Last week's dyeing

Last Tuesday I had a huge dyeing day. I dyed silks, dresses, skirts and muslins.

Silk Scarves/Playsilks

Rainbow Dyed Olivia Dress

Tie Dye Jule Spiral Hoodie

The Jule hoodie came about because I had some extra fabric after prewashing. I was trying to figure out what to do with the extra fabric that I had left, and I decided that a Jule would be quite cute dyed up. I love the spiral hood on this top. I left off the pocket detail as those kinds of things get lost with the dyeing. I lettuce edged the hem and sleeves.

So I began to sew

This is because of Nancy's blog post.

My mother sewed. She didn't sew lots of my clothes because for most of my early childhood my father worked for a small department store as a buyer, so we always were able to get clothes at a discount. My mom sewed for pleasure. It was her hobby. I remember going to fabric stores with her and looking through pattern books. My mom made my prom dress. She also made me a dress to wear to a friend's debutante ball which I then spewed all over after drinking innumerable drinks. Thank goodness it was after we'd left the ball. But I digress...

As a teen I began to sew. I only made a few things because I wasn't patient. Also a failure put me off for a while. That failure did teach me to preshrink fabric and to go by the measurements on the pattern for sizing as opposed to your size in RTW. I was really disappointed when my shirt dress didn't fit. And I had done all those buttonholes down the front!

For some odd reason after I moved to Australia I wanted to sew. I borrowed my mother-in-law's machine and made a skirt and pants. Skirt was great. Pants, not so great, but that was my fault...fabric choice.

My grandmother passed away, and I was left some money. I thought that I should buy a sewing machine with some of that money. Not that my grandmother sewed, but that she would have approved of such a practical purchase. I didn't sew much with that machine until I had my daughter. And strangely I am not even sure what made me start sewing for her because between me, my mother, my aunt and my sister, Moo was one of the best dressed kids around. I know the first couple of things that I made for her were just for fun.

When I was pregnant with Will, I was retrenched (laid off) from my job. It was a blessing as I was bored with my job and I received a payout. At that point I decided I would spend a year doing creative things as I knew I would be mostly busy with a newborn and had no intention of looking for a new job. I started dyeing more and sewing simple things like aprons and blankets which I dyed.

Then one day a friend mentioned these patterns, Farbenmix. She had seen some ladies on a forum make some outfits from them. She was going to order some, but only wanted a couple and since more could fit in a flat rate envelope, she asked if I wanted to get any. So I ordered Hermosa, Lunada and Redondo. I didn't love my initial creation, but the fit was good. The lack of love really had to do with my fabric choices. At that point I hadn't discovered the amazing array of fabrics on the net, nor had I discovered Klickundblick.Then I subscribed to Ottobre, and my conversion to being a Euro-pattern-loving girl was complete. I had finally found patterns that were fun and fit well, and I've never looked back. Now I have a stash, notions galore and four machines.

Some of my fave creations

Laguna Skirt with Ottobre top

Feliz dress from Farmers Market fabrics

Ottobre Hug t-shirt & Misty skirt

And then I've had great fun with Farbenmix patterns and dyeing.

Tie Dyed OliviaRainbow Redondo

Tie Dye Quiara

I have even made myself a few things that I will actually wear. Thankfully Farbenmix patterns for women go up to XXL!

I have met some fabulous people through sewing. There is such a great crafting community.

And I am ever thankful that Farbenmix & Studio Tantrum allow the use of their patterns for individuals to make things to sell. This has helped me to support my sewing and fabric addiction.

To iron or vacuum?

Vacuuming won. The floor is a much better place for it. I was going iron the things I dyed yesterday, but decided if I had to look at the filthy floor one more day, I was going to lose it. I really do prefer to work on my craft, but it had gone on too long. It is amazing how vacuuming the floor can make a huge difference!

Pictures of yesterday's dyeing will be coming soon, but I have pictures from last week when I dyed some organic cotton rib knit and some cotton elastane knit. The cotton elastane knit was an accident, but it was a happy accident. I've dyed 6 pieces, each one the colour of the rainbow. I have an idea for this fabric, but I have to find time. I have a market on Saturday, so I have been busy with preparations for that and custom orders from my lovely customers.

Here's the organic rib knit
Here are some shirts made from the dyed rib knit. I made a couple of shirts for one friend's baby and a shirt and a pair of pants for another friend.

And the cotton elastane knit

And the winner is...

Wooohoooo Kylie!

Miss Moo was a bit perplexed by all this writing of names and picking one, but she was a helpful assistant. She even let me use the super sparkly pen that I bought her today at Mathilda's Markets. At the markets we stopped by to say hi to Ingrid and met Ingrid's lovely friend, Cass, who was sharing the stall. I have to admit that I went to the markets on a mission to see if it would be worthwhile for me to have a stall there in the future.

Silk Flannel Blankets

I started to write this post, but then I thought that I should dye some fabric to make some baby gifts then come back and write this post. First I cut the fabric. Then I discovered that I hadn't been paying attention and I cut the wrong fabric. No worries have a plan for other fabric. Then cut the correct fabric. Then set them up to dye. So now as they are sitting, I write this 2.5 hours later.

This style of silk & flannel blanket is one of the first willow & moo items. The first one ever made was for Moo. One side of the blanket is a super soft silk. The other side is nice and cuddle flannel. They are dyed with low water immersion to give that mottled look. I purposefully use pastel colours as it's soothing for babies. These three blankets were made for a woman who had purchased two blankets from me previously. I love repeat customers.

Here's the pink/violet blanket


Here's a turquoise/violet blanket

I also made a turquoise and blue blanket, but I didn't take a picture before I gave it to my friend. I was so excited that I'd finally dyed it.

GIVEAWAY! Mamu Design Christina Pattern

Here's the deal. Leave me a comment, and you're in the draw for this pattern. It is brand new, never been opened. Truth is that I accidentally bought two of these babies. Rather than sell the second copy, I'd like to give it to a reader of my blog. I will post worldwide.

The Christina pattern looks like heaps of fun too. So many possibilities for embellishment and a super simple design. It is both a girl's pattern (size 74-140) and woman's pattern (size 32-46).

The giveaway ends 15/11 at midnight AEST. I will have my assistant Miss Moo draw a name out of a hat.

Felt Flower Frenzy

Done and posted! Four felt flower crowns destined for Spiral Garden. If you are in search of a fabulous toy from natural materials, please do check out the beautiful Bel's shop, Spiral Garden.

Goodies for me
Lots of knit goodness. Yes, it's only solids, but lovely nice basics. Although you must know that any fabric that is white now will not be when it leaves my house! One of those rolls is a nice organic rib knit. I'm a tease and you will have to wait and see what I am going to do with it.

I didn't photograph my other two rolls from last week when I went walking through Surry Hills with two rolls of white fabric in one arm and dragging a toddler along with the other arm back to my car which was parked in front of the cafe where I was meeting my friend, Ed. My lunch was good and the coffee was rocking. I won't rant about the person who parked me in. Thankfully the person parked in front of me left 5 minutes before I needed to go.

Next to come...I finally finished the baby blanket for my friend who had a baby back in June. It's not like they've gone without a pressie. I made the little man the monkey outfit, but I just had to make him a silk flannel blanket similar to his big brother's.