Red, White, and Blue Sketchbook Set for Prince C

Rainy days and our Sketchbook outfit pair for the perfect end of summer days. Prince C has been living in his newest sets for the past month so this mama had to sew more up! I have four more tops cut out and waiting on me as well. If you do not own this pattern yet and have boys I highly recommend it! It's been a staple in pattern collection from the begging of my Oliver and S days. One of the very first ones I purchased. You can say I have more than got my money's worth from this one! 

I did switch it up a tiny nit and added a second picket and both pockets with points on the bottom for a different look. I did cut the button placket and the pockets out and the bias as well. I am a sucker for this look. I did also make the collar in two pieces again as I love how nicely they lay and also made the hem with the bias strip as well. I think hemming goes more smoothly this method. 

Here is a closer look at the collar. This is such an easy mod to make so the pattern pieces are already there. 

With all the sets of these that I have made over the years I longer need to pull out the instructions and find it such a relaxing sew. maybe I can start sewing these in my sleep and get a head in my sewing. ;) That would be nice! 

Happy Sewing! 

Sharon 

Air-mail Sketchbook Set

With school starting today for all the children I am sharing Prince C's first day of school outfit. Today marked the first day of homeschooling for him and he will start PreK on Monday, well Tuesday with the solar eclipse so we can all watch it as a family together.  The three youngest have been reading up on it and are excited to see the "show" on Monday. With this we start the new school year for Prince C! 

I am finally sewing him a size 4, the last size in this envelope! I started to sew this pattern for him long before her was born. It was one of the first patterns I purchased to sew for him. While the size 4 is roomy it was emotional to to cut and sew this size. 

Well after 50 some Sketchbook tops I can say I have learned a few tricks and no longer need to pull out the pattern's instructions any more. My favorite one is to use a bias to hem the bottom of the shirt. The bias makes it easier finish the hem and is also a great way to add fun fabric to the inside of any of shirts. I like the clean look it gives as well. The shorts are even quicker to sew with a 1/2 hour sewing time now. The Sketchbook shorts are his favorite ones to wear at the moment. He has four but I think we need to make just a few more. 

I really do use much fun fabric for his tops so I deiced this year to make him as many as I can. This was the first one in the Kinder-line for him. I have a Sarah Jane Firefly one cut and waiting as type, plus an Illinois College one in both long sleeve and short sleeve as well. I love the many looks for this pattern as it can be dressed up or down. 

Get  a good look at this face, he is not a baby anymore!! Very Princely though as he has always been. 

He is the most full of life child I have. he is rarely in a bad mood and everyone is a friend for life once he meets you. I know this school year will hold many new things for him. 

He is also my biggest ham too! (He just learned to make duck lips.)

"mmmwwwwaaaaa" Love Prince C!" 

Happy Sewing, 

Sharon 

Forth Of July Sewing and Price C 5th Birthday

First off Happy Late Forth Of July!! I know it has been very quite on here this past year but I cannot believe how busy I have been in life. The kids keep me busy and remodeling the house it taking a lot of time. As summer is half over the thought of back to school sewing is getting into full gear here! Our youngest will be starting a half day of school this autumn so I have at least two children to sew whole wardrobes for! I am planning on things for the older ones as well, they will just have to wear and love it, like it or not. ha! 

First up today is Prince C  Forth outfit. I used my trusty old Sketchbook pattern from Oliver and S. I honestly cannot get enough of this pattern still! I cut out four tops and three shorts so that each piece can be mixed and matched for school. I did cut out a size 4 for the very first time so he will get lots of wear out of each piece. It did have me crying that my baby boy is really wearing the last size now in this pattern. Thank goodness I already own the bigger size! (Although that didn't make me feel at the time of sewing these!) 

Little guy sure has grown up! 

I have sewn so many of these shirts and shorts that I no longer to to read that pattern, ha! I need to recount how many I have made but I know it is over 50. If you have not bought this pattern for you little guy I highly recommend it! It has been a staple for all four of boys. 

Now onto miss Sweet pea's forth o July dress. I used Oliver and S Pinwheel dress pattern, one size bigger than she wears so we will have plenty of school wear out of it. The fabric is very special in that my grandmother sent it to me. She is over the moon for it and has worn it so much that she needs a second one for the wash while she wears this. 

This pattern is a very quick sew and very much fun to make that I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this pattern. Another one I highly recommend! I love that this dress is a two piece, a slip dress with the tunic over top to make the pinwheel skirt. Love! 

I added a white rick rack with red sparkle stitching that goes through the center to the bias tape top for fun scalloped look. 

Sweet epa loves the fit and that it twirls! I love that there was no gathering needed to make the skirts! Sewing was so much faster because of the skirt style. 

Lastly on this I did change teh back to add a button loop in stead of using the ribbon. The loop can be found in the Ice Cream Dress pattern. 

Lastly, onto the birthday boy!! We always have a low key party so I wanted to make him something fun to wear this year. I used the sketchbook pattern for this set as well but with a fun smore fabric and denim shirts. 

Prince C now loves to eat smores so he was so excited to have shirt with them all over it...and it not be sticky. ha! 

I sued a jean thread for stitching the shorts. The waist band was a little think sewing so I had to use a heavy duty needle for stitching. I did break one on the hem. oopps. They did turn out great though. 

Happy Birthday to my little Prince C!! I still cannot believe that you are five now. I am excited to see what the new year brings you. 

Happy Sewing!!

Sharon

Sewing For Prince C

So it has been very quite here for while. I been taking a break from sewing altogether with some leg problems that has slowed me down and then had surgery at the beginning if July.  While healing is coming slowly I have been finishing up those UFOs. First up is two Sketchbook shirts for Prince C. One is for family photos so no pictures just yet but here is one of them. I love the fall colors in this print and he loves it because it looks like southwestern to him. 

Prince C was very lacking in some tops so I made him the size 3. (I have one more finished and three more in the works) It's so hard to believe this little guy is on a size 3 already! It seams just yesterday I was sewing him a size 18 months. I did decide to get more wear out of all his clothes that I would make him several new sailboat tops to layer over his sketchbook shirts the fall and winter. He loved doing this last year so much. 

For all his Sketchbook shirts now I make them as a two pieces collar. It is a very easy mod to do as all the pieces you need are already in the pattern. I love the way the collar like this sits very nicely. 

I paired this top with his Sailboat denim pants. Another Oliver and S combo that I love. 

Hopefully within the next two weeks I will get up a tutorial on how to make this shirt with the two pieces collar. 

Until next time, 

Happy Sewing!!

Sharon 

Valentine's Day Love!

What a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day then sewing for my two youngest loves! 

After Christmas these two loved their matching outfits so I had to make another holiday set as requested by both of them. (I better enjoy this while I can!! The three older ones have by far out grew this stage.) 

These fabrics are all from Whimsical Fabrics in one great bundle on sale today only! (Well all but the corduroy pants that is.) All four prints are included in one set for one great low price, you can't beat that! I bought the corduroy from Whimsical fabrics as well a while ago. It was great to be able to make matching sets and not worrying about pairing prints and fabrics. 

You can find this bundle deal at Whimsical Fabrics and Me Group. Look for the Wacky Wednesday deal!! 

First onto my little Price C. He is wearing Oliver and S Art Museum pants and vest paired with the Sketchbook shirt.  The pants are sewn in a Fabric Finders cord, complete with welt pockets on the back side. Price C could live in these pants! I have two more sets that need to be sewn this winter for him.  

The vest also has the wonderful welt pockets on the front, a plus for little man. He loves the pockets on this vest so much!  I made the vest lining and back vest in the same fabric as the sketchbook shirt. I think it has a Dick Van Dyke look to them. 

I cut the front welt pockets out on the bias for diagonal stripes.  

I also modified the sketchbook shirt to make it a two piece collar instead of a one piece. I love the way the collar fits like this. I also added a bias hem to the bottom of the shirt just for fun for me.  

Outfit #1 for Sweet pea! The blouse is the Children's Corner Mary De pattern and the skirt is from Oliver and S Swing Set skirt. The blouse is made straight form the pattern, no mods. I love the fit and style of this blouse with skirts! I can see a few more of these being sewn up. 

The skirt I did add a hem band to the skirt's lining for a second fabric to the skirt to be seen while worn. Sweet pea decided that this outfit is perfect for dancing in, and that is just what she and Price C was doing! Ha-ha! 

Outfit #2 for Sweet pea! 

This one is from Children's Corner Mary De pattern. All I can say is :LOVE!!!

The blouse above is the under shirt for the jumper. It looks great with or with out the jumper. The jumper can be worn without the blouse for summer time as well. It's so lovely and classic.  

The smocking plate included in the pattern was perfect for a Valentine's Day outfit as well. I really enjoyed making this dress so very much. I will not lie when I say I took my time smocking because I was enjoying it so. I need to start smocking much more often! 

I even made a piping for the jumper out of the pink and white striped fabric. 

Here is the back side, it has a lovely crossed wrap style back. I will be making a voile version for summer time of the jumper part. I am wondering how it will pleat up but I am sure it will be so much fun to make. 

Happy Valentines Day from us to you!!! 

Sharon and family

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