Preschool Backpack and SWAP item #7

This weekend my focus was to make a backpack for M to have for her trial run at the reverse mainstream preschool on Monday afternoon.  We were already thinking of not having her go if she was accepted so I didn't put forth as much effort to make the bag perfect as I might have.  I approached this sewing project with a "trying the pattern out and hope it turns out at least somewhat useable" attitude.  The end result...pretty good.   The backpack fits her perfectly and worked just fine for Monday afternoon.  It'll probably end up being used to haul toys to her older siblings soccer/football practices since we've decided to have her stay at her current preschool.   I like the pattern and am planning on making B a backpack for a Christmas gift.

I'm back to working on the Ottobre Design SWAP.  This blouse is the pintuck blouse from the 03/08 issue.  I had my doubts while finishing this if K would wear it but she tried it on last night and liked it.  After I put the elastic around the neckline I was worried the neckline would be too low and loose on K so I pulled it on over my head to see where it hit on me.  Shockingly, the shirt almost fit!  It's a size 140.  It was snug across the back/shoulders but otherwise looked fine.  It's got me thinking of tracing out one of the larger sizes (it goes up to a 170) and making myself a top...that is if I ever finish the SWAP.;-)   I did add a little length to the sleeves but not enough to make it fully a long sleeve that hits at the wrist like I was hoping to.  It's fits like a 7/8 sleeve...about an inch short of the wrists. 

Next project waiting to be sewn is #31 from 04/07.

Continuing the SWAP and an extra project

I have been working a little here and there on the SWAP.  While at my parents' house yesterday morning, I put the pockets on the pintuck blouse and did the buttonholes on the sleeve edges.

You can hardly see the pockets but they're on there.  Now I just need to do the neckline binding, stitch the side seams, do the sleeve hems, make the ties, and sew the hem.  Sounds like a lot but everything should go together pretty quick.  I don't really know if K will wear this top much but you never know.

And what's this?  It's not for the SWAP but miss M needs a backpack for Monday's trial run at the reverse mainstream preschool.  I've had my eye on the Made by Rae Toddler Backpack pattern for a while now so Tuesday afternoon I went ahead and downloaded it.  I'll have to make the larger version as it needs to hold folders.  There's not much in the way of fabric stores in our area beyond Hancocks and Jo-Anns but I tried valiantly to find a cute print twill to make the backpack out of.  Surprisingly (or maybe not so), this was about all I find that was girly.  I will be making the body of the bag out of the print with the bottom and straps out of the blue.  I also bought piping in blue but the zipper is going to be pink.  I'd had my heart set on purchasing a cute Japanese print online but since she needs it by Monday, this will do.  The pink twill I bought just in case I change my mind about using the blue.;)

Wedding Day

Wedding Dresses

This is what the bridesmaids will be wearing at our niece's wedding on Friday.  The bride provided me with a pattern and the material and asked me to make something similar for K (junior bridesmaid) and M (flower girl).  Luckily, she had picked a really simple pattern but not so luckily, the fabric she chose has more body than drape so replicating the bridesmaid dresses has become a lost cause.  Yes, the dresses will be halter tops but there's no way heavy satin is going to drape like chiffon. 

The dresses are white with a sash that ties into a bow in the color of the above dress.  I had sewn the dresses together last Friday and thought they were done but when the girls tried them on today both needed adjustments to the bodice.   I also discovered that the back of K's needed the elastic taken in at least an inch even though I cut the elastic way shorter than on the muslin.   Goes to show how important trying the garment on is!

K's bow/sash is basically done...it just needs to be tacked on to the dress.  M's needs to be sewn together and pressed and then tacked on.  Hopefully, that will get done after I drop her off at preschool.  I've decided that B will wear M's muslin (the hot pink dress a few posts back) with the white sash my mom sewed together as a trial run.  B's not in the wedding but she still gets a new dress. 

I had really hoped to have their dresses finished sooner but between being sick, school starting, and football/soccer practices and games my free time has evaporated.  I'm also trying to get the house in order and cleaning the guest room where all my sewing supplies are usually kept since the in-laws will be arriving tomorrow and staying with us.  And what about the SWAP sewing...I truly doubt it'll be finished by the deadline but I will complete it.  I swear!

First Day of School Outfit

I wasn't ambitious enough like so many other sewing mamas to make my children new clothes for the first day of school.  However, two of my daughters chose to wear clothes that I had made.  K wore her new striped shirt that I sewed for part of the SWAP.  Unfortunately, it was rainy and cold her first day and she's wearing a hoodie zipped up over the shirt in the picture I took.

M's first day of preschool was sunny and she wore an Ottobre Design outfit that I made.  The top is "Kukkopilli" from the 01/09 issue and the shorts were a hack of the "Alma" pants from 04/08.

It makes a mom feel good when her children choose to wear the clothing that she makes them.


Miss M needed a totebag for her preschool and slack mom that I can be, I didn't make it or even embellish it beyond putting her name on it with fabric letters.  I'm holding out, waiting to see if she gets accepted into the  preschool program at the big kids' school where she'll need a backpack.  Hopefully, I'll hear that she got accepted and win the Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!  I've had my eye on the pattern for a while.  It looks like the perfect size for a little kid.  I can remember K and P heading off to kindergarten with a way-too-big-backpack hanging off their shoulders.  Either way, the pattern is on my must-have list.:)

Sewing Swimsuits

Earlier this summer while on a fabric buying spree, I purchased 2 yards of swimsuit fabric from Chez Ami.  I had never attempted to sew a swimsuit and had no plans of trying this summer.  However, due to B having a growth spurt and M's current suits not holding up too well both needed new ones for our Labor Day camping trip to NC's Outer Banks. 

I had 2 patterns from Ottobre Design picked out...#20 in the 02/04 issue and #38 in the 03/09 issue.  The plan was to sew #20 first in a size 92 and see which girl it fit best. 

It fit both girls but over all the swimsuit looked best on B's more rounded body.  I went ahead and traced off a 98 for the next swimsuit from the 03/09 issue hoping that it would fit M well and still allow a bit of growing room since summer is coming to an end.



I did make one minor alteration to the pattern.  Instead of cutting 4 straps out and having them tie on top of the shoulders, I cut 2 which turned out to be a good length and stitched them in place. 



Quick note:  It looks like M is significantly taller than B in this picture...as one would expect with a 2 year age difference.  However, B is standing in a hole.  There is only about an inch difference in height and B weighs a couple of pounds more than her big sister.  Their trunks are about the same length but M's legs are a little longer which is why I started with the size 92 suit and went from there. 

Sewing the swimsuits was a lot easier than I'd expected.  I did learn a few things that will make the next batch better.  My first attempt with sewing the elastic on was around the neckline of the first swimsuit.  I zig-zagged it to the wrong side of the fabric then folded it under and zig-zagged again on the right side.  However, I stitched too close to the inside edge which caused the elastic to flip forward a bit.


Also, on M's suit I did a horrible job of basting the crotch lining in.  It was so bad that when I did the elastic on the legs and flipped it to the inside, I still didn't catch all of the raw edges.  So, I flipped it again...and still managed to miss a small section.  The more I think about it the problem might have been that I put the lining in the wrong way.  I was in such a hurry that I didn't label my pattern tracings very well and eyeballed which end was the front. 

Overall, I'm happy with the end results and will be making the girls' swimsuits for next summer.

Swimsuits!

I spent part of Wednesday and Thursday working on new swimsuits for B and M to wear on our camping trip this weekend.  I've never attempted to sew swimsuits and it turns out it's not as difficult as I feared.

I consider the two I made to be trial runs so they're not perfect.  I did learn a few things that will make the next swimsuit I make go easier.  One is to zigzag closer to the far edge of the elastic.  On the neckline of B's suit the elastic is flipping just a bit towards the outside.  Also, I need to be a bit more careful when basting the crotch lining in.  On M's I didn't catch it all the way which resulted in a little bit of hand sewing to tack it properly into place.  All in all, the swimsuits went together easily.  They'll get a real testing this weekend as we're headed to the OBX to go camping and the kids will be in and out of the pool and the ocean constantly.

I'll post pictures of the girls in their new suits when we return!

SWAP progress

I love the fit of this shirt!  It's from the Ottobre Design 1/2009 issue.  K is a tall and skinny 10 year old.  It's hard finding ready-to-wear clothes that fit correctly.  Most tops end up being too wide in order to get the sleeves long enough and pants....let's just say Thank God for buttonhole elastic!  The fabric is from the red tag section of JA's.  It's a little on the thin side to wear alone without a cami or tank top underneath but perfect for layering.




I also finished the tunic from the 4/2007 Ottobre issue.  I didn't have a coordinating knit in polka dots like in the issue so I took a strip of pink jersey and one of the aqua jersey and serged them together with black thread.  That way it's reversible.  The fit is pretty good with the tunic though I did take the side seams in a good inch on both sides.  K loves both tops and has asked to wear the striped tunic on the first day of school. 

Yesterday, I put the elastic in the waistband of the black leggings so one more item to check off my SWAP list.  I cut out the pintuck blouse and hopefully will get started sewing that during nap time this afternoon.  I've completed 6 out of 12.  Half way done!