Hurry up and SEW!!!

Last week was a big week in our household.  It started off with a fabulous new addition to my pattern offerings: I finally published the boys crew neck sweater pattern. It's features very simple construction with a top down spiral and set in sleeves.  It's seamless (of course!!), with a fabulous knit look stitch: hdc in the back bar.  Simple to work up and has such a classic boy look.  This may be my favorite pattern yet.

Photo credit

Photo Credit

 

On Wednesday, I attended our neighborhood school's kindergarten orientation. Yup, my teency baby girl who was just born yesterday will be going into kindergarten in the fall.  This was her YESTERDAY I tell you.

1 month old - first smile EVER!  And I caught in on film.

And now look at her!

4 years old. Just as smily as ever.

My goodness time flies.  And then it dawned on me . . . I only have 6 more months to make her some school clothes.  I still haven't cheated on my New Year's resolution and I'm not going to start now.  Yikes, 6 months flies in the blink of an eye. So last week I made her a bubble skirt and a pin tuck blouse from the Ottobre Autumn 2010 magazine.  Here's the outty out (as we call outfits in my house).

The top was made from some very pretty, but very horrible to work with poly blend rouched plaid fabric that was on super duper sale at Joann's.  I adore the colors but man it was tough to sew, partially because I couldn't get anything to press correctly.  Definitely won't use it again.  But do you see that placket? Yes, I, Sarah Lora, made that placket.  It took every ounce of sewing know-how I have but I did it.

Dang proud of that placket!!!

The skirt is made from some lovely cotton chambray fabric I picked up at Goodwill for $1 per yard. I got 4 yards, so there's plenty left over.  Gotta love thrifted fabric.  The bubble skirt was relatively simple to make, however, I did have to ask my husband how to sew the lining and shell together right sides together given that the zipper was already in place and attached to both pieces.  I know it sounds like it would be totally easy, but for me it was a mind-bending proposition. Luckily my husband has a degree in engineering! 

Yay!  So we got a few more pieces together for the fall!  I definitely want to try to make that shirt again with some regular cotton fabric.  Also am thinking of making this dress for summer time dress-up. Elena will go crazy for it!  She's way way girlier than I ever was!  I'm also working on a spring  crochet pattern that should be done very soon if I can ever pull myself away from the sewing machine.  Stay tuned!

New Year's resolution . . . and the year's first finished project.

Happy New Year everyone!  This year for my New Year's resolution, I've decided I am going to try to make all the kids's clothing, using as much thrifted fabric and yarn as possible.  If there is something we need but I just can't make it, I'm going to try to get it second hand or trade for it on Etsy.  I know this is a super tall order, but I'm feeling I can do it and that it would be my way of living more simply with less impact on the earth.  I've noticed with the items I've made for my kids already, I just take better care of them and appreciate them more.  So here we go!

For Project Numero Uno:  Recently I bought this beautiful magazine from Ottobre Designs.  It is chock full of amazing sewing patterns for kids.  So I picked out a really cute pair of cropped pants to make for the girl. And for the fabric, I used a pair of pants that my husband was going to donate.  So I snagged them from the donate pile and made these:

I love how they look and fit her.  However, they are definitely not as girly as my girl would like.  I tried to girlify them by making the stitching pink and the contrast fabric purple with flowers, but these pants are definitely a stretch.  I'm going to make a belt with the purple fabric and maybe a headband to see if I can get her to wear them more than once or twice.

As for the pattern - it stretched all my sewing skills to the limit.  Tons of top stitching, lots of pockets, a zipper fly (not my best skill in the world), and snap closures.  Next time I think I will stick to the simpler patterns with elastic waist bands (also included in the magazine!).

Here's what's left of my husband's pants:

Now what can I make with the rest??? Hmm.