Skirt to top refashion

I bought this skirt at Vinnies for $7 about a year ago.  It was miles too big for me, but I LOVED the design and figured that there must be enough fabric in it to come up with something fun.

Well, as I was cleaning up recently I found the skirt again, and decided it was a well overdue for a  refashion.  I decided to make a top using a McCalls pattern that I've used a few times before.

Somehow I failed to notice that the skirt was made with lots of cut panels, which meant it was really hard to get a solid piece of fabric all in one lot.  I somehow made use of the seams and panels though and it all worked out ok.

The design on the fabric makes me think of the curtains in a Swedish summer home.  Did I mention I'm obsessed with Swedish summer homes lately?  I have been checking out loads of them online and their cute interiors.  Oh to have a Swedish summer home!

The design is also a bit swingin' 60s so here's my instagram-ish shot.  Note my impression of 60s style dancing.

Jolly good fun.

Stitchy night

Recently I held Stitchy night at my house.  A bunch of lovely lasses came over and brought their stitchy projects, yummy snacks and fun conversation.

There was some machine-type stitching...

...wine, cheese and dips...

...lots of great knitting...

 and even some finished products!  Look at those cute kiddy trousers!

Me, I cast on something new (but didn't get very far - I blame the wine, and the cheese, and the chatting).  Such a good night!

Stripey times

A recent visit to a country op-shop turned out to be very fruitful with some very excellent - and very inexpensive - fabric found.  Amongst this was two pieces of stripey jersey - which is pretty much gold if you ask me!

I spent my Easter weekend whipping up some stripey goodness.  The navy and white striped singlet, and the red and white striped dress/long shirt.

Both were made using this very simple pattern, plus Beth's fail-safe jersey binding method (cut the binding piece 4/5 of the length of your neckline).

I'm calling this one my 'Where's Wally?' dress.  Ironically, boyfriend said that I stand out in this dress and that it is really easy to find me in a crowd.  Nevermind, I love it, and it will get loads of wear.

Every little girl needs a bunny

Hello, is someone in there?

*Clears throat* ah, hello, yes, it's me.

Oh... hi.  Who's there?

It's me, Easter Bunny.  I was just having a little nap in this tin. What time is it?

Hi Easter Bunny!  I'm glad I woke you, you've got a busy day ahead of you delivering eggs.

 
Oh dear, I'd better hop to it! Thanks Stitchybritt!  See you soon!

When I was a little girl I was obsessed with bunnies.  I loved their sweet little faces and twitchy little noses (ok, so not much has changed).  So with my new little baby niece being born, how could I resist making her a simple, cuddly bunny?

This bunny was made using this pattern.  She really is perfect for tiny hands to grab onto.

It's very rare that I'm make something so 'girly'.  All the pink gingham and lace - it's really not me.  But a newborn niece is the best excuse for making all those ridiculously cute things you never thought you would be able to make.  Expect this sort of silliness to continue.

 

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Just a quick update on my year without plastic packaging.  Generally saying, all is going well.  We are still baking our own bread and making our own yoghurt.  We are making lots of homemade dips.  We are buying butter in paper instead of margarine in plastic tubs, and opting for cheese that comes in foil wrap or wax instead of plastic.

My one downfall - which I am yet to overcome - is in-flight meals.  I have been doing quite a bit of travel for work lately, and of course aeroplane meals are some of the most overpackaged meals there are!  Individually packaged portions, water in plastic, plastic knife and fork in a plastic packet of it's own.  Eeek!  I haven't planned ahead well enough to take my own packed lunches on the plane yet, but I will have to find a way to do this soon.  Any suggestions?  Have you ever taken your own food on a plane?

Beer pants

Lots of bloggy people have been making knickers lately.  Pip's been making them, Veronica's been making them, and so I thought it was high time I had a go.

I've actually been meaning to make my own pants for a while, but it wasn't until I was packing for a trip away recently and could only find two pairs of knickers to pack that I thought that I'd better hop to it!

 

In true refashion style, I started with an old shirt of boyfriend's advertising the beer brand Beerlao (yes!  he gave me permission to cut up one of his old shirts!).  I used an old, seen-better-days pair of knickers to make a pattern.  Three simple pieces (front, back and gusset) and I was away...

So easy - just overlock the side seams and the gusset in place.  Turn the leg openings under and zigzag stitch.  Cut elastic to size, join, pin in place under turned-under waist and zigzag stitch in place.

There you have it!  Two new, easy, comfy pairs of pants.  Beer pants, no less.