What next?

I lost momentum towards the end of kcwc and didn't really accomplish much after I finished the rust pants up.  I did at least cut out one of my next projects and here's a look at what I'm using for it...

fabric for long sleeve Oliver+s 2+2 shirt

The flash from the camera washed the print out a little bit but the rust uncut corduroy is a pretty close match.  I'm doing this shirt by the book, buttons and all.  I also have a pair of brown knit leggings cut out.

I think the Kids Clothing Week Challenge is a great idea.  Sometimes, I need a motivator to squeeze sewing time into the day.  I'd like to continue the spirit of the challenge by trying to sew at least 1/2 hour a day.   Now let's see if it happens! 

KCWC: Day 3's result

Meh.  I'm not too fond of how the pants look.  Originally, the fabric I chose reminded me of a pair of rust breeches I used to wear back in the day.

Now, the pants are overwhelming me with how orange they are.

And surprise, surprise, some older Gymboree pieces that I picked up at a consignment sale that would coordinate with the horrid rust pants are looking suspiciously small on B.  Apparently, my giant has grown even more in the last month and with cold weather still at least a month away I'm thinking we're not going to get much wear from them. 

I like the pockets on the back though...

And these leaf buttons I used are a fun touch...

Maybe if I add a little applique or embellishment on the front of the pants it'll tone down the overwhelming wash of color?

edited to add:  I went back and added a little something to the front and that turned into my day 4's work too.



B's a trooper!  She'll model a turtleneck and long pants when it's 90 degrees out as long as I offer a Starburst as a reward.lol

Day 2 of kcwc

Day 1 of the kid's clothes week challenge involved me finishing K's jump rope dress.  Day 2 (yesterday) I finally got around to sewing the polka dot blouse from Ottobre Design 01/08.

It's a size 98 and I added about an 1 1/2 inches to the hem line and 2 1/2-3 inches to the sleeve length.  I appreciate 3/4 length sleeves but being someone who growing up had a hard time finding long sleeve shirts that actually came to my wrists, I find I don't like my kids looking like they have outgrown their new clothes.  Even if that's the style.

The fabric is Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom.  I've had this fabric in my stash since last fall and boy, was it hard to cut into it.  The binding was left over fabric from B's baptism gown.  It's a light blush pink.

After a late start, I've been working on the little girls' fall wardrobes.  I'm still sewing away on the rust pants (that's this afternoon's project).  I also want to sew a hoodie for B.  I was lucky enough to win a Kitschy Coo Kid's Reversible Hoodie pattern and I've some fleece in my stash that's going to be perfect for that pattern.  Now I need to decide what fabric to line it with!

Last but not Least...

The final Jump Rope Dress modelled by my ham K.

I've traded red thread and fuzz for rust thread and fuzz as I embark on my next sewing project..."Puolukkapuuro" corduroy pants from Ottobre Design 01/10 #13.  I managed to finish K's dress and cut out the pants this afternoon.  Plus, I started sewing on the pockets.  If only we didn't have football tonight, they'd be finished!

2 Finished dresses

I was beginning to worry that I wouldn't have even one of the Jump Rope dresses finished in time but I managed to complete 2 before the end of the sew-along.  And finally, I had sewn fabric stash yardage so that I earned some real points in the Stash Game.  I've signed up for another sewing challenge/kick in the rear that begins on Monday...Kid's Clothes Week Challenge  over at elsie marley.  Nothing like a challenge to inspire me to stop dreaming about the clothes I'd like to sew and to actually get behind my sewing machine and sew.

But on to the dresses...

Both are View B of the Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress.  B's dress is made from a fine wale corduroy with red/white polka dot twill as an accent and M's dress is out of the polka dot twill.  The inside placket of M's dress is red gingham.  I think the twill is almost too heavy for the dress as it doesn't hang quite as nice as the corduroy.  Something to keep in mind when I use this pattern again.  The girls' red shoes were K's when she was a little girl.  B was a trooper wearing them because they are way too small for her!  But they were the perfect accessory for the pictures.

Help me!

This is the fabric combination I have for K's Jump Rope Dress, View B.  The main dress is red corduroy with the gingham being used for the inside placket and for the trim at the pocket openings.  I didn't get a chance to measure the sleeve length for her before cutting the dress out and sure enough, they are not going to be long enough.  Adding fabric to the sleeve edges is an easy fix but my dilemma is which fabric should I use.   Keep in mind that she's 11 years old.

 Stick to the solid red or use the gingham? 

I'm really hoping to finish all 3 dresses today.  There should be plenty of sewing time and for once, there's no football or volleyball practices tonight to rush off too.  BK's dress is the closest to being finished so I tried it on her this morning...

Not a morning person!:-)

ETA:  I waited until K came home and asked her which she preferred....RED!

A little progress on the sew-along

Placket
Originally uploaded by beach_mom_3

I finally sat down to sew this afternoon. School last week kicked my behind. I'm hoping this week that we (meaning me) will adjust to the new routine a little better and that I'll start sewing every afternoon while the last one at home naps. One can dream, right?

This was my first time doing a placket the Oliver+S way. I'm certainly no expert on plackets...I think I've sewn 2? It took me most of the afternoon before I was mostly happy with it. I'm about half way done with the plackets on the other 2 dresses and so far, it's going a lot better.

I'm hoping tomorrow afternoon that I'll have collars on all 3 dresses!

Made by Rae backpack

Made by Rae backpack
Originally uploaded by beach_mom_3

Here's another UFO that got finished and counts a little more for Stash Game since I used several notions. It's all packed and ready for Miss M to take to Kindergarten tomorrow.

I had purchased several twills online in August for the backpack but when they arrived I decided that they'd be nicer for clothes. Luckily, I had just enough left over fabric from my trial run backpack that I sewed a while back.

One of those fabrics (a red twill with white polkadots) is going to be used for an Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress. I've signed up for the Sew-along and am planning on making one for each of the girls out of various fabrics that are in my stash. Participating in the sew-along will be another good motivator to get off my tush and start sewing!

It's a start

I'm a bit pathetic in that I've only earned 5 points so far during the Stash Game.  I did a spot of mending on this and that and earned 2 points.  I finally finished the Toffee Apple top from Australian Smocking & Embroidery issue #81.  That netted me a whopping 3 points for finishing an UFO and using 2 notions (ric rac and interfacing). 

I can't remember how long ago it was that I had started on the smocking.  It's been at least a year but I think it might have been closer to 2.  It's one of those that you know if you want one of your children to actually wear the finished item you'd better hurry up and finish it or else it won't fit.  I'll have to say I was really impressed with the directions for the construction of the top.  It went together in no time at all and I really like how the facings finish the inside. 

There's one last UFO on my list before I start in on the fun stuff (ie new projects), M's backpack.  I have until Tuesday morning to finish it.  It probably would have been done yesterday but I'd misplaced some of the pattern pieces and for the life of me couldn't find them.  After an hour spent cleaning up my sewing room this morning, they turned up so I'm hoping I'll get time this afternoon to work on it.  We lucked out with Hurricane Earl...only a little rain and wind and that's supposed to move out by this afternoon.

Earl

Today is the kick off of the Stash Game over at Sewing Mamas and much to my dismay, I'm probably not going to be doing much sewing today or the next few days.  We're under a Hurricane Watch so that means this lady will be spending the day making sure we have supplies and moving patio furniture, outdoor toys, rabbits, and such into the garage.  Good thing we spent that weekend cleaning it out as there's plenty of room.  Hopefully, Earl will jog a bit to the east and we'll have minimum impact from the storm. 

I do have one project that needs my immediate attention...Miss M's backpack for school.  It's cut out and I have all the necessary supplies so it's just a matter of finding time to sew it.  The clock is ticking...school starts next Tuesday!