For this outfit the inspiration pic doesn’t really look like it did much to inspire me. originally the plan was to do khaki jeans and a grid check shirt just like the very stylish lady is wearing, but then the grid print looked better on my youngest’s ensemble. So I switched out the grid print for a large scale gingham (or do you call it buffalo plaid? I don’t know).
I am particularly excited about this dress. Mostly because I drafted the whole thing myself (pretty much on the fly) and it turned out even better than I imagined. The satisfaction of dreaming something up, struggling with it, and then making it work is like no other. And it is why I love sewing.
The inspiration for my daughter’s Easter dress was this amazing Marimekko dress. You know those pictures that you keep returning to again and again (on pinterest or in magazines or wherever it is you find your inspiration)? Where each time you see them you fall in love with them all over again. The picture of that dress was like that for me. (more…)
Today the Small Fry Skinny Jean pattern tour is stopping here at elsie marley. I didn’t make hot pink pants or harlequin pants or floral skinnies for the tour. I just made plain old gray pants. Well they might look like plain old gray pants, but to me they are a bit of a masterpiece.
I think I’ve made my fair share of pants at this point, but I learned so many new things making these pants! I sewed belt loops for the first time, I made a little coin pocket (you know that little tiny pocket on your jeans), and a full on half fly.
This is the Stellar Tunic from the new Heavenly Collection by Figgy’s. I have sewn a fair bit of Figgy’s patterns. Actually when I look back, I’ve sewn a ton of Figgy’s patterns:
1. tee for two 2. ayashe blouse 3. sunki leggings 4. sunki dress 5. nintuna jacket 6. tee for two dress 7. banyan tee 8. robes 9. tee for two
Why have I sewn so many? Because Figgy’s patterns are fun to sew! The designs are very modern, but designed with real kids in mind. They are constructed in interesting ways, but not impossible to sew. I usually learn a new technique when I sew with Figgy’s patterns. Most importantly they are comfy and my kids like wearing them.
The last outfit for KCW was half total success and half total failure. Let’s start with the success, shall we? Cheetah Hoodie! My youngest has a long standing obsession with cheetahs. I have read what seems like 700 [very dry] books on cheetahs, watched some rather compelling documentaries, and even made a cheetah pillow for him, but cheetah clothes for boys are hard to find.
Over a year ago now, he fell in love with some leopard print jeggings at h&m and wore them until they were threadbare. He got some funny looks, but he didn’t care–he was a cheetah! Since then I’ve been wanting to make him something cheetah, but not costume-y and not overly girly. I think this hoodie is right on the mark. I really don’t know why there aren’t more clothes like this in the boys section. Everything is navy or gray or red. And if there is some sort of graphic or print it’s so angry: the lions are baring their teeth, the super heroes are crushing bad guys, and there are just a lot of skulls in general. For girls it’s pink and purple princesses and for boys is primary color aggression. Sheesh people, can we ease up on the gender stereotypes. It’s just a shirt.
I made this shirt with the flashback tee pattern, then added a hood and a kangaroo pocket. The neck binding isn’t as wonky as it looks in this photo. It’s actually not half bad. Seeing as necklines are my new nemesis (I conquered hems a while back) I’m calling this a victory. And before you say anything, yes I know this is actually leopard print. Cheetahs have spots and leopards have rosettes. But plain old polka dots don’t really read cheetah, whereas this print it more big cat. He loves it and that all that matters.
These pants I don’t love. I used some thrifted pants and my beloved Happy Homemade vol.2 pants pattern, but the waistband is all kinds of wrong. I tried to salvage the original waistband like I did for his brother’s pants, but the fabric was way, way too thick. I’m going to have to cut off the waistband and try again.
Oh well. My goal for KCW was to make an outfit for each kid. 2 1/2 is not bad. 2 1/2 weeks late is not bad either :)
