Tablet covers

My children were fortunate to have been given tablets for Christmas. Both were the same, along with matching cases.
To tell them apart, and also to provide them with a little more protection, I set out to make them covers.

I used a free tutorial from Create Kids Couture, which offers instructions for cases in several different sizes for different tablets.

My only change was to replace the elastics with cotton/lycra fabric I sewed into a tube. The elastic I had on hand was either too firm or much too narrow.

These work quite well, and my only addition will be to pop a velcro dot on the back of the tablet for added security.

Simple Skirts

For a number of girly gifts lately, I have made Simple Skirts using the tutorial on the DanaMadeIt blog.
In simple terms, you use the full width of fabric - sew a side seam, hem and casing for elastic. Done!

These are a quick project, and are a nice way to showcase some pretty fabric.

Teacher gifts - Infinity Scarves

As we reach the end of the school year, I needed to come up with an idea for a teacher gift.

After to-ing and fro-ing on a few ideas, I settled on infinity scarves. I considered doing a lightweight cotton one as we are coming into Summer, but then decided I would go with a wool one and have it as a Winter gift that actually gets used!

I found a fairly straightforward tutorial on the H is for Handmade blog. The only change I made was to make the initial width 20" rather than the suggested 22", and was thus able to get three scarves out of my length of fabric.

I came across a really nice suit weight 100% wool in nuetral tones that seemed to really suit the styles of both teachers I was gifting to.

Modelled by 'Fred the Head'

Hot Patterns Martini Jacket

I have had the HP Martini Jacket pattern for a while, but was undecided on fabric. I could see this being a really solid piece in my wardrobe.

Well my idea of a neutral colour went out the window when I found 'the' fabric. A gorgeous poly/viscose fabric with a quilted look and a large floral printed on it.
I wasn't thinking of the conundrum of pattern matching and other such trifles - I just had to have it!

I spent a while just staring at the fabric, trying to decide the best way to cut it out, so that the pattern at least looked like I had endevoured to match up some of it. In the end, I only had to re-cut one side front piece that didn't look quite right.

The pattern pieces went together well, and the instructions were one of the earlier Hot Patterns, so more a suggested order of construction and no diagrams. This was generally fine for me, though not necessarily suitable for a beginner.
I only had to refer to a reference book for a little help on the shawl collar as this was not a technique I had come across before. Now that I understand how this is meant to go, the instructions were fine.

I ended up pressing all my seam allowances open, and then binding them with rayon seam binding. I used this tutorial by Laura Mae of the blog, Lilacs and Lace.
The fabric has a spongy texture, so I ended up also topstitching all my seam allowances down after they were bound, and then went mad and also bound all the edges of my facings too. I think it looks really nice, but wow, it took a lot longer!!

I also found the perfect buttons at Made on Marion - thanks Maryanne!

I am so pleased with how the pattern came out, and my fabric choice - my only disappointment was that it is just a tiny bit tight through the shoulders... aaargh!
On the upside, I found more of the fabric in the Fabric Warehouse pop-up sale, so after I have re-made this in the next size up (in different fabric) to check for better fit, I am TOTALLY making this again in this fabric.