More T’s for KCW

Like I said on Monday, we’re fixing the things in my mending bag this week! I don’t think I’ll be featured on any of the KCW features, but it needs to get done!

Here’s another one you might remember! About a year ago I made the monster tee! I was so proud of myself for sewing with knits! I loved this shirt. I was kinda rigging my machine to use the double needle and it was a pain! the thread kept getting twisted and breaking….

Then the hem came out. I threw it in the mending bag and forgot about it!

But it’s back! And I figured out how to set my machine up properly to do the double needle and it went so smoothly! And the hem is fixed.

And the kiddo is excited to have him monster shirt back!

So then I moved on to the taxi shirt! I wish I could find a picture of the kiddo wearing this when they were pj’s. We bought this in NYC about 3 years ago. The pj’s fit then. It was kinda like a onesie with legs.

It fit, but it was kinda funny, because it was so wide! The legs and the sleeves were the right size for a 2T. But the width wasn’t. It was super wide! And three years later, the sleeves are a bit short for a 5T.

So I cut off the legs and it still fits! 3 years later! I hemmed the bottom. I was going to take off the sleeves and add red ones, but then decided that since the arms still fit, I just made it a short sleeved t-shirt instead!

More KCW done. You?

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A Sewing Fail Revived!

Do you remember this project?

It was my Tic Tac Toe game shirt I made for Season 2 of Sew Ready to Play. The Tic Tac Toe game itself was designed by my husband and is totally cool. The game itself wasn’t a fail. It gets played with still. But as a shirt…. Never got worn…. I should have known from that look on the kiddos face, huh?

So for my first day of Kids Clothes Week, I’m bringing it back as a plain old t-shirt. I didn’t make the shirt. But I did use my seam ripper to remove all the Velcro. So that’s partly sewing right?

Ok, here’s the deal. This is my sewing room. Piles ‘o projects! See the shelves of fabric? See all the piles in front of the shelves of fabric? That’s all projects in the works. I’m really trying to finish all these projects this year. One thing that isn’t in the picture is a bag of projects that needed mending. So my first night of KCW was spent planning and going through my mending bag to see what I needed to fix. A couple of things just went away.

And then there were these two sweaters… Both had holes in them at some seams. So no knitting involved, just two quick stitches. The one on the bottom has been in the bag for over a year and it took a whole 2 minutes to fix… Why do I do this??? Wait so long for a 5 minute project??? I don’t know!

And then I found the orange striped t-shirt!

I saw that it was actually a 4T. Not so sure why I had my2 year old wearing it back then, but it still fits. Maybe not for long, the sleeves are getting a bit short. but Hey for the rest of spring, my son has a new shirt and it’s so soft. He wouldn’t take it off!

So day one of KCW, I did some planning and mending and reviving a failed project. It might not be new from scratch, but it’s Kids Clothes!

Did you make anything?

KCW- More Overalls!

I know, Kids Clothes Week is technically over…. But I’m still going!

Another pair of overalls! Yep!

This time the boy version. A real version!

It’s pretty much exactly like the version I did yesterday. I’m still working on the kinks in the pattern and pattern directions. I’m thinking I’m going to learn how to make patterns! This is totally inspiring me to go for it!

This is the real pair that I’ve made for my friend’s son’s adoption on Thursday. So first, I’m crossing my fingers it gets there before Thursday! And secondly, since they are about 3000 miles away, I’m crossing my fingers it fits!! Ahh!!

And since it’s the real thing, I actually did all the top stitching and finishing of the seams, etc!

Originally I had the fabric picked out to be this super thin, bright green corduroy. Then realized that it’s hot in Florida about this time of year. SO I changed to just a bright green cotton with an owl accent fabric. Then last minute, with the husband’s help, we totally switched to blue and brown star fabric! I’m thinking it was a good choice!

OK, I’m taking a break from overalls for a couple of days!

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KCW-Update

I don’t have much to show for the work I’ve been doing, but I thought I’d give you an update and let you know I’m still working!

And, man, I feel like I am thinking this into the ground…. Cutting and sewing tomorrow! More soon!

KCW- Day 1- Fire Shorts!

Yep, it’s that time of year again! Another round of Kids Clothes Week! Fair warning though… This round I’m not making one thing a day and blogging about it each day! I will work every day, but I don’t think I’ll be finishing a different project each day! Ok, with that said, here’s Day 1-

 

The Fire Shorts!

 

To start, this fabric is not something I’d pick out myself! My son has been asking about this fabric at the quilt shops for months. Then finally I broke down. I figured if he’s been asking for the  same thing for this long, maybe he really wants it… I asked him what he wanted to do with the fabric and he immediately said, shorts!

 

Then he asked every day, why I hadn’t made his shorts yet. One day I told him I had to do something, I forget what it was, but he responded, ‘You did that, but you didn’t have to do it. You could have made them!’

Either way, they were made and he loves them. He’s actually worn them two days in a row.

The shorts are patterned the same way I did the comfy pants. Instead of an elastic pocket, I used wide black elastic and left it exposed as the waistband. I knew I had to add something to break up the flames, so that’s where the black pockets and black hem came into the design! The kiddo actually requested no ‘cuff’, so I made a large ‘hem’ instead.

I asked him if they were worth the wait and he totally agreed that it was! I love having a happy kid wearing the clothes that I make for him!

KCW Day 7- Almost…

I had a good run at KCW this year, but I didn’t quite complete all of my projects…

I did work yesterday on another project, but didn’t anywhere near done…

I have three projects that I didn’t get done. Project 1: A cute little romper for a friends son, which means I need to make a pattern ’cause I can’t find one that I want. Project 2: A new pair of pants for my son, using Blank Slate’s Coastal Cargos pattern. And the last project, Project 3: Turning this adult octopus t-shirt into a kids tee.

Just cause KCW has come to a close, it doesn’t mean that I’m stopping! This week I have to switch direction to party decorations and quilting. But you will see these projects soon!

Did you finish all your projects??

KCW Day 6- Monster Tee

I was crossing my fingers the whole time I was sewing this shirt, hoping and hoping that it would fit over the noggin’!

And it did! Not even a struggle! Woo Hoo!

I also have a huge problem finding cool knit fabric for the boy. So I finally resorted to online. I found a few great ones at Banberry Place. Including this monster fabric by Lillestoff, a European import. Please explain to me why cool knits are so hard to find in this country??? I love Lillestoff! Love! It’s so nice and soft and the design is COOL!

My original plan was to use the Flashback Tee again. I used it once before and it was a bit tight, so I wanted to try it again the next size up. But then I was like… Well, maybe I reuse the Winter PJ top cause it fits so well. But the head thing… The winter PJ’s top goes on easy, but it’s kinda hard to get off.

So I went with the original plan to use the 4T Flashback tee pattern. And it’s perfect. Easy on. Easy off. Cute. Fast. Not too tight. Love.

I even remembered the tag! The kiddo was pretty excited about that!

And he wanted to be sure we showed the back of the t-shirt. Since it’s so different from the front….

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KCW Day 4 and 5- A Foxy Little Skirt

Ok, so here’s a scenario for you:

It’s Kids Clothes Week and you have a schedule.

It’s 11 pm. You neighbor calls and needs you to babysit while they go to the hospital.

What do you do?

A. Say, sorry, I have to sew it’s KCW…

B. Say, forget it KCW, I have to go help my friend.

or

C. Say, I’ll be right over, throw your project in a bag, grab your sewing machine and run out the door.

If you choose C, you and I would be great pals! That’s what I did! But as I was getting set up to work I realized I for got a few things. Like my cutting mat and iron.. So I was able to get some things done, but not actually finish. I got an hour of work in, which is the actual challenge. One hour of sewing a day. But this project overlapped for two days.

But isn’t is ADORABLE??? Remember my Foxy Sewing Machine Cover from a few weeks back? Well, a neighbor saw it and loved it, so it gave me the idea to turn it into a skirt for her kiddo!

Again, I used the precious little Lil’ Fox pattern by Artisania. And then I lined the back of it. I basically sewed the front and back right sides together with the rest of the skirt sandwiched in between. I really didn’t want all those seams from the piecing of the fox to show!

Then I added used French Seams to finish the skirt ends. I’m sure there’s a better was to finish the bottoms of the seams, but if there is, I don’t know what it is! I didn’t want any exposed edges.

I basically made it like curtains. You measure the width of the window and double it. For this I took the waist measurement and doubled it. For 3T the typical waist dimension is for the elastic is to use 20″ or so. SO I made the skirt 2 really long rectangles, 42 inches long. That’s it. Just two long rectangles!

I rarely sew for girls, but this was so exciting and fun. I think it’s just great. I kinda want to keep it. But I also can’t wait to give it away!

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KCW Day 3- The Beachy Boatneck

I know, it’s not PJ’s… I could make PJ’s all week, but… I’m in love with this one!

I love this pattern for the Beachy Boatneck by Blank Slate Patterns. I got it in a bundle of beachy patterns from Pattern Anthology.  I was moving right along. The pattern was super easy to put together! Nice and quick. I was so excited about my details, too.

Like, look how pretty the neck looks. I debated about topstitching. I didn’t want to do the double stitch, so I ended up with a slight zigzag to keep the stretch.

I even got most of the stripes to line up!

I used my new ‘serger like’ stitch I found to finish all the edges.

I added a tag. My son ALWAYS asks, ‘Which way is front?’ And I ALWAYS say, ‘Where’s the tag?’ So, I need to remember to add tags to the clothing that I make as well!

And then we tried it on….

And tried it on…

And tried again…

Note to self- Always try on before adding finishing details!

My son has always had a big head. It was even a little issue during childbirth, but I won’t go into that story here. His day care teacher LOVED it and said in her country large heads are a sign of brilliance! In my world, it doesn’t fit in shirts I make for him! Remember, we had a little trouble with the Popsicle PJ’s, too.

I don’t know what I did! The stretch is all going in the right direction. I used a stretch stitch to sew the neckline… I guess I need to modify the neck a little next time. I haven’t decided if I’ll try to fix this one or not. I took out the topstitching, but it didn’t help…

Any ideas?

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KCW Day 2- Outerspace PJ’s

Yep, more PJ’s!

These PJ’s, like yesterday’s PJ’s, are also from a pattern by Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop. These are the Winter PJ’s.

What do you think about this fabric? I like it. But not really excited about it anymore. At least not like I was when I bought it 3 years ago! Ha! I got it to make my son PJ’s when he was a baby baby! Never happened. Until now, that is!

The kiddo keeps wearing PJ’s that are too small for him. Mostly in the length. Even his belly pokes out of some! But they are so comfy and he loves them so… But it drives Nannie (my mom) crazy. Even when he does have new PJ’s on, she thinks he needs new ones. So, Nannie, he’s pretty set up with new PJ’s.

These were totally simple to make. And again, I ignored the 1/2 seam allowance and they fit great. Not too tight and not too baggy. As I was sewing along I realized that the pants looked SUPER long. SO I held off on adding the cuff. Luckily I caught myself before I went on. I ended up cutting off 4.5 inches from the pant pattern before I added the leg cuffs!

The arms are a little long too, but he’s not having anything to do with the idea of fixing them! So they stay. I almost fixed them anyway, but hey, he keeps growing and the sleeves stay the same…. So why not leave them a little bit long??

We put them on for the pictures and they never came off. It’s so funny… It’s starting to be like pulling teeth for him to get dressed for me ot take pictures, but once the camera actually comes out… Totally different story… A little comedian he thinks he is!

He’s sleeping in them tonight!

 

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