Approved

The day before yesterday we went to the Plaswijckpark in the north of Rotterdam. Strange weather because, yes, L needed her new coat on her bike, but during the day it was on and off again. In the afternoon L was playing in her underwear because of the heat (she loves to feel the air upon her skin!), but some later she was very cold again.

We were glad her coat was finished in time!

Summer collection

Last week I just had to sew. My hands didn't take it anymore. Totally in the mood. A new coat for L was about to be born.
After a satisfying winter coat I decided to do the same trick again using this pattern (page 6) with a self-invented lining. This time no long search for the right fabric, but just a glance in my fabric stock, that was quite recently refilled with new fabrics from the Stoffenspektakel and from the Fragile fabric sale.

A bit more about Fragile. As I have some favorite dresses of Fragile I was keen on their fabric sale. So on a Wednesday afternoon I took half a day off to jump on the train to Antwerp, listened for almost an hour to a live band performing on the great station, went to buy Fragile fabrics and visited the city center afterwards, all alone and happy. Catch of the day were quite of lot of knit fabrics and this viscose.

But let's go back to the coat. At first I planned an ocher colored coat, but all of a sudden this plan changed and a Fragile fabric was used. It has a bit stretch, but appeared quite easy to sew.

Funny to combine a non-crease fabric on the outside and a crease one on the inside: for the lining I used a rose linen fabric, which I love because of the visible weaving. The peeping details were made in a Petit Pan leftover of this dress.

The back of the coat got a box pleat. The coat has a zipper to keep the wind out for my cycling daughter. To get an extra accent the front was finished with covered buttons and loops made of a bright cotton fabric.
Today was the first day of the coat into use. We discovered that the sleeves are a bit too long - so allow L to grow - and that the pockets could have been placed a bit higher. Wondering how it is on L? Come back later!

Sewing daughters

Sofia of Erika stayed overnight last week. As always Sofia took along her typical Mikodesign doll. The day after M and Sofia were both so eager to sew the I love Paris doll set I had still laying around. Without any help because I was in the office. They solved sewing machine problems together and learned each other how to sew. This is so great! In the meantime doll clothes were made as well.

Good timing because this doll will accompany M to Paris in less than two weeks! Erika spent hours with me to well prepare our Paris visit. Thanks, Erika!

Sweetheart

L has a sweet little boy in her class. Quiet, lovable, quite often the one and only boy present at girls' birthday parties. How to describe him more? He is knitting, loves knitting, knits all the time! While L is just starting her second knitted handicraft in school, he's finishing his third or forth one!
So when asking L for an appropriate present for his birthday she said at once: knitting needles! Maybe like all other girls who were invited... Never mind, because L added this unique (;)) self made present as well. Taking this pouch, but just extended it, thinking of this well-known Dutch horse. I used fusible interfacing on both outer as inner fabric, but still the long pouch could have been a bit more stable. Maybe I'll use another interfacing next time. But I do like the zipper result.

What more to tell about this small sewing project? The circle pattern of the fabric, which I really love, turned out to be continuous on the top; just a coincidence!

Just a tip

Sorry, but because we are having quite a cultural weekend, this post is about some Dutch tips and will be in Dutch.
Vanochtend gingen we naar de film, naar Het Mannetje van de Maan en ik kan het niet laten hierover te bloggen: zo'n aanrader! Dus pak de kinderen bij de hand en ga!
Gisteren ging ik met L naar Gaultier in de Kunsthal, ook een aanrader. L keek naar de gezichten, ik naar de jurken. Genoten!

Looking medieval

Not much to do here lately! Not very flattering after the last posts, I agree. A flu and general lack of creativity are part of my life these weeks.
But this weekend my sewing machine worked overtime. Line work took place. After Easter M is going a few days on a medieval school camp. We decided to make tunics for all kids and their supervisors. The result is not very spectacular to show you, but at least now you know again what's going on around here. M and her friend did a lot of zigzag stitching. Another mother will finish the sides. Finally the kids will add a felt weapon on the front. And then, off they go! The first time on a camp for M!

Let's babble

After Keiki there was more fun this week. I was surprised receiving an email in my inbox: I was congratulated by Babble because I made it to their Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs of 2013. They told me that I had to shout about it! Ok, here is my shout, but I'm afraid without Facebook, Twitter and so on, this will be my only tiny shout...

Makes me more eager to try Facebook once, when I'm grown up ;). And Babble editors, thanks for appreciating my tiny blog, your words are warm! I'm happy to show you that the reversible leather sample bag isn't complex at all.

In Danish

Fun! The stick horse DIY in the online magazine Keiki.dk (p 84-85).

Little piece

Don't wanna talk big, but yes, I so love this result! From the first moment I saw the pattern I knew it was meant for me. These kind of simple designs bring me joy and happiness.

Found here and made with a double yarn as described (color 2020 and 9020). I recommend this yarn, that I tested before. It's lovely soft and supple.

Dear Mees, I wish you grow fast so you can go home!

Being a goddess

This year's themes in school for M are the ancient Greeks and the Egyptians. Carnival fits in with these themes. Her first idea of being a pyramid didn't make it. After googling images of Egyptian goddesses the choice was made: she would be Hathor, goddess of joy and motherhood.

On Saturday M and I did some shopping: we needed golden ribbon and feathers. We loved the black ones we found finally! Sunday evening her hair, wings and dress (super simple but with a blind zipper on the side) were ready to wear, but her collar failed (after my try to sew circles of slippery golden fabric and cotton fabric). After using interfacing for the golden fabric her collar (or do I need to call it a necklace?) turned out fine.

Her wings were attached to the back of her dress by press buttons. We tried and tried, but didn't succeed to fix her typical sun-between-two-horns on her head. So in the end F changed the head attribute into a staff. If L wants to wear this costume as well when she is in the fifth class, we've got four more years to find a solution for the headdress. I'm curious!
Yes, M was proud to go and show herself. And even more after winning a price!