Size test.

Do you ever get an idea that you just can't shake, and have to execute as soon as possible?  I do, too much.  Sam is growing out of his current t-shirts and doesn't currently have any shorts, so I decided to do a quick run through of these patterns before I cut a stack out. 

I haven't tried the Sunny Day Shorts before because honestly, I thought they were boring.   Yeah, maybe they are boring, but they are perfect for a beginner, fit just as I thought they would and were a great quick sew with lots of customization possibilities.  Plus, you can't beat a price tag of $0. 

I made these in a size 2t and kind of panicked that they would end up too big, but really, they are perfect.  I managed to get them from a weird sized scrap I held on to for a 'just in case' that I didn't ever think I would actually use, so it kind of is like they were free, ha! 

The t-shirt is my go-to Oliver and S School Bus T-shirt in a straight size 2t also.  Again, I thought I'd end up setting it aside for a while, but it fits just fine.  A little long, but that's how I want things to start- I can't keep up with growth spurts sometimes!

I added a heat transfer vinyl to the shirt I cut with my silhouette, so much faster than freezer paper, ha!

Bohemian Babydoll Dress.

I recently bought the Elegance and Elephants Bohemian Babydoll Dress after thinking about it for a long time.  Not sure why I didn't buy it sooner, probably because I already have a million dress patterns, but I am so glad I finally did.  

I made a size 4 width with a 5 length and it is just perfect.  

There are no closures but it still goes on and off with ease, sometimes tops without closures can be tricky to get in to.

George was so excited it was the same fabric as their Playtime Dress they always fight over, this way they each got to wear a dress from it was her thinking.  But what she doesn't realize is, it will soon be too warm for long sleeves.

I really love the silhouette of this dress and it's slight hi-lo hem.  I am sure I will be making more of these soon.

Tea party dress.

It is getting nice around these parts, so it is time to start with the warmer weather sewing.  

I have been seeing these adorable dresses pop up in the Facebook sewing world, so I decided to finally give it a shot.  It is the Tadah Tea Party Dress in a size 4.  I messed up when cutting out the skirt and had to re-cut one portion of the skirt, it didn't quite fit so I had to cut the whole skirt a little shorter than it was supposed to be.

 It is still pretty adorable, though!  I used the boat neck front, scoop back and circle skirt.  Iz loved it and wanted to try it out immediately.

It fits well, but I can't vouch for the instructions.  I read through them and decided to make it my preferred way, not that they were bad or wrong, I just like doing things in a certain order.

I love the back, and it still gives plenty of coverage, IMO.

She couldn't stop twirling, and I can't blame her!

Two plus two.

It has been so long since I've made this cute little number, in fact, the last time was over three years ago.  Why, why did I wait so long?  I forgot how much I absolutely adore the shape of this blouse.

This is a size 4 lengthened a bit to approximately a 5 in Riley Blake with some random solid I had in my stash.

See what I mean about the shape?  I love how it's more fitted around the chest and looser around the middle.

I went boring and just did white buttons down the back.  Nothing spectacular.  I thought about trying to match one of the pink/peaches, but it's a pretty busy top already.

I am thinking about maybe trying to lengthen it to a dress, not sure how it would affect the shape, though.  I don't want it to look awkward.  Either way,  I will definitely be making this one again soon.

Check, check.

I got a hold of this aaaaahmazing Robert Kaufman gingham and knew immediately what I wanted to do.

I just didn't know what it was called to figure out which pattern to look for, so I decided to modify one of the ones I already owned.  I used the Oliver and S Playtime Dress/tunic and lengthened the shoulder and under arm area out and lined the bodice instead of using the facings.  

I fussy cut the plaid to near perfection, not going to lie, it was a very proud moment.  However, I wasn't as careful on the back lining pieces so when I folded the arm up it doesn't quite match and it's more noticeable in the back.  So I showed my insecurities and asked on instagram if I should keep it folded up or not and got a definite yes to folding.  So I folded it up just a little more than on my quick cell shot and got it closer to matching then tacked it down.  I realize it is silly and no one else probably will notice if it doesn't match exactly.

I made a size 4, added some fullness to the skirt and 2" to the length.  I am so excited it came out pretty much how I imagined!

A stack of shirts.

Four of my sister-in-laws are currently pregnant, the one furthest along just had a baby shower this weekend as it's her first.  So of course I had to make my soon to be nephew something fun.  But then I got an amazing idea for a shirt and wanted to make it immediately for Sam.  So in all my procrastinator's glory, I made one for him then started on the baby's gifts.

The baby shower invitations had a picture of three mountains and words about the adventure just beginning.  So I designed a file in Photoshop and used the Silhouette Cameo (my fancy new Christmas gift) to cut some heat transfer vinyl.  I absolutely love the way it turned out, and that's why it had to be Sam's immediately. I was pretty excited that it came out just the way I wanted it being it was my first time designing anything and have only tried out the machine a few times before.

I put it on an Oliver and S Field Trip Raglan, size 18 months with added cuffs and hem band, made in a stretchy french terry.

Will buffalo plaid still be trendy in a year and a half?  Maybe not, but oh well.  I nearly kept this one for Sam, ha!

This is the Oliver and S School Bus T-shirt in size 18 months, again, nearly kept for Sam.  I need to quit making stuff to give away in sizes my kids are currently wearing.

Again with some HTV.  This one is size 12 months.

Again size 12 months.  The mom and dad are big Dave Matthews fans, so I knew this one had to be made.

This one is size 6 months in a super stretchy, super soft knit.

This is also a size 6 month.  I actually squeezed it out of a scrap from a shirt I made for Jack and apparently never blogged.  Whoops.  I have been much better at keeping up on flickr and instagram than here, which is kinda bad since I don't always add sizing notes in other places.

I also decided I couldn't ever be a sweat shop worker, 7 shirts in three days was too much for me, ha!

Fawn Lily.

I decided this year to make the twins Christmas dresses be something that could be worn long after the festivities were over.  It took me a while to pick a dress, and in the end I chose what I did due to time.  I was going to go with an Oliver and S Library dress and Apple Picking, but it was quicker to make two of the same, so that is what I did. 

I used the Fawn Lily pattern from Willow and co.  I won the pattern forever ago in a giveaway pack and never got around to using it, or any of the patterns, actually.  I tend to go with ones that I know I can trust the fit/instructions/pdf, etc.  

Let's just say I wasn't in love with the pattern.  I love that it is a unique design, and it did have it's good parts; I love the way the sleeves are constructed to give it a clean finish (even if it was extremely fiddly).  But I didn't love that the lines and notches were very difficult to decipher on my printer, I only have a black and white, basically I had to guess on a few things, and the notches are very important on this pattern.  It didn't really work out.  The tutorial pictures were blurry and it was hard to see any details.  Especially since the view I was working on, the lining and main fabrics were the same.  It would have been very nice to have had the lining a different fabric.  Would I make it again?  Yes, but only when I could devote my full attention to the pattern.

For Elizabeth's, I used a gold and white Riley Blake dot with navy blue piping.  I love the look of the bodice, especially with the piping.  I couldn't find any of this pattern all in one fabric, so I wasn't sure how it would look, but I really do love it.  It is so simple yet still unique.

The back also has piping, and I chose the gathered skirt for both dresses.  Also, both dresses are a 4t.

For Georgia's I used some gold bias tape as I couldn't find any gold piping.  One of the important notches was for lining up the center front bodice, well, my top notch and bottom notches didn't match.  Since I couldn't tell which one I was supposed to be using I had to guess.  The dress is a pretty tight fit to get over both of their heads, I am not sure if it always is or if it was because I probably chose the wrong black notch.

I think I will give the pattern another go, but next time in a couple of fabrics, we will see.  There's quite a bit on my list currently that *needs* to be made first.