Lyon Dress

Have you heard of the Sew What Club? It's a sewing pattern club with children's and ladies patterns. You can sign up for either option or both (me).

The Lyon dress was the second girls pattern to be released this month. I sewed it up right away... late into the evening when I should have been sleeping. I used a quilting cotton that was a gift from a mini quilt swap I participated in.

I used single fold bias tape instead of double and hid it on the inside of the neckline and arm openings. I really liked my fabric and didn't want to break it up so I overlapped the top and bodice pieces by 3/8" and then traced onto my tissue. I also cut the 5/6. 

There are several things I'll change for my next one. The head opening is a bit small for my girl, and length is a bit short. I think we could go with the 7/8 for her. She's almost 6 but she's tall and a bit big for her age... which is OK. Her dad and I are tall... it's to be expected.  I think the 7/8 would be a better length. I also plan on altering where I put the elastic. It hits my girl right on the roundest part of her belly, which she finds uncomfortable, and she dresses for comfort first and cuteness second. I think it would be better above, she wants it to go below so that's probably what we'll do.

All in all it's a fast and cute make with several options. She enjoyed wearing this one so much. Also she's been giving me more "serious model face" lately in these kinds of photos. I don't know why. She's kind of shy but I think she also feels a bit special and sassy.
 

Mini Floral Hudson Pants

I have to warn you all. I'm obsessed with florals. There my be many more projects with florals coming. I didn't realize I was obsessed until recently... but I am. And it's not an obsession that's going to wane any time soon. Maybe it's the season. Maybe it's because they're beautiful but I just love floral prints lately.

Not too long ago I bought a bunch of fabrics from fabric.com for my little lady. This floral ponte was one of the cuts I bought, specifically to make her some hudson pants. I love this print. Her dad loves these pants on her and she loves these pants. The only downfall, and it's a major one, is that this fabric pills like crazy. I may have known it might be a slight problem but it's turned into a huge one on pants for an active child. Next time I'll use a different kind of knit. In the mean time we'll love these until they're unwearable.

The pattern is great. This pair came together super quickly. My last pair, never blogged but worn 3-4 times a week, took me a while. I think I just took everything slowly. So I procrastinated making this pair because I have no patience and like to have something come together quickly. 

The pattern is so comfy for kids to wear, and my daughter likes comfy. I think I cut a 6 and the length is great on my tall girl. I'll be making another pair this fall for both my kiddos, and probably myself.

My sister convinced me to use solid ribbing for the pocket detail, waistband, and cuff band. I'm glad I did. I was a bit resistant at first but I do like that detail now. As far as fabric cutting I wish I had paid more attention to print placement. I'm not so happy with how symmetrical the print is and how much floral bombing is happening in not so desirable places... I bet it's mostly just us sewing gals that notice such things... right? right???

  

Chevron Izzy Dress

I love the Izzy Top Pattern recently. I've made a knit top for my daughter, which is currently covered in dirt because she likes it so much she actually plays in it... I don't like that it's covered in dirt. I made a highly modified one into a dress for the last show I costumed. The latest one is pictured below. 

I originally bought this fabric to make myself a blouse last year, but never got around to it and then decided that I was not that into the print for myself anymore, so I made my daughter a dress. I have been promising her this dress for months so this week I finally sat down and sewed the dang thing up.

I lengthened the bodice to make a dress. I was originally going to do a high-lo hem but it didn't have enough of a difference to look intentional... instead it just looked like my hem was terribly crooked. So this morning, in the crazy hour before church, I cut off the hem, re-serged, and hemmed again. So much better. I feel like it hits her at the right point. 

The fabric is a lightweight poly, thicker chiffon/light crepe, from Hancock fabrics that you could probably find in their spot the bolt section. It's a bit diaphanous so I lined the whole thing in rayon. For the yoke I interlined the chevron poly and used rayon for the lining piece. So there are three layers of fabric.

Lastly I did a zipper closure in the back instead of a button and liked that quite a bit better with this dress version.

Jocole's Girls Skater Dress

Skater dresses may be one of my new favorite things to sew. Forgive me if I just keep making them. 

I got to test Jocole's Girls Skater Skirt Add-on and peplum top and I'm so glad too. I just love this dress. I made a 5T for my girl, and used an ivory knit with an ivory stretch knit overlay, which I wish showed up better in pictures. It's gorgeous in person. I love lace.

The pattern comes in many sizes, NB-14 and Doll. I made the 5T and a doll peplum top as a birthday gift for my little lady who just turned 5! I love the way the skirt of this dress falls. It's so lady like and fun to twirl in.

Here are other ways we styled the dress. Statement necklace. Or with casual layers. 

And our Doll modeling her new top:

Little Skater Dress

Pattern: Little Girls' Skater Dress This funky yet functional knit dress has a fitted bodice, high neckline and a curved flared skirt.

Size Cut: I cut a 5/6 with long sleeves.

Textile Used: I used a stretch mesh that I picked up at Nuttall's and lined it with white tricot.

The Good: Cute comfy pattern for my girl. She loves it. And it pairs well with leggings and boots, it's cold where we live so this will be very important in the coming months.

The Bad: The fabric was not the easiest to work with... some of my stitching is wonky but the fabric has a bold pattern that hopefully hides a multitude of sins.

Changes Made: None.

Changes for Next Time: Next time I'll use a better fabric and I plan on making one with a box pleated skirt.

Conclusion: This is a very wearable and cute pattern. I have 3 more that I plan on making... a floral one (with pleated skirt maybe), an ivory lace one (because that's functional for a 5 year old) and an Anna costume.

Dragon Costume

I feel like I'm always apologizing for not posting enough. I guess I need to stop apologizing and just relax. Really I post whenever I make something. The silence, that's been a bigger issue than just not posting. I haven't been sewing much. Not for lack of fabric, to-sew lists, projects, etc... but I've realized that somehow I developed a lot of fear... fear of what, I'm not sure, but I've had this debilitating feeling of fear and ineptitude. I know that's dumb because I know I'm good at what I do. I can't do it all but I'm good at what I do. I think I'm getting better and I'm getting some things done but those feelings have bogged me down for months.

One of the projects that's helped me get out of my funk is this costume. I was commissioned by a friend to make her daughter a dragon costume for Halloween. She sent some inspiration pics and I followed them pretty closely and added a couple other details. 

This project was more intense than it might appear. I drafted the patten and that's no easy feat. Even if it's pretty much a circle skirt with a hood it takes time. I'm always so impressed with indie pattern designers. Making a pattern is not for sissy's. I fully lined the costume and quilted the spikes and back of the costume. I added velcro for a neck closure and two sets of ties on the interior to hold it together while it's worn. There are also some elastic wrist straps. It may appear small on the model and that's because my daughter wears 5T/xs clothes and this is made for a little lady that is still mostly in 2T clothes. My 2T wearing son refuses to wear this... I put it on him for fit checks but he cries the whole time. Hopefully the lucky lady likes it.

Now on to Halloween costumes for my family.

Tank and Boxer Set

I sewed something for a boy! I have never sewn clothing for my boy. I've bought patterns and fabric but have yet to sew up a shirt or pair of pants. 

I tested this pattern for Jocole. It will be released as part of the the Boy's Bundle Up Sale that launches this Friday August 22nd.

Pattern: Tank and Boxer Set
Size Cut: I cut the 2T.
Textile Used: I continued stash busting and upcycling with this project. The knit for the tank is a lightweight jersey made from scraps from Jocole's mama. Jodi (head of Jocole) is my cousin and her mom gave me some scraps when I was visiting one time. The shorts were cut from a pair of shorts of my husband's that had holes in irreparable places.
The Good: These sew up so quickly. I liked the length of the tank very much and love my boys little muscles. The shorts sewed up quickly too.
The Bad: I made a test version so these shorts were really big in the legs at first but that problem has been fixed. Yay for testing!
Changes Made: I chose not to sew the fly front on the shorts since our little guy is still in diapers and won't be able to coordinate such a clothing detail for some time.
Changes for Next Time: None. These are just great as they are.
Conclusion: A great boy pattern to be used for pj's or casual wear.

Roo Romper

Sorry I've been a little MIA lately. I've been painting, making jewelry, testing patterns, and trying to figure out the school situation with my oldest. I'm getting back behind the machine again and churning out some cute things. Also, I'm trying REALLY hard to only use up my stash. I decided it was a bit ridiculous having so much fabric on hand for "someday" projects. I want to start working through them. Anyway here is a recent romper I tested for Too Sweets Patterns.

Pattern: Roo Romper
Size Cut: I cut the 5T.
Textile Used: I used a lightweight knit cut from a maxi dress I no longer wear. For the binding and straps I used scraps of leopard sweater knit I had on hand... See stash busting.
The Good: My daughter says this is super comfy and she likes wearing it all day.
The Bad: I had a rough time with the straps. Another tester used cotton and I think that was genius but I didn't have any that coordinated as well as the leopard.
Changes Made: None this time.
Changes for Next Time: I think I'm going to unpick the leg hems and add a band out of more leopard. I was thinking of adding a leg band for a more tapered finish and then my daughter requested that it have some leopard at the bottom like the top so we'll do that soon.
Conclusion: Cute and comfy. Win!

Patriotic Separates

I'm a sucker for holidays and all the decorating that goes with them. So of course I like to sew festive, though impractical, outfits for my daughter. It's been a while since I sewed something patriotic for my girl, so the last item no longer fits. 

This year instead of a dress I wanted to make her separates. I used fabric and notions from the stash for this outfit. 

For the top I used the Izzy Top Pattern. It was such a happy accident to stumble upon this pattern. I knew I wanted to make a top with this silhouette. When I was looking through my Pinterest boards I saw a pin that led me to the perfect pattern. And it's free! I liked that this pattern has a fully lined and curved yoke. The instructions are simple and a great starting point for learning to sew lined bodices. I changed up the button tab and used a cute star button, because it was keeping with the theme. Also I used leftover Kona cotton in white for the yoke and a thrifted knit shirt (new with tags even) for the skirt portion of the top. The colors were a perfect match and I didn't have to hem! I really like how it turned out with the mixed materials, the top yoke is structured and the skirt portion drapes beautifully. 

For the shorts I used the Jocole Essential Pants in the short length. I had *just* enough fabric to make the shorts. I really like this pattern because it sews up quick and easy. I really wish I had added inseam pockets to these shorts. I don't know why I don't just automatically add pockets to all skirts, dresses and shorts. I'll learn someday though. In the spirit of full disclosure I will say that I tested this pattern years ago and received this pattern for free. I choose to keep using it though.