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Sewing pattern, Sewing project

‘The Foodie Catcher’ catch all bib PDF pattern released!!!

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Foodie Catcher bib PDF pattern by Oak Tag Designs - available through Etsy

Ive been selling the catch all bibs on etsy for a few weeks now. I just love them. Im not sure if I have mentioned it before, but the pattern is one that I drafted myself after using so many different bibs for my kids. My second daughter had the pleasure of using some, which Ive since modified a bit.

The bib folds up at the bottom to catch any food, but can be let down as the child gets older, or for washing. It also uses a cotton fabric on the front to catch fluid and food, while the microfleece or minky on the back acts to help fluid stay at the front and not leak through to the child’s clothes. It fits 6 months through to 4 years, so lasting a baby and toddler the whole time they need a bib for meal times.

So my original intention was to release the pattern, and its finally finished!! It is now on my Etsy store, as a PDF pattern, ready for download.

The pattern is AU$6, but with the 10% sale in my store lasting to the end of September, you have a few more days to purchase it with 10% off! Just use the code ‘SEPT10’ in check out.

Sewing project

Elsa inspired hoodie

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Elsa inspired hoodie by Oak Tag Designs - front

My eldest daughter got a little bit (read, A LOT) naggy toward her little sister to borrow a Frozen hoodie and t-shirt she received for her birthday. So I decided to make her one of her own. I went through all the fabric suitable in my stash for a hoodie, and managed to find just enough light blue and cream, plus light blue ribbing.

I wanted to make it a bit special by making the cuffs have thumb holes, to make it glove like. I made one, but my daughter was complaining it was too tight. I could also see that it would probably just get super dirty when she insisted on doing everything with her hands in the cuffs, so off it came, and I put normal cuffs on.

Elsa Inspired hoodie by Oak Tag Designs

Elsa inspired hoodie by Oak Tag Designs - back

I used this pattern to cut it out, and just changed it to have ribbing rather than folded up.

Kwik Sew pattern 2094

Overall, Im pretty happy with how it turned out 🙂 Bit of a shame (although not at the same time!) that now the spring weather has started, and it won’t be long before hoodies won’t be needed!

Sewing project

More catch-all bibs :)

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Catch all bib - fits 6 months to 4 years

I finished these bibs last night, and now they are up on my Etsy store. Admittedly, I had almost finished them about 2 weeks ago, but… I didnt have enough of the right coloured snaps, so I had to wait for some more.

Still my favourite of the catch-all bibs is the stripey ones. I sold one to a friend last week and it jet-setted off to the UK for a lucky little baby boy 🙂

I think this will be the second last colour in the catch-all bibs for a while. I’m going to be (as promised for a long time!) releasing some patterns soon 🙂

 

Sewing project

Frozens young Anna dress complete (phew!)

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Frozens young Anna dress - OTD

 

Frozens young Annas dress back - OTD

Well, its done, and in the nick of time. Not long now until I will have a 4 year old!

That was a marathon, if I say so myself. The 5 year old declared, “Its the best dress you have ever made”, so that made me feel like it was worth the extra effort. It also fits, Im only not happy with minor things that don’t matter, and I took enough pictures to make a very long tutorial!

Hopefully, the tutorial will be up in a week or two. Prepare yourself for a download-affecting amount of photos, haha!!

 

Sewing project

Making an Anna dress!!

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Ready to make an Anna dress - OTD

 

My daughters 4th birthday is quickly approaching, and as in the tradition of making my daughters a dress each birthday, Im making her an Anna dress! She is after all, a younger sister!

I started out by googling images of the young Annas dress. I printed out the ones that could show the dress the best.

Then I found the best dress pattern I had to fit the style. It is in a Size 4, which is the size I need. It also has a higher waist, and short sleeves. The skirt of the pattern is gathered, where young Annas dress is A-line. But that can be easily fixed. The sleeves are also plain rather than gathered, but again, I can fix that! I will use the colours of fabric to work a bodice into the top.

Next, I went to my fabric stash and low and behold, I had all the colours in the right amount. I was pretty happy about that! Even the weird light colour, that isnt quite white, cream or green.

So now, I just have to make it!!

Im planning on making it into a tutorial, so stay tuned 🙂

 

 

 

Sewing project

Flowery circle skirts!

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Floral circle skirts

I have seen some lovely circle skirts on Pinterest, and thought hmmm….

Well, the time had come to make some. One daughter owns about 2 skirts, neither are the right size! The other, despite being a size 6, regularly wears a particular size 4 skirt (no need for the elastic, really!) and a tie dye rainbow skirt that has seen better days back when it was a dress. So I decided I would make the skirts as a surprise for them.

I picked out a floral weave fabric that I had in my fabric stash. It worked perfectly to fit both of the girls skirts. I decided to finish the bottom edge with bias binding. I thought it would be easier, but really, it took about the same amount of time as pressing and sewing a hem. It does look nicer though, and brightens the skirt up. For the elastic at the top, I made it exposed (like all the cool kids are doing with their skirts), and used black to match.

I love them, the girls love them, and bonus.. ! They think they look great as capes and decided to wear them like that all day. Well, you just never know with kids!

And although I didnt actually use a tutorial for the skirts (because goodness, I should be able to pump out some simple math after all that university math I’ve done!), I do recommend that those with fewer math skills, or sewing skills should follow one. The skirts are as simple to make as others rave. And they turn out great.

Here is a tutorial that explains really well how to make a circle skirt.

So good luck, all of you, because I know you are going to rush off and make one now! Vroooommm…

Sewing project

A warm winter coat – for the dog!

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Dog in winter coat

Winter has arrived.. only days ago. Apparently. Not for this short haired dog though. He curls up in a ball so tight, he looks the size of a chiwawa. He’s taller than my knee..

So a few weeks ago, I made him a new winter coat. The last one I bought, was lined with an old woollen blanket. Such a genius idea. Sad he decided to lose it, on what can only be presumed was a blackberry bush, when going for a run after some rabbits, last winter. 5 hours later he was found, tired and minus coat. That was an interesting day.

I wouldve loved to written a tutorial on how I made the dog coat, but really, it was a heap of fiddling that could have been avoided, and it depends on the size of your dog.

My tips are:

  •  Pick a time when the dog is chilled out. Nothing like trying to fit a dog who is excited!
  • Get an old pure woollen jacket (preferably a large one) and felt it in hot water.
  • Use a heavy duty outer fabric (I picked a good quality calico).
  • Bind it together with a large width bias binding.
  • Use elastic around the belly of the dog.

So Im just going to show you some photos of my surprisingly photogenic dog! (Yes, I realise he isnt the most attractive dog!!)

The elastic should fit snugly around the belly. His last one had thick elastic and velcro, very handy!
The elastic should fit snugly around the belly. His last one had thick elastic and velcro, very handy!
I made the neckband out of the neckband from the woollen jumper.
I made the neckband out of the neckband from the woollen jumper.
Fits snugly around the chest and shoulders
Fits snugly around the chest and shoulders

 

Nice and toasty with the woollen jumper lining his coat
Nice and toasty with the woollen jumper lining his coat
Yep, he did stick his nose on the lens shortly after.
Yep, he did stick his nose on the lens shortly after.

And my favourite photo for last..

He was trying to inconspicuously sniff the treats I had in my hand haha!
He was trying to inconspicuously sniff the treats I had in my hand haha!

So did you spot the attempted photobombing of another lovely dog? Thank goodness she has been blessed with a thick natural coat!

Now bring on winter!! (Well, maybe not too bad.. I havent made a coat for myself yet…!)