Whimsical Make It Mine Challenge!!

What is the Make It Mine Challenge you ask?? Well it's a contest that you use the fabrics from the Anna  Elise, Curiosities or happy Homes fabrics Art gallery that Whimsical Fabrics carries and make a creation of your choice as far as you can image! You can read all the rules and how to enter on the Whimsical Fabric Blog. 

Here is my sample entry for the MIM contest! 

First up is my daughter's outfit. I used 51% of the main fabric for my outfit on her dress and used the coordinating fabrics for her leggings and her brother's outfit. The  patterns I used are Oliver and S ; Fairy Tale dress, Apple Picking dress, Roller Skate dress and Play Time leggings all mashed into one! (All the patterns that I used came from Whimsical Fabrics' Shop)  The fabrics for my daughter's are from the Curiosities line  and the Anna Elise line. 

For the main part of my dress I used the Fairy tale dress pattern. I did change the bottom hem to add a hem band with baby piping inserted between the two. (Cord to make the piping can be found here in the shop) I did keep the original length of the dress for this one. Next I used the Apple Picking dress sleeves with the same piping that I used at the hem band. I love the way it makes the sleeve cuffs "pop". 

For the neckline I changed that up as well and used the Roller Skate neckband. I really love the V shape to it and love the yellow band going all the way to the back of the dress. I did have to reshape the pattern piece to fit the fairy Tale dress neck line. I am really happy with the finished result! 

The leggings are the Play Time Leggings pattern. I did change these a bit as well. I traced the Apple Picking sleeves rounded shape onto the bottom of the hem on the leggings to allow room for the rouching. I sewn the pants hem first with the lace and elastic first before the rest of the pants. I am sure I will be making more of these for winter! 

The last part of her outfit? This amazing lovely bow in back of the dress!! 

(The fairy Tale dress will be one of our fall sew along as well!!)

 Up next is my youngest son's outfit! I had just as much fun sewing his as I did my daughter's. I used the fabrics in the Anna Elsie line for his. The patterns are from Oliver and S Sketchbook and Sail Boat. Two of my favorite boy patterns! 

For his Sketchbook shirt I made some mods to it, not many and all were really easy to do. First off I added piping on the collar, both sides of the button placket and on the top of the pocket.

 I also added a collar stand and separate collar piece to this one as well. (This pattern the collar is only a one piece so I made it a two piece). I can see more of these being made for him as well! 

The shorts are straight from the pattern themselves. I did use the same print as his top for the pocket linings though to add some fun for him. He really loves this part!  He is crazy about pockets. The shorts are finished with a brass button to match the shirt. 

Now onto my favorite part of the Sketchbook shirt, the hem! From the shirt's outside you cannot see it but on the inside it is so cool! I made a hem facing, inspired by the Music Box Dress from O+S. I love how the dress has such a fun inside surprise and wanted to make my son's shirt the same way. It was a huge hit with him as well. The shirt is also sewn with french seam for a lovely inside finish. 

 His over shirt is made with the Sail Boat top made in all knit, the Art Gallery Knit is so soft!! I added hand embroidered bronze triangles to match the sketchbook shirt and finished it with wooden buttons. The Sail boat shirt layers lovely over the sketchbook shirt for cold weather too.  

     

This look really suits my little guy so well. Prince C's signature look it really is! 

I hope this post has got your creative juices flowing! There are so many lovely prints to choose from and even more coordinating fabrics as well so they is something for everyone for sure. 

Did I mention all the great prizes as well?!? The grand prize package is valued at over $850 that includes a Janome 7330 Magnolia Sewing Machine!! There will also be a 1st place winner and 2nd place winner as well. 

For the MIM Challenge contest you can check out all the details on the Whimsical Fabrics Blog.  It runs from now till September 21st. I hope you ladies are as excited as we are about it!!! 

Hurry now and go over to the shop and start creating!! Good luck to everyone as well, I am so excited to see what everyone makes!  

Happy Sewing!!! 

Sharon

Pretty in Plaid!

 This is Sweet pea's new favorite outfit! She wore it all day yesterday and even to bed last night. I tried to talk her into to pj's but she said no with a smile. The fit is great and she loves the colors, even though it is not pink. The flannel is very cozy for the chilly days we are having.

 I used the Apple Picking Dress pattern from Oliver + S for the over dress. The blouse is a fast favorite of mine. It looks great with her skirts and great under her dresses! It's the Music Class blouse from Oliver + S. The shirt takes some time to make seeing it has pin tucks on it but it is so worth the time put into it!

 I am thinking about making her a hot pink plaid one next, I sure she wold love it!

 

If you own the Apple picking dress you can find a how-to here to make the pinafore dress for your little girl!

 

Happy Sewing!

 

Sharon

Holiday Bow Dress Tutorail

Sweet pea loves her Christmas outfit this year. She even helped pick out all the fabrics an buttons for this one. Both fabric and buttons are from Sweet pea's great-grandmother. I think just about everyone is my family sews. :) I though I would share with you on how I made Sweet pea's Christmas dress this year.

http://oliverands.com/oliver-and-s-patterns/OLV-OS028AP.html 

I used the Oliver + S Apple Picking Dress pattern for the pinafore dress. I have used this pattern a few times before, It's a favorite of mine! But what O+S pattern isn't?

 The pink pattern piece is the original pattern and the white is the changed pattern piece. (I made the 3T size here.) From the bottom edge of the pink pattern to the bottom edge of the white is an 1 1/2". I just then drew a line from top edge to the mark at eh bottom of the white pattern piece. This includes a 1/2" seam allowance. Cut two of the main fabric and two of the lining fabric out.

 I then took the Center button placket (the bigger one that goes on the top of the dress) and added a 1 1/8" to the bottom then drew a straight line down to make the angle. I also rounded the top corner of the bottom placket too. The longer straight edge needs to be cut out along the fold of the fabric. Cute one of the main fabric and one of the lining fabric.

 I then took the center button plackets and added fusible interfacing to the main (plaid) piece then stitched the two together with right sides facing. (1/2" seam allowance) Trim, turn and press.

 I then edge stitched the outside and added my button holes. I used the pattern's guide for the button holes for this one but for the Christmas one I only used six buttons so I just evenly spaced them out.  

 Then stitch the lining bodice and main bodice at shoulder's only. I trimmed and pressed the seam allowance.

 Then pin main and lining together with right sides faces. Stitch only the arm holes and front center and neck line. (where the black lines are) Trim seams, turn and press.

 Now stitch together the sides of the bodice (where lines are). Open up the lining and main of wears left side. Pin the main and lining side bodice with right sides together. (see below)

 Stitch and then trim seam and press open. Turn bodice right side out and press bodice again.

 This is what you'll have! Repeat with other side. I then edge stitched around the arm holes and bodice outside edges.

 The pin the center placket on and stitch the whole bodice lining to the main fabric using a 3/8" seam allowance. I then finished the pattern as in the instructions for the skirt. (I did add a 2" to the length of the skirt though)

 To make the bow I cut out two 5"x7" and stitched them together leaving a 2" opening. I trimmed the seam allowance then hand stitched the opening closed.

 I then pleated the bow and stay stitched it in place in the center.

 For the center of the bow I  cut out a 2" wide strip of fabric and stitched it together using a 1/4" seam allowance. I turned and press it with the seam in the center. I just wrapped the tub of fabric around to fit it to the bow and added 1/4" for seam allowances. I did a narrow zig zag stitch on the raw edges to finish them, them stitched it together to make a circle. (see below) Then turn right sides out and place the seam in the back and thread the bow through.

 I then stitched the bow onto the very bottom of the bodice, centered, to the button placket. I moved back the center ring of the bow and stitched under this on both sides to hold it in place. Then add buttons and you are done!

 One new dress for Sweet pea! (thanks Grandma for the buttons and the fabric!!)

Happy Sewing!!

 

Sharon

Fall Fun Already?!?

 With Sweet pea having more than enough clothes to last her a life time in her size I decided to go ahead and start fall clothes for her. This is the Apple Picking Dress from Oliver + S pattern company made in a size 3T. It's a quick easy pattern to make when I don't have a whole lot of time on my hands.  I was able to work on both of them while little Prince C took his afternoon nap and the older kids played games together.

 I did have just enough fabric to make this dress too, nothing left over! I bought the little bit that was left marked down and have been saving for just the right pattern. I used a very light weight cotton fabric to make the bias tie. The light weight fabric makes the tie flow better, love it! The buttons I had at the house from an old blouse I had been saving. Best of all it's Sweet pea favorite new color pink!

 Grandma and grandpa bought this fabric by her demands request. (Every time Sweet pea talked to grandma on the phone she would ask where her Strawberry Short cake fabric was,lol.) and boy does she love this dress too! As soon as we got the fabric in the mail Sweet pea demanded that I "cut out my dress right now!" What a little monster I created. ;)

Next up some deep house cleaning, painting and some new floor to put in! Yippy!!

Happy Sewing!!

Sharon