you're like "Ehh, may as well" - which suits me fine.

Speaking of, here are the shorts I made him recently. Same pattern as the lion trousies, but significantly adapted. I apologise for the socks-with-shorts combo; it was his father. :p

[iowaorganic]

What a cutie!  Smokering your clothes are just awesome! I have not had a lot of crafting time lately.  I have been knitting my sequined scarf- but I keep deciding to make it longer- so that just takes more knitting....  I have been working on the jelly roll quilt even in front of my dd (who I will give it to for Christmas) but she hasn't seemed to notice it yet.  I HAVE to make a second one though because I plan ahead and bought a set of garage sale bunk beds for my girls....  Hey- the price was right!  And last night I drafted a pattern for baby uggs.  So- I really really want to get those done today.  The inside will be white rabbit skin and the outer I haven't decided yet- I have silver or snake or a bright green leather....  I guess I sewed some cashmere mittens for one of my girlfriends birthday gift....  Want to knit her a ragamuffin hat to go along with it...  And I guess I knit a sashay scarf for my sister.... It was really easy yet a huge pain in the butt...

Oh- but DD (my 6 yo) has been making awesome progress on her nifty knitter!  I am shocked in fact!  It is the perfect thing to keep her occupied in the van now- so she is making her brothers all hats for Christmas gifts- so we do need to find some more bulky yarn though...  

[OkiMom]

What is everyone's crafting plans for the rest of the year??

I have to get Christmas and birthday presents done.. We are visiting DH's family in upstate New York during Christmas so I need to get scarves/hats made for then (I'm just buying the gloves! I truly dislike making gloves). I have a TON to get done but a good majority of it won't get done. I did pick easy presents to do for his grandparents/aunt/uncle that DH can do instead of having me do them. Hes going to spend a weekend putting Christmas gifts together for his family with the kids, they are making photo coasters, collages and scrapbooks. Super simple things that will be easy/quick to do and takes the burden off of me. That still leaves me to do all the children's gifts, DH's gifts and prep a ton of things for the trip. I'm seriously lucky that DD3 is an easy baby as long as she is full and in the carrier/cuddling on my lap she is happy. Last night she slept 4 hours straight, I feel almost human this morning.

Current present plans for the children:

DD1- doll and clothing (her 1 request), art kit

DD2- Doll and clothing, hopscotch board

DD3- Doll and clothing, rainbow arches

DS- Doll and clothing, spaceship/alien, dress up clothing

DH- knitted Phanatic, knitted eagle, IPad case, sewing kit

DH's grandfather- photo blanket

DH's aunt- apron and gift card holder (she is hosting Christmas dinner and just mentioned she burned a huge hole in her apron and now can't find one she likes)

I doubt it will all get done but I have backup plans for if it doesn't. Luckily my children are very easy to get along with when it comes to presents. The only thing they have asked for is they each want a doll (well, the baby didn't ask for one but I figure give her about 9 months and she will be stealing her siblings so I'm making her one as a preemptive peace keeping move ) so those will get done first then Ill work on the other gifts.

Edited by OkiMom - 11/2/12 at 7:01pm

[AfricanQueen99]

These are my MUST complete before the holidays:

1. Ornaments for my kids (http://www.posycollection.com/Pinstitch/iloveyoualphabet.html) - I'm going to start giving them an ornament each year for our tree trimming so they can leave this house for their own with something to go on their tree.  So far I've made .75 of the first one.  Need three.

2. Christmas Eve PJ pants.  I have the fabric washed and that's it...  Need three.

3. Stockings from wool sweaters.  I have all the felted sweaters and have been hemming on this project for years.  Need five.

4. Cloth baby rings (http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/03/cloth-baby-rings.html).  Have all the fabric, but need filler.  Need three sets.

Oh, there's a ton more that I SHOULD do, but I'll be happy with those things!
 

[iowaorganic]

Maybe tomorrow I can post some pics...  I have DD1's quilt top done, DS1's quilt top done, and part of DS3's done.  6 shashay scarves knit, 2 cheaper knit cards made, and I am finally making those baby uggs for DD2.  Crazy cute too.  

[OkiMom]

Finished 2 knitted gift card holders yesterday.. Two Christmas presents down, too many more to go

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by Smokering 

 I apologise for the socks-with-shorts combo; it was his father. :p

Hahaha - LMAO!

Smokering, I wish I had the time, inclination and skill to make clothes like you do. Your stuff always looks so awesome - store bought-looking and professional. Have you thought of selling your stuff?

[Smokering]

Smokering, I wish I had the time, inclination and skill to make clothes like you do. Your stuff always looks so awesome - store bought-looking and professional. Have you thought of selling your stuff?

Aww, thanks! :) I've had the occasional thought of making little-kid aprons (my own pattern - at least, so hugely adapted from the original that I'm pretty sure it's "mine") to sell at the shop on the apple orchard, where we live. Our landlord's father runs it and it mostly sells fruit, with some homegrown veggies and apple juice. I thought maybe if I made apple-themed aprons, they'd agree to put a few up for sale. But I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Other than that, no. :p I don't have enough time to sew all the things I want for us, let alone everyone else! (Not to mention, y'know, cleaning and cooking and educating the kidling and all that jazz....) I really need to make some clothes for myself, but with Christmas coming up I'm way behind on kid sewing... arrgh. Plus, most of the clothes I make these days are Ottobre, and they're quite strict about not selling stuff made with their patterns. I adapt some of their patterns, but it's a fuzzy line... And yeah, they're not that professional-looking close up. I often zigzag seams to finish them, because I don't have a serger - it's fine for home clothes, but looks a bit "homemade" for bought ones, you know?

Still, I am ridiculously proud of myself when I complete a wearable, attractive garment. I was so awful at sewing as a teenager - it was my sister's thing - that I still marvel I can sew a straight seam without disaster! My mother is equally taken aback - she tends to say "That looks nice!" with an air of stunned surprise. Flattering. :)

I traced patterns for salior shorts in two sizes, the sailor dress and DS' sailor top recently, so I can get started on those soon. And we're going away for our FIRST EVER! family holiday in a few weeks, and I'd love to sew myself something decent to wear... I have this terrible mental block about sewing clothes for me. Partly it's mummy martyrdom ("but I still haven't made DD's Cinderella dress for Christmas!"), partly it's perfectionism (because if I don't achieve something that perfectly expresses me, is breastfeeding-friendly, flattering, "my" colour, a bit retro, a bit military, ModClothy but higher quality, and in all other ways awesome, I may as well just run a hot bath and slice open a large vein, amirite?)... and partly it's a deathly fear of wasting vast quantities of fabric. That's the great thing about baby clothes. You can only destroy fabric half a metre at a time. :p

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by Smokering 

Aww, thanks! :) I've had the occasional thought of making little-kid aprons (my own pattern - at least, so hugely adapted from the original that I'm pretty sure it's "mine") to sell at the shop on the apple orchard, where we live. Our landlord's father runs it and it mostly sells fruit, with some homegrown veggies and apple juice. I thought maybe if I made apple-themed aprons, they'd agree to put a few up for sale. But I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Other than that, no. :p I don't have enough time to sew all the things I want for us, let alone everyone else! (Not to mention, y'know, cleaning and cooking and educating the kidling and all that jazz....) I really need to make some clothes for myself, but with Christmas coming up I'm way behind on kid sewing... arrgh. Plus, most of the clothes I make these days are Ottobre, and they're quite strict about not selling stuff made with their patterns. I adapt some of their patterns, but it's a fuzzy line... And yeah, they're not that professional-looking close up. I often zigzag seams to finish them, because I don't have a serger - it's fine for home clothes, but looks a bit "homemade" for bought ones, you know?

Still, I am ridiculously proud of myself when I complete a wearable, attractive garment. I was so awful at sewing as a teenager - it was my sister's thing - that I still marvel I can sew a straight seam without disaster! My mother is equally taken aback - she tends to say "That looks nice!" with an air of stunned surprise. Flattering. :)

I traced patterns for salior shorts in two sizes, the sailor dress and DS' sailor top recently, so I can get started on those soon. And we're going away for our FIRST EVER! family holiday in a few weeks, and I'd love to sew myself something decent to wear... I have this terrible mental block about sewing clothes for me. Partly it's mummy martyrdom ("but I still haven't made DD's Cinderella dress for Christmas!"), partly it's perfectionism (because if I don't achieve something that perfectly expresses me, is breastfeeding-friendly, flattering, "my" colour, a bit retro, a bit military, ModClothy but higher quality, and in all other ways awesome, I may as well just run a hot bath and slice open a large vein, amirite?)... and partly it's a deathly fear of wasting vast quantities of fabric. That's the great thing about baby clothes. You can only destroy fabric half a metre at a time. :p

Even still, you should totally sell aprons at the orchard shop - talk to them! I hear you about the serger - I want one with my whole heart, and like to think I am the type of person who would sew immense amounts of things on a daily basis if only I had a serger. And the part I bolded above is 100% of the reason I've never attempted to sew anything more involved than a gardening apron for myself. :-)

[iowaorganic]

You all definitely NEED a serger- I can't believe I lived without it for so long.  I couldn't justify $600 for one though- so I bought a barely used second hand one for $200.  It was a steal.  I love it but still need to rearrange my sewing room for it.  I don't use it nearly as often as I would like since I have to move my sewing machine to put it there.  Which is dumb to do for a little seam you know?  But it has opened up the wonderful world of knit to me- which I hated before!  

[OkiMom]

I love my serger. It broke in the latest move

I managed to hem the girls holiday skirts today

[ms.shell]

okay i finally finished my 2nd version of a mei-tai today, which is still not quite how i want it (with still wider straps and more padding), but much better than the 1st.  It's black with LONG straps and red canvas on the other side of the panel, so is reversible for holiday festivity.  and now i need to make some things for a secret santa sister in my ddc and get started on some minimal holiday gift sewing, including a stocking for the new member of our family who was born this year.  i can't believe how few projects I have done this year, but I am okay with that. ;)  

[zebra15]

I haven't been around much lately.  Nor have I been in a crafty type mood.  I just started a nautical theme/color blanket tonight.  Who knows when it will be done.  Its crochet and ripple stitch.  It could be a present for DS or for someone else.

Sadly all my yarn is stuck in Ohio and I'm in AZ.  makes crafting difficult.

[Smokering]

41/52: Dress for meeee! Apparently spelling out why I couldn't do it inspired me. :p It is not, by any means, perfect; but it's unique and has gotten a few compliments. I'd like to make a new and improved version when I get some more fabric.

42/52: Helped the friend of a friend... actually, the relative-by-marriage of an acquaintance... with a wedding cake.

43/52: "Invented" a pavlova for a pavlova competition. I'm giving myself a point for this, because I made about five versions of the darned thing. It was nice in the end - super-lemony, with a lemon-mascarpone topping, and flaked coconut pressed into the sides, and meringue triangles of lemon-coconut meringue arranged artily around the edges. I find out if I won today...

[iowaorganic]

I moved over to the handmade holidays.  I have been busy crafting too.  

[OkiMom]

I haven't had much crafting time lately.. Seems like the baby has turned from smiley baby to screaming baby

[Smokering]

44/52: Made a denim "beast" stuffed with fabric scraps, for DH to use as a target (he has a recurve bow). I appliqued a heart, a bone and various organs on it, and he can also aim for the eyes or hair if he chooses. It was fun, and I didn't have to be super fussy because it was going to be shot up anyway. Might do a few more if I get time - goodness knows I have enough fabric scraps!

I did win the pavlova competition, incidentally. :p

Now off to sew a bit more of the Christmas tree skirt before I have to go see The Hobbit with my dad!

OkiMom, you have my heartfelt sympathies...

[ms.shell]

I knew you would win, Smokering.  And the target beast sounds like a fun project!   Incidentally, my ds just came in and I showed him your avatar of Princess Leaia and he informed me that is no picture of Princess Leia!  If that picture is YOU, then you look like a movie star.  I really have been thinking you were Princess Leia for years or however long you have been using that picture here.

Heather, is baby better?  My baby was the fussiest baby I had yet, but I took him to the chiropractor and that was an attitude adjustment/ miracle.  He went twice and is now Mr. Smiley Happy, thank God! 

Happy Holidays everyone!  I have been busy sewing; I have made quite a few things.  But I don't think I will bother revisiting and trying to claim points for them now!  I hope to start and finish 3 stockings today, for my 3 boys.