Lockdown tops

I seem to have been making a lot of tops for the girls during lockdown. The one saving grace for us in this awful period has been that we have had very nice weather, for the most part. So tops to go with summer trousers and shorts have been the most demanded items by two grand-daughters, Jane and Ada (and shorts - but that's for another post). 

 

 

Read on to find details of the patterns used (all of them free), or links to my posts about making them.

Shirred top or dress with elasticated straps - a tutorial

I've numerous tutorials for shirred dresses and tops (see bottom of post for suggestions). I've even made several in my time. But I know that most of my granddaughters hate tie strap shoulders, and I've never yet# seen a tutorial with anything else. So it was time to make up my own, and here I present: the shirred dress or top with elasticated shoulders.

# See footnote to blog

Easy Hair bands

Making hairbands is an ideal way to use up some scraps of knit fabric. Most of my scraps are woven fabric, as that's what I prefer using, But over the years I've accumulated quite a few bits of knit - left over from the odd child's dress or skirt here, a pair of kids' biker shorts or leggings there, some maternity tops for my daughter. I do sew with knits, I just don't like it as much as sewing with woven fabrics. But there were plenty of pieces deserving to be used (or thrown out!) Here are just a few.

To find my recommended way of making hair bands like these, read on. 

Pattern review - Life Sew Savory Bermuda Shorts

I'm always interested in new shorts patterns, as my four granddaughters like wearing them a lot. So I was very pleased to see Life Sew Savory's Bermuda Shorts, a free PDF and tutorial. I like Emily's patterns, and she generously shares a number of free patterns, which I have generally found successful.

The Bermuda shorts would work well for boys as well as our active little grand-daughters. They have pockets (tick!) and a faux drawstring, as well as an elasticated back waist for comfort. Here's my trial pair, in woven cotton (made from fat quarters).

To read the full reivew of the pattern, including how I slighlty altered / improved mine, read on.

Quick face masks - Billette's Baubles review.

Because I suddenly had a more urgent need to make a number of masks quickly, I knew my favourite mask pattern from Fleece Fun was not going to cut it. It's the best pattern for fit and comfort, we have found, but quick to make, it is not. 

I found this You Tube video from Billette's Baubles, which was not one I'd tried before. It looked easy and comfortable, and quick to make. So off I went, and the masks were very well received. So I expect to make more.

To read my full review, including how I slightly modified it to improve it for us, and how I speeded up the process of making quite a few, read on. 

Links for where to buy fabrics on-line (with UK delivery in mind)

A sewing friend and I recently did a lot of research on where to buy fabrics suitable for baby clothes. Many now are only on-line, but where they have a shop, I've mentioned it. So I thought I might as well share the fruits of our labours. Delivery shown is for UK mainland. I will keep this as up to date in terms of web links as I can - already two have been removed and three added in the space of a couple of months. So my apologies if the links don't all work. And by the way - I take no responsibility for prices or postage having increased since I did my research! Next update: 20th July 2020.

Coffee cup covers

As well as all the scraps in my stash that were woven cotton, or jersey knits, from making clothes for the grandchildren, I had a few odd bits of double-sided ready quilted fabric. Then I found this great free pattern for a coffee cozy from See Kate Sew. I had been idly thinking for some time of how to make our re-usable coffee cups more hands-free - we are mostly using them when with the family, and it is very useful to have spare hands.

See Kate Sew's Coffee Cozy is just that - a cozy - and it isn't hands-free in its original design. But the template was perfect. To find out how I adapted it to make hands free coffee cup carriers, read on!

Applique identification for boot bags

Another scrap buster! I do keep some tiny little bits of fabric sometimes, they can be so useful to make little appliqués. 

We got these new boot bags, great for carting our hiking boots around, thus keeping the car clean etc. But after the first few times of opening up both bags, my boots always being in the second one I tried, I thought - I'm going to label these! And what better way than to put an initial on each? (And use up a tiny bit more of the scrap stash.)

I found a couple of little bits of cottton fabric just big enough, about 2" by 3" (5cm x 7.5cm). You can find out a lot more about how to make appliqués in my post here.  But I'll give a quick explanation below.