Ottobre Design: #22 4/2015 Blackbird and Cherries Tunic

The next round of filling Eleanor's summer wardrobe involved sewing this darling tunic from the 4/2015 issue of Ottobre Design.

I love how it turned out, especially with that darling Paris fabric.  The shorts are from the shorts sewing spree a few weeks ago from pattern #21 Perfect Shorts from issue 3/2016 of Ottobre Design.  The shorts really are pretty perfect.  They have lots of pockets, elastic waist and a little bit of elastic in the back hems to give it a nice shape.

The tunic was fairly easy expect the hem band, which was a beast to do those curves.

Ottobre Design: #27 B 3/16 Retro Swimsuit

Eleanor has grown out of most of her summer clothes so I have been busy trying to fix that.  A few weeks ago I made her five pairs of shorts that I should share if I ever get around to photographing them.  

Yesterday, she had a water party at school so that meant she needed a swimsuit.  I started the weekend before, but had sizing issues so ended up making the final product all on Tuesday. 

I used Ottobre Design design 27 B from issue 3/16.  It has a cute little skirt and criss cross straps and the other version has ruffles along the top.

It was a fairly easy sew and will probably sew another one, especially since I have one all cut out and started that turned out to be way too big for her.  Eleanor is so hard to size since she is 118cm tall but her waist size puts her in the 92cm size.

Sewing in No Man's Land: Taking Notes Skirt

This first blog that I ever started following was Sewing in No Man's Land.  Her oldest daughter is just about the same age as Eleanor so finding her tutorials for the cutest outfits in the size I needed was perfect, plus her photography is just amazing.  When I saw that she was looking for pattern testers for her Taking Notes Skirt, I jumped at the opportunity.

 I tested both the girls' and women's.  The pattern is lovely and so quick and easy.  Eleanor's has a curved waistband, ties and is simply gathered.  Mine has the straight waistband and box pleats.  

The Taking Notes Skirt is available to everyone who signs up for her amazing new project, Sew What Club, which is a monthly subscription to amazing patterns at a great price.

Also, my blouse was made from Ottobre 5/2013 #8 Girly Touch with the sleeves from #12 Peplum Blouse.  I really like it and the fit is lovely.  The placket was a horror to figure out.

Pattern Testing - Love Notions: Lotus Blossom Blouse

Another pattern testing!  This time I tested a really quick sew for Love Notions.  The Lotus Blossom Blouse looks complicated with the twist in the front, but actually is fairly simple and it comes in a full range of sizes; from little girls' 2T all the way up to ladies XXXL (though girls and ladies are sold separately there is a discount for buying the bundle).

I love that there is also the option to have a lace inset at the back neckline.  I would have loved to do that, but I didn't have any stretch lace and I'm not allowed to buy more fabric.

I also made my jeans.  They were full length, but my fabric seems to keep shrinking even though I prewashed it, so I just rolled them up into capris.  I made them using #9 Lady Fit Jeans from the 5/2012 issue of Ottobre Design.  They turned out really well, though I have to keep pulling them up all the time and my zipper gave me issues.  I love that I used a floral fabric for the pocket bags and waistband lining for a little bit of fun.

Ottobre Design: #24 1/2015 Jeanie Skirt

Eleanor recently wore out her last pair of jeans (plus they might have been a tad short) and since she is allowed to wear jeans on Fridays at school, I decided I should probably make her a new pair.  I made myself a pair a little while back and had some leftover fabric.  Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough for pants, but it was enough for a skirt.

I used #24 from the latest kids edition of Ottobre Design, 1/2015.  It was a rather fast sew and turned out so cute.  It has an elastic waist, faux fly, pockets with flaps that snap closed, and topstitching. 

 The only changes I made was to lengthen it a bit and use a fun pansy print for under the pocket flaps.

Sewing for Me: Ottobre 2/2011 #1 Trento

I've been a bit frustrated with my lack of options for shirts, so I've been making an effort to make more time to sew for me.  This is one that I really only like in this outfit.  The shirt turned out way too short, even after adding to the pattern length.  I used a clearance nightgown for the fabric so it is nice and soft.  The pattern is Ottobre 2/2011 #1 Trento.  I have a favorite t-shirt pattern, but thought I'd give this one a try for more variation.

Project Run and Play "Spring Break Challenge"

This week's challenge is to design an outfit based on a favorite vacation spot or dream vacation.  My favorite place to visit is the Oregon Coast, so I used that as my inspiration.  Just like at the coast it was a bit windy when we went to do pictures so it was hard to get very good ones with a very wiggly 4 year old.

I made capris since they are perfect for dipping toes in the ocean.  I used the Ottobre Designs pattern 'Row Boat' from 3/2013 in the smallest size, because Eleanor has a tiny waist and I wanted them a bit shorter than pictured.  It might be hard to see, but there are cute little button tabs at the hems.  I just learned that Eleanor doesn't like pants to hide her belly button so they look way longer than what they should.  Silly girl.

For the top, I used Hollywood Cerise from the 3/2012 issue of Ottobre Designs cut to a tunic length.  I bought some super cute wave fabric with paper boats on it last summer that I knew would be perfect.  I didn't want the waves to over power it so I just some red for contrast.  I also did all the stitching in red so it shows some all the details when you see it in person.

I love the buttons going down the back.

Ottobre Design 4/2013 Princess Castle

Soon after we moved in I finished this tunic for Eleanor.  It is the Princess Castle from 4/2013 issue of Ottobre.  The fabric is a little wild for me, but it was clearance and I knew Eleanor would love it.  It seams as though I was right, because she is always asking to wear her smiley dress.

My only complaint is that once again, I should have made it skinnier to fit her better.

 This pattern has some really fun details like the circle pockets and cross over bodice.  There are also dress and long sleeve options.

Eleanor is becoming such a big girl.  Where did my baby go?

Project Run and Play: "Put Me in the Zoo"

With moving basically done and living with my parents, I have a lot more time for sewing so I'm going to do my best to do the sew a long for Project Run and Play.  The first week's theme is "Put Me in the Zoo".  I thought about doing kitties, mice,or giraffes, and somehow got thinking about ants.  Ants led me to thinking about picnics.  So my idea was a red gingham wrap skirt with a curved front with ants along the edge going up to a shirt with a picnic basket.

I thought I had a pattern for a wrap skirt that I could adjust easily to the shape I wanted, but it turns out it was just a pleat.  So I did a mash up of Ruby Jean's Twist and Shout Skort with Violette Field Threads' Vivienne Skirt.  As much as I love the ruffles on the Vivienne skirt, I wanted something more play/picnic friendly.

I really think the ants make the skirt.  They are so fun!

For the shirt, I used the Seesaw shirt pattern #17 from Ottobre (yes again, I love my subscription!) from the 3/2012 issue.  The flutter sleeves are so fun.  I made the smallest size, but added length to where her heights suggests.  As it turns out, she must have a very long torso, because I should have added more length.

 Luckily, Laurel has the same waist size.  So the next time this is worn will probably be by Laurel.  All in all, I love it. 

Ottobre 1/2014 #25 Funny Faces Dress

When I saw Sew McCool was doing a sew along for an Ottobre pattern, I knew I had to follow along, especially since it was one of the patterns I wanted to make anyways. 

I made Design B, because I love bows and have way more woven fabrics than knits.  I used a synthic fabric that I had leftovers from to try to use it up.  It was such a pain to work with; slippery, but stiff and frays like crazy.

I just realized I didn't get a picture of the hem.  There is a hem band that peeks out a quarter of an inch of pink gingham to give a faux piping look.

I learned my lesson and am now going to start tracing patterns based on Eleanor's waist size and just add length.  She is so skinny and tall.

I also got a free swatch of silk from spoonflower so I turned it into a bow.

You can find the round up of the sew a long here.

Little Rain Clouds

I meant to blog about this a while ago, but forgot to get pictures.  Then today the girls just happened to both be wearing them at the same time so I took some quick shots.

Every year, on the first weekend of November, the youth group we help out with has a leadership retreat at the camp we live/work at.  On Saturday night of the retreat they always have a dress up (costumes rather than formal) banquet.  Each year is a fun theme and this year's theme was rain (thanks to a VERY wet camporee).  The attendees were supposed to dress prepared for rain or the opposite.  I thought it would be cute to dress the girls up as rain clouds.  So right after everyone else was finishing Halloween costumes, I was starting these.

I only made the skirts and leggings.  The bubble skirts were from a pattern from the book Making Children's Clothing.  It is a really cute book, but I've found the sizing to be all over the place.  This is the book that got me started on making clothes for my girls.  I had wanted to make the skirts using the same fabric I used for my ironing board cover, but I had less than I thought I did, so I used an old bed skirt.

I used an Ottobre Designs pattern for the leggings, but I don't remember which one.  I appliqued nearly 50 raindrops between the two pairs.  I highly suggest getting fabric paint if you are going to do something like this.

I thought about embroidering "I'm just a little black rain cloud..." or "Tut tut! It looks like rain!" but I was too lazy.  In the very least, I tried to get the girls to say it whenever I could.

This is what they wanted to do instead of standing still for me.

I sewed something for me!

You may have noticed it has been awhile since the last Sugar Baby post.  Well, that is because I've been trying really hard to get back to my pre-baby body and maybe closer to pre-marriage body.  So there goes super yummy sugary date night.  But thanks to losing weight and a lot of my clothing getting worn out, I got to go shopping and I also made me a shirt (along with buying a lot of fabric to make more). 

I used a pattern from the latest women's issue (2/2013) of Ottobre Design, called Lemon Juice (#13).  I was a bit nervous about making it.  It seems like everything I made for me turns out weird, plus I was working with knit (still scares me a little) and it was a very strange shaped pattern due to the side drape.  In the picture, it is the one on the far right.

Source 

I am so happy with how it turned out!  My only complaint is that it is a little big, due to apparently going down a size from the time I had Michael measure me to when I finished the shirt.  But thanks to the drape it is hard to tell.  So my complaint is also a good thing too. (Yay for losing weight!)

Ottobre Designs: Magic Tales Hooded Jacket

This week I made Eleanor a fleece sweater.  I used another pattern from Ottobre Designs from their 4/2012 issue.  It was really fast and easy.  I could of had it done in an afternoon if my husband didn't suddenly need me to go to town for him (half hour to the nearest grocery store).

I got the fleece from fabric.com.  I was expecting the caterpillars to be much smaller, but I still like it.

Source

The only problem I had was with topstitching.  They said to topstitch with the edge of the pressure foot as a guide, but that was the same size as my seam allowance, so it didn't tack down the seam allowance very nicely.  Next time I make it I will adjust what I do to make it look nicer inside.

All that matters is that Eleanor loves it, especially the hood.  She was wearing it while we read the book Do You Have a Hat? and nearly each time it asked that she said, "Yes, it's on my head."

Ottobre Designs: Funky Boy Pants for a Girl.

I've been getting Ottobre Designs since Mother's Day and I love them!  They are so lovely and come together really easily and well (once I figure out what they are saying).  I've known for a while that Eleanor needed pants, but I was able to procrastinate for a while due to summer and calling her too-short-pants 'capris'.  But now it is cold outside and she has officially become too tall for all her pants.  One of the reasons I waited was, because I couldn't find a good jean pattern I liked (or for free).  I was torn on using the Funky Boy jean pattern from the issue 4/2012, because the pockets really bothered me.  They are fairly long and low.  Out of desperation, I gave in and gave it a try.

They were really easy to put together, up until the fly, but I am new at flies so it is all on me.  The only thing I changed was the back pockets and I accidentally put the coin pocket on the wrong side.  I used the Bow Pocket Tutorial by Simple Simon and Co.  Instead of using their measurements, did cut the rectangles a little smaller to match the width of the pocket pattern better.  I love how they turned out, I just wish I had been brave enough to place them higher.  With the pockets so low it makes it look like her pants of falling down, which they were, but made it look worse.  I think that if I use this pattern again I will bring the pockets up a lot closer to the back yoke.

The waist seemed a little snug and low, but open in the back, so I'm not sure how long they are going to fit.  I don't think they were intended for children who still wear diapers.  They are kind of like skinny jeans that are extra long.  For the most part, I'm happy with how they turned out and so is Eleanor.

The flower fabric I used in the pocket make me especially happy.

KCWC: Final Results

This week turned out really productive!  Days One and Two, I was able to get two patterns traced out for the much awaited fabric.  

Day Three, I traced another pattern and cut out the pieces from fabric.  

Later that day, one of my packages of fabric came! Yay!  The only downside was that one of the fabrics I ordered mysteriously decided to become a blue damask home decor fabric instead of a blush pink stretchy cotton.  I've only been having problem after problem with this month's fabric orders, but that is way too much drama to go into.

Day Four, I was able to make a little progress on the top and got my new denim prewashed for Eleanor's new pants.  I also got my other box of fabric I had been waiting for.  I can't wait to make her the vintage footie pajamas, but they have to wait till after I make her pants.  I think she is down to one pair of pants and they might also be too short.

On Day Five, I spent extra time sewing (aka procrastinating on cleaning) today, since I knew I wasn't going to sew on Saturday due to it being our Sabbath and going to Michael's brother's birthday party till late at night.  The shirt is finished, though, except for the elastic shirring around the waist, since I don't have any elastic thread.  I even asked Michael to pick some up this week, but the Walmart employees had no idea what elastic thread was.  

I love how the shirt turned out so far.  If you haven't tried Ottobre Designs, you really should.  Their patterns have such amazing little details that really make the outfit and their directions for finishing really make it look professionally done.  I find it great that most of their items look like more everyday kid comfortable that you could find in most any store, in contrast to lots of sewing patterns that seem to be ultra frilly and ruffles galore.  Don't get me wrong, I like ultra frilly in the right time and place, but I find it hard to incorporate in regular every day wear.  Anyways, back to the shirt.  Eleanor loves it!  Lately, she has been really into princesses and crowns.  She even makes some out of her Duplos.  And I thought that the main fabric was perfect, since it has little crowns on it.  When she tried it on, she pretended to put on the crown.  It was so cute!

Day Six. Sabbath and party.  (I had to include Day Six, even though I didn't sew, because I'm too OCD to not to). 

Day Seven, I got one pair of jeans cut out.  I'm using a light weight denim so that they will be comfortable for her and not too stiff.  I'm not to keen on the pocket the pattern has so I'm going to try the Bow Pocket Tutorial by Simple Simon and Co.  Hopefully, it will turn out super cute.

Source

Maybe later on today I'll get more done on the jeans, but for now I am just going to read a story to my girlies.