The sewing machine made a reappearance again last Saturday and I finally joined up the crochet bodice to the fabric skirt. Turns out that it fits JY just right so she'll have it after all, plus the top-down vest that I'm still knitting. Little sister is now left with nothing but I'll love to make her something soon. Do you see a pattern here? It's been a spate of making things for the elder one lately. She's grown so much and most of her clothings don't fit anymore. And most of the time, I can't shake off the pragmatism that making things for the elder one means both of them will get to wear them.
I also redid some of the squares of the floral quilt. The white-ish squares (as you can see an older photo here) are replaced with other coloured shabby chic type of fabrics. And I added a light blue stripey border. I think it seems rather more pleasing to the eyes now. Next would be the backing. I'll use the pale blue pin dots on white fabric that Joy gave me and mix and match with other blue-ish fabrics in stash to make it the same size as the quilt top. I hope it'll not be another 3-month interval before you see this again.
A bit of clothing surgery was done too. One of my favourite top's sleeve got torn.
Inspired by a photo in, if I didn't remember wrongly, the current issue of Cotton & Time, I cut off the sleeves and attached a lace trim. I had wanted to make cap sleeves but was afraid of cutting too close to the armhole so now he top became short-sleeved instead. Not as groovy as cap sleeves would be but still wearable, don't you think?
I love the idea of the lace on the sleeves. It looks really cute!
Posted by: VivaPia | Tuesday, September 05, 2006 at 11:29 PM
Yes the lace is a very nice idea, plus the beautiful patchwork!
Posted by: fleur | Tuesday, September 05, 2006 at 11:55 PM
I really like the lace trim. Very cute!
Posted by: Jennifer | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 12:21 AM
what a great idea!!
it looks great!
you are so crafty!
Posted by: heather | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 12:37 AM
Great idea for the blouse. I like the short sleeves.
Posted by: monica | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 12:39 AM
I LOVE what you did to your shirt. I'm usually a cap sleeve girl myself, but what you did is way cute.
Posted by: nikki (the blogless) | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 01:00 AM
I like the quilt a lot! The floral fabrics match well together and the stripe edging pulls the whole thing together. How will you do the quilt stitching, diagonally?
Posted by: Peggy | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 03:40 AM
Very wearable! Excellent surgery on the ripped sleeve.
Posted by: diana | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 04:35 AM
so cute! i love it
Posted by: leslie | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 06:13 AM
The quilt top looks more vibrant now with the new squares. And the new sleeves are very pretty too.
Posted by: erin | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 07:07 AM
Very clever fix for that blouse!
As the little sister of the sister relationship, I can say firsthand that wearing a bunch of hand-me-downs sucks. I know it's practical, I'm an adult now I can see it. Just give the little one a new thing every once in awhile, or even refurbish a hand-me-downs from the big girl like you did for your blouse. Of course it was made worse for me as my mom dressed my older sister and me alike so I wore every darn dress twice as long!!!!
Posted by: Silvia | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 07:53 AM
I like the new quilt composition. It's looking great. Clever idea for your blouse.
Recently, my younger one has been complaining about having things (it's not even clothes) passed down from his older brother. So, when they grow up they'll remember it. It's nice that you'll make something for the younger one as well.
Posted by: mimi | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 09:21 AM
yes indeed!! how wonderful! much more feminine and stylish with the lace trim!! ^^
Posted by: momo | Wednesday, September 06, 2006 at 05:12 PM
Very pretty squares! Good save on the shirt sleeve. My machine has some tear stitch for such things but I've never used it.
Posted by: toni | Thursday, September 07, 2006 at 05:11 AM
The quilt top looks great, I like that you replaced the white squares. It looks softer now, but still has enough contrast, very nicely balanced.
I has a stripey blouse very similar and I agve it to Goodwill! Now I wish I hadn't, the lace trim is such a great idea.
Posted by: Steph | Friday, September 08, 2006 at 06:22 AM
I saw your quilt in Flickr WIP-group, and decided to come here and say WOW! It`s so pretty! The fabrics look wonderful together and I think adding the border was a great idea. I can`t wait to see it finished in Sew? I knit! -blog (I guess this is your project for Sew? I knit!?).
The sleeve with lace looks good too.
Posted by: Päivi | Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 04:32 AM
What a great idea! I love it.
Posted by: Tabitha | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 10:07 AM
Hi there, love the colors in your quilt.
Posted by: San | Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 10:49 PM