film petit: the big lebowski

February 27, 2013February 27, 201361 Comments

film petit february! as i re-watched our chosen film this month, i realized something – apparently my husband and i quote it constantly, maybe sometimes without even realizing it. it’s everyone’s favorite highly quotable quirky bowling movie – it’s….The Big Lebowski!

if my husband remembers to get something at the store that i forgot to put on the list? i tell him “he’s a good man, and thorough.” someone’s carrying a drink and a kid bumps into them? “there’s a beverage here, man!” something gets spilled on/damaged? it “really tied the room together.” and just at random times… “8 year olds, dude.”

am i wrong?

anyway, before i fall down the rabbit hole of movie quotes (in the parlance of our times – GAH), i suppose i should talk about the movie plot.

ummmmm wellllll it’s kind of hard to explain. let me give it my best shot. 1998’s The Big Lebowski was directed by the Coen Brothers. it tells the story of the mellow and lazy Jeffrey Lebowski (aka “The Dude,” or “Duder,” or “El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing”) perfectly played by Jeff Bridges. The Dude is mistaken for a rich man also named Jeffrey Lebowski, and is suddenly drawn into a crazy kidnapping caper, when all he really wants to do is drink white russians and bowl with his buddies. it’s a pretty weird but beloved movie, and one i’ve seen about a million times.

typically we all pick different movie characters for film petit, but we felt that we should each make tiny Dudes this month to sort of swamp the internet with them – a mini Lebowskifest! mine is “pre-opening credit Dude,” the two scene intro that sets the stage for the rest of the movie. the Dude goes to the grocery store to grab some half and half for his white russian…

but comes home only to find himself getting dunked in his own toilet and his rug micturated upon by a couple hooligans attempting to shake him down for money he clearly doesn’t have.

film petit: the big lebowski

i sewed for O again, figuring the smaller the Dude was, the funnier it would be. and actually it was pretty hilarious – this is the MOST recognized character during one of my film petit photoshoots. people at the more-crowded-than-i-expected-it-to-be-at-that-hour grocery store were giggling and saying “haha, is that The Dude?” left and right. i started out a little self-conscious about it, but then ran with it. i think O liked the attention.

his bathrobe is made of wide wale corduroy from JoAnn, and the pattern is the Just Like Dad Flannel Robe from Sewing for Boys. i made it in a 2-3T for the length but chopped 3″ off the sleeves (and they’re still roll up-worthy!) so he’ll definitely wear it a while. the shorts are the Oliver + S Sketchbook Shorts made out of daddy’s old ones.

the undershirt, which i didn’t get a great photo of, is Made by Rae’s Flashback Skinny Tee, made out of daddy’s old t-shirt, short sleeved, with a v-neck!

i’m actually pretty excited about the non-overlapping v-neck and might share a mini tutorial for it a little later; i’ve always wanted to know how to do that and it wasn’t hard once i figured it out.

my little Dude got the munchies at the store and picked out a couple snacks. figured that was probably pretty true to character (the Dude likes to “smoke Js”).

while my little dude is snacking on chili cheese fritos and abiding, you can head over to see the other little lebowski urban achievers that my partners sewed up!

our guest this month, Sabra from sew a straight line, sewed both “bowling alley Dude” AND a mini walter sobchak! both are absolute perfection. she even gets us a toe – you don’t want to know how, but there are ways. thanks so much for joining us, Sabra!

and my partner Jessica, not to be outdone, sewed “playoff/funeral Dude” with some awesome details, AND took photos at a very special locale! go check it out!

proud we are of all of them!

***

here are the guidelines for film petit:

every month or so, Jessica and i (plus a guest blogger) sew an outfit (or outfits) for our kid (or kids) inspired by a movie we love. our next guest will be Dana from MADE!
please add any of your movie-inspired kid sewing to the film petit flickr group. if you sew along with our film petit choices, we’d love to see that too!
this is a pretty relaxed series, really the only rule is to make outfits for kids based on films you love. if you have any questions, please let either of us know.
film petit archives: the life aquatic with steve zissou, amélie, fantastic mr. fox, psycho, moonrise kingdom, ferris bueller’s day off

P.S. this is not ‘nam, this is bowling. there are rules.

P.P.S. do you see what happens, larry?!

P.P.P.S. i am the walrus.

super mario bros. shirt

February 25, 2013February 25, 20138 Comments

as Celebrate the Boy kicks off over at MADE and Made by Rae, i thought it’d be fun to bring home a post i did for I’m Feelin’ Crafty’s “Sew Ready to Play” series a few months back. O is actually wearing this shirt today, though it’s starting to look even tighter on his growing toddler belly!

***

growing up, i was the kid who didn’t have any sort of video game system at home and was constantly trying to talk the neighbor kids into playing nintendo. if you were the kid with a nintendo, you probably had an annoying friend like me, right? i was pretty persuasive in getting the neighbor kids to play (not too hard), and i especially loved super mario bros. i’m talking about the original one here…super mario 2 was fine, 3 was better (remember how you could drop behind the background?) but the original was the best. it’s still fun…have you played it lately? do you remember how to turtle top? i could never quite get the hang of it.

so anyway, it was almost a no brainer that i needed to make my toddler son a super mario t-shirt for this series!

i used my favorite basic pattern, made by rae’s flashback skinny tee, and knit fabric from two sale rack men’s shirts (my tips for sewing with sale rack t-shirts here). i appliquéd a mario scene right onto the front! the scene appliqué idea came from my friend cherie, and what exactly to put on there came from a quick google search of super mario bros images. want to make one?

gather scraps together in the appropriate colors along with some steam-a-seam lite fusible web…

draw a grid of 1/2″ squares for the stairs then cut them out, and a strip of woodgrain fabric at 1/2″ for a base. sketch and cut out clouds, a pipe, a hill, and bricks. i then added a little stamped mushroom left over from one of my project run & play creations! i just played around with the scraps until i had the shapes i wanted.

add the fusible web to each piece and arrange the scene on the front piece of the shirt, not yet sewn together. once you have everything where you want it, fuse it down with an iron and then stitch around each item with black thread, for a sketchy outline look. if you’re good with a free motion foot i’d recommend that here for the little curves, but i used my regular foot and just lifted it up a lot as i sewed around.

super mario bros flashback tee

finish the shirt as instructed per the pattern, slap it on your little guy, and he’ll be looking like a child of the ’80s!

i love how this skinny tee clings to his toddler belly…

and he likes how soft and comfy it is!

ready to play! thanks so much for having me, Louise!!

PS – i didn’t even realize when i was making this how close the colors and theme were to narelle’s post from the other day! who doesn’t like old school video games, eh?

flip vest pattern testing and giveaway!

February 19, 2013February 24, 2013173 Comments

i know you all know how much i adore pattern testing – i learn something every time i do it, i feel like i’m able to help fellow bloggers out, and it’s just a neat way to see other people’s processes. so of course when dana of MADE emailed me asking if i could test her newest pattern, i jumped at the chance.

i’m pretty sure dana’s blog is the first blog i found that helped me discover the world of modern sewing 4 years ago, and it’s an absolute must-read. she covers lots of different crafty topics (in addition to sewing), has a fresh, clean aesthetic, beautiful photography, and a lighthearted attitude that makes her just so fun to follow. i admire what dana has built so much, and was so flattered she asked me to test this pattern for her! i really enjoyed the process and bouncing ideas off each other as i sewed.

the pattern is called the flip vest – a cozy little vest for babies and kids that’s perfect for layering as we head out of winter and into spring. O has gotten so much use out of his vest already – it’s been under a coat on cooler days, over a light sweater on warmer ones…it’s really a fantastic transitional piece (i’ve got plans to make one for Em to wear on the playground too!).

last Friday, we happened to have the most gorgeous day – and the little fella grabbed his “noculars” to head out for a walk. i had actually taken different photos of the vest already on a more typical overcast february day, but the sunshine definitely called for a reshoot.

the flip vest is designed to be reversible if you use velcro, though i made mine button up so i could show off the essex yarn dyed black linen which i’ve now decided is my favorite fabric of all time. inside is a dark olive green micro fleece from Joann, and the rib knit is cream (also from Joann). this pattern is a very quick sew and takes very little fabric, which i love.

one of my notes to Dana was to see if binding the armholes with a sort of bias bound method would work and she was totally open to it, so i tried that and it ended up in the final pattern as one of two armhole finishing options. you probably should use a walking foot if you do this, as the fabrics get a bit thick all together, but i think it gives you a really nice finish.

i sewed this vest in a 2/3T, and the width came out great but it’s just a tad bit long on 2-year-old O – Dana shortened the length from what you see here in the final pattern. his sweater underneath is this sailboat top made last year, which fits perfectly now!

don’t you think the vest looks sort of old timey with the linen and buttons? it’s like i’ve already got the “There Will Be Blood” film petit halfway done. ha!

okay, so how about a giveaway??

Dana has generously offered THREE flip vest patterns from her pattern shop for me to give away – that’s three different winners! you may not fully realize how much you need this pattern, but you DO. you NEED it. it comes in size 6m – 5T and i can see it becoming a wardrobe staple for both of my kids – a fun and easy gift to make for others, too (did you see Delia’s versions? adorable).

to enter the giveaway:

leave a comment, any comment. i’m feeling ready for spring these days, so if you need an idea of what to write, how about telling me your favorite flower!
giveaway is open until friday, feb 22 at 5pm PST.
make sure you leave a valid email address with your comment.
i’ll pick three winners on friday and put you in touch with Dana to receive your pattern.

good luck!

*giveaway is now closed and the three winners, Maryna, Ivana, and Stacey, have been emailed. thanks to all who entered and happy sewing!*

P.S. did you see Dana and Rae are joining forces for Celebrate the Boy again starting next week?! soooo fun. can’t wait. i’m always in need of some good boy sewing inspiration.

film petit: ferris bueller’s day off

January 31, 2013January 9, 201457 Comments

for film petit this month…BUELLER!

so so fun, you guys (do i say that every time? i might). Jess, Shannon, and I each picked one of the three main characters in 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, directed by John Hughes. though the movie came out when i was pretty little, i’ve seen it quite a few times, especially in high school. it’s about three high school kids, Ferris (ringleader), Sloane (girlfriend), and Cameron (best friend) who skip school and end up having an epic time in downtown Chicago, narrowly escaping discovery by their creepy principal and family at every turn.

i sewed a mini version of Ferris’ best friend, Cameron Frye (played by Alan Ruck). he’s a hypochondriac, nervous, goofy guy that’s really great at impersonating adults on a phone call. Ferris ropes him in due to the fact that Cameron’s dad has a red Ferrari that Ferris uses to dupe the school into releasing Sloane. he is the most reluctant with the most to lose in the escapade, but he joins in.

Cameron has a couple different looks, and i got a big kick out of shrinking it down for two-year-old O. i realized that this is probably the least “costume-y” outfit i’ve made him yet for film petit, and i’m sure he’ll wear these clothes a ton.

aside from the cream knit on the jersey, tiny bit of plaid, and the suspender supplies, the fabric here is all upcycled from my husband’s donate pile!

for the chinos, i used the basic pocket pants pattern from Growing up Sew Liberated in 2T. i narrowed the leg and eliminated the cuffs, adding a faux fly and a slightly wider waistband with patch pockets in the back. the pockets have plaid lining to invoke the tam that Cameron wears in the movie.

the red wings hockey jersey is the vintage v-neck from blank slate patterns in jersey knit sewn in 18 months; i added color blocked cream bands and freezer paper stenciled a red wings logo on there.

the gray caduceus shirt is my fave – it’s so simple but has such a unique style to it. pattern is Rae’s flashback skinny tee in 2T with short sleeves and another freezer paper stencil. i applied the fabric paint lightly for a more vintage-y look. i found both freezer paper stencil outlines via google image search and cut them by hand.

i made the suspenders using this tutorial, which was awesome. i liked that it had adjustable vest buckles, made it feel authentic.

all together now! hockey Cameron…

and casual suspender Cameron…

can you tell O had a blast modeling? i had hoped to get photos at an art gallery but also didn’t want to take him to the actual art gallery. suddenly i had the idea to go to Powell’s where they have a rotating art exhibit in the Pearl Room. black and white art, plenty of room for photos, not too crowded, nothing breakable, free of charge. perfect.

now, while little Cameron climbs back into bed to sleep off his crazy afternoon, head over to check out what his buddies are up to!

our fabulous guest this month, Shannon from luvinthemommyhood, sewed Sloane! white fringe coat, you guys. WHITE FRINGE COAT. her daughter is the perfect mini-Sloane, truly.

and my partner Jess, oh you know her, she’s just over there sewing leopard print vests for her 3 year old – she did Ferris and her little guy also got WAY into the role. check it out!

***

here are the guidelines for film petit:

every month or so, Jessica and i (plus a guest blogger) sew an outfit (or outfits) for our kid (or kids) inspired by a movie we love. our next guest will be Sabra from Sew a Straight Line!
please add any of your movie-inspired kid sewing to the film petit flickr group. if you sew along with our film petit choices, we’d love to see that too!
this is a pretty relaxed series, really the only rule is to make outfits for kids based on films you love. if you have any questions, please let either of us know.
film petit archives: the life aquatic with steve zissou, amélie, fantastic mr. fox, psycho, moonrise kingdom

P.S. oooooooh yeeeeeeeah.

*this post contains affiliate links to amazon. if you make a purchase after clicking the link, i receive a small commission.*

little gifts given

November 21, 2012November 21, 201216 Comments

my friend Gail (from the lovely blog probably actually) recently had a baby boy! and man is he cuuuuute! his name is Oscar and the kids and i got to go visit him recently. and what does one do when one is visiting a sewing friend with a new baby? she sews gifts of course!

i first made a big sister gift for Lila, because my mom was great about doing that when anyone we knew had a baby. always a good idea to make the older sibling feel special too.

it’s a flashback skinny tee in a 3T. i used old navy clearance shirts, as usual, and preserved the factory hems. i used purple for the body since i know i’ve seen Lila in purple quite a bit, and a soft floral rib knit for the sleeves and neckline. contrast sleeves seems to be a trend now and i think it’s a fun one. i added a little heart patch to the bottom for an extra special touch.

then i made some pants for baby Oscar:

the pattern is Rae’s free newborn pants pattern. i did contrast bindings on both for kicks. i added 1″ to the pants on the left, because i remember these being pretty roomy when i made them for O and figured they’d last Oscar a couple months if they just had a bit of extra length.

this pair may look familiar! heather ross clothes on the line from far far away II. this time i added aviary woodgrain bindings. i love snuggling with O when he wears his pajamas in this fabric, so i figured Gail and her husband would enjoy it too. and i know she likes woodgrain.

this pair may look familiar too! i figured there couldn’t be anything more fun than to make pants for the little guy to look like his big sis. and when i took these gifts over to them, Lila was wearing this skirt her mom made in the same gray corduroy! fancy that.

i had hoped that Gail would get a kick out of a mini version of her hedgehog pants, and she totally did. it was a fun reaction. 🙂

for mama, i brought a trio of vintage sheet fat quarters from my stash and a spool of metallic gold thread. i love sewing with metallic thread, it adds a special touch to topstitching. figured she could make use of these when she’s back in sewing action.

for dad? well i didn’t sew him anything, but i did make the family some chicken tortilla soup adapted from this recipe (i added cayenne pepper for a bit of a kick). i brought some sour cream so they didn’t necessarily need to go for a grocery run, but apparently Lila ate it all up! good work, Lila.

happy little presents for a happy little family. oh and when Gail said Oscar has “the sweetest newborn smell you could ever imagine,” she wasn’t kidding! he’s really wonderful. i only got one picture during our visit, though! right as i was taking it, O said “he’s soft!” which is absolutely accurate. Lila is a loving big sis, too.