February "Free for All" - Kids pants by MADE

Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping by from  Frances Suzanne to see my contribution to the February "Free for All".  I think the whole Flip this Pattern series that Ashley and Emily are running is so great! There has been a lot of inspiration so far this month. For my free pattern, I chose the Kids Pants pattern/tutorial from Dana at MADE.  Dana's is one of the first blogs that I started to follow and the first garment I ever made for Erin, I made using her shirt dress tutorial.

Dana's pants tutorial and pant pattern was a staple of mine for Jack. The instructions are so clear and easy to follow and Dana has a lot of pictures to help you along. I made quite a few pairs of pants and some shorts for Jack using the free pattern that Dana offered. The pattern is size 2T/3T but she also walks you through how to make your own pant pattern. Not only does she have the pant tutorial but she has additional tutorials for adding things like pockets and linings. Lots of good info over there on MADE!


few of the pants I've made Jack in the past:

So in trying to keep with the "free" theme for the month, I used some free fabric that I had to make some comfy lounge pants with pockets for Jack. The weather has been very cold and we have had lots of snow so far this winter. The kids have been having a blast going sleigh riding pretty much every day so I thought some comfy pants to change into after a day of sleigh riding would be perfect.

They pass the lounge test for sure!

The Details:
The Pattern: MADE kid pant tutorial and pocket tutorial I just used a pair of sweats that fit Jack well as a guide
The Fabric: from an old pair of pj pants of my husbands that were a sample pair given to him by a friend who worked for Nautica
Trims/Notions: 1/4" elastic which I really need to switch out for 3/4"....I only had 1/4" on hand and forgot to pick up 3/4" last time I was at Joann!

Thanks so much for stopping by and make sure you check out the other contributors today. Don't forget to join in the fun yourself by linking your creation made with a free pattern or tutorial to the linky party over at Frances Suzanne!

Free For All

Hello out there! It has been for-EVER since I last posted. It has also been forever since I really sewed something too. I kinda took some time off without really meaning to. I spent the summer training for my first half marathon and hanging out by the lake with my kiddies. It was lots of fun and left me little time for sewing and/or blogging. Little desire to sew or blog too. I was enjoying being outside too much. I did sew a couple things but never got them photographed to blog about them. Then the holidays were creeping up, a time when I normally sewed up a storm, and I realized I was missing this little space but still needed a reason to start up again. I kinda lost my sewing mojo so to speak. Then came an email from Ashley and Emily of Frances Suzanne asking if I wanted to help in kicking off the spring season of Flip This Pattern. I took it as a sign - just what I needed to kick start my own sewing again. I immediately signed up and am so happy to be participating in:

Over the next two weeks a ton of other sewing bloggers will be sharing their favorite FREE patterns and tutorials from around the interwebs. Here is a list of  all the awesome contributors I am super excited to be a part of!

Head over to Frances Suzanne to see all the details. There is a linky party currently set up so you can share your favorite free pattern/tutorial. And tomorrow a second linky party opens up that you don't want to miss!

I can't wait to share my favorite free pattern with you and get back my sewing mojo too!

Summer PJs

The last Friday in May, Erin and I attended a Mother/Daughter PJ Party for Girl Scouts. The event was really cute. The girls played games, made a craft, ate ice cream sundaes and danced their little hearts out. I thought it would be fun to make some coordinating pajamas for us to wear for the night. I finally got around to taking some pics of Erin in her new summer pjs (not the best pics but the weather was not so great the day I took them and my model would just not hear of a re-shoot - models ugh!). Sadly, I have not taken any pics of me in mine......I know you are all so disappointed ha!

The Details:
The Pattern: Oliver and S Popover sundress size 4 shorted to tunic length for the top. Made Kids shorts size 5 for the bottoms
The Fabric: Old bed sheet from Pottery Barn (used the same sheet for this dress)
Trims/Notions: old pillow case for bias tape. lace trim from Joann. grosgrain ribbon from stash

 These pajamas have become a favorite, especially on these hot summer nights we have been having lately. They are super comfy and great for jumping on the bed according to Erin. 

I hope you have all been enjoying the start of summer. We have been hanging by the lake and just enjoying not having to wake up to catch a bus! Blogging will probably continue to be a bit sparse as we enjoy the summer but I'll still post stuff on Instagram if you'd like to follow along there. I have been sewing and will be sure to blog about stuff as I get a chance but most likely I will be at the lake if you need me :)

Sewing for me: Super Tote

Well I finally finished my Super Tote by Noodlehead. I only started it a year ago so I figured it was about time to finish it up. I am really mad that it took me so long because I love it! I loved the pattern when Anna first introduced it and purchased it right away. Then it took some time to pick out the right fabric to use. I finally decided and cut everything out, even fused all the interfacing, made the straps and then it sat. Other projects came up and the summer rolled around then the new school year and holidays...you know life. And I also put things for myself last. Selfish Sewing Week gave me the push I needed to finish up this awesome tote.

linen piping!!

small pocket inside main outer pocket

 The Details:
The Pattern: Super Tote by Noodlehead
The Fabric: Meadowsweet by Sandi Henderson (so sad that this line is unavailable I just love it) linen from Joann, yellow Kona Cotton from Joann
Trims/Notions: self made linen piping, magnetic snap
Notes: I added a small pocket on the inside of the main outer pocket to hold my cellphone and chap stick/lip gloss. I also fully lined the outer pocket piece.


I love this tote! It holds so much stuff. I had a cardigan of mine and a sweatshirt of Erin's inside the tote along with my wallet, water bottle, snacks, a notebook and it was not busting at the seams. This tote is perfect for taking on trips to the park and trips to the mall and just great for everyday use. The instructions were very clear and easy to follow. I finished up the tote in a day once I really sat down and concentrated.

I already have plans for another tote in darker colors for the fall/winter. I just hope that one doesn't take me a year to finish too ;)

Sewing for me: Parisian Top

Hello! So it seems that it takes a sew-along to get me to sew/blog these days. And it is coming down to the final days of the Spring Top Sew-along over on Made by Rae, so I thought it was about time I posted this top that I made at the start of the sew-along. I am very happy that I sewed something for myself. I have only made three other garments for myself, two of which I blogged about here and here, and I find that I really enjoy sewing clothes for myself. Maybe even a little more than I enjoy sewing for the kids. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that what I sew for myself will still fit six months from now (or at least it better! I will have to up my running if it doesn't ha!) And I will be way more likely to totally like what I sew myself and not give myself any grief about wearing it. Resistance to photo shoots, however, will continue. I find it extremely awkward having someone take my picture for the purpose of "modeling".

So without further ado, here are some awesomely awkward photos of me "modeling" my new top:

Sweet pics, right? Vogue should be calling any day now.

The Details:
The Pattern: Parisian Top (purchased as part of the Just Add Jeans Bundle from Pattern Anthology) size small
The Fabric: Teal Green Ponte de Roma from Girl Charlee for the top, Sew Classic Peachskin in Ocean Paisley from Joann Fabric for the collar (left over from Erin's Bimaa)
Notions/Trims:
Notes: I sewed the size small but think I should have used the size medium for the armscye and the sleeves. While not uncomfortable, it feels a little too fitted under the arm. I think that is what is causing the pulling in the photo above. I also made some kind of error with the neckline and collar so I had to put a little pleat at the front neckline to make it work. I got the idea from Caroline, thank you!

So far this shirt has become a favorite. I've worn it three times since sewing it up. The fabric did get a little pill-y after the second wash but not so terrible that it can't be worn. I almost had to throw it in the trash after the first wash...I forgot to check a certain little guy's pockets and when I took the load out of the dryer, there was red and blue crayon all over everything! Thankfully, I soaked everything in shout and rewashed it all and the crayon came out of all but a few things. Note to self: remember to check pockets!

KCW Day 6

Yesterday was day 6 of KCW and the day that gave me the most trouble. The week had been going well. I sewed three items that all wound up getting good reviews in the end from the kiddies. I was feeling pretty good. I wasn't sure what to sew for Day 6. I went into KCW with no real plan at all so I decided to pull inspiration from fellow bloggers. As I read through my blog feed, I came across this really cute knit Geranium dress (and hilarious post about photographing her adorable littlest) by my friend Monica . Perfect! The first Geranium dress that I made I actually did in knit so I figured it would be super easy, right? I even had two old tee shirts of mine in my up-cycle pile that I could use for the project - score! Everything was coming up Millhouse until I started to sew.....

Okay so it doesn't look terrible.  But the sewing of it kinda was. I originally planned to make this a short sleeve top. And I even sewed sleeves onto the top. I even sewed one sleeve on twice (that happens when you don't realize you have NO thread in your bobbin!) Seriously, how the heck did I not realize that?! Anyway, I re-thread the bobbin and added the sleeve. Then I tried the bodice portion on Erin and it looked terrible with the sleeves. I didn't adjust the pattern for adding sleeves so it was too wide and looked awkward, So I cut them off, leaving a little bit of the sleeve so I could create a facing to finish the armscye. Okay not the look I was going for but it looked better without the sleeves.

So then I go to attach the skirt to the bodice. I gather the skirt a bit, pin it to the bodice and baste it on so it will stay in place so I can serge it. Somehow, after basting, there are puckers and pleats created in the bodice because I appartly gathered the skirt too much but didn't realize it when pinning it on - really at this point I should just give up. But no...what do I do? I decide the heck with it and just serge the damn skirt anyway, thinking, oh I don't know, that it will miraculously make the pleats and puckers go away. Yeah that worked well - smh!
I decide to just shut everything off, pour myself a pint glass of wine and go catch up on CSI on my DVR. But the top is staring at me, laughing if you will, that it has defeated me.  So back on the machines go and out come my scissors to cut the skirt from the bodice and re-sew. I didn't even pin this time, just matched the side seam of the skirt and bodice up and fed it through the serger. Turns out I didn't need to gather the skirt at all. It was pretty much the same size as the bottom of the bodice.
Thankfully I didn't need to hem the skirt since I used the existing hem from the tee shirt. I could only imagine what would have gone wrong next if that had to be done. Erin got to try it on this morning to take some pictures. And while it sort of looks like it fits her here:

You can tell here that I need to take it in like an inch on each side.....sigh
(side note: Erin sang and acted out Let It Go during the entire photo shoot.)

The Details:
The Pattern: Geranium Dress size 4t  (should have done the 3t)
The Fabric: Green knit - old J. Crew tee, Navy blue knit - old Gap tee
Trims/Notions: Just some thread

Notes: I created a facing for the neck opening instead of lining the bodice like the pattern suggests. For the skirt I just cut the bottom of the shirt off about two inches under the arms.

So I think I'm going to take it in on either side to make it a little more fitted. Or I just might let it go.....

Spring KCW Day 5 continued...

So, I was able to finish the dress yesterday that Erin had turned her nose up at the other day. I am happy to report that she has decided she will wear it for Easter - yay! My time was not wasted after all! Which makes me very happy since I reeeeeally want to make Jack a matching tie with the left over fabric.

The Details:
The Pattern: Classic A-line dress with collar option from Sew Classic Clothes for Girls size 2T width and 6 length
The Fabric:  Kona Cotton in Teal for the collar, DS Quilt Collection Croquet Daisies Brown for the main dress and an old cream colored sheet for the lining

Trims/Notions: Button from my stash purchased from Joann and brown Wright's piping and brown hair elastic for button loop

Notes: I made a long sleeve version of this dress back in during Winter KCW that was a bit too big on Erin. So I sized down this time from a 4 width to a 2 width. I think the fit is perfect now.

I really love the back button. I need to improve on my sewing of the back slit though. I always sew it too wide so there is a gap. It looks even more exaggerated in this photo too because the collar is tucked under the button a bit. The button isn't really that close to the edge.

Despite that fact that Erin has decided she will wear the dress does not mean the photo shoot went that great. The top few pics are the best I could get. The rest of the shoot went like this:

Oh well....at least she is going to wear the dress!