Polka dot shorts.

Girlfriends need some new shorts, and what better short pattern to start with than the Oliver + S Puppet Show Shorts?  I have made them lots before and just love the look of them. 

Girls measured in to a 2T (Izzy) and 18M (George), so I went with 2T so they could both wear them.

I used a lightweight twill from Jo-Ann I picked up last season, they love their "polka ots shorts".

They are both recently obsessed with pockets.  They wont put anything in there except their hands, but they walk around most of the day with their hands stuffed in them. 

I am guessing because they are 2T they are still sized for diapers, which finally the girls are no longer in!  So we get a droopy bum, but that's a-okay!  I also have 2 pairs cut in denim waiting in the to-sew pile, but first a Hide and Seek top for Abby.

Shandiin Tank.

Miss Abby needs some new tops, so here is her first one.

This is the Shandiin Tank, size 8.  I rarely buy a pattern the first time I see it, but after seeing Cindy's versions (especially K's) I immediately bought it.

I found this awesome sauce lace at Jo-ann last time I was in and just knew it was destined to be paired with this pattern. 

(P.S. she is also wearing her chambray shorts)

I love the unique back, and that it doesn't show too much skin.

It is sort of washed out in these pictures, but it is a cream top, not white.

My only complaint is the arm holes are quite low, low enough that she has requested a shirt to go under it so she feels more comfortable.

Convertible Sandbox Pants.

I realized Jack has suddenly grown out of most of his shorts, time for new ones!  

I had an epic fail with the Blank Slate Coastal Cargos, I made a size he measured in to and they wouldn't even pull up over his bum.  I was sad, he was sad.  Okay, I was more than sad, I was angry. I feel like my sewing time is precious lately as I am not always feeling well enough.  I needed a quick fix that I knew was going to work for me, and since I still wanted the look of the failed pants, I modified one of my trusty Oliver + S patterns. 

I decided to use the Sandbox pants pattern as I had made it before and Jack loved them.  Also, not only has he nearly outgrown his beloved red After School pants he tripped at kindy one day and tore a small hole in the knee, he was devastated, though he kept wearing them.  Funny being he didn't even want the dang things in the first place, ha!  

I flat felled the seams on the outside of the pant leg and the inseam so I could roll them up and not have any yucky serger seams showing.  The inseam nearly killed me, but I did it!

Then I made a tab and sewed velcro to it and the pant leg (the soft side of the velcro on the pant leg in case he wears them as pants so they don't catch on anything).

I rolled up the pant leg and kind of just winged it as to where to place the tab and velcro, but matched them on both sides obviously.

The color looks really weird in this picture, hm.  Anyway, I used a fun print on the pocket linings, just like he likes.

The pants are a size 5 and still have plenty of growing room, maybe he will get some use out of them in the fall too.

Unlike some things I make him, he was totally excited about these and couldn't wait for them to be done.  Score!

Whales.

This is the same pattern as last time, but this time I used view c.  

I usually try to stay away from novelty prints, but the whales just killed me dead (and so did the fox print... I just haven't decided what to do with that one yet).

I don't *love* the orange, in my mind it was going to be a brighter, more primary shade of orange.  But apparently my local shop's button/snap inventory has been severely diminished.  In fact, this was the only orange snap and also only two orange button sizes.

And I should have taken more care in lining up the whales, but what's done is done.

I lined the yoke again like I did with the romper, and this time it is a legit 3month.  I should invest in a few smaller sized tags... meh...

I did work out the collar/facing issue a bit better this time.  That means next time I'll be pro, right?  ha!

The thought of matching the print for the pocket made my brain hurt, so I went with a contrast.

A little piping at the yoke, because who doesn't love piping?

Since it's all about the details, baby, a contrast under collar also.

Next up:  Tops for Abby (per her demand request).

A romper.

Oh how I heart a romper on a sweet baby boy.  I purchased one at Target a few months ago and MC  (seriously, go check out her sewing, you wont be disappointed.  She is my little boy shirt sewing hero) said she knew of a pattern similar, Kwik Sew 3730.  I was feeling up to sewing today, so that's what I did, not to mention if I don't get started soon baby boy will be all kinds of naked.  

I used a lightweight shirting, it was quite slippery but it feels so nice.

The only (intentional) change I made was to line the yoke.  I wanted to be able to attach my label and size tag, so I just cut two yokes and sandwiched the back piece in between.  I like that it gave a nice clean finish on the inside and is a fun pop of color.

For the under collar I also cut it in a contrasting color.  Little details make me happy.

So, the instructions kind of really were bad.  And the inside facing was waaaay too long, so the insides are all kinds of ugly.  It kind of made me sad.  I didn't bother hand stitching the collar closed as the facings were messed up and I was just mad at that point.  But now I know how to adjust the next one (that is already halfway done btw).

Technically this garment is a size small, but looking at the measurements it seemed to be about equivalent to the size 3month things I have sewn already, we shall see.

I chose to go with snaps instead of buttons, much easier for dressing a wee one, and those pockets kill me dead.  Not like they are needed in any way, but they are adorbs.

A gift for a baby.

This gift has been waiting to be made for a long time now, the baby shower was in March, but we were preparing to head to a beach house when I got the invite and were to be gone when the shower was held.  But, the gal's mom is so sweet and always gets my babies something I knew I would be making something for the baby no matter how long it took me.  And hey, her due date is in the next week or so, and the baby isn't here yet so I am calling it a win.  

I was originally going to do something definitely vintage (think Puppet Show) as that seems to be the mom's style, but getting up and down a million times gives me contractions, so I went with something quick and easy.  Being I have made it now nine times (!!!) I knew what steps came next and was able to keep the getting up and down to a minimum.

Oh, so what is this pattern (as if you haven't seen it a million times all over blogland)?  It's the Geranium dress that I was lucky enough to test way back when it came out.  I have never made one this little though, it's so cute and small!  Eeep!  If I was having a girl she would have a closet full of these.

I also threw in a few headbands.  The mom and I talked a little bit about headbands and she is not in to the giant bows on tiny babies (neither am I, really) so hopefully these aren't too big.




Snaps are for sure the way to go on little ones, heck, even toddlers!  ... Actually, Abby loves snaps too!  I used some purple ones from the stash.

Um, apparently I need to iron a little better before photographing/giving it away.

And I finally invested in some labels!   I have always used the size tags and my MIL bought me some labels a long, long time ago but I used all of them and had just been using ribbon which worked, but now I am totally legit;)

When we were thinking of names for the twins, Ben decided he wanted one of them to be called Georgia after a character on "Dead like me" and her nickname was peanut.  I had a hard time thinking of what I wanted on a tag and that is why it took me so long, but I am glad I finally took the plunge!  Now to find more time and energy to sew... ha!  

Ruched Maternity Tee.

Dear Old Navy + Target, see through maternity shirts aren't cool.  I officially now hate you both for the amount of times I have bought a shirt, torn off the tags and realized it was see through (I think I am up to four).  Guess that's what I get for not trying things on in the store.  

So, I bought the Megan Nielsen Ruched Maternity Tee waaay back when I found out I was knocked up, I think I was like 6 weeks when I hunted down the one and only paper pattern I could find online.  Guess what?  It's now available in PDF form!  Which would have helped (not only the pocket book) because I misplaced my pattern for like ever.  (Sorry Sarah, I really did mean to send it along to you! I still can if you still want it...)  

I made one early in my second tri but thought I could just ignore the seam allowance suggestion, 5/8" for knit is so weird to me!  So I went down a size and went with 1/4" seam allowances.   It worked out alright, but I figured I should probably follow the pattern if I wanted the best fit.  

Based off my first one, I added some length  to the front and back, but I think I could have done even more, I don't like my shirts being too short, especially when they could expose belly.


I used this ponte de roma knit from girlcharlee.

I didn't have any thread that matched and being in the middle of potty training the twins (kill me now) I wasn't going to the store for any.  I used gray, though it looks a little whiter to me in the pictures.  Again, based off my first go at the tee I raised the neckline in the front because it dipped a little too low for my liking.


I am going to try to sneak a few more of these in this week, my wardrobe is kind of lacking in the maternity department being I gave away all mine after the twins.  I probably should have made them earlier to get more wear, oh well!

P.S.  this is me at 29 weeks, yeehaw!