Yet another lace tee.

Remember my deal with Abby?  Get your room clean, and I will make you another lace t-shirt.  Well, girlfriend finally got around to it, and I had a request for a tutorial, so perfect excuse to make another.

 

 

So like last time I used Cindy's tutorial to modify the Oliver + S Hopscotch top, this time in size 6 with extra length, remembering to raise the neckline this time so it wouldn't be too wide.   I sewed all the pieces together, treating the lace and front bodice as one piece.  I didn't hem the sleeves, length or neck lines yet since polyester thread wont take the dye.  Basically I went as far as I could before the stitches would show. 

 



 

So this is the part where I like to look up the Rit dye formulation chart to see if I can find a color I like, and have the right dyes for.  (I have a few too many bottles... though never the ones I really want... hm...)

I chose my color then ran my tap until it was as hot as it would go and added it to a dedicated non-food container. 

I am just gonna say it now, I don't follow rules or directions well so you might want to look somewhere else if you need exact measurements. 

So, I added a good amount of salt (heard it helps the process) with some Scarlet and a little more Wine than Scarlet. The more water you add, the more dye you will need.  Also, the more dye you add the darker it will be- at least in my experience.  (The Rit site has exact measurements). Stir well.  Then add your shirt.  Make sure it is fully immersed in the water. 

This is what it looked like immediately.

This was 45 minutes later.  Not a whole lot darker this time, the last three times it did make a huge difference leaving it in longer. 

I like to stir the tub every 3-5 minutes, though I have read you should constantly stir.  You can leave it in as long as the water is  hot.

Aaaand rubber gloves are a good idea, though I never use them.  It will dye your hands for about a day, but no biggie.  Be very careful on your work surface, you may want to cover it, and careful when you pour out your dyed water. 

Run the shirt under warm water gradually making it colder until the water runs clear.  Again, I am a rebel and run it until it is mostly clear, still a little color there sometimes (after ten minutes of rinsing, I was just done).  Then put it in the washing machine, your cycle should be a warm wash then cold rinse. 

(You will want to wash seperately for the first 3-4 times so as not to dye your other clothes!)

Different materials take the dye differently.  This shirt and onesie were in the same tub at the same time.  They were both cotton, but  I am not sure what the lace was- the bolt only had the name of the company. 

Yep, I am officially obsessed.  It started with the blue tee then the tees for the twins and now this!  I am sure there are worse things to be stuck on...

So wash, dry and hem your shirt.  The neck is just turned under and stitched down.  I have usually had the right thread color, but not this time, so I used gray for a fun contrast.

So you get this!  Not too bad for an afternoon, right?

And little missy just loves it.  She left it on until bath time, then put it back on for bed so she would remember to wear it in the morning for school:)

Another tee or two.

 After Abby's dyed lace tee I just wanted to try it again! So I thought Cindy's hopscotch remix would be the perfect shirt to add a bit of lace... and dye!  I may or may not want to dye every thing in sight.

 

 

Oh how these two crack me up.  This time Elizabeth wanted to stand by George, complete opposite from last time.   Georgia kept trying to walk away, and Iz thought she was pretty funny.

Since I was drafting a new size I followed her tute unlike the last times when I used the flashback as a guide.  Still have a few bugs to work out, I need to raise the bodice neckline just a bit.  It isn't bad on Elizabeth, but it is way too wide on tiny Georgia... though if I had used ribbing instead of just turning under, it would have been higher.  For my notes, size 18 months in the chest and 3T length.  I made a few un-altered hopscotch tees straight 18 months a while back and they are all too short, but still very much fit around (heck, even the 12m dresses still fit! - more of a tunic now), so I figured if I add enough length we could get lots of wear from them.

Elizabeth's I dyed with equal parts purple and violet dye.

And George's I used fuschia and cherry red, mostly fuschia with a splash of cherry. 

I like the way they both turned out. Aaand didn't actually do pink and purple on purpose.  I looked up the formulation chart and picked a color, sewed and dyed, then did the next without thinking about the first.  Though I also really do like how the two look together, like they compliment each other as if I did it on purpose, ha!

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!

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.

A little sewing.

My sewing mojo has left the building.  I never thought  I would say this, but for the last few weeks I have had absolutely no desire to sew anything.  Sigh. 

This hopscotch was sewn the last week in June, but I never got around to posting about it.  Ben's cousin took newborn pictures of the twins and I always meant to make her something for photo props, but didn't have time (ya know, newborn twins;) then I heard she was pregnant so I decided to make her something for her baby instead.  I waited to make something just in case she had a baby shower (but she didn't), I made it intending to give it to her at our family's 4th of July super duper party, but I didn't stick it in the diaper bag.  Oops.  So, it is still sitting on my ironing board... but it is a 12 m, and the baby was born this spring, so I have time.

Abby and Jack went to Lake Powell with Grandpa and Grandma, so I decided to "force" myself to sew, and ya know what? I really enjoyed it.  I made two Oliver and S Classic picnic blouses in some lisette (popplin, I believe) that I got on super duper liquidation at my local Joann's that is moving locations (I may have mentioned that before...?).  I made 12m for both, but lengthened quite a bit... like, I think I lengthened it to 3t.  It looked like it would be a little short for my taste from the drawing, plus I pretty much lengthen everything at least one extra size.  My only complaint was when it came to hemming the teeny tiny sleeves.  I can't even imagine how the 6m would be!!

Iz has sweet little curls. Well, so does George, but Iz's stay around even after rolling around on the ground where Georgia's go straight.

I recieved the fall Ottobre and I am thinking I will be sewing lots more soon as I liked 80% of what was in it.  Abby starts school in just over a month and we will be moving soon after that so I need to get a start on her school wardrobe!

Hopscotching in my sleep.

Yes, I am pretty sure I could make the Oliver + S hopscotch top in my sleep. In fact, last night I did... in a dream, of course, I don't sleepwalk:) I realized the second the twins' hopscotch dresses come out of the dryer they go straight on the girls. I LOVE the look of them, and they are just so comfy! And side story, one night we were at Ben's parent's house and he was holding one of the girls and he said "Uh, did you make this?" I gave him a look and said yes. He said he was just sure it was store bought. I took it as a compliment, though I think I do better work than sweat shops. So there. He took a sewing class in high school (Easy "A", or so he says... I think he took it to pick up girls, ha!) and his teacher told him you never want to say "Look what I made!" while she answers you with a big smile and an amused "Yes you did!". Okay, so tone doesn't really carry over to the internet, but I hope you get the point... it makes me laugh everytime I think of it.

Anywho, back to the hopscotch pattern. I made 7. Yes, 7. In two days. Luckily it is a reeeally quick pattern, especially when you assembly line them like I do:) I timed myself and each one takes around 30 minutes. Not too bad! And I think they are such a great staple. But don't worry, I didn't make them all in the same size!



L-R, size 12m, size 18m, (behind) size 7, size 18m- those are all tops, size 12m, size 12m, size 18m all dresses.
I have a problem, none of my kids need clothes!! But I *need* to sew... for my sanity... :) So though the twins are in 6m, I made 12m for them. Abby only needs a 6, but I was lazy and I didn't want to trace of that size since I had just traced off 12m and 18m. here are Abby's previous hopscotch tops... She has worn the blue one once, and the other one two or three times....Grr. But I plan on weeding out all of her RTW clothing so she wont have a choice pretty soon. And to be honest, I didn't remember I made the blue one or I wouldn't have made her another one!! (Do I ramble a lot? I feel like I do.) And I am also going to gift a few to my one and only niece. I have a few other items on my list for her too, easy to spoil since she is the only one! (For another few months:) Plus she measures in to the 18m range for O+S so I can use leftovers from my other projects. You don't mind she will dress like my kids, do you Kim? If so, she doesn't have to wear them. But like I said, I need to sew, ha!

I ran out of purple thread, so the sleeves and hem are just serged and need to be finished. This yardage was meant to be a shirt for me, but it shrunk too much. That's okay, I don't really need horizontal stripes on my body.

This one was made from the remnants of my first hopscotch.




I bought this one for Abby online when I got a robot and car print for Jack. I could add one more yard and not have the shipping go up. Two yards and it would have increased. So I had to order one more yard, right? I was being frugal:) (I just realized it is kind of hard to see the print, but it is rainbows, there is a closeup later in the post)

So I cut out Abby's and thought I would make a dress in either 18m to give to my niece, but then I got looking at the amount I had left and thought I maybe could squeak out a 12m and 18m shirt. It became a game. I had to fussy cut a few of the pieces, and almost lost the game when I cut the bodice of the 18m both going the same direction instead of opposite. But I found a spot that had just enough left to get it. Success. Silly, but it made my night. I don't normally like to match my girls, but Abby will love it.

This one was a beast, it is veeery lightweight. I nearly threw it out the window. Or in the garbage. I had cut out all the other tops/dresses Sunday afternoon and that night I layed awake in bed imagining how cute this yardage would look as a long sleeve (with grey skinny leggings either ruched on the side or buttons near the hem) for a baby gift. We have lots of friends and family having babies soon and a few would be in the 6m range come fall. So I decided to make it in 12m first for my girls to see if I could stand working with it again. I am not sure I will.

I finally busted out my twin needle. Don't know why I didn't do it sooner! I think it made a big difference in my hems.

Did you make it through all that? Give yourself a high five! Oh, and thanks for reading:)

Hopscotch dresses.

I originally bought the Oliver + S hopscotch pattern just for the skirt. It also comes with a top/dress, but I had a fear of knits for some reason. I had been reading about them for a while, made-by-rae.com did an awesome knit-erview series where she interviewed bloggers about their experiences, hints and tips about working with knits, so I was warming up to the idea. Then after discovering Oliver + S patterns I knew if anyone could explain sewing with knits, it was Liesel. I was right. This dress was a breeze!!




Another I have had in my stash for ages. A long time ago I thought I could sew with knit, and I tried, and failed. But I made this one, then the next day made two more. All in size 6m.




This is a really soft knit from Joann's, one of their higher end knits, not their brand. It is so soft, and it was a little harder to work with, but I love it. And I really took my time and matched up all the little stripes.

Sweet thing had just woken up. She is my only out of the four to take a pacifier. It is kinda nice.

I bought this ages ago to make a cardigan for myself, that never happened, so I turned it into a dress instead!

Ah, Elizabeth, she has figured out how to transition from sitting to her belly, so it is much harder to get a good shot of her. This is the first time I have captured her two bottom teeth:)

Hopscotch skirt.

Oliver + S hopscotch skirt, size 6m. The pockets are what sold me on this pattern. Ben says "babies don't need pockets, silly". I disagree, they may not need them for traditional use, but as an embellishment they are just lovely.

The day was kind of gloomy, so the picture isn't the best, but it works. It is a soft grey and white and the main skirt has pink dots too. The buttons aren't really that dark, but again, cloudy day = bad exposure.

Here is a close up, you can see the pocket and the pink detail better.



I went back and got more of each of the fabrics to do the opposite for the other baby. I like them to coordinate, but not match. Weird, I know.