Ottobre 1/2013 #19 Relaxed

My kids have both hit growth spurts since Xmas, meaning they are running low on pants that fit properly. I was able to find a pair of jeans for D at the thrift store ($1.50!) but they didn't have any 4T jeans for B. So, this gave me the motivation that I needed to make her a pair of jeans, not to mention that the one pair of jeans she was willing to wear got a big rip in the bottom! Using my new Ottobre Design 1/2013, I made #19  Relaxed. I constructed the jeans from a pair of size 18 women's jeans that looked new from my MIL. 

I made some alterations to the the jeans during the construction process. 

I had B try on the jeans before I attached the waistband, which was a very good idea because I had to take in the waist over 3"! If you really look at the jeans it is noticeable that the back is smaller than it should be - the side seams go to the back a bit too far but all the other seams were finished & had pockets.

I used a portion of the original waistband for the waistband of the new pants and added button hole elastic and buttons to the waistband to make it adjustable.

I wanted to reuse the original hem and cut out the fronts without checking that the back pieces would fit - which of course means that they didn't. So I evened out the length and added the fold-up cuff that will make the pants last longer since I can fold it down for more length.

These are B's main pants as winter is unending this year, she likes them so that is all that really matters.
Hope others have had better luck in the waist fitting than I did.
This summer B will be able to wear her crossover top and it will match perfectly! yay!

Blessed Be,
Alyssa

Girls' Anywhere Dresses

The new Anywhere Dress from Andrea of Go To Patterns is so easy! 

It took me maybe 1.5 hours to sew two! I made one for my B in 4T and one for a friend's daughter in size 8  I'll have to update the post with pictures of V in her dress later. 

Don't you just LOVE the bright blue flowers!!! I used a vintage piece of fabric from my Grandmother's stash that I have had forever! I love the bright blue flowers but hadn't seen which pattern to use for the fabric until trying to decide which knit to use for this simple styled dress.



I made the short sleeve version and beings that Spring is in hiding and it is still Winter in Minnesota, B picked a pink turtle neck to wear under the dress with some heavy tights.
B has already requested a long sleeve version of this dress - I think I'll make it a 5T so it will still fit next winter.

The dress is knee length and perfect for running around with a pair of tights or leggings on - I don't like B to ended up with panties showing so she will always be wearing one or the other - plus in the summer it means less hot slide burned legs.


I highly recommend this pattern as a quick sew to anyone that is comfortable with knits.

A reminder that I am a Go To Patterns Affiliate so if you would like to purchase this pattern I'd love it if you used my link :)

Boardwalk Skirt

B is loving her Boardwalk Skirt!

I was able to pattern test the Boardwalk Skirt for Andrea of Go To Patterns a few weeks ago.

I made it from a vintage pillowcase and other stash fabric and notions. 

The skirt came together rather easily just as the instructions showed.

I made B the size 4 and with her being lean, I had to use the drawstring in the front to 

make it snug enough to stay on.

The elastic is only in the back waistband, leaving the skirt with a flat front and the functional drawstring. 

The first time B saw the skirt she called it her princess skirt so it got her approval.

I really like the double layer style of the skirt with the lace edge on the under skirt. 

The pattern can currently be purchased at Go To Patterns.

This skirt is the perfect piece of spring in this seemingly unending Minnesota winter!

Keep warm & Blessed Be,

Alyssa

D's READ shirt

At D's school February is focused on reading with the kids all wearing the READ shirts on Fridays. We got the order form in January but there is no way I am paying $20 dollars for a shirt when I can make D a shirt from my stash.

With D reminding me Wednesday that he needed/wanted to wear a READ shirt Friday I made sure to get myself down to my sewing room to get something made. My initial thought had been to cut some heat transfer vinyl & add it to an existing shirt but....I got my first issue of Ottobre Design so I HAD to make something from it.

I decided on Ottobre 1/2013 #21 Child's Long Sleeve Shirt

I then had to change the pattern 'cause, heaven forbid I do anything the easy way! I wanted to try some applique/reverse applique using my embroidery machine. Layering two shirt fronts together I used one of the fonts on my machine I stitched READ through both, sewing them together essentially. Using my regular sewing machine I stitched a rough oval around the word a few times. I then very carefully cut away the dark blue of the front shirt and was left with the applique. I proceeded to finish constructing the shirt making it look layered, treating the front's two layers at one piece; the only part of the shirt that isn't actually two layers is the back. D likes it and has worn it a few times. I used two men's shirts from my stash that I believe were from my MIL so the shirt only cost me my time and made use of a new pattern - yay!

Have a good afternoon,

Alyssa

Purple Sparkle Outfit

This is the outfit that results from taking my 3 year old with me fabric shopping :)
While browsing Joann's Fabrics B saw this purple sparkle (not sequin) fabric and asked if I would "Please get it? I looooovve it!" Since it was 50% off the clearance price I figured it would be a good buy (just over $6 for the 2+a bit yards). 

I made another skirted Go-To Leggings and a self drafted long sleeve shirt with the butterfly applique. The sleeve cuffs are made from the salvages of the sparkly fabric but the neck binding and waistband are another purple ribbing- another sale item, a remnant at reduced price plus 75% off remnants! 

I didn't do any actual hems on anything! I just did a ruffled hem with my serger - sooo much easier. The leggings are the extra-long length, I want them to last a long time & since my kids tend to go up not out I figured that would do the trick.

I will have this sparkly fabric for a while though I do plan to make her a mermaid tail to add to the dress-up box - she has been asking for one for quite some time.

I got a few other good deals at the sale so I will be busy with some new projects but first this weekend I will be sewing up my pouch for the Sweet Pouch Exchange hosted by Ros of Sew Delicious. I am looking forward to trying a new pouch and finding some sweets and local postcards to send along.

Blessed Be,
Alyssa

Polly Peasant Dress & Blouse

In the printed cross stitch pattern of the fabric there are a
few butterflies that I want to highlight so I am
going to dig out my embroidery thread & stitch them.



I was able to pattern test Abby of Sew Much Ado's new pattern! I made two versions. The first was a 3T dress with scalloped hem for B. Then I intended to make a size 6 blouse with scalloped hem for my niece but she's grown more than I thought so instead I made the blouse for a friend's daughter. It was so nice to sew up an easy outfit. I was able to get both tops made in about 2.5 hours which included me trying to get the pattern placed on the fabric the best for the print. I used a vintage sheet for both & love how they look. The scallops are adorable - the 5 year old even commented "I love the these (scallops)"

This style of top is great - they always last through a few sizes with the elastic neck line & loose fit.

I highly recommend this pattern to anyone & everyone -it would be perfect for any beginner seamstresses and is such a nice, quick, cute project for everyone that I say you need to give it a try!

With all of the sizes included I plan to make a few more versions of this - I just love those scallops!

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Great Grandpa's Shirts

I received some of my Grandfather George's shirts when he passed away 2 years ago (I  requested them). I had read in Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross that you can use a man's shirt to make a boy's shirt so I wanted to make sure to get something to remember Grandpa by (in a family with 45+ grandkids I thought the shirts would be something that other's wouldn't mind me having to dismantle).

I finally got around to using two of the shirts to make things for the kids. I haven't got their portraits done yet this year so I decided to make D a nice shirt and B nice dress which would be slightly "matchy." Most of Grandpa's shirts had pearl snaps so I wanted to make sure to feature them on both pieces of clothing. This was easy for D's shirt, though I did have to add another snap towards the bottom of his shirt since the original snaps didn't go that far down the front.

My front pattern piece laid on the shirt front.
The pockets are leftover - need to find a good
project to use them in.

The shirt I used for D's shirt.
The fabric is lightweight and
 has a sort of basket weave pattern to it.
I had used the cuff on another project.

I don't have a pattern for a boy's shirt pattern in size 5 but I do have this 1984 Simplicity #6560 girl's shirt. I used version 2 (the yellow) except the sleeve, I used the sleeve pattern from Kai's Shirt in Weekend Sewing

D likes his new shirt and it will be perfect for portraits and special occasions - it'll be great for his first school pictures this fall - not sure how I have a kindergartener already!!

For B's dress I him-hawed for quite a while trying to decide what to do but eventually just went with using the pattern as is except that I added a collar. I created a collar by using the pocket flaps so I could get those snaps on the dress somewhere. The shirt I used for B's dress was a blue pin stripe with the contrast stripe yoke on the shoulders, also it was faded from the waist up which gives the skirt a nice bit of ombre effect - though not too noticeable.

1968 Simplicity #8016 pattern
Was my grandmother's but
it was un-cut tho the
envelope is missing.

I made version 1 - though mine is longer than pictured.

To make the skirt portion I cut off the snaps strips, cut across the shirt just below the pockets and turned it around to make the back of the shirt the front of the skirt. I then used the pattern pieces to cut the armholes along the existing side seams.

Basically I turned the shirt around to cut all the pieces - the back bodice was cut from the front of the shirt and the front bodice was cut from the back of the shirt. I was able to get both sleeves cut from one of the shirt sleeves. I am thinking I want to try making a headband with the front snap strip, if B will wear it.

I did quite a bit of had sewing to finish this dress up. I had to tack the collar down to make it lay flat and tacked the neck facing down which was made easier with the double layer of fabric from the yokes - no visible stitches on the right side.

I love how the bodice turned out with the shirt's yokes!

Not thrilled with my zipper installation - should have used an invisible zipper!

I'm happy I was able to have Grandpa's shirts and am very happy that I finally took the time to use two of them for the kid's clothing. 

Hopefully this will inspire someone to re-use some of grandpa or dad's old shirts.

Blessed Be,

Alyssa

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Salt Tree

B's Go To Signature Tunic

(Psst - Please read through to the end of the post for a coupon code!!)

 

Thank you for the feature on Make it Wear it Thursday!

(Yay! Thank you for featuring my post on your Facebook page, Andrea)

With Andrea of The Train To Crazy starting her blog tour of her new pattern the Signature Dress, I wanted to make sure I got a version sewn up for B to show off.

I wanted to try a couple other options that I didn't do on my niece's dress when I tested the pattern.

Repurposed Dress Barn Tank Tops

The other day while digging through my shelves of fabric I came across these two shirts that my MIL gave me that she no longer wanted, they were Dress Barn knit tank tops in XL, I figured they would be perfect to repurpose into something for B. So, last night I pulled them off the shelf, laid the pattern pieces on the tops to make sure they would fit and got the iron out to iron the freezer paper patterns onto the fabric.

This time I added the neckline ribbing, used the cap sleeves with ribbing, the kangaroo pocket, and the heart applique. I made this about an inch longer than the tunic cut line on the pattern - I reused the original hem of the pink shirt. The green shirt actually wasn't wide enough for the hood by about an inch but as you can see it was still big enough - I just did a rolled hem for the open edge instead of hemming it. As is noticeable in the pictures, I don't think this fabric was quite right for the pattern - all the ripples aren't the best but B doesn't care and it still works for me. I am considering fixing the ribbing on the sleeves - I might see if I can squeek out enough fabric for another set of ribbing bands but use it to encase a skinny elastic since this fabric doesn't have much if any rebound.

I debated adding the elastic at the waist but have decided not to, I am thinking that this piece will be nice in the fall for layering, especially with the heavier fabric - it would be too hot for her to wear much right now.

I really want to point out that I added a small strip of fusible interfacing to the back bodice shoulder to help keep it from stretching out of shape. I added this before sewing the shoulder seams. I learned this from Steph's Blank Canvas Tee pattern.

A pattern that is well worth the price when it comes in sizes 12m-12! plus all the options. As  Andrea branded her pattern line "Go-To Patterns" I really do believe this pattern will be a go-to pattern for me. I still need to make B a dress version with the tulle along the bottom hemline :)

In full disclosure I am an affiliate and earn a commission on the purchases made when you click through from my blog.


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