recycled jumper dress

This cardigan was damaged and I could only salvage parts of it. The fair isle design of little girls, houses, crowns and "home sweet home" was so gorgeous I wanted to make something for my little girls from it.
I decided to make this pinafore/dress. 

When sewing jumpers I find it better to do a straight stitch and then neaten and seal the seams with a zig-zag stitch. Overlocking tends to put the pieces out of shape. Pressing and steaming is also important.

I used bands from a navy jumper for binding the neck and sleeves. I literally used it like a bias binding, machine stitching it on one side then finishing on the good side with hand stitching. 

I had to "make do" a bit on the back panel because of the damage to the original jumper so it has three panels.

 

The pocket is made from the sleeve band. Wanda looks very cute in it and fortunately she managed to stay still long enough for me to photograph her....not that she was happy about it!

I have just started a recycled jumper/sweater pinterest board  - so far mostly sister outlaws things but I hope to add more recycling inspiration there.

Mexican Monday - My Mexican Donkey

You know, I do have a few Mexican souvenirs  - which is funny considering I've never been to Mexico. When I had finished High School I wanted to go. I went to London with a friend but bought a ticket home via LA in the hope I would go "South of the border down Mexico way" but London drained all the money from my pocket and adventure from my spirit and I just came home. I have never been in a position to travel since then. Youth is wasted on the young. But life is long.

I found this donkey in an op shop. He's quite big - about 2 ft tall - only has one eye and is a bit worse for wear in the tassel and blanket department. I've thought of  renovating him with fresh haberdashery and accessories. What do you think? Should I leave him be?
 He's a winky, wonky Mexican donkey!

Finished my first crochet dress

I really love crochet. I made this dress from this pattern. I used Patons bluebell 5 ply in charcoal grey. To make the dress smaller (size 6)I used a size 2 hook. The dress is made all in one piece which means no sewing up! Yay!

I put ribbon in the sleeves to make them puffy...now I just want to make more dresses.

Mexican Monday - My Other Mexican Jacket

 Well....it's not really Mexican.....and it's more of a coat than a jacket.........
It's vintage, made in California in THE MOST AMAZING FABRIC, see?

The colours! The pattern! Gasp-a-rama! And it's all cotton and lined in hot pink. It's everything I love! It's my favourite item of clothing right now.

What do you think? Too much? Does the pattern give you a headache?

Mexican Goodies at The Fitzroy Market

Tomorrow is market day for the sister outlaws! 
We will have a stall at the Fitzroy Market from 10 am - 2 pm

Along with our usual market goodies  like our winter woollies,

 

craft kits 

 

and hand made jewellery  

we will be selling a selection of colourful and unique hand made items from Mexico!

It's a great market with music, food, second hand clothes and best of all a lovely community feel. Come and say Hi if you are in the hood!

free crochet dress patterns

Here are some quick links to free crochet dress patterns I have found

 

This great vintage pattern for matching Mother and Daughter dresses

 This gorgeous round yoke dress from Bernat

A sweet Spring daisy dress from crochet today

This gorgeous modern t-shirt dress from pardon my chaos

 

And a lovely granny stitch baby dress from days of yarning 

 

I'm almost finished this dress from a free pattern

which is for one twin and I need to choose another to make for the other twin...and with Spring not so far away I'd better get busy because I'd like to crochet dress for myself as well!

EASY recycled jumper beanie tutorial!

My daughter Mattie looks GREAT in a beanie!See?

In fact, everyone this Winter in Melbourne seems to be able to rock the beanie....except me. I look super STOOOOPID in a beanie. Sigh.
But I love making them and selling them at  markets - just don't ask me to model one.

I've been experimenting with recycling jumpers into beanies and here is how I do it.

First - work out your size. Measure your head circumference or check out this hat size chart with all the information you need. Make sure you have a jumper that the front or back is big enough for the measurement for a one seam style OR halve the measurement and cut two pieces from the front and back of the jumper - you can even use the existing jumper seam as a side seam in your beanie.

With the jumper band at the bottom, cut a rectangle the length of the circumference and 22 cm or 8 and 1/2 inches in height.  This jumper was quite damaged so I had to make a small beanie.

Sew the seam together with a straight stitch then bind the edge with a close zigzag. I find over locking destroys the straight egde - as does zig zagging first.

Again, using a close zig-zag, bind the top edge to prevent unraveling.

Now to finish. With a needle and thread (and the beanie inside out) join opposite sides together, halving the gap then halving again. Keep going with joining the top like this until it is sealed.

Turn the right way and add a pom pom. I used a contrasting colour but sometimes it is possible to unpick the jumper you are using to make a matching pom pom.

For a cable knit jumper beanie:
For matching front and back and two side seams, halve the head circumference measurement and cut two matching pieces.

Sew side seams first then join up the top in the same way.

*Oh and don't forget the sleeves - mini baby beanies can be made from jumper sleeves!

Playlist

Making - this crochet dress

Free pattern here.

Reading - Restoration by Rose Tremain.

Have enjoyed other Rose Tremain books, especially "Music and Silence" and "The Colour". 




Watching - Broadchurch on ABC iview. It's a fine English production which relies heavily on the high quality performances of Olivia Colman and David Tennant. Despite an overuse of focus pulls and fancy arty-farty camera tricks (as a former film student it kind of drives me batty!), I'm enjoying the emotional pull of this story.

Listening - Hardcore History podcasts 
These are terrific history lessons that are in no way boring!
'In "Hardcore History" the very unconventional Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", outside-the-box way of thinking and applies it to the past.'

Wearing - bobby socks and t-bars.

What's on your playlist this week???

Mexican Monday!

My Mexican Jacket........

I searched long and hard to find a vintage Mexican Souvenir jacket that was my size.....

  ....had puffed sleeves.....

.....and pockets!

The image on the back is like a story book. These jackets were often purchased on a Mexican honeymoon (I wish!)as a keepsake.

This is a close up of the wool embroidery - so textured and colourful.

I tried to get a shot of me wearing but looked like either cranky ....

 ...or like an open mouth idiot! Too hard! Sigh!