Project Run and Play: Greenery

I really enjoy sewing along with the challenges for Project Run and Play.  It helps me to maybe sewing things that I wouldn't normally or learn more about sewing in general.  This week I discovered that I don't buy green fabric.  I don't have anything against green, I just don't buy it apparently.  Given that this week's challenge focused on green, I had to think about how I was going to get it without actually having to buy more fabric (I'm trying to be good, I promise).  I was very tempted to get out the green dye from my tie dye kits and try to make a gingham like pattern, but I didn't was the mess or hassle.  Then one day I was putting something away in my closet, when I saw a dress I made when I was first learning to sew that I don't wear (the sewing on it is a bit embarrassing).  It just happened to be green.

So the outfit I made is green in a couple ways, color obviously and it has been recycled a few times.  The green fabric started out as a sheet before I turned it into a dress and the tan fabric was a slipcover I made for a couch that didn't turn out well before I used it in the dress as lining.

The pattern is Zephyr from Figgy's.  I changed the straps to be able to tie at the shoulders.  I've made it a couple time and the button loops always give me problems coming out the seam.  If I make it again, I will have to remember to find a way to improve on it.

The bows are so cute!

The Cottage Mama: Party Dress

This last weekend we went to the park right after church and I realized that I didn't blog about the girls' Easter dresses, so I took a few pictures before having them change into play clothes.

I used The Party Dress pattern.  It is a free pattern by The Cottage Mama.  I love the look of this dress.  It is a very easy sew, though it is a bit of a fabric hog.

I love this picture of Eleanor.  I just wish I knew how to edit the hair out of her face.

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.

Sew What Club: City Tee

Another month, another pattern tested for Sew What Club.  I have been hoping a top would show up soon and it did and it is a great one.  It is the City Tee and it has a bunch of options with three different sleeves and three ways to finish the neckline.

I made the cuffed sleeve with the neck tie.  This pattern is so fast and easy to make as well as comfy.  I really like how it turned out.

Here is a fun photo.  Laurel took a picture of Eleanor taking a picture of me. 

You do what you have to do to get pictures when pattern testing. Picture by Laurel. #sewwhatclub #citytee

A photo posted by Tonia Jeffery (@littleellalu) on Feb 22, 2016 at 4:46pm PST

Sew What Club: Taylor Dress

Sew What Club has another amazing pattern coming out.  It is the Taylor Dress, featuring a high-low hem with layers of tulle and the option for an overlay or a less fuss fitted pencil skirt dress.

Other than the layers of tulle, this a fairly simple dress to make and turns out fantastic.

The only change I made was shortening the tulle by 6 inches (I'm rather short) and shortening the main skirt a little, but left the lace length.  Now I want to make a version with more tulle and tea length.

Sew What Club: Butterfly Dress

I hope it doesn't feel like all I sew anymore is from Sew What Club.  It just happens to be what I either need to take pictures of (for testing) or what I want to blog about.  I used their free pattern (for signing up for the newsletter) Butterfly Dress for the girls' Picture Day dresses.  I love the bows!

It was a really fast sew.  I was able to get both sewn in one day.  The fabric for Laurel's is Castles and Carriages and feels amazing and so soft.

  The girls love them and they turned out so cute. 

I've decided that this dress works best with a large print.  Without the belt, Eleanor's looks like a hospital gown.  It is still cute though.

Eleanor decided to get a little goofy at the end.

Sew What Club: Sanibel Dress

The next pattern from Sew What Club is the Sanibel Dress/Romper.  There are lots of details and it can be made with long sleeves or short.  I made the dress version with long sleeves.

It is very comfortable, though I think next time I would lengthen the skirt.

Sew What Club: Trouville

Sew What Club just released another women's pattern; the Trouville cover up.  It can be used on the beach as a cover up or wear it to town or even in the Fall throw on a cardigan and you are ready to go.

The fit on this dress feels wonderful and comfortable.  Other than all of those buttons and button holes, it is a fairly quick sew.  It has front and back yolks and you can add fun trims to the front yolk to jazz it up.

Sew What Club: Lille

I recently made me a new dress using the Lille dress pattern from Sew What Club during testing for them.  It is a really versatile pattern in that it can be made casual or dressy so easily, just with fabric selection and accessories.

My version isn't 100% accurate of the pattern released since quite a bit of tweaking to the pattern was done after I made this one, but I still like it.  The contrast pockets are a fun addition; for them I luckily found the same green as the leafage on the bird fabric.  I had also planned to take nicer pictures, but the temperature outside was way too hot to brave it.

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.

Project Run and Play May:Summer Chevrons Shirt

This month for Project Run and Play, everyone is working with Crafty Cupboard's Summer Chevrons Shirt.  

For my version, I used knit and left off the elastic waist, because shirts like that tend to get caught on her little belly.  Since it was for her and I wanted a few minutes quiet while she rummaged, I let Laurel pick the fabrics.  The kitty knit is from an inexpensive 3xl tank top that I got to make something for the girls.  

By the time I took these pictures, she had already worn it several times (and at the end of a full day field trip with kindergartners).  I probably should have ironed it, but it is a shirt for a child and who has time for that.  I also only got these few pictures, though a couple are from the field trip, because the battery on the camera died.  It has been a long day.

The changes I made was to curve the neckline and not include the waist elastic or the button closure.

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.

Sewing Rabbit: Knot Dress/Julie's Dress Mash Up

This month, Project Run and Play's challenge is to make something with Sewing Rabbit's Knot Dress.  I used it to make the girls' Easter dresses with some sweet rosebud fabrics.

Both girls were made a size 4 bodice and then for the skirt I used both skirt lengths and had a layered look like Sewing Rabbit's Julie's Dress pattern.  Laurel's is the size 4 lengths and Eleanor's is size 5.

Eleanor's dress is white lined in the pink fabric and Laurel's is pink lined in the white.

They loved the dresses so much, they insisted on wearing them and their crowns to buy milk after photos.  Such silly girls!

The crowns were made using this darling tutorial.