KCW - One more Sweatshirt

Look at me - eeking out one more KCW garment!  I was just so happy with how the last sweatshirt turned out, I wanted to try another version.  This one turned out a little differently because the fabric I used has more drape to it - it's my second favorite of the two, but still something I predict will get a lot of wear:

The fabric is the same reversible fabric I used for this Aster cardigan.  I really wanted to use the striped side this time to mix it up but I just love dots too much.  Can't say no to a good dot even if maybe I should.

The striped side did make an appearance in the semi-circle cut-out pockets.  If there's a more official name for them, I don't know it, but I'm pretty sure you understand what I'm describing.

It's actually a kangaroo pocket - it goes all the way across the front - intended for hands meeting in the middle, but we're still working on mastering that one.

I like the stiffer sweatshirt fabric better for this top, since it really shows off the shape, and will probably make another one when I get my hands on some appropriate fabric.  I'm really liking the idea of sweatshirt knit main with a woven pocket fabric.  We'll see, won't we?

Linking up to KCW here.

KCW - A-line Sweatshirt

The concept for this sweatshirt developed as a way to use some more of the awesome ruffle fabric from yesterday's leggings.  As I searched my stash, though, I didn't find a main fabric that coordinated in a way I liked with the pink and white.  I decided I was more excited about making a sweatshirt than I was about using the ruffles (for now) so I regrouped and grabbed a pair of Daddy's old sweatpants and a different knit scrap I had on hand.  This is where we ended up:

The pattern is self drafted.  It's mostly long sleeved swing tee up top, with a bottom that's about halfway between swing tee and little zippy.

The heart was reverse appliqued to the sweatshirt.  I used an extra layer of white knit behind the stripes to help add a little weight since the sweatshirt fabric is so much thicker.  I just kind of made it up as I went and (thankfully) it worked out perfectly!  Phew!

Instead of just folding them over, I decided to try binding the neck and hemline with some more of the striped knit and it worked nicely.  I also broke out my twin needle for the first time in probably a year.  I kept getting frustrated about not being able to get my tension set correctly.  The back thread, which is supposed to weave back and forth, and so provide a little flexibility to the stitches, would be almost straight.  So no stretch and lots of snapped threads.  Then I read somewhere, at some point, that you can adjust the tension of your bobbin.  I had no idea!  Did you?  So I loosened the screw on the bobbin case a little, played around with my tension adjustment on my machine, and voila!  My twin needle did its job like a pro.

Also...how amazing is her hair?  This is second day straightened hair - even more amazing than first day.  Ugh - I feel so guilty for feeling jealous, but c'mon.  Look at it!  Ha!

Sadly, this will likely be my last KCW post for this season.  I've got to get going on the other costume but there's no sewing involved.  Boo.

Linking up to KCW here.

KCW - Peg + Cat!

I'm not a Halloween person.  I don't decorate, I don't like handing out candy, and I don't like costumes - bought or made.  This, though, this I have to say I'm kinda nuts about:

I'm hoping at least a couple of you out there are familiar with the show Peg + Cat?  It's Lisi Loo's favorite show and was the only thing she wanted to be for Halloween.  It was definitely do-able, and she was just so excited - I couldn't say no.  Luckily she's too young to care that no one will have any idea who she is when she dresses up.  Here's a picture for reference:

Pretty close, right?  The leggings are a little different because I couldn't find striped fabric in colors I liked, and she was disappointed she wasn't getting new red boots, but other than that we're both tickled with the outcome.

The dress/jacket are based off of the Mini Mod dress pattern by Sewing In No Man's Land.   I split the front in two and added room for the button "placket", lengthened and slightly tapered the sleeves, and fully lined it.  I made the size three to be sure she had room to layer under it, but did end up shortening it about two inches.

The leggings were self-drafted and made from a really cute dark pink knit with little white ruffles on it.  I LOVE this knit and am brainstorming ideas for the rest of it.  I've complained before about the lack-luster selection of knits I'd found at Joann, but they're really stepping up lately.  There's still a ton of stuff I wouldn't take even if it was free, but I'm finding more and more that appeals to me lately, and that's exciting (and dangerous!!).

I based the cap pattern off a few different free crochet patterns I found online.  It's a little small, but that actually works well for the costume, I think.

Oh - and the Cat pattern was self-drafted, too, if that's not obvious.  Made out of blue and white fleece.   It was the part I was dreading most but (except for the leggings) probably went most smoothly.

All in all a success!  One happy tricker treater down, one to go.

Linking up to KCW here.

KCW - A Brand New Bimaa

As promised, my day two KCW sewing is a new version of an old (if a year counts as old in pattern time) favorite: the Bimaa sweater.

Since her sweaters from last year still fit well, I used the same size but lengthened the sleeves by about an inch.  I just checked my post on the first Bimaa I made to note the size and imagine my surprise to see that my 3 year old is wearing 12 month sized sweaters!  The next size up would probably fit fine now, but that would mean more tracing and who's got time for that during KCW?  I just want to SEW!!

Anyway, the sweater knit was from fabric.com last winter, I think.  I was going to make myself a dress.  That dress was turning out super unflattering so I called it quits about halfway through.  Now I  have a lot of this pretty green fabric with no projects in mind.

And if those boots look familiar, thanks to an instagram tip I was able to get her current size of the same boots I was obsessed with that she wore last year at the Gap Outlet last month.  SO HAPPY.  And she is, too.

I made some good headway on her Halloween costume after finishing up this Bimaa.  Hoping to have it finished and ready to share by tomorrow afternoon.  Halloween isn't my favorite (to put it mildly) but I'm almost enjoying making this costume.  Almost.

Linking up to KCW here.
Other Bimaas: one, two (hack), three, four.

KCW - We heart cardigans!

Kids Clothes Week is here again!  I think this is the first time since I started joining in on the fun (sew one hour a day, each day for a week, one week each season) that I am completely unprepared.  I didn't cut a thing, didn't pull a thing, didn't plan a single thing.  Just going to see where the week takes me.

An easy start seemed to be finishing up some unfinished works in progress - namely two cardigans that I started last spring and never finished.

I know, I know - MORE cardigans?  But cardigans are the female uniform in this house, and we can never have too many.  Two more self-drafted cardigans made from cut-down adult cardigans.  My favorite and SO easy.  No buttonholes!  No hemming!  Seam finishing optional!  It's like an unprepared KCW participant's dream come true!

The pink one turned out a little big in the shoulders but short in the sleeves for some reason, but the purple one fits great - and she loves it, which is, of course, most important.

As far as the rest of the week goes, I'm thinking a Bimaa tomorrow, and maybe another Little Zippy or two following that (because we really like to stick with the winners over here).  After that, who knows.  Anybody have any suggestions?  Or any interesting plans of their own?  Can't wait for the KCW project pool get kick into high gear and see what everyone's up to!

Linking up to KCW here.

Little Zippy Tops

The Little Zippy Top pattern, by See Kate Sew, was not one I had considered purchasing.  Then I started dressing the little lady for fall weather, and realized had a surprising lack of cardigan friendly tops, and cardigans are a big deal around here so that was a big problem.  At the same time this post popped up in my reader and it was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me.  Little Zippy tops have a GREAT silhouette for layering!  So I impulsively purchased the pattern, cut out two, and sewed them up all in one morning.

The first one was actually the second I  put together, but it's constructed more closely to the pattern instructions, so I'll start with it.  The fabric is a denim, I think.  I used it wrong side out so you can see two different shades of blue thread in it, like a chambray.  It's really pretty, but really hard to photograph.  A great neutral piece, though.  And how perfect is that shape?  I especially love the hem - it has just the slightest dip in the front and back.

And my instinct about the cardigan was right, too, wasn't it?  So cute.

I think I mis-marked my zipper opening because it's a little tight getting her arms in one at a time, but I think a two-arm-straight-over-the-head approach should work going forward.  Next time I will make sure the zipper opening is longer, though.  I have a bunch of these metal and olive (army?) green zippers that were part of a bundle I bought on Etsy a while back and I love them.  I want to zipper all the things!  

This next Little Zippy was made in Lisi Loo's fabric choice.  Again, a hard to photograph fabric.  It's a pretty loose weave, with a lot of easily-snagged loose threads on the wrong side, so I decided to try fully lining it.  It worked wonderfully!  I actually think I prefer it fully lined over the facings (although, to be fair, I am not a fan of facings in general).

Again, the zipper turned out a little short.  That's the problem with making multiples of something before even one has been tried on!  Not the first time I've made that mistake and likely not the last.  I just get SO EXCITED I can't wait.  Oh well.  The good news is: I used a longer zipper and intended on trimming it but haven't actually cut it yet so I'm going to attempt to lengthen my opening in a slightly unconventional and definitely nailbiting way.  Wish me luck.

You may notice the hem in the picture at the top of the post is totally wonky.  I was lazy.  I'm going to take it out and do it right next time I'm at my machine.  Promise.

These pictures were taken post-preschool but pre-lunch so we're a little rumpled, but you still get the idea.  Little Zippy + cardigan + skinny pants = perfect fall uniform.  HOLD ON - I just realized that that is MY fall uniform!  ha!  Of only my pieces were as cute as hers, though.

So there you are, two Little Zippy Tops.  Can't recommend this pattern enough and can't wait to make my next batch.  Then some more cardigans to go with, of course.  And a few more pairs of skinnies?  Dare I say I feel my sewing mojo returning?  Let's jump for joy!

The floral pants post is here and the red pants post is here.  

The white cardigan is an old Gap Kids thrifted sweater, and the blue cardigan was made pre-blog.  For reference: it wasn't cropped and the sleeves were full length when I made it for her.  Also, she had no hair or glasses.  She's like a whole new girl in her same old sweater.