The wardrobe of Lily, a cousin of Luna Lapin

- none of the links in this post are affiliates, and any opinions are my own - 

In my previous post I introduced Lily Lapin, who got comfortably settled in my Studio recently.
Lily is a cousin of the well known Luna Lapin, and just like her cousin she is a talented sewist/seamstress, and loves to make her own clothes. So it was very fortunate that Sarah Peel, the creator of Luna, has written the book "Making Luna Lapin" with patterns and instructions for a wardrobe for Luna. After happily making Lily herself from the pattern in the book, making clothes for her was also a joyful project.

I had been asked to make a piece of rabbit/hare clothing for the blog hop around "Making Luna Lapin", but of course I could not stop at just one. And the book has so many patterns to choose from!

I started with making Lily a pair of French knickers. The pattern specified the use of lace, but since I did not have any to hand I added a small seam allowance to the pattern pieces and used a remnant of pretty cotton instead. At least she was decent if ever her skirt would lift a little.

Then I went on to make Lily a tweed skirt. It went together so quickly and easily, I am tempted to make several versions of this!

To go with the skirt I wanted to make a top. I wanted to use a lovely piece of liberty fabric, so I hemmed the fabric first and used the pattern for a lace top. I did use a lining (very light though) as was described for the lace top, because that makes it easier to finish the edges around the neck and arms. Both the skirt and top close at the back with small poppers.

Of course an outfit like this is not complete without boots, and yes, the book includes patterns for shoes and boots, too!

I used the pattern pieces to create some well-fitted boots, though I did change the way they close up. I used hooks and eyes to guide the ribbon laces instead of threading them through the felt as the pattern instructed. Aren't they just gorgeous?!

If you are interested in making your own version of Luna, the book (available as e-book, which I used, or paperback) is great. The patterns are all printed FULL size in the book, and stories about Luna are included, too. A preview of the book can be found towards the end of this post.

The book includes chapters on materials and techniques used, and the instructions with each pattern are described step by step. A beginner should take their time over these projects (sewing small can be tricky!), but a more experienced sewist should be able to use the patterns as a basis to give Luna (or her cousin) a wardrobe to be proud of.

I leave you with a few more photos of Lily. She was very happy to show off her efforts at dress making, and has recently started knitting, too...

I think there may be more dress making in Lily's future!
Do check out the others on the blog hop in the coming days, the schedule is as follows:

Monday 31st October – SewandSo
Tuesday 1st November – Meet Sarah Peel
Wednesday 2nd November – Sew of Course
Thursday 3rd November – Melanie Sews and Other Stuff
Friday 4th November – Poppy in Stitches

Monday 7th November – Carina Crafts
Tuesday 8th November – Bendigolioness
Wednesday 9th November – Bit of Tea and Honey
Thursday 10th  November – Thimbeleanna

"Making Luna Lapin" includes twenty patterns;
- from a short sleeved T-shirt dress with bow to a long sleeved polka dot dress with collar,
- from a winter cape (think little red riding hood) to a detailed wool coat,
- from a lace skirt with lace top to a tweed skirt with coordinating tweed bag,
- from a patchwork scarf to boots and shoes.
There are also patterns to dress Luna's brother Alfie in jeans, shirt and a waistcoat, an armchair for Luna to sit in, and of course the pattern for Luna herself is included, too!



I'm off now to work on a different project, I hope to show that next time.

This is also #2 goal in my Quarter 4 finishalong list, I will be linking it up at the the end of the quarter.
edit: linking up with the Q4 Finishalong at Rhonda's Ramblings
2016Q4FALsewofcourse 

Sandra

The cousin of Luna Lapin

- none of the links in this post are affiliates, and any opinions are my own -

Have you ever heard of the sweet Luna Lapin?
As the story goes:

"Luna Lapin was a quiet and kind rabbit. All rabbits are quiet, so it was not this that made her exceptional. What made Luna exceptional was the way she always said hello to passers-by and of course, her impeccable taste."

Luna likes to read and draw, but more than anything she loves to sew, especially clothes!
She is the creation of Sarah Peel, and if you want to make you own Luna, kits are available on Sarah's Coolcrafting website (or, read on...).
Luna's wardrobe has gradually been filling with some lovely outfits as well, and now Sarah has written a book called "Making Luna Lapin" - preview at the end of this post - with patterns and instructions for Luna's clothes (and some for her brother Alfie), including the pattern of the stylish rabbit herself, of course. To celebrate the book (e-book and paperback versions), there will be a celebratory blog hop at Sew and So at the beginning of November. I have been asked to be part of the blog hop, so I thought it was high time to get acquainted with a more local cousin of Luna, who has been named Lily!

Lily Lapin

Lily is a full cousin of Luna and was created in my Studio, here in rural Ireland.

Lily has her origins in a place whose name derives from the Irish for "hill of the hares" and so, unlike Luna, she must be fully hare. There are no rabbits at all in this high bog land area! Since she is from the hare side of the family, her name should really be Lily Lièvre (French for hare), but a combination of a complicated family tree (rabbits...!) and the fame of Luna has resulted in Lily being known by the name Lapin (rabbit), just like her cousin. If nothing else, at least it is a little bit easier to spell for English speaking people...

Since Lily came to life in the green land of mists, mysteries and fairies (and dare I say it, leprechauns...), she has a touch of magic, too. This is quite obvious when you look at her closely: She has an unusual light blue skin tone and a rather pale nose, as well as dark and mysterious eyes. Of course she shows many similarities to her famous cousin, too: Have a look at her gorgeously bright Liberty inner ears, for example!

Lily came together really fast, thanks to the great pattern in "Making Luna Lapin". With step by step instructions and full size pattern pieces putting her together was a most enjoyable project! Using wool felt Lily was mostly sewn by hand, and when I make another Lapin family member I don't think I will get the machine out at all. The hardest part was deciding which buttons to choose to give her face a pleasant expression...

Even though the photos suggest otherwise, Lily didn't have to show much skin for long, don't worry. If nothing else, it would be much too cold for that! Fortunately, she has also inherited Luna's interest in sewing, and loves to make her own outfits! In her inspirational studio (or more fanciful "atelier", as the more elegant French Lapin relatives like to call it) she has developed a flair for sewing tasteful clothes with the help of Luna's book, and so her wardrobe is gradually filling up just like Luna's. 

With the help of "Making Luna Lapin", a lot of sewing (and some knitting) has been going on, and a complete outfit for Lily has been created! However, more details on all that will have to wait till it is my turn on the blog hop next week. I hope to see you there!

edit: see the clothes I made at "the wardrobe of Lily..."

I leave you with a preview of the book:



And I'm off to sew, of course!

Sandra