Color Pop Hat and Mittens

Sometimes I buy a yarn because I love it, and I want to caress it, and gaze at it, and hold it close to my heart forever. This, is that kind of yarn. I have been hoarding this mottled ball of perfection for just the right moment. Its super soft and warm, and the single ply gives it a little halo of snuggly softness. But, its time to stop being stingy. Winter is well upon my corner of the world, and this yarn is perfect for a 14 degree wait for the school bus. 

Both hat and mittens have a rolled edge and a pop of color, the minimal shaping lets the color and texture of the yarn speak for itself. L will be wearing this set at the bus stop tomorrow morning. Get your HAT and MITTENS at SweetKM.

Simple styling, toasty wool, the next polar vortex doesn't stand a chance. 

Shorts That Look Like A Skirt

How much do I love these shorts? A lot! How much does L love these shorts? Just as much (mainly because they look like a skirt).  I followed the Very Homemade tutorial, but used elastic in a casing rather than shirring thread. I also used a light weight, splatter painted print from the pile of vintage knits my MIL dug up for me.

I feel like I hit the jackpot. Free fabric and shorts she will wear. The width is so oversized I used a straight stitch on the hem and waistband. The whole thing, including drafting the pattern, took less than two hours. Lazy seamstress that I am, the level of complication figures heavily into my perception of the finished product. 

They are just perfect, (perfect I tell you!) for this little dolman sweater I've been working on. This is just  a sneak peak, I am writing up the pattern for vacation knitting.

Bless Your Heartwarmer

Bless Your Heartwarmer Now Available For Sale.

I have a big ol' pile of half finished projects, that were stymied by my indecision, then by holiday orders. As it is Kids Clothes Week, I was hoping to finish a few projects AND make a dress for L. No promises, let's take it one day at a time. Exhibit A is a sweet little heartwarmer, knit (knit, and re-knit) while watching PBS costume dramas. I've got a few other fastening techniques in the works that will appeal to knitters and sewers alike. This pattern is so versatile, I've got a version that Mamma can wear, too!

Pattern to follow, stay tuned.

And if you haven't...Vote for SweetKM!

Kids Clothes Week - Figgy's Tee for Two

Such a modest offering to KCWC, but when I consider how long its been since I've sewn anything, I'm happy to have the motivation. This is the Tee for Two by Figgy's raglan sleeve pattern. Seems like its out of print, which is a shame, staples like this never go out of style. The fabric is the only tolerable knit fabric I could find locally. I was actually turned away from a store because I had a stroller (if you've ever shopped Philly's dwindling fabric row, you won't be shocked by this), so I didn't get the chance to shop around. This little t-shirt was so easy, my Fashion Fabrics Club cart is now brimming with knits in very color of the rainbow.

Love this pattern, seems true to size, and goes together quickly. I'm not crazy about the unfinished openings, and will probably finish them next time. The collar band is sewn on the inside then turned to the outside for topstitching, leaving another unfinished edge. I would do the opposite, for amore finished looking shirt. I would also put a tag so some sort in it. The kids will never be able to figure out which side is the front without it.

Blue Button Vest

I've had a vague notion of a spring vest floating around in my head for quite a while. Now that its out, I'm not completely happy with it. There's room across the chest for a bit more overlap, allowing for bigger buttons (and I'm a sucker for bigger buttons). I think a pop of color is in order, too. I had intended white buttons for this yarn, but liked the mismatched blue better after they were on the sweater. Now that I've got the basic shaping down, I can work out a few more details. I'm loving the shape, and L is loving the little flower button. 

Maybe it will be an autumn sweater after all. 

Finished just in time for the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. Hoping KCWC will the the kick in the tush I need to sew something.

Purple Jumper

Pattern: Simplicity 2668

Fabric: Purple Corduroy from Joann

While I'm not crazy about this pattern, I still love the combination. The pieces can be worn a few different ways. Dressed up, like it is here, or the shirt with leggings and a cardigan.

You'll recognize the under shirt from a few days ago. It is still my favorite part of the outfit.

Baby Pants

I know I am late to the downloadable pattern party, but holy cow, what a great idea. I get so annoyed with big brand printed patterns. Once you cut it to a small size, its nearly impossible to reconstruct the bigger sizes. Not that I would ever want to make one again. They are always overly simplistic and complicated all at the same time, and require tons of modifications to make them work. A PDF patterns can be printed again and again.

Pattern: Big Butt Baby Pants

Fabric : Joann Fabric - Denim

Riley Blake, Bloom and Grow, Cream - Cuffs

This pattern was so straight forward it almost made itself. They are a little too simple in this fabric, so I added the cuffs. I top stitched all the seams, but you can hardly see it in the coordinating color. Next time I would make the waist a bit more substantial, maybe use 1" elastic, and do the top stitching in a contrasting color. Otherwise, great pattern. Its so hard to buy pants to fit a cloth diapered baby.

I have gotten so much sewing done in the past two days it makes me wonder why I'm so committed to knitting. A little knit hat takes two days, plus blocking time. This pair of pants took two hours.

Note: The moccasins in the first picture are from Kaboogie. Love, love, love them!

Striped Hat & Mittens

My contribution to the Ginia18 & SweetKM trade. A worsted wool, striped hat and mittens.
This will definitely be in the shop, probably as the set.

Purple Dress

Pattern: Simplicity 2668

Fabric: Heydayshop

This shirt started as something to go under a purple corduroy jumper that isn't finished yet. Both are from the Simplicity pattern. I made the shirt from the coat pattern, but with no collar, longer sleeves and the buttons up the back.

I love, love, love this fabric. I love the green piping. I love the vintage button. I don't love that I had to do the top two button holes by hand. BY HAND! In general I love my sewing machine, and though I don't do many button holes, I've never had a problem. The #*@% buttonholer would not go over the piping. It kept getting stuck on the lower button hole and it didn't like the irregular thickness on the upper button hole. I wasted three nap times trying to work it out. So frustrating.