A compendium of projects undertaken or to be started
Drafted the bodice and sleeve block for size 3Toddler. Also started grading them to size 1 & 2T. Next up, draft some summer cloths for Mina (and maybe re-draft in Illustrator)
Measurements:
1942—Modern Pattern Design—Chapter 12—Children’s Clothing
http://ts.nist.gov/Standards/Conformity/upload/childs-cs151-50.pdf
Tags: cloths, grading, in progress, measurements, pattern, reference
Finished grading WS01 Willow size 0-4. Tested size 4 making a pair for Camila for her birthday (she loved them!) and they went together fine.
Stated the instructions. Illustrations are done and layout started. Tested using puffy paint for tread and it worked pretty well. Just need to finish typing out the written instructions and on to having some one test it.
Finished the doll (Katie). I finished the sewing on the weekend but only added the face today. It took me a while to decide on what I wanted it too look like. I embroidered it using black, white & blue floss for the eyes and light pink floss for the mouth, nose and cheeks.
Over all I think she turned out realy cute! Mina seems to like her too.
Next to make the revisions to the pattern and write up instruction. Jill will sample the pattern for me once it is done.
Note on stuffing: the body was weighted using pellets. Weight is consentrated in the feet and hand with dispersed weight in the head and torso.
Arms, legs and head are sewn. Need to stuff the legs and arms before sewing them into the body. Since it is all knit I used the serger. I had to complete some seam in more then one try since the curves were tight and small.
I plan on weighting the limbs. Part stuffing part pellets. I will do the same for the head and body. Just need to decide where the hole will be for stuffing.
Still need to design a face. Thinking it will be very basic and simple.
There will be a few minor changes to the pattern.
Tags: doll, in progress, pattern, photos, sample, sew, sewing
Pattern drafted, and printed. Fabric cut and ready to sew.
The body is white cotton jersey, dress is grey bamboo jersey, hair is blue tights, legs are stripped tights and shoes are black jersey.
Need to design a face yet and decide if when to add it. Add it before or after the head is sewn together. I think it would be a little dependent on the design…
Jill will test the pattern for me before I finalize it for sale. Yay!
Tags: cutting, doll, in progress, pattern, photos, sample, sewing
Finished the “Bunnies and Planes” pinafore. Now to start another one! I think I will keep with the pinafores since they are very easy and versatile and perfect for hot weather. But may look at trying one of the other patterns I have here. Thinking about looking into buying a pleater, it would make smocking considerably easier. The most tedious part is connecting the dots.
Finished the Illustrator versions of the WS01 Willow and WS02 Mina patterns in size 2 (6-12 mth). Now to get them printed out so samples can be made before grading (sz 0-4).
Need to sketch out some ideas for other style. The boot also need adjustment maybe even re-drafted all together. I think I will do that one entirely in Illustrator.
I have been using the tablet and wireless keyboard for working in Illustrator and it going. I am liking this setup better. Gary also figured out how to get the “Smart Guides” to work the way I am used to (and frankly, with this type of work, the way they need to.)
Need to finish up the doll pattern I started. Now that Illustrator is less frustrating I can do that soon. Leg, feet, body and arms are completed and the head is started. I would also like to draft some cloths for it. Getting it done would be a great start though.
Tags: doll, grading, illustrator, in progress, pattern, sample, shoes
Finished the “Twitter” pinafore.
Ready to star the next one. Bunnies on planes. I think I will make a facing pattern for the armholes as an option to binding them. I will finish the armholes before I start smocking to protect them while handling the fabric. Also need to decide on a pattern for the smocking, likely will use the hearts again.
Picked up fabic for making painting/craft smocks for Mina and a certain little boy who has a birthday coming up. It is nylon and should be at least water resistant and reasonably easy to clean. I plan on using the apron version of the pinafore pattern made a little longer and wider. Since I can’t iron the fabric with running the risk of melting it, I will use the existing grid pattern on the fabric instead of dots.
Also picked up fabric for two more dresses. Zebra print that matches the twitter dress and weiner dogs.
Need to finish the shoe pattern in illustrator and get it printed so I can test it and make matching shoe for Mina’s the dresses. (She had nearly grown out of the sample pair.)
Almost done. Need to add the buttons and hem and pull the pleating threads out on the Twitter dress (so named for the print). Elastic to be added to the matching bloomers. Turned out really well so far. Missed my Marrow serger, would have made a nice, easy finish for the armholes; I bound them in bias instead. I used some pre-cut bias and my bias tape folding tool to make the casings for the leg elastic. I’ll use the blind hemmer for the dress.
Once I am completely done this one I can start on the bunny and airplane fabric.
Tags: in progress, photos, sewing, smocking
Designed a pattern using Emma’s First Bishop Smocking Plate as a basis. Used photoshop to move elements around to get the pattern I was after. I really wanted to try hearts for Mina. I’ll be using 3 colours rather then just 2.
Dress 1: DMC 838, DMC 3805 and beige
Dress 2: White, light pink and goldenrod yellow (lost my DMC numbers)
Tags: in progress, pattern, reference, smocking, smocking plates