Accessible House Update and Christmas Treat Toppers - FREE PRINTABLE

Hi All and Merry Christmas from all of us!

ACCESSIBLE HOUSE - An Update

Thank you to all those that have visited our blog and followed our somewhat disjointed story via this blog.  I will update on the Accessible Home as we progress, but suffice to say its now with the Council awaiting approval of the plans.  We have also started the LifeMark Certification of the house to make sure both ourselves and the Building Company we engaged keep to the Accessibility plans for the house.  One thing that has come out of the process so far is that if anyone asks me of a recommendation for building companies or building an accessible home I would say to ask the company this (not the salesman because they will tell you ANYTHING to get a sale) and when I say ASK the Company I mean ask the Management of the Company whether that be the CEO or whomever is closest to the top.  Ask them "HAS YOUR COMPANY EVER BUILT AN ACCESSIBLE HOME BEFORE?" if they say "YES" then ask: "HOW MANY HAVE YOU ACTUALLY BUILT?" I would then go on to ask them details of how they built it, what level of disability the customer had etc.  It doesn't have to go into personal details its just so you can gauge their level of expertise and UNDERSTANDING.  Its really stood out to us these past few months that the general mobile population seems to think those with limited mobility are probably Old People and their perception is skewed coupled with a innocent ignorance of the way those of us with a disabled person in our care live our lives.  I am sure we didn't get a lot of things right and we'll figure that out once we live in the place.  Its hard having a child that is both mobile and requires a wheelchair to get around.  Its hard trying to meet both needs and often we aren't sure what the future holds for us.

One of the many iterations of the kitchen design

Recently we've started the process for a new bed, a new van (with wheelchair hoist), a new wheelchair, hoists, the housing team to go over the new build and lots of other adaptations.  This is because next year our son turns 10 and he is growing and getting TALL and HEAVY! But mostly its so we can work on HIS independence and so we can bring in Carers and Buddies to help him live his life in the best way he can.  2017 is shaping up to be an interesting year with lots of new adventures for us all.



But onto Christmas and what we've been doing lately...

CHRISTMAS GOODIES

With a new home looming the finances are a bit tight so we opted to make homemade goodies for our friends and family as gifts.  It was also something our son loves to do, COOKING!
So we have been busily making our famed Creamy Fudge recipe that we have been asked to make for the last few Christmases.With that is each year we try different ways of packaging them.  Last year I think I made Origami Boxes using Scrapbooking Paper.  This year I went for Cellophane bags and Treat Toppers.  If you google or Pinterest Treat Toppers you'll find all sorts out there, some good, some a bit...well... different and not my cup of tea, and then there are plenty you can pay for...either way it was just a little too MUCH to wade through and find just THE one so instead I got busy with the Desktop Publishing Software (PagePlus Starter - I've mentioned it in previous blog entries) and made a topper of my own.  So I thought I would share it with you here:
(requires a Google DRIVE login to open and Adobe Viewer to View)

GOOGLE DRIVE LINK

So Print them out on A4 Paper with your printer, Cut out each one and fold in half then place over the top of your Sellotaped down Cellophane Bag and staple in place (like I have here):

We shoved lots of Christmas Shortbread , the fudge and intend to make White Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Cookies as well then put them all into Tins to take to our friends.


Thanks for Reading our blog and ENJOY!

Tutorial - Adding Pockets to the Oliver+S Sunny Day Shorts Pattern

I wanted to make up the free 'Sunny Day Shorts' Pattern by Oliver & S but felt it needed some pockets so I decided to modify the pattern & make a tutorial for you all to see how it's done!

Instructions:

What You'll Need

- the pdf of the pattern printed out & sellotaped together (see link above)

- some tracing paper to trace the size you want onto

- felt or marker pens to draw your pattern

- Sellotape if required

- about 40-50cm X 120cm cotton fabric (I used drill)

- pins

- sewing machine

- thread

- 20mm wide elastic (about 60cm)

Tracing your pattern:

Select your size from the printed Sunny Shorts PDF & trace off all pieces in the size you want.

Adding pockets to the traced pattern:

Using just the traced front of the shorts pattern draw a curved line from the shorts pattern top & the side seam. I didn't really measure it I just 'guessed' how long & wide I wanted it. The first curve will be the pocket opening. Slightly away from that curve draw another curve in the shape of a pocket. My rule of thumb was to make it about 5cm away from the first curve at the top. The square grid on the Oliver&S pattern helps to give you a general size. (See the photo for how I did it)

From the traced pattern piece trace the pocket piece only, for the facing draw from the side seam across & down the second curve & back to the side seam. For the pocket pouch trace around the first curve (pocket opening) & across & down the second curve to the side seam. (See photo for pieces)

Cutting out your shorts:

Pin all your pieces to the fabric ensuring you cut out 2 pocket pouches & 2 pocket facings. For the front slash lines to the first curve & fold the piece back so you're able to cut the curve as part of the front. (See photo)

Sewing the shorts:

Pin the pocket pouch to the front shorts piece, matching curved edges right side to right side.  Pin and stitch

Turn out and iron flat.  Top stitch curved edge about 1/2cm away from the edge.

Place the front on the pocket facing piece matching the pocket pouch and pocket facing right sides together. (see photo) pin pocket facing and pocket pouch along outer edge and stitch.

Lay front and pocket flat, pin top of pockets and front at upper edge and side of pockets at side seam.  Baste in place.

Pin & stitch front and back together at side seams as mentioned in the Oliver+S instructions, catching in the pocket sides (you should have this happen easily if you basted as I said in the step above).

Continue following the instructions in the Oliver+S pattern instructions.  You should then end up with a completed shorts and be ready to do the waistband!

Continue to follow the instructions as mentioned in the pattern ensuring you catch the top of the pockets into the waistband (the basting should help) and you should have it looking like the below photo:

Follow the instructions for the waistband and you should have a completed pair of shorts with pockets like mine below!  Hope this helps you to modify the Oliver+S Sunny Day Shorts Pattern.

These are a great easy pair of shorts that fit really well and you can easily whip up lots of them.  If you aren't keen on doing the whole inset pockets like my instructions you could instead make patch pockets using a similar method or extending the shorts leg length and adding side pockets.  If you want me to make up a tutorial for those two options just ask!

Happy Sewing

Vivien

Seatbelt Protector Tutorial

As promised here is an easy but useful project - The Seatbelt Protector.  Its a good way to use up leftover scraps or those oft collected Fat Quarters!

You'll need the following:

• Patterned Cotton of your choice
• Flannel, microfibre or other absorbant fabric scrap
• Plain cotton backing, or more patterned Cotton of your choice
• KAM size 20 Snaps x 2 Sockets & 2 Studs  (or pieces of hook & loop velcro) 
• Double Fold Bias Binding 12mm wide or knit ribbing strips 

From the 3 fabrics cut the following:

• Cut 23cm x 18cm piece of patterned Cotton

• a 23cm x 18cm piece of flannel (or other absorbant fabric)

• and a 23cm x 18 cm piece of backing fabric

Pin the three layers of fabric together wrong side of patterned cotton to right side of the inner flannel layer, and the wrong side of the backing fabric to the wrong side of the flannel layer.

Overlock (or zig-zag stitch on a normal machine) all the three layers together

With backing fabric facing you fold out one side of the binding and bind around the edges curving at the corners. Trim corners off of all the fabrics taking care not to cut the binding strip.

Fold over binding to the patterned cotton side and stitch in place (you can also press at this stage to make it easier to stitch the binding.

you now have a completed bound Seatbelt protector - wasn't that easy?

At this point you can do two different fastening options.  Add two KAM Snap Studs as I have done.

on the opposite side you need to put the KAM Snap Sockets.  Notice how they are both on the patterned fabric, this is so that the Protector has a folded edge as in this below picture:

You can also sew on hook velcro tape piece to one long side and loop pieces on the other side as I have done with the snaps.  

I wouldn't recommend using buttons to fasten these as the buttons will be bulky and uncomfortable against the childs skin.  

HAPPY SEWING!

Vivien