Under Dress For Costume: Plus Easter Dress Done!

 

This dress was a wee bit more of work that I thought originally. You see this is the under dress for Sweet pea's Halloween costume this year. Yep, all that work for a one night dress. All those fluffy, twirly ruffles are made by my serger and me. They are not hard to make just time consuming, sooo I can call it her Easter dress for this next Spring and now it was totally worth the time it took make! (very clever of me huh?)

 

I used some light weight eyelet fabric from my grandmother which I have been saving for just the right project for the outer and pretty pale pink for lining. It gives it a slight pink look but not pink over load. My Sweet pea has to have her pink!

 

I used the Fairy tale dress pattern to make this. I love this dress pattern! (I will also use the same pattern to make her corset too.) It still takes me some time to sew it but I it does have lovely results when finished so totally worth it. I did add two layers of pink tulle underneath, I think it gives it a bit more twirl to the skirt. I did leave the darts out as I though it would look right with the light weight fabrics I was using but now I do wish I had of.  Oh well, can't fix it now.

 

I am not very surprised that this is her favorite dress now. It has all those ruffles and pink to boot. Once this dress is on she can't stand still, she has to twirl and jump all around in it just watching her skirt. I had to pry it off her last night for bed time. Yep, a fast favorite. I am thinking she will need one like this not in white for playing in.

 

Here is our Easter look. Very sweet and her skit is not covered by her sweater. I love it as much as she does.

 

 

Stayed tuned for the rest of the costume at the beginning of next week!

 

Happy Sewing!

 

Sharon

Little Things To Sew: The journey so far and a cover to cover challenge.

 

I have had this book for well, a good bit. I said that I would finish every project in this book but still have yet to sew everything. That is until now!

 

Over at Bartacks and Singletrack she is having a sewing challenge to finish every project in the book, perfect to help me do the same!

 

Ok so here are the projects that I have sewn.

 

1. baby doll carrier

 

2. tutu

 

 

3. Explore vest ( also Hiccup's vest too)

 

 

 

 

4.bucket hats

 

 

 

 

5. cozy bear hat (well bumble bee and lamb)

 

 

 

 

6. juggling balls (no bag yet though)

 

 

7. Little Red Riding hood cape

 

 

8. Messenger Bag

 

9. Doll Size Tea Party dress

 

 

So I guess I am about half way through the book. Almost there! I know mittens will be made this week and the Puppet theater will be done before Christmas. (Prince C Santa gift). 

 

If you have the book join in!

Don't have it yet? You can find it here at Oliver + S.

 

 

Sharon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince C's Halloween Costume!

 

Mommy had a little lamb who's fleece was white as snow...

 

everywhere that mommy went, her lamb was sure to go. : )

 

This little nursery rhyme was playing through my head as I was sewing along. He is going as a little just not mommy's little lamb. Sweet pea is going as Little Bo Peep and he is her little lamb. I picked his costume out and she requested to dress along with him. How cute is she?!? : ) 

 

The fabric is from a lovely, oh so soft blanket from Better Homes and Gardens. My mom and I seen it in the store, it has little swirls of softness and the blanket was fully lined, score!

 

I used all Oliver + S patterns for this costume this year. The shirt is sail boat, I used hook and loop tape instead of buttons, easier for dressing & easier from sewing! The pants are the sleep over pattern, fully lined with an added tail. The tail wags when he waddles. It is too cute, I wish I could take a video and show you it in action. The hat is from The Little Things To Sew book. All of it came together very quickly, well it would have been quickly if I would not have tried it on him after each step in sewing it. ; )

 

The great news is he loves the pants and fabric. As he is still wearing this and he is still sleeping. I think it's a magic sleeping costume.

The bad news, he does not care for the shirt and totally hates, hates the hat! We are all trying to get are little prince to wear it so maybe he'll cave in before Halloween, just maybe...I hope.

 

Next up some black LTTS mittens for him then onto to Sweet pea's Little Bo Peep!

 

Happy Sewing!

 

Sharon

A Hunting We Will Go

 

Since moving back to home state the two middle boys have gotten very interested in hunting. My dad and brother go deer hunting and G and W really want to go with them. They are still young but everyone starts somewhere. Now I could go buy an outfit for them but what fun is that??

 

The shirt fabric was bought at a little country shop right up the road, as in less than a mile up the road. Oh I could spend hours in there! I bought the last yard of this so I am hoping she gets some more in soon. The pants are "upcycle". My mom bought a pair of the very nice overalls marked down to $3 after last hunting season but they were in a huge size so no one in the family could wear them. The fabric they were made out of is waterproof too, perfect for pants for the boys! I could not buy the fabric this cheep anywhere. It was just enough for a pair of Field trip pants.

 

Since making these G and W has been wearing them everyday. (I only made one pair for G so W needs his own very soon.) They have been called "the best thing you have ever sewed mom!". Yep, it makes me feel good when they love something I have made them. : D Now W told me that the sketchbook shirt long sleeve was not his style this past Easter but this shirt was a big hit with him. So it was not the pattern but the fabric. Go figure!

 

Can you see how happy he is?!

All he can talk about is going hunting now. He was telling me how grandpa and him are going to get a big buck this fall.

 

Both the shirt and pant patterns are from Oliver + S. The shirt is a favorite of mine and the most used pattern I own, the Sketchbook. I love it and hink that I could almost sew this in my sleep now. I love how it sews up and has such a lovely finish. I did do double top stitching just like the Field Trip pants pattern. Grandpa's shirts are like that and he wanted his to match grandpa's. It should make this a great work shirt too. I did change the pocket a bit on this one and added another one for two pockets on the front. I did make it 3" longer as well so it tucks in with ease.

 

G noticed the top stitching right away and loves it.

 

I did make a "box" on the back pleat too. One thing on the adults' shirt too.

 

The pants are made using the Field Trip pattern. It is the first time using this pattern for me. I was pleasantly surprised how easy these were to make. I should have know with the O+S patterns it was going to be. The top stitching really does make this pattern and love how it is going to make for no ironing. The two middle boys love, love these pants. I think I will have to make a few more pairs up for them, maybe denim? 

 

Next up, Halloween for the two little ones! I am very excited about starting sewing these!!

 

Sharon

 

 

A Tea Party For Every Season

 

The Tea Party Pattern that is! I  have made dress and shorts only for summer time but this pattern is so great transition from summer to Fall. I did make both of these before the move so this post is coming a bit late, but better late than never! 

 

  I made this Tea Party short set with bottoms like the Oliver + S Puppet Show shorts with the added pockets, I love the way it makes them seem girlier to me. (Is that a word??) It is fully lined, I figured a new way to line the dress and the shorts for a nicer finish. I love, love a nicely finished garment!

 

A lovely part of these is that they are a 4T so I can layer this for fall so easily. I have put tights under them and her Music Call blouse under it for warmth. It looks great also with a sweater as well. They should fit her this next spring and summer.  

 

I made this dress after the one Nicole made Liddy. I fell in love with it! I did add lace to bodice seam instead of the black bias though. Sweet pea is still very little and I love the look of lace. I made this a 4T as well but added Length with the help of Nicole. Sweet pea always out grows her Tea Party dresses in the length before she does the width. The dresses always makes for lovely tops but it would be nice to have her dresses fit a tad longer.

 

I love, love this one with her Music Class blouse! I made her shirt last winter and it still fits beautifully, all her blouses from last year still fit. (I can't tell you how excited I was over this!)

 

There is not much satisfying as her outfits carry over from one season to next.

I would have to tell you that this is still my all time favorite Oliver + S and second most used to the Sketchbook pattern.

 

Happy Fall!!

 

Sharon

A Butterfly Dress

 

This weekend I was able to get to some much needed sewing and I finally finished Sweet pea's butterfly catching dress. I started it a while ago but it wasn't until G needed a Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar for school did I pull it back out to finish it. She did ask so sweetly for me to finish it too.

(This is her "Butterfly cove" as she calls it. So many butterflies to catch and chase here.)

 

The main fabric is a gift form my grandma Day, it is very hard to see here but the all the butterflies have the gold metallic outline to them, oh so pretty in the sunshine! The bias is left over from the massager bag Sweet pea and I made my Aunt this year. I bought a yard of fabric but did not realize at the time how far that it would go for bias, which is a very, very long way! The fabric has this very lovely drape to it and works so well this dress pattern.

 

I finally used my Oliver + S Pinwheel dress and tunic pattern for this so it counts as pattern busting too! I love, love this pattern! Very easy to sew with very lovely results. I just adore the flounces!

 

For the slip dress I used a solid blue Kona fabric, the very same as her Periwinkle costume from last year. I got this idea from a flicker friend, Tamara. I loved the one she made her daughter.

 

I also made Sweet pea matching hair bows this time. The pattern is a free printout from Oliver + S. It's super easy and quick to make. I will have to make her more of these!

 

No we didn't go alone, we took daddy and three brothers with us. We all enjoy walking down to the pond. It's so lovely and peaceful.

 

I am not always able to get good photos of the older boys but today I did, at least I love these photos.

 

I love this one, it is not always that these kids get along so I do enjoy it when they do. : D

 

I also love, love the way this dress looks from the back...

 

Even if I only see it for a moment!

 

 

Next up, finishing up G's hunting shirt and pants. I found the camo brushed twill that looks just like his grandpa's shirt. I love the way it feels, so soft and warm. Until then,

 

happy Sewing!

 

Sharon

  

Fall Weather Means Planning Fall Sewing

It is that time of year again! I have been planning the kids fall wardrobe but before anything is traced and cut out they must be measured. My little guy has grown taller and has put on my weight but with the walking/running came a slim down in his waist and hips. (This is not a surprise to me seeing all my other kiddos did the very same thing.) A very happy surprise is that a bunch of his cloths from last year still fit him! Yep, even his favorite shirt! I think he still loves it as much as before and how could he not, it has great colors on it and the fabric is oh so soft. It's a favorite of mine too. 

 

 

The top is his Sailboat from Oliver + S. The sleeves are still a bit long so now I wondering if maybe I cut them too long. Before any new tops will be cut out I will have to double check this. I added the Velcro to the shirt because of button hole issues I was having but after this I am so glad I did, easy on and off! It is one of those happy mistakes. : ) I plan to keep this shirt this way for the next two as well.

 

The pants are the After School pants pattern from Oliver + S from last winter. I left the pockets off after seeing a Flicker friend little boy's made this way and just loved them. (I love everything that she sews!!) The pants being in the smaller range they look better without the front pockets I think. These are 12-18 month size but shortened. I find this pattern that the pants are slimmer fitting. This pair does sag a bit in the back so I am wondering if his brown 6-12month pair would fit him again, hhmm I will have to check. I used wales cord and love it still. They held up very well and look as though they should fit all fall and winter long.

 

The best part of these pants are the wee little pockets! They just kill me! (see the sagging in these very small pants ; ) )

 

I love when clothes from last year fit from one season to the next. I am hoping some of Sweet pea's will too.

 

Happy Sewing and have a Blessed Weekend!

 

 

Sharon