Bear and crown baby bibs, Butterick B4533

Yup so I am so entailed with my last minute halloween costume that I didn't finish up my posts and get it together. So here is my late posts...Another baby gift, been sewing a lot!



I opted to try this pattern and make 2 of the patterns- the bib and the crown. Now I will preface this will I lost the instructions after I cut the pattern. Yeah true story. So I had to wing it!

For the teddy bears, I never want to see them again. So, at first I embroidered a lot- the pink cheek circles, the eyes, nose, smile. It was absolutely too much and took a lot of time. I figured out how to sew the cheeks via my sewing machine. Then I used paint for the eyes. This then left embroidery of the nose and mouth. Much faster. It was a lot of sewing. Just a lot. After the face was done, then ears were added, then the back, then I attached everything to the front of the bib, then attach the back to the front of the bib. Close and add a snap. Yeah it was that involved. Just wow. I never want to see a bear anytime soon!

Now the crown bibs were way easier. I sewed the front and back of the crown to each other, turned right side out and then attached to the bib. These were super cute.

Overall, I am very happy with this pattern. I love the end products. I just never want to make another Teddy Bear bib again (I made 5 so yes I am over it!). LOL. But something cute and different.

Cheers,
Lauren

Flowered slip sewing- Kwik Sew 3554

Oops looks like I had scheduling issues. Here is today's post. Trying something new here- make a nightie/slip using this Kwik Sew pattern 3554.

I had this fabric in my stash, it was flowered. Lots of orange and black. I actually didn't care for it but thought it would be a good practice. I didn't have a lot of it, as you can see in the following pictures. I ran out of length and for 1 cup Sigh...

Make it work! Sewing was pretty easy. I did have some issues on the cups which caused me to rip it out a few times and try again Then It did take some time to work out the straps. And then when it was done- I no longer hate the fabric.

Actually I love it. I finished with a simple double stitch.

Surprised that after sewing this, I wound up loving the fabric. Whew knew! What a lovely end product! :)

Cheers,
Lauren

Baby dress with matching bloomers B3405

Been on a small hiatus from myself and was sewing some baby gifts for some friends. There must be something in the water b/c all of a sudden a lot of pregnancies. I set off to make some gifts and I decided I would try out this pattern I had from Butterick. B3405. I opted to make the dress with matching bloomers.



I first made this pattern with the leftover cherry blossom fabric (that I made this dress with).

Next, I made it with this pink gingham fabric I had (and never used)

OMG I loved both of them so much, I almost didn't want to give it away. I know I am horrible person. The dresses were pretty easy sews- the back is all snaps. The pink one I magically got a hole (??? out of no where) so I had to adjust where the snaps fell. At least it was in the right spot. My only other criticism of this pattern was the fact that the bloomers didn't have the size of elastic I needed for the legs and waist. It said to measure the baby (a fact near impossible since some were not born yet). If you are sewing for a gift- using this pattern has a few minor snags. So I found another pattern that was older and used those numbers based on weight for size.

I am happy with the outcome! Just way to cute!

Cheers,
Lauren

Knit pantsuit- Vogue pattern 9116

When I first saw this pattern in the Vogue release, 9116, I just had to have it! It just seemed like the perfect romper pattern!

There are 2 options for the romper: with and without straps.

Then in one of my Hancock fabric trips (which I have held back for many weeks- my wallet thanks me), I found this awesome black, pink, and white mosaic chevron pattern- I knew this pattern just had to be made with this fabric.

It is a super easy cut, but I can just see I might have issues with the width of the pants. But first I needed to sew it and see how it hangs on me. I opted for a size 10 (a size under where I normally cut) since there seems like a lot of ease in this pattern. And wow these were big pant legs. I mean like woah... well run with it.

Pretty easy sew b/c it is a knit and I love sewing with knits.

Truly, this looks more like a dress than a pantsuit. Which is probably why I like it. So it isn't as drapey like the first picture but I also don't like low cut things. I already have issues with the coverage on this thing- I have to tack it closed or else the top pops open. The length is great for me or anyone tall. If you are shorter then you will definitely need to take off the length. I am glad it is a small pattern when it came to selection of a fabric. It blends everything in and no matching. I don't think I would have liked this pantsuit had I done it in a solid color.

Cheers,
Lauren

Sewing in the gymnastic leotard world

Here is my foray into a world I would never think I would join, but I thought doing this would immensely help my sewing skills and bring them up to the next level. A friend of mine approached me into making leotards for 2 girls who she loves dearly. So we picked the fabric. Hindsight the orange glued sequin fabric was not what we expected with the thickness of the fabric. Luckily it was only going in 1 part.

We selected this Jalie pattern for the leotard.

To make a long story short, the metallic fabric is a bit of a challenge to sew with for the binding since it was so thick. Also, the sequin fabric for the orange part was also a bit challenging to line up as well.  The tricot stitch truly saved me with these leotards b/c things were pulled and not acting correctly. the elastic was too small then suggested- the metallic fabric was stretching with my feed dogs and did weird things, see below. Tissue paper helped but was frustrating to pull out of the stitches. So I tricot stitched a lot of things. The fabric hung better (which it did not in the beginning). I used almost an entire spool of thread on 2 leotards. For real! I have never done that before.

Then when I sent them on their way and the girls tried them on- they fit perfectly! My jaw dropped when I saw the picture! They really do look like gymnastic leotards. And the girls love them- even better. :)

Even though these were painful to sew and it was difficult, these leotards really built up my sewing skills.  I am beyond thrilled that these leotards turned out so well. Now I am little less intimidated in hard sewing!

Cheers,
Lauren

Sports bra/tank fusion, Papercut pattern- Penuma Tank

I am super excited about this pattern. For real! It is my first sports bra/tank top fusion. This is my first go with Papercut Patterns, which is from New Zealand. Yes these patterns shipped from NZ!

When I saw this tank, I knew I had to make it- the Pneuma Tank.

I just fell for the back.

What I did not realize when I was beginning to cut this pattern was that fact this called for bra strapping. This would NOT work for me as if you see below, there is NO WAY I would ever find this color or a color to match. I did contact the company for suggestions but I have yet to get a response.  So I made my own and just winged it. Hindsight, I should have cut just a bit longer. I made a tube, cut equally in 4 parts and sewed. The pattern is not hard, except the straps part I had to wing.

While writing this post I realize that my straps are way higher than the ones in the photos and this is why I felt as if the tank part is not long enough. Ding! Light bulb just went off. But I do like the coverage. I will probably make another one but make longer straps. Don't you just love this pattern? The sports bra is this magenta color and the print has that magenta color in it, so it is the perfect combination

From the back perspective, I think it sits right. Just not the front. Hmm.

Ready for some yoga. That is about all I will be able to use this top for- yoga and light exercise. It doesn't have support but it is not designed to have it either. I love building up my exercise arsenal. I am learning step by step!

And shame on me for not getting together my coverstitcher still. I know...

Cheers,
Lauren

Harem pants #2 She wears sea shells

Yeah, so this week is a repeat pattern week. Another pair of harem pants. Bonus! I actually made these pants first and then made my orange tribal ones. I call the fabric print either sea shells or bird feather tail, depending on which way you hold the fabric it can go either way.

Used my harem pant pattern. but tried the option for the pockets. Not going to lie, this is one of the most confusing parts of this pattern. There are just too many options and I just get sooo confused. My pockets didn't really work based on my assessment of the pattern. I have no idea what I did wrong but I improvised and made it work. And my waistband was too big.

These pants will be used more for pjs. They are so comfy. Again, it is a super light weight cotton. I do like the option of having pockets. I just got to figure something out. The fit is spot on.

Cheers,
Lauren