A Little Bit Of Christmas

This year I have stared on some fun sewing for Christmas already. I don't want to fall behind on my list. This year I want to make my two youngest some fun Holiday clothes that will work for the whole season. Sweet pea's is up first. (Mostly because I have not decided on boy fabric yet) 

Well right now if you follow me on the Whimsical Fabrics Facebook group you know that I am smitten with Children's Corner Frannie dress pattern. I love the the instructions and constriction of this dress, the way it fits and the drape the dress has. All around it is a lovely pattern! This is my second one to date and I can promise that there will be at least one more this year. (I already ordered the supplies for the third one.)  

The fabric is from Riley Blake and is no longer in print. I had been eyeing the fabric for some time and bought it when it went on sale here a few weeks ago, it worked out so nicely for dressy version of the Frannie. I sued the blue and pink color way for her Crochet night gown this past summer. I love this fabric line. 

I trimmed this dress in lace and stain ribbon. The hem line has a lace that reminds me of gingerbread houses, I not sure why but I love it. 

The dress is topped with a lace collar and the satin ribbons for the ties to finish the dress. I think this will make a lovely dress for a Christmas party or even a New Years Eve party. This dress also layers very well too so she can wear a lovely long sleeve Mattie under it this winter or even a lovely cardi over top.  It's a great all season pattern. 

Happy Sewing!! 

Sharon 

The Tale of Two Pj's For Prince C and Miss Sweet Pea

With summer half way over I really needed to get some night gowns and pj's done for both little ones. I seen some awesome Oliver and S Badminton dresses made into night gowns so I made two for Sweet pea, I have no idea why I waited so long to sew this pattern up!! It was so quick and easy. I had both of these cut out and sewn in one day flat. While I was sewing these up Prince C decided to go shopping on his own though mommy's sewing room. He pulled out three nautical prints and the Oliver and S Sleepover pj's pattern and requested "two please". How could I say no after all his hard work?! (I really need to make this kiddo shopping bag! He has a awesome metal shopping cart already for his "trips".  

Now when I sewn the two night gowns for Sweet pea I had the idea that both would be night gowns. Both would work as lovely dress as well. (The pattern is for dresses so you know) My daughter loves the fit of these both for sleeping and was so exited for bed time that night. She was even dancing around in her new night gown singing.

She loves the ribbon detail on this one as much as do and we have plans for two more night gowns and one top. She helped me pick them out before bed time. 

I did make the next size up so these would fit for a while too. She loves the fit and it is not overly big on her. Perfect for sleeping. Until morning came......

Then she decided that the pink and blue one was the perfect dress for a hot summer day! LOL can't blame me for trying. Oh well she does have two more "ordered" so she said this one can be her dress. I can't blame her either, it is very pretty.

I had to make make Prince C a 2T, yep I couldn't believe it either. I measured him but though these will be huge on him but went with this size any ways. MY thought is that the last sets lasted so long before he outgrew them. While these are a bit big they do fit him well. I shorted the sleeves and legs on this one for summer pj's. I then added a hem band to the bottom of both short legs. I love the look of the long pants and wanted it on these as well.

Both sets were a HUGE hit with him!! He tried on each pair as I was sewing on buttons then decided he needed a bath early so he could get ready for bed time. It took him over five minutes to pick which set to wear first. He then wanted his picture taken outside on the swing set. I do really love this little guy. 

I can't tell you how great it makes me feel to sew something that both my children love so much. Prince C has been helping with his fabric choices for his fall clothes so I can't wait to get them sewn to see his excitement.  I am sure both of these will be great for early fall as well. I love sewing for the seasons. 

Happy Sewing!! 

Sharon 

Our Summer Favorites; Ellie Inspired Summer Blog Tour

Summer is almost here and we can't wait! The hot summer days with the cool summer nights are most wonderful but our favorite part of summer of is the evenings. We love to sit outside watching the sun go down over the horizon playing until the last sun beam has stop shinning and the stars are twinkling over head. It is such a magical time of day!  

This dress reminds me of just that, the perfect summer evenings that never seem to last long enough. I used the Ellie Inspired pattern Spring Lily dress pattern. I adore the back bodice lines of this dress. Nice and cool for the hot days but has these lovely capped sleeves that are nice for when the sun goes down. The sash is perfect length too for playing, dancing and chasing fireflies. 

This dress pattern has lovely box pleats that goes the entire way around the skirt for a nice full skirt but not too frilly. It really didn't take much time to make them either to my surprise and look so awesome when done. 

I also added a bias strip of fabric to the bottom of the dress over the hem line and used the very same fabric as the sash and lined the dress with. Yes this dress is fully lined! You know I love a fully lined garment!! Even the sleeves are fully lined and there are no exposed seams. (French seams on the skirt)*sigh* Yes a perfect summer dress.

The fabric is from Riley Blake, The fine and Dandy Line. It really reminds me of a 1950s print, I LOVE it!! I love anything 1950s myself. I might just have to make myself a  dress. If you are wondering this dress does come in women's sizes too. 

Did I mention it is perfect for twirling in?! Perfect for her to dance in the summer evening sunlight's rays until night has fallen. 

So what is your favorite thing of summer time? 

Happy Sewing!! 

Sharon 

Olaf Big Sister and Brother Outfits for Winter and a sale!

My two little ones lately love have matching outfits and have requested a few of them....ok Prince C first requested a matching dress like his sister but I found him some patterns that were better for him, lol.  

Both children had seen this amazing smocked insert over on a Face Book smocking stitches group that a wonderful woman shared with the group, the Olaf smocking plate. I have not smocked very much for Prince C so I wanted to it for him. Along with the smocking plate both children really loved the fabric that this gal used as well, Olaf the snowman. It took me a while but luckily my mom found it for me a Wal-Mart. (Jo Ann's now carries in store as well) For Sweet pea's dress I used the Miss Merry Mack dress, the very same dress pattern as her plaid Christmas dress. This one I added pin tucking to the bodice and I fuss cut the blue Olaf fabric to make the baby piping to tie the bodice into the skirt.

I added a sash onto this dress too. (The sash is included in the pattern as well.) That was one of her requests that it have a bog bow in the back. Also not really seen but is the Icing Skirt that is under her dress. It gives the look of one of those gathered pettie skirts but this skirt sews up so much easier and quicker. It has several circle skirts sewn onto a waist band, no gathering what-so-ever in this pattern! It took me about 2 hours to sew. It was pretty much all sewn on my serger, the neatest part of the skirt is that the edges are sewn with fishing line in them! It gives the skirt this lovely curvy edges to it.

You can see the Icing skirt better in this picture of Ellie Inspired. I love how the how the edges of this skirt curl! It can even be worn without and over dress too.

The bodice of her dress has these light blue pin tucks on it. I thought the light blue would look lovely on the white bodice and help tie in the skirt fabric. I fussy cut the Olaf fabric so I had just the blue snowy part od the fabric to use to make the piping for the bodice.

For Prince C outfit I used the Dancer and Dasher Dungarees with the Buttons and Bow body dress shirt. I added in the smocking insert to the overall's. It was my very second time picture smocking, were there is room for improvement I am very happy with it! One of my new sewing/smocking friends helped me with the picture smocking. I plan on making more of them! I really love it. (Now to get my own pleater, hint, hint hubby!!)

Here is a close up of the Olaf. I was so happy that he really looked like Olaf when I was done! Yes, it is the little things that make me happy. :-)

For his shirt I used fold over elastic for e leg openings. It made sewing this a bit quicker and I love the way it fits on him and the way it stays tucked in his pants as well!

I cannot wait to see what these two little ones request next time!

For this week the Miss Merry Mack dress and Icing skirt are paired together for a great sale on Crasty at 25% off! You can find them here.

Happy sewing!!

Sharon

Queen Elsa, Let it Go!

It's that time of year again; costume time! This year I am doing things a bit different though and I am making everything early! I have three done and two to go. The first one I am showing you done is Sweet pea's. She has changed her mind a million times (which is kind of my fault). Her first costume in the works was going to be Pinkalious. I had the whole costume planned out too, a smocked bodice, dyeing lace to make just the right shade of the pink ruffles on the skirt, hand painted wings with hand sewn pink "fluff" around then, well you get the picture. Any way she kept asking for the Elsa dress costume. I know there will be a army of them out on Halloween night so I really wanted her to be something different until I thought about it. (ok, ok she was singing "Let it go" endlessly too)  It's her costume and she doesn't care if every other little girl is dressed the  same. That who she really wants to be. She is only four so really why not? It is a day of fun for the kids and not mommy. So as my friends would "let it go, le it go" so I did. ;-)

I wanted to make her a "real" dress costume. I know it will be worn a lot. Second It had to be little girl like and not, well, improper looking to be polite. Which means a bit fitted but not tight and no slit and the front of the dress had to come up higher. Third, the cape has to come off for washing and play wear. I think we are both happy with the end result of this dress.

Ok now the how and how-to! I used two different favorite patterns I mine to make this look. The Oliver + S Fairy tale dress pattern, Ellie Inspired Sleepy Bear pj pattern and a self drafted skirt ad cape. I traced the bodice of the of the Fairy tale and drew a line for where I wanted the dark blue to be and the see though to start. I then redrew the top and bottom pieces separate and added a seam allowance to them. I cut out the main bodice with the satin and the dark blue see through fabric over lay on top of the satin.  (the blue is a pretty sparkly design to it) I also cut out a satin lining with the see though snowflake fabric as well. I did the very same for the back bodice.





Here is the back of the dress, I have the zipper going up to the top of the satin and then a loop and button for the top. (Do you see the nicely matched bodice at the zipper line?!?)

I have to show you the lovely lining! It slips on Sweet pea so nice and she loves the feel of it.



To give the see through fabric a nice finish I sewn it all with French seams. To keep the seam allowances tighter on the main bodice and the lining bodice I hand stitched them together carefully through all the layers after I sewn the bodice pieces together. The non gathered sleeves are from the Sleepy Bear pj pattern. I really, really love the fit of the sleeves from this pattern! I self drafted the skirt pieces, the cape and the crown.  

I cut the cape out the full width of the fabric and juts rounded the corners out and serged roll hem the edges. I then made a bias (I measured this to the length I wanted the finish top cape to be) with the see through snowflake fabric and gathered the cape onto the bias and stitched it closed. I then added hooks and loops to the dress and cape so that the cape can come on and off.
 

The cape is nice and full too. I so glittery! It looked like I killed a fairy in the kitchen while I was this costume!

The cape is also nice and flowing too. Perfect for playing Frozen.

She really loves the finished dress and didn't want to take it off. She thinks she looks just like Elsa. I am very glad now that I made this dress for her, we are both very happy with it. Now the only problem is Sweet pea is trying to convince me that Prince C wants to be Anna, hahaha, I don't think so my love. ;-)


Happy Sewing!!


Sharon

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

Day Dreaming of Warm Weather

I was so excited to move back up north, I missed the beautiful white sparkly snow! How fun is it to go sledding in, build a snowman with the kids and even the fun snowball fight. Yes, I sure did miss having a real winter....I am so over that now! It's 8f out right now, oh where are you spring!

So to make it seem a bit warmer I thought I would follow suit as to some friends of mine and sew for the coming summer (seems like a life time away now) months. I broke down with the sale over at O+S and bought the hula hoopskirt pattern. I have been drooling over every single one that Petra has made. I hope to find some great bright summer fabric and Sweet pea a few more up like hers. I am so glad I bought too, it was so much fun to sew! Easy too! I love it even more after I sewn this one.

The top picture is side one of the great skirt!



The skirt is reversible too, how clever of Liesl!

I made a hopscotch top ala Nicole to go with her new skirt. The front of the shirt is simple the same as the back but with just a deeper neckline. Thank you Nicole for the ingenious idea! The hat is the Tulip hat from Cottage mama. I have made Sweet pea two of these hats before and they are her favorite. I did add a wee little bow on the top of it.

So are you sick of all this snow yet? I think I need to go on vacation to visit some friends in warmer weather!

Happy Sewing!

Sharon