Flower girl dresses

I sew this dresses for my friend in January. It was for her sister's wedding. After I had Tia, sewing projects were almost non existence. So I'm kinda thankful I had this excuse to sew. The material was provided by my friend, lovely embroidered cotton and the band is a 'baju melayu' limp fabric. The skirt is double layer box pleated with zippers at the back. I loved how it came out.

Below are the girls walking (berarak) with the bride and bridegroom (not in picture). One of the dress looks just a bit too tight. Well, measurement is very important. If given the right measurement it would have turned out better than good. :P But it's all right I guess. Most importantly my friend loved them all. Thank you, Jasmin and Ju.

OK ...in between my last post in July until today, I have successfully sewn a few things. So many things going on in between like having a baby on the 26th June, taking care of a toddler at the sametime, being in confinement for 30 days (hmm 30 days was all I could bear), Hari Raya Aidilfitri, back to work yadda yadda...

Just some pictures which I have...I didn't take any photos of the cushion cover which I sew for hubby's aunt. It was a joint effort with MIL. It turned out really well. Hmm now regret not taking it.

I also altered a kurung modern for my SIL and sew the kain silang for her. Definitely worth a whole post on it. Let's see if I can manage that in between a whole lot of other things.

I also made 2 curtains for the house. At the moment sadly it is still in the hugh plastic bag waiting for Mr Hubby to buy the railing, 3 months ago!! Homaigod, can someone just buy the railing for me to get this over and done with??

Owh did I mentioned I want to join the marathon, go swimming with the kids more often and cook more often.

This was intented to be a normal traditional baju kurung. But due to the smart mama here, the neck hole was too big hence the conversion to a modern top kurung. Added ruffles around the neck and a 1/4" string to tie a ribbon. I added the elastic around the wrist too so that it 'fits' the whole modern top concept. Mind you it was a day before Raya! When panic strikes, people do wonders...

This little 2 month old last August cutie pie on the other hand wears the cutest smile wearing moi handmade tiered dress.

My 3 y.o daughter and her 4 y.o cousin had a joint ballerina and princess (cake) birthday party last September. The last minute no sew (knotted) tutu was done an hour before the party starts. Their faces on that day wearing it was priceless.....happy little ballerinas....

Sewing make people happy...I love it!

Strap dress

Whoaa...remember I was supposed to make the dress for the little one?

It's finally done. The material used are of the remnants of 3 projects.

Hah! Nice......

And the material used are identical to the one for I made for my DD. So can't wait to see them wear it together....:-)

Front. The size is 0-3 months. Instead of sleeves it turned out to be a strappy one.

Clear pink buttons and shortened the strap length using an elastic with zigzag stitches.

The two dresses waiting to be worn together.

Flower and polkadot dress

Another dress done from my list.

3) Dina's little flower cotton dress

I added the dark pink and white dots just to add some contrast. Added about 4" at the hem and a little peak below the yoke all around. Instead of my normal gathers, I did box pleat all around. I kinda like it. I've got a feeling I'm going to do box pleat in a lot of other projects to come until I get tired of it.

The front. The picture is a bit blurry. It must be the humid. It was really hot this afternoon.

The back. Low back and dark pink flower buttons.

Close up of the front.

Close up of the back.

I actually did the open tie at the shoulders.

And found it nice to just tie them up as if it is meant to be. I was surprised by how it turned out after the tie. I didn't know what to expect actually.

After a happy check up....

Today after the monthly check up, hubby was nice enough to let me shop while he had teh tarik. Makan McD at SS2 after the check up was just a reason so that I can drop by at my 2 favourite fabric store in the area. Happy to report that the little one is a healthy 27 weeks plus gestation age baby and the mama who does not look 7 months preggy, more like 9 month, is also healthy. :P

I know, the long list tak habis lagi, dah beli fabric lain but I promise, most of it are just to finish up the existing projects.

Cotton and flannel for the little ones.

Robert Kaufman lime green and stripped cotton fabric for my sister's apron, Japanese pink and white polkadot cotton for Dina's dress (the rest for Nia/little ones dress) and a plain peach cotton for the apron lining.

Cotton flannel for SIL's soon to arrive baby boy. I'm going to make a rag blanket. My first attempt in quilting and making rag blankets. 4 long quarters = 1 meter.

Remember the pinafore dress? Don't she look like she loves it.

Of course she does. So does her Mama....

Pinafore dress

Now I can sleep well knowing I have already started ticking my list and able to update my blog....seriously I had sleepless nights sometimes. Over! I started with No. 1) Refashion : Nia's dress using denim jeans and remnants (soft cotton corduroy and plain cotton) of previous project. Happy with how it came out, even though quite different than how I imagined but can't help the creativity (ia la sangat..) juice flow influence me to deviate.

My vision : (L) Nia's dress and (R) little one in the tummy's dress Not done yet.

The front. The plain dark pink cotton I used for lining only on the top yoke so that it gives a more sturdy structure. I didn't add any ribbon at the yoke lining coz I think it is nice looking plain like this.

Closer look of the top yoke. How it looks at the back. It can be worn over a short/long sleeve blouse like the pinafore but of course for Nia it has to be in a cooler temperature area. She sweat on her scalp easily which gives her the wet look. :p

Cut away

Today I only have mood and time to cut. Since I have so many things I want to do and organize, I brought out all the material I want to use and start cutting. It's probably the nesting period where a preggy mummy starts organizing and cleaning stuff. I am happy with today's progress. This will keep me busy for some time since I am on leave for 3 days this week but one thing for sure I have to go and watch a movie. I've not done that in ages. I feel like watching Merong Mahawangsa.

The cut bit done.

An unprofessional sketch of Nia and little one's dress

The little pile of cut fabrics and tops are for dresses and refashions.

1) Refashion : Nia's dress using denim jeans and remnants (soft cotton corduroy and plain cotton) of previous project DONE!

2) The little one's dress using the same material: refashion denim and remnants

3) Dina's little flower cotton dress DONE!

4) Refashion: Nia's flare 3/4 pants (it was supposed to be a 3/4 tights) using my preloved stretchable cotton tract bottom

5) Refashion: Apron for my sister using the denim and cotton

6) Refashion: Nia's dress/top using my cotton T shirt material top

7) A yellow flowered cotton blouse for Nia 1/2 way done a year ago DONE!

8) The same material of 1/2 way done skirt which was supposed to be for the above but cut too small. So this is going to be for the little one. DONE!

9) Refashion : Pink spaghetti strap top for Nia

10) Refashion : White spaghetti strap dress for Nia Whoa! That's a lot to do. Can't wait.....

Another princessy dress

Finally I finished this dress for my niece, Dina, last Saturday. I already made one for my daughter, Nia, in October using the same material. I was supposed to make an identical one for Dina, a version of Gap dress, but somehow I couldn't get the shirring technique right the second time. I just couldn't get the gathered effect right. So I got tired of it and just left the cut material alone for months. Everytime I wanted to start with a new project, I just couldn't get this project off my head. I keeps bugging me like "Excuse me, don't you dare start with a new project until you're finished with me, ME, ME!!!" Urrgghh.....I have another piece for Nia saying the same thing. Double urrgghhh...Well, at least with this one is done, that's half the burden off my shoulder. And the noise seems a bit quiet now. :P

I left the shirring technique alone and went ahead without one. Dina loves this dress. She's a little princess who loves kembang dress. She didn't want a belt as well. She just wanted it loose like that. I made this with lining since it is a very thin cotton material.

Just a simple 3 button at the back.

This is the only 2 second princess pose I got from her. The rest she refused to cooperate.

The only still picture was when she was not looking at me.
This was how it is supposed to look like.
Nia's dress is now up to her knee.
It was below her knee length in October.
Oh Baby is growing right before my eyes....*emo*

2010 Sewing project

I realized that I haven't updated some of the 2010 or earlier sewing projects I posted on my personal blog before deciding to birth the personalized sewing blog....OPSIEDAISYCANSEW.blogspot.com. I said I would, only did some and never got around to it. so what's new. Instead of reposting the whole post, I might as well just link them to the post. Why didn't I think of that earlier? ...... *duhhh mode*

1) Strawberry dress and Dina Dress

2) Simple A line dress

3) Purple dress & bag - blah project

4) Prairie blouse - My first ever project

5) Sewing book, Magazine, Pattern and stuff

6) Fabrics and stuff

7) Misc - when it all started

8) Adorable pleated skirt

9) Boys pyjama & Fabric

10) More boys pyjama & Book cover

11) Dress and more pyjama

12) Pirate themed dresses and jacket

I believe thats it......enjoy if you're reading those.

Most importantly, these are just for my reference and own enjoyment.

Sapa lagi la enjoy hasil tangan sendiri :P

Turquoise theme Akad Nikah

I just realised I did not update the dress I made for my cousin's akad nikah in Melaka. It was sometime in December 2010. That long ago. The top I made ala kurung moden without pesak and just round neck. I must say the fabric is nice but I look rather naked wearing this. Haha! It is almost skin see through material. I didn't realise it was that jarang. The inner was bought separately. Really, not a suitable attire to go to a kampung akad nikah. Haha! My sister had her eyes popping out when she saw me wearing this, "Are you going to wear something on top or a selendang?" I seldom where selendang unless to a baca yasin or doa kenduri. "Nope. Do you have one?" I suddenly felt too exposed. So I covered my entire body with her big selendang and didn't bother to tell anyone I sew this whole piece myself. I could have just gone with the spagetthi strap, cover myself with the big selendang/shawl and save all the trouble. :P

p/s : So you know I made this the day before, probably tried it once in a very dim room and wore it straight the next day.

The bottom was a rubber waisted kembang payung. Very comfy for a preggy momma. I made this in 1/2 an hour.

The dress I made for Nia was also a last minute thing. I don't know, maybe a day or 2 days before the event but it turned out quite nice. The ribbon on the waist was supposed to be on the right side. When it was finished, I realised it was right in the middle. I don't know how that happened but it is much better. Blessing in disguise. Haha! I'm laughing at myself now.

The flower girl dresses

Event : Cousin's wedding at Tropicana Gold & Country Club end of 2010.

I am very happy with the dresses. Even though I had ample time to prepare, knowing me most of it I did last minute but happy to be able to do a fitting a day before the actual wedding. The theme was lilac and I had to make dresses for 4 flower girls (2 nieces, 1 cousin and my daughter). My eldest niece is already in Standard 6. So she didn't want to wear anything frilly. She has grown so much in past year, she's becoming a little woman real fast. And not forgetting she's tall too. She is about my height now which is 5'4". I wonder how tall she will be at 18.

For the 3 little girls I made a dress using a fabric which I don't know what its called but we usually use this for Baju Melayu (not cotton, not silk, slight thick & shiny), the band is made using lining shiny material and the bottom is layered with organza - 3 layer 2 tiered. No real addaptation patterns. I made the patterns myself. I made them refering to a dress I got from the net.

The dreamy dress that was meant to be

And for my eldest niece, Iman, I made an inner dress using jersey and the dress using chiffon. It turned out really well except the glitch on the band. I used an almost industrial stretchable band above the waist and it was slightly too tight to go in and out of the dress, it's a slip through dress. But once in the dress she's quite comfy, I hope. I used the directions given in Anna Maria Horner's blog to make the dress. Cut 2 rectangle. Join them in the middle and at the sides. Done! You have a slip through dress. Just like a kaftan. It was supposed to be a shir techniques above the waist and below the breast but after my first successful attempt on a dress I made for my daughter, it was miserably unsuccessful on all other attempts. Frustrating and sad episode of my life. :P I added a tying ribbon at the sleeves so it will look gathered when pulled up and my SIL sewed the beads at the front. I looked really sweet and lady like.

Pictures......

Preggy me fixing my niece's, Amira, dress. Nia had the ribbon around her head in time for photoshoot. But munched on it when she was walking the isle.

Munch munch hmm this ribbon tastes good. The pengiring with the flower girls and boys. There were supposed to be 2 other little boys in bows and suit but they were too sleepy by the time the event starts. Too cute!

Lilac flower patels ...

Trying out the dress before the event.

Nia and her cousin Dina.

I had some extra cloth enough to make another dress.

My MIL made one for Dina.

Yeyen, my nephew, didn't want to miss the fun.

The whole Saad Clan after the reception.

Dress 'Gap'

This dress I made for Nia is based on my SIL, Fiza's request to follow a Gap dress she found on the net. Somehow it turned out a bit different but I like it. Excuse the model, she's just too busy playing. I going to make another one for Dina but somehow I couldn't get the shirring done the second time.

At first I meant to have buttons at the front and a simple plain back. Somehow I made the back too big and had to pleat it coz it looked too loose.

After doing that I feel that the buttons look better at the back and have the pleat in front.

So there, my happy baby!



The dress which I was supposed to follow.

Dina Dress 1

I made this dress for my niece Dina. Not sure what I should call it since every one I read on the blog has a name for a project, I'll call it Dina Dress. Initially my SIL, Kak Fiza wanted me to make a pyjama with the fabric but it is too sweet and not so cheap for a pyjama. Alas it turned into a Dina Dress. I plan to upload Dina's picture in the dress and show the full length of it in another post. Hence the Dina Dress 1. I used the Simplicity pattern and added the front yoke pleat and tier at the bottom hem to just a bit of 3D and added the ribbon at the back and lace on the front. This is a first short sleeve dress I made. I must say I am very happy that this particular dress I made is very kemas.