More Skirts

I made a skirt for Julia not long ago, but it was so full that the gathers at the waist were WAY too bunchy!

So I made a couple more.

This first one, I attempted to create my own pattern out of butcher paper.  And for a first try, it'll do.  But I know a little better how to create a pattern, now. =)  Nothing like a little experience, even if it is truly a "little".  This fabric is flannel, picked out by Calysta.

In the back, I tried to create a bit of a kick pleat, but after cutting out the material, I realized I hadn't thought it through properly.  So it's a nice little random visual in the back.

The second skirt I made using a pattern that I've used before.  A total circle skirt, perfect for twirling.  I made her "blanket skirt" using this same pattern.  But this time, I made the circle skirt in two layers, so that the second layer peeks out from under the first one.  The reason for this was to double up on a thin, cotton material for winter and to add interest.  Built in slip!

You can see a bit better the underskirt in muslin with the edging that matches the waistband.

No doubt poodles are twirly!

A New Skirt

Today I had an itch to sew Julia a skirt.  Her closet is woefully empty.  I should take a picture!  I'm the worst mom in the world because my daughter has so few clothes.

Well, I got online and looked up skirts from fat quarters.  I have a million fat eighths, which work nicely for little girls.  So I looked all about and found some great ideas.  Then I went and made something up out of my head.  And I think I'm tired of gathers.  Maybe a few gathers, but it really makes things too bunchy.  So I'm going to experiment with that some more.  I didn't actually gather this skirt, I let the elastic do the gathering, but either way: too much!

For today:
I sewed 8 fat eighths together, then backed them up to a piece of muslin.  When I do this again, the muslin will be a teeny bit shorter than the skirt fabric, so that it rolls under nicely to avoid showing the muslin.  Right now, I'm just counting on a decent ironing job to keep things in check.

I left the sides open, and sewed the muslin to the front fabric at the top and bottom.  Turned it right side out, ironed it, then sewed a casing for the elastic.  Popped the elastic in, measured it on Julia, then sewed up the back seam!  Oh yeah, before I put in the elastic, I ran some eyelet ribbon across the lower half of the skirt for cuteness.  Looks better than blanket binding!

Note on the previous blanket skirt: Julia was visiting with a lady who expressed surprise that the skirt was not a blanket but was indeed made that way "on purpose"!  

Here, I had sewn the fat eighths together and then a piece of muslin for the lining.

Forgive the bruise, not sure how it got there.

 I turned the fabric right side out, ironed it flat, NO HEM!!!!  

Stitched some ribbon on for good measure.

 Up close of a me and Julia's favorite fabrics.

She likes the dark one with curlies, I like the one on the left.

 Julia models this for me.

Notice how all seams: side, hem and waistband are HIDDEN!

Except the one seam in the back where I sewed the skirt together.

 Only complaint is bunchiness.  Gotta slim it down up top, but then it's harder to line.

I felt that lining was necessary for two reasons:

fabric is kinda see-thru; she'll want to wear it this winter

Bit of a twirly girl!

Not super twirly, but enough for fun.  And generous enough for running about.

I think I might try an A-line skirt, found a fat quarter wrap skirt that looks SOO GOOD!  I'll see how easy I can make it on myself....  

Making the Peasant Dress

My sister sent me a link to this cool peasant dress, which I fell totally in love with.

I've heard before of this stretchy bobbin thread that does all the ruffling work for you.  If you have a Brother machine, it's all a cruel lie.  Let's just get that straight at the beginning.

But, here are some of the nice fabrics I got!  Julia chose the butterfly print and the purple heart print, I chose the rest.  Of course!

First, I tried making the dress with the blue fabric, and did it wrong.  The dress was way too small, I had cut the fabric the wrong direction.  Bummer!  So I'll go buy some more and try again.  Once I figured out my problem, I made Julia's dress.

Ta da!

The elastic thread is very weak, and the regular, top thread tends to rip and pull out when Julia puts this on.  But.  It's cute anyway, and I'm going to make a few more, although I might just use regular elastic.

I did not draw a line or use a guide for sewing the waist gathers, so I have ripped it out and will be redoing it, oh joy!  However, this goes quick and I'm going to make another dress for Julia's friend so that they can match!  Matchy, matchy!  Sparkly butterflies to boot!

The Skirt ~ It worked better in my head

Last year I made a dress for Julia out of anti-pill fleece.  It was perfect for a dress-wearing princess in the freezing winter temps.  She still ran barefoot on tile, but at least she was in something cozy!  It still fits her this year, too, and still looks bright and beautiful.

The blue looks so good with her eyes!

This year, a clever Mama decided to go with this great idea once again.  I made Julia a skirt out of fleece, this time a super cute print in pink and brown.

I found a pattern for the poodle-style skirt that makes a full circle on the ground.  As I was rushing through this quick little task, I thought how SIMPLE it would be to just throw a satin-y border around the edge instead of hemming it.  Don't they have some great blanket binding and such at the fabric store?  And the contrast of texture, what fun!  Cozy and silky all in one.  So after Julia wore the skirt a few times, I stole it back and put on the trim.

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, tra-la-la! sang the industrious wife, and sweet Mommy.

Jeez, where are we on this hem?  This decorative stitch is taking awhile.

What?  I still haven't hit the second seam which marks HALFWAY around this dumb skirt?!?!

Hours later, the quick little task was complete, after refilling the bobbin right before the last 8 inches.  But that's just par for the course, right?

THEN.

The great idea that had seemed so cute, so original became clear to me.  And as I gazed at the completed skirt, I wondered if Calysta just felt that it would be too mean to warn me of the obvious dangers when she heard my great plan on the phone.  I felt embarrassed.

This is why other mom's don't make fleece clothes trimmed with satin.  Because it looks like a repurposed baby blanket.

I am happy to report that Julia loves it, wears it all the time, including to both Special Meetings.  Mama gets to eat humble pike or pie as the case may be.

Crocheting For The First Time

My kiddos expressed an interest in making things with yarn.

So for Julia's birthday I got her a couple crochet hooks and a couple balls of very darling yarn.

I figured that one stick to wield would be easier than two, although I don't know how to crochet myself, and I've forgotten how to knit.

Enter some You-tube videos of the granny square and off we went on a loooooong car trip.

So I had all this time on my hands and could NOT remember how to do a granny square!  So I just tried out some stuff and decided to make a hat for Julia's new Bitty Baby (which she calls Bitsy Doll).  Turns out, I did a chain stitch the entire hat, also known as a slip stitch according to the simple instruction booklet I got later.  But it looks cool!  =)

Hat 1

Once we got to our destination, help was on hand for some further instruction.  It was quite dizzying, all the different things that can be done with one hook and some yarn.  So on the way home, I put my vastly improved skills to work on a second hat for Julia's doll.  Somehow, I was in the mood for hats.  And I still am, but haven't made one for a real person yet.  =)

Hat 2

This second hat has a variety of stitches as I tried out some different things.  I tried single crochet and double crochet stitches and then some "shells"???  or whatever those pieces of granny squares are called.  And back to the slip stitch from time to time so I could enjoy it's own special little mark.  It was very cool, and I think Bitty Baby is happier because of my efforts.  Thank-you, Lindsi! =)

Did you notice how this went from "kiddos" and "Julia" to "I" and "me"?
My excuse:
I can't teach them until I learn it myself!  =)
However, Lucas and Julia have both made several bracelets, necklaces and funky hair pieces with a simple chain stitch for practice, so I haven't left them out completely.

Dress Projects

Guess I should post about this before Julia grows out of her new dresses!

Once upon a time, a need was discovered. When the air became fallish and my daughter would wear summery clothing on a cold and blustery day, Mom realized it was time to switch out the clothes! So I did. And then Julia, who'd had eighty meeting dresses and a hundred and eighty play outfits had about two. I became seized with the mad desire to sew something and began to formulate something weird in my mind's eye. I succeeded, I think, because it is unusual. But it's kinda darling, too! I made Julia a dress out of anti-pill fleece.

I found a blue from Joann's online that I hoped would be the right blue, and it was. I found a summery dress pattern in my big sewing box of paraphernalia and adapted it to suit my fancy.

Namely the sleeves needed to be less summery. I also decided to get "fancy" and use a special stitch from my cheap-as-dirt sewing machine, and I was relieved (pleased) with the result. It looks a bit like white snowflakes.

So this dress was a birthday present for her and I became concerned, because she got all hot and flushed when she played in this dress indoors. Maybe she's right to be wearing summer clothes in winter, who knows?

So I went on to make another dress with this same pattern, but this time I had grander plans. I would make her dress out of "cooler" flannel material, and mix and match a bunch of fabric.

The blue dress was a little loose, make the new one a single size smaller but just as long. Include the gores for the flared bottom and make fancier sleeves. Woo hoo! =) And so Julia helped me pick out the fabrics and we set to work.

Now we are almost done, just have to drive alllll the way into town to get a zipper and just haven't done that yet! I'm eager to get this dress washed and wash the folds out of it, tacky!

But I pinned the back and Miss Princess wore it for the afternoon.

I used a special stitch on this dress, but only for the neckline this time.

I just wanted to get the sleeves and skirt hemmed as quickly as possible!

Now that it's even colder, the blue is perfect and keeps her cozy. I'd like to make a red fleece dress next. Maybe when I'm in town for a zipper...