Happy Birthday Dad!

It was Dad's 60th yesterday and I wanted to make something special. Plus he's really hard to buy things for! I thought it might be nice to treat him to a handmade shirt, and the only specification was that he wouldn't have to iron it.

I found this fabric round the corner, it's a school gingham so it's pretty durable and doesn't crease easily.  Thankfully he likes it, he didn't want anything too dark and I wasn't sure about patterned, so I settled on this one.

I'm really loving the black on the inside of the collar, button band and cuffs.   It fits great, and I've told him there will be a photo shoot, however I really wanted to get these pics up straight away!  Keep an eye out for more to come.

Rockabilly Baby Trousers!

After the Skull and Crossbones trousers I posted last week generated so much interest, I thought I'd put a few basic, more affordable ones together too! This is some fabric that I had left over from last year - I'm trying to use up a lot of my stash before the big move to Bristol in August.

Currently the trousers are available in the shop in newborn, 6 months and 12 months, but I'll get on the case to make toddler size ones too.

I think these will be a great summer thing for the little ones, they are 100% cotton and elasticated at the waist for comfort and ease of getting in and out!

Watch this space for different fabrics :-)

My New Frock!

I thought it was about time I made something for myself! I don't think I've made a new dress since... January 2010?  I've been so busy sewing things for the shop and putting ideas down that I've neglected myself a bit, so I spent all last week designing this dress, drafting out a pattern and putting it together.

The fabric is all 100% cotton from a shop next to Exeter Central called Inspirations, which until recently I didn't realise had a whole wall of lovely fabric! It could be something to do with the fact that I left for five years and in that time the shop is even more exciting than when I left :-)

Someone said once that I could pull this colour off so I thought I'd give it a go.  The lining is a fantastic contrasting turquoise colour and the belt a lovely chocolatey brown.  I wasn't sure at first about the pleated waistband but I think it works.. It just needs a slight alteration so the folds stay put!

Skull and Crossbones Trousers for a Little Pirate!

I've had a lot of requests recently for clothes for boys.  This is the first of a line of things that will be going into the etsy shop for your little rascal, think, pirates, robots and dinosaurs - I'm going on a fabric mission!

James' Shirt

Ok firstly - whoops! I haven't blogged for ages as it seems I've been spending all my time sewing and not a lot else! Posts will follow with pictures of the things I have been distracted with!

However, I just thought I'd put these pictures up - I've just been sent them by photographer James Lewis, who I made a shirt for in February, and as a thank you he has provided me with some great photos of him in it for my gallery. 

The original blog post for the shirt with more photos can be seen here