A fancy skirt.

Abby decided she wanted a store bought shirt to wear for Easter this year.  She doesn't ask often for store bought and while I was a bit sad I wasn't really planning anything for Easter outfits this year so I let her buy it.  I had lots of great suggestions from friends as to which skirt to make to go with the top and  I settled on a Sunday Brunch in white denim.  Or so I thought.  Then I changed my mind and stayed up waaay too late last night playing with silk, chiffon and sequins.  (Actually the sequins were sewn on this afternoon). 

 

 



 

I ended up doing a Lazy days skirt with 4 layers of non-fray chiffon and a silk lining.  The skirt is so soft and flowy, so much better in real life than pictures.  I also did separate piece for the waistband.

I couldn't find a gray that went perfectly, but I thought this one went well with the chiffon. 

Pretty, right?  The sequins are only around the front part, the back waistband is plain. 

She loves the skirt and was dancing all over the yard in it.  It is perfectly flowy and twirly, it got her stamp of approval.  (I promise these pictures don't do the skirt justice, it is definitely a see and feel kind of garment)

Ruffle shorts.



I went on a cutting spree last night, 2 Classic Picnic blouses and  4 pairs of Classic Picnic shorts.   I decided to sew one of the pairs of shorts for Elizabeth first, modifying them following Cindy's tutorial for knock off J.Crew shorts.  I still want to get some teal to copy the inspiration shorts. 

 

Anyway, I used some of the MM Dinky Dots that I picked up back when I made the Jumprope in teal. 

 

I made them in 18 month and they are pretty big on her, I knew they would be a little big but she could easily get away with 12 month.  I should have known being yesterday Georgia wore the ones from last summer.  My thinking was they would last for most of summer, we'll see.

I followed Cindy's tutorial almost word for word, the only thing I changed was the ruffle.  I don't know how to do a rolled hem (and didn't feel like figuring it out today;) so I cut my ruffle 3" and folded it in half while she cut hers 1.5" and used a rolled hem.  Also, I just used 44" for the length of my ruffle.  That was just about right, it could have been a little longer but I was going for an easy sew today. 

Cute, no?

Little sweetie's black eye is almost healed, yay! Those darn eye level tables...

Then there is Georgia.  This Ice Cream top is one of the first things I made for them, and also another pair of 6m shorts from last summer. 

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers (their favorite thing to do while in the front yard). 

Roller skate for the smallest one.

After the first Roller Skate I made for the twins I knew it wouldn't be one they could swap.  I have always just made one size for the twins but lately I have noticed I need to start making them separate for a lot of patterns.  So, I made an 12 month with extra length since she is tall.  I don't know how much length, I just eyeballed it... I should really start making notes!

 

 



She wasn't as cooperative this time, ha! Normally she will stand so still while I snap away, but she was a little ham this time. 

I even tried tossing my lens cap and snapping as she walked closer, but that didn't work too well, I typically got silly faces or out of focus shots (or cut off feet, see above)

So I settled with what I could get.  Oh well. 

So more on the details.  I did the yoke option (obviously) and added a fairy tale like belt over the top.  I didn't think about it until a few minutes ago, but I probably should have lowered the casing since she is more of the 18m/2t length but the 12m markings.  Oops.   When I stitched the belt on the first time I didn't stretch it at all, but soon realized it wouldn't stretch at all then when dressing her, so unpicked and stretched a little as I hand stitched it on.   Oh, and I sewed the pattern per instructions and then just hand stitched the belt on in the end.  I really like the look of it!  It added quite a bit of time considering the time it has taken me previously (the *cough* four previous ones... how long has this pattern been out again? Oh yeah, not that long!)  But I am a slow hand sewer.

I couldn't get a good shot of the back of the belt (remember my uncooperative model?) and she wasn't interested in taking the dress off, so I will explain what I did the best I can, ha!  And if there is any interest I am sure I can be talked in to doing a mini tute on the belt;).  So anyway, when I stitched it on I started in the back middle and tucked the raw edges in to the tube, sewed all the way around, when I got back to my starting point I over lapped my belt by an inch (or under lapped?  I tucked it under my original starting point), then I stitched the top and the bow.  I was tossing around putting the bow in the middle, but I like it off center. 

What to sew now?

Raven shorts.

It's spring here, yay! So that means Abby has been wanting to wear shorts to school, time to get sewing!  She has one or two pairs that still fit from last year, but when she wore one of them the kids teased her and told her she was against dress code because they were too short and she was going to be sent home, she came home crying.  She was at a different school last year and their only policies were no tank tops and no flip flops, apparently this school your shorts can't go above your finger tips with your arms straight down to your side.  Whatever, I seriously doubt they would send her home, but she doesn't want to get teased again. 

 

 

Okay, back story over, let's get to the pattern.  I used the Clever Charlotte Raven pants and shortened them to just above her knees.  I let her pick the color of them (a blue-green twill) since she was home last week on spring break and making requests.  I was trying to get her to go with gray or denim so they would match things already in her closet but she wasn't interested in that.  I "can just make her another shirt, right?" (That is her exact quote)

 



 

So, I had zero control over this outfit.  I tried to get her not to even wear them today since it was a bit chilly this morning but she insisted- in fact, she entertained the twins in their bedroom while I hemmed them since that was the last thing that needed to be done on them.   And honestly, anytime she will actually wear her Ice cream top I don't argue, she has only worn it handful of times since I made it in October. 

These are a size 6- for my notes:) I chose pocket number three, and lined them and the waistband with some scraps from the twins Geranium top, but I forgot to get a picture of that since we were in a hurry to get her off to school.  Aren't those pintucks down the front great?? That is what made me look at the pattern in the first place.  Well that, and also Cindy and Nicole's awesome versions.  They have an adjustable waist and  I thought the way CC instructs you to make the channel for the button elastic was pretty cool.  They are a really quick sew and I can see them being a staple.  I will for sure be making them in the fall as pants.

I am thinking of making them a little shorter next time, definitely in a easy to match color and maybe try a different pocket... I dunno though, I really like this one. 

Another day, another dress.

Two posts in one day?!  The tunic from this morning was made yesterday, and the dress today was sewn during naptime.  Ben's aunt with kids Abby and Jack's age invited them to their pool, what else would I have done with three free hours besides sew? ;)

 



 

Yep, another Roller Skate.  Size 18 months view A with a bit of extra length.  A friend alerted me to a super fantastic sale on the Sarah Jane Out to Sea line last fall and I snatched up a few prints knowing they would be perfect for summer- I wish I would have picked up some more!  Abby has requested a Roller Skate top from the mermaid print, we will see... I should probably move on to another pattern for a bit;)

Little Missy was much more cooperative this morning, tonight she was trying her hardest to avoid me. We were in the front yard and she kept trying to run in to the street, so I tried to distract her by bringing out the slide.  It worked for a minute, then she ran away. 

But George loved it.  She kept trying to go down backwards, silly girl.

After being put back on the grass a couple dozen times, she found a basketball and practiced throwing it in the street, attempted to hula hoop and just ran around the grass for the next ten or so minutes. 

Lesson of the day?  Take Izzy's picture in the morning, or just use Georgia as the model, she holds so still for the camera. 

Roller skate for a little one.

Yes, another Roller skate, I just might be a little obsessed.  This is my third in as many days, and I have one more cut and two more planned! Getting my money's worth from the pattern, right? ;) 

 



 

This one is an 18 month, view D with extra length.  I found the pattern to be a little wide on her, and she measures right in to the 18m- which means it absolutely drowns Georgia!  I put it on her and just laughed.  This is one that they wont be able to share. 

I really like this view, the yoke adds a cute contrast.

Little missy has been obsessed with this flashlight lately, I couldn't pry it out of her hands for a quick picture even if I tried!

The elastic does ride up and I have to pull it down every now and then, but it doesn't seem to bug her. 

I was able to cut the main fabric out of 1/2 yard!  I was way excited, I had this fabric left over from when I covered their car seats a few months before they were born. 

Twins were a bit of a shock (and that is a bit of an understatement) and new matching car seats were out of the question money wise, so I took on the crazy task of covering not one, but two car seats!  (***I know the argument about is it safe or not, I made my decision and respect others decisions, please don't leave me a rude comment about it***)   One was a blue bear we had from Jack and another was one I found at a garage sale for a good price, also dark blue.  This was before I had sewn anything more than a simple elastic skirt... yeah, I didn't realize what I was getting myself in to.  

Anyways, I had just 1/2 yard of the flowers left and about 1/4 yard of the blue.  I have always loved those two together so it was like fate that it all worked out, ha!

I have another 18 month dress cut out in a Sarah Jane print (way excited) and will have to figure out something for Georgie, so I see more Roller Skating in my future!

The perfect canvas.

The Oliver + S Roller skate really does make the perfect canvas, don't you agree?

 



 

 

 



 This dress was nearly completely designed by little miss.  I chose the applique and and the fabric for the hot air baloon, she chose the rest.  That means she'll love it even more, right? I made a size six view A just like yesterday, but added even more length than before.  Like 3-4 more inches.  I wanted it her to be able to wear it without leggings for one, and also maybe get longer wear from it too. 

I actually bought enough of the hot air baloon fabric to make her a roller skate from it, but she pretty much refused it.   That's alright, the twins will look beautiful in it.  She placed the clouds and baloon where she wanted them, then instructed me where to make the rainbow.  She wanted  the traditional rainbow colors, but I guided her to these since they went with the fabrics she chose.  I kind of regret not putting a sun behind one of the clouds... maybe it would have been "too much" though- yep, that's what I will tell myself.

Then a fun yellow button in the back! It really is sewn on straight but since it is a bit big it twists when you put the loop around.