Lately, I have been collecting patterns from online with different features I've never attempted before. I have since tried one or two and even worked out a few simpler versions of my own. It hasn't been easy, though it has been rewarding. Specially when you can wear what you made afterwards!

Study is going really well. I have passed my first module exams and two assessment pieces. The next module will be released in late January so over the next few weeks I will just concentrate on revision, while I practice a few tehniques on some of the patterns I have got.

Seeing something through to the final stages is such a great feeling! What have you made lately? :)

Darts, Gathers and Resizing

Patterns have always been a little daunting to me, to say the least. Ever since I witnessed my Mum stressing out over cutting a pattern out herself when I was a little girl, I have had this inbuilt fear of cutting out fabric and realizing I cut it out wrong, or that I would miss important little nodes or dots.

Doing this dressmaking course is exciting. I am thrilled to be studying something that I love and pursuing a bit of a dream of mine - Making clothing for a living. Even though I will most likely make clothing on the side, it's still a wonderful thought that someday, someone will wear something I have made. 

Although exciting, it also comes with confusion. I look at a pattern layout and understand what pieces go where.. But I struggle to understand how to make things bigger or smaller and where to add darts in this process.

All of this will become clear to me as I go on through the course, I know. I am trying not to get ahead of myself. Take deep breaths and embrace it. Anxiety can be bad like that. It fuels the fear and causes me to hyperventilate. I need to try and turn this into a fuel, so I can see it as an adventure, rather than something I want to avoid.

Study time!

I've had a little rest from blog writing.. Though I have still been sewing. After much consideration over the past year, I've finally chosen a course to study - a Certificate in Dressmaking & Pattern Cutting though an online college. This works best for me as I'm still at home with my busy little toddler!

I am both excited and a little nervous as it's been a few years since I last studied anything.. and even then it had nothing to do with sewing! So.. I will try and blog more often and share some little bits and pieces. I'm not sure how often I will get to sew anything other than for college, though I'll try and do a little something here and there!


I really love retro clothing and hope to do more with this style when it comes to making something of my own in the future. I love looking at all of the different patterns and styles though unfortunately I get a bit lost when I look at patterns. Hopefully within a few months I will have a better understanding of patterns and how to read them properly and the proper techniques involved. :)

So.. here goes :)

Fete & Website - All systems go!

I have been super busy as of late. First of all, I've been working on the website. It isn't spectacular, though I am working on it bit by bit. I don't want anything too difficult to work around, so I'm trying to keep it nice and simple, really. 
The link is Ayla May Handmade Be sure to let me know what you think of it so far!

In other news, I am a sponsor at the Forest Lake State School Fete in September. I have donated some awesome cup holders and mug mats (coasters) for their handmade & craft stall.

I have also completed some new little projects.. Let's see some photos!

What do you think? I really love the blue around the edges on some of these.. So pretty! I hope you're all well and until next time, take care! :)

Wow! My new singer sewing machine has arrived and I think I am inlove! It runs so smoothly and so quietly compared to the Elna. . . It sings! Pun intended!

I have been asked to make heat packs for a preschool in Sydney to use during a meditation and relaxation group time so I have been busy researching different ways to make the heat packs. I am actually surprised with the amount of different fabrics and methods you can use. For example, you can use corduroy which will last well, though cotton breathes well in the microwave (and is one of the safest fabrics to use with heat) or you could even purchase a special wadding which can be microwaved and use it as a lining. I decided to go for the less expensive option and use cotton. 
The problem with using cotton is that the fabric is so thin usually the heat seeps through it quickly and

A - loses heat fast so the heat packs don't stay warm for very long; and

B - may be too hot for small children to handle as the heat can escape faster than thicker fabrics.

So we decided to also make some covers for the heat packs, though obviously we can't use cotton for the cover as it wouldn't insulate very well and there wouldn't really be much point in having covers. So I went for a light flannel - this way the fabric breathes, lets the heat escape slowly and is thicker so offers more protection from the heat at the same time.

Here is a sample heat pack I made to test out sizing. The owl fabric is flannel and is slightly bigger than the insert so fits the heat pack snugly.

I have stitched most of them together, though need a little more fabric to finish off the last of the flannel covers. I am not filling these ones as postage for weight would be a fortune, so the preschool are filling the packs once they arrive in Sydney. I am thinking of selling some of these on the side too, so stay tuned.

P.S.. The new machine is awesome . . . Just in case you were wondering :)

Well, it is official. My Elna has now left the building and beginning a new life with another sewing enthusiast in a little country town. I already miss it! Isn't it funny that I am thinking about all of the little things I have made over the past eight months with that one little machine? So many dresses, shorts, pj's, headbands, skirts, bags, quilts.. I will miss her!

But on to bigger things! Tomorrow the next machine arrives and I already have a few projects lined up for her, let me tell you! :)

On another note. . . What do you think of the new banner for my little venture?

Waiting.

I am still here. I am just waiting. I just sold my beloved Elna Sewing Machine in order to help pay off my newest machine (yet to pick up). I have the next Peppa Pig quilt pinned and ready to quilt, though I need to wait until the new machine arrives before I can do any more. 

I am, however, considering getting some more fabric and doing another circle quilt with different patterns, seeming as the last one turned out so well! :) I am super proud of my efforts!

 And here it is. What do you think? I love the circle effect. So simple, yet it pops out at you. I even found the binding way easier this time around. 

I found cutting the binding to 3" thick, rather than 2.5" much better as it gives me more room to get the binding in the right places. I'm sure over time I can do the 2.5" inch binding but for now, I am so happy with the results - I am just happy it went so well! :)

So, hopefully if all goes well, I might be able to pick up the new machine this weekend. For now, here's a pic of one.. I am not paying anywhere near as much as what this machine is worth brand new - otherwise there is no way I could get one! I am very lucky to have an awesome family member who is selling it to me for much less!

I am so excited! More pics to come soon I hope! . . .