Sewing: Ladybug pants

May 26, 2012May 26, 20121 Comment

I am still very much in the process of learning how to sew, but I am taking a break from my Lined Tote Bag project until I get my hands on a new sewing machine, because I do not seem to be able to get the hang of sewing a 4 step buttonhole. 😦

I have been wanting a nice new machine for a long time, and am now in the process of selecting one that suits my needs within a reasonable price range. So far I am leaning towards getting a Janome DC2030.

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So, I have cast my eyes on a cute pattern in the book ‘Cute clothes for kids’ by Rob Merrett. It’s a two piece set, but I am only going to make one piece: The Ladybug pants. 🙂

I recently bought some fabric from some German fabric vendor through their Swedish site: www.tyg.se – it looks like they have a big selection at affordable prices, which is great for a newbie sewer like me. And lucky for me, they have a fabric with ladybugs on it. 🙂

So here is my latest stash:

My latest stash

And a close-up so you really can appreciate the ladybugs…

Close-up of stash

I bought two colour variants of the ladybug fabric, but I think I’ll make them using the dark blue fabric and pair it with green. And then I’ll probably use the light lilac bias binding from my apron project.

Here is my selection for the Ladybug pants project

Fabric selection for pants

I’ve begun to trace the pattern and cut it out, but I am a bit confused about the line with the scissor symbol on it a bit further up the leg of the front and back piece of the pants. I am pretty sure I shouldn’t cut there, so for now I am just going to ignore it. It doesn’t say anything about it in the instructions. If you have a suggestion as to what it means, please do tell me about it.

Here’s the pattern:

Pattern

This will be my first time sewing something for my cute baby girl. I am crossing my fingers for a good result that she can wear.

🙂

Learning how to sew – 4th project: Lined tote bag

April 25, 2012Leave a comment

You might know this already, but I am trying to learn how to sew by following the workshops in the great book called ‘Sewing machine basics – A step by step course for first-time stitchers’.

It has been fun so far and I have learned a lot already; and now I’ve come to the 4th project, which is a lined tote bag! (You can never have too many bags, in my humble opinion.) 😉

I decided some time ago to use the same felt for the bag as I used for the scarf that I sew in the 2nd workshop of the book, and I am also using the same fabric as I used for the apron that I just finished sewing on the 3rd workshop of the book.

I think I am getting better at cutting in a nice neat line along the pattern paper.

And just look at how much fabric I have left over from that pretty apple/pear patterned fabric. (I might make a cute dress, from the rest of the fabric, for my baby girl when I have learned all the basics of sewing and feel more confident in tackling a dress pattern.)

And here is the lining for the bag cut out nicely:

And last, but none the less important – the interfacing…

I am so very excited about this project. It feels like a real challenge to have to line a bag and sew so many pieces together, but I like a challenge and I can’t wait to start sewing.

🙂