'Quick' kimono t-shirt

Whipped up a top today from some stretch fabric I've had lying around for ages. Made from a free pattern here at MariaDenmark . It's turned out really nice actually!! 

Will definitely make another in a different fabric and see if I can do it in less than 90 minutes this time! Wore it straight away and am really pleased with it!

Beautiful dress to remember a beautiful girl...

I made this dress for me to wear to Isla's funeral. It was great fun to make and I really took my time and followed every single instruction to the letter - oh, except the zip, which I did the only way I know how! Oh, and the hem, which, I'm sorry, I'm not French seaming and hand sewing! I did, however, press every seam the right way and try it on frequently to check it was fitting!

I'm so proud of it! It's a Project Runway design (2588), where you have the basic dress shape (either slim or flared skirt) and then can choose a yoke or neckline and 'designer additions' - I chose the bow of course! Definitely going to be making another in a different style soon! 

It was a beautiful flowery fabric for Isla's funeral - nice and bright to match the meadow she is laid to rest in. 

What do you think?!

 Pockets too!

Seeing those photos makes we want to wear it today! I love it!! 

And when I do wear it, I can think of Isla and how beautiful she was too!

Saddest thing I've ever made

So today I made a burial gown for little Isla. I'd always planned on making her clothes when she was born, but never thought it'd be something so tiny, poignant and sad like this.


The gown is from here - such a beautiful and simple pattern, thank you! 


The bonnet was quick and easy. Printed from here. 


Heartbreaking to make but I couldn't not make her something. She will also be buried with her teddy, which has been with us since we found out she had died, and with her since she was born sleeping. 

Front:

Back: 

Isla and teddy: 

Isla McKillop, our beautiful angel

"An Angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth. 

And whispered as she closed the book "too beautiful for earth."

So our baby girl was born forever sleeping on Friday 13th July at 23.52, weighing 2lb 1oz. She was so beautiful and we named her Isla, as we always were going to. 

She touched our lives so deeply and both myself and my husband realised the true extent of parental love. We found peace in Isla and felt unbounded pride and love when we looked at her and held her close. 

We are burying her in a woodland ground on Monday 30th July. We have chosen a crab apple tree to mark her grave and will plant wild flowers throughout the year. As Isla didn't get to grow up herself, we are placing her somewhere she can be part of life, growth and beauty. 

They say there is a reason,

They say that time will heal,

But neither time nor reason,

Will change the way I feel,

For no-one knows the heartache,

That lies behind our smiles,

No-one knows how many times,

We have broken down and cried,

We want to tell you something,

So there won't be any doubt,

You're so wonderful to think of,

But so hard to be without.

2 little hands – that will never grip
 2 little legs that no longer kick
A delicate face that will never cry
And tiny hands that can’t wave goodbye
2 precious feet that will never walk
Soft, blue lips that will never talk
But a beautiful soul that has gone up above
And left me with feelings and memories of love

An Angel Never Dies

Don’t let them say I wasn’t born,

That something stopped my heart

I felt each tender squeeze you gave,

I’ve loved you from the start.

Although my body you can’t hold

It doesn't mean I’m gone

This world was worthy, not of me

God chose that I move on.

I know the pain that drowns your soul,

What you are forced to face

You have my word, I’ll fill your arms,

Someday we will embrace.

You’ll hear that it was meant to be,

God doesn’t make mistakes

But that won't soften your worst blow,

Or make your heart not ache.

I’m watching over all you do,

Another child you’ll bear

Believe me when I say to you,

That I am always there.

There will come a time, I promise you,

When you will hold my hand,

Stroke my face and kiss my lips

And then you’ll understand.

Although I’ve never breathed your air,

Or gazed into your eyes

That doesn’t mean I never was,

An Angel never dies.

New bits for the shop...

So, I've been on a bit of a making spree during these half term holidays! I was told people at the shop were asking for purses and smaller bags. And what with another, second, shop opening on Monday, I got busy....


Purses: 

Bags - all reversible, various handle styles and sizes but all basically a small book bag / shoulder bag! 


(That all need ironing before I take them to the shop!!)

 

 

 

All together now!

Alas.... failure!

I don't normally post unless I'm proud of something and have a sense of achievement about what I've sewn.........


Today is not such an occasion! I'm posting due to the hilarity of it all! The waste of 1.5 hours or a project I was really looking forward to. The wreckage made of one of Dan's nice shirts - oops! (He did know I had 'borrowed' it!). The unflattering, badly sewn, mis-measured, untested effort that was accomplished today shall herein be known as...... the failure!


Here it is (please excuse the hair, glasses, PJ bottoms - this little number did not warrant a shower or getting dressed into an 'outfit' really!)......

So, the empire line is too high and it will certainly be too short with a full bump.....

But does that really make it a failure? I guess not....

...............................

But this surely does..............

Think the sleeves were a little tight plus I may have made it a little snug around the back! 

Please feel free to snigger, comment, laugh out loud or text me your condolences/sarcastic congratulations/witty remarks about this effort - I deserve them all!

Maternity trousers - first trousers ever!!

Well I guess they're slightly easier than usual trousers due to there being no zip closure etc.... But I still manage to make my usual pigs-ear of at least 1 process in the making of these trousers!

So, they're based on a Burda Maternity pattern: 

I was at Trago Mills in Newton Abbot today and saw some stretchy cotton sateen fabric (to use on reverse side as don't like shiny!) that I thought would be suitable for these. Bought some extra jersey for the band too.

Took forever to print out and piece together the pattern, but not too long to cut out the pieces - having worked out the direction of the stretch! 

The actual sewing took hardly any time and before long I had the main body of the trousers and they fit! So far so good! 

You'd think the band would be easy but me being me managed to cock up quite a few times, unpicking many a seam before finally working it out. Even once I'd worked out what their incredibly scant instructions meant, I still made silly mistakes and ended up unpicking seams again! Doh!

Anyway, finally got there. Total sewing time, approx 45 minutes. Total making time, approx 2.5 hours. Total including making pattern and cutting, approx 4 hours!! Crazy! Could whip up another pair now in no time I'm sure! And may even do so, maybe making a flared pair. 

Hopefully can't see a 'camel's toe' here but the threat is there with stretchy material plus curvy girl! Oh dear!!

S'cuse the look on my face! Was concerned about the zooming going on!

Should look quite nice with heals or sandals anyway!