Things to do with a pillowcase: Part 3

Make another bag. A messenger style one this time. I folded it in half width ways and lopped off about a third of it. I seamed the open side so I had a bag with two pockets and used the long bit I cut off to make a strap. A button and a bit of ric rac and voila:

I had a bit of pillowcase left from doing it- just enough to make a Kindle cover. I put a bit of wadding inbetween layers of cotton. It's lo-tec, but I love it:

What next, I wonder? 

x

Blossom blouses

I have been at work today and rather unexpectedly found myself staying an hour and a quarter late, having not had anything to eat or drink for eight hours (Such are the hazards of being a theatre nurse working with a cack-handed general surgeon). Anyway, I was so tired on the way home that, walking up our road, I noticed a small dog infront of me. Ooh, I think to myself, what a tiny dog. And from the back it really looks like a cat.

Guess what...

It was a cat.

I have had two cups of coffee, half a litre of water, an apple and a slice of homemade bread and butter, followed by an hours sit down. W is making me dinner. I am feeling more human!

***

(This, now, is the post I had intended to write):

A couple of weeks back Mouse and I had a sewing day. I made this:

for myself. It is the Blossom Blouse from this book. An excellent pattern, it knocks up in an hour if you apply yourself (and remember, I am Not Great at sewing).

Mine is made from a bit of cotton I got for 50p in a charity shop, and some Ikea calico leftovers. I did it as a trial run and made a few alterations as I went along- shortening the sleeves and gathering them, lengthening the body and flaring the hem a little more. I really love it and definately see more in my future, though I must add that this one did look better before I washed it and neglected to iron it!

Mouse saw one in her future too and presented me with her kitty fabric. She has been hoarding it since her birthday, waiting for the right moment.

As we had the machine out, I made a pair of pyjama bottoms for FHB too. He is always badgering me to make things for him, but the truth is that I am not an accomplished enough seamstress to make complicated boy things. I guess I shall have to practice! In the mean time, nice simple elasticated trousers seem to have pleased him. And just so he was not left out, I mended Custard's Darth Vader cloak and have promised him some shorts. It's great- he's four and still doesn't mind elasticated waists.

I guess I'll have to make something for W too. Hmm. Thinking....

x

Busy Bee

In among the lovely things we did with the bears this weekend, I managed to get a few hours at my sewing machine and with my hooks. Bliss!

I made the Trapeze Dress from this book, with a charity shop duvet cover:

I made a little pillowcase tunic for Miss T, from this excellent book by Soulemama. Though next time I would make it a lot longer and put in much chunkier box pleats as Miss T is such a slight little thing.

(Rubbish photo I know- She's two and won't stand still).

And I made another slightly tweaked pillowcase dress for Mouse, with the proviso that it is for beach and height of Summer wear only. So naturally she will prance around in it on windy, rainy days as she is incapable of dressing appropriately. I shall tell her off whilst being ever so pleased that she likes it. That is how it works!

I am really pleased with my weekend makes, especially my dress as I have never made anything that complicated before. And W says I do NOT look like a bag lady dressed in a duvet cover in it. So I think that is a success.

Hooky-wise, I finished my pouffe! Turned out I only had another couple of rounds to do on it. Typical. so have lopped the buttons off the pouffe and made a mental note to acquire some duct tape for a little rudimentary repair work, then I ran some elastic through the bottom of the cover and knotted it really tightly underneath the pouffe.

And there you have it:

Easy peasy! Though I think I will probably make a fleecy jacket to go under the crochet cover. We'll see- much depends on how destructive my dear children are feeling.

So I end the weekend with the happy feeling of having Finished something, and the promise of being able to wear something I have made.

And I have finished the first sleeve of my green cardi too! Very Pleasing Indeed.

x