Spring Kids Clothing Week Challenge

Okay, I started out strong . . . the first four days I was able to make something! My free time doesn't seem to happen anymore around here until at least 8 pm and each day it got later. The fourth night I started my project at 10:30 and finished around 1 am. I was just too tired by Friday to keep going and I figured I got four things done!

Meg on her blog, Elsie Marley, started a challenge last spring. Spend one hour each day for a week and see what you could get accomplished sewing clothes for kids. Now the group is over 400 members strong with lots of kids outfits under our collective belts. The flickr group is a great place to go for inspiration if you have any kids sewing to do.

This year I decided to play late Sunday night, so I didn't have the luxury of thinking through the projects, getting the patterns and fabric ready, etc. I just decided to wing it. Also I concentrated on clothes for Ellie only. Let's face it, the boy stuff I made last year was kind of ugly and they didn't wear the items much, where Ellie wore her skirts and dresses so much they are really worn out. Girls stuff is also a lot more fun to sew. I know my two boys feel a bit left out, but I pulled out a ton of old dino shirts of Max's for Sam and he was thrilled and Max got a couple new Under Armour shorts and tops and he thinks he is the stud of all 8 year old boys. So it is all good.

Day One - Started after 10 pm, so went with the Simple Skirt in Sherbet Pips for Moda! Love Aneela's line for both quilts and kids clothes! Used a great tutorial, www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-simple-skirt.html

Day 2 - Still needs elastic in the sleeves and the neck elastic secured, but needed to wait until she woke up to measure and try on. Sorry for the bad photo, this one is still not done and I have forgotten the pattern I used. Will post about it later. Looks cuter than the photo!

Day 3 - Used Scraps from making her big girl bed quilt to make this fun sun dress.

Used this pattern, www.etsy.com/listing/61524690/carol-jane-dresses.

Day 4 -

Pattern from Whole Grain Baby, Little Mod dress. Used a fun Kokka Cotton Canvas print. The heavyweight of the main fabric, adds to the look of the dress I think. The pattern recommended a home dec weight. Love how this one came out, but a bit hard to attach the yoke to the dress.

As I write this post, I am thinking I might attempt either an Ice Cream Social Shirt from Oliver & S or perhaps a quick shirred sundress. We will see! Either way it has been a great week and Ellie has some new outfits to show for it!

Far Far Away Unicorns and Weekend Sewing!

Have I mentioned how much I love having a little girl to sew for?  Her summer wardrobe is super cute so far.  I really love everything about this dress - the double cotton gauze, the cute unicorns or as Ellie calls them, "pretty horses".  If you know me you know restraint is not one of my better attributes and I of course bought this print and all the others in the Far Far Away line by Kokka Japan in every color-way.  My intent is for my nieces to have the same dresses, if of course my mother ever measures them . . . (please mom, take the tape measure to babysit with you this week)

My own summer wardrobe consists of long flowing tank dresses from Target.  I have really been loving the length and thought since the last dress for Ellie was a short playdress, maybe this one needed to be long and flowing . . . so glad that I kept it long!  Perhaps if it really bothers her and gets in the way, I will shorten in.  But hey, sometimes you have to suffer a little for cuteness sake.

Earlier today a wonderful photographer, Clare Barboza, took pictures of the kids at Yaddo Gardens in Saratoga Springs.  I met Clare when she took the photos for my sister's wedding last August.  We tried to sneak in a session when we were in Seattle, but it never came to be.  She has been on a month long tour up and down the east coast and I was thrilled by the opportunity to have her photograph the kids.  The goal was to get a shot of all three of them together.  Some goals are just not meant to be accomplished.  The kids were wild and not all that cooperative.  Especially Ellie, who lately thinks she is the boss of the family.  Actually, she really is.  I took all these shots after getting home from the gardens and she of course could not get enough of the camera for me!  Why she wasn't turning on the charm earlier I will never know.

Love this picture because it shows the wonderful drape of the fabric and what a wonderful choice for clothing it is.  Also since Sam's birthday the bubble mower has become the favorite toy and is always running out of bubbles.  Maybe this is the one toy we will have to give in and get two of.  Just prior to this picture Ellie bit Sam when he tried to claim back the mower and then he ended up pulling her hair . . . it is hard to share when you are both just two!

We worked it out by taking turns, she mowed up the driveway and he mowed down the driveway!

This is the final test for any clothing item for Miss Ellie, can you hang in it?

Good Folks and Weekend Sewing

Whooo hooo, I made a dress from start to finish for Ellie on my own!  My sewing skills are starting to get better.  I love this dress and have been wanting to make it since I saw the tutorial here and then further motivated by Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.  

It makes it even better that Ellie wanted to help me sew and then as soon as I put it on her, she ran to show Daddy her pretty sew.  (which I think means pretty dress mommy made for me!)

Love this fabric and I think it is my new favorite - Anna Marie Horner, Good Folks line.  KC Custom Fabric in Saratoga Springs has a lot from the line.  I really have been trying to use other fabric, but I just can't seem to get enough of this print.  It was in the quilt I just finished, a tote bag I am working on and this.  Fabulous, don't you think?

  

The shirring is done with elastic thread in the bobbin.  So easy and so fun!  

Ellie also gave it the play test.  She was up and down the playset, climbing the rock wall, sliding and swinging.  I think I will make the next dress a little longer, but for playing this is a great length!

This last shot is of her running away from me when I wanted to change her back into her play clothes, since it was a little chilly today for a sundress!