Watermelon Fun

Still stash sewing! I hope I can keep this up. I have been keeping track - so far, I have sewn over 18 yds from my stash and nothing new has gone on the shelf!



Today naptime was trying out this Swing Tank pattern by True Bias. I'm still looking for a simple top that might work with my child's huge head for the Wellen Tank.

Details

Pattern: Swing Tank

Size: 2T (fits quite well now, and she's wearing mostly 18mo)

Fabric: lightweight cotton print

Notions: purchased 1/2" bias tape, 1/8" elastic, daisy shank button

Modifications: I stopped the back seam 1/2" lower than the pattern directed, to allow for huge headedness. Also did not do the button loop of fabric, but rather an elastic loop.

 

 

The colours aren't quite true - it's more of a light lime. If I do use this pattern again, I might cut it longer so I can do a proper hem that will hang nicely. I also did not really like the bias tape facings for the armholes and neck. They did not lie flat - the culprit might be the lightweight fabric. I'd cut self facings next time, or bind the edges.

 

 

KCW Day 6 & 7 Bubble Dress

So. Day 6 & 7 were Saturday and Sunday - Saturday was crazy, so Sunday and Monday were Day 6 & 7 for me.   Mostly Monday. Heh. Such is life with little people (who are the very reason I'm sewing, I guess!).

Tea, Mommy?

Details

Pattern: "Pallohelma" from Ottobre Winter 2012/6

Size: 74

Fabric: remnant of navy/white cotton, white quilter's cotton lining/trim

I spraying wall, Mommy!

It's more a wide tunic than a real dress on Abigail, even this is her size by measurement. If I did it again, I'd do one size smaller for width and one size bigger for length. The pattern directions were for an invisible zipper, which I didn't have, so I had to try remember how to put a regular zipper in a dress with a lining. The instructions for sewing the bubble hem had me twisting my brain inside out. You basically leave a hole in the lining at one side seam, then gather the shell and sew the shell and lining together through that gap, "as far as you can reach". My first attempt ended up with the back of the dress somehow enclosed between the bubble hem! Rip. Then I just pinned the hems together from the outside - awkward, but I couldn't visualize it... Once part of it was pinned, I reached through the hole and was able to finish pinning and sew all the way around.

I expect she'll wear it over a long-sleeve shirt and leggings/tights this spring, then as she grows, over capri leggings, maybe no shirt this summer.

All done pictures, Mommy!

 

 

KCW Day 4 & 5

Insa again! I seriously love this skirt, from the book Sewing Clothes Kids Love. Lots of ways to customize it so they never look the same.

I was inspired by some of the details on the beautiful Insa Choochmagooz did during KCWC Fall 2010.

Insa by Choochmagooz

 More of that "Genevieve" by Amy Hamberlin for Henry Glass Fabrics (the fabric that never ends! But I still love it.)

 

Details

Pattern: Insa skirt from Sewing Clothes Kids Love

Size: 18mo/2T (86, I think?)

Fabric: "Genevieve" by Amy Hamberlin

Trims: grosgrain ribbons, hand-crocheted cotton lace and flower

Mods: Sewed casings under each of the overskirt seams, using strips of the same fabric, for the cinching ribbons.

  

And just because she's funny and cute: "Squishy Face!"

KCW Day 3

Yesterday's sewing time was scattered, but here's what I did manage:

Details

Pattern: testing for Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop

Fabric: green with stars (Judie Rothermel for Marcus Bros. Textiles), white cotton trim

Size: 18mo

Buttons from Fabricland, $1.60 for a card of 5, on sale for 50% off! She helped pick them out - they are round with stars engraved in them. She's quite pleased with it.

 

KCW Day 2 (1/2)

Definitely more than one hour yesterday. I had naptime to sew in, then a quiet evening, so more like 3 hours. But --

I made this top, based on the lining of an Ottobre dress, still trying to figure out a woven top for my big-headed kid so I can do the Wellen tank.



It turned out beautiful - the only issue is, I did not do the keyhole opening at the back deep enough, so it still doesn't go over her head... Of course I found that out after naptime, when I had already neatly bound the neck and opening edges with narrow bias tape, a lovely job, if I may say so.  Guess this one goes back on the pile to fix.

Details:

Pattern self-drafted, based on the lining of Ottobre Winter 6/2012, #7

Fabric: Slightly textured cotton, narrow purchased bias tape

 

Then came this white on white ruffle petticoat I've been wanting to make for a while. I got it all but the waistband done yesterday - whipped that on this morning (hence Day 2 1/2). I figure it will fit her a while, as a skirt, or under skirts or dresses.

I love how it turned out! Hopefully can add some modeling pics later - she is in a mood now.  It's a 3/4 circle skirt. I used the amazing circle skirt calculator by Patty of thesnugbug. Worked out perfectly. The ruffles are from the leftovers of the white gauze I used here (from the remnant bin), and the skirt itself is more white quilters' cotton that I've been using up for linings, trims, and facings. I cut the ruffles selvedge to selvedge, so I  just overlapped the ends of each strip and did a rolled hem on my serger on each edge. The waistband is a casing of soft interlock with 3/4" wide elastic enclosed.

 

KCW Day 1

Flannel nighties!! For my baby and her babies.  I wasn't sure a nightie would be practical in size 2 (she's still in 18 mo), so I made it a 3 for next summer. Now I'm regretting that choice because she is so happy with the nightgowns for her dollies. Hmm. Oh, well, another 2 yards off the shelf!!



 

Details

Patterns: Sweet Little Dress by Leila & Ben, my own draft for dolls

Fabric: white flannel(ette?) with rosebuds and pink flannelette

Sizes: Size 3T, Bitty Baby, and 13" doll 

Mods: Added a ruffle at the hem of the girl nightie (loving the rolled hem feature on my serger!)

 

I'm challenging myself not only to sew for at least an hour a day, but also to use what I have in stash only.  So far, so good!  The sewing forum I'm on is doing a stash challenge, and I have no negative points for fabric in this month yet!

Kids Clothes Week Spring 2013!

I am joining in for Kids Clothes Week this spring! Last year I got so much done during KCWC 2012.  (It's a year ago also that I started this blog!)

Last week a lot of my sewing time was prep for this week. I have most of the patterns I want to use traced out, just a few left. Lots of the things are cut out now too, and I've planned embellishments, though they may change.

 



 

Sketches. Still looking for a tank top or shirt pattern in a woven (back neck closure) so I can try the Wellen tank. I don't really trust my pattern drafting skills, plus, Abigail has such a huge head we'll need the back neck opening...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My mom's birthday is April 23. She was over last night for a visit and translated a Dutch pattern for a friend, so I was able to give her a little something for her birthday!



It's the bow clutch again, this time in a flocked taffeta, lined in purple/blue/pink floral cotton.  This time I rounded the bottom corners, and I did the zipper ends again.



This one was a bit of a trial for something else I had in mind - I'm glad I decided to add a little detail, because I love it! (especially with the olive military skinny pants.)

Isn't that just the most cheeky little face?? (excuse the dirty mirror...)

Details

Pattern: Pleated Dress by Leila & Ben 

Fabric: Daisy Kingdom gingham, scraps of cotton in white and purple rose print

Mods: I shortened the pattern to top/tunic length, made it a little wider at the hem for a swing effect, cut the front without the pleat, and did a facing instead of full lining. Also added a ruffled button placket on the front before lining.

 

Here it is without a shirt under it. Not quite liking how open the armholes are. I think this will just be for layering instead of a sleeveless top.  She loves it though - "Adidail pitty!"





The other night I whipped up a couple of these snack pouches. I'm tired of sending plastic ziploc bags to school, but Ian can't open the smaller plastic containers himself - he loves this flames bag!



I used the tutorial here, mostly for dimensions. Tried it out first with some plain white PUL as lining and cotton for outers. These are 5"x6" and 4"x4".  I did the flames one as a single layer, and added an extra 1.5" at the flap to double it over for some extra weight.





Getting excited for the Kids Clothes Week challenge next week!

On a roll stash busting!

Diaper clutch/change pad

 

Details

Tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew

Outer fabric: Barnslig yardage from IKEA 

Inner fabric: vinyl quilted change pad fabric

 

 

 

Bow Clutch

 

Details

Tutorial by Elm Street Life

Fabric outer: leftover linen-look from dining room curtains

Fabric inner: poly-cotton blend 

 

 My only modification was to make tab-style covers for the ends of the zipper, as I didn't have a long enough one.

 

 

Piped pocket skirt

Next up:  a piped pocket skirt!



I had wanted to make a simple dress for Abigail, sort of a canvas for something fun, but didn't have quite enough of this charcoal twill, so skirt it was. I sized up the tutorial a little bit by cutting 1/2" off the top of the skirt pieces and adding 1" to the hem.  Then I added a facing to the inside of the waist, instead of folding a casing down. Far less bulky. The facing and the inner of the pockets are scraps from the polka dot ruffle top. I used some scrap cording and narrow white bias tape to make the piping.

She likes it!

Polka dot ruffle top

I have had this pinned for a very long time!!  I finally tackled it.  Not entirely happy with it, but it's pretty cute.

Tutorial:  Shwin & Shwin - I started from a blouse pattern in Ottobre magazine (Verena blouse, I think Ottobre Autumn 4/2011)

Fabric: Cotton polka dots from the remnant bin, white cotton, ruffles of white crinkle cotton or gauze, also remnant

Notions: buttons, twill tape for size tag, narrow bias tape for hem facing, ribbon, interfacing

 

I think it's a size 2T based on how it fits her now... I based my pattern pieces on a size 80 to fit her this summer, but I think this one may run wide. It's a bit big on her...



The ruffles are 1.5" strips of crinkle cotton, folded in half to avoid hemming. I just ran the raw edges together through the serger, then pulled up on the needle threads to gather, so finishing, hemming, and gathering in one go!

I think I'd be happier with it if I'd made the smaller size bodice, and also either extended the polka dot side of the bodice more than I did. It looks more off-centre than asymmetrical... Also probably should have tried to make the overskirt part stop where the bodice of that colour stops.

The top ruffle on the skirt part ended up being just a touch to low to catch the serged edge in the waist seam, so I used a little white ribbon to cover it. Also, planning ahead for hem allowance would have been good. I cut the skirt part and facing to have 1/4" seam allowance, and matched it to the back skirt piece. Which left just the 1/4" for hem all around. SO I used some narrow single-fold white bias tape as a hem facing. No topstitching visible anywhere - hand-stitched the back of the hem, and machine-stitched the front hem under the ruffles.  I understitched the neck facing. Whew!

Mod Dots Pleated Dress

pattern: Pleated Dress by Leila & Ben
size: 12months
materials: cotton blend outer, quilting cotton lining, poly resin snaps, purchased piping

Sorry for the blur - she never stops moving!

Fun pattern, once again! The fabric is leftover from my sewing room curtains. It has a fault every so often - the pocket and the tag are covering the two that were on this length of fabric!  The piping was a bear to get in nicely... I could not figure out how to do square inside corners without having it bench out. Oh, well...  Buttonholes refused to work evenly on this because of the bulk of the piped edge, so I did snaps instead. Abigail is in size 1T or 18mo now, so I'd say this pattern fits a little on the large size.