Sewing for Girls

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New Sewing Machine Initiation

FWC AHenry Lead

I did it. I bought a new sewing machine. A real machine. A serious machine. Not one that bounces around the table when sewing thick fabrics; nor one whose automatic buttonhole feature means it automatically makes irregular buttonholes.

I really do need to spend some time with the machine’s instruction book, learning all the new tricks this baby offers. But I couldn’t help getting straight to garment sewing the first night. It was actually a great hands-on way to get accustomed to the machine, although I did need to refer to the manual a lot. Everything is different from my old machine, from loading the bobbin, threading the needle, selecting stitches. And by “different” I mean incredibly easier and smoother — and most of all, much quieter! The quiet factor is truly appreciated considering I do 90% of my sewing at night when my children are (hopefully) asleep, and my sewing room is right above my daughter’s bedroom.

So far, so good. I’ll share some more detailed thoughts and observations a few months down the road, once I have more experience with the machine.

FWC AHenry Back

I chose a simple A-line jumper, in fall colors, for my new machine’s initiation project. Pattern: Ruby Ruffle Dress by The Cottage Mama. It’s a good pattern with several variations and helpful instructions. I even learned a new way to finish the hem on a lined dress. The fabric is from Alexander Henry’s Zhivago collection (Anastasia in purple).

FWC AHenry Front

A  bit of the trite “two birds with one stone” — breaking in my machine and adding to my daughter’s fall wardrobe.

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FWC AHenry Truck

I was able to eek out a size 2T using only one yard of the main fabric (lining is in a contrast fabric), although it did require different print placement for the front and back of the dress since the floral print is rather large and linear. I centered the floral lines on the dress front, and then spaced them to the sides on the dress back.

FWC AHenry Sidewalk

FWC AHenry Back Walk

 

More fall sewing coming up soon. Kids Clothes Week is just over a week away. I need to get organized and create a “to make” list and select fabrics! Yikes!

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Who Brings a Fleece Vest to a Pool Party?

Who brings a fleece vest to a pool party? I do. Yep, that’s the kind of crazy stuff that goes down around here.

It was a princess pool party for a four-year-old birthday girl, and Eli and I wanted to present the lovely princess with something handmade. Since it is already August (and how the heck did that happen already?!), I was reluctant to sew something too summery for fear that it wouldn’t get many wearings before the weather turns cooler. When I saw this bright animal print stretch denim at Jo-Ann’s, I knew I wanted to use it for the birthday present, and Eli approved. After tossing around several ideas, I finally decided it would pair perfectly with fleece, in an appropriately princess pink shade, of course, for a fun vest.

I really love this vest. The animal print is more bold than fabric I typically choose, but I think the bright primary colors keep it playful and appropriate for a child. And the stretch denim was a dream to work with; nice weight, not too stiff, washed up nicely, easy to sew.

And when Miss Princess is not in the mood to be rainbow-hued, she can swap it to the other side. Oh, did I mention the vest is reversible? Still a pop of color, but a bit more serious.

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I used the FLIP Vest pattern by Dana from MADE. I previously made my son a vest using this pattern, and was eager to use the pattern again. It’s the kind of pattern that is such a breeze to work with, you’ll find yourself imagining all kinds of fabrics to pair together for a sharp looking vest. Considering that I wear a fleece vest around the house all winter, the way that some people have a favorite sweatshirt, it’s a good thing this pattern isn’t in adult sizes, or I might have a closet full of vests!

I sewed the vest in size 4/5T with only two modifications: I cut the front neckline slightly lower than the pattern, and lengthened the vest by about an inch and a half (hoping this might help stretch the vest’s fit into next spring). The pattern offers two options for attaching the armhole ribbing, and I chose option #2. I also used a denim needle for my machine, which I think helped given the combined thickness of the denim and the fleece layers.

So, whether the princess chooses to show her sassy print side or more subdued solid side, we are sending her warm birthday wishes!

 

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KCW Summer 2013: Halter Top & Skirt

It’s Kids Clothes Week again! This is the first time that Kids Clothes Week has ever been held during the summer. I’d like to jump up and down with excitement, but it’s too darn hot. Sweat through your shirt with the slightest effort kind of hot. Yuck. I’ve been gnashing my teeth and shaking a fist at this heat and humidity for weeks now.

I feel really lucky to have a dedicated sewing space in my home, but that space is essentially in a finished portion of the attic and has no air conditioning. So sewing is a pretty steamy affair around here right now. Despite the fact that I have enough visions of cute summery dresses and fun shorts to easily fill a week’s worth of sewing, I think I may keep my KCW contributions to a minimum this time around. I’m happy to divert my energy toward cheerleading for those KCW participants who are braving the heat. Unless of course they’re sewing while in the comfort of their air-conditioned homes. In which case I am jealously giving them the evil eye. Kidding (sort of)!

Before succumbing to generalized humidity-induced crankiness – a condition that has been known to last even beyond summer – I did manage a project for Kids Clothes Week. Unfortunately, I don’t have any good detail pictures. I’m going to blame that on the heat and humidity, too! It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that a certain mommy dragged her children to the park at noontime on a 90+-degree day to take pictures. Nope. While we’re at it, can I also blame the humidity for my daughter’s hair? It’s time for that fine baby hair to give way to luscious locks, or at least a little curl. Please!! It’s kind of funny how we’re on opposite ends of the hair spectrum. Mine is a thick frizz-fest right now.

Despite the fact that I spent some time this past weekend purposefully selecting fabrics and sketching ideas for KCW, this project was a spur of the moment idea. The halter top fabric and the skirt fabric ended up next to each other in my fabric stash quite accidentally (yeah, I wish my stash was organized enough to be sorted by color), and they caught my eye as I sat down for a night of sewing. Given all this sticky weather, I was determined to sew something for staying cool. The shirt fabric is a linen/rayon blend I purchased a few weeks ago with plans to make a skirt for myself, and the skirt fabric is a cotton print from the clearance rack at Jo-Anns.

Yes, the halter top wrinkles more easily than cotton because of the linen, but it has a great drape with the rayon. I think I need to resurrect my plans to make myself a skirt, since I have enough fabric leftover.

I made the halter top the same way I’d make a pillowcase dress, so it was very simple. I upgraded the project a bit by using french seams on the top and skirt for a nice finished look on for the interior. The top is faced around the armholes using the same fabric as for the skirt, cut on the bias to give it stretch. Rather than a long ribbon or tie to close the neckline (like here), I enclosed a skinny piece of elastic (1/4 inch) in a loop of fabric made with the coordinating cotton print. The elastic stretches enough to make it easy to pull the top on and off, and eliminates the need for a long ribbon that ends up flapping around, coming untied and getting in the way. This may become my new method for finishing pillowcase dresses and tops.

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I love this park. When Daisy was a newborn this park was on our regular walking route, and it was so peaceful to push the carriage through here. Probably in large part because it’s not a “playground park”; it’s quiet, with big open spaces, a greenhouse, an area for community gardens, and some remaining structures from when the land was privately owned, all surrounded by a stone wall. It has a very interesting history. And despite the heat, the kids were having a fun (sweaty) time exploring. Eli has already proposed that we return with a picnic lunch.

No, we did not add our initials!

Unintentionally coordinated outfits — obviously I like these colors!

It was reassuring to see them embrace this park without a playground. It’s easy to feel like we’re constantly overloaded with distractions that keep us from enjoying the simple beauty around us.  And while I have fun sliding and swinging with them at the playground, too, I welcomed the break from jungle gyms, bats, balls and toys. And especially, sandboxes. Eeeww, I still feel the same way about sandboxes.

 

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All Dressed Up

Before I forget, I want to share the dress I made my daughter to wear at a recent family wedding. The dress that I almost talked myself out of making. Which is an easy thing to do when you stop by TJMaxx the week of the wedding and see a handful of really cute dresses for less than $15.00 each, and think to yourself, “gee, how fast and easy would it be to just have her wear that?!” But then you remind yourself that you have been wanting to make her a dress with these Amy Butler fabrics for a long time now. And you steer clear of the children’s department and you go home and sketch a pattern and sew and are happy you did it.

I intended for the dress to be worn sleeveless, but unfortunately it was rainy and cold the day of the wedding. Rather than change gears and dress my daughter in something warmer, I surrendered to pairing the dress with a t-shirt and leggings underneath. It wasn’t really the look I was going for, but I was (stubbornly) determined that she wear the dress.  And, of course, her zebra-striped dancing shoes!

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And although the day’s weather mostly resembled a monsoon, there was a brief respite from the rain that allowed the bride and groom a chance for outdoor photographs. Hurrah! They were radiant and we had a blast celebrating with them.

Eli wore a suit for the first time, and my emotions went from “oh, look how cute,” to “wait a second, he’s growing up WAY too fast,” in about five seconds flat.  While his suit jacket was a decent enough fit, the matching pants were too baggy. A quick serge along the outside seams of each pant leg transformed the pants into a slimmer fit. Okay, so that’s not the way a tailor would have done it, but it got the job done, fast. And he was ready to dance, too, in his Converse!

I think Eli accurately captured all of our sentiments about the event.  “Mommy, I really like weddings,” he said at breakfast the next morning.  Me, too! Best wishes and much love to the happy couple!