Pierrot.

Every Thanksgiving day my husband's family all gather to take an annual picture.  Pretty much the only picture of me that is taken all year, ha!  I love to look back and see how my little family has grown.  Last year I made all the girlies tops (just my girls).  The twins were a last minute thing and Abby's was one that I had made probably 6 months earlier.  This time I am going to be prepared.  I asked my MIL what colors she was thinking, and since she didn't have anything specific in mind, I suggested jewel tones.  I am LOVING the trend.  Typically I try to stay away from trendy looks, that will be dated in pictures, but not this time.   I was talking with her this afternoon when she mentioned Thanksgiving was next week.  What?!  I thought I still had 2 weeks, not 1!  Then she goes on to say that since we want good light we will do it this Sunday.  Aaaagh! I had better get sewing, quickly!  

 

So I decided on a pierrot tunic in some yummy AMH voile for one of the twins... probably big twin... I will have to see what other inspiration strikes...

 



 

I made the 12 month lengthened to 2t for more of a dress look, though it is still a little short to be considered a dress.  Definitely needs some bottoms with it.

I also lengthened the sleeves, did a narrow hem on both the sleeves and the dress.

The sleeves are longer, but don't get in the way of playing, which is a must!

I am undecided if Abby will wear her ice cream top, will they be too matchy-matchy? Or go with a hopscotch dress in this (mustard + ivory stripe jersey) with with teal leggings/skinny jeans.


So way back before I started blogging I actually tested the pattern for Rae.  I was probably only chosen because I had a tiny baby (or two, ha!).  I tested the newborn size.

This is Izzy, aka big twin.  Look at how little she was!!!  Even though it was newborn size she was 4 months in this picture.

This is actually what was intended for family pictures last year, but I never finished the cranberry colored one, so I went with something else.  (Again Izzy).

Then the two together, Georgia on the left, Elizabeth on the right.  And they were 4 months in this one too. 

I have always intended to make another one (or ten), and the only excuse I can come up with was the weather!  It is such a quick and easy sew there really isn't a reason not to make more. 

The new, the old, and the finally fits.

 

Nothing makes me happier than when my kids LOVE what I sew for them.  Sweet little Jack is always so appreciative and excited about his mommy mades, the sandbox pants from a little bit ago were no exception.  

He wore them 5 days in a row!! ( and I only managed to wash them twice... but he didn't get them too dirty the other times.)  So I knew he needed another pair.  I brought out two choices, a stretch deep blue denim and some dreamy Lisette chambray.  He chose the chambray.

Oh my goodness! They are so soft.  I left the buttons off the back pockets, per his request "So I can put my hands in them ... not that he has yet to do that... But I am happy to make him happy.

Then I decided since they were pretty darn unisex to put in a Sesame Street ribbon instead of the Tonka trucks like the last pair, this way the twins can wear them someday.  Not that they couldn't with trucks in them, but I figure I will hopefully avoid a possible future tantrum.  Plus, he still likes Sesame Street.

Girlies outgrew their birthday dresses finally.  I didn't honestly know how long they would last since I made them to fit just right as they were for pictures.  The length is still perfect, but their big noggins just wont squeeze in anymore.  I *ahem* forced them on for church this day since they were their only clean dresses...  It always makes me so sad to fold away their handmades for the last time, especially ones with good memories, knowing there may not be another little munchkin to pass them on to.

But then, there is this.  Big twin now fits the knit sailboat I made 4 months ago!  Wow, I was off, turns out long sleeves would have been nice since it is cold now they can finally wear it.  Meh.  Remodel is coming along nicely, behind that new door is my new sewing closet.  YAY! A space dedicated to my hobby! It isn't very big, but it will do! 

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. 

In the sandbox.

Mr. Jack desperately needs pants, he has only one pair.  Luckily (?) we haven't been out much this last week so he has been able to get away with just wearing his shorts.  Though honestly, he lives in his underwear 90% of the time while at home, no matter the weather or temp in the house.  So that bought me some time.  I got it in my head yesterday evening I wanted to make him a pair of Oliver + s sandbox pants.  I may have  measured him after he went to sleep and got his waist measurement just fine, but I couldn't get a length measurement for him, and his one pair of pants that fit were wet in the washer.  Also, I didn't realize I only had the smaller range and since it is an older pattern it only goes up to 3t while I usually make him a 4 in O+S.  But I remember reading it was a looser fitting pant, so I asked some lovely friends and felt confident I could get away with a 3t.  I did add 3 inches to the length, though turns out I didn't need to add that much.  That's what I get for winging it:) 

 

 



It is usually so hard to get him to look at the camera, but he was loving it this time! Also wearing his monster flashback tee. 

I used a bottomweight, all one material, just in case it was too small, I could have easily given them away.  Plus, a pair of khaki pants are a great wardrobe staple.

I am running low on my custom labels, so I thought this was a fun alternative, he loves it!

Since it was heavier material, I chose to skip the drawstring and instead used button hole elastic. 

I could easily go up to the next size (when I locate a paper pattern- fingers crossed!) as it is a little tight when he puts his hands in the pockets, but he doesn't use pockets often. 

I LOVE O+S for so many reasons, one being the details.  There are two rows of topstitching all over, if I ever get confident enough I will do a contrasting thread.  It would look great in denim with all the topstitching!  And those back pockets, I love them!  I never realized there were buttons on the pockets until I recently saw Justine's and they took a giant leap up my to-make list.

I don't know if I marked the pocket placement incorrectly, with the shirt down they look right to me, but when he raises his arms or without a shirt they look low.  Meh.

Aren't his eyes amazing? No editing at all on them!!

He is such a sweet boy, I asked if he wanted me to make him another pair since he liked these so much.  He said "Well, maybe later.  But first you should make Abby a pair just the same, only purple!"  Always thinking of others, this one.

They wanted to come out and play... :) (in their classic picnic tops).

Halloween.

So, I have this problem, once I get an idea in my head I am obsessed and think about it all.the.time. until I do it.  I knew I wanted the twins to be Cinderella (George) and Gus Gus (Iz) this year because it will likely be Elizabeth's last year with a giant belly.  Plus, they may finally start talking by next year and have an opinion on what they want to be.  We'll see.   Since we have been remodeling I hadn't really had time to do anything about the costumes, then I got an e-mail from Oliver + S with a sale I couldn't pass up and purchased the fairy tale (among others).  It was supposed to arrive Thursday, or so said the tracking number.  But it didn't, so I got started late Friday night and finished it oh, about thirty minutes before the party.  I was slightly stressed.  My MIL had a size 2-4 disney costume that she said I could cut up and make smaller, but I KNEW I wanted it to be the fairy tale.  This is where the obsession comes in, I knew I would be dissappointed if I didn't go with my plan and think about how I should have just done it.  Sooo glad I made it!  It is exactly how I imagined it.

 

 



 

I thought about possibly making puff sleeves instead of the tulip sleeves, but I am so happy with the look of the tulip sleeves.

I added a peplum and an extra layer of tulle, otherwise everything is exactly as the pattern says.  I always learn SO much with Oliver + S patterns, this is my first zipper.  Pretty proud of myself considering it was on costume satin, that stuff is a PITA to work with!!

For Gus Gus aka big twin, I made the field trip raglan with shortened sleeves and overall length. Then a simple beanie that I just winged. It does fold over to the front, but tends to go all over the place.  I couldn't get a great photo of the cute belly though. 

I also used her pj pants I made a while back.  Wow, they faded a ton!

Abby picked a witch costume from Grandma's box, and Jack just HAD to be a skeleton- again.  Though, Abby has now been a witch 3 of 7 times.  One of these years I want to talk them all in to being things that coordinate, good luck with that!

After school.

So, I wont bore you with the annoying details about how we signed on the house on Friday, but still haven't recieved the keys... Grrr.  I am pretty angry about it, and used my anger to go throw boxes around in the garage looking for my box of cotton fabric.  I have been enjoying sewing with knit, but I had a craving for some good ol' cotton. 

 

 

I found a box with some of my cotton, not really the box I was looking for, but it worked, and pulled out a pattern I haven't tried before.  Oliver + S After School pattern has been on my want to sew list for a while, and now that the weather is cooling down I decided it was time.  I checked out flickr and blogs (like I always do the first time around)  and noticed comments that it could be longer.  Knowing my tall girls, and my hope they don't outgrow their clothes too quickly, I added some length.  Though I am thinking it could use even more, maybe it is just big twin's belly...  I haven't tried it on tiny twin just yet.

 

 

 

 

I had a small amount of the bird fabric, and a bit more of the peach from a skirt I made Abby a while back, so I decided to combine them for a unique look.  I made size 12m on the chest with 4t length, though I may go longer next time, per my personal prefrence.

 



 

 

 

I tried to  put her next to the pretty flowers and bushes, but then she spotted her siblings that snuck outside within thirty seconds when I asked them not to...

 

 

 

 

 And she took off...  (imagine a high pitched squeal and wobbly run that almost resulted in a face plant) ...



 

 

 

But I cornered her next to the weeds. 

 

 

I didn't realize there were also buttons in the back until I traced off the pattern.  I kinda like the look.  Chest fits great, sleeves perfect length, cute style, one to make again.

 

 

*Updated to add pictures of tiny twin*

 

 

Well, hello cutie pie!

 

 

I definitely think big twin's belly made the difference in the fit.  I think it may end up being tiny twin's shirt...



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.