I Straightened Her Hair

I used to periodically publish non-sewing related posts - posts to document our days and special moments.  Somewhere along the line I fell out of that habit, and I kind of miss it.  I do still take a lot of pictures, but not as many story telling shots as I used to and I aim to remedy that.

If you follow along with us on Instagram (@amos_el), you probably heard that I took the straightening iron (on a turned down temperature) to Lisi Loo's hair last week.  I had heard other people say, when they straightened their daughter's curls, that they all of a sudden looked older and more grown up.  I was prepared, but luckily didn't see that with my girl.  Still my little Lisi Loo, just with much longer locks.  And jealousy inducing natural layers.

I did get the strange sensation in the middle of the job, though, that I was looking at the back of my own head.  Something about the iron sliding down those blond strands - maybe reminiscent, though, since my hair isn't quite as light as hers anymore.

This was the day after we watched "Frozen" for the first time - which also happened to be her first princess movie.  So this, of course, was her princess hair.  I was worried I'd unleashed a princess monster, but I haven't heard a royal word since, so maybe we'll dodge that bullet a little longer.

We had only finished a few minutes before I took these pictures, and I hadn't left the ends curly - her hair just really likes to bend in the humidity.  Bend, but not frizz.  So not fair.


That night she went "swimming" in Grammy's hot tub, so I have no idea how it would have fared overnight, but my kids are sweaters (as in they sweat a lot, not in that I wear them in the winter) so I think this would have been a one day 'do anyway.

'Til next time, Princess.

KCW - A Simple Scoop Back Dress

Here is the final product of my KCW time this season.  Unlike the rest of the garments that were sewn start to finish last week, this was a project that just needed some finishing touches.  Like most of my other garments from last week, though, it is a repeat pattern offender...or flatterer, if you're fans like Lisi Loo and I are.

It is once again my self-drafted scoop back dress (here's one, and here's another).  This time I just kept it simple - no embelishments.  I toyed with the idea of having Lisi Loo personalize it with some paint or fabric markers in some of the dots, but decided to just leave it as-is for now.

The fabric was an old thrifted sheet we used to use for fort building on rainy days.  Then I tried making something for myself with it, but just ended up looking like I was wearing a sheet.  Not my intention.  So it's third life is this sweet and simple dress.

With a sassy metal zipper, because too much sweet without a touch of sass just isn't her style.

And, for the last time this season, linking up to KCW here.

KCW - Arrows and Oops

Kids Clothes Week July 2014 sewing is complete!  This was supposed to be yesterday's post, but it's the weekend - so there's that.  We've got two more tees for you today.

First up, a blue tee that was Daddy's, but is now perfectly boy sized with a few freezer paper stenciled arrows.

The arrows come from this set of stencils that I previously used for this swing tee.  Since the tee is so nicely broken in, I wanted the detail to look a little broken in, too, so I watered down the paint and only did one coat.

Now, some jumping:

This last tee was, no surprise here, also made from Daddy's old tee.  Super soft, and conveniently blue.  So soft, though, that the neckline ended up a little wonky.  I think it'll shrink back up once I wash it, though.

I'm calling this an "Oops Tee" because I accidentally cut two front pieces, so needed to add a piece to the back to raise the neckline.  Then, to keep a little balance I added the pocket from the original tee I used above to the front of the new tee.

More jumping!!

I'll be back tomorrow with the last of my KCW sewing: a pretty little dress for a pretty little girl.

Linking up to KCW here.

KCW - Poppies and Denim

This is the week of pattern repetition, I guess.  The same summer tunic pattern we saw yesterday, and another pair of bubble pocket shorts with the same modifications I made last time.




The shorts were from an old pair of Daddy's jeans.  I'm usually a denim-only-for-long-pants kinda girl, but these were just so soft and broken in.  I was also drawn to the idea of the different pieces being cut from areas with different levels of fading and wear, although the end effect is much more subtle than I was hoping for.  They actually have kind of a chambray look from a distance, which isn't a bad thing.



The top is made exactly the same as the previous one, except that I ran out of 3/4 inch elastic (KCW problems, right?) and so made the facing a little wider, sewed a seam down the middle, and used two 1/2" pieces instead.  It worked out just fine.  I actually made this one before I had tried the first one on her - and didn't even realize it until I was photographing it (that's how excited I was about this pattern)!  If I had, I probably would have made the straps as well as the elastic just a tad longer.  Oh well, guess I will just have to make some more next Summer.  Darn it...not even a little bit.

The fabric came from my grandmother - it may have been a sheet at some point, but I'm not sure.  I have two pretty large pieces and I just love the colors and the large graphic flowers.   I intentionally used a lot of white space, though, so as not to overwhelm her itty bitty self.  No one needs their clothes wearing them, do they?

KCW's coming to a close by I'm hoping to get two more posts up - one with two more tees (see note regarding pattern repetition), and one previously started but finally getting finished scoop back dress with some kid art embellishment.  Wish me luck!

Linking up to KCW here.

KCW - She Painted a Sunset

Finally - some legit Kid Art to fit this season's Kids Clothes Week theme!  She painted a sunset on her new top.

I made the top first, using the free Summer Tunic pattern from Shwin & Shwin.  It's an ivory linen from my stash - more like a home dec weight than is ideal for summer, but it does give some nice shape to the top.

I was going for a water-color effect, so we sprayed down the areas we wanted to paint with water (probably her favorite part - free reign over the spray bottle!) and used very watered down paint in pink and orange to wash the over the fabric.  I also took a dry brush over the top and did a little more spritzing here and there to ensure the color wasn't too concentrated in any one spot.

I considered letting her paint the fabric first, but I really wanted a more seamless look to the painting.  To say there wasn't a little...okay, a lot...of literal hand-holding would be a lie.  We were, after all, adding paint to a FINISHED GARMENT.  She did great, though, despite Mama's uptight approach.  I'll trust her more, next time.

This pattern is lovely, and I've actually got a second cut out and ready to go, along with another pair of shorts for her and two more tees for her brother.  Gonna finish this KCW out strong!

Linking up to Kids Clothes Week here.

KCW - It's Amazing

Things that are amazing: Kids Clothes Week; making a new little boy shirt from Daddy's cast-off; phonetic spelling.

But Mama asking you to jump on the bed?  That's truly uh-mAz-ing!!

The pattern is self-drafted using a store bough tee as reference.  As mentioned, I upcycled an old tee of his father's - using the existing bottom and sleeve hems is, also, amazing.

I used the ever popular freezer paper method - hand lettered and cut out with a craft knife.  I don't know that it really fits the "Kid Art" theme of this season's KCW, but he did help me with the painting.

Linking up to KCW here.

KCW - Bubbly Olivia

It's here again!  Kids Clothes Week (dedicate at least one hour a day each day this week to sewing for your kids) - Summer edition.  The last couple seasons I was prepped and ready to go with plenty of time to spare (mostly because I kept messing up the dates and thinking it was a week earlier than it was...oops.) but this year I was having trouble finding the motivation.


Then Alexia posted her last blog post over at Lexi Made and the sweet combo of the Bubble Pocket Shorts by Elegance and Elephants (which I already owned) and the Olivia top by Cali Faye Collection really drew me in.  So I made an impulse purchase (the top pattern), dug through my stash, and fell in love.

I made the shorts once before, but they haven't gotten a lot of wear.  The proportions on a toddler aren't my favorite - I think they look better on girls whose legs have started stretching out.  She'll be there soon, I know, but isn't yet, so I took a half inch off the bottom of all pattern pieces and another half inch off the top.  I also attached the bands in a slightly different way.  I'm happier with the shorts now, and you may see another pair before the week is up.

I had some issues with the pattern pieces for the top.  I made the 2T, which is the smallest size for the pattern.  The straps ended up all short and stubby and if I attached them at the shoulder the bodice would have been choking her turtleneck fashion.  I honestly don't know if there was an issue with the pattern, or if the fault entirely lies with me at the tracing or the cutting stages (totally possible, if not likely), but I worked it out with out too much trouble and only a little seam ripping.

I made the shorts from an old pair of my capris - I was pleased to find out there was more than enough fabric for all the different pieces.  The top is made from what appears to be some quilting cotton - I picked up a piece that is several yards long at an estate sale for a steal.  You'll likely being seeing it again...more than once.  I used the polka dots fabric for the waistband facing and a yellow button on the front of the shorts (no function other than to tell me which is the front!) and blue buttons on the top, but they are subtle enough details that I don't think I'll have any issues mixing and matching these pieces.

I'll be back tomorrow with some BOY projects - oh yeah.

Linking up to Kids Clothes Week here.