Impressed with myself :)

I bought myself an overlocker a few weeks ago (actually it was even longer than that since I ordered it since a certain well-known chain starting with S and ending in 'light' doesn't keep stock of sewing machines in store!!!)... Anyway... It stayed in the box while I read the instruction manual and tried to figure out how the heck to use it! I took it away with us on the weekend so that Mum could help me set it up and stop me freaking out that I was going to chop my fingers off :)

I love it!

So ta-da, presenting the first thing made on my new overlocker - a pair of boxer shorts for Master B!

Sew busy...

I had a busy afternoon on the sewing machine yesterday.

A friend of Billy's was having a b'day, and I knew this boy loved cooking, so I "ran him up" an apron. Then of course, I had to sew Billy one as well! We gave his friend the apron today, and I think it went over well.


I'd also bought Billy some boxer short material last trip out to Spotlight, so I made him a pair of boxers. It was the first time I'd sewn using an actual pattern, and it would've been much easier sewing satin with an overlocker (if I'd had one), but they look pretty good. He likes them anyway :)



Oh, and I did learn a valuable lesson - do not cut a pattern out while talking on the phone; you might make a mistake and have to start again :)

And the invention of the year goes to - the seam ripper!

I'm exhausted! I spent this weekend sewing - and since I'm not much of a sewer it was hard work! Most of the things I made are presents for various nieces & nephews for Xmas - and since I know a couple of my SILs read this blog at times - I'll save unveiling them until after we have our Xmas celebrations. I got 4 presents made, and while I can see the flaws, on the whole I'm pretty happy with them. How "homemade" will be received is another matter though..

While I was in the sewing spirit, I also replaced the too small elastic in a pair of Billy's pj pants, and made him a pair of shorts using Stefani's Bandanna pants tutorial using some cute pirate fabric I picked up at Spotlight. Due to failing to understand a vital part of the instructions in one of the first steps, I made them up, all the time thinking "these just don't look right"... Tried them on him, nope they didn't fit right.. Went back and studied the instructions again, realised what I'd done wrong - and then had to completely dismantle the pants and sew them up again - the *right* way!

In the end they looked pretty good though and I am stoked with myself! That's the first item of clothing I've sewn *all by myself*! B is still wearing them around several hours later, so they can't be too bad!! (Note to self - next time make them a bit longer from top to crotch, these ones sit about the hips)

Look at this!!

Sunshine!!! We've had almost 2 weeks of rain, so it was wonderful to see some sunshine this weekend - and get some clothes washed & dried!

Mum & Dad came over on Friday afternoon, so Mum could look at my sewing machine. It's one I 'inherited' from her - it's at least 35 years old, bright orange and as heavy as a small car - and needless to say, hasn't had a lot of use from me! Last time I tried to use it, it caused me all sorts of angst, so I wanted her to see if she could fix it, if not, I'd put my order in for a new one for Mother's Day.

She tested, tweaked, and twiddled with things I didn't even know were on the machine, and finally got it working.

So Saturday I got creative -

What is it, you ask?! A hanging toy organiser for some of Billy's little toys and stuff he uses at bedtime.

Here it is in situ - in hangs on the side of the bookcase next to his bed.

And here he is practising to be a 'Sale of the Century' model... (Don't ask me - I think he was a mix-up at the hospital!)

Sunday I got creative again - I picked up a bolt end of curtain material at Spotlight for $3 - it worked out to be $1/m!

Billy has pigeon holes in our school / craft / play room to hold craft stuff, and it always looks really messy..

Ta da - curtains to hide the mess!

I'm really impressed with myself - as long as no-one looks too closely lol.

Sewing has always been one of those things I thought I couldn't do - well, I think I've proven that I *can* do it. It may not be pretty, and I won't be dressmaking any time soon, but I can sew straight(ish) lines!

I'm finally realising that no, it's not as good as my mum could do, but then she's been sewing for 40+ years!

Speaking of stuff I never thought I could do, while at Spotlight on Friday I bought a set of those knitting looms that Lightening has been having so much success with, and some wool on special.

Let's just say a) there is a reason there is no photo of my 1st project lol, b) Billy liked it though and snapped it up as a 'blanket' for his stuffed animals and c) I really, really enjoyed it!

Does anyone have any easy patterns for them?

Stay tuned!!