Kids Clothes Week

It's time for the Kids Clothes Week Challenge again! It's grown so much there's an entire blog dedicated to it now. The idea is to spend an entire week - one hour (at least) each day - working on sewing-related tasks for childrens' clothes.

Last Fall during KCWC I bit off more than I could chew and tried to complete a project each day. By the end of the week I was burned out, and while Eliza wore some of those outfits over and over, I was bored with the results. This week I decided to plan, try for the hour a day, and see what happened.

I'm at my parents' house in Memphis (!!!), so I had to be flexible, but I'm pleased with the results. We're packing up tonight -- no more sewing until I get back to the mountains.

This little t-shirt took me an hour start to finish. I started with a basic t-shirt block, lengthened the shoulder back, shortened the shoulder front, and widened the shoulder front to allow for gathers. The fabric came from a hand-me-down woman's t-shirt. It's lightweight and soft. The 3t size will fit her all summer.

The other projects were also experiments. I drafted my own pinafore pattern and made matching ruffled bloomers. (The polka-dotted bloomers are from the Ruby Ruffle Dress.) The fabric all came from my stash -- except the green flowered fabric. That was from Grandma Jean's stash. It's lined with the never-ending polka dot Tilda fabric that I adore.

The orange one is shirt length with knit bloomers. The fabric is Amy Butler on the outside and lightweight knit on the inside.

The only thing missing from both are the fabric-covered buttons and buttonholes. I'll finish those up next week and get pictures of Eliza modeling them.

The projects in the Elsie Marley Flikr pool are pretty awesome. I'm linking my humble contribution up, too!

Completed: Upcycled T-Shirts

Confession: my kids don't wear clothes.

85% of the time, Lee hangs out in underwear and Eliza in a diaper. (Daniel wears a Spider-Man costume unless he's bathing.)

Either we're keeping the house too warm, or our kids just don't like clothes. Considering I'm usually wearing three layers and still shivering, all signs point to the latter.

Why do I still sew for them? Because occasionally we leave the house, and even though I'm not picky about what they wear, it's preferable they're wearing something.

In planning Lee's summer wardrobe, I can keep it pretty simple knowing he'll be traipsing around the backyard in his Underoos. So, here's the list: seven t-shirts, four shorts, three dress shirts, two dress slacks. Poof. Done. Easy.

The train and pirate shirts are finished, so he just needs five more. Lucky for us Ryan's brother is generous with his hand-me-downs. His t-shirts aren't your prepackaged variety. They're nice.

I sized them down, keeping the original graphics and sleeve hems. (The Flashback Skinny strikes again.) For good measure, I made another pirate shirt using the Raw-Edged Raglan pattern (without the raw edges) from Sewing for Boys. (If you're keeping count, that's three t-shirts from 1.5 yards of pirate fabric. With shipping and everything, that's $6 a t-shirt. Not bad.)

For the raglan, I added red flat piping in the arm seams. The pop of red is a nice touch. This is the size 6-7 and fits perfectly.

These little shirts were so easy, especially now that I've mastered the neckband. He's pretty thrilled to wear Uncle Brandon's old t-shirts, too.

I'm thrilled that my often-half-naked boy can leave the house this summer without traumatizing the local retirees.

Signature Style (PR&P Week 6)

What excites me about this week's challenge at Project Run and Play (Signature Style Week) isn't my final look. I'm pleased with it overall, but that's not the best part.

The best part is that I've met my goal of cementing my "signature style." When I look at my first and second entries into PR&P last fall, I was all over the place. My intention this time was to use my stash and upcycle, which is the same as it was last time. BUT, this time each result was much more reflective of my preferred style.

So, if you want to see my "signature style," look at any one of this season's completed projects. You'll see a common theme: comfort (knits), upcycling, classic silhouettes, shortened bodices, applique, and muted colors.

The second-best part is that I've gotten more comfortable with drafting my own patterns! Just like everything else in life, Practice Makes Better.

The sweater is a maternity sweater from Old Navy. It was the very first maternity item I ever purchased. (Long before I got pregnant, by the way.) It's a self-drafted pattern based around the Flashback Skinny. The lining is original to the sweater, just sized down to fit the smaller version. 

The dress is gray corduroy from my stash. (It wrinkles so easily.) I made it too big intentionally so she can wear it next winter. The design is all my own. Several months ago I saw this dress (it's no longer available) that served as the inspiration. The bodice lining and piping are also stash fabric (you can also see the lining fabric here).

There are several tweaks I'm planning to make to it next time. I'd like to have gathers in the back scoop that match the front. Also, I plan to use smaller piping so I can manipulate it more easily. 

That's a wrap!

I've got two more baby girl dresses to finish this week. The new, improved version of this one is first up. The second one will be the unfinished dress from Valentine's Week. 

Then Eliza will officially have an obscene number of dresses, and I will go back to sewing big girl clothes for a little while.

Thanks for playing along!

** These photos were taken at Biltmore, one of my favorite places. A perk of living here and having season passes is that we can pop over on a Thursday morning. We don't take it for granted.

Layered Ruffle Tee (PR&P Week 5)

(update: a tutorial for this top is available here.)

This week at Project Run and Play it's time for The Men's Dress Shirt Challenge. We were supposed to take a men's button-down (or up?) shirt and design something for a child.

I've been excited about this one since the lovely ladies announced the themes. There's a stack of dress shirts in Ryan's closet that are too gross for donating but too valuable to toss. (The buttons and fabric alone are worth keeping around.)

Among those ring-around-the-collar-stained shirts was one Ryan got when we were newly married. It was an Old Navy button-down that was paired with a red pullover sweater. My heart skipped a beat every time he wore it. Ryan looks good in red. And in layers. Preppy layers.

Oh, hello. I got distracted for a minute. Whew. Focus, Michelle.

Tossing that stained shirt in the trash was out of the question, but I figured it'd be perfect as a remade shirt for Eliza. I've been wanting to make a layered tunic like the one pictured below ever since I bought it at Target months back. It's the Oshkosh brand that Target carries (Genuine Kids), and it's my favorite (store-bought) top in her wardrobe.

source

Turns out it was a little tougher to execute than it looks. It's that extra, bottom layer of gathered ruffle - how to attach it, etc. I studied the Genuine Kids one and tried to replicate it from the inside out, and here's what resulted.

I started with a basic t-shirt pattern (another Flashback Skinny Tee, anyone?) and started hacking away. I'd really like to do a tutorial, mostly because I want to document the steps so I can repeat this look.

The pants are a basic two-piece, self-drafted pattern with heart knee patches made of the upcycled shirt. The denim isn't stretchy, but it seems comfortable enough.

It's a little poofier than the Target version, simply because Ryan's button-down dress shirt is a heavier weight. As much as I'd like to use some of my fun quilting cotton next time, it really needs a lighter weight gauze or voile.

But I'm kind of liking the poofy.

It's hard to see in these pictures, but the arm hole is cut out of the top knit layer, and it also continues in the first ruffly layer. This time I had to do set-in sleeves because I sewed the side seams first. Next time I'll do it the easy way and sew up the sides and arms all at once.

This week I'm off to THE MARTHA PULLEN SCHOOL OF ART FASHION! I have to yell that because, well, it's MARTHA PULLEN! My Christmas gift was a one-day class taught by Lindsay Wilkes, blogger and designer behind The Cottage Home and Cottage Mama. I'm driving down and staying overnight! By myself! In a hotel! Then sewing for a whole day! With other people! Who like to sew! 

I'll try to calm down a little before I write a blog post about it. All the exclamation points are making me a little dizzy. Kind of like the idea of meeting Martha Pullen! And Lindsay Wilkes!

Thanks for indulging my psychosis. I know you get it. 

Completed: Thanksgiving Tunic & Leggings

We're on the second week of a two-week traveling adventure. The kids are sick, and I've caught it just in time for the marathon. Joy.

Our Thanksgiving was lovely. We were in Indiana and Kentucky with Ryan's family. The weather allowed us to explore Ryan's grandparents' farm, and we spent time with family we haven't seen since last Thanksgiving.

I finished Eliza's Thanksgiving outfit before we left. The brown pants and shirt were made from a pair of Ryan's mom's velvet gouchos. They were so soft and beautiful.

Once again, I used Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern and modified it into a turtleneck. It looked awesome. I even went to the trouble of changing my serger thread to match. The only problem -- it wouldn't fit over her head. The material was stretchy, but apparently not that stretchy.  

After trying for five minutes, she was furious, so I gave up. Then I tried unpicking the seam down the back of the neck, splitting it open, and hand sewing it closed. It looked adorable but still wouldn't fit over her head.

The leggings were perfect. They looked store-bought.

For the tunic, I used the basic dress pattern from Lotta Jandstotter's Simple Sewing for Baby again. The green corduroy came from my Grandma Jean's sewing stash (again). The turkey template was courtesy of The Cottage Mama's tutorial, and the fabric for the tail was also from Grandma's stash -- vintage feed sacks.

After I got over the top not fitting, I used a white turtleneck as substitute. (Lucky for me I scored another white turtleneck on Just Ducky's Cyber Monday sale this morning. LOVE those white turtlenecks!)

She dabbled in a little makeup at the children's museum.

As much as I adore this pattern and combination, it's time to branch out a little bit and try something new. Up next - a couple of jackets. Maybe a pleated top? Some skinny jeans for the boy? A smocked bishop in corduroy for Christmas? The list grows and grows and grows. . . 

Project Run & Play "Signature Look"

My signature style is usually whatever's handed down. Or gifted. Or on sale.

But if I have a choice, I gravitate toward a few things for the kids' clothes.

Simple, classic silhouettes. Appliques. Vintage fabric. Upcycled fabric. Knits. Practical, comfortable stuff. Coordinated (matchy matchy).

Generally I like color, but this outfit has been speaking to me for a while now, ever since I saw this dress. It captures my "signature look" pretty well.

I took the tunic and leggings I finished the last day of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge and added an applique and headband.

I'm throwing it into the Project Run and Play flikr sew-along pool. It's the last week for the competition, so the final three are competing with their own signature looks. They're sure to be dynamic.

The 80s Jumpsuit & Dress

Due to popular demand (okay, it was just my mother), I'm posting pictures of the dress and jumpsuit before they got cut up to make Eliza's outfit.

Behold: The black linen dress from Limited Express.

And the animal-print jumpsuit, complete with pockets.

And this little blue gem, which will turn into a cardigan (or ten) for the baby. The shoulder pads. The extra-wide arm hole. The drop waist. It's all too much to bear.

My mother looked ravishing in these outfits back in the day. There were glitter-encrusted-animal-print heels to match. I'm not even kidding.

Fortunately they get an extra life on another beautiful girl!
.

KCWC Day Seven & Wrap Up

By day seven I lost my steam. I cut out an a-line tunic (pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby) from an 80s dress of my mothers. It's medium weight linen. The dress was from. . . wait for it. . . Limited Express. I should have snapped a picture of the label.

Today I finished the tunic to match the 80s leggings.

That's the best I could do to capture an image of it all. (shakes fist at slow-poke Nikon repair shop)

My plan is to embellish the top with an applique, add a headband, and submit it to the Project Run and Play sew-along for "Signature Look" week.

Here's what I made in the seven days:
8 pairs of knit pants
5 knit shirts
1 linen tunic

All upcycled. All self-drafted patterns. By the end of the week, I was bored. Next time I'll throw in some patterns and some new fabric. She'll get plenty of wear out of the pants, but the shirts are made of very thin knit, so I don't think they'll hold up for long.

I'm a pattern girl. The knit pants and envelope shirts are okay with my own pattern, but otherwise I'm planning to spend the money on professional patterns. After seeing all the lovely examples this week, here are the ones on my list:
The Greenpoint Cardigan by hey june 
Flashback Skinny Tee by Made by Rae
Oliver + S Puppet Show Tunic & Shorts
Washi Dress by Made by Rae (oops! This one's for me.)

This week barely made a dent in my sewing to-do list (and my stash!), but it was neat to have the motivation to sew every day. Now I'm just ready to sleep. And clean up my sewing area.

KCWC Day Six

Last night I finished several pairs of upcycled knit pants for Eliza. I'm envisioning her wearing these under skirts or dresses. Or maybe with a sweatshirt or t-shirt for playing around the house.

Those animal print ones (from one of Mom's 80's jumpsuits) will be part of a larger outfit that's planned. Today's the last day for KCWC, so maybe I'll finish up that top tonight.

P.S. Eliza appeared on the elsie marley blog today! (Meg, elsie marley's author, created the KCWC phenomenon.)

KCWC Day Four

A girl can never have too many white t-shirts.

This one's made from another upcycled t-shirt. It's paper thin and super soft. My serger protested, but it turned out perfectly.

When I put it on her, she rubbed her belly and smiled. That's approval in 16-month-old terms.