De-stash February - Who won?

Do you think I am slow?? Well. It might be so, or it might be that my life is running faster than I am at the moment. If I get an hour extra I am not very likely to be spending it in front of the computer, but rather in front of the sewing machine. 

I had the ambition of doing this REALLY neat, with showing off pictures, and arranging a vote and stuff. But really. I didn't have the time for it. So I decided just to collect a few pictures and let a random number generator decide who won.

77 projects were created this month and number 37 is the number 7 below. So the winner is Liten kulla och mas.

And, if I think really hard I must say that one of my favorite projects this month really was from her blog. These booties are made in true Kaja style. You need something, really need it for some reason (I assume that some wee one has cold feet) and everything you find in the shops don't fit, or are booooring. So, you end up doing it yourself. And since you have your own style and ideas of how something should be done you end up with something truly personal.



Here comes a few of my other favorite projects from this month!


Oil cloth aprons from Pysselmia. Practical and really personal: http://pysselmia.blogg.se/2012/february/sjorovarfabbes.html


Supercute shirt from Unikuun teapiahuone (make sure that you look of the details of the appliqué. Awesome!:
http://terapiahuone.blogspot.com/2012/02/talviset-oravakaverit.html


Crocodile mittens from Avanai. So personal and cool!
http://www.avanai.se/?p=3750


Special award goes to Mandis och Jag for the patience of making a quilt from scraps! I can't do these things, even though I think it is so pretty!
http://mandisochjag.blogg.se/2012/february/en-filt-av-lappar.html



Fabric diapers from Emmy. Totally cool! Good for the environment, and so much prettier than Pampers or Huggies. Look at those cute heartshaped snap buttons!
http://emmystickar.blogspot.com/2012/02/jag-kan-faktiskt-sy-annat-ocksa.html


Miiaoo made a sample for a new dress. It had a great fit, but looked pretty boring. This is after she decided to pimp it! Totally cute!
http://miiaoosyr.blogspot.com/2012/02/toille-av-nytt-monster.html

Supercute pillow from Bessemess. Text reads "Seize the day!"
http://bessemess.blogspot.com/2012/02/utmaning-omgang-3.html

Leftover pillow from Andas. So cute! I totally need one of these!
http://andasblogg.blogspot.com/2012/02/de-stash-february.html

Bustroll made her own lamp shade! Totally cool! I assume that she has matched it with pillows somewhere else!
http://dittbustroll.blogspot.com/2012/02/egendesignad-lampa.html

More patchwork from LillaB! I totally like these things when you can use almost any piece of fabric and turn it into something fantastic.
http://lillab-butik.blogspot.com/2012/02/nysytt.html

Crocheted rug, made from old t-shirts! Totally cool! And eco friendly! And stylish! Way to go Pyssel-på-torp!
http://pysselptorp.blogspot.com/2012/02/trasmatta-nummer-ett.html

Saumurin kera made a dress fit for a princess. And I think that she made it about the same time as a new princess was born here in Sweden and everybody was hit with princess fever!
http://saumurinkera.blogspot.com/2012/02/kruunuprinsessa.html




And, now for some special award to Nevenmamma that I think has contributed with most things this month. In ONE post she contributed with these 9 (!) pair of leggings. And I don't know how many links she has put into MrLinky.... You're a true inspiration, but I don't know where you find all your time!!

DeStash February - Last showoff!

Hi guys! Missed me yesterday?? I thought so. Well. Since this year February has 29 days, I thought I was going to wait for the LAST day with the last post of the destash challenge. So, how has it been going for you? Personally I could have done better. Not that I have bought that much, but I haven't really sewn that much either. I have taken on more tasks at work, which makes me work longer hours and this of course means less crafting time.

Anyhow. This is probably this my best project this month. It was actually finished a while ago, but I haven't taken any pictures of it until now. My daughter loooves her nightgowns. And she won't put the smaller ones away. So, her 86/92 (18-24mths) is getting very small for her, since she is wearing 128 (7-8yrs) today. That nightgown actually has more resemblence to a t-shirt nowadays...

So. I thought I would do a proper job this time and give her some extra room to grow in. It turned out that it was TO long now. But I am not allowed to cut it! The fabric is a very soft cotton jersey from Tygaffären. And it is actually striped vertically and not horizontal, but I cut it the wrong way, and it works out good too. Probably because it is a supersoft fabric.

I remember when I was six or so. I spent the night at my best friend. And his mum had two identical nightgowns. White with 10cm/4in spots in green and brown if I remember correctly. I remember wore these  nightgown and that they were so long that it covered our toes, and that we played snakes in these nightgowns. I loved it! Now my daughter has the chance too. Although I thing she most resembles a mermaid in this gown.

So. This is your last chance of posting any projects during this month. I will try to collect as many as possible into one GIGANTIC blogpost, and then I need some help to figure out who the winner should be. Talk to you in a couple of days!

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Link to project in MrLinky (if you have made several blogposts, link to ALL of them), and confessions and thoughts below!

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1-2-3-Challenge starting in March!

I've gotten a lot of questions from people that loooves the February De-stash challenge, and have asked if we please please please could continue with that. The answer is..... No. And the reason? Well. First of all I need to buy a few things to be able to build up stock in my shop. And. The second is that I will take up a new challenge in the beginning of March. This is going to be the 1-2-3 Challenge.

I have been listening quite a lot to podcasts going to and from the office every day. I especially enjoy Jennifer Accerman-Haywoods "Craftsanity". The Scott Smith "The daily boost" and the Stever Robbins" Get-it-done-guy" right now. They give me some food for thought and challenge me to do things!

So. My 1-2-3-Challenge will be a really fun project where you challenge yourself as a crafter and creates something fun!

1. Make something that you're good at. Just to build up a self confidence. Choose the model that you know that you look good in, and is easy-peasy to make for you. Only has known techniques and a pattern that you're familiar with. I would probably make a shirt.

2. Master something thar you're not that good at, and preferably overcome your fears! Sometimes you just get something in your head. "It's hard to sew zippers!" Well. Possibly. It could be really hard to sew zippers, but it is probably not at all that hard as you THINK it is. So my challenge to you is to master something that you have been afraid of. Personally I really don't like zippers, so I think I will make 4 pillowcases with zippers in them. Just for practice. I still need to make those pillow cases, but I would probably have let myself off easily by putting in buttons instead. I might even try piping on one or two of them, just to see how hard it is...  And I will blog this! We will end up with lots of good tutorials on how to make different things! YAY!

3. Use your new knowledge to make a project. Here comes the twist - it has to be matching your first project!! If I made a shirt in the first challenge, and practiced zippers in my second I would probably end up with a skirt in the last project.

This means that you will probably end up with a full outfit of something. For you, or for your child. And we will all have a lot of tutorials and inspiration. In each step I will want you to link your project!

I haven't decided on a prize for this challenge yet, but you know you will want to join in!!

Tutorial: Using foldover elastics

I have gotten SOOOOO many questions on how I make my necklines. Well. It isn't a secret, but I haven't seen that many seamstresses that use my method. Personally I think it is great. For kids that have fairly large heads and small bodies, the necklines usually get very wide. And living in a cold climate you really want the neckline to fit snug around the neck, to avoid any gaps where cold air could sneak in.

The first thing you need to do is figure out which is the front and back. If you enlarge this picture you will see that the upper part is the backside that is matte, and the right side is slightly shiny. There are foldover elastics that doesn't look exactly like this, some have a scalloped edge, some have sequins, two matte sides or a deeper fold in the middle. These are the 5/8in (16mm), but there are all kinds, wider and thinner. I buy mine from Etsy or eBay. In Sweden it is also available from Bibbis textil. And if you're really local Knappkarlsson in Gothenburg have a wide variety as well.
Okay. Now you know the basics.On to the tutorial.

Trim your neckline so that you have an even cut, without any threads.

Next you need to figure out the length of the elastics. I measure the neckline and then cut 75% of the neckline. You can do it with a tape measure, but I lay out the elastics around the neckline (without cutting it!) mark the distance, fold it four times and cut off 1/4 of the elastics. Voila!

Fold on half with the right sides facing eachother. Sew a straight seam about 2mm from the cut. Make sure that you use short stitches (I use 2.0) and that you sew the entire way from one side to the other. I start at the upper end sew across, and then put in the reverse and sew the same seam again. That way I will only have to cut threads on one side.

Next it is time for some needles. I straighten out the elastics and put one in the middle. And on the shirt I fold the shirt on half as well to figure out where the middle of the neckline is. I put one needle at the back piece and one on the front piece. This is for a childrens neckline. For an adult neckline I usually use four needles on the elastics as well as the shirt.

Fold the elastics over the edge and pin it down. I put the seam of the elastics in the back of the neck.

I start sewing in the back and stretch as I go on. Make sure that you get the fabric all the way into the fold and that you stretch the elastics evenly around the neckline.

When you approach the back seam I trim my sizing lables and tuck them into the fold. Without removing the shirt from the sewing mashine!

And then you just sew the last few stitches. If you have a sizing label make sure that it stays in place. Snipp snipp with the scissors to cut of the two threads on the inside and two on the outside of the shirt.

There! All done! As you can see it ALMOST looks as if there are some wrinkles around the neckline. But, once worn it looks as it should do. Besides, after a few times when you have pulled the shirt over the head it will be a perfect fit. If you use slightly longer elastics it will eventually become to long and stand out from the neck or become slightly wavy.

De-stash Feburary - Show off Tuesday3!

Oh! Tuesday again... Time flies!

What have I been up to then? Not much crafting actually, well some crocheting on my ViaCondotti Jacket. I don't have the same yarn, so my will not look the same as the original jacket, and I am also using a different color, but it is pretty easy, brainless crocheting. Treble crochets, double crochets and some chains.

But, we are making huge progress in our house. We rebuild our house to add 8 extra square meters to the kitchen and we set up the new wallpapers there before Christmas, but since we also had to change the entrance to the living room and to the hallway we ended up with new wallpapers in the living room and are now on the last leg with painting the hallway. There are still some skirting to do. But then we only have the fun parts with pillows and curtains and...         

Oups. I have a confession to make. We REALLY need new curtains for the living room and the kitchen. The kitchen I had already bought fabric for in January, but I did do some fabric shopping this week. I bought new fabric for the living room curtains. Gorgeous lime green ones. Really spring colored. So. Now I better get started with them so I at least don't add to my stash!

By the way. I am writing tutorials at the moment. So, I will be adding a couple of them now in the coming weeks. First one will be about how I make my necklines of the dresses and shirts using foldover elastics.

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Link to project in MrLinky (if you have made several blogposts, link to ALL of them), and confessions and thoughts below!

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Romantic wrap top

I wanted to make me something warm and cozy and still stylish enough to be able to wear it in the office. I've been wanting one of Annabells wrap tops. But as always when I see something I think  - "Hey, I can do that too!". So I ended up making my own. This fabric was intended to be a dress, but as it turned out it was just enough to make a wrap top for me, and one for my daughter. I have used satin foldover elastics which makes this a supersoft top. And that lettuce hem - mmmm! So romantic.

As you can see it has a raglan cut, and the size below for my daughter was perfect, but the first three pictures are from "my" top, and as it turned out I am NOT a size Large after all, but a size Medium. So, this one is up for sale in the shop, and I will have to figure out how to make me an own wrap top from some of the other fabric that I have around. But, it won't be a pink....

De-stash February - Show off Tuesday2

My oh my! You are busy bees! 18 projects last week! I'm impressed!

So. What have I been up to then? Well. I am building up stock in my shop of adult clothes. But taking pictures in the winter is a drag, especially here in Sweden. I remember that my grandad used to say that February the 8:th was the first day of the year where he could drive home without having the light of his motorcycle on when he finished his work at 5pm. So, the light is slowly coming back!

 Today I am able to show you two UFOs (UnFinishedObjects) that have been hanging on the clothes rack. Almost finished. Only needed some trim around the neckline and the wrists. And since it is Valentines day today I thought it was apropriate with the red color.

Both dresses are velour dresses in size M/L and are available in my shop. Remember that this is the type of dress that you can win if you participate in the De-Stash February. Any color or size!

And I haven't bought anything this week. *pat on the shoulder* I wish I had more crafting time, and I definitely want to build up my own wardrobe with some original Kaja clothes. I have a few coming up, and this is a great opportunity to check out the sizes of some patterns. 

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Link to project in MrLinky (if you have made several blogposts, link to ALL of them), and confessions and thoughts below!

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