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

Fun at the Pajama Party!...part 2

Well I'm early to the Pyjama Party, it's the 28th and it's Saturday down here at the bottom of the world and is is so dark outside.....so here I am early..... (all ready to party LOL). I have a lovely gal wearing the pajamas I made, and she's reading Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, he's her type of guy....Hmmmm!

Here is a few words from the lovely pajama wearer.....

The pajamas are comfortable, warm, they make me feel relaxed especially after spending an hour doing a circuit with my brother. I actually have some trim on the legs so I feel quiet privlaged. I'm reading book six in the Skullduggery Pleasant series and I've read all the others. It's a children's book but I like to read them as I buy them for the Library and I enjoy them.  

As always the cat ruins the shot....

A great read so far...

I put elastic in the waist and also
 a draw string...

Cat tails, books and pyjamas all cozy and warm....

They are long enough, but I thought they were a bit
baggy! Probably I would use another pattern
next time...

Are you Going to the Pajama Party?...Part 1

I have three days, or is it four to make some pajamas.....I'm a late starter and this is my first sew a-long so this will be fun...Did you make that? is hosting the pajama sew-a-long and all the information about it is all there. Saturday the 28th is the day for showing off your PJ's, or will it be the 29th for me way down here?

Rach over at House of Pinheiro has lots of good ideas too for making pajamas. I'll be using Simplicity 2037 'It's so easy' only because the pattern was $3.50 (not that I really like it).  So I don't know what this pattern will be like at all.....I'm using blue flannel with white bunnies on it, very unassuming......I wanted to buy some nice bright cotton but it's nearly winter here, and the pajamas are not for me.

The flannel all washed and hopefully
it has done the shrink thing...