New Pattern Released - for . . . BOYS !!!

January and February were pretty slow months here for sewing - seems every time I turned around either myself or one of the kids was ill !

But - when Tami from Love Notions sent out a request for testers for a new BOYS pattern, I had to pull myself together and ask to help out.

I am beyond thrilled to tell everyone about this new wonderful pattern that she just released today - she's called it the VANGUARD KIT.  Yes, KIT - because it contains the pattern for both a pair of casual cargo pants as well as a T-shirt with many options !

Size range is 2T through 14, and if you have boys (or even girls, I can see my little girl wearing these) you will definitely want to grab this set for them.

Cargo pants and a colour-block shirt will become a daily staple in your boys wardrobe I bet !

Vanguard Kit for Boys 2T - 14

Here are my boys showing off their new Vanguard oufits.
Little guy is wearing a size 8 in top and pants.
Big guy is wearing size 12 pants, and a modified size 12 top (lengthened by a couple inches)

December sewing

I'm a couple of days early, and I'm going to spend those days working on doll clothes with my little girl so she can work out some of her problem spots with the patterns and technique.  There won't be much to report on from that, but if I'm lucky I'll end up with some extra outfits and maybe even re-open my Etsy store.  Who knows.

Anyhow - I started out this holiday month by using a new (to me) pattern company - Jalie !
The little miss has requested a long-sleeved leotard for these cooler months, and we both liked the look of this twist-top leotard.

My first attempt ended up in the bin, because the instructions were lacking.  I put the project aside for several days as I made up a Christmas gift for my Mother-In-Law (more on that later), but I did go back to the leotard, and managed to make my way through it.  I posted a review for this on one of my favourite sewing websites - www.PatternReview.com - and was quite honest about the troubles I had with the pattern.  I was floored to find a response from Jalie within 24 hours, AND updated and corrected instructions on their website !

I also entered this leotard in a contest that Pattern Review runs - I don't expect to get a good outcome, I never have - but I like to challenge myself anyhow, and it's fun to sew outside my personal comfort zone sometimes.  And this Twist-Front leotard was **WAY** out of my comfort zone !

 





Now, to show what I did before I tackled that leotard !  I made another of the Boyfriend Cardigan's from the pattern at Love Notions.  I used the same thick sweater knit I used for my own, but in a gorgeous raspberry colour, and a much smaller size !  In the end, I had to shorten the sleeves 3" for my Mother-In_Laws' preference, but the rest fit nicely.  The shawl collar on this is one of my favourite parts of it, it is SO cozy.

And since I was on a roll with the Boyfriend Cardigan's, I made one for the little miss too - but in a much lighter weight fabric, with contrasting pockets and collar.

Just before my husband's Mom's side Christmas gathering, I remembered that one of his cousins was getting 18" dolls for her young daughters.  The girls are about 2 and 5 - and I have had this lovely butterfly jersey knit sitting in my fabric stash for a few months just waiting for the perfect project.

Well - matching dresses for girls and dolls seemed to me to be the PERFECT project for this.  I'd also picked up some nice blue jersey at a local store not too long ago and they matched so nicely.

The girls dresses are the Mallory from Love Notions and the doll dresses are a free download available via the blog on that site - it's called the Everyday Play dress for dolls.

After finishing the matching girls and dolls dresses, I realized I had some of each fabric left over and made a Bluezette dress for the little miss (again - a Love Notions pattern) so that she could look like her little cousins :D

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

November's Sewing

I'm going to start my November report with something that my little girl made instead of something I made.
My daughter is 11, and about 2 years ago she showed an interest in learning to sew.
We started with hand sewing, and moved on to some simple projects.
I found a couple of books at our local Chapters book store for her, and she made several projects from them.

The first of the books focuses on hand-sewn projects, mainly in fleece or felt.
Sewing School

The second book moves on to simple machine sewing projects.
Sewing School 2

Last year, I upgraded my sewing machine, and had my old one serviced and passed it along to her.

She's come a LONG way from small hand-sewn felt toys in just a year or so.

Last month, she made this lovely little cheer outfit for a friend's daughter.
This is a Simplicity Costume pattern, so definitely *NOT* the greatest instructions, but it went together okay for her.  She even had to put zippers in both the top and the skirt.

She also make a ruffle-bum romper for a baby shower, but I didn't get a picture of her final project.
For that - she used the Chelsea Romper pattern by My Childhood Treasures.


And then, on to my own projects from this past month.

I started with a Simplicity Pattern too - #2264 - for a friend's little boy.
Black bamboo knit for the body, and a pirate jersey for the bodice.
This wasn't meant to be sewn with knits, but it turned out okay, and it will be nice and soft for the little boy to wear I hope !

Then I broke out a vintage Simplicity pattern - #5337, circa 1963.
So far, I only have the dress done, but I plan on making up the little coat and hat that go with it as well.

I found a vintage-feeling fabric in my 'stash to use, and made my first try at a blind hem too.

Some cream buttons and lavender bias tape to finish and it turned out really sweet I think.

 

 

And then on to more baby stuff !  With a baby shower coming up for one of my husband's cousin's I just HAD to make more itty-bitty baby things!  We knew that baby will be a baby girl, which makes the sewing easier for me :D

I started with a Simplicity 2264 dress and bloomers !
A beautiful raspberry twill and some crinkle cotton went together to make a lovely outfit that I hope was well liked.

And, since the "devil is in the details" a wee bit of cotton ribbon made the dress truly unique.

 









I added a Tuxedo Dress from Love Notions Patterns, in a teal sweatshirt knit to my gift pile.

Then a friend requested bibs !!  BIBS !!  More baby stuff.  YAY !

I looked up a few patterns, but in the end, opted to draft my own.
And here is a look at almost a dozen bibs that I made up for a couple of old friends and thier sweet 4-month old son.

By now, the November weather has cooled off, and I needed a sweater to keep me warm - so back to Love Notions Patterns to make a "Boyfriend Cardigan", in a super warm, plum sweater knit.

A little bit of doll clothes after this, for a break from such large items !

Some footie-pajamas for our 18" dolls.

Oh, and now - doesn't Little Miss find that her swimsuit is all stretched out?
Okay - so a new swimsuit is in order.  A little mishmash of a KwikSew underwear pattern for the bottoms, and the Cartwheel Collection T-shirt from Love Notions Patterns for the top.
I used a bright orange swimsuit fabric a friend gave me, and fully lined the front of the T-shirt.

 

And then a shirt for little miss - since her dance recital is coming up, and her outfit was a "grey or purple flowing tank top" - I combined those ideas with the Love Notions Patterns Posh Popover shirt, with a purple under layer, and a grey flowy outer layer !

 


And just before I had to send my lovely Opal off for her yearly maintenance appointment, I opted to give the Love Notions Patterns Lotus Blossom Blouse a try.  One for Little Miss, and one for myself.

If you get this one - take my word for it - do **NOT** think too hard about how to do the twist - it will work out !

        

October's sewing

October saw a good amount of sewing being done in my home !
It feels so good to be back to it.

I even did some sewing for myself.  As much as I hate sewing for me - the sheer size of the patterns and amount of material is a huge heart-sink to see when I do.  But the finished products often look nicer on me than anything I could have purchased.

Exhibits A & B - "Laundry Day Tee" from Love Notions Patterns, both in a size 2X
I made them in the tunic length, with a "V" neck style.  Very comfortable, and so cute with yoga pants or leggings.  I might even wear them over jeans.  I truly love this shirt.

Now, looking at the shirts on - I know I need to make some adjustments - either a full-bust adjustment (odd to think of that, with being a barely-B cup!), and / or some kind of adjustment to deal with my abundance of upper arm girth.

 

Exhibit C : Peg Leg leggings - from Patterns by Pirates.

Not a favourite, but at least they are sized for me, and go on and stay up.  Needs tweaking, but I'm not sure yet exactly what I need to do to make them more comfortable.
- a higher waist band for sure.
- maybe add a gusset in the crotch area ?

Then it was back to sewing for my kids !

My younger son (8) needed a light-weight jacket for the fall weather we are having here.

So - I printed out a pattern called the "Samson Sweater" from Love Notions Patterns in a size 10.
His measurements placed him at the size 8, but I wanted it a bit bigger so he could wear it longer, hopefully into the spring.

I picked a mid-weight stretchy black fabric of unknown content for the outer layer - the fabric came from MY mom's stash, so I know nothing about it.
I paired that with a pirate-print jersey knit for the lining and patches, and some red rib knit for the trim.

Black buttons rounded out the notions and this was my end project !

 

Well  -  doesn't my older son see younger son's jacket and declare how much HE loves it !

Back to the printer, this time to print out a size 14.
I absolutely LOVE that I can print out just the size(s) I need for all of the Love Notions Patterns. Makes it so much easier, and there is no risk of cutting the wrong size, or cutting off a size I'll need in the future!

For older son - a striped cotton / rayon knit that is quite thick for the outside, paired with some lightweight black jersey for the inside.

I added a draw string to the hood, and a zipper.  I left off the rib-knit trim, along most of the jacket.
And I lengthened the cuffs and added the ever-popular thumb holes for him !

It is NOT perfect - that zipper top makes me cringe.  But he loves it, so it was a hit !

 


After this, I realized that I had some pirate jersey left and I just LOVED it - I couldn't let it go to waste.

But I didn't have enough for a shirt or anything like that for any of my own kids, so my friend's little girl who is just shy of 3 years old was the lucky recipient of a Pirate-print and red Miss Mary Mack tunic and matching leggings.  Again - both parts are from Love Notions Patterns.

The leggings pattern is even FREE !

Now, to prove to everyone that I am NOT actually employed by Love Notions, and I *DO* sew outside of just their patterns - a lovely top for my daughter.  This one is a Simplicity Pattern. #2689

I used a floral crinkle cotton, and cut the tunic length in a size 10.  No alterations at all, and it came together quite quickly.