Zanebot

Right now, and for the last few months really, Zane has been very into Curious George.  I really don't know what brought it on, but he's loving it so we're rolling with it!  I was able to score some CG fleece in a destash group at a fairly good price and when it came in today I immediately threw it in the wash.  Tonight shortly before bed I had a few extra minutes and whipped up these lounge pants for the little dude.  He loves them!  (They're so soft!!)

I'm afraid this is as good as it gets when it comes to pictures though...he doesn't hate pictures, but if he sees the camera he wants to SEE the picture...right then...and he won't hold still long enough for you to actually TAKE the picture for him to see!  lol

and if you're the sewing type and are interested I use Jocole's Mega Ruffle Pants for these.  I sized up to a 3 since I was using fleece (it's thicker) and then left off the ruffle and extended the leg down to compensate for it.  

Leggings, leggings, leggings!

The Pattern Revolution blog is doing a review of several different legging patterns so I thought I'd throw up some pictures of my favorite ones and add my voice to the cacophony!

Petunia Petal Pants by LilyGiggle

I LOVE the Petunia Petal Pants.  The rise seems perfect, the ease and fit are great...they're a fast sew, and, let's be honest, those petals are TDF!  I think the only thing I could "complain" about with this pattern is that the lengths aren't always spot on for my girls.  I made the size 4 capri length for my daughter and they ended up more like cropped length.  But that's a no brainer for me...just use measurements.  Well worth it because the rest of the pattern ROCKS.  Looks cute as shorts, capris and pants!  

Ruffle Leggings by Jocole Patterns

This is another great legging pattern!  I think it fits just a teensy bit more slimly than the Petal Pants and I LOVE the size range it includes.  AND...it has the doll size pattern!  That's a big seller around here.  It also has 3 different length options and has some good tips on using clear elastic for gathering your ruffles.  I also find that the rise is a bit high on my girls.  It's designed to hit around the actual waist so we usually just roll down the band once and then my girls are comfortable.

Overall, I think they're both great patterns....if I were only going to buy one I'd probably have to go with the Petal Pants because it's a lot easier to wing ruffles than it is to wing that petal shape!  lol.

Pattern Revolution is also reviewing Peek a Boo Pattern's Lollipop Leggings pattern but I don't have that one (it has a keyhole finish that's sorely tempting me though!)

Tee x 3

Hey all!  Life with 4 is crazy..and fun...and really crazy.  Especially when you ALSO own your own children's clothing business that's very busy...and you like to test out new patterns for designers when you get a chance.  Like last week...one of my ALL.TIME.FAVORITE pattern designers needed a few testers for sizes 6, 7, and 8...wait, WHAT?!?!  Zeke wears and 6 and Blank Slate Patterns ROCK!!!  PICK ME!!!!!! And she did!  Woohoo!!!

This new pattern, Tee Times 3,  has three different options.  A Peter Pan collar (not really my style), a hoodie (we all know I LOVE a good hoodie!), and a basic tee.

I was assigned the basic tee and I decided to do it long sleeved in a thermal knit that Zeke has been wanting something out of.

The overall fit was pretty good but has been made even better since this version.  The final version has a thinner neckband and has been skinnied up a bit too.  I think I'll be sizing down one so that they're tight and making him a bunch of these to wear under t-shirts this fall/winter.  He loves this shirt and has worn it 2 or 3 times already (and it's the middle of summer!)  lol.  

Yup...he's a stud.  The blue of the shirt really goes well with his eyes too I think.  I'm going to have to remember that and make him more blue clothing!

Zane's 2! (and More KCW!)

Ok, so Friday and Saturday were days 5 and 6 of Kids Clothes Week and I made Zane's birthday shirt on day 5 (I used Lil' Blue Boo's Hoodie pattern and modified it for this top.)

And then on Saturday (like, really early Saturday morning...like...before I went to bed for Friday early) I whipped up some lounge pants with some awesome Hot Wheels Fabric using the most basic option on Made By Rae's Parsley Pants (I can't WAIT to make some of the other versions!) and a simple raglan top to match.

And because who doesn't love a kid blowing out candles?!?!

Happy 2nd Birthday ZaneBot!!!!!!!!!

More Kids Clothes Week!

Well, days 3 and 4 and now day 5 of Kids Clothes Week are over.

On Day Three I finished up a pair of Petunia Petal Pants for Miss Grace.  I made these to match a peasant top I made her that she decided she didn't like the "hands" of (for those of you not in the know that means the sleeves.)  She told me in no uncertain terms that she didn't like it and wanted me to sell it.  So I did.  Without getting a decent picture of it.  Boo!  But anyway, here are the totally adorable pants along with the top that I made on Day Four.  I also added a ruffle to a previously made dress that a customer wanted a little more length on (but that wasn't for my kids so it didn't count.)

Day Four I made a Juliette Dress for the shop and also a Juliette Top (the one Grace is wearing) that I intended to sell, but it didn't sell right away so girlfriend up there is keeping it.  

and the back...

And finally, today is Day Five!  And TODAY I made myself face the fact that my baby is turning 2 on Sunday.  TWO people!!!  TWO!  This may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but just think about the fact that I've never had a child turn even ONE without already being pregnant.  Knowing he's the LAST one makes everything a little more bitter sweet, but it also makes me cherish the moments more.

So, while I was facing facts I made him a birthday shirt.  

And I'll share it tomorrow.  ;)

Just Checking In

Day 2 of Kid's Clothes Week is done!  I didn't get as much done as I had hoped but I still met all my challenges and I was productive.

Today I made Grace a simple peasant dress.  Sadly I have next to nothing in the way of woven fabrics so while I was able to make the sleeves from a contrasting fabric I didn't have enough of anything else that matched to do the ruffle or a sash.  Soo...hoping to find something in the near future and do those but in the meantime I just did a rolled hem on the bottom edge and I have some cute leggings cut to go with it so she can still wear it.

I also got a TON (but only half of the 2 tons I've ordered) of new knits in today so I spent lots of time pre-washing them and just generally drooling over their yumminess.

THEN I cut out a new shirt pattern in both Zeke and Zane's sizes and used some of my fantastic new knit (that Zeke actually saw on the computer while I was shopping and requested) to cut them out.  But now...now it's bedtime.  So tomorrow I'm hoping to sew up Grace's leggings and Zeke and Zane's shirts.  I think I also will have some customer items I need to work on by then. So, that's it!  I'll leave you with a picture of the mess I made while assembling/cutting the new patterns.  Thanks for dropping by!

Kid's Clothes Week - Day 1

I'm back!  At least for a week.  ;)  And with such a great new post title too huh?  lol.  I know.  I rock.

Anyway, 4 times a year a bunch of ladies in the interweb get together and do a challenge called Kid's Clothing Week.  Now, the actual challenge is to do some type of sewing related activity for at least an hour for 7 days in a row (today is day one for the Spring challenge.)

However, since I sew for children all the time, and typically more than an hour a day, I've decided to challenge myself a little bit.  For me, for the next seven days, I want to sew for MY children for at least an hour a day.  I'm also challenging myself to use some of the patterns that I have and not buy any new ones (unless they're boy patterns because I only have like 2 of those.  lol)

SO, let's get this show on the road!  Today I finished up some tops for Grace and Kessa using CKC's Ruby's top pattern .  I also chopped off some old jeans and added a ruffle for Grace and I have some ready to do for Kessa but didn't get them done before I played the part of the good mom and took the crazies outside to play.

Kessa really gets into the modeling gig for me sometimes.  She's quite good at it when she wants to be!  lol

Grace you just have to catch when she's busy.  She won't stop moving if she knows you want to take her picture.

And finally....I saved the best for last.  

This picture cracks me up. This is my life (minus the almost 2 year old who was wandering around at the other end of the porch! ;) ) Zeke insisted that he needed in the picture too.  He was trying to look cool I think but I seemed to keep catching him when he just looked silly.  Grace is her typical goofball self...and Kessa.  Wow.  I'm not sure where my little girl went but this child doesn't look like my little 6 year old!

So, that's it for today!  Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more fun stuff to share!!!  :)  

(I have no idea what the fabric is or where it's from.  My aunt gave it to me years ago and this is the first time I've used it.)