KCW Pinafore

I'm pretty excited, this is my first time sewing along for Kids Clothes Week (KCW) because it's the first time I've had someplace to show off what I've made! I'm actually behind schedule. Day one was a sick day, day two I spent washing and ironing fabrics so I guess that still counts, this lovely pinafore is the result of day three but most of my sewing is done at night so I couldn't show it off until today.

I used this tutorial from you and me http://www.bloglovin.com/viewer?post=1376136819&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=4645413&link=aHR0cDovL3lvdWFuZG1pZS5jb20vMjAxMy8wOC8wMS9wcmV0dHktcGluay1waW5hZm9yZS10dXRvcmlhbC8&frame=1&click=0&user=0  and shortened it to shirt length. (Turns out Sophie has almost no shirts in her next size and quite a few of the boring-to-make things. Oh darn.) This was really easy and super cute!

I do have a confession, this technically isn't done. Sophie was quite firm on it having snaps instead of buttons and my snap press it in storage right now. She's getting very picky about what she'll wear these days. She told be the other day that she only likes green and black and things with bunnies on them. We managed to expand this to include buttons and apples. When I popped into the fabric store (just for thread I swear! lol) and saw that they had a rack of discontinued cotton on for 3$ a meter... well this fabric is all buttons and another was green with bunnies. It was fate I tell you! Here are a few close-ups just because I'm in love with this, and I'll leave your bonus post at that! With any luck I'll keep the KCW sewing ball rolling and have more to show you later in the week :)

Possibly the Strangest Raincoat Ever...

I don't think I'll tell you why just yet though, see what you think of it first.

The real point of this project was to use the orange fabric you see inside as the lining for something coat-like. I'd taken Sophie to pick some fabrics for her new car coat. The outer fabric that she chose is nice, a kind of teal-y blue. The inside was this. Super synthetic, bright orange, with this weird raised pattern to it. I was afraid to iron it people. I just couldn't bring myself to put the work into a coat and hate half of it, and so the raincoat idea was born.

I used this tutorial here : http://www.pinterest.com/cupcakemamaryn/sewing-for-girls/ (I think I have this pinned about three times, It's just so sweet!)  I didn't want to invest a lot of time into these fabulous materials so I went with the easiest options. I didn't even add the buttonhole, I just sewed a loop of elastic into the seam. I chose the cape version instead of the arms, but I did do some stitching to create some sleeve-like definition and keep her arms dry if she reaches for something.

Look closely and you can see the weird texture to the lining in this picture.

Have you guessed what makes it so strange yet? (I know, that orange stuff should count on it's own!) Notice I didn't mention the outside fabric? It's one of those flannel-backed dollar store tablecloths.  Possibly not the most durable choice but it's not like I'll be heartbroken if she wrecks it. The real question should be what kind of person looks at a plastic tablecloth and sees clothing ;) 

But really, how could you say no to this face?

Balloons!

I realized we had crammed a few too many things in our week when trying to head out the door (yet again) one morning ended in tears before the pajamas even came off. So we cancelled our plans, had a snuggle and talked about  what she would like to do instead. Balloons.

Like our chair barricade along the back? Jury-rigged baby proofing at it's best! 

We got ready and out the door in our own time, bought two packs of balloons and blew them up when we got home. I have to admit that I thought 20 balloons would take up a bit more space, I was envisioning a more ball pit-like effect. My lungs however felt that we had blown up about as many as they needed ;) 

The Dragon Bow Dress

I would love to start this post with an explanation of what a dragon bow is, but since Sophie's the one who named it I'm afraid we're out of luck. She wasn't feeling this dress until she decided I was sewing a dragon bow onto it so I'm not going to complain!

The pattern is from Let's Go Out Girl's Clothes, it's the other Japanese pattern book I have ( find it here, with pictures: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/LETS-GO-OUT-GIRLS-CLOTHES-Japanese-Dress-Pattern-Book-/360336821701 ) You went and looked at it right? I love this book. It makes me so happy! I want to make everything in it!

I made this out of a men's xxl t-shirt so I was lucky enough to have room to use the existing hem for both the bottom and the sleeves, which made this come together really quickly. This is the first pattern I've tried from this book and I found it really clear and easy to follow, especially considering I couldn't read it! The only issue I had was with my machine. It was skipping stitches no matter what I did, I even started wondering if I really remembered putting that ball point needle in! (Nope, it was in there. Just a temperamental machine day.) I chose to sew the inside of the collar in by hand because of that. This makes the inside look pretty sloppy but I can live with that for now. Over all I'm really pleased with how this turned out. Light, comfy, easy and classic. Also dragons. Enough said.

The Backwards Undies Dilema

So this is probably another one of those things that's only an issue in my house, but it was frustrating the little miss so we found a solution. Her original set of undies had little bows on the front, so she always knew which way to put them on. Both of the packs that replaced them did not and she's been having issues with them for months. The solution seemed obvious; sew on some bows! But why settle for bows when you can have butterflies instead?

10 minutes out of my life and everyone's morning is running a lot smoother. It's funny what simple things can make such a difference isn't it?

Some Things Work Better in my Head...

I saw this cute little pattern for a sweater, in exactly Sophie's size and I had to make it! You have to look at the original, even if it's just to see what this sweater is supposed to look like lol

http://missgraindesel.canalblog.com/archives/2012/11/07/25518918.html

You see? Super cute. Mine came out like this:

Not terrible or anything. I followed the pattern and it came out the shape it was supposed to. I wanted to use up yarn from my stash and had originally planned to do this in a gorgeous red, but when I pictured her shirt sleeves poking out I switched to a neutral which I regret. Better to have a bit of clashing then spend a month and a half of your time on something boring...

Sophie chose the buttons herself. I'd promised her she could in an attempt to get her excited about it. Another (slightly selfish) regret since I think different buttons could have saved this.

The real issue is the fit. Not the pattern's fault, just one of the side effects of having a string bean. I figured it wouldn't matter since this is meant to be fairly loose fitting but it changes the silhouette. As my husband said when he saw this "Welcome to the 80's!" ;)

Any suggestions on saving it? I can't frog it or switch the buttons because she's in love with the sheep. Worst case scenario the pocket could destin it for a paint smock?

My Sister is Awesome/Adding Some Deacon to the Next Nursery

Jess has made each of my kids a quilt for their first birthdays. I love them so much that I base their entire rooms on the colour schemes! Deacom received his awhile ago and is very pleased with it, though for some reason his favorite thing is walking on the colours.

Instead of a mobile he had these clouds, sadly the sea serpent didn't survive being removed from the wall. He also has a cute mushroom bunting (the one from his birthday that I didn't make lol). So kind of a sky/woodland type theme?

I'm so excited to get the start the kids room from scratch, it's one of the things I'm looking forward to the most about moving! (I should probably stop calling it the nursery though. Sophie will be sleeping there too and she's almost 4! ) I've been daydreaming colours, scouring Pinterest and planning projects. I really want their space to be fun and beautiful, to work for them at their size and to be filled with things that are from the people who love them. :)