Handmade tutorial collection #1 ~ For her

Well, I can't believe it has been four months since I last blogged. Far too long. I do have an excuse though.
We found out in the Summer that we are expecting our third child - due in March, so I decided to take a little time out.
The sickness has pretty much gone now and I'm just over halfway through so I thought it was a good time to get back to blogging.
I have so many posts stored in my brain - things I've been mentally filing away, just waiting for the right moment to write it all down.

This is one of the things I've been itching to do. I've been trawling the web and lots of fantastic crafty blogs looking for handmade gift inspiration. I'm determined to make as many Christmas gifts as I can this year, and as I am currently obsessed with fabric I have been searching with a sewing head on. I'm not a brilliant sewer - I'm still a novice, so I've been particularly looking for items that are simple to make but look amazing.
Here is my round-up for the ladies

Beaded Fabric Flower Necklace

Knotted Fabric Necklace

Simple Fabric Scarf/Shawl

Fabric Flower Ring

Round Fabric Pinwheel Necklace

Poppy Boutonniere

Chic Wrist Cuff

Rice Heat Therapy Bag

Patchwork Belt

My aim is to post a list every other day over the coming week - look out for: Gifts For Kids, Gifts For Him and For the home. I'm also planning on finding some gorgeous crochet ideas as well as gifts for kids to make (or help make!)themselves.
If nothing else, I hope to introduce you to some fantastic blogs that you may be yet to discover.

Trousers (take two)

I've definitely got the bug - have just finished my second pair of trousers, this time for my eldest (5 and a half).

The actual trousers were just as easy to make as the previous pair (the gingham cotton was actually easier to work with), however I did run into problems with the patch and back-pocket.

I wanted to add something (mainly to stop them looking like a pair of pyjama bottoms) and had some brown corduroy scraps from a ruined pair of the boys trousers hanging around. It was an experiment really and I made quite a few mistakes - the main one being not realising that I should have attached the patch before I had sewn up the trousers. I also managed to stitch the front part of oneleg to the back part of the leg (twice!), had to unpick stitches several times and had to dismantle my sewing machine three times due to stuck thread (I think this might have been because of the bulkiness of the corduroy). The zigzag stitches on the patch and pocket are far from perfect but I like the way they look - and they suit my boy down to the ground.








I have to apologise for the grubby grey socks - this boy does not like to have bare feet for some reason.

My first attempt

*Take one complete sewing novice
*Add a basic sewing machine
*This fab tutorial
*Some cute fabric

And this is the result ........................................
.......................................some very cool trousers!






I love them and so does he.
They are a bit shorter than I intended (but I actually like them that way) and the seams are on the wonky side but luckily the fabric is very forgiving.
I really love my new sewing machine - it's so easy to use, I feel like a whole new world of possibilities has opened up.
Have already bought some brown gingham to make my bigger boy a pair of trousers too.
And now I've discovered the wonder of fabric shops I am definitely hooked.

I have just ordered a sewing machine and am very excited. It's only a basic one but I have had an urge for a while to try my hand at making some clothes for my boys. I've been inspired by all the wonderful handmade clothes I've seen on other blogs especially on the fabulous Elsie Marley blog where Meg has been hosting Kids Clothes Week.
I've also become very frustrated recently at the lack of affordable but cool (and a little bit different) clothing available for boys on the high street.

I am particularly loving these trousers and this top.
Both from Dana at Made - I've only just discovered her wonderful blog, so inspiring.
No doubt I will be showing you my creations, although I'm not promising great things to start with being a complete novice to sewing. I'm looking forward to the challenge and the prospect of creating some lovely clothes for my kiddlywinks - and maybe for myself in the future if all goes to plan. Watch this space!