Skater Dress Tour

Dude, I totally dig that I get to show you this gnarly new pattern by Amanda of Kitschy Coo!  (I hope you read that in the raddest skater voice!  If you really wonder what I sound like think Michigan transplant to Tennessee......a little southern drawl but mostly northern yankee!)

 I don't work with knits that often but I was excited to be a part of Amanda's Skater Dress Pattern tour to show you the version I made!  I didn't veer too much from the original pattern since my confidence in improvising with knits is pretty low!!! :)  But don't worry - this pattern is perfect for beginners like me or those who have worked with knits in the past!  The instructions are great to help those who are new to stretchy fabrics and the shape of the dress is perfect to springboard into other styles if you feel adventurous!

I self drafted a pair of leggings to go with the dress that I think turned out adorable!  This is the first pair of leggings that I've sewn with just my serger!  I used the same techniques in the dress to make the cuffs of the legs and the waistband!  I think a whole new world of sewing has been opened!  Yay for knits!

 

And a cutie patootie matching knit headband completes the outfit!
(She had crazy hair from taking a nap after her bath this morning!)

 

As I said earlier, Amanda's instructions are wonderful and made sewing this dress easy and gave me a lot of confidence to try experimenting with some other modifications like Meg at Elsie Marley!

Since I normally only have time to sew when the kids are sleeping  I don't have the opportunity to test out the garments for measuring unless I want to wait and finish everything up the next day!  I probably should have gone ahead and fixed the length before taking pictures but she just looked so cute I couldn't wait!

The size I used for the dress was 18m/2T and it is a little big for her.  She's on the early side of 18m sizing so the dress may look better in the fall once she's grown a bit!

Thank you so much for reading and checking out this adorable dress!  You can purchase it here!
And if you are following my blog with Google Reader I would hate to lose you this summer!!!  Reader will be going away but I've heard that http://www.bloglovin.com/ is a great place to sign up and manage your RSS subscriptions!  I hope you'll consider following my blog as I continue to create cute stuff for my cuties!

P.S. I'm excited to announce that I will be a contestant in the Sew Off!  I will be sewing up a storm to get my look finished by Friday!

 

Easter is on it's way!

 
I feel bad that I haven't blogged this week but I have a great post going up next weekend!  It's not an Easter post so this will be my token Easter picture blog until I upload pictures of our family Easter in matching outfits!!! :)  Yes, I am THAT mom! We're doing khaki and navy!  The kids are wearing their custom clothes made from the Sarah Jane Out to Sea fabric!

Have you seen the trend of chevron print in dresses?  I love this matching set that I made for my best friend and her new baby sister coming in the next few months!!!
 
And this is the chevron pillowcase I did for another friend!  I love the colors of the Riley Blake girl chevron!

 
And how cute did this Easter basket turn out?!!!  I embroidered the names of 3 siblings for their Easter baskets bought at Michael's!  Next year I'll probably do pre-orders!  They turned out so sweet!

And this was a quick and fun little project - I did a pre-order for some Kavio dresses and I've been running a special on my Facebook page for $5 embroidered initial!  This dress looks adorable with the little Easter bunny hair bow I made below!

I've been doing a hairbow special this month too - $2 for any single bow and character feltie!  I sold quite a few!  The shop is closed up for a few weeks so I can enjoy my friends visiting from out of state but if you're interested in any of the bows you can see the current pricing on my FB page!  I love the little chick in the cover photo and this Easter egg bow!

I hope you and your family have a happy Easter and Holy Week!!!  HOSANNA! :)

Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Spring Tour 2013

 

I feel like I am soooooo lucky to have a cyber friend in Amy at Naptime Crafters and Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop!  She was gracious to include me in the Holiday tour this past December and I'm really glad to be a part of the Spring tour today with the Cutie Pie Ruffle Pants!

I am a huge fan of Amy's patterns.  In fact, next week I'll be teaching some local moms how to sew the Hopscotch Top from her shop!

Today I'm featuring the brand new pattern for ruffle pants/capris/shorts!  They're called the "Cutie Pie Ruffle Pants!"  And believe me, when you sew these for your little girl you will get a TON of compliments on her cuteness!!!


I've been sewing ruffle pants for almost a year and I usually find that the best fit is to just sew from measurements that I'm given.  Or, if I'm sewing for my daughter I trace a pair of pants that fit her and add some seam allowances.  So far, I've only tested the 18 month size but with my experience from previous Peek a Boo Patterns I'm sure all the sizes are spot on!



I just love the look of an applique t-shirt and ruffle pants!  I needed a casual Easter outfit for Eva Mae so she can have something to wear at our local Easter Egg hunt!  Her actual Easter church outfit will be the Goodship Dress in Sarah Jane Out to Sea fabric!

If you've ever sewn ruffle pants you've probably run into the same thing I've experienced:

1.  The pattern doesn't give enough rise in the back and when your little girl sits down her diaper shows!!!
or
2.  The patterns that use a mirrored front/back end up being bulky in the front crotch - there's no need for the extra fabric in the front but since the pattern has you cut on the fold you are stuck with those measurements.

The way Amy drafted this pattern is that you still have the convenience of only needing 2 pieces but instead of cutting on the fold, the front slant is shorter then the back so you don't get that bulk in the front.  Also, the rise is cut higher in the back so you don't get plumber's crack! YAY!!! :)


You really should go check out the pattern here and also check out the other awesome bloggers that are part of the Spring 2013 Pattern Tour!

Thanks for letting me be a part of the tour, Amy!  As always, your patterns are wonderful and so much fun to sew!!!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway that's happening on the Spring Tour!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

(And here's a little outtake - she didn't want to pose on the couch anymore!)

Guest Posting at Alida Makes!

Alida is hosting my tutorial for making a dress out of a men's button up shirt! 

Check it out!

http://www.alidamakes.com/2013/03/calling-all-kids-with-sewing-mama.html

This is part of a series of fun "outside of the box" ideas for kids clothes!