More Masks for the Family

I'm on my second round of making face masks for the family (or Fabric Face Coverings, as we are now required to call them). This time, I've included some for the children, even though under 11s will not be obliged ro wear them. I'm now concentrating on the 2 patterns I've found most useful, one for great fit, one for speed. And trying to make them more interesting with my fabric choices.

Find out more about my two 'most useful' patterns (pictured here), including links to the free patterns and tutorials, in the rest of this post. I will also reflect on how we've made them work best for us.

Adding sleeves to an A-line dress (or any dress!)

I make lots of A-line dresses fror my grand-daughters, but there are times I want sleeves. Either it's winter - or the two fair-skinned girls need at least their shoulders covered to protect them from sunburn.

There are several different ways you can add sleeves to an A line dress. However, it will depend on the pattern you use as to how easy this will be. I have found a number of A-line patterns which already have sleeves, but some do not really work, because the pattern author/designer has just added a sleeve to a sleeveless dress pattern without really taking account of the shape of the armscye. Often sleeveless dresses have a more cutaway armhole than you would have in a dress intended to have sleeves. So it's not always straightforward. But it can be done! If you'd like to vary A line dresses so you don't have bare shoulders, read on!

A new lease of life - a circular skirt dress

I'd had some fabric in my stash for some time, unpicked from a outgrown circular skirt previously worn briefly by a teenager. I'd always thought of it as an abstract or mad gonk pattern, but one of my granddaughters was taken by it and though it was llamas, and she asked for a 'spinny' dress. Here's the result. 

Read on for how I made this.

Pattern Review - MBJM Crowning Glory

This was another project that comes under the heading of 'scrap busting', though it was mainly that I wanted a nice little personal present for my grand-daughter's third birthday. We hadn't really been able to see much of her (out of a window, mainly) during lockdown, and although we were getting her some Lego sets, I really wanted a small personal touch as well. I'd had the Made By Jack's Mum Crowning Glory free PDF pattern for some time but to be honest had not taken much notice of it up to this point. There always seemed to be actual clothes to make, or face masks, or something else 'important'. But now seemed the ideal opportunity to try out this pattern. Here's the result. For the link, and my pattern review, read on!

Pattern Review and lengthening tutorial - Little Lizard King Raleigh Top

The Raleigh from Little Lizard King was a new-to me-pattern recently. You can tell I liked it, because I made two the first day I found it! It's really a very quick make. It has nice clear instructions, and comes in sizes 12 months to 14 years. However (as I'm afraid I so often do) I amended it somewhat to suit my granddaughters (and their mothers). But my alterations have been so admired I thought I'd write them up. 

To find out how I did it, read on.

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.