And a pink one too....

The Ottobre Meteore vest I made for A2 was so cute, I just had to make one for A1. In pink of course!

Ottobre 1/2011 #5

One thing I wish I would remember to do, is read my instructions again! I often write nots on the instructions if I do something different, or need to remember to do something. And of course with this I didn't! The inside of the arm holes is a bit messy as I had forgotten I needed to sew further out to make sure I catch the lining in. Practice makes Perfect!

Flower Power Cords!

I fell in love with this fabric when I saw it in the Spotlight catalogue! Thankfully 3 weeks later when I manage to get to Spotlight, they still had some.

This pattern is another Ottobre (1/2010 #13) Puolukkapuuro Cord Pants. The pattern specified 4 pockets, 2 at the front and 2 at the back. I decided not to put the pockets on the front as I thought A1 would just play with them. I am glad I didn't as the pants are a bit baggy for her on the front and I think had I put pockets on, it might have made them look baggier or pull the pants down a bit.

But they are gorgeous! Beautiful soft cord.

Front

Back, you can just see the pockets

Close up of the pocket. I used a cute pearly stud instead of a button.

Meteore Vest!

This is my first attempt at an Ottobre pattern! I have drooled over these magazines for a while and finally got up the courage to purchase a few back editions and a years subscriptions. I was a bit concerned about tracing off the pattern as there are so many patterns on the one piece of paper, but it truly wasn't that bad. I was also worried about adding seam allowances. No better way to learn than practice though!!

Overall I am really happy with the vest. The topstitching is not fantastic, and in hindsight I should have redone it. The zip. Oh my. The zip. I do not know why I struggled so much with the zip. This zip was simply sewn to the seam allowance. Should have been very easy! Anyway, after a few attempts and some swearing I did it. Not totally happy with the zip.

But I am very happy to have gotten over my fear of the Ottobre patterns! I think doing quiote a few jumpers and trackpants from the Kwik Sew books helped my understanding. I don't think I would have really understood the directions in the Ottobre magazine if I didn't understand about sewing stretch.

Pattern - Ottobre 1/2011 #5

Appliqued Jumper

Just for something different! I've appliqued the front of the jumper. It's really lovely! A1 said "pretty flowers".
I can't take credit for the flowers. Well I did draw them, cut them out and applique them, but the idea came from someone's blog! And I'm sorry if it was your blog, but I can't remember where I saw it and I thought I had bookmarked it for future reference.

Fancy Pants!

I am so excited to have finished these pants for A2! I purchased a lovely knitted brown jumper from Target the other week and decided that he needed pants to go with it. I used Oliver + S Sandbox pants pattern. The pattern was great and instructions were really simple to follow. I am really happy with these as it is the first item of clothing that was probably a bit more fiddly than I am used to, but they look great! The pockets are lined and the waist band should have been in the contrast cotton, but I didn't have quite enough of the brown cotton to make the waistband.

And I should take the time to mention, if anyone wants to make this pattern - check the errata on the website for the corrections to the patterns! It took me a good 2 hours to wonder why I was cutting 2 waistbands and it was infact a printing error on the pattern!

Front of Pants

Back of Pants

Another Tracksuit!

This fabric was given to be by my mum and is such good quality! It is so warm and fluffy! It is a shame to use it on the kids. I should have made a tracksuit for myself!

I purchased the little bear motif from the craft shop and ironed and stitched it on, just for something different.

Kwik Sew Master Patten for Toddlers and Simplicity 3584 Pants with added ribbed cuff

Jumpers

The kids really needed some jumpers and I have had so much trouble in finding patterns for simple jumpers without hoods! Hood drive me insane! So I went back to Mum's trusty old Kwik Sew Master Patterns for Toddlers. Here is a link to the book if you haven't seen it before. I tried numerous times last year to make some track suits and jumpers for A1 without success. I find the Kwik Sew patterns too wide and I am hopeless at altering patterns. I decided to have a go again this year with them and just make them. I was surprised! The jumpers have turned out fabulous. A1 is probably more in proportion this year, rather than last year I found the sleeves way too wide for her. A2 is perfect "normal" size.

A2's jumper I made to match the pants from the previous outfit, seeing the jumper from that outfit wasn't so great.

Back of Pants

Front of Pants

Jumper

I LOVE the jumper fabric. I picked it up at Textile Traders for an absolute bargain of $4 a metre. It is such thick and good quality fleece. I think I have about 4m of it! Although, I might be one of the few who actually like it. My husband "doesn't like the brown"! Well I do! I think the brown and pink go really nicely together and is so different from lots of other fabric you see or bought items.