Thursday, May 12, 2011

KCW - Day 4 - Tea Party Sundress


Otherwise known as "Cutest Dress Ever". I la la love this dress! I bought the fabric for this over a year ago and never got around to making it. Thank goodness I did it know as Miss M is at the largest size and that won't fit her long. I'll definitely be making another one for this summer. As always I can't sing the praise of Oliver + S patterns enough. I've learned more from sewing with their patterns than any other. This was my first time doing princess seams and a faced hem. Things are a bit more ripply and puckery than I would like but other than that I'm really thrilled with how it turned out! That little peek of polka dot lining makes me giddy. I sewed most of this last night after the kiddos were in bed and just put the finishing touches on it this morning, waiting for files to download from work. Talk about multi-tasking!

I can't believe it's Day 4 already. This week has flown and I'm not ready for it to be over! So far, I've only made stuff for my babe and pretty soon my big girl is going to feel left out... I'd better work on that. Hope everyone has a great day!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

KCW - Day 3 - Popover Sundress


Last night I started on this Popover Sundress from Oliver + S and finished it today. I've had this teensy bit of Japanese fabric for ages and ages and never wanted to use it. I think this is a perfect pattern for all those little precious scraps and hope to make more! I love this pattern, it's super quick and easy and oh, so cute!

In other news I've reopened the Etsy shop! I've been soul searching for such a long time and realized that this is what I needed to do. I've had a really, really wonderful break but a part of me was missing. New legislation be damned! I love making beautiful things for kids and that's what I'm going to continue to do. I'll figure it out and make it work. I just didn't feel right about completely changing things up. Continuing to do what I love feels right. Of course I've got tons of new ideas too so the shop will be updated with new stuff soon!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

KCW - Day 2 - Ruffle Top




Today I whipped up this adorable little Ruffle Shirt, the
pattern is from Heidi & Finn. This is the second one of these I've made and I still love the pattern. On a normal day this little number would only take about an hour from start to finish but today I've been moving slower than molasses. Out of nowhere it went from 65 degree days to today's high of 91 degrees! Holy cow, I wasn't ready for that and it's made me slow and stupid today. I didn't want to close up the house and turn on the air because the house has been closed up all winter! I want fresh air even if it is hot. The result is a very steamy office / sewing room. Moving on...

Last summer Michelle Engel Bencsko from Cloud 9 Fabrics was so kind as to send me a bunch of fabric pieces. I've been too scared to cut into them before now and aside from the occasional pet they've been sitting neglected. That seems to be a reoccurring theme with my fabrics and that could be why it just keeps piling up! But, I'm forcing myself to use it before I buy any more. This adorable print is from her Shade Garden collection with Henry Glass. I paired it with a perfectly coordinating mustard polka dot for the lining and blue bias. I love how the colors look together. I made the middle size, 12M - 2T and can't wait to try it on the babe when she wakes up. I think it needs a pair of matching bloomers...

Anyways, I'm thrilled that I was able to get this much done. I even cut out the pattern pieces and laid out fabric for my next project. If it cools off tonight I might start on it.

Monday, May 9, 2011

KCW - Day 1 - Mod Toddler Dress


So, the goal for this KCW is to not spend a dime on new materials. The reasons for this are twofold. First, I have enough fabric to last through a lifetime of sewing and Second, we're pinching pennies around here. I know that I've got enough fabric and materials to make the girls an entire wardrobe of cute summer clothes.

This dress came out pretty much exactly how I imagined it. I wanted to make a super simple mod toddler dress with some really big, bright graphics. None of my fabrics fit the bill so I made some! I hand painted the design on a silkscreen to create the stencil and then screen printed the design onto some plain cotton that I had. I had the perfect pink binding for the armholes on hand as well. The pattern is a slightly modified version of the Simple Dress from Simple Sewing for Babies by Lotta Jansdotter. Modified because part of my pattern was missing (eek). I muddled through it though and I love how it turned out. The neckline and hem are a little too puckery for my liking but it's not horrible. And considering I haven't sewn anything in EONS I'm alright with it. I think I need to adjust the tension on my machine a bit though...

Now, I just need to decide what's up next for Day 2. The big girl has requested some shorts so maybe these? They're pretty stinkin' cute. Are you sewing for KCW? How's it going so far!?