A Tried and True Favorite

If I had to choose a pattern that gave me the most sewing-satisfaction when complete, it would have to be the Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress.  If you've made this pattern, you know what I mean.

I've made view A:

and view B.

I don't think she really ever (willingly) wore the view B.

The seersucker Jump Rope view A was worn until it turned into an indecent mini-skirt.  I thought it was time for another.

I used some Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey (shop link).  I really like her teeny flower illustrations.  I made this over a couple of days - this dress isn't really one to rush through.  I love the placket.  Seriously.  It makes you look like you really know what you're doing.

This is one of the patterns from that only went to a size 3, so I had to buy the bigger size.  This is a size 4, with 5 length.

I really love it.  Julia and I went to the beach for a nice long walk this late afternoon, and when we got back, she agreed to do some modeling.  The light was really funky as it was a kind of weird overcast evening.  Nonetheless, I (of course) have a bunch of photos to share....

I hope she loves this one as much as she loved the seersucker one.....only time will tell...but, I do have some green seersucker in my stash that I could use to make another. 

A Comfy Set for the Kid.....

So, I bought this.

Seriously, it's $22.50 for patterns for your entire family.  If you're like my family, that $22.50 will go a very long way. I'm thinking everyone will be getting t-shirts for Christmas this year....

And, so then, I made this:

The top is a modified size 4 t-shirt.  I added a peplum and a little bow.  No big deal, but they definitely made my kid love the outfit.  The leggings are the Oliver + S Playtime leggings in a size 4.  I think, next time, I may make the legs skinnier, and add 2 or 3 inches to the length.  But, for now, these fit just fine.

The fabric in the top is interlock from the Modern Workshop line from Oliver + S.  We just got some of the last bolts that Moda had in the shop.  It's everything I've read about it on other sewing blogs; absolutely butter-soft interlock.  If you're hesitant about sewing with knits, interlock is great to sew with as it's a bit heavier than t-shirt weight, so less slipping.

S

Seriously, she loves this outfit.  And, she took a 3 hour nap in it right before these pictures were taken - I think it looks pretty darn good post-nap.  I did wipe the drool off her face though.....

A funny aside - I was telling my oldest son that I had this pattern group and that I was going to make him a shirt.  I told him that part of the deal, however, was that he had to model for photos.  Julia proceeded to show him exactly how to do the model poses....I don't think you'll be seeing any modeled shots of my eldest son any time soon, but it would really be hysterical to see him model.....

KCW - Days 2 and 3 - Hello Petal Meets The Geranium

I got to sew all day today.  That is, the hours while the kid was in school.

I had already cut out a dress from the Geranium Dress pattern from Made By Rae.  I've made a bunch of these previously, and they're all in heavy rotation.  A simple sew, but a very effective pattern.

Julia's still wearing a couple of the size 3's that I made previously, and they still fit, but are getting too short.  So, I lengthened the bodice about 2 inches, and the skirt about 4 inches.  Perfect fit!

I've actually got a 3 inch hem on this, so she can have another growth spurt if she likes!

The fabric is from Moda - Aneela Hoey's Hello Petal line.  I love her florals - and I really love the colors.  This is a better view of the fabric - ignore the cheesy camera face....

I did an embroidered panel on the front and back.  I actually did the embroidery last week - it took me a whole morning. 

Sparkly buttons on the back for my sparkle loving kid....

This is a great pattern.....I highly recommend it!

Believe it or not, I have no clue what I'm going to be making for the rest of KCW - I have a bunch of ideas, though....stay tuned!

KCW - Day 7 - Go Bold or Go Home!

So, I absolutely didn't finish all that I had planned for KCW, but I definitely consider it a success.

I made one complete outfit (hopscotch skirt and top), a volcano costume, and today, I finished up a new pattern from Oliver + S - their Playtime pattern.

So, I can't even describe how much I like this pattern.  I used some extraordinarily bold fabric - from Zen Chic's Comma line from Moda.  I loved this fabric the first time I saw in, in fact, I have a couple of requests from the men in my house wanting shirts made from this line.

This is the tunic version, which matched perfectly from some leggings that I purchased.  Yes, occasionally, I do purchase clothes, but not too often.  I made this in a size 3 with 4 length, after actually measuring my kid and realizing that she still measures within the 2 for width, but is in the size 5 length-wise.  I think this size fits perfectly.  The dress version moved up rapidly on my to-do list....

I just love the topstitched details.  Seriously love.

The cut of the tunic is perfect for the budding ballet dancer's moves....

Yes, she likes it!!

Blog Silence...

So I haven't blogged in a little bit, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been sewing. I'm working on a fall jacket, made from Japanese canvas lined with Polar fleece. It's currently sitting as a UFO, but I'm excited to get it finished. I've just got to figure out a buttonhole solution on the heavy jacket...

 I tested a pattern for The Cottage Mama The Daphne Wrap Dress. The testing process was something I'd never been a part of on this level - she put a call out for testers, then invited you to a private Facebook group. She had four patterns that she was releasing, and a group assigned to each pattern. My assigned pattern was last, so I got to watch the process unfold. The three patterns seemed to go seamlessly (no pun intended) but when she got to the pattern I was working on, there were some glitches. I submitted my photo, and the designer wasn't happy - not with my work way the way the pattern turned out.  She didn't like the yoke length, (which hit at Julia' belly) and promptly re-did the yoke.

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.Take two - went together really quickly, as I'd already sewed one!

Apparently, this was more like what the designer had in mind - a shorter yoke length.  The second time, I made a size 4 with the 5 length....much better than take 1!

Fabric for both dresses are from my shop....the top is Anne Kelle's Girlfriend line....absolutely ADORABLE princesses....some with blond hair, some with dark hair, glasses, etc.  I just LOVE Anne Kelle's designs!   The second dress is made with fabric from Moda - Boho by Urban Chiks.  The fabric has a great hand to it, consistent with all the Moda fabric I've used so far. 

I did applique on the yoke of both dresses, and, my kid likes them!  Apparently, they are comfortable to wear, which is half the battle with a 3 year old.

I also made a little gift bag from the Anne Kelle Girlfriend princesses....my standard gift for preschool birthday parties...from the Oliver + S Little Things to Sew....

I put some pink jewelry, a pink princess t-shirt, and some girly sunglasses.  The gift was very well received by the recipient!

My next project will be my entry into the Flip This Pattern competition over at the Frances Suzanne Blog - if you haven't read their blog, you should - it's the sewing adventures of sisters who sew for their niece....they are amazing sewists, and are running a very fun competition....I'm up in July, so the rest of June will be getting ready!  I've got something cool, and VERY unexpected in store!!!

Summer Sewing - Seashore Sundress....

Say that ten times fast....

My plan was to skip summer sewing, and start on a fall wardrobe.  Julia really has probably enough clothes to last her for this summer.  She has tons of shorts, and a bunch of t-shirts and dresses. 

I decided to make her one last summer dress and use a size 4 pattern to gauge how much difference there is between a size 3 and a size 4 and decide what size I'd start sewing for the fall...which is, 4 months away, after all.

I used the Seashore Sundress pattern from Oliver + S.  I made a straight size 4 - no modifications.  I added bias piping, and I definitely was pleased with the effect, but it was a bit more work.

I used this fabric from Aneela Hoey's Posy - Ditsy Lily of the Valley - it's very understated, and I love the color...

The pattern is really cute - very girly.  Two little pockets in the front that my child was obsessed with....before the dress was on her for ten minutes, the pockets were filled with little seashells...

So, I think that looking ahead for fall sewing, I could still probably get away with a size 3 for several more months, but I think I'm going to start adding up to a 5 length.

Goofy kid!

Something completely different....

I'm a garment sewist - not a craft-sewist, or a bag-sewist.

But...

With Mother's Day approaching, and my mother living on the opposite coast from me, I decided I had better actually get started on her Mothers Day gift.

I never know what to get my mother for any holiday. 

So, I decided to try a pattern that I had never tried....

I used fabric that I absolutely love from Moda's Zen Chic - their Comma line.  I used the Comma Asterisks in black and white.  It is so cool.  At least I think so....

I used black denim, and about $50 worth of interfacing and fleece, or so it seemed.  I used a cheap-o McCall's pattern, and I must say it went together very well.  There's a magnetic snap closure, and a zipper pocket inside.

 

I love this bag.  I'd use it.  In fact, I'm going to tell my mother to send it back to me if she doesn't like it!

On another note, when you see people selling handmade bags on Etsy, and you think, "Oh, I can make that myself for cheaper...." - think again.  This bag cost quite a bit.  A zipper, magnet snap, D-rings, fleece, interfacing.  I don't even want to add it all up.....

A Posy Geranium!

I've been seeing so many adorable Geranium Dresses in the Geranium dress Flickr pool.  So, in spite of the fact that I need another pattern like a hole in the head (as my father used to say!) I broke down and downloaded it.  What I loved is the fact that it is exactly the type of dress my dress-wearing child likes - a gathered skirt, no sleeves, and pockets.  How could I go wrong?

Well, really, I couldn't go wrong.....

I chose some adorable, soft, sweet fabric from Aneela Hoey's Posy line from Moda.  I love the teeny bunnies!

There are a few shades of pink on a very pale lavender - perfect for my girly girl....I did some embroidery around the neckline to add detail and emphasize the really sweet neckline....

So, here's where I went wrong - the front and back are cut from the same pattern piece - one on the fold for the front, and the back not on the fold.  When cutting the piece for back, I laid my front piece on the fabric and cut around it.  Well, I also sliced a hair's worth of fabric off the fold, resulting in a gaping hole down the front of the dress.....I kind of figured I could hide the mistake in the pleats and just sewed a very narrow seam down the front.  Kind of ugly really....and, next mistake, I sewed the pockets too close together and am way too lazy to pick them out and re-do them.

Other than my mistakes, the pattern is wonderful!  Great options for flutter sleeve, sleeveless, and a faux cap sleeve - all great options for my sleeve-hating child!

The fabric is wonderful - very, very soft base cloth, which would be great for girls clothing or an amazingly soft quilt.  This dress is a size 3T with 4T length.  Fits exactly like my kid likes it.

She loves the dress and won't take it off....success!!

Cold Weather in SoCal....

At the beginning of the past week, the temperatures plunged....well, plunged as far as they go in Southern California.  When I left for work at 5:30 in the morning, the temperature was 45 degrees.  People were freaking out....wearing scarves, gloves, etc.  The Easterner in me knows that this was hardly cold....

My daughter doesn't have a winter coat, because "winter" is so fleeting around here.  I decided to try a pattern from Figgy's that I had always liked, but never tried - the Nituna jacket.

The pattern gives two options - a single layer such as wool coating or fleece, or a lined version.  I opted for the lined version and decided to use a blue corduroy and some quilting cotton designed by Liesl Gibson from her Ladies Stitching Club line.  The minute I saw this fabric, I knew that I was going to use some and coordinate with the beautiful shade of blue in the fabric.

I started this jacket at the beginning of the week, working on a teeny bit every night after work.  First tracing the pattern, then cutting/marking, and finally by Friday was able to sew it together.

Of course, by that time, the temperature was about 75 degrees during the day.....

I really like the finished jacket.  I made it in a size 2/3 with the length of a 4/5.  Typically, my daughter, a tall skinny 3 year old, wears between a 4 and a 5 in ready to wear, and I typically sew a size 3 with 4 length in patterns.  The sizing on this is generous to say the least.....

This is the first time I'd used one of Figgy's patterns.  It went together very well.  If I were to make this again, I think I'd actually use the smallest size (18 month) and length somewhere between the 2/3 and 4/5 for the sleeves.  I believe that perhaps it's sized so generously to accommodate most people's winter clothing underneath like heavy sweaters, but we don't typically have need for those here.

Corduroy plus quilting cotton make a great weight for our purposes.  Paired with a turtleneck jersey, I'm sure that this jacket will be quite warm enough for my kid to play in the sandbox at school on our coldest "winter" day.