Completed: Pinafores & Bloomers

Here are pinafores I started during KCW, completed with finished buttons and ruffled bloomers.

 

Stats: Pattern - self drafted Fabric - Amy Butler (orange) Grandma's closet (green)

Completed (Tested): Fresh Bloom Frock

I have been tapping my proverbial fingernails on the sewing table waiting for the release of this pattern. . . I'm so excited to share it with you guys!

This is Melissa Mora's (Blank Slate Patterns and Melly Sews) newest pattern -- The Fresh Bloom Frock! The idea originated from a challenge she issued to her fans. Sewists submitted inspiration ideas, and she chose one (submitted by the lovely sisters at Frances Suzanne) and drafted it up.

I've finished a lot of dresses for my girl. Lots are cute and have me twittering and dancing. This one had me shouting "YES!" and "I LOVE IT!" to an imaginary audience in my sewing area.

Warning: Loving a dress means you get to see lots and lots of pictures.

Melissa worked very hard to get the collar drafted. She's lowered it a little in the final version. Her directions were really clear, and once I figured out the logistics of how it was attached, things went smoothly. It closes with a button on one shoulder. Lovely and practical.

The bodice is fully lined, which is important to me.

The fit was right on with the measurements on the (virtual) envelope and fit Eliza beautifully. She'll be able to wear it all summer I suspect.

I used vintage feed sack fabric from my stash that's been waiting for just the right pattern. With its a-line design and invitation for piping detail, this was a project worthy of my cherished fabric.

The collar is actually supposed to be more pointed, but working with piping still challenges me, so sharp corners are elusive.

My favorite parts: the a-line shape, the collar!, the piping, the button, the fabric, oh my goodness. I'm about to start oozing again. (Poor Melissa. I actually gushed when I sent in my feedback. A little creepy, I'm sure.)

(Also creepy: this dress has been hanging on the wall in my dining area a.k.a. sewing area. I can't bear to put it away in Eliza's closet where it won't be fully appreciated and admired.)

It's everything I love about children's clothing: simple silhouette, modern touch, vintage fabric, opportunity for detail, unexpected colors. . .

You can see another version of the Fresh Bloom Frock here. Melissa is competing in Sewvivor and this is her first entry! (Aside: the first challenge's entries are incredible!) Also, you can buy the pattern here.

Tutorial: Bubble Pants

I made another pair of the pants that originally debuted in my Project Run and Play Week Two look. They're my own attempt to replicate Mini-Boden's version with a twist. This time I used some of my feed sack stash.

It took longer to snap the pictures and orchestrate this tutorial than it did to make the pants. They're super easy. This pair isn't lined, and the tutorial doesn't include instructions for lining them. Check out Dana's tutorial for the basic rundown if you're interested in lining a pair.

the downside to using the feed sack stash is it's limited, so it's hard to match stripes.

First, start with a basic pant pattern. What's unique about this one is it's only two pieces, but the seams are up the sides and around the inseam. It seems more common for two-piece pant patterns to be seamed up the center.

I started with the basic pant pattern from Lotta Jandstotter's Simple Sewing for Baby. 

Once you've got your basic pattern, you're going to create two seams up the front legs. (And now I'll let the pictures and text speak for themselves.)

You're finished! That's all there is to it.

They would be precious in corduroy. I'd like to make some cropped ones for summer.

The Happy Hedgehog (PR&P Week 2)

For week two of Project Run and Play, the challenge is to create a look with polka dots and stripes. My stash is woefully missing polka dots, but stripes are pouring over.

I took the opportunity to use some delicious striped scraps to make a comfortable knit combination for The Baby Girl.

Indoor pictures on a cloudy, rainy day. Bleh. 

At least there are some bright, cheerful flowers on the pants. I tried to make them scratch and sniff, but the lady at the fabric store said they were all out of scratch-and-sniff floral fabric.

I was forced to use a vintage sheet for the pants.

The Shirt:

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I cannot even take remote credit for this adorable hedgehog. I've had the Mini-Boden cardigan (left) pinned on my inspiration board for months. (Note: Did you see Lily wearing it the other night on Modern Family?! I squealed and said, "That's the HEDGEHOG I'm working on RIGHT NOW!" Ryan was less than impressed.)

The pattern was Made by Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee (size 18 month with extra wiggle room added), and the fabric came from Spiritex's warehouse sale.

I layered a bunch of scraps I had and stitched around each part individually. It turned out just the way I'd imagined. (Another note: When I went to take pictures of Eliza today in the shirt, I noticed a tiny hole right there over the hedgehog. It wasn't there last night, and I have no idea how it got there. I tried to fix it, but it's pretty obvious to me. *sob*)

For the cardigan, I modified the Flashback Skinny Tee pattern, adding a button placket and slicing it down the middle (size 2t to give more room).

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And the pants. I've had the Mini-Boden pants on the left pinned for a while, too, and I tried to modify a basic pant block to replicate them. It was kind of successful. They have a flat front and elastic back, plus the piping and button accents. There are a few things I'd change if I did it again.

Like I mentioned, they're made from a vintage bed sheet. They're also fully lined.

In fact, I'm planning to do it again, maybe with corduroy or a smaller print. If I can get it looking right, I'll do a tutorial.

This outfit suits her personality perfectly. Spunky, different, fun, and whimsical. Just to prove it, she gave me one of these:

If you're up for it, head on over to Project Run and Play to check out the other sew-alongers and this week's designers' looks.

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. . .