Retro Rocket Tee

 

I made this t-shirt for Liam today. I used the "Octopus" t-shirt pattern from Ottobre 3/2008. I have made heaps of things from that particular magazine. I was a little unsure about the red for the neckband and cuffs, but I'm glad I went for red instead of safe, boring, reliable (and easily stained) white. The rocket is from the same set of embroidery designs as from Liam's hat from yesterday's blog post.

 

Actually, I did the embroidery last night whilst checking out other people's blogs, but I put together the rest of the t-shirt today, I even traced the pattern. The embroidery design reminds me of the Michael Miller Space Kids fabric.

I've Been a Bit Slack...

...updating my blog lately. I have been sewing, and I have been doing other things too. I just uploaded my camera to the computer, I did it because it was FULL. There were three different birthday cakes in there, and I made one of them, so I haven't been sitting around.

Anyway - the item I was photographing when my camera said "enough's enough" is this little romper that I have made as a present for someone who had a little baby boy (in December - I really have been slack!). She is going to be so surprised!

It's the "Turtle" baby romper from Ottobre 3/2008. I used the Robot fabric from Spotlight. I also used the red size 14 snaps that I got from Snap Source (last year? - I hope not the year before..) I actually finished this a week or so ago (even though I started it last year), I put the snaps on today, so the garment was finally finished. Sadly, snap setting using the Snap Source tool and a hammer makes my baby cry. :'(

The edges are finished using Ottobre's technique of binding. I cut a length of red fabric (a lycra blend) and sewed to the edge with right sides facing. The binding was 4/5 the length of the actual edge, so a little stretched. I then folded it back over and to the under-side. I pinned, and then I stitched it down using a twin needle. I then cut away the excess fabric from the back using my little snips as I don't have a pair of duck-bill scissors yet.

I have heaps of blog-catchup to do, so I will be back in soon.

Airplane T-shirt

I made a t-shirt for one of my nephews for Christmas using this stencil. The picture is freely available from the Ottobre web-site. My nephews got Ottobre t-shirts, but for Liam I used my trusty Kwik Sew Sewing for Toddlers pattern.

I did a different type of neck finish this time. I sewed the right sides of the t-shirt and the ribbing together, folded it over towards the back, pinned and topstitched with twin needles. Then cut the excess fabric away from the back. For the neckband, I used the same fabric type in a different colour, so the length is 3/4 the circumference on the t-shirt. If I was doing it with ribbing I would probably do 2/3, depending on how stretchy the ribbing is.

I did the sleeve ends and the bottom hem the same way I did the hem on the solitary giraffe t-shirt and the number two t-shirt. Only thing is, you know how I have been adding to the bottom of my t-shirts and the sleeves because of the cuffs that are on the original pattern? Well, I need to be taking the extra (or at least some of it) back off as I am technically adding cuffs. I looked at a couple of t-shirts, thinking they looked longer, but it wasn't until I did this one and saw that the sleeves actually were longer that I realised what I was doing. So I have to go back and re-do the sleeve edges on this one. After it comes back out of the wash.

Solitary Giraffe

I completed this long sleeved t-shirt yesterday. I used the same pattern pieces as I did for the "Number Two" t-shirt, and used the fabric from the giraffe t-shirt to applique and trim the shirt.





I cut out one giraffe and appliqued with a straight stitch around the edges.



The rest of the trim is the same as the Number Two t-shirt, but I have also added a band to the bottom. I saw this finish on a purchased t-shirt of Noah's and wanted to try it out.

I used twin needle top stitching to finish all the edges in matching thread as I thought contrast would be a bit much given the colours.

Giraffes

I thought I would squeeze in one last one for April.

I bought this fabric from a local shop about a year ago I think. Hmm... maybe a bit more than a year ago. Anyway, I like giraffes and I thought it was cute. Don't you think their antlers look a bit funny - a bit like antennae? The Giraffes are rather spread out though, and I wasn't quite sure how to work with that. So it got added to the stash to be used later.

I have top stitched around the neckband, sleeves and hem with twin needles in orange.

Now that Liam is a bit bigger, the giraffes don't seem to be that spread out, so I got to and made this today. I have a couple of other tops cut out, ready to go, so they should be up on here in a couple of days.

Excuse my photos, they were taken indoors at night without the flash. That's my shadow in the corner.