Calling All Kids!

Hello!

I am crazy excited to be a part of a fantastic series today - Calling All Kids!

Calling All Kids is a super thoughtful series from a gal we all know and love -  Alida of Alida Makes!

"Calling All Kids is a series that explores children’s clothing as it relates to gender. When I'm shopping for clothes for my kids and I see the same old pink fare for girls and the same old super hero fare for boys, it makes me crazy! This is one of the main reasons I sew for my kids. Now, there is nothing wrong with the clothes that are out there necessarily, but our kids deserve more variety!"

I couldn't agree more!

Like I said in my last post, Emmylou is not a girly-girl by any stretch.  Homegirl has a fashion sense that is distinctly hers - and it's changing and evolving every day.  Always on top of the checklist though?  Comfort!

So for Em's Calling All Kids outfit, I made her the COMFIEST outfit I could think of - wide-leg linen pants and a supremely soft plain white tee.  Em has started picking through my fabric stash and choosing the 'cozy'est fabrics... She loves knits of any type, and all of my cottons and linens.

These red pants are actually Hosh Pants!  I know!  Wide-legged Hosh Pants!  Don't tell anyone, but I'm planning on taking the Hosh Pants off the market soon to tweak them, and to add a wide-legged version!  Fret not - if you already own the Hosh, or are planning to buy them - you will have access to the new version as soon as it becomes available... That's just how I roll.

For ultimate cozy points - I incorporated a knit fold-over waistband; which I plan to include in the Hosh update as well.

Emmy approved!

The white tee is the Celestial Tee from Figgy's.... and I loved making it! It's a crazy fast sew, and by blending in between sizes, I made Em a custom fit, perfect-for-her tee shirt.  She wore this shirt for like 48 hours straight.  True story.

BOTH of these patterns are available right now through Perfect Pattern Parcel - a choose-your-own-price sewing pattern bundle which supports indie designers and charity.  Do check it out - it's an awesome bundle for an awesome cause:

Notable!  I've made a bunch of the Perfect Pattern Parcel patterns!  My September Tunic is HERE - one of my most FAVORITEST makes ever; and my Prefontaine Shorts are HERE and HERE.  Hey, that second pair were made using the very same red linen as these wide-legged Hosh!  *calls husband to report that I do in fact use my stash fabric thankyouverymuch*

I must make the Caroline Party Dress and the Hanami Top ASAP. Adorbs!  The Perfect Pattern Parcel (please do check it out - it's truly for a great cause) ends this Friday!

Em, needless to say, loves her new super comfy outfit!  A happy girl isn't always defined by fluff and ruffles, swirls and rainbows, sparkles and glitter.

Sometimes, a gal just needs something comfortable to wear when she's rolling around in the grass, chasing Papa;

daydreaming, exploring...

and just being a kiddo.

Thank you for having us, Alida!  This is such a great series - one that Em and I can TOTES appreciate!
♥
CHEERS, all! Happy sewing, and may your stains be those of grass, always!

Emmylou's 4th Birthday Dress!

Hello!

So last month, my baby girl turned the big 0-4.  I still can't believe it!  She's such a smart, beautiful, hysterical little love, and lucky doesn't even begin to describe how I feel being her Mama.  She is my everything.

And my everything is becoming quite the opinionated young lady!  She is not a girly-girl at all.  She is into snakes and bugs, getting any-kind-of dirty, and she likes to ride her scooter at a thousand miles per hour.  But lately she's been ALL ABOUT twirling.  It's that Frozen, I tells'ya.  Ever since I made her these Skater Tee peplum tanks (which she spins around in 'like a princess' even though the peplums are only like 5 inches long omgadorable), I knew I needed to make her a legit twirly dress!  Never in this poor childs life have I made her a straight-up girl's girl kinda dress!  

So, for her 4th birthday, I decided it was time.  I gathered tulle from Canada Tulle (precut to 18" wide x 25yds long, awesome!), and some crepe back satin in her fave color from Online Fabric Store (my place of employ - convenient for sure!).  But I didn't want to just cover Em in a big ol' purple dress - I wanted it to still have plenty of her personality built in.

How about a scenic African Plains wildlife print!?  Yes, ok!  Em is very much in love with the characters from Madagascar, so I thought this print would just tickle her silly. It did. :)

The pattern is Tinny from Straight Grain Patterns, and it's just adorable.  I chose this pattern because of it's many options.   I know I'll be able to use this pattern again and again, and it'll look different each time!

I cut a size 3t, and lengthened the skirt by I think about 10 inches!  I knew I wanted the dress to be like ballgown length.  If we're doin' this, we're doin' it, amiright?

I ended up using 12 of the 25 yards of tulle in the skirt!  Infinite thanks to my bff Beth for helping me corral all of it.  I would've added more layers but the smarter people around me told me it was ok to stop.

I hemmed with my rolled hem foot (like this guy).  It's not perfection, but I'm pretty happy with it considering satin + circle skirt!  I took these pics the day after her big party, so the dress had taken quite a beating by this point. :)

All the twirling:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMYLOU!

Pattern: Tinny by Straight Grain Patterns Bodice: Scenic Print Skirt: Crepe Back Satin, Tulle Full Lining: Broadcloth Belt: Trim, similar here Shoes: n/a

I've got some awesome Kids Clothes Week things cookin' that hopefully I can get around to sharing this weekend, and also some really cool stuff coming up next week!  Lots going on!

Have a good day, guys!

KCW and New Pattern Preview

Good morning!

Exciting news today...  Kids Clothes Week Spring 2014 is just around the corner - next week to be precise!  LouBeeClothing is an official sponsor for this edition, and I am PSYCHED.

Psyched not only to be a sponsor of this glorious quarterly sew-all-the-things bonanza, but to also announce that my newest pattern - the Shandiin Tank & Tunic is in testing and will be released next week!

Take a peek:

The Shandiin (Navajo for 'sunshine') is a tank or tunic (or dress!) with options like a button front, solid front, elasticized hem, drawstring hem, and HEAPS of fabric-combining possibilities.  It will be a Summer staple!

I will share pics of other variations, and some *adorable* tester shots next week.

I'm so excited about this one, guys!

And the Kids Clothes Week blog is hosting a giveaway for, among loads of other things, my entire pattern collection - all 4!  Doli, Hosh, Bimaa, and Shandiin!  You can enter to win those, and goodies from all of these fab sponsors:

HEAD OVER TO ENTER THEM ALL! Cheers, all!  Happy sewing!

Small Fry Skinny Jeans Pattern Tour

Hello, and welcome to my stop on the Small Fry Skinny Jeans Pattern Tour!

Before I say anything, I want to let you all know that this pattern is 20% off through the end of the tour - which is this Friday!  So if you want to save on a copy of this EPIC pattern, don't delay.  Use code TOUR20 over here in the Titchy Threads Pattern Shop.

Ok, onward.  I made a pair of jeans.

I MADE. A PAIR. OF JEANS!!!  

 

The Small Fry Skinny Jeans pattern from Titchy Threads is incredible.  If you've been following this pattern tour, you'll have that noticed many tourees have commented on how thorough it is.  It truly, truly is.  This is hands down the most in-depth, engaging, challenging garment I have ever made...

And it was SO MUCH FUN! I loved each and every step of the process of putting these pants together.  I would've got them done a lot faster if I hadn't stepped back to admire my handiwork after each step.  Ha!

So profesh!

This amazing fabric is from JoAnn - it's a printed denim with a touch of stretch.  I had bought a half yard a few months ago to make Em a denim skirt.  When I laid eyes on that piece in my stash, I knew instantly that I needed this print for these pants!  I hurried back to JoAnn for more and thank goodness they still had some.  Love it.

I knew going into this that I wanted to take it all the way.  All the bells and whistles.  Full zip fly, jeans button, top stitching, and rivets.  If I'm making the jeans, I'M MAKING THE JEANS.

I had a hell of a time finding the brass rivets though!  I could only find the silver/nickel ones in stores and on Etsy.  I ended up locating them finally through this eCrater shop.  They came within days, so that was awesome.  I couldn't envision silver-toned hardware with this fabric, so I'm psyched it all worked out.

One of many new-to-me skills that Laura (of Titchy Threads and Craftsorming) taught me through this BONANZA of a pattern was inserting a zip fly!  I loved this process - the amount of confidence Laura instills in you along the way through her clear guidance, makes you sure that whatever the next step is - you can do it. Even if it's a tiny zipper in tiny pants.

Which brings me to this lesson learned:

When Laura tells you to get two spools of top stitching thread, you listen to Laura and you get two spools of top stitching thread.  You do not say "no way I'm only making the size 4t there's no way nooooo waaaaaaay."  You do what Laura says, you see:

Skin of my teeth.

Homegirl didn't take these jeans of for two days.  The fit is glorious, the 'skinny' not too skinny, and the length just right with room to sprout.  Emmy will be 4 next week (OMG NO), and these size 4's will probably fit through next Fall, if not just through the rest of this god forsaken Winter.

What do you guys think!  Hot damn, right?!  

I so highly recommend this pattern, especially if you love to learn new skills, and long for the immense pleasure bragging rights awarded you by making a pair of jeans from scratch.  Toot toot!

Remember, don't wait if you want the pattern for 20% off.  This offer is good only through this Friday with code TOUR20 in the Titchy Threads shop.  Worth every penny at 10x full price!

And have you seen all the others!?

You can click on one of those blog names ^^^ and be taken to that particular blog- how cool is that!

Have a good day, guys!  Thanks for visiting!