to buy or not to buy?

Nani Iro Sewing ISBN 9784579111831

Adult Couture Stylish Dress Book ISBN 978-4-579-11185-5

This is the question - does anyone have any experience with these books.  I am not a svelte New Zealand size 10, I am a tall and more of a size 14 and I am not sure whether this will be off the scale for a Japanese pattern book.  Are the patterns more suited to petite people?

Are the patterns easy to follow?  I have done a bit of research but would like to know whether anyone has had any expereince with these patterns.

I am ordering some Nani Iro double gauze in my next shipment and would like to make something for myself from one of the designs.

Any comments would be appreciated!

hoping

hoping my Dad will be discharged from hospital this week

hoping the rain will stop

hoping my cold will go away

....world peace would be good too!

Long Rainy Weekend

Equals lots of sewing...and mess....

Ready for the Knack market this month, just a few of the reversible headbands made 

and bibs

More Wonky Bears, waiting for their faces

 It also meant sleep-ins for some (although everyday is sleep-in day for this girl, I have to make the bed around her).

Hope you managed to stay warm and dry.

So Excited!

Fingers crossed the Circa 50 range of fabrics designed by Monaluna for Birch Fabrics will be arriving in approximately a weeks time.  These fabrics are 100% organic and GOTS certified and DIVINE!

Mmmmm what can I make I wonder?

Simple Sewing for Baby

I have been asked what I think of this book by Lotta Jansdotter, so  thought I would share with everyone.  My first impressions were good, the photos and styling are great and I love some of the ideas, but when someone asks is it worth while buying, I took a step back and reassessed it.

It is called Simple Sewing for Baby 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers, and yes that is right, the 24 projects are easy, this book is aimed at the beginner.  The book contains patterns and instructions for:

Clothes: bloomers, a bib kerchief, a simple pinafore dress (with an optional pocket and little stuffie to go inside), hat and scarf, a bib, simple pants, how to stencil on tees and a baby hat

Softies: a giraffe soft rattle,  a big softie buddy, a squishy soft toy book ends

There is also a tag blankie, nursing pillow, very simple play quilt, towel hoodie, a snuggler (think swaddling wrap) etc.

The patterns and some stencil templates are included in a wallet in the front and the good thing about them is each pattern has its own pattern page, so you don't have to try and decipher whether you are following the right line when tracing your pattern amongst a jumble of patterns.

To be honest there is nothing that new or that you couldn't find in an on line tutorial, if you know how. 

The value would be for someone who is new to parenting and sewing and needs a bit of extra guidance or inspiration.  Having said that most of the instructions are text with only a few illustrations and sometimes there is an assumption that people know how to do certain things!

My recommendation would to be to borrow it from the library, ooh and aah over the lovely photos and make the items you are keen on; or buy it for a friend who is a new parent and who is keen to start sewing, it woud make a lovely gift and a great starting point as it has some very easy and lovely patterns.

Just to let you know I plan on making the hat and scarf set and the giraffe baby rattle.

Also did you know that The Book Depository offers free shipping world wide.  Jacqui from Hazelnuts blogged about it here, which is likely to lead to some reckless book buying in our house!

Brain on the Fritz

I've got a head cold and my brain's not working.

I forgot an appointment I had today and then when I went to pick Miss M up from Clay Sculpting classes I drove to school instead.

I don't think I can be trusted to sew - luckily I have some eye candy from the library to drool over.

bag love

I am in love with the bags in Retrofied on Etsy.

This one is in the green bird song.

And...