KCW Day 1: The Marina Romper

Day 1 of KCW and I finished this little jumpsuit.  This is the Marina Romper, by Calie Faye Collection.  Originally this was meant for the 4 year old, but after trying it on, she refused to take pictures.  So here it is on her big sister.  It's a little short on the torso, but otherwise fits S pretty nicely. 

Their dad says the romper looks like a clown outfit.  I sorta think he has a point.  But aside from that, I quite like this outfit.  The pattern calls for wovens, but I made mine in a soft cotton knit, and it worked beautifully. 

So Day 1 of KCW is in the books! 

Make (Believe) Collection by Pattern Anthology



The gals of Pattern Anthology have done it again!  They've put together a truly cohesive collection with all the details and style that we've come to expect from them.  The collection comes with 4 patterns: the Bookworm Button-Up, the Adventure Tee, The Imagine Jacket, and the Explorer Hoodie.  This time around, there are a few different packages to chose from: but basically you can get the patterns for under $5.00 per pattern.  That's a steal in my opinion.  There's also an e-book of activities for children included in a few of the packages.  I've looked over the e-book and am so excited to get started on these activities.  Now that summer is here, my girls and I have a lot of time on our hands and its nice to be able to reach for a structured activity.  You can read more about the different packages  and the e-book here.

 

I was one of the lucky testers chosen to test all four of the new patterns.  If you've never tried a placket, or sewn a collar with a collar stand, or installed a zipper, these patterns are just the perfect place to start. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bookworm Button-Up includes boy and girl versions with 3 back options, 3 sleeve options, and 3 pocket options.  This is the girly version with bow sleeves and pockets, and a pleated back. 

 

 

My version of the Adventure Tee has rolled-up sleeves with button tabs and a hi-low hem.

 

I made 2 Imagine Jackets, one for each girl.  For S's, I used a super-soft brushed cotton and for B, a purple velour.  Both jackets have ruched sleeves and shoulder patches.  I love how different the jackets look with the different fabrics.  The jacket also comes with regular sleeves and a color-blocked shoulder option.

 

  And finally, the Explorer Hoodie is a comfy, loose-fitting top perfect for cooler months.  It has two zipper options: angled and straight.  I made mine in an organic sweatshirt fleece.

 

The Make (Believe) Collection is available for only 2 weeks, so get it while you can! 

 

(image from Pattern Anthology)

 

 

Elsa and Anna

Hey there!  It's been a pretty busy couple of months.  I've begun and completed so many projects that I'm really having a hard time organizing my thoughts.  Trying to decide what to post: which projects deserve blog space, it's pretty tempting to just not post anything and move on with the next project.  But I'm going to persevere and try to keep up with this blog of mine.

Frozen Mania invaded our house right around Christmas, and soon after, I made these costumes for the girls.   My intention was to make each of them Elsa and Anna dresses, but I ran out of steam on that last Anna dress.  In the picture above, S is actually wearing B's Anna dress; you can tell that the waist is a trifle short on her as is the length. 

The base pattern for the Elsa dress is a Jalie leotard.  The leotard had the sweetheart bodice I was looking for.  I modified the neckline by lowering it by a few inches and making the back scoop necked.  I also omitted the bottom half of the leotard and lengthened the skirt.  The skirt is a simple A-line and below-the-knee length, which I found was a pretty good length for play purposes.

Now for the Anna Dress.  I started with this embroidery file.  The bodice was based on this dress by Fairytale Patterns.  I ended up not using the pattern's skirt due to a couple of printing mishaps, and just added a circle skirt.  By the way, if you are ever in need of circle patterns, the Scientific Seamstress has a free one that includes a pretty wide range of circle sizes. 

And then they were ready to meet the real Anna and Elsa!

The Mimi Dress!!!

My baby is turning four this week.  Here she is a couple of months ago wearing the Mimi Dress Pattern by Filles et Maman.  I love this chic little dress.  It's made entirely out of knit but is constructed as you would a woven dress.  The collar is interfaced to make it easier to sew.  And the best part, Mel shows you how to turn the button loop tube in the most clever way.

I added flat piping to the collar and sleeve cuffs to differentiate those features from the rest of the dress.  I think my favorite part of this dress is the asymmetrical peter pan collar and the keyhole opening underneath.

There is also an option for a collar-less top, or a dress, or a collared top.  Plus long-sleeves.  You can mix and match to your heart's content.

She looks very Parisian, don't you think?

shwin designs spring patterns

It occurred to me that I never did post about the Shwin Designs' Spring Collection, some of which I tested.

The Georgia Twirl Tunic/Dress is one of my favorites in this collection.  The front is a simple sleeveless boatneck with a double circle skirt that can be made shorter for a tunic length or longer for a dress length.  I chose to make the tunic length to wear with leggings or skinny jeans. 

The back has a V-neck with button closures, the skirt can be left opened, which I opted for, or sewn together if you are making the dress version.  There is also an option for color-blocking the front.  It's a fun dress to play with mixing patterns and colors.

All the fabrics were bought from LimaSews Etsy Shop.