Making and mending

I had to visit spotlight the other week to get a bit if fabric for my brothers birthday present. As it always does, the clearance racks called me and this time, they were loaded with deliciously light and very pretty vintage inspired fabrics. At only $4-8 a metre, I was sucked in and came home with two types.

Since then, my sewing bug has hit and I've been busily stitching away on all manner of projects - it is, afterall, perfect weather for being in with the heater and working on projects for now, for upcoming travel and for warmer days to come. 

I started my sewing bee with this top. The fabric is light as air and the pattern is not only free, but easy and fits me well! Woohoo!  I wore the top for our ladies lunch over a long sleeved tee, but am looking forward to wearing it on its own in warm weather. In the making of this top, I also learnt to make bias binding - oh the possibilities!

My next project was bigger, so I decided to make space and clean up the mending pile. I fixed a bag handle, an umbrella spoke, a hole in the knee of a pair of school pants, an unfortunate hole in a pair of jeans and a shirt that had torn along its seems when Stu ripped if off because a wasp was in it. I also took in and up a pair of pants Stu bought on special years ago, but that we're always too big. They're great pants and will be perfect for travel (now that they fit!). 

I was just about to start on my bigger project when I had a chat to my mum. The conversation included talking about our dog Buddy, who, since losing his brother earlier this year, has been feeling the cold at night. Mum suggested I make him a coat. Half an hour after getting off the phone, I took this picture!

Buddy's custom fitted dog jumper was made using this tutorial from an old work jumper of Stu's. Buddy has been wearing ever since - think I'll have to make a couple more so they can be washed. 

The big project I was working up to was a carry on travel bag for me. Messenger in style, the bag is roomy and full of pockets and clips. I made one for Stu months ago. His is made from fabric I bought as a couch cover from the op shop, lined with business shirt material and decorated with an op shopped belt. The look is smart enough for him to use it when he is wearing a shirt and tie for work, but casual enough for holidays too. 

My bag used the same general pattern, but with a few adjustments - more pockets, a shorter strap (for my somewhat shorter body) and slightly roomier. Mine is more 'me' too - made from a rug I bought at an op shop and lined with some old sheet fabric. 

Both bags have pockets inside and out,including  an elasticised drink holder, a zippered pocket (I used this tutorial to put them in) in the flap and a d-ring sewn inside for clipping keys to so they don't get lost. I'm really pleased with the finished product, and rapt that we have completely unique bags!  I didn't use a pattern for them, but took ideas and inspiration from lots of patterns. (Let me know if you would like a pattern/tutorial as  I'm planning to make one as a gift in the future and would photograph it when I do). 

I'll include a pic of Stu's bag later - he took it to work today!

After those bigger projects, I turned back to doing lots of little projects (for travel and home), using scraps of gorgeous fabrics. 

Bag tags and ear bud holders for all of us and eye masks for Stu and I. 

More sandwich wraps and a few snack bags. 

And then some personalised throwing beanbags for a couple of friends first birthdays....

I up-cycled a couple of opshop tshirts into PJ tops for the kids....

Then there was some more mending and a bit of work on another top for me, but I have to finish the crochet work before its completed. 

My poor sewing machine is exhausted now!  I managed to break several needles and blow the lightbulb in that sewing marathon. 

I'm loving sewing right now though and have a few more projects I want to work on, including felt slippers for the kids and new cholis for my dance troupe. 

Do you sew?  And do you make clothes for your family?  It feels so good to see your family using things you've made, and to receive compliments on clothes that you can say 'thanks, I made it!'....