Saturday, May 21, 2011

Skirts 'n stuff

Several weeks ago Dana at made post a tut for really easy "simple skirts". I made matching ones for the girls. I supposed I should have prefaced with how I couldn't decide how I wanted to use the 1 yd of cutest fabric ever. I am totally kicking myself for not buying more of this awesome Michael miller print. I just couldn't decide how I wanted to use it and was a bit afraid that I would screw up whatever it was a chose to use it for and be forever devastated (especially since I got it from a local store for $6/yd and can now only find it for $12/yd).
The local fabric store, Fields, does these awesome specials where they will randomly put designers fabrics for $5.97/yd. I have not made the mistake again of only getting a yard. Sorry for the digression.
Without further adieu, presenting the simple skirt:


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Pinafore Dress/Shirt - Updated

In my last post, I had said that Emma was finally growing out of 12-18 month clothing, alas, I was mistaken.  I got out all her summer clothing from last year and it still fits.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind saving money and not having to purchase a new summer wardrobe for my little monster, but I am kind of sick of looking at the same clothes she wore all last summer.
Enter Maggie of Smashed Peas and Carrots.  She has some serious skills.  I stole borrowed her pattern for a pinafore dress that she made for her baby.  It totally fit her little as a dress, but I thought it could work for Emma in shirt form.  A nice, breezy shirt for the humid summer.

 Cute, Right???? :)
Great job on the pattern, Smashed Peas and Carrots, and more importantly, thank you for sharing!
Finally, a warm enough day to wear this shirt/dress:







On another note, I wanted to post some cute Meijer pics of Emma (gotta love their penny ponies):
OOOOOO! Horse, Mommy!

"Emma put your arm up, ride 'em cowgirl!"

"Your arm, not your feet, Silly"

"There ya go"

"Uh-Oh, over" :(

A sad moment in the life of a two year old when Mommy can't find anymore pennies.


Ps, that top was being borrowed by some friend's of ours (old one of Emma's size 6-12month), and their ten month old just outgrew it.  Emma found it and had to wear it, because at two, "Emmie do it self".
"sigh".......

Friday, May 6, 2011

Wow.... Its been a loooooonnnnngggg time!

It was sort of for a good reason, which I will totally get to someday, but for now lets just forgive, forget and look at my latest project!
So, last weekend was the annual Milham neighborhood garage sales, and I just absolutely could not resist stopping by and picking up some oh-so-cheap clothes to upcycle.  I am pretty sure other people have the same problem as I do when fitting their children with clothes.  Emma is so petite and is just growing out of 12-18 months clothing, in the length that is.  She is also obsessed with fish, and I found this cute fishy shirt in a 2T.  Of course it was too big to wear as a shirt, so I turned it into this:
Here is how it went down......
Start with a cute but big shirt

Cut off the top, just below the armpits

Cut off the neckline and sleeves (I'm saving the sleeves to dissect later, so I can teach myself how to sew sleeves, plus I can use them for a pattern).


Cut what is left into two strips to use as the waist band (now probably isn't the time to admit it but, I had no idea what I was doing when I started this project, which I am ok with because I generally have no idea how to sew and just end up going with the flow), then sew them together.

Sew a gathering stitch along one side, you could do both sides, but Emma's butt kinda sticks out and skirts always end up short on the backside, so I decided this might help give the appearance of extra length in the back..... And for once it worked in my favor.

Now, put right sides together and sew.  Since this was a knit shirt I think I was supposed to use a special needle, but i didn't.  I believe you should also use some sort of stretch stitch, but I didn't do that either.  Regular needle, straight stitch.... it worked for me this time.

Once you've got that together, you could probably leave it, but I wanted to make folded waist band, so I folded it over and pinned again and sewed another straight stitch with a regular needle

Emma's skirt!
Ta-Da!!!


 Its also good to try to take pictures without cutting off your kid's head..... what can I say, I don't do anything the way you're supposed to :)

MMMMMM peanut butter sandwich!