Sewing For Me and Henry's Busy Day

I finally made a hat for myself that I think I like. I used the New Look Pattern 6024 that I used for a top last week. I copied the size and shape of the brim from my Tilley hat though, didn't want to end up with something too glam again.

And here's one of the clothing items that I sewed for myself in the past week, still need to get around to photographing the rest. This is 'J' from Happy Homemade, a Japanese pattern book that I bought for myself and that arrived last week. Here is someone else's version. It was a cooler day yesterday and my new jacket was the perfect thing to throw on over a T-shirt.

I made this from a crinkle cotton - why didn't anyone ever tell me to stay away from crinkle cotton!? I didn't realize at all how difficult it would be to sew with till I was ready to start. Going through the sewing machine across the crease lines stretches them out. So I had to sew almost the whole thing with the fabric sandwiched between 2 layers of tissue paper. And if that wasn't hard enough, it turned out to be very difficult to get rid of the little bits of tissue paper stuck under the stitches when I was done. I think if I had pulled the tissue paper out very carefully to begin with it would have helped but I just ripped it out thinking I'd clean it up later. Moving on, the pattern was very easy to follow even though I couldn't read the directions, only look at the very clear diagrams.
And here are some pictures from Henry's busy day yesterday.
Playing at the big playground at Victoria Park in Kitchener where we met up with some new friends.
A quick stop at the library, we would have stayed longer if Henry hadn't kept putting the pieces in his mouth while staring at me with a naughty look on his face after I told him not to put them in his mouth. I guess it was more fun to test Mom than to play with the puzzle.

Chillaxing in his stroller.Playing at another playground.
Here he is saying "caw caw caw caw caw caw caw"

Keeping Cool

It is hot here this week! Very very hot and humid. I have been keeping cool inside in my sewing room and have to do a fashion shoot soon of all the clothes I've been making for myself. Here are some pictures of Henry keeping cool.

Eating popsicles

Using the Wading Pool

Eating a popsicle while in the wading pool
And staying in watching TV in the evenings. He really loves TV too much but we are limiting his watching. He has been learning about tantrums this week so it is hard sometimes.

A Summer Top

I sewed this top for myself last week. I had lots of time to sew since Henry was having 3 hour naps. I bought myself this New Look 6024 pattern - I was actually looking for a sun hat pattern when I came across this. I like the hat and the top so thought it was worth buying - the hat is on my list to sew.
I used some yellow cotton and made the tunic but shortened it to a top in the end. I went just a little on the big side for size since I did not put a zipper in the back as called for but it was a bit loose and I ended up taking it in quite a bit.
I love how this turned out. It was fun doing the interesting pleating in the front but really easy too.
Here it is in action yesterday. Henry was having some fun at his Grandma and Grandpa's pool.

Mariposa Dress

Last week I made myself the mariposa dress from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings, I've made several things from this book now. I like how this dress turned out. It's a little on the big size even after I took in the skirt a bit but oh well it will be great for after the next baby. I used some thrift store cotton material in an indian print.

I love wearing dresses in the summer but of course I can't while I am still nursing so having a nursing dress is really great. I think the design is quite clever - here you can see how it works.

Henry's Car Shirt

Henry loves pointing at cars and pictures of cars and yelling 'caw caw' so I had the idea to make him a shirt with cars on it. On Tuesday Henry and I went to the fabric store and picked out some fabric. That part was a little less perfect than I had imagined because of course Henry was more interested in running around the store than looking at the fabric I was showing him and this was a hot day and the store had no air conditioning! But I found some cool fabric and the next day finished up a little shirt for him. I used the shirt pattern that came his party outfit and it fits perfectly.

At first he didn't seem too impressed with the shirt, he had liked pointing at the fabric and saying 'caw' but was ignoring it now that it was on. But then suddenly he liked it.


And then he looked down at the shirt and pointed at the cars and said 'caw'. Just like I had dreamed about.And he even did it several times throughout the day with no prompting.
It was a really wonderful day yesterday. It's fun to take Henry out nowadays because he's always so happy and everyone just loves him. We also had our first fire in the backyard and went on a lovely evening stroll.

The Heat

I am writing this on my new laptop. Our other one broke which is why this post is a couple days late.

On Monday and Tuesday this week we had some crazy hot weather, feels like 40C type of hot humid weather. Henry and I had loads of fun in it though. I took lots of pictures of our adventures on those hot days.

We saw several baby birds out of the nest with their parents yelling at them to learn to fly. This robin was on the ground with its sibling in our backyard.


Of course we were in the wading pool. Henry really liked the shower from his little watering can.

Lots of popsicles. I froze a smoothie of fruits with kale, tofu, and soy protein powder. And the ones for Henry I stuck one of his kiddie spoons in instead of the little stick that came with the mold so he could hold it quite easily.

Lots of time exploring in the backyard including learning what does and does not float. This included some diaper free time. Henry did not want to be put on the potty but he was definitely interested in seeing what was coming from his body for a change.

Some swinging and waiting for those flowers to turn into strawberries. Our strawberry patch has ended up under the new swingset so this year I planted 6 new strawberry plants around the backyard hoping that at least a few of them will flourish into new patches.


We did make it out to the park a couple of times despite the heat. Henry is becoming quite the walker. He's getting faster and better at following along, still with a little exploring of course.


And here's some more wildlife that we caught a glimpse of yesterday.

A Hat

This time I made a hat for me. I followed this pattern from Lorenna Buck which was a great pattern, easy to put together and a good fit and all. But then I gave it to my sister. It just turned out a bit more glamourous than I had imagined and I don't think I will wear it. I might try making myself another one.


And here's Henry looking cute in his hat this weekend.

The Dining Room Chairs

I finally finished recovering our dining room chairs. I had the idea way back in February. And then I did one and I thought it was kind of a hack that may be a bit lacking in the durability department (it involved a glue gun) so I wanted to see how it held up. Well months later that first one is holding up and the rest are done. Recovering the seat of chairs is easy peasy but doing those backs was tricky. I didn't want to remove the old wood plugs and in the end I didn't have to. I love having crazy fun chairs instead of grubby white-ish ones.


And here are a few pictures of Henry from today. Actually a bunch of pictures, he seems to be extra cute today.