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.

Scoop Back with Rickrack

This was the first version of my scoop back dress - second made (but first blogged) found here.  That one is still my favorite, but this one turned out cute, too, so I wanted to share it.

The bodice was a little longer on this version.  The proportions on this one looked a little off to me, so I shortened it just a little bit.  Other than decoration, that's the only change.

For this one I used three different shades of ric-rac around the neck, arms, and waist.  I used my faithful cheater pleating method, but with bigger pleats.  I definitely like the smaller pleats better, but these large pleats definitely have their place, too.

I have one more of this pattern that's been sitting waiting for a zipper and hem since early June, before our vacation.  I think I'm stalling because I added some decorative lace and I'm not as thrilled as I thought I would be.  I have another idea, and I think Lisi Loo could help out if I can loosen up a little.  Might be a great project to finish up during Kids Clothes Week.  Did you hear?  It starts again July 21 and the optional theme is Kid Art.  The wheels are turning over here.  Not very fast, but there is definite rotation.

I had mentioned in the other post that I was thinking about turning this into a PDF pattern.  Well, no need!   Shortly after I made my dress, Kelly at Sewing In No Man's Land put out her Marrakech Dress pattern which is very similar is shape.  I haven't sewn it up, but if you like my two dresses, I'm guessing you'll be pleased with that pattern as well.

Half Moon Bay Romper

A few months ago I tested the Half Moon Bay Dress and Romper pattern from Kelly at Sewing in No Mans Land.  I tested the romper version, obviously.  I didn't post about it at the time because it's such a springy/summery garment and I couldn't meld in my mind how the outfit feels with how cold and dreary it was in real life.  But now...not cold OR dreary!  So here we are...

This was actually the second one I sewed up during testing (there was a lot of tweaking to get the pattern pieces for the bottom right) and I actually like the first one best, but it still needs to be taken up a little, so we'll go backwards.

The top is from a vintage sheet I also used for this top.  The bottom is from some curtains that were left in our house when we bought it.  The yellow isn't a perfect match, but close enough, and the texture is really interesting - it's like a really exaggerated seersucker.

The pattern comes together in a pretty straightforward manner, although you do need to know how to insert a zipper as instructions aren't included.  

The only adjustment I made was to make the bodice lining pieces match the outer bodice pieces - the pattern has them cut straight across the bottom.  Getting the points sharp on the sides takes a little finessing, but it's not the trickiest thing I've ever sewn.

I haven't tried the dress version with it's high-low hem yet, but I did sew up a dress version in knit with a straight hem that I'll be sharing soon.  Lisi Loo loves it because it's "ho hoft!" - her S is a work in progress.

Made for Kids Month (hashtagged!)

It wasn't my plan at the start of the month, but as the month went on the self-imposed challenge took shape and I did it!  At least one different hand-made garment on my kid(s) each day in the month of June.  I think I'm getting ahead of myself, though.

Rae of Made by Rae and Liesl of Oliver and S (@madebyrae and @lieslgibson and @oliverands at Instagram) started the hashtag madeforkidsmonth on Instagram and invited any and all to join in.  The idea is to get those hand-made clothes out of the closet and onto our kids!  No pressure, no requirements for participation - I was just having so much fun I think I got a little carried away.  Plus it helps that this girl of mine has zero opinion on what she wears (except pajamas - don't fight her on her pjs).  Free reign!

I think the best part of all this was being forced to dig into her closet and being pleasantly surprised at how many things that I made last year still fit.  That's the beauty of sewing for girls, though, isn't it.  A dress this year is a tunic next year and maybe even a blouse the following if you're lucky.  Below you'll find all my Instagram photos (all taken with my iPhone) that I linked up to #madeforkidsmonth and links to posts for all the garments that actually have posts published for them.

6/1: Dress -- 6/2: His Shirt -- 6/2: Her Shirt

6/3: Romper not yet blogged -- 6/4: Shirt -- 6/5: Shirt never blogged and Pants

UPDATE: Romper post here.

6/6: Shirt -- 6/7: Dress -- 6/8: Dress

6/9: Her Shirt -- 6/10: Shirt (& pants again) -- 6/11: Dress not yet blogged & Cardigan pre-blog

6/12: Shirt -- 6/13: Pants -- 6/14: Shorts

6/15: Tunic & Leggings -- 6/16: Shirt not yet blogged -- 6/17: Shirt

6/18: Shirt not yet blogged -- 6/19: Shirt -- 6/20: Cardigan pre-blog

6/21: Shirt -- 6/22: Shirt -- 6/23: Tunic

6/24: Shirt -- 6/25: Shirt -- 6/26: Shorts never blogged

6/27: Dress not yet blogged -- 6/28: Dress not yet blogged -- 6/29: Dress 

6/30 (below): Dress not yet blogged 

I clearly have some catching up to do!  I was a couple garments behind before we went on vacation June 15, then I made a couple quick swing tees the day before we left, and finished the month on a roll with four new knit summer dresses because I was worried about making it to the end of the month without repeating so I planned two dresses but my fabric made me make four.  Always blame the fabric.  

Of note, most of these pictures don't show off the garments as clearly as they could, but I use Instagram more for pretty photos than sewing news so I didn't want to compromise one for the other.  It was an added challenge that I enjoyed (most days).  You can follow along with us @amos_el - we'd love to see you there!

Now let the catching up commence!