Cute kids sewing kits

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Trixie Lixie

When I was young I used to love making things with my Mum and then when I had my own children I really enjoyed making things with them, my kids are too old now, however I think they would’ve loved these cute animal kits.

So you can make yourself a pair of animal friends like Badger and Fox

The Button Company have done a step by step tutorial here which is an excellent guide.

You just need to add stuffing as everything else you need is in the box, Tabby cat & Mouse.

It doesn’t give an age for these kits but I think that with adult supervision a 7 year old could do them, I might have to do the Black Cat & Mouse kit with my young neice next time she comes and stays.

I think these kits would make great christmas presents for boys or girls who like crafting.

Christmas gift ideas

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Trixie Lixie

I am never sure how early I shoud start talking about Christmas, some people I know like to get all their planning & preperation done by October! Others leave it until the last minute! Either way I am going to start suggesting some gift idea’s and sharing some great tutorials for making your own presents. I have a large family & I like to make as many gifts myself as I can.

So my first gift suggestion is a tea towel! But not just an ordinary tea towel! It is also a kit to make a cushion, so you have the option to give the tea towel as the gift or to make it into the cushion and give that as a gift!

They are designed by Sarah Young a Painter, Printmaker, Illustrator and maker. Her work is often narrative, inspired by and referencing, myth, folk tales, circus and burlesque imagery. The tea towels are cotton, screen printed, and they can be cut, sewn and stuffed to make lovely toys or cushions, or fill with sand, pulses/grains to make a doorstop; Or simply keep as a lovely bright tea towel for your kitchen.

They are very easy to make up, you just need toy stuffing or they make goreous tea towels

Sewaholic Rae Skirt

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Trixie Lixie

As I am unable to sew at the moment I persuaded my gorgeous daughter to have a go at making the latest addition to the Sewaholic pattern range – The Rae skirt.

This is a very straight forward beginners elasticated waist skirt, with a small amount of help from me Amy was able to complete this very simple sew in just a couple of hours!

Doesn’t it look lovely! The nice thing about this elastic waist skirt is that it has 4 panels that are shaped so that it drapes beautifully, she deliberately chose some of our new Gaberchino fabric as it is heavier weight and holds the shape nicely.

#OWOP Barcelona skirts galore!

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Trixie Lixie

As I am unable to sew at the moment I was really pleased to be able to take part in this blog-along, I already have dozens of Amy Butler Barcelona skirts so I didn’t have to make anything. #OWOP stands for One Week, One Pattern and was organised by Handmade Jane

One Week, One Pattern! (or OWOP) is a group challenge where participants wear garments made from just one pattern of their choice, every day for a week.

So the pattern I chose is one that I have been re-using for years and have taught lots of people to make.

The Barcelona skirt is a an A-line skirt pattern that is fully lined and really easy to make.

So to start the week I was having a little stroll with Bob Dylan, this skirt was made using Freespirit Field studies fabric by Anna Marie Horner & I have trimmed it with some Velvet ribbon. The top is a Sewaholic Renfrew in Purple jersey that goes really well with my cast.

Day 2 saw me swinging with Frank Sinatra, another Barcelona in Freespirit Field studies fabric by Anna Marie Horner, I do love her fabric designs! And another Sewaholic Renfrew this one in Turquoise jersey, (I have quite a lot of these tops, another easy make!)

Day 3 and I am having a bit of a boogie with Fred Astaire! This Barcelona skirt is a few years old so the fabric is not from TrixieLixie you can just about see that it is a city map, I think its London. Again I have trimmed this one with some Velvet ribbon. And what a surprise! Another Sewaholic Renfrew this one in Turquoise stripe jersey. This Renfrew is a more recent make and is a better fit than the others as I took about an inch off each side seam.

Day 4 and I have a funny feeling that Cary Grant is going to push me into the pool! Doesn’t he realise that I can’t get my cast wet ?!? This is another old Barcelona skirt that I made about 4 years ago! The fabric was designed by Grayson Perry for Liberty, it’s got images of all sorts of disasters like plane crashes and oil spills, it also features his teddy bear – Alan Measles, he is one of my favourite Artists. I have trimmed this one with lace edged velvet trim and I am wearing a Colette Jasmine blouse this time in cream georgette fabric.

Day 5 and 007 Roger Moore is taking me hostage! Today’s Barcelona skirt is slightly different as I did not line this one, and I have added a waistband. The fabric is from a Moda range called Honky Tonk. The top is a Cake Pattern, the Cabarita knit top, in red jersey.

Day 6 and I am racing with Steve McQueen today in another Barcelona skirt, this one is made using an Amy Butler fabric! Its some baby cord from her Soul Blossoms range called English Garden, it is velvety soft! The blouse is a Sewaholic Belcarra.

Final day and I am rocking with David Bowie in my Ukulele Skirt! This is a Barcelona hack, I used the top of the skirt pattern and then added a drop waist box pleat skirt. And a repeat wearing of my Turquoise jersey, Sewaholic Renfrew. I even have a matching strap on my Uke, unfortunately I can’t play it at the moment!

It has taken me 2 days to type out this post, using one finger on my left hand! Can’t wait to get the plaster off and actually start sewing again!

One Week, One Pattern! 2014

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Trixie Lixie

I have decided to particpate in OWOP14!

The pattern that I am slightly addicted to is the Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt.

I have numerous versions of this skirt so It will be easy for me to wear a different one every day for 7 days, the hard part will be deciding which ones to wear.

The great thing about taking part in this blog-along is that I don’t need to make any thing new, which if you read my previous blog post you will understand, I can’t do at the moment

So watch this space for the photo’s.

Purple Plaster Post

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Trixie Lixie

I have been a bit quiet for a few weeks in blogland, this is why!

I have fractured my Scaphoid! Its my right wrist & I am right handed so I am stuggling to even type this!

I can’t sew at the moment so i am going to blog about a couple of projects I worked on before I fell and hurt my wrist.

A few weeks ago I was asked to do a pattern test by fellow blogger Rebecca at mummykins and me

The July the Fourth dress for little girls

I used Moda Coquette fabric

And here is one of the gorgeous girls in my family modeling a skirt that I made for her

The fabric I used for this skirt is from the Red Rooster range

I have to share this TrixieLixie funny with you, its sooooo funny!!

My wrist is going to be in plaster for the next 4 weeks so I am going to try and get my glamorous daughter to do some sewing instead of me, she is going to start with the new Sewaholic Rae skirt so watch this space!