Dolphin Tale T-Shirt

I had this shirt done before we left for Florida but wasn't 100% happy with it.  The sleeves were too floppy and just didn't look quite right.

before

after!

The pattern I used is the same as the Turtle top (Ottobre Design 03/06 #17).  The white is a cotton interlock and the sleeves/dolphin are a woven left over from BK's Family Reunion Dress.  I used sleeves from another OD pattern but can't remember which one.    If I don't blog about a project straight away, I forget the nitty gritty details.  That's why I blog!

Anyways...while we are gone I thought about the dolphin top.  MG really liked it so I needed to come up with some kind of solution.  Otherwise, I'd cringe every time she wore it.  I decided to zig zag over 1/4 inch elastic on the inside of the sleeve to gather the edge and eliminate the "flop".  Worked like a charm!

It was fitting that I fixed the shirt today.  MG is home sick from school and watching the movie Dolphin Tale.  The coincidence was enough to get a cooperative model and a smile.:)

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Gift Sewing

Normally, I'm not one to sew gifts for people outside of my immediate family.  Mainly because I feel like my sewing has to be perfect and I get really stressed out.  I made an exception for my best friend's birthday.  After all, when you've known someone for 25 years they are part of your family.:)

Everything Tote from Weekend Sewing

I used a home decor print from Joann's for the outside and a flamingo print for the lining. I made the same modifications I did for my tote last summer.  I also incorporated a few more.  The inside patch pocket is a bit deeper and I also used a heavy interfacing for where the handles open up and sit on the shoulder.

The most important mod in my opinion is a zippered pocket.  Perfect for stashing keys and other small important objects that could fall out of the patch pocket or get lost in the main section of the bag.  I hope my dear friend likes the bag!

Vacation Recap

Last week we were in Florida enjoying the warm weather and sunshine.  It was a low key vacation with lots of time spent at the house that my in-laws are renting for the month.  It has a pool for swimming and a lake for fishing so why would we need to go anywhere else?:)



We did do one expedition...Universal Studios Island of Adventures.  But I dare say we had more fun at the house. 

Recognize the tops?

On our last day, we spent it fishing...

first thing in the morning

And swimming...

BK learned to swim!

All that swimming tires a girl out!

And more fishing in the evening...

a sunfish instead of a bass

another monster fish for P, #3

and K was able to catch one more fish

We headed for home early on Sunday, MG's 7th birthday, and arrived later that evening.  There was a little surprise waiting for the birthday girl....

 

Molly meet Molly

I also had a couple of packages waiting for me...

Giveaway from Tara at true, pure, lovely

I was expecting the book but the fabric was a surprise!  Thank you, Tara!

And a pattern and some fabric that I had ordered a few weeks ago!  I love sewing mail.:)

Tops X Three

"Happy Animals" #12 Ottobre Design 03/2011

in Liberty Jersey that I won from the fabulous Angela at Sew Mental Mama

The binding is Michael Miller interlock in Raspberry.

And the joy of having a cool, new top...all MG's!

I chose to do the elbow length sleeves thinking it would be great for spring.  I couldn't believe it when the day she wore the top for the first time that the temps hit the mid-80's.  It is March, right?

Oliver + S Ice Cream Top in Sarah Jane Children at Play Meadow Soft Pink

A "compliment" of Justine's lovely top.:)

This one is to be BK's.

Isn't the button adorable?  I loved the Beatrix Potter stories as a child. 

Another Ice Cream top but this one is for Miss M.  I used a different colorway from the same fabric line as BK's top.

And closed it with a little bow.

The BIG Reveal

Want to know what I was secretly working on all those days of blog silence?  Head on over to Kitschy Coo and read my guest post.  Amanda has a fabulous series called "Make it in a Metre" where various bloggers take a meter of fabric and see what they can sew from it.  Here's a little sneak peek at what I came up with...

Flutter & Finch

This week has been a sewing filled week as we get ready for our vacation to Florida.  I dare say, I'm a little burned out.  But my little girls won't be naked!

Clever Charlotte Flutter Blouse, as seen in the Spring 2012 Stitch magazine

I sewed a Medium in Prince Charming by Tula Pink.  I was a little unsure what size to make it and almost went with the Large as the girls' measurements just about put them in a large.  I'm glad I didn't as it would have been way too big.  I also added several inches to the length but as it turns out I didn't really need to.  I shouldn't have second guessed everything...put it down to sewing overload!

The details are wonderous.  Pintucks on the front with buttons to accent, gathered sleeves, and a keyhole opening in the back. 

And it looks fabulous paired with the Raven pants!

BK wasn't left out...she got herself a pair of Finch shorts.  Once again, the details are divine!  The pleats, the tabs, the cuffs...I don't which one I like best.

Perhaps the tabs finished with black MOP buttons.:)

Turtle Top

In the midst of pulling summer clothes and sorting, I came to the awful realization that the little girls have hardly any t-shirts with short sleeves. Time to make some more pinterest inspirations a reality!

Ottobre Design 03/06 #17, size 104 with a few modifications

Turtle Design from OD 03/08

While trying on shorts and capris to see what still fit, I came across a pair of hand-me-down capri pants with turtles on the hem.  So, of course I had to make a turtle shirt to wear with them.

The biggest modification was to bind the entire sleeve edge instead of having ties to close the keyhole.  The other time I made this pattern, the ties never stayed nice.   I hand stitched the keyhole closed before applying the binding.  To add a little interest a la Gymboree, I added a button below the keyhole.

I added length to the top and ended up taking in the side seams as the shirt was too wide for my taste.  One thing about the older Ottobre Design patterns--they seem to run short and wide.  It's not a big deal...I usually compare the traced off pattern to another that fits well and make my adjustments from there.

No stink eye today.  Or if there is, it's well hidden by the sunglasses.:)  And what's up with the socks and shoes...I tried to convince BK that sandals would look nice but she was resistant.  I pick my battles and this was one not worth fighting!

Stink Eye

Urban Dictionary defines stink eye as a "surfer term meaning a glare or lingering dirty look".  As you can see, it's something I'm very familiar with...

BK is an expert at giving the stink eye.  One might say it's her most common look. 

Last summer, Gymboree had a little swing top with a dog, girl, and a surfboard.  I really loved the top and would have purchased it in an instant but it was only available in their baby sizes that go up to a 5T.  BK might only be 4 but she's my giant and baby sizes don't fit.

Luckily, I have an absolutely awesome mom with some mad sewing/embroidery/crafting skills.  She digitized the image with a few minor changes and embroidered a RTW shirt following BK's color choices for the dog, girl, and surfboard.

It's the perfect shirt for my own little surfer girl.  Thanks, Mom!

I know it seems a little quiet around siestas & sewing lately.  Never fear, I have been doing some insane sewing in anticipation of our trip to Florida.  Keep your eyes pealed for the big reveal(s).:)

Sweatpants for an Active Girl

Ever since I made MG's cargo sweatpants, K has been asking for a pair.  She was in luck...Ottobre Design 01/12 has a similar pattern for a big girl (or boy!). 

Ottobre Design 01/12 #31 "Cheveyo" cargo sweatpants, size 146 with added length

Her dad's sweatpants were safe this time.  I bought several pairs of clearance marked 14-16 boy's sweatpants to cut into.  One pair for the front and back legs and part of another pair for the pockets. 

The pocket bags, inside of the cargo flaps, and the tie are a striped cotton lycra knit.  I had a minor uh-oh moment with the cargo pockets...I forgot to add seam allowances to the edges so there wasn't enough to turn under and stitch.  My remedy--fold the flaps out and zig zag stitch them to the pants.

 The casing for the elastic is done in a neat way.  You fold over the top of the pants and then do a flatlock stitch on the right side.  That covers/finishes the inside seam allowance. 

 

Like MG's pair, I chose not to do buttonholes for the tie and instead tacked it on to the front of the pants.  I was able to reuse the elastic from the original pair of pants. 

Perfect pants for an ACTIVE (and silly!) girl.

I'm wearing skinny jeans...eeek!

I've got about 10 minutes to get this post written with pictures added.  Why?  It's supposed to be sunny and pushing 80 degrees today.  And I've promised BK that we'll spend the day outside playing.

Remember my goal for 2012?  I don't blame you if you don't.  I have a tendency to make a lot of goals and then totally ignore making them come to fruition.:)  I'm talking about the one regarding sewing for myself.  My goal was to make at least one thing each month.  It almost didn't happen in February...good thing it's a leap year and I had an extra day!

February's top (yes, I realize today is March 1 but I did finish this yesterday) is the Lisette Portfolio, Simplicity 2245, in a tunic length. 

See how dedicated I am?  I'm up, dressed, and mostly awake at 7:40 am just so one of the big kids could take my picture before they left for school.  My hair may still be damp and I might not have any makeup on but by golly, I have some pictures of the tunic being worn.

I sewed up a size 10 even though my  measurements put me in a 14.  There's still plenty of room.  I used a linen print that I picked up from one of the chain fabric stores last year.  I was originally going to use an aqua linen for the neckband but that was sacrificed for MG's Family Reunion dress last year.

The pattern is pretty straight forward.  I had it mostly done in an afternoon.  I like it and can see myself wearing it on the days that I want to be a little more pulled together than a tee shirt and jeans.  btw...I purchased my first pair of skinny jeans specifically to wear with this tunic.  Not sure how I feel about the jeans but I think they're okay with a tunic covering my butt!

linking up to: 

 Make it, Wear it Thursday at The Train to Crazy