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Retro Halter Playsuit 2

Here's another retro halter playsuit I made today. I love the print on this Japanese fabric. Not sure what's its name but I think it's under a collection called Pop Candy. I bought the fabric about a year ago in Chinatown and when going through my fabric stash about two months back, I saw it and decided it's time to make a playsuit. I cut the fabric after washing and drying it but got distracted by other projects. I sure hope I'm not the only one who gets distracted by new sewing patterns or fabric all the time. Today, I had so much fun making it but realized after sewing that my princess has grown so much over the past month that she might only be able to wear it for a day! Guess it is meant for another princess then.   More photos here

Like my last retro playsuit, it had a sweetheart neckline but this time I created a front facing instead of using a bias. This halter is also different. In place of two side ties, I attached one side of the halter to the neckline while creating a buttonhole on the otherside. I skipped the retro belt detail as this is a busier fabric.

Two evenings ago when I was going through my favorite blogs, I saw Sew Mama Sew's post on their annual May giveaway and decided that I should participate as a 'giver' this year. After renaming and shifting my blog, it will be a great opportunity to network and communicate with more crafters out there. I went through my fabric stash yesterday and did some reorganizing (finally!) These are three fabric (above, a yard or slightly more each) I have chosen. Two of them (Pigs and Apples) are Japanese fabric. They are lovely but I have no idea what to do with them. So, I will be giving these away together with a handful of buttons. Who will ever have enough of fabric and buttons??? More details on how to win these will be posted 16 May in time for the 17 May giveaway.  I still need some time to think about the mechanics for the contest. Why not mark the date, get to know more crafters and win some goodies? Trust me, there will be a LOT of blogs/ giveaways to go through (I went through part of the list last year) so set aside at least the entire evening for fun:)

Trips for 4

My husband and I love to travel. This passion now continues with two kids (boy almost four and girl one and a half) in tow. My husband posted our travel photos on facebook recently and told me how his colleagues with kids of similar age couldn't believe how we could travel with kids and still have a good time.

I thought about it and decided that I would document our recent adventures on a blog and hopefully provide some useful tips or even itinerary suggestions to other parents who might wish to travel with kids.   I wondered if I should start a new blog but decided to expand on this blog instead. After all,these are all what I am passionate about. I will be covering the locations below and also update after future trips. Information will be consolidated under the Trips for 4 tab (on the top of the blog).  Give me sometime to post them in between my sewing sessions:) Too many projects, too little time!

Gold Coast  October 2009

Hong Kong SAR December 2009

Kansai/ Fukui Japan April 2010 (with happy fabric shopping:), you can not miss that while in Japan!)

On a separate note, I have moved and consolidated my old blogs into one here on the Sew Convert. I just thought the blog name is, well, so appropriate for me. I'm so sorry for people who have commented but now your comments are missing. I'm not sure what happened but they went missing after I moved the blog address.  Same reason the tabs on top are not linking properly. I'll work on them, I promise.

I hope to meet more people and make more new friends here on The Sew Convert. So, hi and a warm welcome!

Little Folks Blouse

This is the first time I sew with voile and I'm in love. This fabric from Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks collection is so soft and so comfortable especially in the perpetual summer we have here in Singapore.  The fabric, despite its sheerness, ceases well and is a dream to sew. The areas where you see little white dots (front and back facing, end of sleeves) are the reverse side of the fabric. I decided to use the reverse on some parts of the blouse to add some variation and I thought it turned out pretty cute. The pattern is from Wendy Mullin's Sew U book. A variety of pink buttons were used on the front and sleeve of the blouse. My mothers' day gift to myself. Happy mothers' day!

A closer view of the front facing.

Here's the back view with the back facing. I managed to match the lines:)

Ai Drawstring Bag with Tutorial

Ai means love in Chinese and this is the Ai Drawstring Bag which I have made as a mothers' day present. Ai also happened to be my mum's name so I really couldn't find a more appropriate name than that. This isn't exactly a surprise gift as I wanted to ensure it's something she find useful. My mum does not like bags without a proper closure and requested for a long strap so she can carry it over her shoulder. She already has many formal bags so it has to be something she will use on any normal day. Her main activities outside the home includes visiting the market or supermarket, going for a facial, visiting the doctor and going for a game of mahjong. So, after some thought, I decided to make her this drawstring bag with pear prints and sweet polka dots.

The bag is pretty easy to make. I finished mine in slightly more than an hour. Love is meant to be shared so I have come up with a step by step tutorial here for the Ai drawstring bag. Hope someone else finds it useful too:)

If you intend to wash the bag from time to time, please prewash the fabric. Otherwise, it is likely that it will shrink to a baby size version.

Materials required:
Main fabric (Pear fabric on mine)- cut 2 pieces of 35cm X 32cm medium weight fabric
Top fabric (Polka dots on mine)- cut 2 pieces of 35cm X 45cm
Shoulder strap- cut 2 pieces 100cm X 5cm
Two 35cm cords
Matching thread
* If your fabric is not medium weight, please add interfacing to the main fabric. Iron the interface onto the wrong side of the main fabric.

Step 1:
Cut fabric as required

Step 2:
Main fabric right side facing, stitch the side and bottom of the fabric using a 1cm seam allowance.

Step 3:
Using a fabric marker or chalk, measure 7cm from top of the Top fabric and mark. Stitch the side and bottom of the fabric using a 1cm seam allowance but do not sew above the 7cm line.

Step 4:

Fold the bottom corner of the main fabric. Measure and ensure that it is 5cm from each side to the middle of the fabric. Stitch across. This will create the base of the bag. Repeat the same steps for the other bottom corner and for both bottom corners of the Top fabric.  

Turn main fabric right side out and it should look like this.

Step 5:

Fold and iron the remaining seams of the Top fabric twice towards the wrong side of the fabric. Stitch in place. Repeat for the other side.

Step 6:
Fold the top of the Top fabric twice and iron. Stitch in place. Repeat for the other side.

Step 7:
Strap fabric right side facing, stitch with 0.5cm seam allowance, leaving a gap for turning out the fabric. Remember to reinforce the stitches. Turn out the fabric and iron the strap. Stitch the opening.

Step 8:
Attach the strap right side to the right side of the Main fabric. Turn the main fabric to the wrong side, fold 1cm and iron.

Turn the main fabric right side out. The bag should now look like this. Do not stitch at this point.

Step 9:

Insert the right side of the top fabric into the wrong side of the main fabric. Ensure the base of both fabric match.

Now match the sides and pin the two fabric together. Stitch together with a 1cm seam allowance.

Step 10:

Using a safety pin, loop the cord into the openings of the Top fabric. Tie a knot at the end. At the other end. Insert the second cord and tie a knot at the opposite end. They should look like this.

We are done! Enjoy your Ai Drawstring Bag!

New echino ni-co fabric!!!

I am so in love with the echino ni-co fabric collection which has just become available!!! My favourites are the orange helicopters (3rd from left), green helicopters (4th), brown buses (10th) and also spectacles in black and green!!! Fabricworm seems to be the first to have it available online! Which should I buy????
(above image from fabricworm)

Tablecloth Tunic Dress

I am in love with this tunic dress. Made out of one of the dress patterns from Built By Wendy Dresses (You get three basic sewing patterns with the book for three dress types), this is my version of the tunic dress. I love how comfortable the fit is and how well it fits my body type. And off course I love the Anna Maria Horner fabric named tablecloth. I chose a bright orange for the 'border' of the tunic but wasn't sure if it was too loud at first but when I was trying on the unfinished dress I fell in love with the vibrant colour. I also took extra care to place the orange design of the main fabric in the centre of the dress and love how it turned out. Sides of the dress were finished with french hem.

Wendy Mullin's book provided some tips on how to design the tunic but all other pattern drawing besides the basic shift pattern really depended on ME!!!!! It was kinda intimidating at first but I think the effort was worthwhile and a pretty good experience.  I can now make a few more of these dresses with variations on my own. How liberating is that!

However, I found the sewing instructions from the book rather vague for this dress and often had to figure out what the next step should be. I also had to unpick the bottom 'border' as the front and back didn't match in terms of width and looked funny. I'm happy with it after re-measurement and re-sewing it. In fact I'm so happy with it that I shall be wearing the dress out this weekend.

Dress Inspired!

I'm feeling inspired by the dresses at Harvey Faircloth and just gotta share some photos.

I'm half way through my Built by Wendy Tunic dress (I am so loving the fabric combination and can't wait to finish the project).

Weekend Toy Bag

I just completed this toy bag for my son. He is always bringing toys (cars, trains, dinosaurs, sharks etc) out and always forgetting them so I told him I will make him a bag for toys. When we went fabric shopping in Osaka, he excitedly chose the quilted Disney's cars fabric for the flap. I attached a bright yellow bias to the flap, made the rest of the bag out of a red home decor fabric from Ikea and used velcro for attachment. The tutorial which is a dream to follow is from the mmmcrafts blog. This bag can be completed in a couple of hours. Have fun!

The First Project

This is the first dress I have ever made. It was my project while learning how to sew just before my princess was born. At 15 months, she is finally able to fit into the dress and I can't describe how proud and delighted I was when she wore it for a day of fun at the Botanic Gardens with the grandparents.  The fit was good and I love the ruffle sleeves. I will probably make another for her in a bigger size later.

Fabric Buying in Osaka

I've not been able to sew recently as I was busy planning and packing for a family vacation in Japan.  We came back on Saturday and I've been busy unpacking. I couldn't resist sharing the lovely fabric I bought while in Osaka and I have Jacqui from Blooming in Japan to thank for giving absolutely superb directions to the fabric store located at the Ebisubashi shopping street! I had my two kids with me and it was not easy for serious fabric shopping but in 5 minutes, I managed to select the four Japanese fabric shown in the photo above. I love the prints and the price even more. The four metres of fabric cost 2,800 Yen which is around US$7 per metre! That's probably half the price of what I'll get on etsy excluding shipping!

I returned to the shop on my last day in Japan and bought more. After all, with the baby food and crackers eaten up, I now have more luggage space for fabric:)

So I ended up with some hello kitty and disney's cars quilted material and even an echino print!

This is the first time I bought fabric while on holiday and that made me an absolutely happy woman!

It's Raining Cats!!! Ribbon Dress

My princess adores cats. Whether it's hello kitty or the neighborhood cat, they never fail to amuse her or  light up her twinkling eyes. She also can't stop meowing when she sees them and that always brings a smile to my face.

This Michael Miller Kitten fabric is just 'purr'fect for a new project and I followed the tutorial for ribbon sundress at Creature of Habit. It is probably one of the easiest dress I have made and I also learnt how to sew the french hem which adds comfort by eliminating any loose thread inside the dress. The tutorial is easy to follow and you can make a dress from size 6 months all the way to 8 years!

Here are more shots of the meow meow kitty kitty ribbon dress. My only adaptation is the use of scraps for the ribbon, simply because I thought it will look more interesting with more vibrant colors.

I believe this ribbon dress is a variation of the pillowcase dress. The pillowcase dress has its history in mothers making dresses out of used or vintage pillowcases for their daughters in an age of frugality. This is also a dress that will evolve into a top when the child grows and can be worn for years to come.