Get Tanked

I (embarrassingly) have had this shirt for about 10 years, and although its had a good innings as a bed shirt its really time to boot it out of my bedroom!

So what does one do with such a shirt? Refashion it into a tank for a little guy, of course!

Poor old Apex shirt has had its day...

 ...but has new life breathed into it!

I pretty much just traced an outline of an existing tank, added some ribbing to set off the text on the shirt, sewed it all up and bang! A brand new tank ready for summer.

He loves his new "soccer shirt". Not too sure where he thought that up given the big basketball on the front, but hey, he's given it a good wearing already.

I'm thinking a few more of these will be in order very soon...I can smell Spring just around the corner!

He's Got Undies on the Outside!

Its no secret around here that this kid loves a good dress up. Fireman Sam has been given the flick in favour of Superman, and man o man, Superman has just about moved in.

What started out as an innocent Superman t-shirt purchase soon turned crazy when this kid saw his first Superman movie - thanks Dad! While I'm all for a good role play and imagination building things weren't so good when the t-shirt was being worn in icy winter temps WITHOUT a jumper-slash vest-slash anything slightly warm- as it was covering up his "badge" (aka Superman logo)! Even a mere suggestion that he should put something warm over the top would prompt a tantrum of massive proportions!!

So! A plain blue jumper under the t-shirt solved this prob but now he insisted on wearing his red undies on the outside of his pants! Ha! Cute and all, but made toileting a nightmare - off with the red undies, off with the pants, off with the underneath undies! Phew.

So out came some plain blue tracky daks and some red fabric scraps which would create some faux undies! Ta da! It worked, he loves them and even lets me wash the outfit once a week. Yup, once a week. Eew. Oh well, who am I to get in the way of his massive imagination?

 Red scraps....

...plus tracky daks

= faux undies! 

Genius! Sometimes the battle just isn't worth fighting with the little people so rather than resisting, a little imagination on my part works wonders! 

Park-ready winter Superman comin' at ya! 

And just for a giggle, on that one day a week where his outfit is having a wash and he reluctantly dons plain clothes - do not dare call him Ollie - no no - "I'm Clark Kent!"

Oh bless the little people! 

Banana Pyjamas?

So I recently bought these adorable Bonds pj pants (ok, so slightly legging looking) with a guitar print and it was love at first sight for Ollie. Perhaps because he honestly believes sometimes that he IS Murray Wiggle and is obsessed with guitars.

Check those adorable ugg boots too - thanks Aunty Trace! Uggies are that much cuter when they're mini. And just in case you didn't catch that super cute guitar-adorned butt, here's an extreme close up for your viewing pleasure!

WHOA!!

Anyhoo, I was checking these out and noticed that they were simply a back & front with an elastic top and thought to myself, even I should be able to replicate these...surely?

I made a basic (even more basic than basic) pattern by laying the pants out on paper and tracing around. Then just cut out the fabric & sewed in a small zig zag stitch which I have learned helps knit fabrics keep their stretch. Voila! What do you think? I'm loving the yellow stripey thing that's going on here - most appropriate for a kid who has just discovered and LOVES Bananas In Pyjamas.

I made a rookie mistake with the ribbing on the bottom and sewed them on after I had sewed all the seams together, leaving the tiniest circular space to work through the machine.*sad face* I should have added the ribbing after sewing the middle crotch piece, and then joined them by sewing the side seams last...make sense? Lesson learned.

 Oh, and one more thing...the obligatory butt shot! 

We're Live!

Welcome to my very first post! Wow, I am totally new to blogging and am still finding my way so please bear with me. I have recently stumbled upon some fabulous projects in blog land and am super duper keen to try my hand at so many of them! This blog is my way of making sure I set aside some 'me time' to give these projects a red hot go - you see, if I have to post, I have to sew! 

I am by no means a professional, in fact if anything I would describe myself as a bit of a hack sewer. But that's ok. In a few weeks I'll be taking some lessons with my girl JM, but until then I'll continue on my merry way making things up as I go along. 

Here's a little peek at a project I am IN LOVE with! Its so easy even for non-sewers and, might I add, completely addictive. Its the 90 minute shirt from Dana Made It.

I made this one last summer....

...and more recently this one.

What makes these babies even sweeter is that they were made from brand new thrifted shirts that cost only $1 each! Gotta love that. 

Did  I also mention that I am seriously lacking in photography skills?