UpCycles Are Fun!

Way, way back on January 10th, I showed you somethings that were Coming Down The Line and the very last thing I mentioned was that I might be willing to try some upcycles even though it's not really been something I gravitate toward.
I've done two now and I kinda like it more than I thought I would.  I think the right pattern had to come along to inspire me and that pattern happens to be the Rachel Knit Dress from Funktional Threads.
The worst thing about this pattern is all the pages you have to print out and tape together.  The best thing about this pattern is the design flexibility you have.

Here are the two things I've made so far.

The first is made from an 18 month t-shirt on clearance from Old Navy, some leftover scraps from two fat quarters I bought from Spoonflower back in October and a teal knit of unknown origin.

This one got me in a bit of trouble because I didn't realize that you really aren't supposed to use the small flutter sleeve layer by itself, but if you don't look closely at the arm pit area, it looks ok.
She told everyone about her Bambi shirt the whole day.  I love it when the girls love the clothes I make.

For my second go at this pattern, I really strayed.  I opted out of the side panels, used the curved bottom of the bodice to guide me in cutting the bottom of the shirt off, kept the sleeve that was already on the shirt (cutting it short) and used what I cut from the bottom of the shirt to make some ruffles for the sleeves.

I used the skirt pattern, but since my shirt wasn't as wide as the bodice piece (because of no side panels), I cut three separate skirt pieces instead of folding the fabric like the pattern suggests to make a full circle skirt.  So my skirt was 1/4 less wide and it just worked out.

I have five more shirts now, waiting for some kind of similar treatment.  Just what I need, a new addiction.

Sisters All Set For Summer

I've been using some new patterns lately and it was time to get out another I've had for a while.  I had a hankering to sew a romper with a ruffle butt and grabbed the Tie Dye Diva's Ruffled Sunsuit Romper pattern. I was afraid I might have passed the age/size limit with my youngest since many romper patterns that are this cute seem to be geared toward baby sizes.  I was pleased to discover the pattern I bought started at a 2 and went up to size 6. (There is a 0-24mo option in a separate listing.)
I cut out a three for my short three-year-old.  The pattern has a size guide and some tips to help you decide what size to make.
This mermaid fabric was something that I would have never found and probably would have passed by if I had found it.  It's just not what I gravitate toward.  I like florals, geometrics and woodsy critters and don't tend to buy cartoon-looking prints.  Seeing this print already made into a dress made me fall in love with it and I went right to Hancock Fabrics and bought one yard.

I changed some things... partly from preference and partly from not bothering to read the instructions.  I felt like I didn't need them because I had made this once before... like, a year ago.  I know, I know, it's pretty ridiculous that I couldn't just set the laptop on my sewing table like I usually do with the pattern pulled up on my screen.  Nooooooo.  I had to make it difficult on myself.
Two things I changed on purpose - I moved the straps in because I didn't like that it gaped in the front the last time I made it.  I also sewed the ruffles right down their middles because I had seen that look recently and wanted to recreate it.
I probably should have made each ruffle an inch lower.  She ended up with more of a ruffled back instead of ruffled butt.

After cutting out the romper from my yard of mermaids, I didn't have enough left for a full garment for my older daughter, so I mixed it with another fabric and just used it for sleeves.

Yet another new addition to my ever-growing pattern stash, I pulled out the Leighanna Peasant top/tunic/dress by Sis Boom.

I've had pink pom trim living with my ribbons for months, just waiting for whenever I finally caved and bought this darling pattern.  Out it came to add some fun to the mermaid sleeves.

This pattern gives you so many options and it spells out the sleeve length and top/dress length inch by inch and tells you where it will fall on the child.  There are options for gathers and ruffles and pom trim so each Leighanna could look quite different from another.

I wanted to make a swingy, breezy top to take the place of a t-shirt in the Summer and it looks so cute!

This pattern goes up to 13/14 years... wonder if it would be big enough to make myself one?  hmmmmmm.

Figgy's Scirocco Dress

After making the Banyan Tunic and finding it a bit snug (I made a 4 for my 5-year-old because I usually have to size down), I thought maybe Figgy's patterns run small, so I chose a size 5 for the Scirocco Dress.
It fits perfectly in the front, but gapes in the back, so I think next time, I will do a size 5, but cut out some width from the back.
It's really a great little pattern.  Clear instructions.  Clear illustrations.  Very straightforward.  I had no trouble with things fitting together how they are supposed to, which is always a relief.

This dress is so unique and you end up with a completely lined and well-made garment.  That's so refreshing in the children's pattern business.  I feel like there are a lot of patterns that work, but the garment you end up with just doesn't look as good as it could.  This takes more time, but it's not any more difficult and you've got something you can really admire at the end.

Treat yourself to three patterns from Figgy's and 15 more patterns for 80% off retail by taking advantage of the Sew Fab E-Pattern Bundle.  

This is the last day!

Get yours with immediate downloads and start sewing your Scirocco dress this week.

Forget Me Knot Dress

I'll show you my finished Figgy's Scirocco Dress tomorrow, but today, during naps, I sped through the Forget Me Knot Dress by Me Sew Crazy.
Look how cute this is!!

Wait.  Before you look, I should say what I changed.  I omitted the ties on the skirt and added another layer just to the front of the skirt.
I made a 3 and it fits very generously.  I'd probably size down next time.  I couldn't find the seam allowance written anywhere so I did 3/8 and that could contribute to the largeness of it too.  Maybe it was supposed to be 1/2 or more.  I really don't know.

She wouldn't let me take it off of her to hem it after trying it on for size, so you are seeing an unhemed dress (also with no topstitching).

If you haven't bought your Pattern Bundle yet, you have until the 11th (the previous dates were off), but you can start sewing TONIGHT if you stop this silly procrastinating.

Buy it now... if you can handle the awesomeness.

Sirocco Progress

The Figgy's pattern I was most excited about having in my stash has been started...

Modern Folksy Bunny

This is meant to be a plush toy I think but when I got my Sew Fab E-Pattern Bundle, I immediately thought "doorstop."
Our master bedroom door won't stay open without something propping it and we've been using a toy block for 2 years!  Just one of those things that was meant to be temporary and then you get used to it and there it stays.

The view of Bracken bunny (all the animals I name, alive and inanimate, get alliterative names) in the hallway didn't have very good lighting, so I moved her around, but you get the gist of it.

There's a little more to the Modern Folksy Bunny pattern than this shows.  I omitted the eye, tail and bow... to make it more doorstop-ish.

I think the flower placement kinda looks like an eye anyway.

There she is doing her job on a different door.  Bracken's multi-talented.

I stuffed about 4/5 of her with stuffing and filled up the bottom part with orzo pasta because that was the heaviest thing in my pantry.

My husband was dismayed I was using the expensive orzo, but I think she's worth it.

Don't wait! Get your Sew Fab E-Pattern Bundle here.  It will only be available through Feb. 9th.

Figgy's Banyan Tee

Let me introduce you to Figgy's Patterns.  A pattern company making modern kid's clothing patterns.  If you are interested in local and eco-friendly, they've got that going for them too.
From the Figgy's site:

"Our booklets are printed on recycled paper and the company uses a vegetable based ink.  Our booklets also are ... printed using recycled paper and vegetable based ink.

Our paper patterns are printed at a small print shop in the state of Washington.  We use recycled newsprint to print our pattern sheets.  We also love the newsprint paper because it lasts much longer than tissue paper and doesn’t rip as easily."

I have been in love with the Scirocco Dress from afar and always love to see things people have created with Figgy's Patterns. (click those highlighted words to see some Flickr Figgy's inspiration!)

When I saw that Figgy's was included in the patternmakers that had contributed to the Sew Fab E-Pattern Bundle, I got excited.  When it was revealed and I saw THREE Figgy's Patterns in the bunde, I didn't need to look any further, the rest was just gravy.  These three patterns alone are a $30 value!

You get the Banyan Tee/Tunic, the Banyan Trousers/Shorts, and the Scirocco Dress.

And if you think about it, that's really 5 things you can make for a girl and three things you can make for a boy.

I couldn't wait to get started on these patterns, so I cut out a Banyan Tunic and the Scirocco Dress.  I sewed up the tunic in about 15 minutes.  This is a GREAT beginner knit pattern.  You sew the neckband in while one shoulder seam is still unsewn, so there's no marking it in quarters and pinning it to the circular neckline.  The pattern also gives you permission to leave the knit edges unfinished.   I think that look works perfectly with the breezy style of the tunic.

Here's mine.  Sewn with our upcoming beach trip in mind.

Fabric from Banberry Place and EuroGirls.

And there's my little beach bunny.... speaking of bunnies, I have one to show you tomorrow, also from the Sew Fab E-Pattern Bundle. :D

Ready to buy the bundle?  Click HERE.