I'm ashamed to say how long ago I started this shirt. I think it was supposed to be for Rae's spring top week, which was in April. Well, it is very much summer here now and it's finally done. Too late for one contest, but just in time for another. ha! The shirt started out as this ridiculously large muumuu swim suit cover up from h&m. I had been looking for a stripey shirt for summer, but couldn't find one that was just right.  I saw this gigantic number and liked the stripes, so I spent all of 5 bucks for it.  I thought with that much fabric I could probably screw up and still come out with a shirt.

I used a 70s knit shirt pattern I had squirreled away and it worked out ok. I lent the pattern to a friend so I can't show you the pattern picture, but it's a v-neck, raglan sleeve shirt with a little bit of gathers at the point of the V.  I've had shirts like this before and they have always been flattering.  I didn't gather it as much as the pattern wanted me too because it made the V neck too high up and I wanted a  deeper V, so next time I'll try to figure out how to make the pattern do both those things at the same time. It also came out a little boxy and a little short, but I think I can fix that next time.

I have no idea how the pattern wanted me to finish the neckline, which is why this shirt has been sitting around unfinished since April. Finally I just slapped a half ass binding on it and called it done. And I'm happy to say I actually wear the sucker. Out of the house even.

When I first saw the actual mociun tie front dress I think I was pregnant and it looked like some sort of godsend. A dress that is stylish and functional through pregnancy nursing and beyond? I mean that doesn't ever happen. Then I saw it on cakies last year and she was pregnant and obviously thinking the same thing. Her post led me to Anna's blog, wildflower::pretty, and she told me how to make it. Of course it took a year for me to actually get up the courage to start.

I made a muslin and thank god I did, because my first try turned out ridiculously poofy. I had to alter it a few times before it fit at least kind of right, but I forgot to alter the pattern I made, so then I had to take the whole muslin apart and use it as a pattern for the real dress. Then I was so nervous about actually making it that I cut it a little bigger than I should have. When I'm nervous I make things bigger, which isn't so much of a problem with kid's clothes, but I don't want to bank on getting bigger to fit into my own clothes.  So I had to take it in a bunch, which fucked up the arm holes and left me with no extra fabric for pockets. And this dress really needs pockets.  I made it a little longers than Anna's, which might make it a little dowdy, but I'm not big on knees.

But even with all of that I still really like it. It is the perfect dress for summertime and yes, for nursing too. I am definitely going to make another one, but I think I need some fabric help. I used a really lightweight shirting for this dress and it's ok, but it's doesn't hang quite right--it's a little stiff. I just noticed the original is silk crepe. Man, I know nothing about garment fabrics. All I know is that I like natural materials and I don't like ironing. Can I have both or was polyester invented because ironing sucks?  Where do you go to buy fabric for clothes (no saying Mood you spoiled new yorkers)? There is a nice little fabric store in my neighborhood where the fabrics themselves are nice, but the prints tend towards the old lady end of the spectrum. How do you buy fabric online if you don't know what it feels like? Any advice at all would be super duper appreciated.

I feel like I have to say something about ripping this design off, because I so obviously stole it. I love the clothes at mociun and have bought clothes from them before, but can't really afford to do so. And I could have never afforded this dress, on sale or not.  Is that enough? I support small designers and I'm not copying their designs for profit, so why do I still feel crappy about it?  Imitation blah blah blah flattery, right?

Sorry. I didn't mean to be gone for an entire month!  Honestly, it's a little hard to get back on the horse. But better just to jump right back into it (or onto it, if we are still in the horse metaphor), so here goes.

These linen pants were inspired by a fantastic pair little boy pants that popped up on flickr during kids clothes week (see below). I was working on a couple patterns from Carefree Clothes for Girls during kids clothes week and I thought those pants translated that aesthetic--rough around the edges, but still chic; old timey, but modern at the same time--perfectly.  They are made by little bird designs, who also makes some super cute things and sells them on etsy.

I made my pants, well my son's pants, out of this nice striped linen from Joann's that I had been saving for another project that just never happened. There was only about a yard, so I had to cut the cuffs against the grain, which actually turned out to be a nice detail.  I did an elastic waist, but I do think that big drawstring on the other pants is more Huck Finn.

Of course right after I washed them my iron broke, which is why they are a mess in the picture--who am I kidding? they probably would be have been a mess regardless.  So are there any good iron recomendations out there? because I can barely sew without one! And I need to get a new one quick, because I've been eyeing that same linen fabric in brown for this pattern I picked up:

Granted I have no idea if I can sew this, but we'll see (it's V1175, if you feel like sewing along with me). I actually have a few things I sewed for myself I want to show you, but I haven't figured out how to take a decent photo of myself in them.

And just like that I'm back on the horse.