chartreuse + moonlit playtime dress

August 5, 2014August 23, 201421 Comments

today i’m posting over at the Oliver + S blog with what they call a “wardrobe edit,” where i list what i would make if i had all the time in the world, all the fabric budget in the world, and any oliver + s pattern to sew with. OH HOW I WISH!! i picked a few things for E, an outfit for O, and even something for baby C (who is such a fun little fella these days – sleeping through the night and giggling is the BEST). it was fun to pull together – check it out!

at a certain point while writing the wardrobe edit post, i got a bee in my bonnet to MAKE one of the things – i guess to show i’m serious or something. so here it is…look number 1 from the wardrobe edit post…the chartreuse + moonlit playtime dress!

somehow i had missed this butterfly print in the initial cotton + steel hullabaloo and only came across it recently on Miss Matatabi. it’s quiet but oh man is it beautiful. it’s from moonlit by Rashida Coleman-Hale – i got it at Modern Domestic, you can get it here. Continue reading →

kcw summer 2014: in the thick of it

July 23, 2014July 23, 20145 Comments

it’s summer kids clothes week! and i have definitely been sewing. i’ve probably logged about 7 or 8 hours since sunday, but it’s one of those “secret projects” that i can’t show you yet, and sewing has taken precedence over blogging because DEADLINES. i’m actually pattern testing two new Oliver + S fall patterns! it’s very exciting, but high stakes, meticulous sewing.

and of course, all i can show you are super close up photos that show nothing, really.

i know. super annoying of me. i got to sew with some pretty amazing cotton + steel fabric (first time i’d seen any in person – it lives up to the hype) aaaaand some pretty frustrating super-stretchy waffle knit. i did learn a few new tricks to get the knit to behave itself that i’ll talk about when i can post about what i made, so that’s good. always nice to add new skillz to the mix.

so as of 11:30pm tonight my pattern testing garments are sewn, and now i can move onto sewing a few things my kids need to round out the summer. both big kids are taking swim lessons i’ve got to make E another swimsuit (her first one has been getting heavy use). plus both she and O need shorts!

this season’s KCW has a “kid art” theme, and the kids had a great time painting on fabric which i’ll also show you soon – but for now, i’ve got to get some sleep! sleep is always the first thing to go during KCW.

no wait. laundry is.

no wait. my laundry is rarely under control. who am i kidding?

summer grove garden party dress

July 17, 2014July 17, 201431 Comments

you guys! this the first oliver + s dress i’ve sewn since march! how did that happen?

oh yeah, i got all selfish with my sewing and stuff. haha. anyway, man it felt good to sew this dress for E. she’s getting tall and lanky and i’ve had to start cleaning things out of her closet that she still tries to wear even though they’re waaaay too small – dresses that fit her like shirts, mostly. Continue reading →

beach bum shorts

May 28, 2014July 10, 20147 Comments

did you see that oliver + s has a new free pattern out? they seem to have a tradition of great summertime free patterns – lazy days skirt, popover sundress, bucket hat, and now…sunny day shorts!

beach bum shorts

it’s a basic, no-frills shorts pattern but the kicker is it has front, back, and waistband pieces which makes it super easy to customize. as part of my ongoing contributor gig for them, i did a tutorial on how to add front pockets, a drawstring waistband, and frayed hem for a casual, day at the beach look. Continue reading →

kcw spring 2014 :: constellations pajamas

April 16, 2014April 15, 20149 Comments

i’m way late on blogging this but i did sew it on day 5 of kids clothes week, so it’s getting labeled as such. we had friends coming into town last weekend and their little guy had recently turned one, so i had to make him something! HAD TO! but what to make?

i started with just the eye shirt, which was heavily inspired by this one i spotted on pinterest. pretty fun, right?

i drew the eyes and freezer paper stenciled them onto a 18-24 month short sleeved flashback skinny tee. i didn’t hem it because i ran out of black thread (ha!) but works as a casual/pajama shirt. the black is a basic t-shirt weight jersey knit.

but i couldn’t stop there…i made a pair of pajama pants too! there was some serious speed sewing here – i made this entire outfit in an hour and a half. this, apparently, is how mothers of 3 are able to sew – gotta take advantage of those naps and sew like the wind!

the pants are bedtime story pajamas in 18-24 months. i picked a larger size than i thought he’d need and figured they’d probably be huge on him (because my kids are so shrimpy that’s what i’m used to), but he’s a bit big for his age and they fit with just the right amount of growing room. i’m so glad i “sized up!” nothing worse than sewing a too small gift.

neither of his parents has red hair, but check this kid out! such a cutie. i have no idea how to dress a redhead but took a guess that he might look good in black, and he does.

the pajama bottom fabric is from Lizzy House’s Constellations line (pretty sure this print is out of stock online, I got it a long time ago) with kona olive bindings. i recently stocked back up on my beloved kona olive – i still maintain it goes with everything!