Ell-issie in Wonderland

** Om deze post in het Nederlands te lezen, klik hier **

Stories without endings, the new fabric collection by the Belgian textile designer Lotte Martens, is coming to the stores!

I work for Lotte a day a week as a job student and I love it soooo much. Actually, my working day is my favorite day of the week ;-) Lotte prints her fabrics by hand and they are all gorgeous. Look at this ombre knit, isn't it just too cute?

A major advantage of working for Lotte is that she needs someone to sew tests with her new fabrics. Well, how could I say no to that? ;-)

The new collection offers loads of different fabric types, like scooba, plissé, woven basics and mohair that looks like you've knitted it yourself; all with the handprinted Lotte Martens touch. For this post I chose for the Aronia Pink jersey knit and an Issie top by Sewpony.

The Aronia jersey has an ombre print and the pattern pieces of the Issie top invited me to play with the stripes and color differences.

I also made a skirt to go with it. One of Lotte Martens' main principles is that the more 'extravagant' fabrics of her limited editions always combine easily with her basic collection. For the skirt I used Spacer Limonium Rainbow, a funky knit fabric which I already used here in the silver color way.

I added a little butterfly to the skirt, which is an application also designed and handprinted by Lotte. Her Pimp It collection is a set of DIY-packs for easy embroidery so you can add a LM-touch to all your bags and garments!

I sewed this outfit for Ellis, a cute little two-year-old with loads of imagination. Stories without endings? She just invents them herself!

Her story itself is a brave one, since Ellis is fighting cancer. She is a little girl whom I got to know because she was in the same hospital as I was during my illness. At first I had planned to sew an Issie for Liv (the 9-year-old I babysit and mostly sew for), but the day after I got the invitation for the Issie blog tour Ellis’ mom asked me if I knew an easy-to-sew pattern with ruffles. I told her about Issie and she was very enthusiastic yet a little scared to start sewing with knits, so I promised her I’d sew an Issie for Ellis first. She bought the pattern right after we took the pictures and she already sewed an Issie herself too! Check it out here.

After being ill myself I have a strong desire to mean something to other people going through similar misery. I remember getting depressed of the grey ugliness of the hospital, so I tried to brighten up their day with a colorful outfit! 

The knit fabrics will be distributed to all the Lotte Martens stores (you can find them listed here) within the coming weeks. Keep an eye on Lottes facebookpagina for the exact dates! The skirt fabric is already for sale, as is the Issie pattern. The code ISSIERELEASE10 gives you a 10% discount.

T-shirt pattern: Issie top - Sewpony - size 18mo
T-shirt fabric: Aronia Pink - Lotte Martens (I used 50 cm)
Skirt fabric: Spacer Limonium Rainbow - Lotte Martens (I used half a panel)
Butterfly application: DIY pack Zinnia 003 - Lotte Martens
Model: Ellis, almost 3 yo

More Issie inspiration?

MONDAY 23/10: anaaisID//frl.love//naaisgerief//

WEDNSEDAY 25/10: VINK//amore//MeToezie//

FRIDAY 27/10: Beletoile//Flaflinko//Froleintilia//Ariane//

MONDAY 30/10: Riddersenrozen//128//

WEDNESDAY 1/11: WithlovebyEva//ByDagbjort//Stannel//

FRIDAY 3/11: Nah-connection//DoGuincho//Groovybabyandmama//liiviundliivi//

MONDAY 6/11: Pistolwhip//Mendandmakenew//Kneesocksandgoldilocks//

WEDNESDAY 8/11: Creativecatoo//Justaddfabric//Casennina//

FRIDAY 10/11: Enjoyfulmakes//Kaatjenaaisels//Larth//Whileshewassleeping

A last summer outfit

** Om deze post in het Nederlands te lezen, klik hier **

The Belgian fabrics brand See You At Six just launched their second collection, a mix of cotton lawns and sweater knits in beautiful prints. The Australian web shop Maaidesign stocks them all AND she ships internationally! I already bought some french terry to sew an Autumn sweater for myself, but first I want to show you something I made with their previous collection.

A beautiful cotton lawn in copper and rust with which I sewed an easy-peasy gathered skirt.

To match the skirt I sewed a top with a V-neck and flutter sleeves.  I altered the pattern to make the sleeves even wider and I added the V-neck to the back too.

I sewed this outfit back in July when Belgian temperatures were still nice and summery and I wore it so much! Right now the rain is pouring but I can't wait for summer to come back so I can wear this outfit again.

The pictures were taken by my little friend Liv again. She is just 9 years old but her pictures are amazing! I love how she makes me shine.

Stof rokje: Grid Copper, Playtime collection by See You At Six, bought at De Stoffenstraat

Stof topje: beige mêlée sweater fabric and glitter ribbing, both bought at De Stoffenstraat

Pattern skirt: self drafted
Pattern top: Knipmode 

BewarenBewaren

How to make your seven-year-old feel like a princess

She loves everything I sew for her. Little Liv, the seven-year-old that I babysit. As soon as she saw this skirt, it became her favourite.

No frogs were needed, a few layers of tulle were enough to make her feel like a princess.

I bought two types of white tulle. The 'hard' version, which feels a little rough and plastic-like, for a voluminous circle skirt, and the 'soft' version for a gathered skirt on top. Some white cotton fabric for the waistband and the lining and my princess skirt was done!

Princes, beware, this beautiful princess is waiting for you! And hurry, because today she gives free hugs :-)

A fairytale dress (#tinnyreturns)

*Nederlandstalig? Klik hier*

My little friend Liv loves stories. She likes to tell them, she likes to listen to them. After the initial shyness, her mouth can't stand still anymore. When we are just the two of us, she tells me about her small and bigger worries, about playdates and favourite teachers. She observes the world in her own special way and she asks questions about the Big Story of Life. She settles herself on my lap and listens to my answers, since I am so tall I must know almost everything. 

When we are just the two of us, time stands still and this shy seven-year-old shows me glimpses of her thoughts.

A few weeks ago, I followed a workshop where I drew, designed and printed my own fabric. I created a mysterious fairytale landscape at night, and now I have used this unique fabric for a mysterious fairytale dress! I combined it with a beautiful woolen fabric from the local fabric store. Apparently, it was part of Paul Smith's AW/1516 collection. The quality is just amazing.

As you might have guessed already, I used the Tinnydress-pattern by StraightGrain. I was so lucky to be one of the testers! This dress is by far the most perfect dress I have ever sewn! Because of the heavy weight of the fabric, I chose to stitch the pleats 6cm instead of 2,5. This idea even made it to the Tinnyspiration-lookbook, an online lookbook full of extra (T)in(ny)spiration!

Sensitive Liv doesn't like her clothes to be too fitted, so I chose for size 7 again (just like I did with my Jaanu dress for her). Although I myself would prefer a more snug fit, the dress is just gorgeous on her! These cap sleeves! The colourblocked front! The pleats! I love them!

With the fabric leftovers, I sewed a skirt for Livs sister Mila. I made the pleats exactly like they are in the Tinny pattern. The heavy fabric makes them stand out in a funny way.

I took the sisters out for a photoshoot, which they both loved. Even after sunset, they didn't want to hear about returning to the house. We enjoyed ourselves for hours and hours: they played with the attributes I brought, and I played with my camera settings. A dreamworld with stories and stars, totally in style with their new clothes.

Mila and Liv. Beautiful names for princesses with beautiful long hair. Tinny. Beautiful name for a perfect dress pattern. The code TINNYTESTER20 will give you a 20% discount in the shop!

I love Tinny, and I love these girls even more (babysitters aren't allowed to have favorites, but I can't help it! These two are just too lovely!)  To the moon, and all the way back.

More Tinny-inspiration on other blogs!

An InLinkz Link-up