Welcome baby #4! Good thing he´s out already, otherwise Sara might get into labor with this little suprise, ha!

So Sara from Made by Sara just had her baby number #4 and it´s the cutest little baby boy. Congratulations my dear, and all the best to you and your family. Obviously, we can´t pass on a good opportunity to sew, so some of her sewing blogger friends joined for a little sewing baby shower.

A few years ago, I used to do these ponchos / capes for kids and sell them on FB. But back then I was also working and I just couldn´t keep up with maintaining a business, even if at a small scale. Also, the wool I found was very very good but only a limited quantity was available, so I ran out of resources within a few months. Ah, ain´t I a good business woman, ha! Those days are long gone and I don´t think I would ever do it again (just too much pressure and stress), but I thought about how I loved seing my kids in theirs and how practical and easy it is to dress a baby.

The pattern is self drafted from back then, quite an easy semi circular shape with the hood, and I made this version for a 1 year old. I´m guessing, depending on the baby, that it can fit from around 9 months to around 1 1/2, 2 years if lucky. The wool is thick and quite warm and it´s fully lined in cotton twill.

Sorry for the bad quality pictures, but during the good light hours I haven´t been able to shoot anything. Hope you like it, Sara!

Here´s the link to the rest of the party!

I am wriiiiting!! In DA blog waahoo! After Summer months lazyness, when I thought I would still have some time to juggle work and pleasure, my plans got all mixed up. I didn´t think I would be so caught up on school agenda, but in the most positive way; going back to work really lifted my spirit and I´m back at a phrenetic rithm thinking and planning for my "adopted" kids for the year.

Still, I miss sewing at the level I was doing it oh so much, but for now I can only commit to smaller projects like testings I can´t say no to and others that I have time to plan and sew little by little.

Califaye Collection has my heart from day one and I can´t resist Sarah´s sense of style; I always know her patterns will fit me like a glove and turn to staples on my wardrobe.

The Rumi pullover is just an easy going pattern, one of those perfect for the 15 minute soul cleansing I allow myself everyday, ha! I used a very light and open wool knit, which is not the best recommendation for the pattern, but I made it work with a couple of changes; I added the neckband and skipped the side vents. Also I made it a little smaller by removing 1 inch on fold on both front and back pieces, and shortened it by 2 inches. You know the drill with me, my 5´2" and petite stature always require a bit of sizing down.

It has just gone to my TNT pile and I´ll definitely try it with a heavier wool knit and longer sleeves. You can drive back to Califaye´s blog to check the awesome tester versions and how the pattern looks with other knits (so different but so good!).

I know it´s rather hot for tea right now, but bare with me for a couple of minutes because this kind of Tea is really a summer cool down if you´re needing one. The lovely Nelleke and some other talented ladies had this pretty cool idea for a tour and I must confess I was pretty intrigued by the pattern so challenge accepted, ha! The Tea House by Sew House Seven can either be a top or a dress, has cuffed dolman sleeves, a V neck with a front yoke accent and ties around the waist. It´s not my usual cup of tea as the style I usually wear, but I could see the pattern´s potential.

I had this fabric already used up as a kimono I made a couple of years ago when I knew nothing about sewing techniques; really, the finishings made me weep everytime I picked it up and I was just waiting for the perfect pattern to come along to save it.

In order to make it work, I had to make a few changes to the Tea House; I removed the back pleat and made the back yoke as part of the back piece so the back fabric panel would shine - back, back, back, haha! Then for the front yoke, since I wasn´t doing the ties, I joined it to the lower panel as a whole piece. The fabric had this band print that looked perfect for me as an accent but to make it work I had to add a center front seam. Also, it´s cut on the crossgrain so extra pins, basting, glue, whatever you can think of was used to keep it nice and steady when I joined it to the front side panels. I used the same band print as an accent on the cuffs.

Inside it´s fnished with the front and back facings the pattern includes (just shortened the front facing a bit because I didn´t need it that long), understitched and tacked down at the shoulder seams, you know the drill. The pattern is beautifully drafted with impeccable instructions, so it´s perfect to play a bit with the pieces if you need or want to change something to make it more you.

The fabric is a really light silky viscose with a Zara print (which they sold as a kimono, hence my inglorious try to copy it, ha!) and a nightmare to press. I did my best to match the print at the front side panels; still, is it too busy at the eye? Maybe I should have broken it up with some piping... Paneled fabrics are hard to use and match up and the fact that I was upcycling didn´t give me too much room to play around with the fabric pieces. Neverthless, the boho summery feeling I was looking for is there, the top is loose but still with a bit of fit, I´m a happy happy gal!

August 9th: Rebel and Malice / Gaafmachine / Stahlarbeit
August 10th: In a manner of sewing / Sew happy / Mottenfrosch
August 11th: Sew Mariefleur / KreaMino / Fairies, Bubbles and Co. / Frölein Tilia
August 12th: Made by Sara / Just Add Fabric / Little Cumquat

And what about some cookies to go with that tea, hehe? Would you like to win a pattern of your choice from Sew House Seven? Peggy from Sew House Seven has generously offered to sponsor this giveaway, thank you! And UPDATE, La Finch Fabrics is also on board, offering each winner 6 yards of apparel fabric, woohoo! So, come on and write a comment on GAAFmachine´s post! We will pick two lucky winners next Monday 15th of August using a random generator. Good luck and put those kettles on!