fall trousers :: calças de outono

No final da Primavera passada decidi finalmente costurar umas calças para mim. Confesso que apesar de estar habituada a costurar outras peças de roupa e mesmo calças de criança, nunca me tinha aventurado a fazer calças de adulto.

 

Escolhi um modelo da revista Patrones que tinha cá em casa (não me lembro agora da referência, mas se alguém quiser mais informação por favor peçam-me nos comentários), e para primeiro par de calças penso que correu bastante bem. Precisou de muitos poucos ajustes, e os que fiz foram principalmente na largura das pernas (apertei um pouco) e na zona do cós.

 

Desde então ainda não as usei, mas penso que serão perfeitas para o Outono.

 

At the end of last Spring I finally decided to sew a pair of trousers for myself. I confess that although I'm used to sewing other garments and even children's pants, I had never dared to sew adult's trousers.

 

I picked a pattern from the Spanish magazine Patrones (I can't remember the reference right now but if you'd like more info just leave me a comment), and for the first pair of handmade trousers I think they turned out pretty well. It needed very little adjustments, and the ones I did have to make were rgearding the width of the legs (made them narrower) and the waistband.

 

I haven't used them since then but I think they will be perfect for this Fall.

mini-quilt de rapaz :: a mini boy's quilt

Mais um projecto feito durante o verão e já um pouco atrasado, pois só consegui acabá-lo quase 2 meses após o nascimento do bebé da minha amiga. A minha máquina de costura não é muito boa para costurar quilts, mas com alguma paciência lá consegui terminá-lo a meu gosto :)

Another project made during the summer, and already a bit delayed since I only finished it almost 2 months after my friend's baby was born. My sewing machine is not the best for sewing quilts, but with a lot of patience I managed to finish it to my taste :)

Um avental da Alice :: Alice in wonderland apron

Um pequeno avental para uma pequena cozinheira, que fiz como parte de uma troca entre um grupo de amigas. O tecido, da Alice nos País das Maravilhas, foi comprado já há muito tempo e estava só à espera que aparecesse um projecto especial.

A small apron for a small cook, which I made as part of trade between a group of friends. The Alice in Wonderland fabric was bought a long time ago and was just waiting for the right special project.

costura de verão :: summer sewing

Durante este verão fiz vários projectos de costura e que me tenho esquecido de mostrar aqui. Entre o emprego, as necessidades da casa e da S., tem-me sobrado pouco tempo para vir aqui. Agora que é quase Outono vou aproveitar para tentar actualizá-lo mais frequentemente e partilhar mais alguns projectos.

I've done a bit of sewing this past summer that I forgot to blog about. Between work, what needs to be done around the house, and taking care of S., there isn't enough time to come here and update this blog. Now that fall is coming I'll try to update it more often and share a bit more about my projects.

Estes foram 3 pares de calças que fiz para a S., a partir de um padrão deste livro japonês (o nr. 1).
É um modelo muito simples e básico, de cintura com elástico, e foram feitas com tecidos japoneses que ela própria escolheu.

These are 3 pairs of toddler pants I made for S., from a pattern from this Japanese sewing book (nr. 1).
It's a very basic and simple model, with an elasticated waist, and they were made from Japanese fabrics chosen by S. herself.

new dress

Last week I finally finished sewing a dress I had cut up 4 years ago (pattern is from Machiko Kayaki's Sewing Talk book). As a friend remarked, the good news is that at least it seems I still wear the same dress size.
I think the reason why it took me so long is that it's a lined dress. Which really shouldn't be an excuse, because when I finally sewed everything together it was quite easy. The only change I made was to add darts to the front and back, because generally speaking Japanese patterns tend to not be very fitted.

Merry Christmas :)

I finished the stockings last night, just in time for this year's Christmas. We spent all morning cooking and baking, the oven is filled with delicious food for this evening's dinner, S. is taking a nap, and I'm thinking I'll probably sit down for a bit and watch "Love actually" for the hundredth time while finishing my Pomegranate sweater and wait for the family to arrive.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone :)

A bucket rain hat

A surprisingly easy to make bucket rain hat for S., based on this Oliver + S pattern. I made size small for her, and it fits just right. You'll have to take my word for it, since she's not the most cooperative model these days ...

I did manage to take a few shots of her wearing the frog pajamas though. Here it is in full action ... she was trying to climb on top of the cat, and he was being incredibly tame about it.

 

 

a striped tee and some frog pajamas

During our trip in Gent I didn't forget to stop at a yarn store. The only one which had a convenient location was Stoffenidee, in Burgstraat. They have a decent selection of Lana Grossa, Rowan and Debbie Bliss yarn, but they also have a nice selection of fabrics.

I got some LG red yarn to make S. another Tiny Tea Leaves cardigan (she definitely outgrew the other one), but also couldn't resist some stretch fabrics. It's very difficult to get really good stretch fabrics in Lisbon, quality is usually poor so I was very excited to have found these.

I bought some red and grey stripes to make this long sleeved tee for myself ...

 ... and these cute frogs to make some pajamas for S. (which I knew would be a hit, since she loves frogs)

I didn't follow an exact pattern, just used one of my own t-shirts and one of her pajamas to draft the pattern (for her I just made everything a bit longer, hoping it will last for a while).

the birthday dress (2)

Made at the last minute, and turned out a bit large due to a very uncooperative toddler not wanting to try it on. The pattern is from the same book as last year's.

toddler pants

S. was in need of summer pants, so I chose a basic pant pattern from book #1 and adapted it to her size (a bit shorter and much larger on top to accommodate the diaper butt). The first experiment (the brown with blue mushrooms) ended up being a bit short on the waist, but the second pair turned out perfect. The fabrics are both Japanese medium weight cotton fabrics from one of my favorite fabric shops in Lisbon, and S. absolutely loved them.

it still fits

... at 6 months

... and at almost 22 months

 

Huumm, maybe it's time for a new jacket ?

sewing :: Tova tops

I can't believe I've finally sewn something wearable for myself. It's been a couple of years ...
The pattern is the Wiksten Tova top, which I've been coveting for a long time (way before there was a pattern available). It's just the kind of top I like, simple yet elegant. The fit is perfect, and Jenny's instructions are quite clear and easy to follow.

I've made not just one but three different versions. My favourite one is this one, made from this shirt weight Nunoya fabric I've been saving in my stash for over four years. I think it was worth the wait, because the combination is perfect, don't you agree ?

I also made this short sleeved version ...

And my first attempt which was actually long sleeved.
I can't get enough of this pattern, so I'm not sure three are enough, I might have to make a few more in the future ...

the birthday dress

Finished it right in the nick of time, this morning while she was still asleep. It's a pattern from this book (one of the cover dresses). It turned out a bit short (barely had enough fabric) and if you haven't noticed, the cherries are upside down, but I think my client is not going to mind ;) More photos of the modeled dress coming later ...

matching outfits

Last weekend S. was sick with gastroenteritis - which she later passed on to us, so this was not a fun week - and for obvious reasons we had to stay home. While she napped I decided to do something crafty for a change, since it's been too long since I used my sewing machine. She was in desperate need of some pants so I sewed these two in less than an hour. I didn't have a pattern, just traced one from a pair that she usually wears. And then because I had bought her a few plain t-shirts the day before I decided to turn them into matching outfits...