Christmas Polar Bears for Minerva

I finished the Christmas Eve pajamas for the little guy early this year and I’ve added a coordinating pillow case that will double as a gift bag for the pajama set. Many thanks to Minerva.com for supplying me with fabrics for the project.

Here’s a little preview, but you can see the full details over on the Minerva blog. You can read the full details here.

 

Thanks for reading and visiting me over on the Minerva Blog

Back to School with Jalie Patterns

I’m wrapping up my contributions to the Back to School tour with Jalie #3242; Underwear for Men, Women, and Children.

I really coveted this pattern from Jalie for two reasons. 1. The whole family’s needs are covered and 2. We’d be set for life. One of the really wonderful things about how Jalie creates their patterns is the incredible size range -29 sizes in this pattern. With one pattern I can sew for the little guy into his adulthood and we can all choose between styles.

I used cotton spandex remnants to make a coordinating set for the little guy. I skipped the elastic in the leg and used a fabric waist band, relying on the stretch in the fabric. So far, so good. In the future, I’ll try to work out adding in a front fly.

I muslined myself a pair of the women’s bikinis and will do a pair of trunks next for the hubby. I’ve already traced and transfered pattern pieces to cardstock for repeated use. The only way I see an underwear shortage is if I run low on elastic.

As always, thanks for reading today.

Please visit the other bloggers on the Back to School tour too.

Monday, September 25, 2017  Host: Sprouting JubeJube     Bloggers: Sewing by Ti * mahlicadesigns * Momma You Can Make It * Kutti Couture * MoonStar – Wondermirakel * Call Ajaire

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Host: Lulu & Celeste       Bloggers:  Sew and Tell Project * From-a-Box * Ronda B. Handmade * MeMade * House of Estrela * My Heart Will Sew On * Tales From A Southern Mom

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Host: Sprouting JubeJube        Bloggers:mahlicadesigns * Gracious Threads * Adventures With Bubba and Bug * Elli & Nels * Bellevi * Little Heart Threads * Sewing By Ti * Lulu & Celeste

Thursday, September 28, 2017  Host: Lulu & Celeste    Bloggers: Paisley Roots * The Crafting Fiend * Sewstarly * It’s Liesel * Tales of a Tester * Kaleidothought * auschick sews

Friday, September 29, 2017  Host: Sprouting JubeJube        Bloggers: SewSophieLynn * Sew Haute Blog * mahlicadesigns * Sew and Tell Project * RP Custom Fabrics Blog * FABulous Home Sewn * Sewing By Ti * Phat Quarters

You can follow me on instagramBloglovin, or by entering your email in the right side bar.

*Jalie Patterns provided the pattern for me to sew my creations for this post- Thanks for getting us covered.

Back to School with Gracious Threads

My second outfit for the Sew Back 2 School blog tour is from Gracious Threads and is all about pieces that I know the little guy will need.

A Puffin Vest is a must on my list. As it cools off this fall and even through most of our winter, we’ll have extra warmth and look good too.

In my mind outwear = lots of construction steps, details, and time; but the Puffin was so easy to construct.  I think I got lucky too that my zipper was just the perfect length; so no fiddling around with that either.

A pair of flannel lined Everest pants are going to come in handy when we do get a super cold winter day.

I used a lightweight (7oz) denim from my stash and a basic flannel from Joann’s as the lining. The pants were also pretty easy to put together, but the added details of the pockets, knee darts, faux fly, and topstitching make these look like a sofisticated little pair of pants.

As always, thanks for reading today. I’ll be back on Friday to share a few more things I’ve made. In the mean time, please visit the other bloggers on the Back to School tour.

 

Monday, September 25, 2017  Host: Sprouting JubeJube     Bloggers: Sewing by Ti * mahlicadesigns * Momma You Can Make It * Kutti Couture * MoonStar – Wondermirakel * Call Ajaire

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Host: Lulu & Celeste       Bloggers:  Sew and Tell Project * From-a-Box * Ronda B. Handmade * MeMade * House of Estrela * My Heart Will Sew On * Tales From A Southern Mom

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Host: Sprouting JubeJube        Bloggers:mahlicadesigns * Gracious Threads * Adventures With Bubba and Bug * Elli & Nels * Bellevi * Little Heart Threads * Sewing By Ti * Lulu & Celeste

Thursday, September 28, 2017  Host: Lulu & Celeste    Bloggers: Paisley Roots * The Crafting Fiend * Sewstarly * It’s Liesel * Tales of a Tester * Kaleidothought * auschick sews

Friday, September 29, 2017  Host: Sprouting JubeJube        Bloggers: SewSophieLynn * Sew Haute Blog * mahlicadesigns * Sew and Tell Project * RP Custom Fabrics Blog * FABulous Home Sewn * Sewing By Ti * Phat Quarters

You can follow me on instagramBloglovin, or by entering your email in the right side bar.

 

 

*Gracious Threads provided the Puffin Vest and Everest Pant patterns for me to use in todays post. Thank you, I love them both.

*Affiliate links are included in this post.

Back to School with Sofilantjes Patterns

As a kid I remember being very excited about back to school shopping for new clothes. The new purchases would usually be for the coming cold weather months, but I would be so excited about the new outfits that I would be wearing those corduroys as soon as I could.

Now that my little guy is starting kindergarten, I’m feeling that excitement again. This time though, I’m excited that I can make outfits for my son. Like me, he’ll have to wait for the weather to cool down a bit too.

The first outfit I’m sharing this week for the Back to School blog tour is from Sofilantjes Patterns.

I’m so glad to finally get around to making the Semper Sweater. The options for color blocking are many and the choice of cowl neck or hoodie let you fit your kid’s tastes.

I think this is the first item I’ve made him that he didn’t want to take off.

The Domi Pants go so well with the Semper. There are two pocket options, both of which allow you to use your color combinations to reflect the Semper or whatever top you want to pair them with.

My little guy chose the circle shaped pockets. The pockets are distinctive and fun, but I would lengthen the pocket bag next time to make them a little more functional for little boy treasures.

As always, thanks for reading today. I’ll be back on Wednesday and Friday to share a few more things I’ve made. In the mean time, please visit the other bloggers on the Back to School tour.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/51456715@N04/36559907164/in/dateposted-public/

 

Monday, September 25, 2017  Host: Sprouting JubeJube     Bloggers: Sewing by Ti * mahlicadesigns * Momma You Can Make It * Kutti Couture * MoonStar – Wondermirakel * Call Ajaire

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Host: Lulu & Celeste       Bloggers:  Sew and Tell Project * From-a-Box * Ronda B. Handmade * MeMade * House of Estrela * My Heart Will Sew On * Tales From A Southern Mom

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Host: Sprouting JubeJube        Bloggers:mahlicadesigns * Gracious Threads * Adventures With Bubba and Bug * Elli & Nels * Bellevi * Little Heart Threads * Sewing By Ti * Lulu & Celeste

Thursday, September 28, 2017  Host: Lulu & Celeste    Bloggers: Paisley Roots * The Crafting Fiend * Sewstarly * It’s Liesel * Tales of a Tester * Kaleidothought * auschick sews

Friday, September 29, 2017  Host: Sprouting JubeJube        Bloggers: SewSophieLynn * Sew Haute Blog * mahlicadesigns * Sew and Tell Project * RP Custom Fabrics Blog * FABulous Home Sewn * Sewing By Ti * Phat Quarters

You can follow me on instagramBloglovin, or by entering your email in the right side bar.

 

*Sofilantjes provided the Domi pants pattern to help me complete the outfit for this post (I already owned the Semper Sweater pattern)

It’s Christmas in July for the whole family

Some of you know that I plan my sewing way ahead, but one area that I totally let slip is Christmas sewing. Usually it’s the week before when I think about making something and quickly talk myself out of it as being way too late to take on more of anything.

Not this year though.

As a Sewing Portfolios Ambassador I was given the opprotunity to receive some of the Nutcracker line from Michael Miller fabrics. With little Christmas sewing experience, I admit I didn’t know what I was going to do to show case them. My husband suggested I make pj bottoms for the whole family (not realizing he’d have to be in the pictures) and I ran with it.

If you’ve sewn with quality quilting cottons before, than you know what to expect from Michael Miller; a high density thread count, soft hand, and easy to press and sew. The Ornaments and Mini Overature fabrics have a gold metalic print that I’m so impressed with. After sewing, pressing, and several washings the metalic is still looking great. After disappointing results with other metalic fabrics, this was a pleasant surprise.

In making my little guy’s pants I made a rookie mistake, but the fix ended up making them even cuter. Here’s what happened. I pulled out my Maxi pants pattern, but forgot that I was using the pattern pieces for the knit with negative ease not the woven version. To fix the crazy small pair of pants I made, I inserted a side stripe in hopes at redeaming the project and to mimic the look of the toy solders printed on the fabric.

I have a little bit of each fabric left over to make something else. I have my eye on making some numbered drawstring bags to count down the days to Christmas. Here’s hoping I don’t forget until the week before Christmas.

Patterns: The little guy is wearing the Maxi pants from Zirestoff Patterns, hubby is in S1605 view D, I’m wearing the Comfy Cozy Pajama shorts from Laela Jeyne.

As always, thanks for reading today.

You can follow me on instagramBloglovin, or by entering your email in the right side bar.

This post may contain affiliate links, if you purchase through my links I get a small portion to help pay for my sewing hobby.

ELIAS and MAXI Show Your Stoff

Welcome to day three of the Show Your Stoff blog tour. We’re featuring  Zierstoff Patterns throughout the tour.

I’m one of several bloggers Showing My Stoff today, so please be sure to stop by and see what everyone has made and tell them what you think in their comments section.

Thread and ScissorsKaleidothought, Idle Sunshine, mahlicadesigns

Wednesday teaser collage

For my little guy, I’m drawn over and over again to patterns that have details built into them that I can colorblock or use contrasting colors with. The ELIAS tee and MAXI pants have both.

I paired this truck print from my stash with some turquios cotton lycra from Simply by Ti to get the look.

For my 4.5 year old who seems to be timing his growth spurts with me sewing him something new, I sized up to a 116 (5-6yr old) in the ELIAS and in the MAXIs. Now where is that growth spurt?

I found I needed to trim down the neckline of the ELIAS tee by 1/2 (front and back) for the tee to lay smoothly around the neck. All else about the tee goes together very easily and I love the look of the envelope neckband.

On the MAXI pants, I decided to do a hemed versus banded leg opening so I could extend the life of the MAXIs with a really deep hem that I can let out later. Without a contrasting band to break up the print, I added a turquois side stripe to do the job. This was extra fun as the little guy and I worked on his first try at sewing with me. I operated the foot pedal and helped him feed the fabric through the machine to topstitch along the stripes. He did really well and was so excited to show daddy. The practice scrap is still hanging on the art wall in his room.

My little guy tends to think a knit top and bottom equals pajamas, and with the fact that the top and bottom are so matchy matchy he may just end up being right about that. So is his new outfit destined for casual day wear or bedtime coolness? Time will tell.

Have you missed some of the tour? The Full Tour includes these wonderful sewists:

Monday April 10- Anne-Mari Sews,  InspinrationTenille’s Thread, Sew Cucio, Embrace Everyday
Tuesday April 11- Musings of A Seamstressmahlicadesigns, Anna’s Heirloom Boutique, FABulous Home Sewn
Wednesday April 12-  Thread and ScissorsKaleidothought, Idle Sunshine, mahlicadesigns
Thursday April 13- Very Blissful, Sew A Piece of Joy, Zowie Zo, Nina MakesThread and Scissors.
Friday April 14- Tales of a TesterBless, by Tone; Life Sew Savory; Needles to Say, Adventures with Bubba and Bug
Saturday April 15- Musings of A Seamstress,  Anna’s Heirloom Boutique, Ronda B HandmadeGlitter in my CoffeeAnne-Mari SewsStitches by Laura; Tea, Dust and Stitches

As always, thanks for visiting the bloggers on the tour.

Want to Show Your Stoff too, use code MahlicaDesigns30 to save 30% off Zierstoff Patterns during the month of April.

 

Zierstoff Patterns provided the patterns for the tour bloggers to use, no strings attached.

Lightning Tee for Petitboo Blog Tour

I’ve been doing a little better about spreading out the sewing love and sewing for my little guy. I’d like to share about the Lightning Tee from Petitboo Patterns (formerly E+M) that I made up recently for the PetitBoo Blog Tour to help promote their rebranding. (Discount code below)

The lightning tee was an easy pick for me because the lightning shape is so graphic and gives a superhero look; and there are all kinds of color blocking options in this shirt. The puppy heros fabric in my stash was just right to play off the graphic shape.

I’m so pleased with how it came out and can see using this pattern over and over again.

At first I was a little concerned that I picked a tough pattern with all those angles to sew in, but the bodice pieces are layered over each other and topstitched together instead. So easy.

To make sure I lined things up evenly, I used my chalk marker to mark the 1/2in seam allowance on one side and then lined up the raw edge of the other piece along the chalk line to get a perfect 1/2in overlap. I did just fine pinning and sewing along the topstitching lines of this seam, but I could see how something like Wonder Tape would work great here too.

I made a size 5/6 for my almost 5 year old and he has plenty of growing room as planned.

The hardest part of this pattern was picking out which colors to use where.

I have my eye on the Hemlock tee for boys too- another a colorblock tee with a nice buttoned shoulder and side split at the hem.

The Fabric: I paired my stashed print with a turquoise cotton lycra from Simply by Ti*. The cotton lycra from Simply by Ti worked perfectly for this project; it has good recovery, doesn’t curl up after being cut, and was easy to sew.  The front piece is topstitched together along the lightning zigzag and there was no problem with stretching or rippling of the cotton lycra. I had 1in of shrinkage in my one yard cut after washing cold drying low/med heat. There was some edge curling after washing but I find that to be normal.

I have a discount code for you from Petitboo etsy shop!

Use code: petitboo50 for 50% off in the etsy store.
Good from Monday (March 6th) 12:00 am to Friday 11:59 pm (March 10th).

Pettitboo Tour small

Please join my blogging friends for more from the Petitboo Pattern tour this week:

 

 

As always, thanks for visiting today!

 

Petitboo Patterns provided me a complimentary copy of the Lightning Tee pattern to use in the Petitboo Blog Tour.
Simply by Ti provided me a sample of her cotton lycra in exchange for a review. These are my honest observations of the fabric.

Dreamtime Jammies

It’s that time of year where Christmas sewing takes over and the to do lists pile high. I’m not into stressing myself out in that way, so I keep my Christmas sewing easy with just one obligation; Christmas Eve pajamas for my little guy.

Flannel pjs using the Pajama Rama pattern from ShwinandShwin have been my standard, but I’ve mixed things up a bit by sewing a new pattern; the Dreamtime Jammies from Blank Slate Patterns.

Are you sewing any pajamas this holiday? If you are, you can join the Pajama Linkup Party hosted by Pearberry Lane. (Ends 12/14/16)

The Fabric: Superhero Pups Interlock from Joann.com. I like that this knit is a little thicker for winter and has enough stretch to easily use for the cuffs and neckband on the pattern.

The Pattern: I downloaded the free size 4 last year from Melly Sews. A full pattern in all sizes was released this fall on her Blank Slate Patterns store. I can’t really give a pattern review here since I didn’t look at the instructions. I’ve sewn enough tees and knit pants that I can just do it. I will say the fit is spot on for a size 4. (Too bad my 4 1/2 year old hit a growth spurt)

The Dreamtime Jammies should take you about 2 hours to make. I used about 1 yard at 60in wide.

Total Cost: $7      Pattern $0   Fabric $6      Notions $1

 

Little boy photoshoot outtakes

Giggle Monster:

Yeti impersonation:

“I keep falling down”

Back to School Blog Tour with mahlicadesigns

O.K. my little guy just started preschool a couple months ago, so he’s not technically going Back to School this fall, but boy does he need some nice looking fall clothes for preschool and church.

I’m getting started sewing for this guy by using some untouched patterns from my stash.The first pattern to try out are the Coastal Cargos, a casual pant made a little dressier when made in a corduroy.

The Pattern: Blank Slate Patterns are designed so that you can easily add or remove options to make the clothing you want. I found this to be true in the Coastal Cargos too. I eliminated the front pockets, belt loops, side stripe, and button tab used to secure a rolled up cuff. These are options my little guy won’t need for now. The smaller sizes of the pattern include elastic in the back portion of the waistband which is a nice feature.

The Fabric: A light to mid weight stretch corduroy. The corduroy is a little heavier than the recommended fabrics, but worked just fine with a little extra care needed for turning and sewing through the thickness of the pocket flaps.

The Response: I really like how they came out and the pattern is super cute. The little guy is less than enthusiastic. This was our conversation the first time he tried them on:

Me: Do you want to try on the pants I just made you.
Little Guy: Definitely not.
A few moments later…pants are on.
Me: Aren’t these nice, do you like them?
Little Guy: I’m done

He was only just slightly more cooperative for taking photos. Well, that’s kids for you. I’ll keep trying.

In the meantime, you should enter today’s Giveaway for a PDF pattern from Love Notions and a PDF pattern from Sunday Girl Designs. Check back with our hosts LuLu & Celeste or Sprouting Jube Jube for daily giveaways.

Also consider entering the Sew Along, and visit my fellow bloggers. We have a variety of Back to School makes to inspire you.

Call Ajaire * The Wholesome Mama * Sew and Tell Project * BLAVERRY * DIY Crush * Phat Quarters * Mahlica Designs * Handmade Boy * Kaleidothought * The Berry Bunch * Filles A Maman * Sprouting JubeJube * Sew Happily Ever After * Tales of a Tester * 5 out of 4 Patterns * The Crafting Fiend * Create 3.5 * Sew Sophie Lyn * Sweeter Than Cupcakes * Wining Wife * Paisley Roots * The Eli Monster * Cindy Parrett Blog * Sew Starly * Élégantine! * Gracious Threads * Lulu & Celeste * Sewing By Ti * Amazing Adventures with Bubba and Bug * Simple Life Pattern Co. Blog * Inspinration * Mama You Can Make it For Me * Moon Star

Easter Egg pajamas for Spring Break PJ Tour at mahlicadesigns

Getting a new set of pajama’s has always made me feel good and since so many of us have fond memories of getting pajamas for Christmas, I bet you feel the same. I make my little guy pajamas every year as a Christmas Eve present, but just kinda wing it when it comes to spring and summer. No longer.

Easter PJs feature

I started with the free Christmas Raglan PJ pattern from Melly Sews. With a little alteration, I made my little guy a spring version.

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I removed about 9.5in in length from the legs to make shorts, shortened the sleeves to about 3in length, and omitted the ribbed cuffs. Using self fabric worked just fine for the neckband too, though you’ll want to check the stretch in your fabric before you make a shirt you can’t get over the head, ask me how I know.

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I was planning to stencil a cute sleepy time saying on the shirt, but little guy set his mind on Easter eggs, a year long favorite for him; and perfect timing. I simply downloaded a free image and used the freezer paper method to make my stencil.

The Little Guy loves his pajamas and the Easter eggs. I already have my eyes out for fabrics to make a Christmas version of the pattern.

With all this pajama inspiration, what pajamas are you adding to your sewing plans?

There’s still time for you to enter to win prizes in the Spring Break PJ Tour.

 

There are 24 shops sponsoring prizes for this tour!
sponsorspjtour

Along with today’s daily giveaway (see below!) there is also larger giveaway and a link up happening. Go to today’s post over at Sprouting JubeJube to get the full details on how to link up and to enter the giveaway!

We are also lucky to have four fabric shops offering readers discount codes:
Fabric Sponsors

Mabel Madison is offering 20% off with the code JAMMIES. Code expires March 31st!

PhatQuarters is offering 10% off OR FREE shipping to US addresses on orders over 40$ US (with an equivalent discount for international shoppers). Use the code PHAT10 for 10% off OR FREE40 for free shipping to US.

Raspberry Creek Fabrics is offering 15% off with the code PJPARTYTOUR. Good through March 26th!

Tangled Blossoms Designs is offering 10% off with the code PJPARTY. Code expires March 25th!

And now for today’s giveaway!

Today’s prize is sponsored by Felicity Sewing Patterns and StitchART. You could win 1 pattern of choice (excludes bundles) from Felicity Sewing Patterns and 2 patterns of choice (excluding bundles) from StitchART. Visit Felicity Sewing Patterns and StitchART to see what they have to offer. The giveaway ends March 26th at 11:59pm EST. See the Rafflecopter on how to enter! You have up to 8 chances to win! The winner will be chosen March 27th and will have 48 hours to respond to the email before a new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway.

Want to win more prizes? You still have time to enter yesterday’s giveaway! Go to Made By Jaime’s post from yesterday to enter the giveaway that ends at 11:59pm EST tonight (March 25th)!

Missed a stop on the tour? The full schedule is below:

Bucket Hat and Rohan Hoody, a taste of warm and cool weather

This month I planned ahead to participate in Kid’s Clothes Week and Sew Your Pattern Stash. That planning was worth the effort, but I still missed the KCW deadline by a mile. Oh well.

KCW challenges you to sew one hour a day for one week as an encouragement to sew up clothing for kids. This season’s theme was upcycling. Awesome, I have two sacks of items waiting for a purpose.

First up, the reversible bucket hat, a free pattern from Oliver + S; utilizing an old tee and a button down from daddy. We’re taking a sunny vacation soon, so a brimmed hat with an absorbent lining was just the ticket. It came out well except that my little one whips it off his head immediately.

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Second project in line was the Rohan Hoody from Crafty Kitty. I upcycled a purple tee and used some remnant sweatshirt fleece from my stash. I modified the pattern to include a zipper front. I simply added 1/2in to the CF to be the seam allowances for the zipper and cut out as two pieces (instead of one piece on the fold). I also used a seam finish (pictured later) to give the neckline seam a neat look.

Even though I planned ahead pretty well, I came to a stop midweek when I decided the hoody needed a purple zipper to go with the lining of the hood.

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Since I had a little extra time to work on this before I could get out for a matching zipper, I used more of that purple tee to cover the seam at the neckline.

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I also added an edge finish to the hems on the sleeves to peak out when the cuffs are rolled up. I made this hoody a couple of sizes too big so the little one can wear it more than one season, so I’m sure that detail will make an appearance.

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So, here I am all finished well past the official KCW, but so what. I have two items my little guy needs, I used up fabric from my stash and used patterns I already owned for the Sew Your Pattern Stash challenge.

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The bucket hat should take you about an hour to make.

The Rohan Hoody took about three hours to make.

Whaaat…a pajama rama party?

Pajama Rama pattern

I was not anticipating having to knock out more pajamas this year. (Sorry Core Wardrobe you’re at the back of the line again.) In rare form, I planned ahead for winter clothes for the little guy, even making one more set of pjs for him in August. Now all of a sudden toes are popping out of footie pjs and torso and arms are longer than his pj tops.

Thank you Shwin & Shwin for your free Pajama Rama pajama set pattern to solve my dilemma. I made this 4T pattern for my almost 3T little guy with the hopes that I can just lower the really deep hems next winter.  We’ll see.

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Aren’t those puppies so cute? This flannel was originally intended for his Christmas Eve pjs, but necessity meant he was wearing these early. -And yes I know flannel isn’t made for kids pjs. I’m a grown up, my choice.

Do you see my goof up?  Puppies on one sleeve are “uppa see down” as my son would say. Yeah, I didn’t notice until I was sewing the button holes, so you know, not gonna fix it now.

Here’s a second version I made out of a stretchy polartec fleece.

Pajama Rama pattern

Little guy says these are “so soft and fluffy”

This last set I made this week is under wraps until Christmas Eve.

Pajama Rama pattern

Snuggle Time. Winter PJs for the little guy.

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I’m trying so hard to plan ahead my sewing projects instead of reacting to the “oh no, we don’t have fill in the blank” moments. A couple months ago, I pulled out the box of 2T hand me downs I have for the little guy to get things into circulation and figure out what we still need. Somehow we always seem to need winter pajamas. Victory! I still have time, I have go-to patterns (Vintage Vneck and Clean Slate Pants by Melly Sews), and I have just barely enough fleece in my stash.

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To start, I had just under 1/3 square yard of each of the two colors of the fleece. It took some arranging and rearranging to get the pattern pieces to fit that small area. Adding a blue side stripe and waistband was the perfect solution for not enough fabric for the pants and to tie the two pieces together. I cut a 4T instead of 2T width on the top to adjust for the fleece not being as stretchy as a knit. I made the V-neck opening a bit wider to account for this also.

Look, there's a Robot!
Look, there’s a Robot!

The pants went together so easily, hurray!

The top went together so easily until the neckline. Oh man, I just could not get the point of that V without a pucker. So let’s try it on and see how much it shows. AAAARRRGG! It doesn’t fit over his head. I can laugh it off now, but this quick and easy project was already taking on problem child qualities pretty fast.

I can dance like a robot.
I can dance like a robot.

Alrighty take a breath, I had just enough of a scrap to make a placket opening instead. Back to the sewing table. I used the instructions from the Prepster Pullover as a guide to add the placket.

The top took 1.75 hours plus an additional hour to add a placket.

The bottoms took 1.75 hours.

(Not counting all my pattern rearranging to make it work on my limited fabric)

KCW Project One (and only): The Prepster Pullover

Kids Clothing Week Project One (and only).

Plan: Basic Blazer, PJs, seatback cover, monster pocket sweatshirt

Actual: Prepster Pullover

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Plan was to work up a blazer to match these clean slate pants for my little guy to wear to my grandfathers memorial service at the end of August. So here’s where my plan falls all apart. While I think it would be a super cute outfit, a blazer and pants in the August heat and humidity of Michigan just sounds mean. Plus I don’t see it getting worn much else and if I’m going to spend the effort it’s got to be worn a lot.

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So on to plan B, the Prepster Pullover by Blank Slate Patterns. I used the last of this light weight green gingham that I used as an accent on the pants. Yeah stash busting. Now I have a cute outfit that definitely works for the memorial service and will get repeated wear on Sundays to church or anywhere else I want to pull out the adorable factor.

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This was my first mens style shirt. A monk collar, half-length placket, flat felled seams, and shoulder yoke were all new processes for me. There was nothing terribly difficult about the pattern but all the details definitely took some time and patience.  I typically work as fast as possible to blaze through a pattern, but I really wanted to take my time to get it right. Total time to make was 5.5 hours.

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Now for the rest of my list, well, I just spent all of my time on the shirt and the rest of the plans go into the queue for a later time.

Kids Clothing Week 2014…my plan

Allrighty, its my first time participating in a sew along of sorts. July 21 through 27 is Kids Clothing Week where participants are challenged to sew 1 hour a day for 7 days.

kid's clothes week

Here’s my ambitious plan. Ambitious because I have a toddler that has decided to boycott naptime of late and because I several ideas but have not been as OCD about making sure I have the materials to complete these projects (running off to the fabric store is not as easy as it used to be).

Okay now for my plan, lets see how I actually do.

Project One: Boys Basic Blazer from Blank Slate Patterns

I’ve made pants and a tee from Blank Slate Patterns before and they are a dream to use. I actually have all the materials I need for the blazer except for the buttons. I have a pretty good stash of buttons, so I have high hopes for this project.

Project Two: Winter PJs. Bottoms using Clean Slate Pants by Blank Slate Patterns; Top tbd.

100_3343Here’s my version of the Clean Slate Pant.

I have some charcoal grey and robins egg blue fleece in my stash to use up for the pjs. I have just enough charcoal to make the pants without pockets if I use a bit of the blue as a side stripe and I’m hoping enough of the blue to do a simple top. I give this project about 50/50 chances.

Project Three: Activity Station/Seat Saver

Something like this from 8th Day creations.

Not that we have a super fancy or even super clean car but it grates on me when I hear my little guy’s shoes sliding against the back of our leather seats. I’m hoping something like this will be great for little guy and nerve saving for mommy. I have no ideas on what fabric in my stash to use or what kind of pockets I’ll need. This will definitely be a winging it project. I’m NOT a wing it type of person so maybe not so nerve saving for mommy. I’ll give this one 50/50 also. I don’t think it will be difficult to execute, once I figure out fabric and a basic plan.

Project Four: Monster in the Pocket sweatshirt.

I’m thinking a basic long sleeve sweatshirt with a large zip pocket across the tummy. The pocket lining would be black with a couple friendly monster eyes peaking out.