Swimsuits!

Summer starts early here. We opened the pool for the season during Spring Break, at the end of March. It wasn't really that hot here, yet- we heated the pool. With a pool in our backyard and temperatures in the triple digits (we hit 115 this weekend), we plan to spend most days in the pool. This means we all need swimsuits, and more than just 1 each. It was perfect timing, because Katie and Leila were hosting SwimAlong2013. I had never sewn a swimsuit before- there had really been no need when we lived in Oregon. It proved to be really quite easy and quick!

I started with a swimsuit for Ashley. We used her old swimsuit, the one that was too small, as a guide. This did not go so well. It was too tight in the hips. I cut the bottom off of it, and decided to make a tankini.  After cutting a new, bigger bottom for the swimsuit, I realized I wasn't getting the leg opening right. I pulled out my Jalie underwear pattern and used that to fix it. I should have started with this pattern to begin with! The fabric was purchased at lowpricefabric.com.

I made a swimsuit for myself next, but don't have good pictures yet. They are all blurry. It will get it's own blog post someday soon. 

Natalie was begging for hers to be made next, so I picked out an Ottobre pattern and got to work. I used Ottobre 3/2009 #38 with #39 for the top. She and Alona loved this pink camo fabric.

Alona's swimsuit was so quick. Hers was my 4th swimsuit in 2 weeks and the same pattern as Natalie. She has the same size chest and waist as Natalie, so I just added a bit to the hips for hers.

My girls all love their new swimsuits! Can you tell? I wonder how tan they will be by the end of summer...

Casual Lady Dress from Go To Patterns

I was asked to test the Casual Lady Dress pattern for Go To Patterns in April. They needed the XXS again, so Ashley got another dress!

I ordered these cotton/spandex jerseys from Nature's Fabrics. The top one is the same fabric Katie used for the leggings she wore to our meetup and I loved the quality, so ordered some of my own. The blue with gold flecks was much thinner, sadly, so I decided to use it for this dress.

The dress was quick! 2 main pieces, 2 facing pieces. Easy. The instructions were great, and Ashley was so happy to have yet another dress. I will definitely make this pattern again. I might even try making the top for myself- yes, it can be a dress or a top.

Doesn't she look thrilled?

Simply Lovely dress for Ashley

A few months ago, Go To Patterns was looking for a pattern tester for their smallest women's dress size.  After taking a look at their sizing, I realized this would work perfect for my 12 year old and signed right up!  They sent me the Simply Lovely Dress pattern.

I picked out a stretch woven I've had in the stash for quite some time. I fell in love with the diagonal stripe, but never knew what to do with it.

I think this fabric has a little less drape than the recommended fabrics, but it works.  I would LOVE to make this in a light to mid weight linen!

The instructions were well written. The elastic at the waist was put in a way I never have seen before.  I followed the directions, not sure how it would work, but it did!  The sizing is great! Ashley is quite thin, so I was surprised that a women's pattern would have a size to fit. I did lengthen the dress, as usual.  I will probably do the straps differently the next time I make it, making the underarm binding continue up as the straps, as I think it will sit better on their shoulders.

This pattern is FREE, yes, free. You just have to head over to GoToSew.com and sign up for their newsletter.  The dress was posted there back at the beginning of April, but I believe it is still available.

Back in January I made this dress...

Ashley turned 12 back in January. I decided to make her a new dress for her birthday, as she really didn't have any dresses in her closet.  I let her pick out the fabric from my stash. I searched through my Ottobre magazines and let her pick between a few patterns. 

We went with 06/2008 37. In the magazine, the girl wore it layered with a turtleneck and tights. It is really a cute dress. I would have loved to make the turtleneck, but it just isn't that cold here.

This dress was quick and easy to make. My kind of pattern! I used a pink cotton interlock from the stash.  It's been long enough that I forget what size I made. I love Ottobre patterns. They have great styles for kids (and women). The instructions are minimalist- sew the shoulder seam, gather between marks, hem.   This doesn't really bother me, as I know how to do these things.

 I need pink thread for the serger.

Ashley loves her new dress (we moved a week after her birthday, so boxes were just a part of our life back then).

The Latest Dress

Okay, Brielle is a fashion diva.  She's got her own style going and no matter what I want her to wear or what I like, she's not going to wear it unless she thinks it's fabulous.

So, when it came time to make some new dresses for Brielle, I decided to let her design her own wardrobe, with some boundaries, of course. Basically, I let her pick her pattern, I let her pick her fabric, and I let her pick her ribbon.  I had to approve of what she chose, since I have to look at it, but we worked together and came up with some great new fashions, designed by Brielle.

This is the first dress in a line of 4 that she's "designed".  I think it turned out pretty cute.  I made a size 6, since her size 5's hanging in her closet are getting short, but I should've made a 5, because pattern sizes are always bigger than store bought clothes.  The next 3 will be made a 5 with the length of a 6 most likely. 

I tried Laura's tips on pressing and it really made a big difference in how accurately the dress came together.  The fabric also seemed much easier to work with than it usually does.

One other thing I do when I'm making dresses is serge any edges that will remain raw when the dress is fully assembled.  Not only does this eliminate the need for pinking shears, it keeps the fabric from fraying, and it makes the inside of the dress look more "professional" or "store bought."  If you don't have a serger and you sew a lot, I highly recommend investing in one.  Mine is a Kenmore, and I got it from sears for under $200.  It's not fancy, but it works and works well.

Personally, I love the contrast of this red dress with the sky blue ribbon.  The next fashion designer could be living in my home.  Okay, maybe not.

One thing I've learned from this experience is that if I let them pick as much as possible, they'll love it and wear it until they've worn it out.

Happy Creating!

Kristin

*This project was made using New Look pattern 6845 and Michael Miller CX3744_Red Quarter Dot and Offray 1 1/2" wide grosgrain ribbon.*

Show your patriotism

For the 4th of July, I made skirts for the girls and an outfit for the boy.  I also embellished the girls' shirts.  I made the tiered skirts out of knit fabrics.  I used the tiered skirt tutorial.  I did 3 tiers using the 1.5x tiers.  I love how they turned out!  I made them much shorter than the previous skirts I have made.  I made fabric yo-yo's for their shirts- one each in red, white, and blue.  I stitched them together and then tacked them to their shirts.  They are easily removed.  Ideally, I will make them into pins so they can be put on any shirt and used every year.

I used the same knit to make Drew's outfit.  I used an existing out fit as a pattern, but added a red stripe in the middle with reverse applique white stars.  I think next time I will make the stripe a bit higher on the chest.  It turned out fairly well.  Next time I will plan ahead better so that I can have colored snaps to match the fabric.

Little Hip Skirts

So, I'm a deadbeat mom.  Seriously.  I was supposed to have these super easy to make skirts made for my 3 daughters for Easter last week, and I still don't have them completed.

I think that the reason I don't have them done is because they're so easy.  I keep thinking, "that will take me all of an hour and half to make, I can do it first thing tomorrow."  But then, tomorrow comes and I still don't bother to sew together the already cut pieces.

I think that these are the cutest and if you wanna make one, you can click on this link, and It will take you directly to Favorite Things' website and you can order a pattern for yourself.

I'm telling you, so easy you'll procrastinate, but also, so gorgeous.  I'll post photos of my actual creations next week.

Happy Creating!