Angelina Ballerina

This is my Angelina Ballerina costume I made for my Daughter. I shirred the top using the elastic in the bobbin I doubled her waist measurement but probably needed to triple it as I had to make more shirred fabric as double her waist left me short about 6". For the straps I just made a tube 2" wide and pinned them to the top while she had it on then sewed them in place. The fabric is some old parachute material mum gave me from back when parachute tracksuits were in fashion. The skirt is two layers of soft netting with glitter. Full circles skirt gathered separately and sewn to the top separately. The third layer underneath is an organza also a full circle just a tad longer and a rolled hem on the overlocker. I used a tutorial from YouTube to make the satin ribbon rose and hand sewed it on last. Made the white top, leggings and tail. Pink ribbon for the legs is two 1.5mt lengths of ribbon pinned to the legging to keep them up and a second pin through the bow to keep it in all day. The ears are not made by me they were a gift from someone to my other daughter a while ago. I did have to do a bit of hand sewing on them at the back as they had flopped forward after years of use. A few small stitches in the middle has them standing up nicely. She had a great day for book week at school.

I HAVE A Janome 744D so exciting.

I am really enjoying sewing with my overlocker it makes such a difference to the finish of clothing. I saved up and my Mum gave me some Birthday money. Then for christmas she gave me lots of colours of thread to use and something to keep them in. I also used some other Birthday and Christmas money to buy my first set of pinking shears.

Christmas advent calendar finished

I finished this a while ago. I am really happy with it. Its not perfect I am not a quilter. I think it looks good and it will last us lots of year's. There is no hand sewing at all on this I used the sewing machine for all of it.

 I just stitched in the ditch to sew the binding down to the back of it. I used a gold silky by Gutermann on all the quilted detail and also to stitch in the ditch that way all you see if you notice the thread is a little sparkle. I used to do cross stitch and I had the red, green and gold sparkly embroidery thread. I hand sewed this I just kept looping it past the centre then when I was finished I cut all the loops so it looked like a pompom. I used these colours as the picture used identical colours underneath I just gave it a 3D effect. I may add other little thing here and there if I feel inspired. I have thought of a bell for the little raindear and beads on the christmas trees. 

Sewing a Christmas advent calendar

With allergy's advent calendars aren't something you can just buy of the shelf. I have wanted to sew one for a few years now but I always leave it to late and the panels are sold out. The other week I noticed my local craft shophad some

Christmas stuff out and this lovely snow man was there.At this stage I have lined all the pockets and sewn them on by machine no hand sewing here. Which I think looks fine as you can see in my close up of the pockets. I have to get some padding and fabric for the back and to make loops to hang it up. I will fill each

pocket with two small goodies for the girls to find each day on the count down to Christmas.

Kwick Sew 3694

Bad photo I know but the ones my 5YO took weren't any better. Supper easy to sew even with the slippery fabric. Bohemian evening knit from spotlight. This is a size small but as you can see the sleeves are not 3/4 length on me and its not as fitted as I would like. Hard to tell in the photo as the fabric drapes really nice so its okay. I will make the next one in a xSmall and maybe adjust the sleeves as they are too baggy when they get to my wrist but if I push them up they fit my arm like a 3/4 sleeve would. I will make more of these there is a sleeveless version too.