New Look 6884 and Kwik Sew 3962

  

Despite the fact that it is sunny out and there isn't any snow on the ground, it is actually quite chilly outside.  We attended an Easter egg hunt this morning and were rather cold.  Good thing it was fast.  

 The girls agreed reluctantly to an Easter dress photo shoot.  Yesterday, I worked on the buttons and button holes on their pinafores while the baby was fussy after his vaccine from the day before.  For these two outfits I made 16 button holes altogether.  Good thing I like my button holer.

 Because I used a pinafore from one pattern and a dress from another, the pinafores are longer than the dresses.  I've decided that's ok.  No one can really tell, since the pinafore wraps all the way around.

 After Easter I plan to stitch the pinafores up the back and turn them into jumpers to go over t-shirts.

 Can you tell which child is a tad dramatic and which one reserved and contemplative?

Vintage Simplicity 1075

I've had my eye on this pattern for quite some time but I kept thinking it was too fussy.  In reality, it wasn't too bad.  The directions were great and I even put in two zippers without any foul language.  

It's finally March and we put our Shamrock suspender skirts to good use.  We sneaked out of church early when we found out there wouldn't be Sunday school.  We took awesome photos instead.  

In January, Nana sent us this shamrock print from Field's Fabrics.  I got all nostalgic about Field's as it was the fabric store I walked to while attending Hope College in Holland, Michigan.  I know, who goes fabric shopping in college?  Those of us on a dry campus.  That's who.

Anyways, the print was completely overwhelming to me.  I couldn't think what to do with it.  So I stuck it in a drawer.  That's how I handle my problems.  Hide them away.  

 It was super chilly outside, but the girls were good enough to play along.  Bless them.

 The best part about this pattern is that the straps angle in the back so that they don't fall off as easily.  

Simplicity 1318

This kimono is a super quick sew...if you aren't matching stripes.  This would be why I never sew with stripes but this fabric was super cheap.  Cheap is not always a good buy.  I ripped out the band around the front, neck, and bottom a gazillion times.

 At this point I'm mediocre happy with it.  Enough to wear it out in public.  I made view D because I didn't want to hem options B or C.  Since I only paid a dollar for the pattern, I won't feel bad that I never make this pattern again.

McCall's 6918

Instagram has opened up a whole new world to me as far as finding out what other sewist are up to.  A mom in Australia was sewing back to school skirts for her daughter and posted what she had made with McCall's 6918.  What a perfect pattern for me to use with my four year old this summer.

 My favorite part is that it has shorts sewn underneath.  Monkey bars here we come!

 The skirts are a might big on the girls at the moment but that is intentional.  These skirts have to fit all the way through August, which is six months away.

Jane Dress from Shwin Designs

We are in love with the Shwin Designs Jane Dress and Top.  With one alteration that is.  I'm not fab if the back closure technique or the way the facing is turned.  Ok, that's two alterations.

The ombre pony fabric on the right I followed directions for the facing.  This reminds me of the Tobago tank and how it's turned.  Too much clipping close to the seam makes me nervous.  I added 5/8 inch to the pattern when I cut it out and didn't cut on the fold for the back piece.  This allowed me to serge up the back pieces and make the back facing two pieces.  I also stole the button closure from the Izzy top.  Another one of my favorites.

 

Fabric is Cheaper than Therapy

My last post was July 24th.  Right after that everything in our lives changed.  Unexpectedly.  Things worked out for the best, but for a bit things were really bumpy.  We had our third child and first son.  We became Northerners instead of Southerners.  We sold a house.  My husband changed jobs.  Pretty much we were in a state of chaos.  So what did I do to cope?  I sewed.  A lot!
Let's see if I can catch up on some blogging.

 There is three inches of snow on the ground so obviously I'm sewing up shorts and summer shirts.  The Jane Dress and Top has been added to my pattern repertoire.  I can see it becoming a little girl staple.  The almost four year old is obsessed with My Little Pony at the moment so lots of My Little Pony fabric has been ordered and used.  

I've made some alterations to the construction of the Jane dress.  I'll share those in another post.

 Another new purchase was the Ruby Jean shorts pattern.  They're super basic but useful.  I've made them with pockets and without.  Truthfully, I hate putting in pockets but the girls like having them.  I like that they are flat in the front.  The shorts are very short and so I hemmed them with a bit of matching fabric instead of folding up twice.  I could add a ruffle like the pattern calls for, but I'm not a ruffly type person.

Time For School Capsule Wardrobe Sew Along

Even though I started over a month ago on the preschooler's wardrobe, I'm going to follow along with the Time for School Capsule Wardrobe Sew Along.  I love the idea of a limited wardrobe based mostly on items made at home.  Of course Nana has helped out with RTW items such as shoes, cardigans, and jeans.
My goal is to post a photo of each outfit on this one post and have them all in once place.  This may take me awhile to compile as certain little people seem to keep needing things like food and diaper changes.

Anna Lap Dress with Stretch Leggings

Buffalo Print from Girl Charlee  Black and White Polka Dot from JoAnn's

RTW pink tee and purple cardigan

30 minute reversible Frozen skirt