Bye bye 2014

It’s been quite a while since I last found the time and energy to write about my sewing projects (it’s half a year actually!). Looking back to the first months of 2014 I realize how everything was too much for me – especially too much work at my day-time-job. Hours and hours of overtime that made me impatient with the boys (which made them uneasy and even more agitated), unnerved by the workload at home and generally too exhausted to enjoy my freetime (which I mostly spent sleeping).

But! Everything is better now. I have a new colleague that took over a large amount of my workload and circumstances made it possible to return to normal schedule at work during October/November.

I made a re-start at running, sewed more often and generally enjoyed my life much more than during the first months of 2014. The boys were easier to handle, more balanced and family life got calmer, too.

There. I thought I’d share these good news with you and I really look forward to enjoying 2015 as much as possible.

But first let’s have a look back at the last months of 2014:

In August, big boy started primary school:

In case you are wondering what he carries in his arms: it’s a “Schultüte”: In Germany the kids get a cardstock cone filled with candy and little gifts to “sweeten up” their first and exciting day at school. Very often the cones are handmade by parents (or parents and kids together). When I asked him, what kind of design he’d like to have (soccer, superheros, etc.) he said that he wanted me to sew him a cone. When I told him that I didn’t know how to sew a cone he simply said: “we’ll look it up online”. Ha. Clever boy he is. He chose a star-y theme and I machine embroidered the date of his first day at school, his name and his class.

In September my sister had her second child – a girl! The first baby girl after 4 baby boys in our family! I was so looking forward to sewing little dresses for girls that I started right away:

  

October, November and December flew by with secret sewing projects.

But the best thing that happened during the last half-year was the visit of Ann for a private sewing retreat in August. She came over from Denmark for an extended weekend and we had lots of fun together. (Some pictures are from our Instagram Accounts: she is kvintaen on IG and I am grapesandhearts)

She taught me how to sew a Sew-together-bag (pattern by SewDemented):

 

And I showed her how to use a Serger to sew t-shirs for her son. We made an entire production:

 

And we visited Zen Chic Owner and Designer Brigitte Heitland. She lives approx. 30 minutes away from me:

 

This was truely my sewing highlight of the entire year. Thanks so much for flying over, Ann! It was so much fun to have you here, you are very welcome to come back at any time!!

So in a nutshell, this was the second and better half of 2014. I made many more things during the last months (christmas gifts, baby quilts, big boy quilts, bags), that I plan to show you during the next days (the kids are visiting grandma so I hope to get some blog post up during the weekend).

Enough for now. I sincerely hope that 2015 will be a good, happy and healthy year for each and every one of you and your beloved ones.

Happy Sewing!
Christine

Serger fun

We had the first snow this winter! However I took the products of my “labour” outside to take some photos. (Ha! that sounds like sewing tees is hard and a chore, doesn’t it?! And like I spend my spare time working…)

Infact, sewing tees has been a mere enjoyment as I treated myself to a new serger. My first serger. And “treated myself” is rather wrong, because I spend my christmas and birthday money that I received from my MIL and my parents.

I sincerely expected some sighing and shrugging shoulders when I called my mom to tell her how I spend my christmas money but she was very happy that I had found something that I would love to use…

So I made some tees first. I bought Rae’s flashback skinny tee pattern and couldn’t stop at one…

The pattern is easy to follow although my boys seem to be bigger than average. I first made a size 6 for my 6 years old son. It was too small in the armpits so I  shortened the arms to make it a perfect fit for my 4 years old.

Here are some details of the neck and the hem. I used a twin-needle for a more professional-looking finish.

In former times my boys have taken to their heels when I sewed clothes for them. It really helps to let them choose the fabrics and some fun iron-on patches.

This is my youngest with the first tee before I shortened the arms. It gets more and more difficult to get them pose for photos so I have to sneak in and catch them unexpectedly…

Here’s the bunch of tees together. So much fun.

Have you tried sewing apparel for your kids or nieces, nephews, grandchildren?
Do they love wearing handmade clothes?

Happy sewing and have a great new week!
Christine

Garments

I made more t-shirts for my boys. The ones I made some months ago were a huge success and are used quite often. Although I made them for my youngest they are worn by my eldest. They are a tight fit but as he is quite thin they look great on him. I am eyeing Rae’s Flashback skinny t-shirt pattern for a while and I think I should give it a try some time soon (when my handmade christmas items are done…).

I told my sons that they could choose the knits for their shirts and this is what we bought at our local fabric store.

Stripes and a badge for my eldest:

Cars for my youngest:

Have you ever shrieked with excitement when you found something beautiful in a store?! I did. When I saw this:

A patchwork-y winter jacket for my eldest. (THE perfect design of my next quilt.) Don’t you just love it? I do. And what is best: he does as well (o:

Have a nice week!
Christine

T-shirts for my boys

Last weekend I “discovered” some cute knits in my stash. Hidden in a box where I store all my non-quilting fabrics. As I was looking for something to do while my youngest was playing inside (outside it was pouring again) I decided to make my boys some t-shirts. I never made t-shirts before. Infact I swore never to make them garments again. Last time that was a complete disaster. I made vests that they refused to wear. My eldest eventually consented to it (some bribery might have been involved) but my youngest ran away every time I even mentioned that “cute pirate vest”. You name it. Great success.

So tees this time. And I have to admit they were fun to make and faster than I had estimated. I ripped open the seams of an old torn tee that was sligtly too small for my eldest.



Then I cut the front and back in halves to use them as templates on my folded fabrics.



I used some cuff fabric to give it a nice finish and secured the serged seams in place by stitching all around the cuffs with a triple straight stitch.



Here’s the one I made for my eldest:


And this is the one for my youngest:



Infact the t-shirts are the same size so they are a bit too large for the one and a bit too small for the other… But they don’t care and I’m happy that they don’t have to be talked into wearing them…

I have been cutting into even more fabrics last friday but more about that next time.

What about you? Have your kid’s ever taken to their heels when you presented some homemade garments? Or am I the only one?!

Happy Sewing!
Christine