The Eleena Dress - perfection in denim

Giveaway alert! See the end of this post!

When Olga of  Coffee and Thread put out a call for her newest pattern the Eleena Dress, I admit that I paused for a moment, before signing up.

It's such a lovely, nostalgic dress pattern, so my style. But Missy really doesn't need many pretty dresses. She wears school uniform or t-shirts and jeans most of the time. But still...the Eleena was proving hard to resist...

The solution to the 'no more dresses' dilemma lay in  that old favourite - denim.

Because a denim dress isn't actually a dressy-dress, right?

A denim dress is one for posing around with a sword and being a warrior Queen...

A demin dress is one to giggle in, and run away from the camera, or be a serious kind of girl who can tackle anything.

The Eleena has lots of options, and I love seeing how one pattern can create so much variety. I wanted to keep things simple. because my life is complex enough. I  picked the flutter sleeve no collar option, because I knew Missy would get most wear from this 'all weather' kind of dress. 

But regular followers will know I rarely 'keep things simple'. 

I accentuated the Eleena's distinctive box pleat with red piping, and lined the flutter sleeves too, to keep those lovely clean lines. 

The only other change I made was an afterthought. This is size five on my tall nearly-six-year-old. The chest measurements are fine, but I suddenly panicked and wished I'd cut the denim longer. So I added a panel to the hem just to lengthen it. Denim is so forgiving - it lets you get away with this kind of thing...

I lined and piped the flutter sleeves too, lining them with a remnant of Cotton and Steel's Cookie Book print.

The piping was an easy addition, but it has added a little bulk to the neckline, which means the lining peeks up. 

Missy and I both love this dress, it's simple and playful. And easy to sew.

There's a pattern tour running this week, showcasing the Eleena and all it's varieties. Do take a moment to see the other creations - honestly they are all so different!

And Olga at Coffee and Thread is offering the pattern at a discounted price of $7 (usual price $9) until March 7.  
And there's also a fun little giveaway to win two Coffee and Thread patterns of choice and one yard of Sara Jane fabric.

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February, 22 

Bonnie & Lottie, As it Seams, Sew Happy, Call Ajaire

February, 24

In a Manner of Sewing, Skirt Fixation, Stitched Together, 

Made by Sara, The Life of Compulsive Crafter

February, 26

A Jennuine Life, Fairies, Bubble & Co, Hungie Gungie, Doguincho

February, 29

Rebel & Malice, Sew Shelly Sew, Creative Needle and Threads, 

Welcome to the Mouse House

March, 2

Candice Ayala, LBG Studio, Crafty Biggers, Sewing Like Mad

March, 4

Greendoodle, Rita Pirolita, Boevenbende, Kristine Hansen 

March, 7

Les Reloux, Just Add Fabric, Lokakid, While she was sleeping

Thanks for visiting! Do stop by again... follow me here...

A Rabbit's Waistcoat - Alice in Wonderland, Chapter Three

So let's start 2016 with a little time travel? And a white rabbit...

I'm the world's slowest blogger, and just as it is snowing, I'm sharing pictures of summer flowers. But this is my little webspace, so I can do what I like, right?

And time travel is entirely appropriate - because this is  Alice in Wonderland Sewing.

Last  summer Sara, of Made by Sara, had the genius idea of celebrating the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland with a sewing series. And it captured my imagination. I had Way Too Many Ideas...

Chapter one, was a pair of  table-cloth dresses, , Chapter Two, was this little blouse, and this is, ta da..

Chapter Three, The White Rabbit's Waistcoat.

It's inspired by other elements from Alice; a white rabbit and playing cards, and perhaps ideas of 'transformation'....

This white velvet, is just a so 'rabbity'. I bought several metres ages ago for a bargain price (I still have a metre, I'm thinking it's time for a waistcoat for me too?).

I teamed it with a remnant of brown corduroy, and this stunning print from Cotton and Steel's Cookie Book collection, which looks just like the back of a pack of cards.

The pattern is a free pattern from Little Kiwis Closet, and was a real 'find'. I made it completely reversible, with two sets of the little Cookie Book covered buttons.

Missy loved this, She liked the hood, the cuddliness, and the different looks.
It's pretty, white velvet on one side...

Then turn it over. and it transforms

Into cosy, practical needlecord..

Of course, any White Rabbit's waistcoat has to have a watch pocket. This little pocket is trimmed in The Cookie Book print.

Of course these photos are six months old and are from the summer - but it's been worn a lot since then, right into our autumn and winter too.
It's a waistcoat for running away in, for dreaming and becoming whoever you want to be. And aren't five year olds experts at all of that?

My other Alice in Wonderland sewing was unashamedly whimsical, but this waistcoat has  been simple, and practical. And yet Missy still looks like she's emerged from a dream. Love this theatrical little girl so much...

Alice in Wonderland - Chapter One

Alice in Wonderland Chapter Two 

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Sticks, knives, sewing and our souls: Looking forward to 2016

This post is about sticks, knives and our souls.

But have no fear, a little sewing does creep in...

And so does my beautiful boy - who is making a rare appearance on As it Seams.

We've just enjoyed a calm and lovely Christmas, with time together as a family. And at last a few calm moments to write this post.

I wanted to share some thoughts, something I've been thinking about a lot. And it was about a month ago, as I sat down for two whole afternoons in an autumnal farmyard  next to my boy, that  those thoughts came together.

This is my boy, with his stick, and a sharp knife. It was a moment of complete simplicity. For hours he was absorbed  by the movement of the blade against the soft green wood.  I joined in, sitting next to him, attempting to carve a wooden spoon and a butter knife.

We were guided and supervised by this man, Dom, who exuded a calm confidence which he passed to this small group of children. I watched this little girl, aged about 10, using this axe with skill, boldness and a sense of achievement. It was a powerful thing that Dom was passing to his young pupils. 

I'm sure this is really important for our children, helping them to feel bold, empowered and forge real connections between their hands, their imagination and the materials, whether it's wood or fabric. Don't you find that if you give children confidence and freedom their creations are limitless?

As we sat together in the farmyard with the calm of our knives and wood, we talked and listened to each other. 

And I pondered. 'What is it about making stuff that is so good for us?'

Why do I want to make a wooden spoon when I could buy one for pennies in the local supermarket? 

But a supermaket spoon would have no real value? I wouldn't respect it, understand it, or remember an autumn afternoon in a farmyard.

It would be just another 'thing' taking up space in my cluttered kitchen, made by a machine in a far-away country, by people who are paid too little, using the earth's resources.

I whittled, and thought, and pondered. and made this little butterknife.

I think it's the same with sewing. When we 'create' we gain much more than the thing that we make. We gain space in our heads, skill in our hands, connection with the people who create alongside us.

And we gain connection with what the world, right next to us, has to offer. 

My boy spent hours whittling and creating. He made a sword and a butter knife to add to his  whittled arsenal. I'm not too keen on weapons in our house, but feel a bit differently about hand-made swords, bow and arrows.  

One day I'd like to be able to create something as beautiful as Dom's pile of handmade spoons. 

This is my kitchen spatula, it's  a bit rough, but I'm still rather fond of it.

Christmas has just seen us celebrate by bringing a load of new toys into our house. We had a lot of fun, My boy loves his new Lego, Missy her new dolls' house. But these are not things that we really 'value'.

  

In 2016, I'm going to hang on to the lessons of those afternoons whittling. That it's real connections and creativity that are the truly valuable things...xxx

Japanese Sewing Week - an 'Alice in Wonderland' blouse

Giveaway, giveaway alert! Scroll to bottom if you're in a rush!

It's the first ever Japanese Sewing Week! 

My contribution to JSW, organised by Sara at Made by Sara combines two 'inspirations'; a Japanese pattern and Alice in Wonderland.

I know, that's a bit strange, the link will become clear.

The details

Pattern - Pintucked blouse, Happy Homemade Sew Chic Kids by Tuttle publishing

Fabric -  Vintage embroidered table cloth

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Firstly an apology. If you are also heading into the gloom of November, sharing beach pictures seems almost cruel. And now it's blatantly obvious just how long it takes me to get round to blogging!

But my new mantra is #slowblogging.
I'm trying to do things which minimise stress, and while I had a zillion ideas for Japanese Sewing Week, in the end time defeated me, and I'm showcasing this as-yet-unblogged beachy blouse instead.

Be assured though - there is more Japanese sewing in the pipeline!

It doesn't feel that long ago that Missy was playing on this beach, in this little blouse. I tried to take photos of her as she was playing, rather than get her to pose. 
And she was just so completely, perfectly happy on this day on a beach in Wales. 'No posing' is also part of my no stress #slowblogging approach at the moment.

 I hope you can spot the 'sewing details' though!

Japanese Sewing Week is hosted by the sweet Made by Sara, who seems to have a knack of coming up with great ideas. Back in the summer she also invited me to sew for her 150th Anniversary tour of Alice in Wonderland. 

And that really fired my imagination - I set about a little sewing mission, inspired by Alice in Wonderland's eccentric tea party, and made two dresses from vintage table cloths. And I wrote 'chapter one' of my Alice in Wonderland sewing...

I picked up a huge bundle from my local vintage market and among my haul was the sweetest hand embroidered table cloth. 

It was destined for my 'snip, snip' Alice in Wonderland scissors and I transformed it into the pintucked blouse from Happy Homemade Sew Chic Kids

I've made this blouse before, as part of my Paris SewSocial sewing, and loved the simplicity of this pattern, the elegant touch of those little pleats, and the bias trim neckline, elasticated only at the back. It's a simple, perfect beach cover up.

But making it out of this table cloth created a few headaches.

I wanted to keep the lovely hand-threaded edge of the table cloth, which saved me hemming.  That meant I had to make the side seams dead-straight, rather than flared, which has slightly changed the shape. And I had to really, really think about how to cut this. I wanted to make the most of every corner, every flower, and there would be no second chance.
Aren't those flowers beautiful? I hope whoever spent hours embroidering this doesn't mind that I cut this up!

And of course - I did stuff it up. I mistook a sleeve for the back, and cutting a long story short (almost literally) I ended up slightly weepy, and then had to piece the back together.

The side seams needed a slightly different construction, to keep that embroidered edge. They are almost flat-felled. Let's just say I improvised... You can also see the tucks (just) in this picture.

Now, I love Japanese sewing, the fabrics, the patterns, the simple aesthetic. I love the way many pieces are gender neutral, and there's no fussy, girliness.  Forgive me for many, many photos, but this little blouse was perfect for a day of sand, swimming and sunshine. I'm enjoying my memories of a little girl, and those special days of being five years old..

I've made quite a few Japanese pieces, mainly from Akiko Mano's Linen, Wool, Cotton Kids, and also Sew Chic Kids by Tuttle publishing.

Here's my little collage. There's a 'Japanese pattern' label over on my side bar to track these down on my blog.

There are some gorgeous posts to discover in this series, here's the full line-up.

Do take a minute to click around!

In a Manner of Sewing  |  Conversas de Hermanas  |  Pequenos e Verdes  |  Climbing the Willow

Bartracks and Singletrack  |  S is for Sewing  |  Sew Happy  |  Mamacosesola

Fairies, Bubbles & Co.  |  Sewing Like Mad  |  As it Seams  |  Sewing For Mini Me

La Folie Sewing Booth  |  Just Add Fabric  |  Blogless Anna  |  Sweeter Than Cupcakes  |  Needle and Ted

Miss Castelinhos  |  Made by Toya  |  Lil Luxe Collection  |  House of Estrela

Patty Made It  |  Paisley Roots  |  Rita Pirolita  |  Call Ajaire

So-cal Sewing Mom  |  Kiwi Crafty Chemist  |  Sew Shelly Sew  |  Made by Sara

And this series is also being sponsored by Tuttle publishing with an incredible giveaway with three prizes to be one, in the raffle copter below.

- One pack of 2 two Japanese Sewing books from Tuttle Publishing

- One pack of 2 two Japanese Sewing books from Tuttle Publishing

- A $40 fabric voucher from Urban Sew 

To enter, click through the rafflecopter below, open until November 25.

And we'd love to see your Japanese pattern creations. Sara, over at Made by SaraMade by Sara is hosting a link party as a showcase. All the details of JSW and the giveaway are over here.

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