washi dress #1

My first Washi dress ! I have a thing for dresses with pockets, and this one is just so easy to make. The hem and sleeve facings were hand sewn so it took me a bit longer, but I just like it better this way. And next time I'll have to make the top part an inch or so longer, but other than that I'm really happy with the pattern.

I actually made a Washi top at the end of last summer which I never posted about, but it's one of my current favourites - I'll try to take some photos soon.

Bianca top #5

My fifth Bianca, and probably not my last. Last year I made 4 of them, and wore them so much that I had to mend one of them by the end of the summer. It is now my go pattern for making garments out of a small piece of fabric - I probably had 1 meter of this one on my stash.

Obviously I didn't have enough for the front collar facing, so I used the remnants of my Sailor top fabric for that. I also decided to add facings to hem the sleeves, to make them more stable. Now if the weather would turn warmer so I can use it ...

sailor top

Spring is here, and I've been thinking of summer already.
Last weekend I decided to sew this short sleeved top, using a lightweight striped cotton I've had on my stash forever.

The pattern is the Sailor Top, by Fancy Tiger Crafts, which I can easily see becoming one of my favourites this summer.
I followed the pattern for the XS size without any changes, but the next time I sew this I'll have to change the back neckline because it ended up a bit large and gaping (see last photo). Other than that I'm really pleased with how it turned out .. so much that I'm already choosing the fabric for my next one :)

flannel tova

A new Tova shirt, this time in soft flannel. I haven't worn a flannel shirt in years, but this is so warm and comfortable to wear I'm tempted to make a few more.

 

a brincar à Elsa :: playing Elsa

Like every 4 year old toddler girl she's been obssessed with Elsa since she watched Frozen for the first time. I came upon this great tutorial for a no-sew Elsa cape the other day and decided to make a few for her and her friends to play with. I made them with some light blue organza, and decorated with appliqué snowflakes made of white satin.

dyi bat costume :: fato de morcego

What to do when your toddler asks for a bat costume for Halloween ? You google it and find that there are amazing tutorials out there to make it happen. I loved this one, so part of last Saturday morning was spent assembling it. It's really easy (it was probably trickier to find the black t-shirt on her size) and for the mask I decided to just make it a regular one instead of taping it to a pair of sunglasses.

 

Tip: I didn't have any boning strips at hand (and have no idea where to buy them locally) so I used some cabling strips we had lying around (see last picture).

bianca top #3 #4

It seems I can't stop making these tops...

And this is why:

• it takes very little fabric to make one (about 1.2 m for the smallest size). So it's a great way to use remnants of special fabrics I've been hanging on to for ages.
• it's very quick to assemble and sew - I made these two in one afternoon
• easily adjustable as well - I changed the placement of the elastic on these two, putting it lower than on the original pattern

Summer seems to be back in Lisbon for now so I've actually been using them a lot. 

Top #3 - made with the blue geometric fabric that I purchased in Ulm

Top #4 - I used a leftover from this Tova shirt, and was originally purchased from Nunoya

bianca #2

A second Bianca top, made with a Japanese fabric I've been storing for years (and had never found the right project for it ... until now). I really like this pattern, and I've been wearing both tops a lot this summer.

bianca top #1

I only had one yard of this gorgeous fabric (Aviary 2 in Vintage Yellow, by Joel Dewberry), so had to choose very carefully what top to make. I finally decided to try Made by Rae's Bianca, a very simple but flattering pattern. I've been wearing it quite often lately, so much that I'm planning to make a few more ...

 

And a photo of me wearing it in beautiful Budapest a couple of weeks ago (photos and trip report to come soon)

tova #6

Quando vi este tecido (Winter's Lane Mistletoe by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.) achei que seria perfeito para mais uma camisa Tova (a #6). E mesmo assim, penso que não será a última ...

When I saw this fabric (Winter's Lane Mistletoe by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.)  I thought it would be perfect for another Tova shirt (#6). And I don't think this will be my last one ...

casaco de primavera :: spring jacket

E porque ela também estava a precisar de um casaco novo de primavera, decidi fazer uma nova versão deste modelo que fiz (e adoro) do livro Handmade Beginnings da Anna Maria Horner. O tamanho maior do livro já era demasiado pequeno, mas aumentei-o ligeiramente e ficou perfeito. É reversível, mas parece-me que a S. vai querer usar as galinhas do lado de fora quase sempre ...

And because she needed a new spring jacket too, I decided to make a new version of this pattern from Anna Maria Horner's book Handmade Beginnings. The largest size was already too small for her, but I enlarged it a bit and it turned out perfect. It's reversible, but I have a feeling she will want to use the chicken fabric on the outside all the time ...

chapéu de primavera :: spring bucket hat

Um novo chapéu para a S., porque os do ano passado já não lhe serviam. Usei o padrão grátis da Oliver + S, que recomendo - fácil, simples de seguir e rápido.

A new spring hat for S., because last year's no longer fit. I used the reversible bucket hat free pattern from Oliver + S, which I quite recommend - easy, very clear and simple instructions and  quick to make.