Cat Clothes

My Neighbour petitioned me to make her daughter's cat some 'all seasons' clothing. I am not really a seamstress but I have tried my best. We went to the cheap fabric shop and she picked out some really bright fabric. As a result taste fell by the wayside a bit. It's more of a mismatch of things, but I think that makes it more exciting. I have really enjoyed this project!

Spring

A stripy pink dress with tutu and stripy scarf. This is a bit of a cheat, as the dress is one of Penelope's which I have just taken in at the sides and the bottom hem. The tutu was from a babygrow. I also included some baby booties to give it a hi top 80's look. This is a Pretty in Pink alternative prom outfit I reckon. The only thing I really made was the scarf and even that was half hearted. I wanted to make a long Doctor Who type scarf and it was all going brilliantly but I ran out of time to sew in all the ends so I had to just back it with some fluro fleece scraps I had. I'm a bit sad really as I had wanted it to have tassles and be an ace scarf, whereas I feel it's a bit lumpy now. Oh well. Time waits for no man.


The bow on the tutu is a nice element though, I am sure a six year old will like that. The elastic is a bit baggy as I didn't do it very well. It was a learning curve.

Summer

A red gingham dress. This is a bit of a cheat again. This is one of Penelope's first dresses she was given which is still brand new with tags on. It was just too cold when she was that little. Plus we didn't get out of babygrows until she was 6 months really. Anyway I took in the sides, the top and the bottom and hey presto, cat has a summery dress.


It ended up looking quite fitted in the end which I was pleased with. I left it long because it looks like a Red Riding Hood outfit. Something to wade through sticky buds and damp ferns with. The cloak I did make! Horrah. I am pleased with the gold trim. I have never done that before.


I am quite pleased with the drape here. Very regal. br />
It has a nice big button to do it up which also worked out well.

Autumn
Gold lamé waistcoat and bow tie, gold flecked jersey trousers with gold lamé turnups.


As for the trousers. They were supposed to be baggy, MC Hammer style trousers but my measurements were all off. I'd quite like to make them again to the right size without the turnups. There is something a bit Shawoddywoddy about the turnups.

The waistcoat it really badly made. I could have done the seams so much better if I had thought more about it. I was following this great pattern, but I failed to do the last bit right by being in a rush and not reading it through properly. I like the pocket though. I couldn't do her posh pockets. One day I will read up how to do them properly. I will also learn how to do button holes so it can be done up nicely. I might have also made a chain and pocketwatch or pair of wire spectacles. One day...

Winter
A red felt coat and hat. The coat is my favourite thing. I made it from an enlarged version of this pattern.



I really like the detailing on the back and the pocket on the front.

I have to slightly change the neckline and the collar but otherwise it's pretty much as the pattern. I feel if I were to do it again I could tailor it slightly better over the shoulders. Although I have no idea how you do this. The hat is made from the sleeve of my old flatmate's jumper he gave me years a go when he accidentally felted it. I have had it in a box for yonks! I made the red bobble and sewed some ear holes into it. A perfect fit.

Sylvanian baby quilt

My neighbours are 6. Twins. Twins who love Sylvanian families. So I have bought them each a baby animal for Christmas and thought they each needed a baby quilt. Time to crack open the thangles mini pack! Mum's scraps of Liberty fabric were perfect. They're slightly too big, but I just went with the smallest thangles I had and hoped for the best. Completed whilst watching Gardener's World and feeling guilty I haven't touched it since the summer!



The bottom corner of one of them is wet where Penelope decided to chew it. It was her seal of approval. I think the one on the left is my favourite, although the join on the binding is neater on the second.

Christmas Wrapping

2013 is a huge improvement on 2012 but still not up to my usual standard. I don't even remember last year's attempt. I probably didn't buy anybody anything. I was still in such a zonked out baby haze. I am pretty pleased with my comeback fat robins from Paperchase though. Three for two which was not a bad offer. I have done robins before but these ones are better as they have scarves! At least it's all done now and I can sit back and relax. Just got to write all these xmas cards now...

Single Girl Progress

So I have finished making my blocks to go with the single girl blocks. They were great fun to make. I really want to carry on making them. It's such a great idea to combine them with the tiny blocks. I might try making up my own version after this one. I am quite excited about it. I did a bit of a test with myself by making one leaf block just like I saw this great Amanda's and one a bit more freestyle. Needless to say, I think I prefer Amanda's, I'm not sure why though.

 

I really like the Penants Waving in Ivory fabric on the bottom left by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cloud 9. I am itching to buy some more as I will have used my entire fat quarter by the end of this project. I also feel the same about the Lizzy House bracelets, but my problem is that I hoard fabric then I fall out of love with it. I have been so good at using my stash that now I agonise over buying new stuff. The small brown sprig fabric has lasted me such a long time. It is one of the first fabrics I bought with mum when I first got into quilting. I am a bit worried that the fabrics don't match as I have used browns and purples, but I wanted the quilt to be vibrant and not too 'me' if that makes sense.



I made a few mistakes with my half square triangles so I had to add some bits, but I am really happy with the text fabric I bought. I agonised over it as I am not a text of fabric person. In the end mum gave me some scraps she had and I bought two fat quarters. One of dictionary pages which I wasn't 100% about and one of script samples all laid over each other. I wasn't totally into that either so I have done some pretty wasteful fussy cutting, but I am glad with the results. The bottom left square uses a really nice bit.


Mum's scraps were easy to use as they were free! You can see them in the strip above the pink leaf.

Unfortunately, true to style, I mucked up my measurements and my maple leaf blocks are bigger than my single girl ones so I will have to add borders to those before I do the sashing. It might all look like a train wreck, oh dear. Oh well, I think it will add to its charm. I might put it off a bit and just play around with more thangles. It's great for really using those tiny scraps.