Rainy Day Sewing, getting beach ready!

Yesterday it rained and rained here so I figured if we are stuck in the house I might as well go ahead and start on some swim wear for the kids. Yes, I did already sew Sweet pea swim suit but I wanted to give it another go to see it I couldn't make one a little better.

First up is Prince C! I wanted something with a rash guard and bit more stylish than the run of the mill board short shorts so this is what I came up. I used two Oliver + S pattern for his swim wear. The top is a Field trip tee that I painted a star fish on from the Sandbox pattern. I have always wanted to put that little guy on a shirt! I do wish now that I made it in a smaller shirt size though. This top is a 12-18 months size, its prefect for tee's for him but big for a rash guard.  I know in the Sketchbook he wears the 18-24 months size so I thought this would fit the way I wanted it to, I really should have made a trial one first I guess but it will do. At least I have this pattern ready to make him some more summer tee's. I do love the way this pattern fits for regular tee's!

The shorts are a mod from the Sunny Days free pattern. I made the short panels into one piece instead of two and added button holes onto the waist band for a draw string tie. I also sized down to make these as well, 12-18 month size for him. Both the top and the bottoms are made out of denim swim fabric. This stuff is so neat! I talked Garrett into a pair of these swim bottoms as well but Wyatt said no way. (I didn't even bother asking Mr. Cool a.k.a. Jacob) Oh well, Garrett will be styling too.

Here is take two of Sweet pea's. I used the same pattern as the first for Peek-a-boo pattern shop. This pair turned out much better than the first so I think it's safe to say that I am getting the hang of these swim suits! Both were very quick and easy to sew too. Her's is made in the same denim swim fabric and is paired with polka dot fabric.

No wonky back on this one! Yippy!

At first she wasn't so crazy about it but it grew on her when she seen baby brother wearing his. I guess she didn't want to get left out.

I really feel like I am getting my list done for once and it's moving along at a very nice pace. I juts might get all my summer sewing done this year for once!

Sharon

Time For Summer, Sewing with Some Free Patterns

School lets out for the summer here in four short weeks and the weather is starting to turn lovely. With the older boys being out of school so soon I really would love to have all my kids clothes sewing done before then so what a better way than to start on than a lovely summer dress?! Sweet pea really needs some new dresses too, she has grown so tall over the winter. She is in love with dresses and who could blame her? I love to wear my sun dresses too, way better than pants. So first up was this Picnic Dress. I used a small scrap of fabric left over from her other Strawberry dress. (Oopps, I have forgotten to blog about that one! I will later this week!) It was maybe a yard with some other pattern pieces cut from it. I squeezed the pattern pieces on this baby and got all but one of the inside facing pieces out of this, yep I am that good. ; )

It his made out of strawberry briar rose fabric so you know she loves it! She was twirling around all da in this dress. I used some of the pink/white whipstitched piping on the bodice of this too. It was a easy quick sew, much like that of Oliver + S popover sun dress. The other great part of this dress? It was a free pattern from the Cottage Mama. You can find it over here on her blog too if you want to make one for yourself.

Here is the second part of her new outfit! Since she loves to wear dresses and plays pretty hard outside I thought it would be a great idea to make her some shorts to go under her dress this spring and summer. I notices that Oliver + S came out with a new free pattern, the Sunny Day shorts, they were perfect for this! I sized down one size since I used a knit fabric. I am in the works on making my four boys some pj's bottoms form this very same pattern too. The pattern size range is 6m to 12 boys! That's is terrific for me, all my kids can have a pair apiece. (The Picnic dress only comes in four sizes) I can see me getting a ton of use of the Sunny Day Short pattern already. I want to make Sweet pea some pj bottoms too but on her I plan on adding ruffles to the pants legs hem. I am going to make her two more knit pairs to go under her dresses once I can find my other box of fabric in the barn.....I know it's in there somewhere.....

She is pretty happy with this dress, I just might have to make her one more this next week.

Here is a close up of the piping, I just love this stuff! I need to order some more very soon. They come in all different colors.

I am also working on Caspian's 2nd birthday party sewing as well. (Yipes he is almost two?!?) I am making him and Sweet pea matching outfits this year. I could resist. Her dolly Ella will even have a matching dress. So plenty to work on for me this week! I am really enjoying it too. : )

Happy Sewing!

Sharon