Yo Gabba Gabba Live!

Okay, I realize that this is probably insane. BUT. I did it anyway. We took our 3 y/o to see the Yo Gabba Gabba Live! show as her main birthday gift. When we bought the tickets, back in August I think, I got it into my head that she needed a special outfit for the show. I didn't know why then, and I don't really know why now. But I did it anyway.



The shirt itself, I bought on clearance at Target for $2. I made the applique out of eco-fi felt, and it was really just trial and error, because I'd never done applique before. I really happy with the way it turned out, though. If you have no idea what Yo Gabba Gabba is, that is a character called Toodie.

The tutu is a pretty standard pettiskirt that I made from what felt like a couple miles of nylon chiffon. This is actually the third one I've made. The first one was a gift, and I forgot to take pictures of it before it was given. The second is a giant fluffy pink thing that my little one loves to dance and spin around in. I do have pictures of that one. I'll post them along with the tutorial I used as a starting point, plus the tricks I've picked up along the way.

Happy 4th!

The kids in their Fourth of July clothes. Details to follow for the girls' outfits.

New(ish) Mug

Okay, so not brand new, but one of my more recent pieces. I really like the way it turned out, and I use it all the time. Which is the real test of a mug. If it doesn't get used, it's worthless.

From the front:


And inside, a little surprise:

2 + 2 blouse

Here it is! I love, love, LOVE the way this turned out. This is made from another oliver + s pattern, the 2 + 2 blouse and pleated skirt. I haven't made the skirt yet, so I can't speak for it, but this blouse is lovely. Super detailed instructions, just like all the oliver + s patterns. And adorable details, from the gathers and ties to the cute little patch on the front. I'm already looking forward to making the short-sleeve version for next summer.

This is the first piece of the baby's "winter wardrobe". I've chosen purple for her signature color, so you'll be seeing a lot of it. I mostly picked it to match her new shoes, an awesome pair of see kai runs that I bought on sale looooong before they fit her. Coming up in future posts are more pajamas and a winter coat that I'm so excited about, and definitely more blouses too. Possibly some big girl clothes, too!







eta: I've had this post in the pipe for a day and a half because I wanted to get a shot or two of the blouse being worn, but we've been felled by a sick kid and short school days, so I figure I better just post the damn thing before I forget about it. I'll try to add some model shots later if I remember.

Sneak Peek!

It' a bloggy sneak-peek! Full loveliness tomorrow! I love this so much, it's just gorgeous. 

Bedtime Story Pajamas

I've been working on these on and off for awhile and I finally (finally!) finished them today. I made them out of cotton flannel for a friend's new twin boys. They're made from the oliver & s Bedtime Story Pajamas pattern. A really great, pretty easy pattern, great for someone just beginning to sew apparel.



P.S. Sorry for the blogging absence, I took a little hiatus from crafting. But now I'm back and full of plans for Berkeley's winter wardrobe (including a coat!), my first quilt that I'm already in the midst of, and lots of other things.

Er...

Yeah....it's been awhile. Um. Well, let's see now. I've made a couple things...but I don't have any pictures. I have several projects in the works and in plans, but still no pictures. Hmm....huh. Guess I'll have to get back to you.

Soon! I promise, very soon.

Another flower girl dress

Quick post, mostly just pictures. A different version of this dress. I used the Heather Ross unicorn print double-gauze that I featured here. As I mentioned in the last post, I made this with the size 4 bodice and the size 3 skirt (just shortened a little), and it worked well. I still put buttons in the back, for simplicity, but I think it would have worked without them, too.

Flower Girl Dress

This is made from a another pattern from Heather Ross' new book, Weekend Sewing. And it's another pattern from that book that I cannot heartily recommend, at least for a beginner. There is errata for this dress that gives advice on resizing the bodice pattern pieces, which is wholly necessary. After looking at the sizing criteria for the pattern and measuring and remeasuring the baby, I ended up making her a size 3, which still wouldn't have fit her if I hadn't halved the seam allowances on the bodice. I should have made her a size 4. Which is ridiculous, because in every other pattern she is an easy 24mo. or 2. The dress fits her snugly in the bodice, as the pattern calls for, but another glance at the errata reveals that they suggest NOT attaching the straps in the back, instead opting for buttons or snaps. Why? Because otherwise it would be next to impossible to get the dress on or off. I opted for buttons in the back, which can just as easily be buttons in the front, because the front and back of this dress are identical.

Now for the good: It works up fast and easy. I cut and sewed the whole thing in half a day. It's also adorable, and I love the longer than average length. It's versatile. It can be a casual everyday sundress as I've made it here, or with some dressier fabric it could make a darling Easter dress or, as the title states, a flower girl dress.

Knowing about the sizing issues, I'll probably make this again. It really is cute. The buttons in the back don't really bother me, but designing and publishing a pattern that requires alteration just to be wearable does bother me.

My new, old toy

A Singer Featherweight 221. A super, vintage machine I got for heavy sewing needs, and also for quilting. And because it's cool. I'm happy with my regular machine for regular sewing, garments and such, but it just isn't up to sewing multiple layers or heavy fabrics.