Spring KCW 2013: E & E's Ruffle Tunic

I can't tell you how much I love this top.  The pattern is designed by Elegance and Elephants.  Heidi is one of those talented designers that I've been following for a while and when she released her first pattern, The Ruffle Top, I jumped at the chance to buy it, and at a nice discount too.


The fabric is a beautiful voile by Anna Maria Horner that I've been saving forever.  I'm so glad I finally had a chance to use it.

The finishing on this little top is pristine.   The stitch in the ditch method of attaching the bias around the neck and armhole gives it a beautiful and clean finish without being too fussy.  Perfect!

The back is equally lovely.

 

Now I want one in my size!

Spring 2013 KCW: GoTo Anywhere Dress and Leggings

It's that time of the year again: the Kid's Clothes Week Challenge, otherwise known as KCW.  As with years past, I have no specific plans;  I'm a fly-by-my-seat kind of sewer anyway, and this week is no exception. 

This outfit is the Anywhere Dress and GoTo Leggings designed by Andrea Pannell of The Train To Crazy. 

 

The leggings have the peekaboo hole and bow in the back; a detail that I just love and I think  really completes the outfit.  I chose the elbow sleeve option with cuffs for the dress.  S is wearing a size 5 and it fits her perfectly. 

Both patterns sewed up really quick, a couple of hours per piece from start to finish.  The leggings would have gone even faster without the peekaboo detail. 

 

PS: Sorry about the blurry pics; my model was not in a cooperative mood that day.

School Photo Dress

 
I have a stack of Oliver & S dresses to make.  This one is the School Photo Dress in a Denyse Schmidt floral.  I love the little details in this pattern: the kangaroo pockets, the sixties style collar, the full lining.  I opted to make view A with the view B sleeves and added the pompom trim to break up the print. 

This was my first time installing an invisible zipper.   With Liesl's guidance, it was easy peasy, and I love the clean look of it. 

This is such a sophisticated, yet sweet dress.  There's another one for B in the works.

Simply Lovely Casual Lady

 

I recently got to test a couple of new patterns by Go To Patterns.  I love Andrea's style, simple but so chic.  I was so excited to try out this recent pattern, called the Simply Lovely Dress.  It is now available for free through April to those who are on their newsletter email list, so hurry up and sign up! 

 

 

 I changed things up a little bit in this version.  The skirt is fuller, 30 inches, and has four rows of elastic instead of just the one called for in the pattern.  I used quilting cotton, but you can also make this in knit.

This one is the Casual Lady.  I made the top view in a beautiful charcoal ponte knit that I found as a remnant at JoAnn's.  The hand is dreamy, soft with just enough weight and drape. 

 

I can see myself making and wearing a whole lot more of both patterns, especially because they are h really quick sews and can be finished in a couple of hours. 

 

By the way, if you buy the Casual Lady Pattern, the proceeds will go towards funding and raising awareness for global sex trafficking victims.   You can find out more here.

An (Un)Birthday Flashback Tee

 
I made S's birthday shirt yesterday, except that her birthday was 2 months ago.  Actually I had no plans to make any kind of birthday t-shirt.  My friend had asked me to embroider a name on a similar shirt that she had made with appliqued butterflies on a number 3.  S saw me working on it, and I think that she thought it was hers because the name also began with an S.  Oh the disappointment and the tears when she found out that it was not meant for her.  The only way I could pry it out of her hands was to promise to make her a similar shirt, this one with her own name on it and a number 5.  instead of appliqued butterflies though, I went with an embroidered design.

The pattern is made by rae's flashback tee with a few modifications:  puffy three quarter lengthsleeves, and bands on the hem and the gathered sleeves. 

 
Ok, now back to regularly scheduled sewing, which might include a couple  of things for me.