Men's Shirt Re-Fash

I am always on the hunt for items that people discard that I can use either for fabric, or parts (think collars, cuffs, etc), or even just for the buttons! It really is amazing what people give me that they would likely just throw in the trash or recycle bin. Luckily, my little obsession hasn't driven me to dumpster-diving (yet!?), but it has prompted me to check out our local Good Will store. This little gem just moved into our neighborhood and while you may have to sift through a lot of junk, you just might end up with some great things! 

I came across several really nice men's dress shirts - some from very high-end stores! They had all their buttons and the cuffs and collars were in perfect conditions. And though it pained me to do so, I checked for any gross pit-stains! It's rare that an arm pit seam would be used in a child's garment, but it just gives you a yucky feeling to buy something with pit-stains! 

Here are some of the colors/patterns I found:

See that last one? Pink, brown, white - all colors associated with my daughter's current obsession. Bunnies!!! So a bunny dress was in order here. 

I started by chopping off the collar and arms. I sewed a seam down each side, giving the dress an a-shape. Then I grabbed a coordinating fabric and made a quick, lined bodice. A pinch and gather later, a cute little dress was born! 

But it still wasn't bunnified. A few tiny white rabbit buttons fit the bill. 

And she LOVES it! 

Can't wait to do the rest of the shirts too! Stay tuned!

KCW Day 4

Kids Clothing Week!!! Copycat Skirt....the pink one was store-bought, the "rainbow" one was made by drafting a pattern off of the original. (Leggings with worn-out knees became the perfect answer to the sewn-in short!

Kid's Clothing Week!!!

I'm throwing my hat in the ring for Kid's Clothing Week!! On Monday I did Classically Cool Cargo Shorts from Seemingly Smitten Patterns in a fun race car inspired print. I paired it with a black & white herringbone print in corduroy cuz it sort of reminded me of the checkered flags on the raceway. Then I looked around in the closet for something to pair with these cool shorts, but alas! No solid t's! No prints that would work! What's a sewing momma to do? Scoop up those corduroy scraps, throw in some black double-knit, and voila! Black T-shirt with woven sleeves and collar!! The perfect coordinating top for a race car inspired look!

Too much cuteness!

My son is two and a half.  He has been using the potty for a while now, but still needs help and wears a pull-up at times. Why am I telling you the sordid details of my son's life?  Because, you could not imagine how difficult it is to find cute clothes that address the pull-up fullness AND the ups & downs of daily potty runs!  Most of the clothes in stores that are cute have buttons and zippers... no good for a quick dash to the potty.  The ones that are elastic are sweats or knits that have no shape or style. (At least at the places I can afford to shop!)  I have just begun sewing for my little man and I have been having a blast doing it!  One of my favorite things to use when creating for my boy are home decorator fabric remnants.  I know, it sounds a little crazy - pictures of couch print pants and drapery sheers for sleeves fill your head. But it's not really that strange.  The fabric store near my home sells home deco remnants for $5-$6/yd.  And this stuff is GOOD QUALITY!  I've gotten micro suede, beachy-feeling canvasy-type stuff, just wonderful patterns and colors that say SPRING without screaming GIRLY!  I may be fooling myself, but I also feel like they will hold up to my rough-and-tumble little guy a little better than your average bottom-weight. This all brings me to my most recent outfit made for him.  A month or so ago, I purchased the Sun & Surf pattern collection from Pattern Anthology.  There are not enough good words in the English language to describe how much I love the pieces in this collection.  I have a five-year old daughter and a 2.5 year old son and have made (or at least cut out) each piece at least once. They are stylish, easy-wearing, detailed clothing with a specific point of view created by some exceedingly talented ladies whom I greatly admire. PLEASE check them out! 

BUT FIRST, check out my little man in his Surfer Slacks and Submarine Pull-Over. Those surfer Slacks are SO AWESOME!!  They are roomy enough for a pull-up, but still look slim.  And they have a fantastic elastic waistband that my son can pull up/down with ease!  I just love them! He has a Beachy Boatneck on in navy blue underneath, but alas, would not take the pull-over off to show me:

This is my front!

And this is my back!

Too much CUTENESS!!





Big Boy Britches!!!

Check out these cool Coastal Cargo pants I made for y little man! They are made from a Blank Slate pattern and I just love the way they came out! A REAL, WORKING FLY and everything!!! (It's my first attempt at a zipper fly... He's not quite three yet, so he lives in elastic!) I adore the welt pockets on the back and the cute cargo pockets! Can't wait to make more!!!

Project Runway... mini-sized!

So, I don't know about all of you, but I am IN LOVE with Project Runway.  Yes, there have been some not-so-hot seasons(current season included!), but I am ever-faithful!  I watch every episode!  And sometimes, one of the designers hits it out of the park and makes something beautiful AND wearable.  Such was the case with Stanley in Episode 10 of this season. It was the "design your own fabric" challenge and Stanley was teamed up with Michelle (my FAVE!), who created the print.  I wasn't thrilled with it at first... but then this walked down the runway:

I know, the hem is a bit of a tragedy, but otherwise... SWOON!

 

I wanted to pint-size this design and make it more kid-like... a little less sophisticated and a little playful.  But I wanted to keep the shape and the overall idea, so the I thought playing with color and prints would be the best way to "kidify" it.  I did two versions... a colorful, fun, light and airy one that has a sophisticated print in bright fun colors; and a dressier one where I used muted colors and a muted print. I also lengthened it because my little girlie requested "a dress all the way to my toes!" I like the shorter length though, so I haven't hemmed the colorful one yet... holding out hope that she'll let me!

(she's been home sick, hence the slippers and mussy hair!)

 

(I softened the curve of the bottom of the bodice after I made this one... I wanted it a little more straight-across.)

 

(Those are GOLD BUTTONS, people! She is over the moon at her GOLD buttons. :)



Ignore the RED PANTS!

My little man was so excited to wear his new "jacket" he very nearly tore it off the serger!  Now, he normally likes to have his clothes match in color... even at just 2 1/2 years old.  But he just couldn't wait to wear this one, so ignore the red pants!  (I promise, they went really well with the gorilla T underneath!)

 

Yeah, he's pretty fly!



Busy Little Life

So, as the title suggests, it has indeed been a busy little life lately.   I have been trying to get lots of little sewing projects done in between the have-to's of this life, so here goes!:

 

It's still pretty chilly in the mornings and late evenings here in NorCal, so I decided to make the Desmond Jacket from Shwin Designs.  (LOVE THEM!The patterns are so easy to follow and the results are always perfect!) I used a bottom-weight solid red for the coat and the cutest little superhero/comic book style quilters cotton for the lining. And... I AM IN LOVE!!  I secretly wake up hoping for cooler weather so that I can make him wear it!  Not that it takes much convincing, he loves it too! (which is the most important part)

And here's a peak at the lining:

 

After that, I figured I had better get something going for my daughter... she can be the jealous type, especially when it comes to clothes!  My inspiration came from the Emerald challenge of the Sew-Vivor competition over at FamilyEverAfter blog.  (check it out... it's AWESOME!) The entry is from Jen of A Jennuine Life :

GORGE!  Right?  I love it.  So I decided to do a last-minute sew-along with some clearance fabric I found at my local Beverly's.  Unfortunately, due to a miss-calculation, I had a "make it work" moment. (LOVE YOU, TIM GUNN!) 

Do you see what happened?  I THOUGHT I measured the correct length for a natural waist bodice, but when I had the bodice constructed and went to place the sash... OOPS! It was about 3-4" too short!  The sash would have to go across the bust and arm holes!  YIKES!  So, like I said, bodice fully constructed with button loops and buttons, so we just make it work.  I cut the sash in pieces and just sewed it to the front and back folding it into the inside at the arm holes.

I still think it's pretty darn cute. 

And Shelby likes it too, so that's a plus!

 

My next adventures in sewingland are taking me back to knits.  I love em. Can't help it.  Found some AWESOME knits on Girl Charlee.com , so I will be doing some hoodies and tshirts for Drake and this little cutie has caught my eye for Shelbs:

And I am truly terrible at sketching, but this has been dancing around in my head, so I had to get it out onto paper... at least until I figure out what fabrics I want to make it out of!  (Again, excuse the AWFUL drawings... Sadly, I DO NOT draw.) 

(I drew the "front" on the right first, then the "back".  I did the strip work WAY too perfect in the "front" drawing.)

 

So, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO!?



That's My Boy!!

So, I was sewing up a quick little top for my daughter the other day.  My son, who is two and a half, has begun to notice that I make things for his sister to wear.  So he walked up to me and asked me, "Mommy, make me a dress too?"  And he was caressing the fabrics folded up next to my table so sweetly with a look of longing only a little boy can muster.  So I melted completely, obviously!  Of course mommy will make you something (though probably not a dress)!! So I dropped what I was stitching and pawed through my new BOY patterns, and my stash of fabric (which is, sadly, mostly girly) and came up with this adorable little hoodie sweater. 

 

 

 I found a cute brown and blue lightweight sweater-type knit in my stash and bought a piece of blue stretch velour for trim and pocket. 

 

I also decided to add sme fun elbow patches. 

 

 

I love it.  He loves it.  And it has chipped away just slightly at the guilt I feel for always making girly fun dresses and skirts and tops for my little girlie-girl!

 

 

(sorry for the picture overload.  He's just so darn CUTE!)



Cowgirl Up!

So, you know I am OBSESSED with Shwin&Shwin's Maggie Mae tunic/dress, right?  I found some ADORABLE vintagey cowboy/girl fabric at Hobby Lobby, and I just had to go there!

I love how they turned out!  Then, I came across some super-cute tea party fabric at Beverly's in Monterey and had to buy it.  So I fashioned this cute little number from it:

That's been my week... what about yours?