Summer Indian Dress - Toddler

 Hello Crafters,

My mum made this cute summer Indian dress for Little "S"

Its sleeveless Punjabi dress (North Indian dress) made of pure cotton.

 

I would like to tell you a little secret about this dress ( its made from my Old Punjabi dress Salwar) Yeah I was bored of wearing this punjabi dress , so decided to upscale it. 

Using only the salwar (pants) of my dress this whole costume could be made.Plus our little one liked it too...

What do you do when you get bored of particular accessories or clothing? do you upcyle or restyle it ?

Share your projects with me..

Happy crafting

Akshaya 

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Upcycled Craft - Sweater Tote Bag

Closer Look

I have recently turned in to a true PINTEREST  :)... Checking out the new cute photos on the PINTEREST site is my new addiction (after facebook) ...and I have got the bug of making every article from the free tutorials it offers!

This is the Sweater bag I made from the tutorials posted on the site 

I loved the clear instructions written in the tutorial  and also wanted to do something different with my old sweater other than (hand mittens and phone covers and heat bags) 

I also recycled the wooden handles of the old rattan bag sold at Op Shop for $2.00. 

Back Side

Where do you get your craft fix from everyday? Are you a Pinterest too? 

Happy Pining - 

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Recycled Quilt - 1st Quilt

 Sharing our first Quilt experience with you all. 

front view

This quilt is made by me and my mum for my daughter S.  The quilt is suitable for kids single bed and cosy to provide warmth in the cool winter nights. 

Rajasthani motif - elephant

We made this quilt over a year ago when the quilt bug got to us! We decided to use all the fabrics lying around the house to learn the ropes of trade. We followed step-by-step quilter's guide in making this quilt. 

Little One - S

 I personally never expected this project to turnout even up to use able standards let alone sharing on the blog! But when I showed it to our little one , she absolutely loved it and was frolicking on it for good 30 minutes.... so I decided to capture this moment and share with my blogdost (blog friends)

Closer Look

 Materials used: 

1. Queen bed fitted bedspread(chequered blue)
2. Cotton skirt with rajasthani print 
3. Brother Sewing machine
4. Fabrics scraps as wadding 
5. Spare acrylic wool to made woollen lace
6. crochet needle
   

 Process:

1. Cut out triangles and squares with various motifs from the Rajasthani Block Print Skirt 
2. Washed these swatches before stiching them to blue fabric strips. 
3. Joined the blue strips with chequered strips 
4. Cutout one continuous rectangle from the bedspread to work as backing. 
5. Sandwiched various fabrics scraps (cotton only) in between as wadding. 
6. Pinned all the three layers and sew straight lines at equal distance with sewing machine( this was tricky part as the scraps were of various lenghts and thicknesses) 
7. Attached bias strips from the remaining blue cloth from the bedspread. 
8. Using spare wool crocheted small lace with double crochet and attached it to the blue rectangles with hand sewing

   

   Back side

   
   

Things we learnt: This was very steep learning curve for us. 

1. Always use polyester or cotton wadding material rather than fabrics scraps for big quilts (as stiching fabric scraps is time consuming)
2. Consider seam allowance while cutting the various pieces 
3. Never be ashamed of your projects :D

   

   proudly stored in little one's room

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Happy Quilting !

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A-Line Frock for Toddler

front side

Hello Friends! 

Finally there's one tick in our "to do list" for this year!

My mum made this dress for S recently.Yes its the same Ikea fabric used in this project as I mentioned in my previous post here

back side - close-up

I am super impressed with the dress. The fabric is really thick makes it perfect for layering in autumn weather! 

back side

Also the dandelion pattern makes my girl look tall and very adorable.

The dress is very easy to wear for toddlers (especially the ones who love dress by themselves) as there's only one press button at the back 

and simple belt to tie at the back. 

Seeing a big grin on S face made the efforts worthwhile for the proud Granny!

Happy crafting! 

(Please contact me if you would like to custom make a similar dress for your little one )

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Recycled T-Shirt Bag

 I made this no sew bag from an illfitted T-Shirt lying around the house. I referred to this tutorial online for step-by-step guide. 

Making such bags is not time consuming and just needs basics skills. Also its a great bag for carrying groceries and library books.

I am still trying to upload a closer pic of the bag filled with goods:(

Happy crafting !

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Shabby to Chic - Broad Rim Hat

Hello Crafters~

My mum came up with this new idea of up scaling S old frock in to a chic Broad Rim Hat. I learnt recently that she made one for me when I was young :) 

Materials used: 

• Old frock (Umbrella shaped frocks are suitable for this pattern)
• White cotton twine
• Crochet needle 3mm
• 1 pearl button
• sewing thread n needle
• Elastic 5mm wide

Final Look :D (Little S)

Time: 1 day

Process: 

• Preparing the fabric: 

1. Remove the torso of the frock and separate the flowing umbrella fabric. 
2. Usually there are two parts of fabric joined to make the umbrella shape, remove these joints altogether and also remove the inner lining of cotton 
3. Place two semi circle fabrics flat on the ground to make a circle. Pin the fabric ends and sew together leaving 1 cm seam allowance. 
4. This will create a small whole in the centre. 

•  Crochet the inner circle

1. Button hole stitch this inner circle with white twine. 
2. First Round: Insert half treble crochet stitch in each button hole
3. Second Round: Insert half treble crochet in five chain and skip one chain. Repeat till end
4. Third round: Insert half treble crochet in four chains and skip one chain. Repeat till end
5. Fourth Round: Insert half treble crochet in three chains and skip one chain. Repeat till end
6. Fifth Round: Insert half treble crochet in two chains and skip one chain. Repeat till end
7. Sixth round: Insert half treble crochet in 1 chain and skip one chain. Repeat till end.
8. Repeat round six till the circle is filled and bind off the stitches to close the circle.

Preparing the button flower

1. On a new thread, crochet 5 chains to make a circle. 
2. Insert 10 single crochets in the hole to make a small flower. 
3. Attach the round in the centre of the crochet circle. 
4. Attach pearl button in the crochet round to create a flower. 

Attaching the elastic: 

1. Elastic should measure 4cm less than the actual size of the head circumference
2. Draw a circle at a distance of 10cm away from the outer edges of the fabric
3. Attach elastic on this circle.
4. The 10cm left on the outer edges of the fabric forms the rim of the hat.

 Tips:

1. Starch the end product to give some firmness to the hat
2. If using lining then hide the elastic between the lining and the outer fabric to give finished look

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Crochet Dress - Toddler

finished look 1

Hello Friends,

I was busy making this dress for past two weeks for S (I was not ignoring my blog)

It was Makar Sankranti ( bhogi/ pongal) Indian festival on 15th Jan 2012. Traditionally we wear black coloured dress on this day and give Tilgul ( sesame snaps) to our friends and relatives. 

Frock Body-Closer look

closer look at the button/belt section

Embroidery on the frill

Materials used: 

• Black Fabric from old skirt 
• Cotton thread black and pink
• 2 pink buttons
• Sewing needle

Time: 10 days working 1 hour each day on the project.

Process: 

1. Add button stitch all around the fabric (at top end)
2. Start Single Crochet stitch in each button hole
3. After 2 lines of single crochet, start new colour thread and make bobble crochet in every alternate chain
4. Add single crochet in the next line.
5. Using black thread try to reduce the circumference of the work by inserting half crochet in every third chain. 
6. Ensure the finished circumference matches the finished width required. ( any adjustment can be made at this stage)
7. Repeat this row till the required width is completed. 
8. For the back, leave 10 chains from both side. These will form the arms of the dress. 
9. The chains remaining in between should be crocheted with half crochet. 
10. Decrease two chains from both ends after every second line, until 12 chains are reduced.
11. Bind off the work. using pink colour thread use 6 chains from both ends to form 2 belts. 
12. Measure the length required for the belt and add button hole five lines before binding off. 
13. Add buttons in the front of the body 
14. Iron the work to give a finished look

Tip: Try the dress on toddler before starting belts, so to ensure everything is right and also get exact measurement for belts

finished look 2

Enhancements: Add crochet flowers with fancy buttons in the front to enhance the look.  

Happy Crafting! Awaiting your response

Little S modelling the dress

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Easy Craft - Felt Owl!

making sure the pattern and felt pieces match

I recently came across this simple free pattern from Articles Sew Simple site. I created this owl from the same pattern. Its quick and easy hope you'll will like it. 

Please download the pattern from the link above.

Materials: Two contrast colour felt pieces, Suitable colour Cotton Embroidery thread, Thick Embroidery needle, 2 black buttons(small size), small piece of ribbon

back side and front side

Process:

1.  Cut out the various body parts from the pattern
2. Place the various body parts on the felt and pin it together. Cut the felt pieces as mentioned.Tip: Cut body, Eyes, beak and foot pattern in same colour felt. Use contrast colour felt for pupil, face and tummy pattern
3.  Stick the face, tummy, eyes, pupil and beak with craft glue on front side of the body. (use glue sparingly) Stitch all parts with running stitch using  the embroidery thread. Use thick and bold coloured thread so it stands out. (stitches should be even and small in sizes)
4. Stitch the black buttons for perfect eyes with a black thread. 
5. Using Blanket Stitch cover the outline of the four feet's. This will stop the frail edges and give a finished look
6. Stitch the hands to the back side of the body and the feet to the front side of the body. Use matching thread for this stitch so it's not visible in the final product 

   

   Blanket Stitch

   

   pattern vs final product

7. Match the felt pieces with the pattern cut out as shown below. This will ensure you have all the pieces in right places.
8. Stick the backside and front side of the owl's body using a blanket stitch. 
9. Keep a small opening near the feet, so as to fill in the wadding. 
10. Close the end with blanket stitch or running stitch. 
11. Stick some fancy ribbon on the top as a hook. I thought of adding hook after completing the project.  (Tip: attach the hook to the backside of the body before stitching for more professional look)

It took me only 3 hours to complete this project on Sunday afternoon!

hanging proudly on nursery room's door

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New Project - Textiles

 Very excited to start something new in this coming year!!! Got these coulour full bold printed fabrics from IKEA few weeks ago!

Mum got some ideas about using these fabrics in making some frocks and quilts... Shall keep you guys posted about it in the New Year!

 Please throw in some ideas -About to use these fabrics

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Baby Hamper bag ----- made from recycled articles

Setting up kids nursery room was a great way of  motivating myself to come-up with new craft projects.... we would keep window shopping for few days and once we liked any product ... we would brainstorm to replicate that concept with our personal touch by recycling items found in our home.... 

This baby hamper bag is result of such brainstorming.... we used an old quilt cover and plastic hanger from some previous gift packagings and some Sponge (base) and some touch buttons :D...... with some design pattern trials we made this lovely creations....that we still use :) 

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Traditional Baby Clothes - Sewing Project

My mum loves sewing all the traditional clothes for our baby, as she did for us..... continuation of tradition :D

 

She made these beautiful Kunchies (traditional head gear for newborn babies) which are given to the newborn babies on special occasions and are made of pure silk with border print and lined with pure cotton.

Kunchi

Since in Oz my mum came across these baby singlets which were more comfortable to wear for babies than the traditional cotton wear from India ( purely due to seasonal differences).  She decided to sew a similar singlet with an old cloth lying in her sewing kit but it lacks the professional finishing but was good enough for my daughter.

 

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Beautiful Handmade Quilts for newborn Babies

 

Me and my mum made these baby quilts for my daughter..... our first attempt after reading few how-to-guides :D.... it is very satisfying art....

Colourful and coordinating simple baby quilts are adorable and you can induce many creative ideas according to your preferences. Watching your kid sleeping comfortably in an adorable creates a lifetime memory in your mind, have you got such feeling?

 

Wool and silk are the best options for crafting baby quilt in no time. These handmade baby quilts are not only affordable but create lifetime memories. You can buy these cute quilts made from any material like wool, silk, fleece, flannel and even Chenille.

Personalized baby quilts are the perfect option to gift for newborn babies or mothers-to-be. You can find many variations in choosing fabric material as well. Checkout our Quilting fabrics and panels available in our store online!



This picture was printed on my baby shower decorative ballons :D

Quilted baby animal's Noah's Arc

Our Little Girl received these quilts and hats as gift -All made of soft Cotton flanelle material

In Our second project we decided to experiment with the technique of preserving old Heirloom fabrics through Quilting process.

 We got inspired by the art of preserving old family heirloom or sweaters as tradition by quilting them.... hence we used an old pure cotton 9 yard saree as filling for this quilt.... So our girl has a piece of history that belongs to her great grandma ..which hopefully she will treasure..... The fabric used for quilting the design and covering is also from similar heirloom clothes

used an image from old greting card

This is a heritage heirloom quilt

Just crocheted all the left over wool to make this hippie style baby afghan

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