Finished in Time

Most of my sewing was done today. I did enjoy sewing this pattern and what a help it was to be able to refer to the blog posts over at you & mie. While I was happy with the style, I think my fabric choice was a bit difficult when I needed to bind the neck seam. I used polar/micro fleece that was stretchy and it it didn't matter how carefully you top stitched the fleece it still looked a bit shabby....

When out fabric shopping my rule that I hate sewing polar/micro fleece was soon forgotten. I was swayed by a pretty yellow coloured fabric. It was so pretty, a little bit of warmth in the middle of winter I thought to myself... Yes I'll buy that!

The parka hood and pocket are both lined with a yellow striped cotton fleece...

The photos below don't do the parka much justice, it just hangs like a sack in the pics. I need a little person to model the parka but there is not one in sight...On reflection I would certainly make this again, but I would use a lighter weight fabric. I think the pattern is definitely better in a light weight fabric. It might have made a difference if I hadn't lined the hood which added bulk.

Another sew-a-long blogger did their parka using bias to finish the seams, the edges of the hood etc. This might have worked better for my parka, I am not really happy with the front because the gathers are not very defined!

When you use a finer fabric the gathers in the front are more pronounced.
Apart from me not being so happy with the outcome this parka is
very warm and good for playing outside!

My cat is mental...he was banned from the sewing table today. But just
thought he might get in on the photo and nobody would notice!

Tracing the Pattern

It's so muddy outside the cat jumped through the window and
put dirty paw marks all over my new pattern...Thank goodness
not the book... 

Whew It's Here!

I have been waiting patiently for this Japanese pattern book so I can join in the sew-a-long over at you & mie.......Finally it has arrived, and didn't take too long really. It's just that I'm down at the bottom of the world so it was ordered from the supplier.

Where did I buy it In New Zealand? Mighty Ape, they were most helpful in sending it straight away once it got into the country, and today now it is here! Plus it's in English too...

But I'm 2 days behind in the sew-along so not sure if I will meet the deadline, but I'm going to join in anyway,....I need  a project to push me to start sewing!

Happy Homemade Sew Chic Kids

The Four Day Sleepover

For the past few days I reverted to the roll of Kindy teacher, I guess it never leaves you. But the good part was I didn't have try to extend the children's learning. I presented then with very structured activities all off the Internet. Hmm, some may have probably frowned upon all when I was teaching, but I guess I don't have to worry about that now.

But imagine the mess, it was bad enough doing structured activities. The children extended their own learning, nothing like putting stickers on your face or drawing all over your legs with felt...Then putting on tights so your Granny wouldn't see...

A tip for you all, l never do art activities with children with out a water bowl nearby for the children to wash their hands straight away. The girls were actually were very good, they never played with the water. Which usually happens in a Kindy as soon as you turn your back....

The cat wore his jewels well...

I love the duck nose upside down, from my 'guess the noses box'.

Making paper dolls...

Re-telling the board story 'The Three Bears'.

Oh Dear, Happy Chibi is Still not Finished...

She needs bows in her hair, and shoes, but I set myself up another sewing space and lost them....Never mind I'll do it sometime. In the meantime she is being played with...