S'more Minnie.

Continuing on with the Disney themed outfits (first here, second here) next up are matching appliqued shirts and super twirly skirts.  

Again, the inspiration for these was from Pinterest.  I was SO psyched to find the same tossed Mickey head fabric as the inspiration skirts.

I used the super fast Flashback Skinny Tee for the shirts, sizes 5T and 12m.  I for reals love this pattern, like, so much.  Pretty sure it's my most used pattern.  So I have said all I really need to say about it before, but it is a super fantastic fit and a seriously quick sew.

The skirts were just self drafted from the girls' measurements.  The waistband is 1 1/2 times the waist measurement and the skirt is 2 times the waist measurement gathered to the waistband length.  I thought about making each tier more full than the one before, but I like the way these look.

One final installment for this adventure: Pirate themed.

Beards shirt.

I have been meaning to make this shirt for Ben, actually, but I made it for Jack today. 

My printer was being a whiney brat and didn't like my transfer paper this time (new printer from the last time I have made printed shirts), I think it might have been too hot for the paper because it sort of came off as it printed, so I had to print out three of these to get enough decent graphics to make one (that still isn't perfect).  Sigh.  I miss my old printer.

He refused to look at the camera because "I sorta like this shirt and sorta don't", thanks buddy.  Oh well, I like it.

I used the Flashback skinny tee and actually guessed at the size (5T) as he was in school while I made this, I guessed right though:)  The letters are kind of wonky because I cut them each individually, but that just adds to it's charm, right?

The shorts are Field trips from last year, still his favorite shorts, definitely need to add another pair or two for this summer.

The lace tee and a skirt.

Only yesterday I was complaining about the fact I didn't have anything exciting on the brain, which led to searching the web for something to do with the left over lace from those leggings.  When I ran across this gem.  Oh.My.Gosh.  I had to make it immediately.  I started to search her blog for any other posts that might include the shirt and came across a few helpful posts (that I will link to when I explain the shrt a bit more  *updated: she has now linked to the posts I also linked to... just so ya don't think I am crazy and missed them:) *).

 



 

 

Here it is paired with her new-ish but never blogged Oliver + s Hopscotch skirt (also a ribbon covered bangle she made herself this weekend).   The skirt is size 6 and she picked the pink buttons herself, I tried to steer her towards white so it would match everything, but she insisted.  She's cute,  I let her get away with it. 

How did I not realize the picture potential of this small bit of fence that I share with my one of my neighbors? (one of 5, that's a lot of people that touch our property).  Now I am even more excited for the grass to turn green.  I was so excited for her to get home from school so she could try it on.  She looks at it and first thing she says to me "Can I wear it to school tomorrow?" the next "Will you make me another one". 

Obviously (well, if you read my blog regularly or are a contact on flickr) you know the lace was white.  I used RIT dye, aquamarine, and while I would have liked it a bit darker, this works just fine.  I should have remembered the color since I had used it before...

Awwww! Look at how little they once were!  Three months or so here ... And look at how Georgia (left) used to be bigger than Izzy!  Well, not a lot bigger, but a half pound or so.  Now they are six pounds different!

I just had to include this one because who doesn't love ruffle bums on babies?  These were pre-blogging days, and very early on in my sewing adventure. 


Okay, so back to the shirt.  I studied every picture on her post and read the description over and over again trying to get every bit of information before starting.  I saw this post that gave a look at the neck finishing and this post that talked about color blocking. 

Here are the two pieces that I used to make mine.  I used the flash back skinny tee size 6 as a guide.  I followed the dip of the front neckline, but next time will either do in between the front and back, or just use the back as it ended up a little too wide.  Also I need to make the sleeves a little wider for a more comfy fit, maybe go straight from the neckline instead of slightly diagonal.

*Updated to add: I have been talking a bit with her on her blog's facebook page and she suggested starting the sleeve a little further down and curves instead of angles- if that helps anyone... plus for my own notes!*

The deal is she has to get her room clean before I make her another one... though I kind of want to make one before that, chances are it will take her days to get around to it, ha!

Ketchup.

I was going through my pictures from 2012 last night and realized I had a bunch of projects from the last two months I hadn't posted about, and since this is meant to be my "sewing journal" to take notes and remember details, I figure I should post about them.

 

So, in no particular order here they are:

 

 

 

A Classic Picnic turned dress.  This one was for our family pictures in November. 

I LOVED Nicole's picnic with buttons. Loved.  So I tried my hand at it... I promise the buttons don't look this wonky on her. 

I made it nice and long since she has a skinny chest I thought she would get lots of wear from this.  It is size 12m, and still quite big.  She wore this with some white tights and cute brown boots for pictures. Adorable.

This was Jack's outfit for pictures.  (Hat not included). Flashback tee and his very favorite Sandbox pants.  Also, Abby wore her mustard + ivory dress shown here and Izzy wore her Pierrot.  My family didn't get individuals (as I think I mentioned before, sorry if it's a repeat) but if I manage to ever get everyone ready again,  I will make sure to post all the outfits together.  I thought they all coordinated quite well with the group.

Then a pair of Sandbox for George.  I rounded the pockets to make it more "girly".  Aaand she got only a few wears out of them as she had a growth spurt right after they were made. Awesome.

They are made from a gray linen and supposed to go with her After school shirt (details here). 

Pockets lined with left overs from the shirt.

Then I went on a pj pant spree... sort of... I had 10 cut out, 6 were completed, 2 only need elastic and 2 need leg binding and elastic.  I am not good at that much repitition and set them aside for a bit.  There are 2 of these lady bug print pants, both in 12m.  I had just enough to make 2 in this size, so I figured why not.  P.S. the pattern is the Bedtime Story. 

The first ones were tiny twin, and these are on big twin.  There is a 5!! pound difference between them which affects their shirts, but not their pants oddly enough.  Also 12m.

Matching for Christmas + Jack's have double decker busses with "London" printed on them, a shoutout to his 1/4 British self:)  Abby was so excited they all matched and were triplets, ha!  I had flashback shirts all cut out too, but things got crazy and they weren't completed.

And this is how our pictures always look if I try to get everyone in.

Last but not least, 2 Field trip raglans.  I love this pattern.  I had 4 that I was making at the time and wasn't paying enough attention and put the neckband seam in the front middle instead of the back.  Oops.  12m, 18m length.  Made in a thermal I picked up from girlcharlee.

Fabrics also from girlcharlee.  This is her "chis" (cheese) face.  She can be such a ham. 

I don't normally keep a WIP pile, but I have the 4 above mentioned pj pants to complete, a jumprope view B cut, and I am about 3/4 of the way through a puppet show dress.  My serger is off to the doctor and it just makes me not want to sew! Though I think I will attempt french seams on the jumprope and wait for the machine to finish the puppet show since most of it has been serged already, keep up the same look on it.  Who knows though, I have also been meaning to size up the geranium for Abby, I guess I'll just see what happens!

S'more winter wear.

Last night I managed another 1 1/2 t-shirts before my serger needle snapped in half... and I realized I am out of needles. Grrr... So I shall only show the one I finished (and one from a while ago I never blogged). 

 

 

I used Cindy's knockoff Gymboree tee tutorial, but used the flashback tee for the yoke and hopscotch for the rest.  I used a black knit and a chevron knit from girlcharlee.  I bought it way back when she first had them printed and only had black and white, cream and white, and pink and black (which I also got a yard) now there are so many! Makes me want another yard or two in a different color.

 

 

Little Miss Sass. This is a size 6, btw.  She was mad I made her comb her hair and take a picture, so she refused to take off her pj pants. 

The next one I made for family pictures waaay back in November.  Sadly for me, since I take the pictures, we got a group shot of the whole extended family but by the time I tried to do my individual family pictures (after everyone else got their individuals) the twins would have none of it.  So, this crummy picture is all I have to show of the dress. 

(also a size 6) This is before it was too cold to take pictures outside:)... in my yucky backyard.  That is on the list first thing come spring!  The left sleeve looks a little shorter, but it isn't- I promise.  She LOVES this dress and wears it a lot, even to school which is a big deal being she normally refuses to wear dresses to school.   This knit is also from girlcharlee, and if I could pull off horizontal stripes I would have used it for me, ha! Mustard is pretty much my favorite color.

Not the norm.

I saw this fabric recently(ish) at Joann's and while it is not something I would usually pick, I just KNEW Abby would LOVE it.  Aaaand I was right.  Poor girl has been waiting a month for me to get my act together and make this for her, but unfortunately for her the little kids needed clothes.  I made a size 7 flashback tee, I should have made a 6 with extra length.  Meh.

 



 

She put it on immediately after school so I snapped a few pictures, weird faces and all. Normally she is super cooperative, but not today.

So I may have said something inappropriate, but totally funny to a 7 yo...

And managed to get one half decent shot. 

KCWC day 7.

I dub this my Cindy Dress.  A few days ago she posted this cute top and I pretty much knew immediatley I would be stealing it complimenting it.  She also posted a tutorial on how she altered the Oliver + S hopscotch top to make it, but I decided to use the flashback tee since I would have less work in altering it since that is the one I used the day before to make my pleat tee.  I followed her basic shape, curving the yoke and lowering the neckline.  I spaced out and gathered along the whole front instead of just in the middle, but I was too lazy to unpick my serged seams.  But next time I will move the gathering to the center.  Oh, and I wasn't bothered to make the sleeves gathered this time, but that will happen on the next one.

 

 

No modeled pics yet, girls were already dressed today and ornery, I wasn't in the mood to fight.  I am thinking this will be mostly worn by George, her eyes look amazing in this color!   And I think my buttons are a little off center... I should probably figure that out...

Not a shabby week, nine shirts and two dresses!  It is a good start to their fall wardrobes, but I still have a lot of work to do!  Abby doesn't have one long sleeve top yet and she was complaining it has been a bit cold in the mornings. 

KCWC day 4.

Ah, Thursdays.  My simply amazing, kid-free sewing afternoon, due to my awesome mother-in-law who takes my kids for "Grandma day".  So I set up my machines, put The Killer's in the cd player and look at what I accomplished! 

 

 

Last night before I sewed up the raglan for a twin, I also cut out one more for a twin and one for Jack.  Again, the Oliver + s Field Trip Raglan.

 

 

Frankensteined size again, 12m chest, 2t length, 18m sleeve length. 

For once I didn't lengthen the pattern! A straight up 4.  Though I kind of did worry and make a plan in case it ended up too short, but it isn't:) When he saw it he said "Okay! This is the one I will wear tomorrow!"  Good sign.

This is a modified flashback skinny tee, using the same modifications as last time, except instead of gathering the front I did a pleat.  The back is still gathered. 

The details blend in a little, it may not have been the best choice for this, but that's alright.

This is the back.

And then a white one, I think it will be tunic length... Can't remember how long I cut it, ha! 

I have a few more shirts planned for the little girls, two for Jack (not that he needs more, but I am on a roll for him, and he usually gets skipped!) then Abby needs some.  Seriously, the girl needs to grow, ha!  She has been in the same size shirt for 2 years, so she has plenty in her closet, but they are starting to look pretty worn, so she will be getting some new shirts this fall too.

KCWC day 2.

Very productive hour and a half today!  I knocked out 3 flashback tees during nap time.  I am pretty sure that is my most used pattern.  I just love it!! So versatile and the fit is great every time.  I could sew one in my sleep, and coincidentally, I did... Weird dream last night. 

 

I decided to mix it up a bit and make all three slightly different, one long sleeve, one with cuffs on the sleeves and one without cuffs.

 

 

And yes, he did model all three, not happily, but he tried.

 



 

This one reminds me of pj's, could be the feel of the material.  Jack is OBSESSED with sharks.  Tells everyone about them.  So, when I saw this print I knew it was so him. 

I brought this print home and he didn't want anything to do with it!  Too bad for him I still make him wear what I want, so I went ahead and made it anyways.  Guess what? He loves it.  Silly boy.

I also busted out my twin needle for all the hems.  I really need to do that more often, just gives a more professional look.

Aaaand the last one.  He didn't like this print either.  I made it and he said "you were right Mom, I do like it now!"  That's right buddy. 


He was so excited I let him pick which one he wanted to wear today (the alien one), and when we went to Grandpa & Grandma's he made sure to tell them, "Like my new shirt? My Mom made it!!"

Catching up.

A lot has been going on in our family's life these last few weeks.  Sadly for me, though, not much sewing has been happening:) 

We had an amazing opportunity to purchase a home a few doors away from Ben's parents and have been having a major headache waiting for the lawyers (it is being sold by someone going through bankruptcy, so we have had to deal with the court system) and the loan company in general.  Like how we had a closing date last week until it was noticed the previous owners took the stove and we had to wait on a second appraisal, this time with a stove in the house.  Nice.  So we had to be out of our other home before the new one closed (still waiting on that, grrr.) and Ben's grandparents generously let us move in to their winter home while we are waiting.  (They live in England and come to the States in January for a few months).  So we packed and moved nearly all of our belongings in to their garage, aside from things from our yard.  Thinking we would be remodeling (the place is a mess and in desperate need of new carpet, tile, paint, fixtures- everything) I packed away ALL my sewing things.  When it became clear we were no where near closing I dug through the boxes in search of my machines.  Ben came out while I was looking and laughed "you must REALLY want to sew." Yes, yes I do.   I found my machines, patterns, knit and denim/twill boxes.  I can see my cotton but am not dedicated enough to dig to the bottom of that stack. 

Before I get to the sewing, here is some more we have been doing this last bit:

The twins have been absolutely miserable for about two weeks now.  I thought they were getting better, but no.  So they have been doing lots of sitting on the couch, and fighting over my lap.

They had their first bubble bath, and hated every second of it.

Miss Abby started her new school, and it has been wonderful!  She had great kindy and first grade teachers, but a horrible second grade teacher.  This woman hated kids.  I had such a hard time with her and the few interactions we had.  She was quite hard on Abby and as a Mom it upset me.  Her new teacher is AMAZING.  She has started to come home from school happy again, and excited to go the next day. 

We have been taking lots of walks, playing in the backyard and went to the town heritage celebration on Saturday.  (Both wearing their Ice cream dresses).  Izzy LOVED the parade.  Could have been all the candy Grandma was giving her... she waved at the floats and horses:)

George was less than impressed.  It started way late and lasted FOREVER.  She hung out on my lap part of the time and when she became impossible Grandpa and Daddy took her to play in the Rhino.

Georgia also wore her new leggings at the parade.

One naptime I finally got the house clean, laundry done, Jack happy and sewing things found and got to work.  Before we moved I made the peek-a-boo patterns pj bottoms.  I was excited to see it as I had been thinking of something like them for a bit, but I was too lazy (as usual) to figure them out on my own.  I had a pattern that was similar but it is much easier to have it done for me.

The pattern also comes with a top, but  I chose to go with the skinny tee since I have made it so many times and knew I like the fit.  Can't really see it on Izzy's but there are purple cuffs on the sleeves.

On the pants I went tighter with the cuffs than the pattern said, because that is the look I wanted.  I didn't think very hard when I made the top, I really should have done the same for the top as it is really loose on Georgia's wrists.  Still super cute and comfy though. 

I also made two extra tops to go with their previous pj pants.  I have more plans, though I hope to be remodeling rather than sewing very, very soon:)