Cocoon Dress.

I have been craving a pretty little dress to sew, lately I have been making lots of shirts and some pants, it was time for a dress.  

So I chose the Heidi and Finn Cocoon dress.  I wasn't going to buy the pattern initially, but then I saw an adorable plaid version in the facebook group and it changed my mind.

I made both the girls a size 4t with 5t length.  Since I was only going up one size in length and the lines were fairly close together in width, I graded out from the 4t to a 5t right where it starts to curve, so the chest is a 4t width and the curve width is a 5t.

These tights are ridiculously big on her.  To be fair, I had planned for Iz to wear these, but George wanted to wear these boots, so she got this one (for today).  They are also big on Izzy, but not *as* big.

The pattern calls for heavier fabrics to hold the unique shape of the garment.  For this dress, I used a heavyweight stretch denim I bought online forever and a day ago, before I learned how to buy fabric online (pay attention to how many ounces!).  It sat in my stash for so long, but it was like it had just been waiting for this dress all along.

The pattern calls for an exposed zipper, but also has a button closure option.  I really dig the look of the exposed zipper, but couldn't find any cool ones.  Then it hit me, jeans zippers.  They were just the right length and I found some pretty rad ones at my local hardware/fabric shop.  It is hard to tell, but this zipper has a diagonal blue and white stripe.

This dress is made from a ponte de roma, and while it is one of the heavier weight knits (the pattern specifically recomends stable knits), it still doesn't hold the shape quite like the denim does.  But it isn't a bad thing, I quite like the way it moves while she's wearing it.

I just adore both these dresses, they will be so fun to layer up in the fall.  Now they just need cute cardigans or jackets to go with them.

I changed up the zipper a little from the pattern.  It instructs you just to lay it down and sew it, but I wanted a cleaner look, so I tucked the bottom raw edges under.  Much better, in my opinion.  In fact, I completely unpicked the zipper in the blue dress to change it as it was the first one I made.  That's saying a lot, because I hate my seam ripper.

They are so much harder lately to photograph together, ugh!  Luckily they are pretty adorable...

Prepping for fall.

The fall always sneaks up on me.  One day we are wearing shorts and tanks and the next we need pants and cardigans.  I am *trying* to be more on top of it this year though, of course, with a two month old I can't completely keep up with the wardrobes, but I can try.

So up first is a set for the twins.  Or a twin.  I fell in love with the tiger print and just had to have it and create a whole outfit inspired by it.  Patricia suggested a khaki bottom like the awesome shorts Peta had just made, and as luck would have it I had just uncovered one in my stash.

I made the outfit for Elizabeth's size in, she is a bit bigger around and a little taller, but Georgia threw a tantrum when I suggested Iz put it on for pictures... so she put it on and had her picture taken first.

The tunic is the Oliver + S Roller Skate tunic, size 3T with added length and a slightly lower elastic casing.  This happens to be my fourteenth Roller Skate, so I didn't even pull the instructions out.  Ha! It is in the running for my most used pattern ever.

See?  Still a little big (I want it to fit for most of the winter, hopefully) but a better fit.

For the cardigan I used some interlock from Joann, not the best stuff, but I was experimenting and didn't want to use my good stuff just yet.

I used the Oliver + S School Bus Tee and modified it.  I made a size 4 as I wanted the oversized look, but since I added a cuff to the sleeve hem I probably should have shortened them, but I guess I did say I wanted long wear.

I pretty much love it and will be making more.

The pants, oh the pants.  I bought the pattern so long ago after Katy made a pair for one of her girls and am just now getting to it.  They are the Heidi + Finn Pleat-bottom pants.  I love the look of their patterns, but they don't include a size chart and that irritates me.  I never know what size to pick so I usually stay away from theirs, but since I owned this one already I figured I would make a bigger size than I thought I would need.  I made the 4t as reviews said they were a little short in length and rise.  These are just about right, a little long, but if I had made a 3t they would be too short.

They are super easy to make, though, if you can figure out a size.

I still have a half yard left of the tigers, which is good because I can foresee many fights over this top.

A bolero.

Or a really small vest, as Ben called it.  I have made the Heidi&Finn ruffle bolero once before, and since I am not smart enough to get it on the blog from flickr, you will just have to go here if you want to see it. 

 

I really wish every pattern maker would put out a size chart with each pattern, I could even just settle for the finished measurements of the garment.  I had NO idea which size to pick.  The pattern goes from 12m to 2T, skips 18m all together (also 4T and 5T are combined).  So I went with the 2T though turns out I should have made 3T for Izzy.  Crazy, right? She is just barely in the 18m range for O+S and in 18m RTW, so 3T sounds absolutely insane. 

 



 

I really like the way it turned out (even if it is a little tight on big twin), I also have a geranium cut out using this print for the skirt. 

I left off the elastic and button to make it reversible.

Though I don't know if I will turn it to the white side because turns out you can see some of the print through the white.  Oh well, always an option for when they get dirty....

...Like they always do.  This is real life y'all.  Dirty face, dirty shirt and messy hair.  If I pinch it together in the middle (where the button would be) it is quite tight on her and would restrict movement... so I guess  if I make it again it will have to be a 3T.

I love the ruffle all the way around, how it just frames her sweet chubby cheeks.  (also wearing her chevron skirt from last spring's KCWC, a little short but still works). 

And George in the geranium dress that she is almost growing in to, with a headband that she found an put on herself.  Can't decide who I like it better on, luckily they both fit it (the dress) so I can change my mind!

When Iz saw Georgie had a hair pretty she insited on one too, not with words of course, but grunting, screaming and wrestling with her sister until I went and found her one too.  Then she patted her head and said cheese.  How could I resist?