kids clothes week: summer edition

yahoo! happy to be able to sew along with this summer kcw and the kids are happy to get a few new clothing bits for the summer.  so far some pj's, hats and tops have been completed.

i used the tumble tee pattern from imagine gnats for the tops (which happens to be on sale right now and goes from 6m-size 10!) and the runaround shorts from fishsticks designs for the bottoms (which goes from 12m-size 12!)....super fast and super comfy!  fabric is from girl charlee.

i thought i would try to do some fancy photo shoot with the kids and their new clothes and then I saw them all outside loving summer time and went with it. :)

my nine year old enjoying her smoothie pop while sporting her reversible Oliver and S bucket hat (free pattern) in the organic cotton lotus pond line (lily pond and blue diamonds), that i got here and her tumble tee in blue calico from the briar rose fabric line.  i extended the brim on these hats 1 inch for a more feminine look.

my 7 year old in her reversible bucket hat with lotus pond meadow white and lily pond, i love those little snails!!  Also from the briar rose collection, lilac strawberries, another tumble tee!  The tumble tee is 2 pieces that I serge together and then hem the neckline and arms and leave the bottom hem to roll, love that!

Melissa

scoop top for me!

So I wear this shirt all the time.  it's the free scoop top pattern by skirtastop.  I used an organic cotton jersey from organiccottonplus.com, arctic paisley.  it is such a quick sew with only 2 pieces and a neckline and optional pocket. no sleeves to set in.  since i made it in a jersey i didn't hem the sleeves or the bottom so after i washed and dried it the hem curled up and the sleeves curled in like it hemmed itself! and that's just lovely for a casual shirt :)  
Since I am currently a nursing mama I am not really a S/M as this pattern is made to be but it is definitely flexible and the length is lovely over the mama tum tum. ;)

This picture was taken at my 4 year old's birthday party during the water balloon relay race, hence my excitement. My generous and talented sister in law took all the pictures capturing the day's celebration with so many beautiful candid shots.

Melissa

Another Top For Me!

Here's top number 2 and I am loving it!

It's the Day Tripper from Schwinn and Schwinn and it's awesome.  Super fast prep and sew, and the fit is so nice!  There are a number of options to make it your own....shoulder tabs, pockets, sleeve lengths and 3 bodice lengths.

My fabric is a lightweight jersey triangle arrow from girl charlee and the trim pieces are organic cotton interlock, embers, from NearSeaNaturals (which, by the way has just joined forces with organic cotton plus for a whole lot of organic sewing awesomeness all in one place, AND they are currently having a little re-opening sale!)  I cut the medium at the 24" length, short sleeves, and the pockets.  The only modification I will make is to stitch down the pockets to the front because they keep poofing out and I might try the 26" length next time!

This one is a total winner and I will be sewing another up for this spring and summer.

Spring Top Sewing

Sprucing up my wardrobe with a few new spring tops from the "Just add Jeans" collection that was out earlier this spring.  First I made this Parisian top to add a little easy elegance to my life.  Being Mama to 5 kiddos and 5 months post-partum, I felt like my clothing needed a little livening up.  This style is a comfortable fit, long (read: covers tum-tum), love the gathered sleeves, and the collar dresses it up.  I like that I can wear this with jeans or with a skirt to church.

I purchased this fabric from girl charlee cause i just love the color, but to be honest, it's thin slinkiness almost killed me!  From cutting out to lining up the seams was one headache after another.  But, i used my serger for almost the whole project so that made it a quick sew once it was all prepped.  The collar is a white embroidered cotton and adds a nice texture.  My oldest girls were kind enough to take my picture and tell me how to pose.

"Now pretend you are showing me the front."

"Now turn to the side like you're watching the little kids."

kids clothing week: Easter Shirt for W

In a fit of spring cleaning I went through the summer clothes bins and bags and sorted out the fit from the too small, and the "clean and acceptable to wear" from the "holy dirty painty, blueberry stains batman!" clothes.  The yield was a little lacking in spring and summer wear so I have my "work" cut out for me to get my kiddos ready for Easter, spring and summer.  The kids are happy about choosing fabric and patterns and mama is happy to sew for them.  So I used Kids Clothes Week, a 7 day challenge to do some aspect of sewing for kids for one hour each day to motivate me into some serious sewing.  I did some pattern printing, taping and tracing last weekend and I had one goal in mind for sewing this week, complete Wyatt's Easter shirt.  Since my sewing time is wicked unpredictable I thought I garment was a wholly reasonable goal :).

Fabric is an upcycle of my husband's too small dress shirt. The pattern is Oliver + S, Lullaby Layette.

Wyatt is in cloth diapers and is a good sized 4 month old boy (17.12lbs, 26 in.) so I sewed up the 6-12 month size, it fits just right and will hopefully last through the summer.  It's a full and bubbly style, rather vintage.  It's sweet on its own and super cute tucked into pants as it looks just like a button down shirt!

big brother is making faces to make W smile for the camera

Here is an up close on the detail of the neck trim, I used the herringbone flannel to match his Easter pants.  I also had to use the whole sleeve for the front of the body so there is the cuff detail on his left shoulder.  I think it adds a unique touch and almost looks like a little breast pocket!

Big brother couldn't be left out of the photo shoot :)

Priceless.

Feeling very inspired and energized to keep going on my sewing list.  Big sister Easter outfit, here I come!

Melissa

KCW Jump Start

i love sewing clothes for my kids and am excited to be making some goodies for our newest little guy.  So here is a quick run down of what I have sewn up for him in the first 11 weeks of his life....Set GO!

organic cotton baby gown and hat...BIG YAWN :)

Organic Flannel big bum baby pants for his first Christmas Jammies with the big siblings

     shoes!

Sewing for Boys R is for Romper (size 6 months) in organic cotton

Fishstick Designs lap tee coveralls (size 6-9m) in organic cotton thermal waffle weave, so cozy for sleeping

Fishstick Designs lap tee coveralls (size 6-9m) in organic cotton, so handsome!

The last two I started at the end of January during KCW and finished a few days ago.  It was a good inspiration and jump start to making more clothing the baby needs.  The combo of speedy infant growth and cloth diapers give me an excellent reason to make all the cute and cozy baby clothes I want (and can squeeze in the time for ;) )

I love this face!

Melissa

Quick Catchup

I wanted to share the maternity Turn About the Room dress by Miriam of Mad Mim I sewed up this summer for the last trimester with my 5th baby.  My husband had the kids outside with him one Saturday so I had multiple hours of uninterrupted sewing time to sew up two dresses, the first one, was this, and I love how comfy and put together it is!

It has also been great post baby (easy on the mid-section :) ) and paired with a nursing tank, works well for breastfeeding.
The details...
I sewed up the small/medium in a drapey "perfect brown" cotton/spandex fabric from girlcharlee.com. I took it in an inch in each side and took in the belt as well, I cut the recommended length at first, then held it up to myself to get a close-fitting length that would allow stretch for the last months but also not be too baggy after the baby.  I also made cap sleeves instead of the 3/4 length and made it hit just above the knee; a more flattering length for my 5'5" height.
The second dress was Megan Nielsen's ruched maternity shirt extended to a dress.  I attempted to cut the neckline deeper to make it easier for breastfeeding when paired with a nursing tank, but the fabric I chose was tissue-thin and didn't work so well for me.  But I love the color and am planning to cut it up and make a drapey shirt that will be forgiving on my post baby belly!  The pattern itself was super quick and easy, especially on my serger, I highly recommend it!
Okay, signing off to do some weekend sewing with my kiddos.  Next up I'll be sharing clothing I've been making for the newest addition!
Melissa