Apple of my eye dress

My first attempt to combine my two favorite crafts; knitting and sewing. I knitted the bodice a few weeks back. It’s knitted seamless from the top down; raglan style. I used the cotton boucle (pronounced ‘bou-klay’) yarn that I stashed from Knitpicks which is super-soft. The neck and sleeve borders are knitted in garter stitch while the rest of the body is in stockinette stitch. The weather and the upcoming festive celebration are some of the factors that inspired me to make this as most of Arwen’s dresses are sleeveless and I thought something like this would keep her comfortable. Even if the weather is warm, the bodice would not be too warm for her.

So this morning, I joined the bodice to the skirt. It was a quick fix. I used Robert Kaufman’s Metro Market Apples in Black by Anne Kelle. (This fabric is on CNY promo in Lil Arwen) I cut the fabric about 14” length, serged the edges, joined the selvages, fold in about one inch for the skirt hem and sew; make gathers and join the bodice to the skirt and TADA!!!! It’s ready to wear.

Maybe it’s the Chinese New Year mood, I’m into red lately.

Some more photos of the apples of my eye clowning around.

Arwen adores her big brother, Danial

Danial is trying to imitate Naruto

5 minute break

Enjoy Thaipusam public holiday folks, or what’s left of it, anyway.

Romper update: Finally completed

Remember the romper I blog about here with the picture above. I’ve finally managed to complete it this morning after my notion shopping at Karysma yesterday. I love making button holes with my Brother machine. Even Arwen is fascinated with it. She’d sit on my lap as we watch the machine does it’s magic. You can see the look of awe on her face.

 Some close up pictures of the romper. I use snap buttons for the crotch opening. This is super handy when it comes to diaper changing. The white band is a cotton twill tape I used to modify instructions a bit which serves as reinforcement for the snap buttons. The original design uses snap tape, but this should work all the same.

Some of you asked for the patterns. In case I’ve forgotten to mention it in my earlier posts, it’s Simplicity #3852

You can get it online at sewingpatterns.com.

I’ll be updating lilarwen.blogspot.com if there’s any mommies out there interested to have this romper for their lil’ boys.

Only This Cat Is Allowed On The Table!

Several reasons for this tea cosy to come into existence:

• My dear cousin, Elaine, asked me for one many moons ago
• TiniHani is hosting a tea cosy sew-along (Jom Jahit)
• The pattern is too cute to resist!

I found the pattern here: Bustle and Sew. Isn’t it just adorable. Only this cat is allowed on the table :) and I know Elaine is a big cat lover.

I made this using some left over corduroy in khaki and hand-stitch the cat’s face, whiskers, paws and tail. The reverse is a very elegant English flower motive cotton (duh! lupa amik gambar). 

To Elaine, I hope you like this. It’s going your way and thank you for the shout out in Facebook.

Have a wonderful weekend, folks!

What happened last Wednesday

It started with a message in my Facebook inbox by Mashitah Abd Rahman, a journalist from Nur requesting me to do an interview. It was a pleasant surprise and an honor indeed to have been chosen from the many talented crafters in CraftZone (According to her, she found me there).

In addition to the interview, I was asked to fill up the DIY column in the magazine. I had to sleep over it before saying ‘yes’. 

Fast forward on D-day. I converted my dining table to my work table. I made 2 items, the ipad cover and the iphone/ipod/handphone pouch using Metro Market Apples in Black and Mingle in Red.

My makeshift work station

My ever-supportive husband, Azrai agreed to babysit Arwen for the duration of the photoshoot and interview despite his busy schedule. For that, I’m eternally grateful. (At this juncture, I’ve taken him and the kids for a dinner treat as ‘upah’)

Azrai trying to get some work done and Arwen pretending to read

 Puan Mashitah and Mr. Photographer (I’m sorry I didn’t get his name) came and we went straight to business taking photo shots of the steps to make the cover and pouch.

Mashitah approving the shots

 Long story short, we finished the photo shoot at about noon and we had something to eat while Mashitah interviewed me. I made macaroni soup, something easy as you chuck in all the ingredients and let it simmer and just add macaroni before serving.

Whatever it takes to get a good shot

I don’t mind the demo shots but I’m quite stiff when it come to personal photo shoot. I literally have to say “tiga” to smile for the camera. The camera don’t really like me that much. That’s why I prefer to be the person behind the camera.

Anyway, this is to go in the March 2011 issue, InsyaAllah. I hope they can find enough decent pictures to put in the magazine. My hats off to Mashitah. In the call of duty, it’s amazing for someone who doesn’t sew to explain it in the magazine. So, don’t forget to get the issue when it’s out.

Thank you Mashitah and Karangkraf for giving me this golden opportunity to be featured in Nur. Thank you Mr. Photographer for being patient with me. I hope you got my good side. Another milestone for me and Rozi’s Needlework. 

Spring cleaning and Work In Progress

I’ve been  hard at work, spring cleaning around the house these past two days. One particular reason is I’m expecting special guests this coming Wednesday, InsyaAllah. Am excited at the prospect of having these guests over to view my work.

Being the hardcore crafter (ye ke? heheheh...) even when I sit down to take a break after vacuuming and moping the house and tackling 3 loads of laundry, I will automatically pick up my knitting needles. I can’t just sit still. Even when after all the housework, my muscles and joints are aching (signs of age catching up with me) and feeling numb all over, I would still do a few rows of knitting.

This is what’s on my needles right now. I bet my friend is wondering why is it taking a while for me to finish this shrug. I actually had to do the front panels three times as I wasn’t happy with the outcome. I’ve decided to modify and not follow the pattern to the letter as I’m using a different type of yarn. The yarn I’m using is Rowan Cotton Milk DK in Humbugs. It’s a lovely pastel grey though in this picture it looks a bit on the dark side. It’s actually much lighter. 

I’m working on the sleeve part and like the front panel, I normally do them two at a time. I hate counting rows and lousy at keeping track. So by doing it both at the same time, I reduce the chances of having one sleeve longer than the other :) This is how I was taught to knit and I felt it’s a great idea. The only drawback is you have to untangle your yarn once in a while as you’ll be knitting from two balls of yarn.

I’m almost 3/4 of the way in this project and only used 4 balls of yarn. I think another two balls would finish the project as I need to do the cuff and neckband.  I hope I can get this ready by the end of this coming week. 

As for my spring cleaning project, I’ve cleaned and cleared until I can’t clean and clear any more. And there’s still loads to go. A mommy’s job never ends.

Another Romper, A Passport Holder and Another Sexy Viao Pocket Series Cover

My second romper 98% finished. What’s missing is the buttons and the snap buttons on the crotch. Have to go get the buttons at Karysma later. Started this after dinner last night till 1am from scratch. This is from 1 yard of fabric made for size 18 months. The instructions said for this size,  you need 1 1/8 yards. But I managed to squeeze it in one yard. This fabric is from my old stash from one of my baby quilts projects done long ago. It’s In My Own Backyard from FabricQuilt. I got about 1 and a half meters lying around which is just dandy for a baby boy romper. This one is for Baby Muqri. He missed the magic date of 20.10.2010 when he decided to come into this world, in the wee hours of 21.10.2010. But that doesn’t make him any less special. Decided not to make booties this time around as the booties is for size 6 months. The baby would have outgrown the booties by the time he can fit into the romper.

Remember the first romper. I have enough scraps to make me a passport cover. It’s a simple cover just like the one you can buy from the passport office (the maroon colour one) but I don’t have that. I have the one I got from Reliance Travel & Tour. I’d rather have the fun and bright passport cover than the boring run of the mill PVC type, don’t you? I plan to make more from the scraps that’s building up in my scrap box. Interested? 

I almost forgot to blog about this cover. My friend asked for a second cover after the not the normal notebook cover I made her. So I made her this, using Amy Butler’s Flower Paisley in Apricot. This time, instead of the normal batting, I knitted the padding with Knitpicks’ cotton yarn. I knitted two yarns (Creme Brulle and Marmalade) together to get the random effect. It has a little stretch so it will fit the notebook snuggly. It’s also reversible :)

And to top it off, Arwen’s morning face as she walked into my sewing room; lomofied. Off to get her ‘shushu’ and give her a bath.

Something cute for a baby boy

 I’ve managed to tick this romper off my to make list finally. It’s a belated baby gift for a friend who gave birth on the this special date: 10.10.10. It’s for Baby Noah Madewnus. The romper is made to fit a 12 months old.

I made it from Anne Kelle’s Metro Market Pears in Aqua from just 1 yard of fabric and have enough scraps to make the booties as well. I used cotton denim scraps from my Cosmo Bag as a second fabric for the booties.

I used snap buttons at the crotch. Convenient for diaper changing and used Danial’s label for the first time. Isn’t it cute? Now, boys can wear designers cotton too :)

Now, I need to make another one for Baby Muqri. Don’t grow up so fast baby, Aunty is making this cute romper for you, OK.