Indie Sewing Patterns

.Lotsa Flowers Lane Raglan.

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I feel kinda weird posting these photos because they were taken almost a year ago when we stayed at The House On The Hill last Easter (an awesome Airbnb by the way, if you are looking for something cool to stay!) My computer crashed a few weeks later and I lost pretty much everything on it – including thousands of photos that I had never backed up (sad and ridiculous!) but a handful of these pics we took turned out okay and I’m not sure why they haven’t made it to the blog yet?

The pattern is the famous Lane Raglan by Hey June Patterns. I made another one similar a month or so earlier and loved it (blogged here) so knew that adding another to the wardrobe would go down well. And it did. These Lane Raglans (plus one other I haven’t photographed yet) were my Winter staples last year. Comfy and cosy, I wore them with casual skirts, jeans, trackies – and even to bed sometimes! I like to dress up, but I REALLY like to be in my comfy clothes all day long – especially when it is cold outside.

The fabric is a french terry knit I bought online a long time ago. In hindsight I actually think it is a Marimekko knock-off, which I feel bad about, but it wasn’t until someone pointed it out months later that I realised. Anyway, it is pretty cool. The shop I bought it from isn’t around anymore so maybe they went under because of their dishonesty?!! I sewed a size medium again, (usually I would wear a small) because I wanted it to have more of a slouchy-sweater look. I do need to sew myself a size small Lane one of these days and see how I like it as a tee though. 

Not really much else I can add tell you about this one…the Lane Raglan is a pattern staple for me though. One that I know I will keep coming back to again and again!

Basic Tees, Make It Perfect

.MaaiDesign Blog Tour.

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Today I am taking part in the MaaiDesign Blog Tour.

If you aren’t familiar with MaaiDesign and you love high-quality, affordable fabric then you need to be! MaaiDesign is a fairly new online fabric store started by Maaike, who grew up in Belgium and now lives with her family in Australia. Maaike has put together a beautiful fabric store which specialises in a unique range of European fabrics – both knits and wovens. I have had a lot of experience sewing with European fabrics and if you have been following my sewing ventures for awhile, you will know that I am highly fond of them.

The knits I chose from MaaiDesign are right up there with the best I have sewn with. The fabric has amazing stretch and recovery and the colours are super vibrant. I was extremely impressed with the quality and they were so easy to sew with.

So, my projects might seem a little ordinary but the kids are in need of new clothes because I have been in a sewing drought lately and some early winter sewing seemed like the practical thing to do!

For Lil, I couldn’t go past making her a new Basic Tees Spy Top. This is honestly one of my very favourite designs to sew for her, it is stylish and warm and comfortable so I know that she will wear it over and over again. I used this Firework Blue organic cotton jersey for the main print of the top an paired it with some light grey solid jersey I had in my cupboard. I sewed her a size 8, which I knew would be a little big for now, but wanted to make sure it would fit her for winter. 

I made Harvey a long-sleeved boys Basic Tee using Off Beetle Blue organic cotton jersey. The only variation I made to the pattern was to cut a little bit off the sleeve length and finish the sleeves hems with a folded over strip of fabric – similar to the neckline binding. Unfortunately I couldn’t get Harvey to cooperate and take a photo wearing the top. A combination of being a bit sick, tired, almost 3 and extremely stubborn! I decided to skip the battle this time!!!

To celebrate the MaaiDesign Blog Tour, Maaike  is offering a 10% discount valid until March 26th 2016, just enter the discount code maaidesign10% at the checkout and grab yourself some of these amazing fabrics!

blog tour

 

 

 

 

March 8th – Suz from Sewpony

March 9th – Caroline from Usefulbox

March 10th – Kate from Sewing With Kate

March 11th – Allison from The Tall Mama

March 12th – Suzanne from Dressed in Pretty Little Things

March 13th – Toni from Make It Perfect

March 14th – Natalie from Sew Outnumbered

March 15th – Jenya from While she was sleeping

March 16th – Nicola from Create.nic

March 17th – Shelley from Bartacks and Singletrack

March 18th – Maaike from MaaiDesign

Cooking, Thermomix

.A Healthy Chocolate Thickshake.

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What’s this? She’s sharing a recipe?! Why yes, I am! 

Remember back in the day when I would post recipes weekly? That was fun! These days I actually don’t cook as much as did back then though. I still love to cook and bake, but I try and stick to healthier eats (well, 80% of the time!) because all of those tasty treats aren’t doing anyone in the family much good! 

Last year my sister-in-law shared this awesome smoothie combo with me and it has been my go-to ever since. I love it for a quick breakfast, it is the best way to combat that 3pm, energy slump, and awesome when you have a chocolate craving to put to rest. It also makes a great smoothie bowl base…thick and creamy ready to decorate with your favourite smoothie bowl toppings – fresh berries, coconut, buckwheat, LSA, goji berries, etc. YUM!

In the past, I have had a few bad experiences with using avocado in sweet, chocolatey dishes. I once made one of those chocolate avocado mousse dishes and it was pretty rank. Maybe there are better versions around, but this one was really bad and turned me off the avocado + chocolate combo. Until I tried this smoothie…this one is really good! 

You can play around with ingredient quantities to make the smoothie just how you like it if you want, but the recipe below is what works for me…and if you want to leave the avocado out altogether, it will still be delicious. I accidentally left it out when I made myself a smoothie today, it just meant that the smoothie wasn’t thick and creamy – more like a milkshake!

 

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE THICKSHAKE 

(I call it a thickshake because then the kids think there’s something special in it – like icecream…and drink it without questioning what I am trying to hide in their “smoothie”!!)

1 ripe banana (fresh or frozen…if using fresh, pop a few ice cubes in to keep the drink cold)

1/4 small avocado (I keep a bag of frozen avocado pieces in the freezer so that I can make this even when I don’t have fresh avos around)

2 Tbs cacao

1 tsp chia seeds

1 tsp sunflower seeds

1 tsp pumpkin seeds

sweetner of choice (if desired…I usually add a fresh date or 1 tsp natvia. If using dried dates, soak them in boiling water for 10 minutes first. Maple syrup and rice malt syrup are other good options)

200 grams (mls) liquid of choice (milk – any kind, water, coconut water…I usually use 100ml full-cream milk + 100ml water or 200ml almond or coconut milk)

 

Pop all ingredients into thermomix blender and process on speed 10 for 1 minute or until thick, smooth and creamy.

Indie Sewing Patterns

.Sailor Top.

IMG_8989IMG_8991IMG_8995IMG_8996IMG_8997I’m baaaaack! Since I shared my last sewing project (that cute watermelon Joey dress) life has been busy, busy, busy! We took Tommy to Melbourne for a couple of weeks in November where he had open heart surgery. It was scary and confronting and draining but he was a little champion and is doing awesome now. Then there was end of school, Christmas, 5 weeks of visitors, and Summer holidays! We have certainly had a fun-filled, fast-paced 3 months and I had a decent break from the sewing machine. A sewing break is always good for me though, I come back ready to get stuck into things and am part-way working through a new pattern at the moment which is making me very happy!

I did manage to sew up a new top though a couple of weeks ago. A bit of selfish-sewing is good for the soul and the Sailor Top from Fancy Tiger Crafts has been patiently waiting for me. This was a good project to pick to break the sewing drought…simple enough to complete in an evening and I’ve seen it sewn many times so knew it would be a winner.

I used a cotton voile from Cotton + Steel and love the soft pastels for Summer wear. The construction of the top was very straightforward, I choose to take 1 1/2″ off the length of the top though because I wanted it a bit more cropped than the longer length the pattern comes in. I think the shorter length is a more flattering for me, longer and it would have felt a bit maternity-like. The only thing I would change next time I sew this pattern is to shape the side seams in just a bit to give my waist some definition. You can see in the second last photo above how wide the top is and the last photo I am pulling it in at the back and prefer the more fitted look. An easy fix though and it certainly won’t stop me from wearing the top I have already made, this one will looks better with more fitted skirts/pants.

All in all, the Sailor Top is a good little pattern. Easy enough for all sewing levels and makes a great Summer top that can easily be worn with a jacket or cardi when the temperature drops.

SUPPLIES: Fancy Tiger Crafts, Sailor Top pattern // Cotton + Steele cotton voile, Sarah Watts, August, Stampede in mint

Make It Perfect

.Boxing Day Sale – 30% off PDF patterns!.

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It’s back! And this year it’s bigger and better than ever! I’ve joined together with 26 fabulous PDF designers to bring you a HUGE Boxing Day Sales Event.

Running all day Boxing Day you can get 30% off your PDF Pattern purchases from these businesses with the code .

Ainslee Fox Boutique Patterns

Bella Sunshine Designs

Bobkin

Bubby and Me (only PDF patterns)

Designs by Call Ajaire

Dog Under my Desk Fabric Direct.com.au (only PDF patterns)

Fat Red Bird Designs Filles a Maman

Felt with Love Designs

Hey There Threads (stand-alone patterns only)

Hugs are fun

Izzy & Ivy Designs

Jody’s Crafty Creations

Little Moo Designs

Make it Perfect (only PDF patterns)

Molly and Mama

Momma Quail Patterns

Muffy Duck Designs

One Thimble (e-zines only)

Ric-Rac & Retro

Serger Pepper

Swoodson Says

Tadah Patterns (stand-alone patterns only)

Threading Rainbows (no code required – price will be discounted for you!)

Tiger Lily Patterns (stand-alone patterns only)

two pretty poppets (single PDF patterns only)

Zoe’s Pocket


  So by Boxing Day do we mean Boxing Day where you live?

YES, Absolutely! The sale begins 12.01am 26/12/15 in Samoa and continues right through till 11.59pm 26/12/15 in Baker’s Island … it runs for 50 hours to make sure we cover Boxing Day world wide!

So how long till it starts? Here’s a handy countdown! The Sale will begin http://goo.gl/hy9dHj and end http://goo.gl/qxJG4u


  … and don’t forget to check out the facebook pages of participating businesses for your chance to win pattern bundles! There’s 4 pattern bundles up for grabs! What better way to get set for a Sew-tastic 2016 than by picking up patterns at an extra special price!