Arwen’s Kimono Kurung

Ramadan is usually the month that I reserve for some personal sewing and that means sewing for myself and kids or more Arwen. Danial is grown up already and he prefers Jubah which I don’t know how to sew so we buy one for him. For Arwen, she’s not into the traditional baju kurung so I had to come out with something avant garde. OK, something edgy for the little missy.

While browsing my instagram feed, I came across a paper article posted by @asphodelstudio about her kimono kurung for kids being featured in the papers. I thought they look nice and something I can wing on my own. I sold the idea to Arwen and she agreed.

So, I drafted the pattern and long story short, Arwen’s Kimono Kurung came into existence. I had some plain pink cotton material enough for the kimono top to match the batik skirt. I purchased a bundle of Nor Arfa’s Pastel batik from @anisbatikcotton a couple of months ago and she chose one for her batik skirt. I love the pastel pink and turqoise combination.

Before I pen off, I would like to wish to all Muslim,

Sewing Workshop at Learning Oasis

My association with Learning Oasis goes back since 2015. Fast forward to 2018, this is my second year teaching sewing for primary children age 11-13 for their vocational week. This year, their coordinator requested that I do an Up-Cycle Project. I had 3 boys and 2 girls in class and I’m pleasantly suprised to find the boys were enjoying the class more and successfully finished all the projects that I’ve set up for them. 

They had to bring unused jeans from home and for the next 4 days we use the jeans and upcycle them to make various items.

This is Muhammad’s first time behind the sewing machine

Azman is back for the second year

Check out the focus

 Day 1, 2nd May 2018. Project: Simple reversible sling bag

Day 2, 3 May 2018. Project: Reversible Sunhat

Day 3, 4 May 2018. Project: Simple Pencil Pouch

Day 4: 5 May 2018; Project: Faux Midori aka Zidori.

Thank you Learning Oasis Principal; Puan Muthla, coordinator; Hamizatun, primary teachers, Teacher Nurul and Teacher Ain and the primary children, Muhammad, Azman, Eric, Batrisya and Aqilah for making my time at Learning Oasis an enjoyable one.

Kelas Telekung at Laman Seni ZilaKasim

Just a quick announcement. I’m organising a Telekung Class at Laman Seni Zilakasim on Saturday, 31 March 2018. It’s been a while since I last conduct a Telekung Class and in view of the coming Ramadhan, I felt it’s high time I organise one. 

This class is meant for Advanced Beginner to Intermediate level. Meaning, you should have solid basics in machine sewing. It’s not a beginner’s class. The fees includes a Telekung Kit:

• 2.5m white material for telekung
• 4.5m white lace for embellishment
• Paper template
• notes

Lunch is also provided during the class.

Past students who wish to come for a refresher class, the class is open for you at a much cheaper fees ie RM50 to cover for the studio rental and lunch. However you have to bring your own materials. Whatsapp me if you wish to come for a refesher class.

Having said that, here’s a checklist of the things you need to bring to class:

• Sewing machine. If you want to rent one, the fee is RM20. Please let me know so I can book the sewing machine for you and it is subject to availability. So, first come first served.
• Sewing tools eg. measuring tape, marking tools, scissors, white thread, etc.

To register, you can go to to my Estore. I’ve added this class in the Workshop subcategory. You can click here to register.

April 2016 Round-up

So many things to write about, so little time. I’ve a Blogger apps on my Iphone but couldn’t blog with my 2 fingers on a small screen. I need a proper keyboard to blog. So, pardon me for a back-log on a series of events that has taken place.

Fabric Fiesta at Spotlight, The Mines on Saturday, 2 April 2016
For the demo sesion, I did a paper piecing patchwork sample and an owlie plushie. I also offered classes for the whimsical teacup mugrug (paper-piecing technique) and owlie plushie for an attractive offer of RM30 per project for the whole month April.

Abby of SarangCraft by Abby came to say hello :)

Photo-session with Abby and her troop and Zee from Spotlight

 Arts & Crafts Guild Malaysia 23rd Annual General Meeting, Sunday, 10 April 2016

This marks my 3rd year with ACG. We had the meeting at D7, Sentul East. Thank you Ben Toh and Ellie Ng for hosting the venue. As usual, lots of fun catching up with friends of similar interest. Good food and lots of sharing. An event I always look forward to every year. To find out more about ACG, go here.

Our customary gift swap tradition. I got this beautiful box decorated with life-like rose made out of clay by Scila of Creative Beads & Claycraft. Check out her Facebook page here and her IG here to find out more about her classes and activities.

Knitting & Sewing Class at Spotlight, The Mines, Saturday 16 April 2016

Scenes from my class. I had 2 new knitters that day. Dona and a family friend, Sheera. I know Sheera since she was knee high and now she’s a mommy to a cute toddler and taking up knitting :)

This is Annabel who’s mommy signed her up to make the Owlie Plushie. Her first time using the sewing machine and she did brilliantly :)

 Knitting Workshop at West Court Level 3, The Mines, 17 April 2016

It was a fun day. A lot of beginners giving a hand on knitting and some of my regular students turned up too. Free yarn was given away for Knit-A-Scarf challenge. 

Nothing unmanly for a man to pick up knitting needles and knit :)

Prize-Giving Ceremony for the Knitting Workshop Challenge, West Court Level 3, The Mines, Sunday, 24 April 2016

Happy faces with their prize-winning scarves and prizes. Thank you Spotlight The Mines for organizing and sponsoring the event. :)

 First Knitting Class at Spotlight IPC, Tuesday 26 April 2016

 I am so very humbled when I received a Whatsapp convo from Edith. She has kept my flyer from Spotlight Ampang Point for 2 years intending to learn to knit. She was asking if I could come to Spotlight IPC and teach there. I was happy to and immediately requested permission from Spotlight IPC management. They gave me the green light and we had a date. Edith is such a pleasant lady to work with and a fast learner too. So calling to all who wants to learn knitting, I am available for class at Spotlight IPC on Tuesdays. Whatsapp or text me at 012-2038117 to arrange for class.

Sew Savvy Workshop At Learning Oasis

I have been busy working with a group of teenagers last week (30 March 2015-3 April 2015) in a sewing workshop I dubbed "Sew Savvy Workshop". The theme of the workshop is "upcycle" where they upcycle old denim into something usable. 

There was a total of 11 participants for the workshop and I put together a sewing kit pouch for each of them to get them started.

The first day of the class, they get to explore the sewing machine hands on and did a series of practise sheets on paper. I am glad to report that they found it interesting and fun finding their way around the machine.

Day 2 of the workshop, I had a flat tyre episode on a 3 lane highway. It was very scary to be stuck by the roadside with cars zooming past you while waiting for help to come. Alhamdulillah, a highway patrol rider came and help me change the tyre. Thank you Encik Yusuf for the assistance. May Allah give you ease in your daily affairs.

Day 3 and 4 went like a blur because the participants has already started on their project. We had penny board bag project, drawstring backpack, owlie purse and sunglasses pouch going on all at the same time. 

Oh, there were boys too in the workshop and they can actually handle the machine quite well as some of them are currently taking driving lessons. Controlling the speed of the machine with the food pedal was easy for them and they can stitch up pretty decent straight lines on the practise sheet.

As we wind down for the last day of the workshop, I managed to take a few selfies with some of them and their finished work. 

I love every moment working with this wonderful group of youngsters. I learned a lot from them and enjoy seeing the light  in their eyes as we put together their project and see how everything falls together. The icing on the cake was they immediately wear the bags that they made.

The 5 day journey has come to a great end but it's not the end. It's just a beginning as the principal of the centre is keen to have the sewing workshop as a once a week after school project following a favorable response from the participants. Alhamdulillah. That would keep me busy and help fill my umrah funds, InsyaAllah. 

Mug Caddy

 

I don't know about you but my mug collection has somehow expanded over the years and I have more than I need. So I thought I'd upcycle them for Teacher's Appreciation gifts. While browsing Pinterest for ideas, I stumbled upon this cute mug caddy idea and fell in love with it.

I looked up for free tutorial online and put two and two together and came out with my own version. It's a quick project and you can whip one up in under an hour. i made two!

It's so fun to make so I put together with another quick project as a beginner's project to learn. I haven't blog about me teaching sewing at Spotlight Ampang Point since last October. That will be in another post. Back to my story; if you would like to learn to make this cute mug caddy plus a quilt as you go option of a purse or a hotpad, book a class with me. Details are on the poster below:

I have students coming from outside Klang Valley and I am humbled by their enthusiam to learn and willingness to travel the distance. Not many are aware that I do private classes too. If you can gather a group of friends together, I charge a nominal travelling fee to come and conduct the class at your convenience. Just drop me a line to discuss your requirements with me.

CARIF Be Frank Pink Aprons

I took up the most of May to complete 30 pieces of aprons for CARIF (Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation) for their Be Frank Outreach Hairdressers Programme. This is the second year where I was given the honour to collaborate with them on this project. Do check out their list of hairdressers participating in this programme and improve public cancer literacy here: www.carif.com.my

Here’s some of the pictures I took throughout the process of making the aprons. Running a production line single handed is tough and you have to find creative ways not to bored. I break up the process in small steps so that I can handle things one day at a time. 

First, it was the embroidery process. This time, I appliquéd ‘Be Frank’ logo to the apron. A good friend of mine, Gee RMS digitised the logo for me. Visit her page on Facebook if you wish for some digitising work done: https://www.facebook.com/sulamandanlogo. Though the machine does most of the work, I had to be nearby to change the thread and cut off the excess material for the appliqué. To embroider one logo, it took me 20-25 minutes, that is if there’s no hiccups ie. run out of bobbin thread, top thread snapped etc. Thank God there was just 2 thread colours to change.

The finished embroidery process:

I made my own bias tape with Simplicity Bias Tape Maker. This nifty gadget is heaven sent when I have to make yards and yards of bias tape. It took me like seconds to make 10-12 yards of bias tape and on average one apron require approximately 1 yard of bias tape. That means I made 30 yards of tape for this whole project.

Close up of the finished product:

All set and ready to go:

If you go to CARIF website, you’d see the first batch of the aprons worn by the hairdressers. I did those too :)

Do check out their other programmes too. There’s one I had in mind to sign up after the school break: “More than a Mammo” programme where you get a mammogram done at a subsidised fee of RM50 at Sime Darby Medical Centre (normal fee RM230). 

Arwen’s Peasant Dress

Yeay! I managed to take this off my ‘To sew list’. I’ve been meaning to do thing after I saw the tutorial by Maya. It’s just that today I have a reason. Tomorrow we have a wedding reception to attend and I wanted to take my daughter in something that I made. I only have a few hours so the peasant dress just fits the time frame.

It’s my first girl’s dress with designer cotton. It’s All My Heart by Robert Kaufman which I recently bought from Etsy. I found a matching green fat quarter, just enough for the contrast on the sleeves and bottom frills. It’s by Moda.

Other than finding the width of the frill is a little narrow (I made it 3” wide, it should never be less than 4”), I’m happy with how it turned out. But then again, it’s all I can spare with a fat quarter.

Will see if I can snap some pictures with Arwen in it.

All in one

I’ve a few things to update so I’m going to put everything in one entry. First, Arwen’s first smocked romper from AE&E magazine. There’s supposed to be some bullion roses but I’m too lazy to add it on. So, it’s going to be as is.

Close up view of the smocking.

Last saturday, managed to shop at Nagoya, Wangsa Maju. The pink stipey fabric is for Danial’s baju melayu. Pretty much set on pink/terra cotta colour theme for this year’s baju raya. The plain fabrics are lycra for my tudung. I’ll put up the extras for sale.

Japanese cotton for another smocking project perhaps...

Yesterday, I got this in the mail. It’s my ‘jarum mas’ courtesy of Rimbun. Thank you :)

My cotton baju kurung. It’s been ages since I sew my own baju kurung. Still have no guts to cut ‘kain licin’ so I made do with cotton.  The kain is also ready. Just have to make the shoulder pads and sew the hook on the kain. 

Sewing Room reopen and my peasant blouse

Danial and Ami Shahril testing his new toy

My brother came back for a short break from Singapore and I had to clear my sewing room for him. It was his room before he moved to Singapore to join SIA. So, my sewing room was temporarily closed. Today, he checked out of Hotel Putrajaya and checked in Hotel Setiawangsa (my mom’s) and I was itchy to sew something.

I found a tutorial for an adult peasant blouse here and made my template a couple of nights ago. So, this is the result:

I had to make the sleeves into 3/4 sleeves as I ran out of fabric. I don’t know what got into me when I bought the fabric. Red is hardly my colour. In fact this is my first red blouse.