Sweet pea and Her First Week At School In Mama Made and Back Blogging Fashion Show Part #1

First off it has been a really good week for all the kids going back to school. They really enjoy it so far. You can tell from Sweet pea's photos that she was super nervous at first but as the week has she has decided she has the most smart teacher in the world. This makes me happy to hear. This was her first Grammies Dolls outfit I had blogged about a while ago and her new teacher! 

This is my less that excited crew on the very first day, Prince C or Caillou as he likes to be called now (He gave himself this nick name and loves it), is super happy until he got to school and did not stay with Sweet Pea. He is doing fine but misses his sister terribly so during the day.  

Day #2 Our Oliver and S Butterfly Blouse and skirt set. I love the fit of set and the length of the skirt and blouse both. The skirt is corduroy and the shirt is Art galley Emma Grace. We plan on layering this outfit in the fall.  (I bought a pair of the cute fox socks that Brittany posted about to go with this now!!!) 

You can tell by her second day that it went much better and she was happy to go back. Yay!! 

Day #3 Grammies Doll's Bitty Beatrix Blouse with store bought jeans.....yes store bought. Any way....the shirt has cotton lace details on the bodice ad the sleeves are trimmed in lace. This top too will be layered in the cooler days coming ahead.   

Notice more happy on day three?!? 

To answer the question, yes she can still play in store bought jeans. She wasn't sure of these strange stiff things but some of the other children had them so we had to try them out. I know she will need them in our freezing winter weather.   

Day #4 and our last day of this week she saved her most special, favorite dress in all her closet. The dress who's fabric came all the way from Australia for a really good friend.   

Today is her Library day at school and she has decided this means dress day at school. This dress was made with Oliver and S Puppet Show Dress trimmed in lace and antic buttons. I love the timeless look of this one. The blue looks so lovely with her green eyes. 

This dress is also great for church as well. It's so lovely I think. When she out grows this one it will be put up in my sewing studio with her smocked Easter dress. 

The back has "flat" buttons so her hair does not get stuck in the buttons. Her long hair seems to do this with regular buttons now, no fun at all. 

I have to say a very  big thank you again to Tamara, I hope one day to tell you in person. :-) 

So week one down and many to go. I will post many more new outfits next week as she wears and get my blog caught all up!  I also will be posting a free Christmas stocking pattern here too for everyone. I sewn our whole family up one this summer. 

happy Sewing!!!

Sharon 

Bitty Beatrix Sew Along Day Three

Welcome to our Third and final day of the Bitty Beatrix Sew Along!! Today we will finish sewing this cute blouse up. We will tackle sewing the arm opening, I love this clever way Theresa wrote this pattern for this part! So lets get started!! 

**First before we start be sure to read all directions of the pattern first.**

1. This step is something I do myself and is not in the pattern. I serge the edges of both the front and back bodice lining pieces. Do not rim off any of the pieces, I just finished the edges. 

2. Now onto the closing the arm holes. I have lots of pictures for these steps so if you fins it tricky I hope this help. Take the left side of the bodice. Separate the lining part from the main and open up with the right side of the main/lining bodice up. (see picture below)

When you open up the bodice pieces lay the ruffle sleeve facing in towards the center seam. 

3. Now take the right bodice arm opening piece and roll it over to the left side and place it the right side in the center of the left. (Be sure that the right side is rolled up nicely so you are sure not to stitch it)

4. Now take the un-sewn edges of the left side and then place right sides together (with the right side still rolled up in the center) and pin the raw. 

Stitch together. trim sewn edges well them turn right side out. 

Press well then Repeat with second side. 

5. Sew two rows of gathering stitches to the top skirt. Gather the threads to fit the bottom of the front bodice and pin only to the main front bodice. (be sure to pull the lining bodice out of the way. Sew together then press the seam up towards the bodice. 

6. If you are adding lace trim sew it on at this point. I take my lace first and press it in a curve with a steam iron to better shape it into the bodice curve. Then pin onto the front bodice with the bottom of the lace just over the bottom of the top bodice edge. Stitch on both top and bottom edge of the lace in place. (I also leave a bit of the lace over hanging either side on this step.)

7. Take the front and back bodice and pin them together with right sides facing, including the lining bodices. Stitch then finish the raw edge. Repeat with second side. Press side seams and then press the lining bodice into place in the inside of the bodice. 

8. Now the pattern calls for the lining to be press under a 1/4" then hand stitched into place. This is where I did mine different and as why I serge the bottom edges of the bodice linings. 

I smoothed the inside bodice linings into place then pinned the main front bodice to the lining bodice. 

Outside view. 

Inside view. 

Stitch the lining bodice in place by stitching on the right side of the bodice right over the bottom lace stitching line. If you do not have lace stitched onto your bodice then stitch in the ditch of the bodice and skirt seam. 

9. To finish up the back bodice take the wears right side and measure over a 1/2" and bring the edge of the right side over a 1/2" then press. It will leave a pleat in the back of the bodice. 

I just pressed mine very well and did not stitch this in place just because I love the look of the back bodice this way. 

Mark the button holes according to the pattern directions then stitch. Very lastly hem the shirt with a narrow hem. 

That is it, we are all done!!! Oh I also added a lace bow to the center front bodice. 

I hope you had as much fun as I did! Be sure to add your finished photos to the Grammies Dolls Face Book Group! 

Sharon

Bitty Beatrix Sew Along Day Two

Welcome back for day Two of the our sew along! Today we will starting sewing our top. 

1. To start out today first cut a piece of interfacing 3" wide by 4" long and fuse to the center top of the back bodice piece. Find the center of the back bodice and draw 3" line right down it. Then draw another line a 1/4" to the left and right of the center line for a stitching guild later. 

2. Pin and Stitch both front and back shoulder pieces with the right sides together. Repeat with the bodice lining pieces. (I also finish all my raw edges as I go)

3. Take your sleeve ruffle and press the bottom down a 1/4" to the wrong side and then again to the wrong side a 1/4". 

4. Stitch the outer most fold. I added trim to mine so I pinned my trim on first then as I was stitching I also stitched my trim down as well. Repeat with second sleeve. 

5. Sew a gathering stitch across the top of both sleeves. 

6. Find the center of the sleeve and pin it to the shoulder seam, right sides together. Then measure the bodice side in a 1 1/2" and pin the edge of the sleeve there. Them measure again a 1 1/2" in on the other side of the bodice and pin the second side of the sleeve. Adjust gathers on the sleeve to fit. Baste in place. Repeat with second sleeve. 

7. Now slip your bodice lining over your main bodice with the right sides together. Place the main bodice wrong side up, pin the lining and main bodices together. 

8. I take an extra step here to help my front corners turn nicely. I take my quilting ruler and measure in a 1/4" square for the seam allowance on the front bodice lower squared edge. Mark the 1/4" inside corner spot. Repeat this on the second side of the front bodice.  

9. Stitch around the neck line all the way around, be sure to stitch your back bodice on your stitching lines you made. 

Trim your seams and corners very well, turn and press. 

Be sure to roll your bodice lining to the inside slightly as you are pressing the bodice. 

We will leave off here today and finish up sewing tomorrow. 

Happy Sewing!!

Sharon 

Bitty Beatrix Blouse Sew Along!

With school starting here next week I though I would have my own little sew along fun here on my own blog as well. (Remember the Mamie Dress starts over on the Whimsical Fabrics Sew A-long blog as well!) The sew A-long I am hosting over here is the Bitty Beatrix Blouse from Grammies Dolls. This is a really cute top that sews up fast. Sweet pea already has two and now third one for layers in the cold months. 

This is her #1, a lacy fabric trimmed in cotton lace on the sleeves and bodice. 

Here is our top #2. I made this one after another blouse she wanted. We both are happy with the way this one came out....and with the skort I made to match it! (I think I forgot to blog about these, I will have to do a "How she wore it" blog post the first month of school to show off all her new outfits!)

I made my own piping for the bottoms to match the top, loved how these came out so much! 

Lastly top #3! This is our fall one, made in Art Galley fabrics. I love the colors of this one. All my favorite colors of fall are in the print. 

I hope you will join me next week for a three day Sew along starting Monday. 

If you need the pattern Bitty Beatrix Blouse you can find it for sale here. 

Happy Sewing!! 

Sharon