more clothes for the girl that does not sleep

Wednesday 21 April 2010
Little Anna has an ear infection at the moment, which those of you who have/had children know that means very little sleep is going on. Well for Anna that means less sleep than usual, and for me it means crankiness, tiredness and very little sewing going on....

But I did manage to finish up another shirt for her last week. I had an image burned in my brain of a little girl's floral blouse with red buttons, possibly from one of those cute Japanese sewing magazines that I browse but never buy (they look more bewildering than BWOF). I just had to sew it up before I lost the idea.

Using the vintage Butterick 422 that I used for the purple gingham shirt, I managed to eke out a blouse from a remnant size piece of lovely light coloured floral cotton I had in the stash picked up in an opshop. I changed the collar from the oversized pointy one to a peter pan rounded collar by cutting out a collar piece from another pattern because just rounding off the ends doesn't quite work out! A peter pan collar is shaped a bit like a jelly bean, and is very differently shaped to a normal collar. I left off the pocket because I didn't have enough fabric left, in fact I had to cut the facings out of a different fabric altogether (some lilac poplin) due to a shortage of fabric, but it actually looks quite cute.

I put some red ric rac trim on the collar and cuffs, and put red buttons down the front even though trying to get her to sit still to do them will drive me insane - but style won out over sanity. Unfortunately my model wasn't being very cooperative when I tried to take her photo. First there was a bit of flapping of arms:

Then there was some bendy mid tantrum poses:

And then there was some silliness with her hat:

And finally there was some serious head shaking going on, the kind that swivels her head from side to side in an emphatic no:

So here is a photo of the blouse laid out flat, the best I could do peeps!

And aren't these buttons cute, I picked up a whole tube in an op shop one time:


Even thought this pattern was the same I used for the purple gingham shirt, the floral shirt looks much larger on her, but I guess she can grow into it.

Well that's it for me, I'm off for an early night because I know I'll be hearing screams soon enough that will go on for at least 2 hours before she settles back into another short sleep. Plus I sat through, no endured, a six hour meeting at work today so my brain is definitely overtired. Yes that's right SIX hours! Plus lunch was catered for so there wasn't even any escape at lunchtime...........

16 comments:

  1. Adorable!! I love the way that the full sleeves give it a bell shape. So cute! You'd never guess it was a "boy" pattern.

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  2. Oh she is getting so cute and grown up! I hope she feels better soon. And great adapting on your behalf to get that Peter Pan collar so sweet and those bell sleevs to darling with the ric rac!

    YOU'RE LOOKING LIKE A TOTAL PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESS THESE DAYS! Yay!

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  3. ugh, ear infections are the worst, but she's a cutie big time. Try warming up some olive oil (a cut clove of garlic can be simmered in it for 30 seconds- I use a small metal measuring cup)then letting it cool to just warm. Soak a bit of cotton ball in it then put it in her ears- easier said then done, I realize! But if you can do it the relief is instant.

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  4. Cute! Poor thing.. Hope she gets better soon!

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  5. So cute. She's like a little gymnast. Such a fun age. Hope she feels better soon.

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  6. Very cute. I like how you are adapting the patterns. I remember ear infections, not fun. I used to like those types of meetings. I thought the professtional exhange was great, but that was before I had kids.

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  7. That's very cute. And I hope that both of you soon get some quality sleep!

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  8. What a great set of photos...telling it like it is.

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  9. I love to see the adorable outfits you make for your sweet little girl! Every time I read your blog I think to myself that I need to get my sewing skills up quicksmart, before my husband & I start a family! (Don't let me get started on the clothing you make for yourself - WOW!)

    x

    www.whiskandwhimsy.blogspot.com

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  10. What a cute wee shirt! Your series of modelled poses had me grinning too - I have the same problem!There's also the I-want-to-grab-the-camera dash out of shot....

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  11. Hope Anna is better soon.
    She is a sweet little girl, however.
    So pretty with her new shirt (and matching shoes!).
    PS: A 6-hour meeting?§ that is pure nonsense, no human brain can be effective that long...

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  12. My condolences about little ones ear infection! Has any medication kicked in yet? Isn't it hard when they get sick? They just don't understand and we feel like, are you sure this is what "I" signed up for?
    The shirt turned out cute, as usual. I got the dresses done for my GD if you haven't read my blog this week. Anyway, then I moved onto a few couch pillows... nothing too stressful but I have been wanting to do it for a while.
    Get some rest while you can!

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  13. So cute, and I love the poses, especially the tantrum one. My son throws himself on to the floor, screams, and kicks one leg up behind him as if to breakdance. Too funny.

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  14. Dear Anna, I've got an ear infection too. Middle ear. totally deaf. It's very disorienting isn't it. tell your mum that noise is a real pain, and the dull ache and noise in that ear just won't go away! Is that why you cry? don't cry!! I'm sure it makes it worse. I must try shaking my head, I don't know if that works. I love your new shirt. Cute as!!

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  15. OMG she's cute. Will send you an email soon about a sewing group I've joined. They have great workshops. If you are not too panda-eyed from parenting you might like to come.

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  16. How cute... She seems like a bubbly kid.

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