September Holidays

 The holidays started with a visit from family from Darwin and the Philippines. After we picked them up at the airport at 5am we all headed off to the Sunshine Coast to spend a few days soaking up the sun.

We got to meet Ren and Amber's newest addition, Mahayla.  

 We went fishing (Moneth and I caught 3 each)

 It was good to just hang around with adults, kids and puppies alike. 

 Close up of Mahayla

 Count the kids! Sometimes it was a very full house...

Then Moneth took off on a big adventure, a study tour to Seoul. 

 Needless to say, Geo has been keeping me company... As best he an.

 But he often doesn't reply. 

 I mixed things up a bit and decided to see actual people by going to Underwater World with a big chunk of my family. There was my sister, her 2 girls, Dad, Anna and Grandma.

 Sofia got pretty tired out. 

 Well we all did. 

Ah ah ah jub jub jub. That is what is happening here. 

I have also done an amazing amount of sewing which I will blog over the next little while. Thanks for reading and holding on through so many photos. 

Waterslides, bungee runs and dress ups = the coolest wedding ever.

 This wedding was honestly the coolest, most unique wedding I have ever been too. 

There was so amazing live music including Mark Lowndes and the Fergies.

Hula Hooping for everyone - this one was massive and I may have been playing with it for too long because today my ribs are bruised!!

This craft tent was fantastic, jewellery ready made you could choose from OR hang in the shade and make something of your own. 

 The kids got to enjoy a full day of jumping caste while the adults battled on the 'Bungee Run.'

Did I mention this was a dress up wedding? 

Moneth and I dressed up as Robin Hood and 'Merry Man' or variations of Peter Pan  and lost boys... You decide. I made the costume as a simple A-Line construction, basic placket with a half dozen buttons and a variation collar/collar stand from the Archer. 

There was so many cute spots to sit and eat. 

I seem to have lost the photos of the other cool things... I will have to add them later! But there were also gorgeous woven baskets hanging from trees with snacks in them, a very long and very cool water slide set up down a hill and giant mushrooms. 


On the blog later this week: My Clemence Skirt (I am working my way through my Birthday gift of the book 'Love at First Stitch')

Bye for now!

What I have been sewing lately : Changing up the Archer Button Up

Personally, I do not find the Grainline Archer shirt to have the ideal fit. I am slowly working out the best way to alter the pattern. First of all - it needs to be an inch longer through the bodies and in the arms. Secondly I do not like the look of the back with the pleat so I have gotten rid of it entirely. 

 In this version (and all subsequent versions) instead of the two big rectangle pockets I opted for a single pocket with a triangular bottom. In this case the pocket has a batman comic on it. 

Here is how the back looks without the back pleat - much nicer!! I do need to remember add a bit of width through the hips though as my shirts always seem to be too tight in the hips DESPITE the fact that I am sewing sizes bigger then my hip measurement would point to. 

I have completely disregarded the button placement in the pattern and come up with my own - so far my placement has resulted in far less boob gape... For other ladies with this problem you know what I mean! Ultimately it means I have to use 10 buttons every time instead of 8.  

I started sewing these shirts because I wanted to be able to make my girlfriend (who has a small bust and big hips) shirts that she would like and that would fit. The Archer is too loose and a bit boxy so I think my changes are helping. 

I think I am figuring out the details of the pattern and really tweaking it to make it my own - by the time I am done it will be a very very different pattern. Which I like. I also want to add some more width to the front pieces + collar stand to allow wearers to have a bow tie with the shirt. 

LOL Swing Top pattern tester tour day 1

I was so excited to be chosen to pattern test the LOL Swing Top by Jenn from A Jennuine Life  and then thrilled again to have the opportunity to participate in the pattern tour.

My favourite part about the LOL Swing Top is that it has so much SWING! Honestly, getting my niece Sofia to try things is a pretty difficult task most days. This particular top though was a hit and appealed to the wild dancer in her. She only wore it long enough for a few photos though as it is currently Winter here in Australia and is freezing.

Despite all of the faces she actually was enjoying herself with these photos. This top is gorgeous - options to be sewn in either knit or woven with a button to fasten above the shoulder. I sewed up the knit version as appealing to comfort is also important when coaxing a 3 year old into wearing something.

 One of the very cool details in the top is the back - the armholes scoop down low just below the shoulder blade. It looks very cute and gives a really nice polished finish.

You can see here that I just used a zig zag stitch - my machine really does not like using a double needle. The thread and fabric are both a very light aqua colour - the fabric is called Bubblegum Gelato and is a luxurious organic jersey.

These photos really are proof at what a fun top it is - I cannot wait for the weather to warm up here as I will definitely make more of these for her! Easily a great staple for any Summer wardrobe. Go get yours HERE.

Thanks for reading! For those wondering, here is an updated photo of Sofia's little baby sister (now over 3 months old!! Where does time go).

Follow the other great bloggers along the tour by checking out the blogs before OR check out Jennuine Design every day :)

My First Grainline Archer top

I have been meaning to sew up an Archer button up for months and months! I honestly was looking for an alternative pattern for a while because I didn't like how baggy and unfitted it looked on some bloggers. Turns out I did not have to worry  as the size I sewed up (6 for bust down to a 2 in hips) was not baggy at all. My first attempt was not at all perfect and there are plenty of changes I will be making for my second and third (already cut out ready to sew).

Even though to my hip measurements I am a 0 in my next copy I will grade the hips as a 6 as these really hugged tight in my hips in an unflattering way. I think the 6 for the bust was right BUT I get major boob gape so the button placement really needs to be reshuffled. I also don't really like how the last button ends up being so close to the bottom - There needs to be the same length beneath the button as there is between each button I think.

I read lot of bloggers wanted their arms to be shorter as they were too long - I had the opposite problem! These are a 1-2cm too short through the arms so I have added extra length for 2 and 3. I do like lots of the details though like the view A sleeve cuffs, the pleat in the back, the back yoke. I found sewing it up really easy following the sew along.

Is it a quick sew? No. 

Is it a fun challenge? Yes.

There is just something satisfying in sewing something you would otherwise need to buy and would cost $50-$150. 

The fabric I used is a beautiful, soft, barely wrinkly, perfect Chambray Tencel in Red from Imagine Gnats Shop.

Pattern is the Archer Button up by Grainline Studios

Imagine Gnats JUBA SHORTS!

I was so excited when Rachael of Imagine Gnats said I could test her new Juba Shorts pattern. For those who do not know Rachael, you really should check out her blog and instagram. She rocks the coolest blue hair and is beyond lovely and very funny (Plus she has lots of gnats dogs and cats).

 Okay now onto the pattern. It is a flat front elastic in the back basic adult shorts pattern. The pattern includes options for a draw string as well - I made mine plain though. These would be really easy to customise with pockets, belt loops, cuffs etc. 

Honestly the pattern was so EASY. Like really properly easy to put together and to sew. I would definitely recommend it as a solid staple. Great for loungewear, pajamas *as pictured below in a long version*, even with some altering for work. I envision making some in a black linen or a chambray with pockets, belt loops and cuffs and wearing them to work in the Summer!

Go get your copy today here http://imaginegnats.com/shop/juba-shorts-men-women/ and check out some other examples by following the hashtag #jubashorts on instagram.