Archive for June 2020

Hi everyone!

I've got some time today while Tiny Knight #1 is at day care. Yes, don't worry I plan on getting some sewing in today too, but I thought for now I'd start with talking about the Duck Duck Goose - one of my newer favourite patterns.

I absolutely love the look of raglan T-shirts on little kids but the free pattern I had seriously did not work for my Tiny Knight. I finally decided to buy the Duck Duck Goose in the Peek-a-boo Patterns memorial day sale; and it does not disappoint.

I made this quick picture of a Raglan vs Set in sleeve *pictures from Peek-a-boo* to help show the difference between the two. As my husband says a Raglan is a "baseball" shirt. I really like Raglan's for a pattern front panel.

I know many people claim that Peek-a-boo is a "quick and dirty" pattern company. While I don't like that term, I am some-what inclined to agree. Now, let me tell you, this isn't a bad thing! Especially for a novice sewer like me.

What I like is that Peek-a-boo patterns are basic and simple.I find their instructions easy to follow and they've taught me a trick or two I can now apply to other items as I sew.

I say I agree because they're not tailored made or to specific measurements; but for a baby/toddler does it need to be?

Let the number of peek-a-boo patterns I love speak for themselves! (I haven't found one I haven't liked yet- Never regretted a PAB purchase)

The Duck Duck Goose pattern provides a number of options (I'm all about pattern versatility!).

Here's the first few Duck Duck Gooses? Geese? DDG T-Shirts I've made:

Yes, I love matching the boys, but look- this is branching out a bit haha with the reverse colours for the body and sleeves.

This awesome coloured camo fabric is from For Fabric Sake (NZ company).

The neck hole is admittedly a tiny bit tight for the smallest Knight so next time I modified it a bit.

Next up I wanted to try the cute bodysuit option. This time I wanted to create an opening option - without the extra work of completing a placket (I know the pattern has instructions for this, but I was feeling lazy and creative!)

To do this I just cut some fabric strips 2" wide and long enough to cover the length of the arm/front seam. I treated this like the placket I'd learning to sew thanks to the Declan (also by peek-a-boo). I sewed from the front pieces right sides together down one side of my placket piece, then folded this over a piece of grosgrain ribbon (to give strength for the snaps) then zigzag stitched this to the inside seam allowance. Next time I'll try photograph the steps for a tutorial.

I really love this one! and look- I made myself one to match (mine is the Neighbourhood Raglan from Rad Patterns).

This amazing fabric is from Backstitch - which is notoriously hard to get due to limited runs and importation costs!

Finally I have this super-dooper cute collection made with Peter Rabbit fabric from Ellbee Fabric (NZ company).

I used a size 3T for the pink ,9m for the white and 6m for the green.

With the green I actually cut two fronts. This worked out really well as the tight neck-hole was eliminated. When doing the sleeves I just cut the sleeve on the fold from the front only (I matched armpit points to mark where the fold needs to be).

I've got many more of these planned! Including one with an actual front placket.... Which one's your favourite!!?

Like always, if you do sew up this pattern be sure to tag me so I can see your beautiful creations!

you can buy this pattern here.

*Some links in my blog posts are affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you purchase through these links. There is no additional cost to you.

Here's a quick tutorial for how I gathered the front of the Kairuku skirt.

After cutting the long front piece (for rouching) *pink*, and a standard size front piece (to act as a lining) *Grey*; I stitched a straight stitch down both sides of the rouched (pink) front piece. I used a straight stitch on the longest length a bit looser than I'd usually use.

I then pinned the front rouched piece to the lining piece. First I found the centre of both pieces by folding and lined up the middle and pinned. I also put my pin about one inch from the end as this will be hemmed and I don't need to gather this part.

Now I work with just the pink fabric, using the grey lining to check the measurement.

Then I gently pulled the bobbin thread sliding the pink fabric along the thread. (This is tricky to photograph)

you can see from this shot that I'm sliding the fabric with one hand while gently putting the bobbin thread with the other hand.

I actually only gather one half at a time, stopping when i get to the pin marking the middle of the front piece.

I use the grey fabric to check the length. In this photo you can see the pink is gathered more than the grey fabric so I pulled the gathers to lengthen them a bit to match the length (second photo below).

Once I've got the right length I tie both the bobbin and top thread in a knot to secure the gathers.

I then pin along the gathered front and lining piece, spacing the gathers out as I go.

I flip it around and do the same along the other half of the front piece.

Here's how it now looks once the whole side is pinned.

Then I stitch the gathered front to the lining piece.

and, treat the front (gathered and lining) pieces as one piece while I complete the rest of the skirt. Here is a photo of the centre front pinned to the sides.

I then stitched the sides to the centre front piece as per the pattern.

And the final result looks so good!

If you're interested, here's my pocket hack for this skirt.

I did it! I added pockets to this beautiful skirt! I love the rouched front and wanted to give it a comfy casual sort of look and thought pockets would be just the thing!

I knew that patch pockets wouldn't work as I didn't want a bottom seam showing so I came up with a sort of folded design.

I tried to get photos to help it make sense.

First I drew a line where I wanted the top of the pocket. I then took a scrap piece of paper and drew a straight line where the top of the pocket would be, and a tiny line at the bottom of the pocket so I'd remember where to fold (I used my phone to measure the right size). I folded the paper and made sure to have an inch or so excess at the top of the pocket once folded for gluing the pattern pieces back together.

I cut the pattern piece where I'd drawn the top of pocket line and glued the top of the pattern piece to the scrap piece of paper.

Then, I folded up the scrap paper to line up the pocket top (first photo below). Then I folded the top pocket back down in line with my pocket line on the original pattern piece. I applied glue to the folded top and glued the bottom pattern piece to this sticky line.

This is how it looks once all glued. The folded scrap paper is the shape/size of the pocket.

Then I marked notches so I'd know where to fold and cut out the shape of the pattern (while the pocket piece was folded up). This second photo is what it looks like now unfolded.

I used this new pattern piece to cut a (now very long) side piece.

When sewing I stitched a straight stitch at the bottom of the pocket to hold it folded (right sides together) and then sewed a basting stitch down each side to hold the pocket shape while sewing.

Then pinned and sewed the side to the centre panel.

and, Ta Dah! A beautiful skirt with pockets!!!

You can purchase the original pattern here.

*Some links in my blog posts are affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you purchase through these links. There is no additional cost to you.

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