A Few Roller Skate Dresses

 

This is one of those patterns that at first I didn't think I would use it, that's until I seen Brittany's Roller Skate dresses and tunics. She has sure changed my mind and boy am I glad she did! This pattern sews up beautifully and quickly, perfect for a busy mom.

 

This one Sweet pea picked out the fabric at the quilt store a couple of months ago and we had it sitting on the shelf just waiting to be used. When the pattern came in the mail she was looking at the instructions with me when she went to her fabric stash and brought back the strawberry fabric as she calls it and the pink fabric and asked me to make her this dress. How could I say no to this. ; )

 

She even picked out the button for the back of her dress. This one is grandma Day up north. The last one too. The button came out of her special button box. She wore this dress all day and then to bed that night. I just pulled it off of her to put on the chevron dress. I think it means she really likes it. : )

 

I made this one out of a chevron remnant that I found at Hobby Lobby. I was going to make the tunic top but I had just enough to make the dress so I went for it.

Sweet pea wasn't liking this one at first at all until it was done. She told me it was for her daddy.  hehehe I sure he would look great in this dress. ; )

 

I seen one of these dresses on the flicker group with the two rows of elastic and loved the look so I did that with this dress. I think it will be perfect for the beach this year!

 

We finished it with one of Sweet pea's buttons from great-grandma that looked like a sea shell. That's when she decided she liked this dress. What ever works I guess. ; )

 

She has even asked for another one already. Maybe after I get some sewing done for myself. Yep that's right, I am sewing for myself!

 

Sharon

A fairy tale fit for a Princess!

 

It's done! Sweet pea's Easter dress is finally done! I was so nervous making this dress and now I am so happy how it came out. : )

 

 

 

This year Sweet pea requested this dress that was in the Sew Beautiful magazine. I was sure to place an order first thing on March 1st. Well their computer's had a glitch and it was not realized until there was not any of the kits left. After panicking and a bit a freeking out I sat down and began to think. Tamara, a good friend, has taken a few Oliver + S patterns added smocking to the patterns so I thought that maybe I could do the same with the Fairy tale dress too. I emailed her and she talked me through how to this or I would not have been able to make this dress at all! Big thanks Tamara!!!

 

I used the same smocking plate as in the magazine and ordered the same Swiss trim too. I used white fabric from the local store and made my own piping to match the original dress. I was going to make the bullion roses on the dress too but I had a problem, as in I can make them on flat fabric but not so good on the pleated fabric. I deiced to leave them off her dress so that way she would have a finished dress this year. ; ) I did add the bullion roses to collar though. : )

 

To change the bodice of the Fairy tale dress pattern to make room for the smocking as the Sew Beautiful dress I first made my bodied pattern into two pieces, adding a 1/2" seam allowance to both. I cut the bodice at the notch on the arm cycle. I then added the skirt length to the bodice, taking off the 1/2" seam allowance for both so the length would be the same as the pattern calls for. I then x3 the width to get the fabric the right size for smocking. I wouldn't be lying if I did tell you that I was a total wreck smocking this thinking it might not work. Lucky it did. : )

 

The back of the dress is as is in the pattern. I used the pink gingham for the sash. I love, love the sash on this dress! The trim goes around the entire dress too. It even matched where the seam is! No this was not planned. I though about it but was afraid that it would come out off even if I tried. It was a very happy surprise for me.

 

The dress has a Caroline under it so it makes it a lovely twirly dress. Perfect for a princess dress so I am told. I love the fullness it adds to the dress.

 

The most important part of this dress is that Sweet pea loves it. She really loves it! I called it her Easter dress the whole time I worked on this but when she seen it done she declared it was a princess dress for her. She even squealed when she seen it. That made this mama feel so very happy! She had to twirl in it to show that it was princess dress.

 

In the end I couldn't be any ,ore pleased on how this dress came out but I think it will be a little while before I dive into a dress with this many rows of smocking. I think I will have to keep practicing my bullion roses so that I can make her another one next year too.

 

Next up the boys and a family picture!

 

Sharon

Baby's First Easter

 

 

 

 Happy 9 months and first Easter Price C!

 

My little sweet boy had to have a very special outfit for this Easter. (I do wish I could sew like this when my three other boys were babies!) I used a pattern from Creations by Michie' Knickers Yoke-overlay. It can either be gathered or smocked but I had, had to make the smocked one for him. I was going to make his bubble out of blue fabric but after my Aunt suggested white fabric I thought that it would look way better too. I am so glad I used the white fabric!

(our little duck hand, quack, quack!)

 

This pattern was very well written but I did make a few changed to the pattern like lining the pants so I finished the seams different than what the pattern called for. That and I finished the knickers cuffs a bit different too.

 

 The smocking was not hard at all either. I am a beginner at smocking so I am very happy how this turned out.  This was the first time I made my own piping. I used left over blue fabric from his last bubble outfit I made him. I do love this blue on him!

 

Well I have not taken the other kiddos pictures yet I hope to latter on this week. I am still working on Sweet pea's dress. I should of had it done by Easter but this dumb dumb bought the wrong sized zipper so it had to wait. I can tell you that it is looking wonderful. I can't wait to share pictures of it!

 

I couldn't wait though to take little guy's picture though and had to share these. I think he looks so cute. : )  

 

Now this is what the other pictures looked like. Little guy trying his best to sneak off and play. He loves getting into everything now. How much fun will he be when he starts walking!

 

More Easter sewing to come....

 

 

I hope your Easter was a wonderful like ours!

 

Sharon

 

Easter Preview 2013

 

I have not blogged I have been working on Easter outfits for the kids. I am really hoping that I do get them done really soon seeing how Easter is almost here.

 

Prince C's is Michie' knicker #103 pattern. I have been following her blog for a few months and finally bought some of her adorable patterns for my baby. They remind me of the way baby boys use to be dressed. Super cute!

 

The pattern was pretty easy to follow. This was the second outfit I have ever smocked, it's not perfect but I am super happy with it. Thank you Tamara for all the help! :  ) I will have to frame this on the wall after Easter. ; )

 

This was the first time I made piping too. I used left over blue fabric from his bubble outfit. I am wanting to make this little guy a few more of these up for spring weather. It looks roomy for a crawling, wiggly baby to play in.

 

I did get the boys, Easter shirts done too. I used the good old Oliver + S Sketchbook pattern for these. The two younger boys have the long sleeve shirts while J's is short sleeve. The younger boys didn't need any new shirts but J does so I wanted something he could wear after Easter too. If I have time after making their pants I will make him a long sleeve one too. 

 

J has grown so much in the past 6 months that he needs a bunch of new clothes. I did buy him a few patterns that I will be getting to soon I hope. I am looking forward to making him some clothes! (I hope he is too.)

 

Well back to the shirts, I found this fabric at Hancock's fabrics. The have lots of shirting fabric that is a 100 percent cotton. It feels so nice to the touch too, light weight and super soft. I want to go back and buy more fabrics in the different colors for J for more shirts. It's nice to sew with too. However it does wrinkle something awful but it does press really well too. The good  and the bad I guess.

 

I am getting much better at long sleeve plackets too! The younger boys didn't want long sleeve shirts but these were more for mama this year. They don't need any short sleeve shirts at all and I love, love to the look of the long sleeve shirt.

 

Here is J's shirt. I added three inched to the length of this so he can tuck it in if he wants too. I tried to pattern match as best I could for all their pockets too. They say they love them. Now all to do is make the pants for them....

 

While making these button holes I had a bit of a mishap. I marked all the shirts at once to make the button holes, or so I thought. I made the first two shirts them the next day I went to make the button holes on the third. When I looked at it no markings at all. hhhmmm. I was really tired so I guess that I just didn't get to this shirt. When I went to mark out the button holes  (again) I then realized real quick I used a disappearing marker. Duh! The was a bit left from the day before but the marks were very hard to see. Lesson learned that when I mark button holes I'll be sure to make them right before I sew.

 

Last but not least is Sweet pea's dress. The photo to the left is what I hope the smocking to look like when her dress is done and to the left is my first ever bullion roses. For her dress I am trying out some new things. I am making mods to the Fairy tale dress from Oliver + S so I am hoping and praying that it turns out. You see this year Sweet pea requested a dress so I am hoping to make the one she wants, or at least close to it.

 

 

Well back to my smocking!

 

I hope you sewing is going well too!

 

Sharon

My First School Photo Dress!!

A while ago on the Oliver + S flicker group a lady made this dress. I fell in love with it and wanted to try it myself. Lucky for me Liesl asked her to make a tutorial of it. You can find it over here.  I have been dying to make this dress for months so I am so happy to finally have it made! (Can you tell??)

 

My grandmother sent this gorgeous corduroy fabric back In November which was perfect for this dress I think.  I was planning on making the dress back then but some how time got away from me. I did make a size 4 though so I know it will fit this next year at least.  Although The pattern matching isn't great (I didn't even try in the back) and there is a pucker under the sleeve I am still very happy with how this dress came out.

 

As to no surprise the pattern was very well written and much easier to follow than I thought, even for a three scissor pattern. I have come to love how well written the Oliver + S patterns are, I am even a bit spoiled by them. ; ) This dress was a bit time consuming but well worth the time that goes into making it.

 

The part I am most excite about is the zipper. Can you see it? Good I can't either. ; )

This is by far the best zipper I have ever put in! At the time I cut this out I didn't match the pattern on the fabric on the back pannels but now I wish I did. Oh well, nothing I can do now.

 

At first Sweet pea wasn't thrilled with dress. I am not as to be sure why. It does have her favorite colors on it. She didn't even want to help me make this one. That all changed by the zipper part. The poor girl doesn't have many dresses with zippers in them. Buttons are way easier to put in and Sweet pea has a love for buttons.... well, so do I. That and this morning when she got out of bed it was very cold and the dress is really warm. Double points!

 

I will be sure to make more of these dress. I love the pattern very much. Next maybe a smocked one similar to this one? In pink ginume with little bullion roses on it? We'll see.

 

Sharon

8 Months Old and Banded Boy Bubble

 

My second post today! Yep, nothing for weeks now lots of photos and great sewing projects to share with you ladies! After I have had a no sewing spell for few weeks I have lots of sewing projects I am inching to make. I had surgery on the 4th last month and I am now just starting to get back into the swing of things. That and we have started to home school our oldest son too. It is time consuming but so worth it.

 

Now back to sewing and this little guy. He just turned 8 months old! He has been growing so quick. He is scooting around the floor and very close to crawling. He can stand with some help and he never sits still anymore. We do love him so much. He seems to have everyone wanting to play with him at all times. Napping is becoming hard to do, he doesn't want to miss anything that is going on. He is a little ball of fun. :)

 

As this little prince is getting bigger I want to make him some classic baby boy clothes before he is too old. Last fall I found patterns called Creations By Michie' and fell in love with them. I found two patterns a couple of weeks ago in the local fabric store and bought them both. The first to try was the Banded Boy Bubble. I made a size 12 months thinking it was going to be big and fit more towards the end of spring when the weather here gets warmer. I was in for a surprise though, it fits beautifully right now. That's great but the high is only 50 degrees. Oh well,  it still looks great on him. : )

 

The pattern is easy to follow and has lovely results. I love the fit too. There is plenty of room for crawling, playing and rolling around. I think it will be great for the summer heat.

 

My favorite part of this pattern has to be the pin tucks. His has to be is it is so easy to reach his feet wearing this. It must have been because the whole time he was after them. ;-)

 

Can you see his top two teeth?!? Yes, a tiny mouth full!

 

Now there are lots of photos of this Little guy. He is just too easy to take pictures of! He may not sit still but he smiles the whole time. He really smiles all day. My happy baby boy!

 

His new game is sticking out his tongue. I think it's so cute, but most everyhing he does is.

 

I love you my Prince C!!

 

Sharon

Little Things To Sew Messenger Bag

 

Believe it or not I made this back in in the beginning of January for Christmas gift for a special friend. You see she isn't only a great friend but she is also my favorite aunt. :) I decided to make her this Messenger bag from the LTTS book. I have wanted to make one of these forever for myself so I though that she would like too.

 

Sweet pea and I made a trip to the fabric store together. I picked out some fabric for the lining then she picked out the fabric for the bias on the bag. The fabric went very well with the other fabrics too. Sweet pea is getting such a good eye for matching colors. I love to sew things with this little girl!

 

I had help on the pockets from McStitch. When made hers she realized that the pocket flaps were on the small side. I made mine the same size as her redone pocket flaps .

 

This bag does have plenty of pockets too! There are even pockets on the sides and inside too. The boys love all the pockets on this bag.  I'll have to get around later on this spring and make all of them one too.

 

This pattern was a three scissors so I have been kind of stalling on making it but to my surprise it was very easy to make a quite fun too! I should have known that any Oliver + S pattern would be very well written. ; )

 

Until then,

 

Happy sewing!

 

Sharon