Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Loads and loads of School Bus Tees plus modifications.


So I will just apologize in advance for this one being a picture heavy, few word post. But that's what happens when I use this as my journal and have a huge backlog. 


The Oliver + S School bus t-shirt is by far my most used pattern, I have made well over 100 at this point. I added it up once a couple years back and I was at like 80... I don't have the patience to go back and count again, ha! So you will just have to trust me.


I paired the tee with the Sew a Little Seam Movie Night Pajama bottoms you can get for free with a code from their facebook group. It does come with a shirt, but I like what I like.


These are also the SALS pj's, they come with a shorts cut line.


My cool friend Courtney is setting up a shop to sell applique patterns, so I volunteered (read: begged) to try a couple out.





I gave this one to my nephew for his birthday, but it was reaaaaally hard.  I need to make one for Sam!


 As the next few photos will show, I clearly have a thing for this very specific colorblock.



Another one for the nephew.


A very long time ago I wrote a post for the O+S blog on how to do a faux sleeve.

Also one on how to add a hood.




And how to use it to make a tank top.





I also used it to make a swim top.  It is such a versatile pattern, I am certain there will be many more made in the coming months.

Skater Dress.


The Kitschy Coo Skater Dress is probably one of my very most used patterns. It's such a classic shape and so easy to wear! It always looks so cute on the girls.


It is also one of the dresses that they consistently pull out of their closet to wear- so it must be good!



It is great to show off a print, and also very easy to customize.


I typically use cotton lycra for it, so many great prints and it can be hard to find great patterns to use cl on since it doesn't drape well, though as kids it doesn't matter as much. for this one I used a double brushed poly and eliminated the waist seam to change it up just a little.


Really though, this is their favorite one.  I think at this point George probably wears it more than Izzy, but she does try to get her turn in it!


This is why they love it so much! I added a full circle skirt.  I really should have added some clear elastic to the waist seam, the skirt is a little heavy. I guess nothing is stopping me from adding it now, ha! Well, other than the fact they search it out and wear it every time it comes out of the dryer.

International patterns.

 I have recently fallen for international patterns, more specifically German.  They have pretty unique designs, and with a little google translate and some basic sewing knowledge, they are very doable.  Most of them don't include seam allowance so that can be a turn off for some, but I don't mind.


This is the Yara and if I was smarter I'd write down the size I made because I really, really liked it.


The back is where it's at, it is so cool!


The Coemi Mini Jessi is pretty popular among the Facebook sewing crowd for good reason, it is so, so cute.  It is a slim fit, so I sized up on this one.  It has a cute cowl or hood and that front panel has pockets. He got a ton of wear from this one, and I made his bff cousin a matching one.


This was my first mini Jessi I made him, it was pretty tight on him so he didn't get much wear from it. This one had a hood.


The Lolletroll Henry(ette), often called just Henry, is also quite popular on FB.  It is one of my favorites so far!


I made one for my nephew's birthday (left) and another for Sam.


And when it was too close to the end of the cold season to justify making another hoodie I made it as a shirt.  I actually used the Oliver and S School Bus t-shirt as a base and the Henry for the colorblocking.  I have seen people make the Henry as a shirt and complain the neck opening was too wide.  I knew I liked the fit of the School Bus, so it was a no-brainer.


I was looking for something unique to since boy's tees can be so... the same and basic... that's not a bad thing, I just wanted a "fun" sew.  That's when I found the Elle Puls Bethioua kids.


I thought the back was pretty cool! I'm not crazy over the fit, it feels maybe a little feminine with the curve, idk? And maybe because it is short sleeve with the curve, I'm not sure exactly what is making me think that, because I like the long sleeve on boys. That is definitely just personal preference, the pattern was excellent.


George is all about the skirts! This is the Kid5 Cozy Skirt, it is a super straightforward and easy sew.  She pulls it out to wear quite often.

Panama tee and dress.



Abby is now in to women's sizing, so I was on the hunt for a good tee pattern for her.  She still loves all the fun prints you can find on cotton lycra, but they aren't always good for t-shirts, so that was another concern when choosing a pattern for her. 

Enter the Alina Design Panama Tee and Dress.


It is a slimmer fit tee and works perfectly with all the cotton lycra in my stash and even the stuff not so much in my stash but on a constant postal route from Raspberry Creek Fabrics << seriously, I order way too much from Diana, I need an intervention. 


Abby really likes the fit of these tops, they are very well worn- all of these are from early this year, so I can say that, ha!

I do like to grade out one size for the waist and hips, she doesn't like her tees super tight and these are definitely on the more form fitting side. 


This dress is made from double brushed poly, gotta love that drape! I was so against dbp for a while, I had bought some and it was so thin and my machine absolutely hated it.  But again, enter Raspberry Creek, I ordered some from there and it was thicker and easy to sew! I love that she strives for quality, not just the cheapest. 

Anyway, she wears this dress nearly every Sunday and has worn it to school a couple of times, so I'll call that a win! It has been long enough that I can't remember if I shortened it. Also, I did grade out just like with the tees. She is pretty tall at this point, taller than me even, so I doubt I shortened it...