T is for Texture

This has to be my favorite project yet for the Sew All 26 Series with Katy of No Big Dill. 

T is for texture. After my recent attempt at hand embroidery here, I checked some books out of the library and got some more ideas of ways to combine it with reverse applique and beading. So I drew a design based off one of the flowers in the skirt fabric and gave it a go. I LOVE it! 

The T-shirt is made using the brand new Nessie Top pattern from Craftiness is Not Optional. For fabric I repurposed a green box T and used scraps of cream interlock and another old repurposed T. So I bought nothing, except the pattern of course, to make this adorable shirt. I LOVE this pattern. Elena is 2-1/2 but she's so narrow that I went with the 2T and it's just right. Big enough to fit a while but not swamping her. I can't wait to make more of them in all the variations - especially the peter pan collar. 

I added green toned bugle beads to the 4 main leaves and a pink sequin to the center of each flower. What was really cool about this project was that I wasn't sitting alone in the basement sewing room. I could do this hand work in the living room while watching/listening to the Olympics with my family. I liked that a lot. Actual sewing time was minimal and done while Elena napped one afternoon.

The skirt is made of corduroy from Joann's. I used McCall's 6498 and it turned out really cute for spring. It has center front and back panels and 2 side panels. Originally I planned on adding large pockets to those sides but decided to save that for a less busy fabric. The skirt has an elastic waist and the bottom of the side panels has elastic too to give a bubble effect. Pretty cute and less than 30 minutes to make. 

So T is for T-shirt with Texture and a Tube skirt with Texture (corduroy). Also for Trying new Techniques.

Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for another example of this technique for Olivia. We bought the fabric today and will be making her a dress with the whole front of the bodice done in the same manner, but a much more grown up design of course. We're pretty excited about it. Please send me good vibes because some of you know how hard it can be to sew for teens. This is going to be quite time consuming so I sure hope she likes it in the end.

I'm also linking up at Make It & Love It and Peek-a-Boo Patterns Friday Fav's because I'm a linky addict.

Doll Clothes - A New Addiction?

Who knew that sewing doll clothes could be so fun and addicting? I made 3 more outfits for my niece's birthday (to add to one un-photographed outfit I gave her for Christmas). I wanted to share some of the patterns I found online and enjoyed using. Everything fits just perfect and sewing doll clothes is such a fun way to use up scraps and be creative.

I started with tribal leggings using the Peek-a-Boo Patterns Skinny Jeans as a base. I really only used it to get a general size idea and eliminated the fly and pockets. I used a knit band for the waist with no elastic and it worked really well. For the top, I traced a doll shirt leftover from Olivia's younger days and that I'm saving for Elena in a few years. I hemmed the neck, used bands at the sleeves, Velcro on the back, and an eyelet peplum to finish the bottom. How cool is this girl? (I had to borrow a doll from a neighbor. Somehow I saved doll clothes but not a doll???)

Next up is a wrap skirt copying the basic dimensions of another skirt. It's trimmed in skinny bias trim that went on pretty easily considering how narrow it is. The cute little sun-top is the free Oliver & S Popover sundress. I shortened it and added a ruffle band so I wouldn't have to hem. Lazy, huh. The bias trim here didn't go without a fight around those tiny curves. I think I had to do it about 4 times to get it acceptable. All of the lilac fabric is from an old wrap tee that had stretchy trim. That elastic became a headband with a simple bow. She is ready for summer.

For special occasions, we needed a fancy dress. I found this free pattern on Sew Like My Mom. I have no objections to Velcro for doll clothes so I didn't use a zipper. Plus I didn't have one without going to a store. The bodice is one piece that you cut two of for a nice lined bodice. The neckline was a little low so I added the eyelet trim to cover up the difference in color of the doll's neck to her body. I put 2 pleats on each side of the front and back and finished with a satin ribbon. She is ready for Valentine's Day now.

There are lots more patterns out there online and something tells me I bought some once at Joanne's for $1 if I just go look through that less used box of miscellaneous and household patterns. I'm sure these will not be my last doll outfits. That's what I'm saving all these scraps for, right? I mean, there must be some reason I keep every little bit thinking, "that would make a cute pocket on something." Who's with me on that?

R is for Reversible

R is for Reversible and that suits this little girl just fine because she reverses her little mind constantly. "I wanna eat this. I don't wanna eat this. I wanna eat that. No, I don't wanna eat that either." And then she runs off to play without eating anything. 

I made a ShwinDesigns Lucy Tunic in a 2T. One side is chambray and the other is a sand dollar print from Joanne's a couple of years ago- before I knew sewing blogs even existed or that fabric had names and I should keep track. It has every color of the rainbow in it. I opted for not just lining it, but making it truly reversible so there are buttons on both sides. The pattern gives good directions and is easy to follow. Some of the cute things about it: the tops of the shoulders have a tiny pleat,  love the curves of the front sections, and the side seam pockets whichever way you wear it - even if Elena can't seem to find them yet. (There are marshmallows in there somewhere ;-D)

I like that there are so many ways to have fun with this top with fabric and button choices not to mention other embellishments. It has an interesting silhouette that can be layered under or over for even more looks. We'll get a lot of use out of it. 

Cheesy grin!

Love the shape!

Linking up with No Big Dill's Sew All 26, Sew Much Ado, and Peek-a-Boo Patterns Friday Favs. Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

PRP - My Signature Style

I am really excited to present my signature style outfit for the final week of Project Run & Play. I almost didn't do it because I wasn't sure I had a signature style. I actually refrain from labels like that in most cases. "My" anything turns me off. For instance, I could never say, "This is my lasagna recipe." because I never make most things the same way twice. I don't want people to expect the same thing from me all the time. So I had to get over that and do some serious thinking and I'm soooo glad I did because now I understand myself much better and what makes me happy about sewing and creating homemade outfits. Thank you Project Run & Play.

My signature style is:

1. Rather old-fashioned in a lot of ways. I like little girls to look like little girls. I like ruffles and gathers. I like the late 1800's, the 1920's and the 1940's & 50's.
2. There is almost always a refashion involved or thrifted, reclaimed materials. 
3. I don't necessarily want it to be recognized as homemade but I don't want it to look like it came from one of the major retailers either. 
4. I like to mix in a modern component - tribal leggings, riding boots, high-low hems, etc.  

So, here is my look on my 2 year old who is now full of mini-marshmallows. 

The sweater is a refashion of my old sweater that I hadn't worn in years. It was super easy to cut down and resew together in her size and will still fit her next fall too - bonus.

The top is McCall's 6388. I added pockets and decorative stitching. I made it last week to sew along with Katy of No Big Dill for "P" week of her Sew All 26 Challenge. See here for more details.

The pants are self drafted straight leg leggings in charcoal gray cotton spandex from Girl Charlee. I love making leggings that fit her just right.

I crocheted the hat, folded it up, and sewed on a big button. It is made with a magic loop and then all double crochets until the final 4 rows of single crochets. To create a button hole, I chained 5 stitches and skipped that many for the second last row of single crochets off-center on the front. The big button is inherited and quirky.

So that sums me up pretty well. It's creative, it's comfy, it's practical and thrifty and no other little girl has the same outfit.

"Q" is for Quilted Vest & Questions

Letter "Q" week for No Big Dill's Sew All 26 has not been an easy one. I made this vest a couple weeks ago and have struggled with it since. I cheated and used pre-quilted fabric that is leftover from making my niece a laptop bag for her birthday. The bias binding is french script also from the bag. The vest may have been more successful if it was just a couple inches longer, but I was using scraps.

Elena has worn it once so far for her daddy's birthday party, but I wasn't in love with it. It's a little stiff and makes her look like a linebacker wearing shoulder pads. Maybe not that bad, but she was a little top-heavy with her skinny legs. I didn't take any pictures that night but it looked like this with a t-shirt and tribal leggings (all made by me as well).

She is absolutely over the photoshoots for a while. I can't feed her any more mini-marshmallows in good conscience so there are no pictures of her wearing it.

I felt like it could use more volume and something to make it more little girlish so I made a quick peasant blouse out of eyelet. I can't get her to even try it all on together yet but it should look like this.

Ehhhhh, kind of not crazy about that either. 

I suspect that the vest won't get a lot of wear, but the blouse will and the leggings too. So I'll call it a win since the blouse may not have gotten made if it weren't the vest.

So the Question is: What do you think? With the t-shirt or with the blouse or just not at all?