So this is farewell....BLOG HAS NOW RELOCATED!

I am excited to tell you that I have returned to blogging.  I have begun a new blog where you will be redirected in 5 seconds.  See you there! *If redirect doesn't work you can find me at www.houseoflane.com*

Hello there! It has been quite some time since I last posted. In fact it has been nearly 3 months.  If you follow me on other forms of social media you will know why but if not....

Our announcement picture we shared on instagram

Yes, that's right, we are having another baby! I now coming up to 19 weeks and things are going well.  Early on things were a little rough as I had quite a bit of morning sickness.  I had the same with Imogen but I found this time harder as I couldn't just sleep it off.  Running after an 18 month old sure makes that morning sickness feel 10 times worse.

17 weeks and my latest make - a new cape from material I picked up at the Brisbane meet up

As you may have guessed from the title of this post I have decided to take a break from blogging.  Things are pretty hectic here and I just don't feel like I have a lot of time for blogging anymore.  It was starting to feel like a bit of a chore.  I have always been told that once you stop enjoying a hobby you should call it quits.  So I am taking that advice on board and taking a break.

18.5 weeks hanging out on the beach on Easter Sunday

Now there is no way I am going to stop baking, sewing and creating.  If you would like to keep up with what I am doing then I will be posting over on my instagram.  And who knows, one day I may return to blogland be it here or on another blog.  But until then farewell and thank you all for reading.  I have met some amazing friends through blogland and I have really enjoyed connecting with you all.  I wish you all the best and I will still be reading along and commenting on your blogs.

See you on instagram x

Brisbane Meet Up - 30th March

Hey there all my Brisbane and Gold Coast readers (and of course anyone else who would like to join!), it is now time for us to be social too! After seeing all the other great blogger meetups in Melbourne, London, Birmingham etc, it is about time for us to have a meetup of our own.

The adorable Liz (Buzy Lizzie in Brizzy) and I are organising a meetup and would like you all to get out of your sewing rooms and join us for an afternoon of chatting, eating and a swap!!  All are welcome, and of course you don’t have to have a blog.

From some preliminary discussions on Twitter, we have decided on 30 March and we already have good interest, even from out of State bloggers! The venue is yet to be finalised and is dependent on numbers, but we are hoping for somewhere at Southbank for ease of transportation.

Have we convinced you to come along?  If so, please leave a comment below with your email address. We will then email once we finalise the venue etc.

More details soon – put it in your diary peoples!!!

What season is it again?

It seems that I am having a little season identity crisis.  Right after making my perfectly summery Satsuki top I have finished up a wintery scarf of perfection.  While I am enjoying summer a lot more than usual this year I am still hanging for winter. It's my favourite time of the year!

But back to the scarf.  This is the simplest knit in the world but it is also the coolest thing I have knit in a while.  Seriously, it has hot pink pom poms! What's not to love?!



The pom poms perfectly dress up what is essentially just a simple garter stitch scarf.  And they're hot pink! One of my most favourite colours.  I love how the pink stands out against the grey too.  This scarf was made using this pattern which I just made wider to accommodate an adult.  I would recommend this pattern to any beginner knitters as it is super quick!

Summer Victory!

I may be the last person in the sewing world to try out Victory Patterns but I finally have.  I picked up Simone and Satsuki from the darling Sarah of Sew Squirrel while at Frocktails in September.  Satsuki was meant to become my Christmas outfit but I ran out of time. In between sewing Imogen's outfit and teepee and all my baking something had to give.
So it may be a few weeks late but this top was definitely worth the wait!  When I first saw this pattern I was going to make it without the shoulder cut outs.  For some reason I thought they just looked really difficult.  I'm glad I got over that and did them because they are my favourite part.  I think the cut outs are what take this top from being basic to being awesome!
I made this with a green rayon that I bought from Spotlight.  Rayon is fast becoming one of my favourite materials to sew with.  It is so easy to cut and sew and has a gorgeous drape.  Although I would like to start sewing with some new materials this year so I better not get too attached!
All in all I am very happy with how this top turned out.  I wore it out shopping as it is above but I think it would look gorgeous dressed up with some nice jeans for a dinner or movie date.  Versatile items like this are something I definitely need more of in my wardrobe.  Most of my sewing in the past has been dressy items that don't get worn a lot.  This year I want to try to make more functional items so more satsuki-esque items will be perfect!

What's Christmas Without A New Outfit?!

Well, I guess it's still Christmas but it isn't as fun as when you have a new outfit to get dressed up in.  In saying that I didn't have time to make myself a new outfit.  I was working on something but it just didn't get finished in time.  Luckily for Imogen though I managed to get hers finished.
Now am I the only person who is ridiculously in love with jumpsuits? They are my favourite item of clothing ever. I own about 5 and I have plans to make myself a couple this year.  Given my love of jumpsuits when I saw this free pattern pop up on pinterest I couldn't resist making it for Imogen.


I used a Christmas print cotton that I picked up at Spotlight.  What I love about this fabric is that it isn't the usual Christmas colour scheme.  I didn't really want to make something that was red & green and overly Christmasy.  I think this is the perfect amounts of Christmas and class.



This was a super quick make which was a good thing as I started making it on Christmas Eve.  I managed to get this made in between baking 2 cakes, cookies for santa and getting prepped for Christmas lunch.  I'd love to make Imogen another jumpsuit in a more everyday fabric so don't be surprised if you see this pattern pop up again soon.

Teepee Time!

 Before we get too far into the new year I wanted to share a couple of things that I made for Christmas. First up is Imogen's main present that I made, a teepee!

To say that I am happy with how this turned out would be the understatement of the century.  I have been thinking about making this for a long time so I have built it up in my mind.  Usually when I do that the final outcome is a bit of a letdown.  In this case though I was pleasantly surprised!

The main fabric is a decorator weight fabric from Spotlight.  I used a basic cotton poplin for the pink portion and added some gold rope to tie the posts and as ties on the doors.  I really love this colour scheme.  Pink, black and gold is just perfection!  When we move Imogen into a big bed I want to give her room a makeover using this teepee as a starting point.

Luckily for me Imogen also loved her teepee.  She crawled straight into it and sat inside drinking her bottle.  I think I would called that a gift making success!

The best part of the teepee is that it can be collapsed and packed away when not in use.  Ideally I would like to have it up in her room permanently.  I am thinking of making a pink cushion to go inside and making it into a bit of a reading nook.  One day!

Top 5 Goals

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a nice night last night and you aren't feeling too sore today.  Today felt like the perfect time to be sharing my goals for 2014.  I pretty much covered my reflections in my misses post that you can see here.  So onto my goals for next year!

2014 Goals

Sew with knit fabrics. Knit fabrics always scare me so I steer clear of them at all costs. This year I want to change that!  My first mission is going to be to sew a pair of leggings.  I found an awesome piece of material at Spotlight a while a go that I couldn't resist so I am well prepped.  Now I just need to find a pattern.  If anyone has any suggestions of a good legging pattern let me know!

Quality of Quantity! This one is not only for my sewing/knitting but also for my blogging.  I want to sew more items that I know I will wear rather than a million little things that will get pushed to the back of my wardrobe.  I also want to use more quality fabrics so that my makes will last longer.  With my blogging I want to focus on writing quality posts rather than how many posts I am writing.  I notice that this is the key difference between my blog and all the blogs I really love.  So if I'm not around as much this year I apologize but hopefully I will be bringing you lots of posts you love.

Make a jacket.  Jacket's are something that seem really hard to me.  I'm not sure why! This year I want to tackle some of my fears and so I want to make this year the year of the jacket.  I am looking at the Rigel Bomber and McCall's 6611 to start me off.

Refashion! The other day I read through the archives of A Pair and A Spare and it has inspired me to start refashioning more.  I have a lot of clothes! And a lot of clothes that I don't wear.  My plan is to do a big wardrobe clear out and refashion some of the things I don't wear.

Take Time to Enjoy Life!  This is a more general non sewing related goal for the year.  I am a very organised list orientated person.  I like to plan things and make sure everything is organised.  Sometimes this can get in the way of me actually enjoying what is going on around me.  This year I want to remind myself to stop and enjoy what is going on around me.  Imogen is growing up fast and I don't want to miss that because I am rushing through life.

So what are your goals for 2014?  Do you make resolutions or just wipe the slate clean and see what the new year brings?

Top 5 Hits of 2013

Well it is only fair that I balance out my failures of the year with my top 5 hits.  I cheated on a couple of points so there are actually more than 5 makes in here but let's keep that between you and me. So without further adieu here are my top 5 of 2013.

5. Peplum Tops

Peplum tops seem to be every where this year!  I quite like them but sometimes they can sit a bit funny on me and make my torso look really short.  When I found this pattern I thought it would be perfect to give the peplum look without cutting my torso in half.  Luckily I was right!  So far I have made two versions but I would love to make a few more.  The mustard version was made during Me Made May when I was dying for something new to wear.  As soon as I finished making it I started dreaming of a collared version and thus the comic print top was born.  While I love them both equally the comic print top is kind of special.  My sister has a skirt made of this same material and Imogen has a dress/top as well so it is a special material for me.

4. Mini Skirts

I think these three skirts (version 1, version 2, version 3) would have to be my most worn me mades of 2013.  And seeing as they were all made in the past three months that is really saying something.  As I mentioned in my misses post my style since having Imogen has become a lot more relaxed and casual.  Easy to throw together outfits have become my norm so it is no wonder that these are popular items.  I can definitely see more mini skirts being made in my future.  I am thinking a few embellishments are in order though to mix it up a bit!  

3. Boyfriend Cardigan

2013 was the year I finally managed to knit a garment for myself that I actually wear!  I have attempted cardigans and jumpers in the past but they have never turned out right.  This was due to a mix of wrong yarn, patterns that weren't my style and beginner mistakes.  This time I did a bit of research and decided to do something basic that I would get a lot of wear out of in decent yarn.  I am so glad I took that time because it turned out awesome!  The colour is fast becoming a favourite of mine and the basic style makes this super wearable.  I think I may have to make another next winter.  Full post here.

2. Red Lace Dress

My red lace dress was a labour of love! I made it to wear to a friends wedding during Me Made May and it has had many a wear since.  It is perfectly classy but also versatile.  I am really proud of this dress because it was my first time working with lace and I think it turned out great!  I went into it with a no fear approach and full of confidence and it paid off for me.  Usually my cockiness can get me into trouble in my sewing but not this time.  I am sure this dress will be seeing many more wears in the future!

1. Sew Bossy Dress

This dress is by far my most favourite thing that I have made this year! So a massive thank you must be made to the darling Marie who agreed to be my Sew Bossy partner.  She sent me the most amazing package of goodies and this dress would never have been without her.  For more info on this dress check out the full post here.

I am really proud of what I have made this year (misses included!).  At the start of the year I would have never have thought it possible for me to do so much while looking after a new baby.  I became exceptionally good at time management this year and I think my sanity thanks me for it.  Sewing and knitting are the perfect way for me to take some time out and get myself together.  Even if it does take me a little longer to finish projects now I think it just makes me appreciate them even more!

How did your sewing go this year? What is your favourite make of 2013?

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to wish all my readers a massive merry christmas and a happy new year from my little family! 2013 has been an awesome year. I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of gorgeous bloggers in real life and online.  I have loved reading along with all your creations this year and sharing mine with you. I hope you all have a fantastic day with your family and friends however you choose to celebrate.  And may 2014 bring you all loads of laughs, happiness and good times! Merry Christmas xx

Top 5 Misses of 2013

It's that time again when we all start to reflect on how the past year played out and what we would like to achieve in the coming year.  Gillian over at Crafting A Rainbow is running her top 5 series again and I thought it would be the perfect way to round out the year.  First up is my top 5 misses!

1 -  Sew for Victory Blouse

Basically this top just isn't a style that I would usually wear.  It was made on a whim as I wanted something to go with the skirt I was making for the sewalong.  I skirt I love! I have always wanted a suspender skirt so this was the perfect opportunity to make one.  Unfortunately for the top impulse making made me choose a pattern that just wasn't me.

2 - Tessuti Dress

Now this dress failed purely from my own stubbornness and laziness.  Firstly, I decided I wanted to make a summer dress before the fabric arrived.  When it arrived it was much thicker than I was expecting and not entirely suited to this style of dress.  Alas I made it anyway because I'm stubborn like that!  Secondly, I was too lazy to muslin the bodice and therefore ended up with a shelf bust that didn't fit me well at all.  Total fail!

3 - Knitted Heart Dress

Ok so I actually quite like this jumper but the problem is it is way too big! Don't be fooled by the photo.  I had strategically placed the excess to the back.  Halfway through making this I thought it seemed a bit big but I pushed through anyway. I should have trusted my instincts because it ended up a shapeless sack that I just don't wear.

4 - Green Jumpsuit

I was quite bummed when this one didn't work out! I was really excited when making it but I just couldn't get the shaping right.  I liked it but I didn't love it!  Every time I wore it I felt 10kgs heavier so it got relegated to the back of the wardrobe.

5 - Vintage Blouse

And lastly, another make that was simply a fail because it just wasn't my style.  I think I need to go through my pattern stash and pull some things out.  There are patterns in there I feel I should make simply because I have had them so long.  However, most of them have been sitting there because I don't love the styles.  I think a stash clear out is in order to avoid more misses like this blouse in the future!

So the main lessons I learnt from these misses:-

• Make a muslin when you are making a pattern with a new to you shape!
• Fabric suggestions on patterns are there for a reason! Too heavy fabric will kill a soft summer dress.
• Don't be hasty in choosing patterns! Make sure they are a style that will suit my shape and my lifestyle.
• Trust my instincts!  If something doesn't look right it probably isn't.  Take the time to investigate further instead of just pushing on.
• Just because I liked a pattern once upon a time doesn't mean it is actually my style now.  Impulse purchases can lead to sewing fails!

Since having Imogen I have found that my style has changed quite a bit.  Where I used to be drawn to a lot of vintage styles from the 1940's or 50's I now find I am more drawn to casual looks with 70's or boho influences.  I still love a good 50's silhouette for parties and going out but on a day to day basis I have definitely become more casual.  I don't mind the misses though.  I have learnt something from all of them not only about sewing but also about how my style has evolved.  These lessons will help me sew more wearable garments in 2014!

Have you had many sewing misses this year? And if so, have you learnt anything from them?

Krystal's 30th Birthday Cake

This past weekend was my sister-in-law's 30th birthday party.  A few weeks ago her husband contacted me and asked me to make her a nurse themed cake for the party.  Of course I said yes!  I was a little bit stressed out about it because it is the first cake I have made for her.  Thankfully it turned out pretty well despite the heat I was battling in making it.
The cake is a bit of a hybrid of a few cakes that I found via pinterest.  Originally I was going to make a stethoscope as well but I didn't end up having enough room so I just left it off.  I was pretty stoked with how the syringe turned out!  I think that is my favourite part.  The ecg line was drawn on with edible marker.
I am really happy that they asked me to make this cake! I had a lot of fun making it and it is one cake I was actually semi happy with when it was finished.  Usually with every cake I make I get to the end and hate it.  This one though I was kind of happy with.  I wonder what cakes 2014 will bring?!

Christmas Present #1

Look, I made my first Christmas present! Given that we are only 15 days away from Christmas it is about bloody time.  The only presents I am making this year are for Imogen.  The past few years I have made a couple of things here and there for other people but the last three months of the year are hectic for us so I decided to focus my present making time on Imogen.
So present number one is this little doll who I am going to call Clover.  She was made using the black apple doll pattern available here.  Essentially this is a very easy make! The hardest part was turning the legs and arms right side out because they are so tiny.   This is also why I decided not to stuff the arms and legs.  I stuffed one and it became really stiff.  I thought it would be a bit easier to play with if it wasn't stuffed.
I also decided to stitch the face rather than paint it on as I have absolutely zero painting/drawing skills.  Lastly, I added a little extra touch with a flower in her hair.  I love when Imogen wears her flower headbands so I thought this would be a nice addition.  I am really happy with how this turned out! Fingers crossed Imogen likes it.  Now onto the other 2 presents.  Keep your fingers crossed for me to get them done in time!