THE ELEENA DRESS BY COFFE AND THREAD

Today I’ve got a beautiful dress to show you: The Eleena Dress!

This is actually the first dress I’ve sewn for Teresa for quite some time as she isn’t much into dresses anymore. And you know what? She is in love with it. She might even go back to liking dresses again just because of her new Eleena…

PATTERN: The Eleena Dress by Coffee and Thread. This is such a cute little vintage dress! I love it! This kind of dresses were very popular in the sixties and I even got an old pattern – sent all the way from New Zealand by my friend Constança - for a very similar design. But vintage patterns come in one size only, so I am glad Olga decided to launch the Eleena Dress so I can make it in every single size I need! Plus, the Eleena has some really nice sleeve options – flutter sleeves, short sleeves and long sleeves – and that makes it perfect for every season. There is also an option for a pretty collar and a contrasting central panel that will allow you to play with fabric. The dress is quite a-line shaped so it swings beautifully. I think that little detail was actually the one that made me want to sew it for my kids…

 

 

 

Since I had already seen so many amazing versions of the “original” dress (check #eleenadress on IG to be amazed), I’ve decided to play a little bit with the pattern and make something slightly different… I started with the collarless long sleeved version with continuous front panel and then hacked it a little bit: I’ve cut the skirt into two pieces and used a bright yellow contrasting piece of fabric for the bottom part, replaced the back invisible zipper for a big and long exposed zipper and the lining for a little neck facing (because my chambray is quite stiff and I thought the lining might make the top part of the dress too bulky), I’ve lengthen the sleeve a couple of inches (about 5cm) to properly accommodate Teresa’s very long arms and shorted the overall length again about a couple of inches as I like my kids dresses to be quite short.

FABRIC: Denim chambray and solid yellow cotton, both from my local shops (chambray from Feira dos Tecidos and Solid Yellow from Park dos Tecidos). I´ve got this thing for color blocking… I just love these simple designs in nice bright contrasting colors! But in Portugal, especially in winter time, kids wear mostly dark colors and sometimes – especially when I look at school or birthday photos – I feel like my daughters look  a little bit like aliens… I just hope they will not be traumatized adults because I make their clothes! But I am almost sure they will only wear black in their teens!

Don't forget to check out the other creations on the tour:

February, 22 

Bonnie & Lottie, As it Seams, Sew Happy, Call Ajaire

February, 24

In a Manner of Sewing, Skirt Fixation, Stitched Together, 

Made by Sara, The Life of Compulsive Crafter

February, 26

A Jennuine Life, Fairies, Bubble & Co, Hungie Gungie, Doguincho

February, 29

Rebel & Malice, Sew Shelly Sew, Creative Needle and Threads, 

Welcome to the Mouse House

March, 2

Candice Ayala, LBG Studio, Crafty Biggers, Sewing Like Mad

March, 4

Greendoodle, Rita Pirolita, Boevenbende, Kristine Hansen 

March, 7

Les Reloux, Just Add Fabric, Lokakid, While She was Sleeping

 

The Eleena dress is on sale for only $7 until March 7th and you can get it here! 

 

Olga has also put together a great giveaway were you can win Coffee and Thread two patterns and one yard of Sara Jane fabric.Try your luck on the Rafflecopter!

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

REFASHION MONTH AT HOUSE OF ESTRELA

It’s Refashion Month at House of Estrela and I am really happy to be, once again, part of this series. Last time I made a top for Teresa with a shirt I used to love and this time I am sharing a shirt for me made with a piece of nice cotton from a bed sheet I bought several years ago. (I told you on my last post you were going to see a lot more selfish sewing around here, right?)

Pattern: View B from the Japanese book Stylish Dress Book. I love Japanese sewing books! I love the design of the garments, the styling and even the instructions. But I still don’t know if Japanese clothes really fit my body type… (I hope they do!) Anyway, I had to try this pattern as the sleeves looked so cool… Before hemming the shirt I decided to try it on and it didn't feel quite right. Though the shoulder line was spot on, the shirt was so big, long and wide on me! I decided to cut almost 10cm/4 inches in length and a 5cm/2 inches on each side of the bodice. I don’t know if this was the right decision… I don’t know if the fitting is better this way… I have so much to learn when it comes to women’s clothing! (I have a lot to learn about children’s clothing, too, I must add!)

 

Fabric: White woven cotton from a bed sheet I bought at Zara Home. Good quality bed sheets (bought for nice prices on sale!) are great for clothes too! They are especially good to make “wearable muslins” (here is the first one I made and still wear a lot.) Since I am just starting to make clothes for me and never know if a pattern is going to work, this is a great way to try a pattern without ruining my best fabric but still getting a nice piece of clothing. One more detail about the shirt: the bias tape on the neckline and sleeves is store bought and I had it on my stash for years. The original design doesn’t feature bias tape on the sleeves but they were so short I thought they would look nice this way.

 As you can see, unlike Teresa and Ines, I don’t feel very comfortable in front of the camera… These were the best photos I could pick and I hope you like them more then I do!

Today is just the first day of Refashion Week so stay tuned for all creations that will pop up at House of Estrela during the week.  And don’t forget to head over Pequeno Mundo a 3 and see what Patricia has refashioned…

LIEBSTER AWARD

Last spring my good friend Asmita from Elephant in the Study surprised me with the Liebster Award. I was so surprised! Thank you so much Asmita!

 

If you have never heard of the Liebster Award, let me try to explain what it is about… It is a virtual award passed from one blogger to another with the aim of promoting blogs with less than 200 followers. It’s kind of a chain thing where the awardee has to answer five questions and provide five facts about himself or herself and then chose five other bloggers and pass the award. And so on, and so on…

So here are my answers to Asmita’s questions:

A. What’s the one thing that you have been really wanting to make but hesitate when it’s time to actually do it (I mean in terms of sewing, but feel free to interpret it as liberally as you like!)

I would love to start quilting! I never did because I know I am not good with long and repetitive projects. But I just love quilts and I would be thrilled if I could ever make one from start to finish. Plus, my home needs handmade things. (Well, that’s the other way I could interpret your question, Asmita!) I’ve actually been postponing properly decorating my home since we’ve moved…

B. How do you get out of a sewing rut?

I actually don’t have a planned sewing routine so I think I never get actually tired of sewing. During the weekdays I mix sewing with architecture (my daytime job), gardening, surfing, windsurfing and playing or studying with the kids when they arrive from school. I am really lucky to be able to work at home so I can manage my time and that gives me a lot of freedom to do what I really love at my own pace.

C. Favorite summertime activity?

Definitely going to the beach! We live just a steep away from one of Europe’s best beaches so we go to the beach all the time. I’ve been windsurfing for several years now and I just started surfing. These sports, like sewing, are really addictive!

D. What’s the one thing you cannot go to bed without doing?

Checking out the girls sleeping is something I always like to do before going to sleep. (And pee and brush my teeth, of course!)

E. Five random facts about yourself.

1. Besides Portugal, I´ve lived in Italy (Venice) and Spain (Barcelona) while I was studying architecture.

2. I sleep like a stone! During the night, once I get to sleep there is now way anyone will be able to wake me up.

3. I used to drive a big bright yellow wv transporter van and I had all my windsurfing gear inside all the time. When Ines was born I sadly had to sell it as there where only three seating places on that van.

4. I’ve been a vegetarian most of my adult life. I restarted eating meat when I got pregnant but I still prefer vegetables and fruits to any kind of meat or fish.

5. Right now I have three sewing machines (and I sew with all of them all the time): an old Pfaf from the ´50 that used to belong to my grandmother, a Singer Tradition I bought last summer to sew knits (because the vintage Pfaf doesn’t like modern stretchy fabrics at all!) and a brand new Singer Serger I am completely in love with!

And here are five of my favorite blogs. (It was hard to pick only five!) So the award goes to…

1. La Folie

2. Needle and Ted

3. Nutta!

4. Sew Pony

5. Stitched Together

And finally here are my questions:

A. What is your favorite and less favorite part of the sewing process?

B. Do you have any real life sewing friends?

C. Where would you like to go on your next summer vacation?

D. What is your family’s favorite meal or dish?

E. Five random facts about yourself.

And, because a blogpopst without photos is not a blog post, I’ve got a couple of skirts to show you. They were made with one of the wonderful fabrics my dear friend Asmita has sent me a couple of months ago so this is the perfect timing!

Isn’t this block printed / quilted fabric amazing (and gorgeous and special and unique...)?! I was completely in love with it since I opened the package my parents brought me from India. Yes, they were lucky enough to visit India and meet Asmita!  I wish I could have been there too…

Pattern: Self drafted (inspired by the wonderful Spin Skirt by Elegance and Elephants). For such a unique and busy fabric I wanted a very simple design so these skirts are not much more than a couple of simple rectangles sewn together. I’ve made a couple of skirts just like these last year and they have been worn again and again so I knew I could go wrong with this pattern.

Fabric: quilted /block printed cotton that came all the way from India and polka dot cotton from my local store. The skirts are reversible because the quilted fabric has lots of raw edges on the wrong side and I didn’t want that to show. I think the quilted cotton side will be worn most of the time but I might go for the polka dot side once or twice too. Reversible clothes are really fun!

Thank you so much Asmita for the Award and for the wonderful fabric you have sent me! (By the way, you can see all fabrics Asmita has sent me on my Instagram. Look for “martadoguincho”.)

 

KIDS CLOTHES WEEK. LOLA DRESS

Teresa and Ines love Charlie and Lola books. And so do I! Lola is such a fun character and I absolutely adore the brother and sister relationship these two have. They are so sweet together. These books are entertaining and educational at the same time.

(Thank you so much Ines for the help with this photo! I couldn't have done it without you!)

And, of course, I love the way Lauren Child dresses her characters. Not only the illustrations are gorgeous and imaginative but also all clothes are simple, comfortable and stylish. So, as this season’s Kids Clothes Week theme is Storybook, I had to make a Lola dress.

The Pattern: The Norah Dress and Tunic by Mouse House Creations. I’ve been wanting to try this pattern since it as released and now I had the perfect opportunity! I loved sewing it and it was quite a simple and fun project to make. The pattern is impeccable and the instructions are spot on. I love the fitting and Teresa loves her new dress too.

Fabric/Notions: Main fabric is Sugar Hill by Tanya Whelan for FreeSpirit and it was bought at my local quilting shop (Patch-Mania) on super sale. Lucky me as this is a gorgeous fabric! I love the colors and the way the plaid is printed on bias. For the collar I picked from my fabric stash a bit of white birdseye pique that I had left from these dresses I made a couple of weeks ago. The button at the back is vintage and was bought at a local street market (Mercado de Benfica) last winter.

 

 

And, you know what? I was not the only one making a Lola dress for KCW. My good friend Suz has also made this gorgeous Lola dress on the other side of the world. I wish I could find a bit of that vintage fabric on my local shop. Stunning, isn’t it?! Head over Sew Pony for more details!

 

SEW JAPANESE SERIES . NUTTA (TAKE 02!)

Today I am visiting for the second time this week my friend Shino, in Japan, for her great series Sew Japanese. And I am taking Ines and her new outfit with me!
Oh, and how I love this outfit!

Both blouse and shorts patterns come from the Japanese book Handmade Little Girl's Clothes by Yuki Araki and this was the first time I actually sewn with original Japanese instructions. (Ok, I admit almost all my Japanese sewing books are English or French versions. I am a cheater! This book was gently borrowed by my friend Carla. Thank you!) Not fully understanding the instructions wasn't such a big deal as the diagrams where great but, for the size chart I had to get some help from the great sewing dictionary at Japanese Sewing Books Blog...
Though I love the shorts - they are super comfy and have the cutest pockets at the front - I have to admit I am super proud of the blouse as it was made with linen thrifted from my grandmother's old bed sheets!
Courtney from Sweeter then Cupcakes is also sharing a super cool knit jumper so Ines is in great company.
Head over Nutta and check out all the details! And, if you have missed it, you can check out the blouses I shared Wednesday here!

MAKE IT PERFECT PATTERN PARADE . ZIP IT

Quando recebi um email da Toni, a criadora por trás da marca de moldes Make It Perfect, para participar na sua Pattern Parade costurando um molde à minha escolha pensei que a escolha seria fácil porque há muito tempo que andava de olho no vestido Zip-It.

Ao dar uma olhadela na sua loja acabei por vacilar porque tão giros… Lá escolhi o Zip-It mas tenho a certeza que este será apenas o primeiro de muitos moldes Make It Perfect que irei usar.

When I received an email from Toni, the designer behind Make It Perfect Patterns, asking me if I was willing to be part of her Pattern Parade by sewing a pattern of my choice, I thought I already knew the one I wanted as the Zip-It was on my wish list for a long time.
I went to her on-line shop and soon realized that, with so many gorgeous patterns, the choosing just one wasn’t going to be that easy... I end up picking the Zip-It but I'm sure this will be just the first of many Make It Perfect patterns I will sew.

O design deste vestido é tão original! É prático e confortável mas, ao mesmo tempo, tem um ar “vintage” que adoro. O fecho torna-o facílimo de vestir e os bolsos são, além de muito úteis, divertidos.

This pattern’s design is so unique! This practical and comfortable dress has, at the same time, a vintage feel that I absolutely adore. The front zipper makes it extremely easy to put on and off and the pockets are useful and fun.

Com as instruções e dicas impecáveis da Toni, costurar este vestido não custou nada! Para dizer a verdade estava com um bocadinho de medo que o remate da gola não ficasse bem ou de não conseguir colocar o fecho como dever ser… Mas ficou tudo impecável! E o fecho, para minha grande surpresa, é incrivelmente fácil de aplicar!
Como o molde me pareceu ligeiramente estreito, fiz o tamanho 6 para a Inês (que fez agora 5 anos) tirando-lhe uns cinco centímetros na altura para que o vestido ficasse pelo joelho. Ficou perfeito!

With Toni’s clean instructions and great tips, sewing this dress was a pleasure! To tell you the truth, at first I was a little bit afraid of not being able to finish the yoke or attach the zipper properly... But everything was flawless! And the zipper, to my great surprise, was incredibly easy to attach! As the pattern is a little bit slim, I made size 6 for Ines (who just turned 5 years old) and reduced a couple of inches in height as I didn’t want the dress to be too long.

A Inês adorou o seu novo vestido (chama-lhe o vestido das bolachas porque acha que as bolas amarelas e cor de rosa parecem bolachas!) e eu fiquei impressionada com o bem que ele lhe assenta.
Ines loved her new dress (she calls it “the biscuit dress” as she thinks the yellow and pink bubbles look like litte biscuits!) and I am impressed with the way it fits her. Perfect fiting!

Passem pela loja on-line e vejam todos os moldes da Make ItPerfect! Para ficarem inspiradas passem também pelo blog da Toni onde, este mês, são apresentadas as restantes criações desta Pattern Parade!
So don’t forget to check out all (children and women) patterns at Make It Parfect online store! And, if you feel like getting inspired, head over Toni’s blog for a quite amazing Pattern Parade!

The Make It Perfect Pattern Parade Virtual Catwalk introduces...

A Happy Stitch // A Lemon Squeezy Home // Behind the Hedgerow

Craftiness is not Optional // Craftstorming // Cut Cut Sew

DoGuincho // Film in the Fridge // Girl Like the Sea

Horris & Deedle // Glitter + Wit // Imagine Gnats

Janelle Wind // Made with Moxie // Miss Matatabi

No Big Dill // Noodlehead // Probably Actually

Sanae Ishida // Sew Charleston // Sewing in No Man's Land

Skirt as Top // Stitched Together // The Drapery 

Things for Boys // Zaaberry

DOGUINCHO AT NAH-CONNECTION

Hoje estou no blog alemão Nah-Connection com uma entrevista e dois vestidos novos feitos com o molde Stellar Tunic da Figgy's.
Passem por lá!

Today I am at Nah-Connection. There is a small interview and two new dresses made with Figgy's Stellar Tunic Pattern (Ho boy, I am in love with this pattern!...)
Check it out!

WILLOW AND CO . LET’S GO GLAMPING!

Last March I was lucky enough to test two patterns from the new Willow and Co. summer collection: the Mulberry Tunic (check out mine here) and the Fawn Lilly Dress (check out mine here). I loved the quality of design, the care and attention given to the instructions and, especially, the clothes I made! These clothes are, at the same time, versatile and practical, but cute and special. My daughters loved them and wanted to wear every single garment everyday from day one.

No passado mês de Março tive a sorte de testar dois moldes da colecção de verão da Willow and Co: a Mulberry Tunic  (a minha está aqui) e o Fawn Lilly Dress (o meu está aqui). Fiquei impressionada com a qualidade do design, com o cuidado com que foram feitos os moldes e as respectivas instruções e, principalmente, com as roupas que fiz. Roupas versáteis e práticas mas giras e diferentes. Roupas que as minhas filhas adoraram e quiseram vestir desde o primeiro dia.

I was anxiously waiting for the launch of the collection when I received an email from my friend Suz, from Sew Pony, asking me if I would like to go glamping with her and Rachel, from Stitched Together. Going gampling with them meant I could sew any Willow and Co pattern. I felt like I had own the lottery! I felt like sewing all the patterns! But I knew I didn’t have time to sew all the patterns so I ended up choosing three that seemed more suited to my daughters’ the style and age.

Estava eu, ansiosa, à espera do lançamento da colecção, quando recebi um e-mail da minha amiga Suz, do blog Sew Pony, a perguntar se gostaria de participar com a Rachel, do blog Stitched Together, no blog tour. E o melhor era que poderia escolher qualquer molde. Ou mesmo todos os moldes… Achei que me tinha saído a sorte grande! Como não tinha tempo para costurar todos os moldes, acabei por escolher três que me pareceram mais adaptados ao estilo e idade das minhas filhas.

For Teresa I picked the Ash Jumpsuit as I thought she would love the open back on the blouse (she loved it!). The pattern features several options and I ended up making a two pieces outfit instead of a real jumpsuit. I followed the instructions to the letter and only changed the short’s hem, making it a bit shorter and adding cuffs. I really enjoyed customizing these shorts by adding small details made with the blouse fabric on the waistband and pockets.

Para a Teresa, que já tem seis anos, escolhi o Ash Jumpsuit porque achei que ela iria adorar o ar mais teenager do top com as costas abertas (adorou!). O molde apresenta várias opções e eu acabei por fazer um top e uns calções separados em vez de um verdadeiro macaco. Segui à risca as instruções e apenas alterei a bainha dos calções, tornando-os mais curtos e adicionando a virola no remate. Gostei imenso de poder “personalizar” os calções com pequenos detalhes do tecido do top no cós e nos bolsos.

For Ines, who likes to dress girly but, at the same time, only wears comfortable and practical clothes, I picked the Persimmon Dress and the Clover Shorts. I made the tunic version of the Persimmon Dress (with side ruffles, off course!), perfect to be worn with the Clover Shorts. Then made the inside of the shorts’ pockets, waistband and belt loops with the leftover fabric from the tunic. Unfortunately the fabric was not enough to make the shorts sash so I made it with some simple black cotton ribbon.

Para a Inês, que gosta de se vestir “de princesa” mas ao mesmo tempo só usa roupa que seja confortável e prática, escolhi o conjunto Persimmon Dress e Clover Shorts (um sucesso, também!). Fiz a versão túnica com folhos do Persimmon Dress, perfeita para ser usada com calções! E aproveitei todos os bocadinhos do tecido que sobrou da túnica para dar graça aos calções, ou seja, usei-o no interior dos bolsos, do cós e das presilhas. Infelizmente já não chegou para fazer o cinto por isso resolvi o assunto com uma fita de algodão preta.

 

 

The main fabric I chose for these outfits is one of my all time favorite fabrics, Up Up and Away, designed by one of my all time favorite designers, Heather Moore from Skinny laMinx, for one of my all time favorite fabric brands, Cloud 9! (It was bought in this lovely etsy shop.) This fabric is so special (and perfect to go glamping!) that I decided to match it with a very simple cotton (canvas like, I think) from my local shop.
Sewing these outfits with the perfect fabric and perfect patterns was a pleasure and it is also a pleasure to see my daughters wearing such lovely clothes!

O tecido principal é um dos meus tecidos preferidos, de um dos meus designers preferidos, de uma das minhas marcas de tecidos preferidas! Chama-se Up Up and Away e foi desenhado pela sul-africana Heather Moore da Skinny laMinx para a Cloud 9 Fabrics. (E foi comprador aqui.) Como não era suficiente para fazer tudo, juntei um tecido básico com uma textura em branco e preto que comprei na Feira dos Tecidos em Campo de Ourique.
Usando o tecido perfeito e os moldes perfeitos, costurar estas roupas foi um prazer e é também um prazer ver as minhas filhas assim (tão bem) vestidas!

Well, do not forget to head over Willow and Co website and do four very important things: check out the wonderful outfits all other bloggers have put together for the tour, take a look at the fantastic lookbook, participate in the fabric giveaway and, of course, stop by the shop and buy some (or all!) patterns so you can have very well dressed kids this summer!

Agora não se esqueçam de passar pelo site da Willow and Co e fazer quatro coisas muito importantes: ver o que as outras bloggers participantes na glamping tour andam as costurar, folhear o fantastic lookbook, participar no sorteio de tecido e, claro, passar pela loja e comprar as patterns para terem os filhos mais bem vestidos deste verão!

PS . Unfortunately I did not have time to sew matching Aster Cardigans for my daughters, as I had planned, but hope to be able to do it very soon so stay tuned!

PS . Infelizmente não tive tempo de fazer um Aster Cardigan para cada uma das minhas filhas usarem quando começa a ficar vento e frio aqui no Guincho… Mas espero para a semana já os poder mostrar.