The things they won't wear

Quite often I will see an outfit somewhere and think this is super cute, I need to make something like this for my girls. And then I do. Only to learn afterwards, that NOBODY likes it and that it will, most likely, never be worn.

Here are two examples. Really pretty double-ruffle knit jersey pants:

 

..and super cool and hip bubble pants. 

 

 

What's not to like?????

Well, it's all about the bottom of the legs: "too big". Who knew, the girls only like tight leggings?! Uhm, I did, but was hoping they'd like these new ones afterall.

I am glad, that both sets are on the bigger side. So, I am hoping that the girls' taste will change over the next couple of months and that they may start wearing them after all. Especially, the bubble pants. I LOVE them. So, much that I will be making myself a pair from this fig colored European Linen and smoke rib knit (looks blue in the picture, but it's actually a really dark grey). These pants will become my new favorite around-the-house-comfy-pants.

Reversible pants and tank top

Got something done again! Yeah!
My girls barely every want to wear pants, so this one was kind of hit or miss. I sold them to the girls as Princess Jasmine pants. So, that worked.

The pants are reversible, but I do not think we will ever turn them inside out. I followed this tutorial from I Make Stuff For Fun. The tutorial is very nice and easy to follow. Just make sure you add enough inches to the top of your pants. I had to find out the hard way. You see, I actually made three pairs of pants. The first one turned out a size too small for the girls. I think, I might put it into my shop, once I finish the belt for it.

So, here a few more shots. I really like the cute pockets in back.

Each will have a matching tank top, too. Only one is done so far, but the second is already cut and ready to be sewn up. I simply used another tank top as a template to cut the pattern for these. And guess what ?! The purple border?!: FOE!!!!

Yes, the girls are barefoot. We have been in the upper 70s! Unheard of for this time of year. I am loving it.

Rompers

Thanks to Adrianna from Crafterhours I have a new favorite summer outfit (for the girls, of course). Rompers!

Aren't they cute?!

I had left over swiss dot fabric from the Princess Bella dresses I made earlier this year. Adrianna says, you need up to one yard for these rompers. I had 2/3 of a yard for each of them and it was enough for a size 5.

Make sure to stop by Adrianna's and Susan's blog. They are both very talented and have many great tutorials. Also, make sure to enter this year's Skirt Week contest!

Make it Fit

Hi Everybody!
Before I get to the point I wanted to share a couple of pictures of another set of pants I made for the girls. I used the same pattern I had drawn up for the other set I recently made.

And a custom order I just finished. An extra long owls and hearts garland. I think it came out really cute.

Already! Now, the main point of this post.
I am not sure what to think of it, but my girls grew two sizes in less than a year. 3Ts were a perfect fit in the spring and now they need 5Ts! Money is tight, so I have to figure out ways to extend the life of as much of their old clothing as possible.
Here is an easy way to do just that with regular stretch pants. Stretch pants that are too short on both ends.
To replace the waist I cut the existing waist band off, including the elastic and replaced it with a folded knit band. I used the same technique as for my summer skirt and the stretch knit pants from above and this post.

And to lengthen the legs I simply added a double-folded band of the same knit fabric I used for the waist band. Voila! 20 min and a new pair of pants!

Some 70's Inspiration

... or, Back-to-school-outfits.
... or, Yes, I am still here!
... or, Yes, I still do sew!
... or, Yes, we have been having a great summer!

Can't believe it's been over a month that I have posted last. I am greatful, that once in a while people still stop by and take a look around here, on this non-happening blog.

I have been making quite a few more skirts and dresses for my girls. I will spare you the pictures, since summer sewing is over anyway and instead show you the girls' new Back-to-school outfits. They have also been called "back-to-bed" and "running-with-the-bulls" Outfits....
For these, I was inspired by: the training pants of my gymnastics coach, when I was about 7 years old. Look:

So, here is what I came up with. Pants and shirt sets.

I used super soft and stretchy cotton jersey knit which I got on sale at http://www.fabric.com/, combined with some owl-jersey from Joann's. No patterns were used, just did some eyeballing of their current size. Instead of the conventional elastic waist I made a wide and comfy yoga-band. Similar to how I made my summer skirt. The girls love it.

The sleeves are a little long right now. But, I think in a couple of months they will be just fine. This owl-fabric is really cute. If you have a Joann's around, hurry up. I think it's a pretty hot commodity.

... all done posing. Give us our candy, now!

Just three more weeks of summer, then school will start again! Luckily, we are still having the most beautiful weather: nothing less then mid 80s all the time! I am loving it.
I will be back soon (Promise!) with some pictures of a quilt I am working on right now.
Until later.

3 - YEARS - OLD (...okay, almost)

Well, I am jumping ahead, but I was sooo excited about sharing the outfits I made for the girls' third birthday. Which is actually not until next Monday.

As I mentioned before I was really looking forward to working with something other than PINK all the time. So, I decided to make them blue outfits. I might have gone overboard a bit, but for some reason these 1001-shades of blue still appeal to me.

Some of you may have seen the Can-Can-skirt from Dana Made. I thought it was such a great idea to to have the color-changing-effect on the ruffles. I did not buy the pattern (yeah, I am cheap like that...), but tried to figure it out myself. And the skirts fit. So, it worked out okay.

I also made the leggings by using a pair they already have as a guide to draw the pattern.
The T-shirts are Target's "Ultimate Tee" and I appliqued the number on them.

The hairclips are also handmade.

I found this awesome tutorial on PurlBee. It's super easy and quick. I think it did not take me longer than 15 minutes to make one of these. The original pattern calls for woolfelt. But, I thought the regular cheapo kind worked just as well.

Happy 3rd Birthday girls! WE LOVE YOU!

Pants

About a year ago you would have never found me considering to make a pair of pants for my girls or even draw a pattern for pants. I was always afraid that they would never fit right. But, practice makes better. And with having sewn so many skirts, jackets, PJs and dresses over the past year I felt confident that now it could possibly work out okay if I made some pants; simple pants.

So, I drew up two different patterns: one that uses one piece of fabric for each leg (= no side seams on the legs) and one with side seams and cuffs. Because I wanted something really fun for the girls to wear I chose loud and bright fabrics for both.

Cute brown and purple owl flannel paired with bright pink and more owls for the pockets.

Big fun pockets on the side and in back.

For the second set I used different prints from the Monkey's Bizness and Chick A Dee, Chick A Doo fabric lines.

Nice big pockets on this one, too.

And nice cuffs with a slight flare on the bottom.

When planning and making these pants I discovered how easy, quick and awesome French Seams are! Look!

Doesn't it look so clean and professional?! If you have never tried using this type of seam it's definetly worth trying. There are quite a few easy to follow tutorials available on sewing blogs.

Quite a few birthdays are coming up next month: Uroma, Nephew, Nieces AND Anika und Kordula. I have lots of plans for handmade gifts for almost all of them. But first, I need to sit down and finish Anika's pink cardigan.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.