Tuesday, July 30, 2013

16 Wiksten Overdue

I'm reaching into the vault here and I'm finally showing my Wiksten tops.
*eesh*
I made this over a year ago. I know-I know! So late. When I saw Irene's Nani Iro version (back in November) I even commented that I was going to share mine soon. Shame on me. 
So here is my Nani Iro Wiksten. Double gauze and extra yummy. I made it into a dress, but after a few wears and pairing it with tights, the fabric would cling to the tights. Not a pretty sight.
So the answer to my problem... I'm gonna chop the length, make it into a top and if there's enough leftover, I'll make a skirt for Lala. If not a skirt than a scarf. *ugh* The thought of cutting this wonderful fabric makes my tummy turn...Oh the carnage!!!

Okay... now this one is even older than other one, but I had to show you it.
All lace with lining only in the front. Woohoo! A little bit of sexy doesn't hurt.
HA!
That's me being a dork. It's so awkward taking pictures. Thank God my photographer is just as big of a dork as me.
*note to self: wear shoes.*
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Thursday, July 25, 2013

1 Hip-Hip-Hoorah!!! It's Friday!!!


I have this song in my head.
I can't stop whistling.
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
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Friday, July 19, 2013

4 You Call It Pants Roundup

Check-check it out! YCIP in da house... WHOOOAAA!
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1. Cookin' and Craftin'  2. Nutta!  3. Anna Dungay  via Flickr Group 4. Sew Emotional via Flickr Group  5. Everything Else We Do  6. Polka Dot Elefant via Flickr Group  7. Sanae Ishida  8. Don't Lick the Floor  9. Anna Dungay via Pinterest  10. Sanae Ishida  11. Isola Bella via Flickr Group
More YCIP on KCW blog HERE and at Adventures of a Subversive Reader HERE and 19Nullsieben blog HERE.
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KCW is nearing to to an end, but it's not too late to get a last minute sewing project in by the weekend.
Get the pattern HERE and HERE and show off your pants HERE.

If you already made a pair, let me know! Leave a comment with a link.

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Have an awesome weekend, folks!!!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

20 Apron Shorts

I was really hoping to make this for Shorts On The Line sewing series, but alas time was not in my favor.
Drats! 
But things have a way of working out in the end and so I have it here, just in time for KCW. 
On our last romp to our favorite Japanese market for ice cream crepes and ramen (yes... ice.cream.crepes), I was skimming through Cucito's Spring 2013 Magazine and a pattern for apron shorts caught my eye. You can see Yifarn's review and pics of the magazine HERE and see the actual photo HERE.
"should I buy? Shouldn't I?"
Waffling back and forth wether or not to buy, I regretfully did not.
But the picture was forever etched in my brain. I had to make it.
Oh gosh, bubble shorts + apron = baby yumminess.
Give my kid a bowl and what's the first thing she does?
*nom-nom-nom-nom*

Well if there's no food in the bowl. Wear it.
I didn't have the pattern and so I self drafted one. I found the fabric at JoAnn's. Who knew! 

 The front band of the apron is actually the front band of the shorts and the apron ties are sewn in between the front and back waist band.
 Because the apron is so tiny and the ruffle detail is microscopic, I opted to just serge the edge versus killing myself folding a teeny hem.
I think next time I'll make the apron an inch shorter. The shorts came together quick and easy, and I can definitely see more of these in the future.
So this is my contribution for KCW. *sigh* I wish I had more time. Lily Moon and hubby are going to Comic-Con Friday and Lily wants to dress up. She wants to go as Party Poison. *shaking head*
Teenagers.
Such an interesting breed of creatures.
If I get some time, hopefully I can squeeze in another outfit for Lala. We shall see.
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Monday, July 15, 2013

16 Compagnie-M Pattern Test

Marte from Compagnie M was calling out for pattern testers for this fabulous frock.
I jumped at the chance and was one of the lucky ducks to to get first crack.
 The pattern was fairly easy to sew. It had plenty of pictures which is a big plus for me (i'm a picture kind of gal) and the pattern consists of 5 pieces which is another plus for me (too many pieces = too much work). The only difficulty was figuring out the metric conversions, but working with Japanese patterns for so long, it was really nothing at all.
Overall, I give the pattern two thumbs up! A great pattern!!!
I remember in Marte's previous post, she was trying to find a name for this blouse. Wanting to have more reader participation, she asked, "What do you think?". There were a few readers who mentioned the idea of naming it after a place or city and I couldn't agree more. 
Now the fabric you see here was by chance. I was digging through my stash, trying to find the right one. It came down to two options, but I wasn't completely sold. So I dug deeper... lo and behold, deep in recesses of my fabric bins, I found THE fabric!
Yummy, no? The fabric is, Etchings by 3 Sisters for Moda.
100% quilting cotton... 100% FAB-U-LOUS!!!
As I mentioned earlier, this is a great pattern, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to change it up a bit.
I widened the bottom opening at about 3/4", giving the blouse a slight A-line cut (Lala needed a little more tummy room).
I then gave the hem a soft curve both front and back
and did a soft inverted curve along the sides.
VERY minor details and almost unnoticeable, it was more of necessity to accommodate ones "healthy" build. *wink*
In the midst of all the children sewing hullabaloo, I'm sure you have one word on your mind...
"WHEN".
Soon, my pretties! Very soon! In the meantime, be sure to visit Marte's place for more inspiration and FREE patterns, yes... FREE!
Check it out!
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30 Baby Slip Dress Pattern

Do you remember this outfit?
It was made during the fall of 2012 after KCW. You can read more about it HERE.
Here's another one, just in time for Valentine's Day. (post HERE)
I ain't gonna lie... it's a great design. Simple, classic and easy to wear, BUT...
there was one itsy-bitsy flaw. It was tricky to put on. So after revisiting the pattern and making minor revisions, I have a new and improved pattern and
boy, am I happy.
happy.happy.happy.
SO deliriously happy that I'm offering the pattern to you
for FREE!!!
Yes, you read it right.
FREE.
Just in time for KCW and perfect to make for your little princess warrior.

The dress comes in sizes 6mos - 6yrs and the instructions has lots of photos to help you out.
Nothing gives me greater joy than to make lovely things for my girls and to be able to share this with you is just icing on the cake. A lot of time and love goes into making these patterns so pretty please... feel free to follow my blog, post pics of your dress(es) HERE and when you do get a chance to sew one up, come back and leave me a comment and tell me whatcha think.
So hop on over HERE for the pattern and get to sewin'!
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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

15 Shorts

I'm going bonkers over shorts...
bubble shorts...
sailor shorts...
short shorts...
Hey, did you get your $10 Old Navy shorts? Shorts...
Yah... shorts.
Yes, I got me some bubble shorts, sailor shorts, no on the short shorts, yes on the Old Navy shorts and now... (*trumpet horns*) the Prefontaine shorts by Made With Moxie!
Oh God, when I saw these babies pop up all over the internet, my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.  Having a good portion of my young existence in the eighties, I had my share of Dove shorts and to be able to bring it back is nothing short of RAD.
I have a bit of polka dot fabric from Lecien both in green and blue (which I used some HERE) and I thought it would be perfect to use here. Lala's doin' a bit of stretching in honor of these shorts and look... look at that yummy little belly. *gah* I just wanna give her zerberts on her belly all day.
One polka dot short down and one more to go...
I had left over fabric from the When We Were Young Series and some red piping. Aren't the buttons cute? The pattern is from Sweet Girls Clothes, pattern Z. A great book to have, btw. 
I can definitely see making some shorts in a wool blend for the fall/winter season. 
"Stella, where's the pockets?"
Cracks me up when she struggles to find her pockets. LOVE it! Gotta have pockets... where else can she put her half-eaten grapes and rocks?
Two more going into the Shorts On The Line, Flickr group! Have you entered? It's not too late!
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