Knit sailboat top.

It's back!! My desire to sew (everything) is back!! The only downside is, I have so many ideas running through my head I just don't know where to start!  I have thought about a knit sailboat top ever since I tried my first one on George. It was so cute on, but a tight fit on a wiggly baby. I have plans to make Abby a tunic length to go with leggings for school, but first I wanted to test out my skills on a smaller size. Ya know, just in case I screw something major up (which I did, more on that later...).  Girlfriends were both super ornery today, so no trying it on them just yet, but it looks like it will be a bit big on Georgia for sure, good thing Elizabeth is a good 4 1/2 pounds bigger (yes! That was how much of a difference at their doctor appointment a few weeks back!!) so she will fill it out better.

I made a 12m with 3/8" seams instead of 1/2", it just seems more natural since that is what most knit patterns I have use, plus I figured a bit more room wont hurt. Oh, I shortened the sleeves and lengthened it to the 18m size, but that is pretty standard for me to lengthen all patterns for my long torso-ed kids.  

Do you see the problem here?? I managed to sew three nice button holes (the fourth I screwed up, unpicked and re-did) but I realized only when I got to the very end - I mean, hem facing sewn, sleeves hemmed, everything serged, pressed and threads clipped- I realized the button holes were on the bottom layer. AAAAGGGGHHHH!!! I was pretty mad.  But then it hit me- VELCRO.  Not only will it solve the problem at hand, but how much easier will it be to get my spazzy 13 month old twins dressed using velcro instead of four small buttons?

So I put the soft side on top since it was a bit more flexible I figured sewing on a button through it would be easier than the rigid loop side.

I didn't really want to sew 4 buttons on through the velcro, and I remembered seeing Nicole's cute version, so that is what I copied!

Here it is in all it's glory.  I so love the O+S knit, I just wish I had picked some more up when I finally found it as it is gone now. (I probably have just enough of each color way to make one more small sized top)  It is so smooth and buttery, one of my favorites I have worked with yet.  I plan to make one in the orange color way for the other twin.  Probably with velcro, but this time on purpose, ha!

Mix 'n match.

Twinsies were in desperate need of some jammies, so last night after the kids all went to bed and Ben was away on a night dive at a local lake, I busted out some fabric, patterns and some Jason Aldean and went to work.  I used my go-to t-shirt pattern, the first time I have done it in long sleeves! I have made it sooo many times and didn't realize that.  Makes sense though, because our summers are insanely hot.  Living in the desert many of our days are 105+ but the nights dip down to the 70's.  We turn the swamp cooler on at night and that cools it down quite a bit, so the kids wake up a bit chilly in the morning. It is nice though, because we turn it off in the morning when we wake and don't usually need to turn it on again until well after lunch (having two Mullberry trees that shade my house doesn't hurt either).  Anyways, back to the deets.  I used the leila and ben skinny pants pattern.  Both patterns I made in 12m, but I lengthened the shirt to hopefully get some longer wear from them. 

 

Yes, I did put them on the second they woke up and they have been wearing them ever since:)

I was able to punch out 4 pants and 2 shirts last night.  Woot! I still plan on making a few more shirts as they get dirty pretty easily, being babies and all.  They are all meant to be interchangeable (you're welcome Ben), and though there are two "sprinkle" pants and two brown pants each of the pants and shirts all have different wasitbands/neckbands.  Going with my whole coordinating but not matching style I have going on with the twins.

With a pink neckband.

Pink waistband.

White neckband and waistband.

Then the other two.  Ben said to me "Wow, you are getting pretty good.  I can't even tell they are homemade.  In the beginning I could definitely pick out what you made."  Um, thanks?  They aren't meant to look homemade, silly :)  The length of the shirts are where I like them, probably should have added a bit more since I want them to last... oh well... and the sleeves are just a little long.  I could have gone a little tighter on the elastic for the pants (but since they weren't awake I couldn't measure) and they just touch the ground, but don't get in the way of walking... yes, walking! They are finally to the point of walking 90% of the time. *sigh* My babies are growing up too fast.

P.S. I was reeeally craving some Neopolitan ice cream by the time I was done with these... don't they remind you of that too? Please tell me I am not crazy, ha!

A raven hoodie for my beauty.

Flickr is a dangerous place for my budget.  I saw many beautiful Raven sets by Clever Charlotte popping up in my stream for a while and I finally bit the bullet when Cindy (the enabler ;) ) mentioned there was a short sale on the patterns a while back I snagged the Raven and Finch.  FINALLY got around to making one of them this week! While it should have been the Finch as it is a summer outfit, I went with the Raven hoodie.  You see, school goes back in less than a month and Abby needs new clothes! So my intent was to make the hoodie and pants, but that hasn't happened yet.  I have been distracted with a pile of pajamas for the twins, they are first in the need to make pile.

I went with a six and the length called for in the pattern, though I was really debating the length. I wish I had lengthened it so it would last a bit longer, but live and learn.

She absolutely cracks me up, the whole time I was making it she kept asking "So, do you promise it can be flipped around?" "It really can go either way?" Yes, dear.  But she just wasn't convinced until it was all made up and I flipped it around for her.  But now she can't decide which side she likes the most, ha!

I used a deep purple linen and a lavendar, baby blue, light brown and white striped homespun.  I have the homespun in another color way and it was intended for the twins, but I saw this combo and it was fate.  I have to admit, I wasn't a fan of the hoodie when I saw it on the package or even made sitting on my sewing table, but once she put it on I was head over heels!  I can't decide if I will be making more this fall, it just depends I guess on how much she wears this one.

The plan is to finish the outfit by making the pants in a dark blue denim and perhaps a white long sleeved hopscotch top. She is going to be one styling 2nd grader!

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!

Birthday sewing.

Abby's birthday is coming up next week and I decided to make her new clothes to go with her Lalaloopsy doll.  I love how oblivious my kids are to my sewing at this point, I made every single one of these with her at home, and pretty much in the same room the whole time.  She never asked what I was making and I was careful to not let her see anything that would give it away.  Hm, guess she might have known, but I will pretend like she didn't. 

So I made a little of everything, and tried to find fun trims to add. Store bought Lalaloopsy clothing is very whimsical, so I attemtped to go for that look with some ric rac and lace.  Not quite the same, but oh well. And all of the fabric was from my scrap basket, so yay for stash busting!

The skirts were just my guesstimate, and I made them way too big in the beginning, I kept trying it on the doll and cutting more off.  I think I ended up going with a width of 13 inches on the skirt and 5 or 6 inches on the elastic for them.  (in case anyone else has a doll to make skirts for;) The shirt is a shorter version of the dresses below.

You can't really tell, but the top one has white ric rac around the middle. The pattern was a free one from here  .  She got the doll for Christmas and made her a few of this style back then and she really liked them.

So, the pants.  I made a pair out of a scrap of stretch denim, and I love them!! The capris need a top (as does the pink skirt), but the doll has been misplaced and I want to try it on the doll before I sew the lace on as I only have a small scrap left.  The pattern comes from here.

And this one is my favorite. Save the best for last, right? ;) If you thought baby sleeves were hard, you haven't made doll sleeves before!! I also made one in this style for Christmas, but I made it sleeveless and only one skirt.  The pattern is from here.

I just love the shape that the tulle gives to the dress. And it is on a doll, so no whinning about it being scratchy or having to add another lining, ha!

My first Ottobre.

After seeing many Ottobre creations in my flickr contacts stream, I decided to take the plunge and order one of the magazines to see how I liked it before I decided if I want to subscribe to it or not.
So, I received their current issue yesterday, and I am in love!! I have already traced off four items I am wanting to make asap:)  But I had to pick one to start with, but which one?? I went with #12 Kokeshi Doll Dress.  The little pleats did it for me, and though I screwed them up royally, I still love it.  And I now know what I did wrong on the pleats, and can fix it the next time around (I was too lazy to unpick everything as I had already sewn the facings on. 

I made size 80, the twins were both asleep when I finished but it looks about right for big twin at least.  Picking out the size to make was a bit stressful to me, I have no idea!! I googled inches to centimeters (hehe) and then also European to American size charts, and chose from there.  Big twin's chest measurement put her in 80, but neither of their waist measurements are even on the chart, how does that work?!  Plus, with other patterns companies that I have sewn before I know how they fit and can choose a size based on that.  So, I picked something that was taking up space in my stash in case it didn't work out:)  P.s. I now feel justified calling her big twin, they had their one year check up on Wednesday and she weighs 4 pounds 4 ounces more than tiny twin! 

Though I did mess up the pleats, and the lining isn't sticking out from the bottom of the dress like the picture in the magazine, I am satisfied with my first attempt at Ottobre. First a few Oliver + S family reunion tops then on to more from the magazine! ... and perhaps a new subscription is in my future...

Pattern stash busting.

I have been wanting to make a pair of Oliver and S picnic shorts for a long time, and finally got around to it! I got frustrated with the shirt pattern because I am pretty sure I traced of the wrong sleeve size and ruined a yard of fabric. (It was something I bought on clearance so I couldn't just run out and get some more to correct my mistake) Gr.  So I set the pattern aside and promised to get back to it eventually. 

The Joann's in town is moving locations and having a super liquidation sale on fabrics, I mean GIANT.  I purchased a ton of Lisette fabric that is usually marked $12.99-14.99 for just over $3 a yard.  My fabric stash probably tripled from all the lisette and knit I bought!  And  I saved a TON, so I was very happy:)

Those two points lead to my next!  I pulled out some of the Lisette twill and my picnic shorts pattern and got to work.  One nap time later and Abby had some fun new shorts!

I put the pattern pieces where I thought the rows would line up, but no, they don't. Sigh.  Oh well, she loves them anyway.

I just love the retro look!  Next she needs a shirt to go with them:)

The older two kids are going out of town this weekend with Grandpa & Grandma & cousins to the balloon festival.  It is so cool, a few hours north of here there is a really small town that every year holds a hot air balloon festival.  They float them bright and early every morning and one night (can't remember if it is Friday or Saturday) they shut down main street and line them all up while people walk around, then at dusk they light them all up.  Such a cool sight!  We went two years ago, but last year the twins were only a few days old so we missed it.  This year we Ben and I are staying home with the twins, too hard to get two naptimes in while you are camping with a rowdy bunch. Anyway, Jack typically sleeps in his underwear or occasionally with a shirt, so he needed some pj's.  I recently got the Oliver and S bedtime story pajamas from ebay (but it is now available as a pdf) so I made him a pair of the pants and a flashback skinny tee.   I like to race myself and see how fast I can make those shirts.  20 minutes from cutting to the last stitch. Not too bad!

Ben has a very similar pair, Jack thought that was pretty cool.

This sweet little face just makes me smile. It will be nice to have a quiet-ish weekend. He and Abby fight All.The.Time. ... When is school going back?? ;)