been a while

well its been a while, back to school had me so busy for a while but I am back to blogging again I worked on many things over the past couple months, from pants to costumes. I even did a sally skellington dress from drafting my own pattern and drafted a pattern to make my daughter a dress to be kitty Cheshire from ever after high.  I have also been working on crocheting again too. Busy busy busy.  lately I have been inspired a whole lot with fashions from generations past, especially the 20's.  I find the clothing is so romantic from that time period.  I especially find the clothing worn by the ladies in the TV show downton abbey and titanic, I find it really elegant and feminine and soft. The dresses in this photo are some of my faves from titanic.  I am hoping to recreate the walking suit and the red empire dress even though I would love to recreate more those are my top faves on the list

Amare top and dress

I had the great honor of testing the amare top and dress pattern. Designed by a very talented woman.  This pattern is such a fun pattern to make and a pleasure for your child to wear. So many fabric combination options, dress version and top version, bow or sash  and just because you can why not do both!! The princess seams make this a very classic and elegant look for girls and since the top is so lined no irrigation from seams to any child with sensitive skin!! A win in my book!!

http://www.sofilantjes.com/product/amare-top-and-dress/

This was a first time testing with this designer, in fact though I have many years sewing experience, my experience to using  pdf patterns is less than 1 year.  I love the fact that this pattern explains how to alter the pattern for a great fit for your child. My child fell into a size 12 for width but a size 10 for length. An issue in patterns w my tall but short waisted daughter I hit that issue a lot and this is the first I have seen it explained how to make the pattern work for my child's measurements. I adore this pattern and will be making many more top and dress form. I did receive permission from te designer to add a slight sleeve to my daughters so that she could wear it to school. That took a few drafts to get right and at moment it's attached once dress is finished. I'm planning on figuring out how to attach to straps while attaching lining so no outward seams are visible to distract from the beautiful garment.

my son was trying to pull the dress off the hanger, he is obsessed with frozen

kbsd wrap top

koerbs brothers designs wrap top is an amazing top!! so simple to make and so many options available with all the knit fabrics available, either solid color, two colors, a print and a color, its endless, not to mention the pattern as several options, modesty panel, sleeves, sleeveless, dress or as a top, plus it is a very nursing friendly top!! you get to choose, you can purchase your pattern at https://www.etsy.com/shop/KBStitchDesign

work in progress

all done and love it!! 

btw, i did have to include a wee bit of upcycle, look close the back is from a sweater

the inner makings of a pair of shorts

My 12 year old daughter approached me and had asked me to make her a pair of shorts for this coming school year, I decided since she is at an odd size that I would attempt to draft the pattern using her measurements, armed with her measurements I sat down and drafted a pattern, used muslin to make it and it was way too big, so I went back to the graph paper and did it again slower and double checking each line and mark and again used muslin to make the draft pair of shorts and this pair fit her perfectly.

once I had a pattern that I knew worked for her we set out to design the shorts and picked a fabric for them

the last drawing in the pic is what we went with as far as design

work progressing great, pocket detail finished

successfully installed a covered zipper fly

well I completely messed up this last pair by trimming the zipper from the top and forgetting to put a stop point on them so ,somewhere the zipper pull fell off and in the process of trying to undo all the zigzagging the fabric just kept snagging and unraveling, so I had to start over and piece the fabric to make enough for the shorts so you will notice that they have a center front seam on them now

and as I didn't have enough fabric to do a regular waistband I decided to try a bias tape finish and it worked

recycled pajama pants into a romper for toddler

As many of you know I love the challenge of upcycling a garment past its prime into something that can be used once again, well I was given these cookie monster pajama pants that the fabric was rather wore in spots but I was able to have enough fabric to make my son a romper (size 3t).  Instead of cutting all seams apart, i used the sides of the legs as the fold of the fabric and used it for my front and   back of the romper. I used some scrap from another cast off tshirt for the sleeves and collar and even salvaged a snap for the collar opening. all in all it looks cute. Now to take pics of my son wearing the romper.  The pattern for this romper is available http://www.kbstitchdesigns.com/product/wrap-around-romp/

more school clothes

school is approaching so fast!! my kids have outgrown everything from the previous year so new things are in order.  This paris themed outfit is so darling but it could have turned out so bad had I not went with my gut and used the two fabrics my 8yr old had previously wanted

these were the choices my daughter originally wanted together but we kept the paris fabric for this outfit but used a solid pink to pair with it instead of the small print, saved that for another project and as you can see the solid pink was a much better match and my daughter loves the shorts. I also made a top to coordinate with the shorts

start of school clothes for kids

I have discovered with my walking foot with my machine that knit fabrics are not as scary as i use to deem them to be and in fact have scored some really cute knit fabrics lately.  One of my girls loves animal print and this knit sort of resembled zebra print and it had pink in the fabric so a double score for her.  She picked out a really cute open back tank style tunic that instead of the ruffle skirt that it called for on the pattern I lettuce hemmed the shirt.  Super cute, super fun and my daughter loves it

rebel princess, making of rebel girl dress

I absolutely love testing patterns, this pattern was a test for bella sunshine designs (link at bottom of my blog page) and called rebel girl party dress.  I learned a couple new techniques in making this dress. understitching and concealed zipper, though i didn't do a concealed zipper as i don't have a concealed zipper foot (it is on my every growing list of things to purchase).  I love the fun and trendiness this dress is all about and my daughter loves it too, granted will have to wear it over a tank top for school since it does have that open back but this dress is soo cute and i loved the priviledge of making this for my daughter.

adorable!! twirly top

I am completely have baby fever!! So since having another is not an option for me, I am sewing things for other peoples babys and I gotta say there is something so much fun about sewing tiny baby clothes especially frilly stuff!! I absolutely love this pattern I made that I bought through ckc patterns "baby mimis twirly peasant top" it was a very easy project and so stinking cute!! I did change the sash to an adjustable velcro belt instead. I keep finding new patterns to add to my list of ever growing things to make at some point but I can say I did get this one done.

Swimming season is here!!

Well since having my son all my swim tops are too small and tight. Funds being almost as small and tight I drafted a top using elements from 2 different tops that I liked. I had already drafted and made a bodice block so I used that to draft my swimwear. I had never sewn using Lycra fabrics so this was a new experience for me. It was a bit challenging for me to sew but thankfully w using stretch stitch (a must w stretch fabrics) and my walking foot I was able to make me a halter top and it's ready for use for the 4th of July.  Now that I have the hang of making this top I will be making more in different prints.

victorian inspiration

I am determined to get better with my photo that I take of my projects before and after and during even.  My closet was in dire need of some freshness to it (new to me clothing ), shopping wasnt possible at this time so it was refashioning and upcycling to the rescue.  I had a bag of clothing that someone had given me to do whatever I wanted with them, so I went thru and found a peach shirt that i loved the color of it and set off to work.  The shirt was rather shapeless on me and required some altering to have a better fitted look, I found a picture on pinterest of what look I was going for in the overall design (photo 1). I did not use any pattern for this i just winged it.  I changed the straight collar to a peter pan collar (or rounded), added some pintucks to both sides of the button band and gathered the sleeves and added some lace, it does have some technical errors in it but I am happy with the over all look though i plan on adding some trim to the sleeves once I buy some more

( my inspiration)

(work in progess)

(before and after pintucks added)

(and the overall shirt )

old sheer panel into a kimono

well i am going to do a step by step for this blog for those that want to follow along and maybe up-cycle a sheer panel or other length of fabric. I am going to use this panel that i already have

things needed

1. fabric of choice, needs to measure at least 40x55
2.thread and needle or sewing machine (i use machine)
3. measuring tape and fabric pen or chalk

fold fabric in half with wrong side facing you,(photo 1) from your bottom edge measure up 10 inches and then in 6 inches and mark, should form an L shape(photos 2,3) and cut out that section(photo 4) and repeat on the other side, sew those side seams together(photo 5 , i also zig zagged edges). measure in from your side seams and find the exact middle and mark straight up on the length (height ways up to the fold at top) cut only the top layer on this mark (photo 6) now you can either do a close zig zag on this open edge or do a small hem I did a zig zag, hem bottom if needed and hem the sleeves. my finished product (photo 7)

photo 1 (fold in half)

photo 2 (measure L)

photo 3( L mark )

photo 4 (cut out L)

photo 5 (sew side and arm seam)

photo 6 (measure middle and cut)

photo 7 (finished)

I had the privilege of testing Kelley's Twirly Skirt and let me just say this skirt has the perfect twirl factor.  The skirt features and double layer skirt (endless fabric combinations from print to solids or both) and a yoga style waistband with built in modesty shorts.  This skirt was a very simple quick sew for me, love it and when a women's size with shorts becomes available I will be making me a pair as well.  Link to bella sunshine is at the bottom of my blog page

all about Ties!!

Another project I did before easter for my son, I can never find cute ties that he will leave on without ordering them off the internet which I don't like to do unless I have no option. Well a tie didn't seem so complicated to do, 3 pattern pieces and a piece of elastic to fit my sons neck and I was finished. Very easy! Now I can make my son ties of any color fabric.

sailor outfit

             I thought this little sailor outfit was the cutest ever!  I made this for my son to wear for easter so I am a bit late blogging about it, ok, i am not gonna lie this is my first blog ever!! I bought this pattern from peekaboo patterns after searching for over a month in fabric and pattern stores for one in paper form as I had never used a pdf pattern. I bit the bullet and bought and downloaded my first ever pdf pattern.  I have since bought several more!

              The collar construction on this was a bit complicated but overall i completely loved the outfit, so cute on my son!! link for peekaboo patterns at bottom of blog page