Strawberry Pockets

Progress is coming along slowly on Ava's coat. The pieces are all cut and the stay stitching is done. I would have been further along except for the fact that I spent three hours deciding how I would do the pockets!

The original pattern called for an unlined pocket, turned inwards, with a strip of ribbon across the front. I played around with pocket piece and ribbon. Finally I decided to line the pocket and flip the lining forward so it shows on the outside of the coat. I really don't think I have constructed this in the most effective way, but I am happy.

First I sewed the pocket to the lining, right sides together, then used pinking shears around the edge.

Next I turned the pocket round the right way and *tried* to smooth out the rounded corners

Then I folded the facing allowance forward and edge stitched it down. It does look straighter than this...

I was going to put the pockets on the coat (they will be edge stitched down) before I posted, but when I went to double check that I had the pocket placement right with the pattern, I realised that I had done something really strange when cutting out the front piece. It seems to be a size 3 in some places and a size 8 in others. No idea how it happened, must remember to mix more water with my gin (joking!)

What happened to Ava?

I know this is meant to be a sewing and crafting blog, but people have been asking me what happened to Ava. This seems the most effective place to put it. So if you only want to read about sewing, I'd skip over this post.

As Mixie mentioned Ava was very sick a couple of weeks ago. On Friday the 6th June she was having a bad day. She was short of breath and wheezing, but she wasn't actually having an asthma attack. She was still running around the house playing, despite out best efforts to keep her still. I was giving her Ventolin, but it didn't seem to be having any effect, so at midday I took her to the Doctor. He diagnosed her with Bronchitis and said she could have Ventolin hourly to get her breathing under control. I put her to bed at 7pm, but was concerned that she was grunting in her sleep. We decided to take her to the hospital just to make sure she was okay. They took her straight through and put her on oxygen. She seemed to recover really quickly, but they wanted to keep her overnight for observation. We went to the ward to settle in for the night.

Unfortunately Ava's little body wasn't getting better. They kept increasing her oxygen and she kept getting worse. At 2am they transferred her to Intensive care and put her on a BiPac (sp?) machine. At 10am the Doctors arrived from Brisbane, Ava was intubated and we were flown in a helicopter to Royal Children's hospital in Brisbane. She spent another 24 hours in intensive care before she was transferred to the ward. We then spent another 7 days in hospital, because she was slow to come off the oxygen. It was strange because every time they tried to turn the oxygen down, her oxygen saturation levels would drop too low, but her breathing would be fine. It was hard work trying to entertain a 3 year old that felt and looked fine, but wasn't allowed to leave the bed!

Ava on her second day on the ward

We're back home now and it is honestly like nothing happened. She has been fine at all her follow up appointments. Its a little confusing because we are still not quite sure what was wrong with her. The paediatrician that treated when she was sick at the local hospital sent a letter to our GP saying that nothing about her breathing, chest sounds or xray suggested asthma, yet she tested negative for all bacterial infections. They are thinking Asthma combined with a viral chest infection now. She is on an asthma preventor twice a day for now. The important thing is she is better.

After all this I just have to say I am so glad they we live in Australia and that we have the free health system that we do. I can't imagine that helicopter flights and intensive care stays are cheap. I will definitely be making donations to the hospital during their annual appeals.

Back to sewing now...

Fun New Things

Okay, so I haven't been doing a whole lot of sewing/posting lately. But that hasn't stopped me from buying sewing related things.

I finally found some strawberry buttons for Ava's Coat

And some strawberry fabric for the lining

I got a new pattern to make a top for Mixie

I got a new overlocker/serger!! So excited, it was $200 off, how could I resist? I used this to sew the majority of the seams on the top I made yesterday.

And I got this book for a price I was willing to pay. I have read it through and can't wait to start actually drafting. But I managed to lose my French Curve when I was cleaning up, so I need to find that first!

Some other things I got were:

• A second copy of the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing (awesome book)
• A Yo-yo maker
• Lots of fabric
• Threads magazines
• Stitches magazines (second hand)
• Top Kids Magazines (second hand)

New Look 6731

Pattern Description:
Misses Knit Top or Tunic

Pattern Sizing:
8 - 18

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
I made view B and it looked exactly like the pattern picture

Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions were very easy to follow. If you lost the instruction sheet in a freak storm, you'd be able to figure it out with relative ease.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I really disliked the sizing/ease in the pattern. According to the pattern envelope, based on my measurements I should have made an 18. However, the amount of ease in this top (especially considering its for stretch fabrics) is ridiculous. I would have had to make this top in a size 14 for it to fit properly. Luckily for my Mum though, it will fit her perfectly!

What I liked about this pattern is that if it fit it would look really cute. It was really quick and easy to put together.

Fabric Used:
Stretch knit. I was unsure whether this fabric would be too busy to make an entire top out of. But once it was all put together it seems to work.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
None

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I will definitely cut this pattern smaller and sew it again. I can't wait to try out some of the other views.

Conclusion:
A quick and easy sew for a nice result. Just watch out for the sizing.