Hey friends! I did some super bamf boy sewing for the next episode of One Thimble (issue 15!) and somehow my tastes gravitated toward two super cute patterns that is included in this issue - both happen to be Thread Faction patterns! #116 is a really gorgeous cardigan with a deep v at the front, and #115 is a BERET. oh my gosh guys, it's so cute. You should see Eddie in it too.



At first Vin thought the hat was a bit crazy, I mean he's never seen a beret before (i feel terrible about this) but after a few moments of wearing it he acknowledged that he did look pretty damn cute in it. The beret is such a simple sew and comes in thirteen sizes (!!) from newborn to adult. I was looking at cute berets for inspiration right before I realised this pattern was going to be available in One Thimble so I'm pretty excited to make some more! (fake fur, kitty/bear ears, the ones with that traditional little worm-thing in the center ;) ) The instructions for the thread faction beret include how to make a variety of pompoms (i love the fake fur idea) - however I just made a traditional little pompom with some black wool.



The beret is such a super quick sew and looks so good, it's a perf little accessory to whip up whenever you need that something extra (usually i sew up slouch beanies but i think berets are going to be the new thing for me! I'm going to make a soft black leather one next!)


Thread Faction #116 is a cardigan with a deep v front and yes it's another super quick sew! I hacked up two shirts from my stash and used the ribbing along the bottom of one of them to do the ribbing of the entire cardi. Totally awesome upcycling project, and I love how the stripes went together too! It's so slinky and soft, vince LOVES this cardi so much (he wore it to play soccer with his friends later that afternoon ahha).

I added a little studded shoulder pauldron/spaulder on one of the sleeves, for literally no reason other than it was my ~vision~ for this cardi, and I wanted an additional colour in there (the beret was going to be either red or purple but I went with red after adding the details to the cardigan).


I've added similar little *flaps* (i call them pauldrons even though they come from the edge of the shoulder instead of going over the entire shoulder) on several of vin's shirts over the years. Never ever two, just the one, and I have visions of making a super spiky jewelled one on  a harness to wear over the top of things with chains and such *-*


Across the back I reverse appliqued the name of Vin's fav song (ironically it just came up on my playlist as I write this???? :o ) which is kind of funny because it looks like vin has a plea for help across his back but honestly he LOVES it so much, SO MUCH. The reverse appliquing i wasn;t so sure was going to turn out with script but it totally did! I sketched out the words on a piece of paper then traced it onto some interfacing before ironing the interfacing onto the red fabric. Then i pinned it across the back of Vin's new cardi and started stitching across the lines.

Turned out so dope, I'm stoked with it!

Both these patterns are available in One Thimble, issue 15, as well as a host of other patterns you can see in the pic below! The Metro slim fit blazer is NEXT on my to-sew list for Vin and I'm pretty pumped about getting that under my little presser foot o3o Check out all those patterns though, that's pretty much three outfits plus accessories included :o And that's just the patterns. Honestly if you haven't flicked through an issue of OT you're really missing out, there's so much good stuff in there!



I have to leave you with my little model, he loves posing for me so much and just does his own thing half the time. Amazing. Hes eight on sunday, can you believe it? As you read this post he's also on his way to Uluru with his grandparents. This kid has the best life haha.

Surprise, I'm pregnant?


I totally didn't really make a big announcement anywhere that I finally fell pregnant with our third little babe so this will be it for this here blog, okay? Nope, don't know the gender, Yep, i'm going for a VBAC after two c sections and yeh there's only like 2.5 months left and I don't really have any decent special maternity photos.

Whoops!


Suddenly, of course, when I started growing bigger and bigger, i became super inspired to start sewing for myself. And I have and I need to blog them but you know, it's super hard to sew for yourself when you're a super weird shape! And all I want is COMFORTABLE clothing that is soft and easy to wear and doesn't make me feel sick because it's too tight or constricting. I mean, no one ever wants that with their clothes but I can't even wear my cute leggings anymore because the waistbands are too low. I've literally been living in pj pants from kmart i've been pulling off as jogger pants ;)

Or maybe everyone knows they're PJs and they just don't question me anymore with my fashion choices haah.


Sewing for myself is hard, I don't really have fabrics in my stash that I love overly much for clothing for myself, and most of my muse is making rad gear for Vin and Ed. Plus, it's easier and faster to sew for children. Sideseams are so much shorter ahah.

Also I have come to realise that while I'm such a big fan of pastel colours right now, when sewn up in a dress they're just going to look like a hospital gown since I look SUPER pregnant in them.

HOWEVER. After wiggling my way into the Amuse Boho dress blog tour and realising that while in my head I could make a supre beautiful and whimsicial dress, realistically my body is just going to make me look like a giant toddler or a maternity ad from the 90s.

But you know what, I made it work. Sewing up this blue version in what was labelled bamboo cotton by the op shop I scored it from (highly skeptical of the fabric content BUT), I was like, oh no I've sewn a hospital gown for myself. Sure it's going to look so damn cute when i don't have a third child growing out the front there, but I was really critical of my skills and what I had just done to myself.

I need to stop doing that and just trust that I can pull anything off, because I can.

This sweet blue denim Amuse is SO COMFORTABLE, and even though I was still sort of bummed my pregnancy was making it look ridiculous, I still sewed up a second one right away because COMFORTABLE.



Also, I mean, look at this, how damn cute is it really??

The dress comes in several lengths, from top to longer dress. I did the mini version, a little scared because the bump makes things shorter, but I love hems hitting above my knees or mid-thighs and this worked out so well. I went by my bust measurement for this, after being reassured that the gathered front would be enough for the bump, and sewed up a size L.


Perfect. The first one I didn't have enough to do longer sleeves, so I made shorter than short sleeves and I love them.

The pink one has the three-quarter sleeves with elasticated hems and WOW i've never sewn or worn a dress with this length sleeve and I don't know why because I LOVE IT. I love scrnching up my long sleeves all of the time, and this is like, super perfect for that. I also used an old pink flanno sheet for this one. It's a little pilly but it actually looks super good and is so warm and comfortable and...

I just really love it okay? I've been living in it since I sewed it *-*

There's a front yoke you can keep plain or do contrast, as you can see I did both. There's also an optional back yoke, which I did for the first version in some white broderie anglaise but I left the full back for the second version. OH and there's different options for the hems too, a straight one or a shirt hem which is the one i used on both. I just really love that curve so I always go for that option every time it's given to me.

The pattern can be sewn in both knit or woven and with no closures to have to worry about like buttons or zippers holy heck it's a quick sew? I stitched up both of these in about two hours, honestly.

Look how cute it looks with just a little jumper thrown over it too!

There is currently a code until the 14th for the Amuse Boho Dress and you can save 20% off the pattern when you enter: AMUSEME. It's by my PRAP buddy Suzanne of Winter Wear Designs! You know how proud I am of her with all her successes since we competed together, she just blows my mind with what she is capable of.


Check out the hashtag #amuseme on instagram for more versions of this dress or check out all the stops on the tour: