Christmas Garb: 2017

Every year I make matching outfits for my kiddos for Christmas.  Right now they enjoy it.  I know that someday, they will definitely not. I'm soaking it up before they start rolling their eyes and writing the forwards to their autobiographies that have a main focus on how their mother ruined their lives.  I think they're cute, though, so I'll just start saving for some therapy or chocolate or something.  But look at how adorable they are!

Let's start with the boy.  He looks so dashing, after all.  I pretty much just made a vest and a bowtie.  He apparently LOVES bowties...even though he HATED them at Easter time.  He was insistent that he get one: non-negotiable.  I decided to make and actual tie-able bowtie instead of my normal slide on tie. I used this pattern. I would make it longer and wider next time.  It juuuuust barely fit him even though I made it even larger than the pattern calls for. He may have called it "chokey"...but he still wanted to wear it!  At a young age, he's learning that beauty is pain.  His vest was a super easy sew and  I really love the fit.  It's the Schoolboy Vest by Sew Much Ado. It comes with the option of real or faux welt pockets and a back tie, but I made a really simple version since my fabric was so busy.  His shirt and pants were already in his dresser, so they were REALLY simple to make ::wink::wink::

The girl's dress turned out better than I had hoped for.  I made a version for this dress (The Nori by Paisley Roots) when I tested it in August.  My girl is very picky about what she'll wear and she chose this pattern straight away.  She just wanted it long, so I obliged.  I just made a gathered maxi skirt instead of using the circle skirt that the pattern comes with.  It's such a lovely dress and she told me that she felt like a princess.  WINNING!

The fabric used is by Michael Miller and it's the Glitz confetti border in Navy. It's actually a much deeper navy in person, but it wanted to be photographed with a blue PAPOW.  It's gorgeous, though.  I'm so glad I had some on hand.  I bought it a few years ago.  My New Year's Resolution for 2017 was to buy no fabric all year.  I actually only bought a total of 7 yards this year including Halloween fabrics. I think I can call that a success.  I'm glad I finally finished these.  The next 9 days are going to be a festival of crazy requiring copious amounts of spiked coffee.  The kids got to see Santa today as well (and I finished these LAST NIGHT).  So I barely met my deadline.  WHEW!  These may be my favorite Christmas outfits so far.  Can't wait to see what next year holds!

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

-Crystal-

Project Run & Play: February (Crystal)

It's time for February's Project Run & Play challenge! This month's featured past contestant is Susan from Living with Punks and she's chosen her Mademoiselle muscle tee tutorial for us to change up.  My girl is all about the lounge wear lately- I guess my yoga pants addiction rubbed off.  I knew an all knit look would tickle her fancy, so I went with it.

I didn't make her a dress because honestly I didn't want to.  Such a great reason, I know.  But good enough for me!    I also wanted to use the tank in a way that would be a little unexpected, so I used it to make a scarf neck cardigan.  No, I didn't use the shirt pattern to make the shirt...I make lots of sense. I like the long, drapey, comfortable look of this cardigan and the black and white polkadots are super fun. 

 

I used the tank as a base then extended the front 11" and made some dolman sleeves.  Easy peasy and comfy womfy for my wittle wovey dovey.

 

The shirt without the cardi is hilarious.  I had no intenton of making a guinea pig shirt, but when I asked my kid what her favorite animal was, she said "Guinea Pig".  Challenge accepted!  The pattern I used was the Skipper Top by Sew Much Ado.  I just did a little colorblocking and busted out the iron-on transfers.  

 

The Pants are the Nightfox Pant by Puperita.  These pants are so super comfy and I want them for me. I've made them for my son before and he loves them too.  I totally dig a pattern I can use for both of my kiddos.  My cheap little heart sings.

One more picture of the shirt because...well...guinea pigs!

 

Well, that's it!  I hope you like it and can't wait to see what all everyone else links up.  There's some great stuff already <3

-Crystal-

Project Run & Play Sew-along- Season 10: Week one! (Crystal)

I have been massively MIA, lately.  My daughter starting kindergarten has ZAPPED me.  Thank goodness I have Project Run & Play to snap me out of my blogging funk.  It's season 10!  I started sewing along with season 7 and I'm super excited about my 4th time in the PR&P zone!  I was THISCLOSE to being voted in as a contestant, but a very worthy competitor won (although all of the looks I was up against were so cool and just as worthy) and I can take it much easier from this side.

 



Aaaaanyway...Season 10's week one theme is 80's cartoons!  My head almost exploded with all of the ideas.  And I had originally thought about using a gnome dress that I had made for the link-up based on my LOVE for David the Gnome, but I had already shared it on some sewing boards and wanted my PR&P post to be fresh.  I was given some epic retro My Little Pony fabric and decided that was my best bet!  I mean it's pastel and it's MLP, so it just SCREAMED 80's.

I had a hard time deciding what to make with my amazing fabric. I even asked for opinions for "epic vs practical" on a sewing board.  Almost everyone said epic and I was totally on board, and then I remembered that my daughter had been begging for skirts.  So with a guilt filled heart, I went practical.  While trying to decide on the perfect skirt, I started working with a coordinating knit and made a top.  I used the Skipper Top by Sew Much Ado.  I LOVE this pattern.  I've made a few and they're always perfect for what I need.  Fancy while feeling comfy...it's this yoga pants wearing mom's dream.  The freaking BEST thing about tees is that they work with a wardrobe in so many ways.  I loved it with my skirt, but it's perfectly adorbs when paired with just jeans (I did NOT make the following jeans.  They were RTW $10 jeans from Target).

 

So...the skirt.  I went back and forth and forth and back and climbed up to the top of the crazy tree before I finally settled on the Daphne's Bubble Skirt and Top by Create Kids Couture.  Bubble skirts are SO FUN and when you're sewing with such playful fabric, a bubble skirt just works like magic.  I used the same pink knit that I used for the shirt for the skirt ties.  It's the best bubble skirt ever.  Don't argue.  You know you want one.

 
 

 Ok, now I'm getting to the part that you guys are either going to love or hate- and I don't care what them haters say because  I LOVE SPARKLE, yo.  I gave my daughter practical.  But I could not let go of the epic.  I couldn't.  I just couldn't.  So I decided to add some mega bling by making an accessory.  FYI, the pic below cracks me up so bad.  Sometimes the best thought-out photo ideas look ridiculous...like "holding a brazier" ridiculous.  But I had to post it so you could laugh with me...and see my versatility (yeah, we all know it's soley for the giggles)

I took the collar pieces from the Ava Dress by 5Berries Patterns and turned it into a tie-on necklace.  I used leftover sequins fabric from the Elsa dress I made and put together something that keeps the top casual if it needs to be but fabulous if it WANTS to be.  Besides, sequins are so 80's.

I hope you like my week 1 look and I hope you link-up, too.  It's a ton of fun and really pushes your creativity.  I'm also SUPER excited to see what the official contestants come up with.  I have a feeling it's going to be tubular!

-Crystal-