Gryffindor

If you've been hanging around you know that this month was Harry Potter Month for Crafting Con.  You can see a quick over-view of all my designs here.  I'm also doing an individual post for each look and today we're up to my son Ezekiel.  He was sorted into Gryffindor!

First, let me preface all the pictures by saying, please PLEASE just overlook the riddikulus dog collar he has on in all of them!  It was supposed to be a bracelet that wrapped around twice but he got it in his head that he wanted to wear it as a necklace and there was no talking him out of it.  Soo...it's there in all the pictures in all it's dorky glory!  lol

I used Terra's Treasures Suburban Basic as the base for his shirt.  Then (with much consulting from Kirsten), I decided on a faux bow-tie (appliqued on), a kangaroo pocket (freehanded) and freezerpaper stenciled glasses and lightning bolt.

 On the back I reverse freezer paper stenciled "Gryffindor" using a Harry Potter font I found at www.dafont.com .

He also decided since I had made his brother a cape he needed one too.  More freezer paper stenciling here too!  I free-handed the shape of the cape (upcycled from an old polo of my husband's) and used the existing hem for the bottom.  I hemmed the other edged and then added velcro to attach to his shirt.

I used the trace function on my Silhouette software to get the outline of the Gryffindor crest and and then ironed the freezer paper on and  painted over it.

The front has a functioning pocket with a Harry Potter scar stenciled onto it and fake glasses peeking out of one side of the pocket.

This whole project was upcycled.  The striped fabric was from a polo both my boys had outgrown and the maroon was a shirt I stole from my dad for just this purpose!  ;)

Thanks for stopping by to check out my Gryffindor look and be sure to come back tomorrow to see my little Hufflepuff!!!  (her's MIGHT be my favorite but I really like parts of all of them so much! )

Harry Potter Month

I'm scraping in by the skin of my teeth for Crafting Con (and Crafting Con)  this month!

As I mentioned here, this month's theme is Harry Potter.  I took quite a while deciding what I wanted to do.  (Just as a reminder items made for Crafting Con are supposed to be inspired by the theme but something you'd still wear to the grocery store; not a full on costume.)

At some point it struck me that...I have four children....and there are four houses at Hogwarts....and THEN someone mentioned the Sorting Hat at Pottermore so I had my 3 oldest take the test and when they all got sorted into different houses my choice was made!  The youngest would be placed into the fourth house and they would all get clothes inspired by the house they were in.

Now, some of the outfits have quite a bit of detail so I decided to give each one their own post.  I figured if I didn't there would end up being about 100 pictures in one post and really..that's just too much!  lol.  I'll start with those tomorrow.  Today I'm going to share a quick overview of them and the (horrible) pictures that I was able to get of more than one at a time.

These four brave wizards and witches had quite the adventure today and I just happened to have caught some of it!  After it was all over they were just cool and chill but....

earlier that day

they'd been out on the grounds doing some Herbology homework....

or watching over other people's shoulders trying to not do any work for themselves.... 

and then they followed a mysterious message that led them straight to the Forbidden Forest!  

They had to stick together and learn to trust each other even when they didn't get along...

Once they made it out of the forest they struggled a bit with their Patronus charms....but as luck would have it they were able to make a quick escape anyway!  

The ever studious Ravenclaw bewitched a 4 Wheeler...

and then she and her friendly Hufflepuff rode off while still battling the Forces of Evil that pursued them!

Then somewhere along the way they picked up the Slytherin and Gryffindor boys too!!!  (He's getting a trap set, being all brave and fearless!)  

Once it was all over they rested and comforted each other and took the rest of the day off!   

Be sure to come back for close ups and details on all the clothes!  (I made everything except the jeans that are part of the Gryffindor outfit.)

I'll also link them up to this post once they're all up.

Ravenclaw

Gryffindor

Hufflepuff

Slytherin

Ravenclaw!

I've talked a bit about Crafting Con already and you can see some pictures of the kids together here, but I thought it would be fun to do a post on each house/outfit that I did.  I figured we'd just go in order of my kiddos' ages which means that we'll be starting with Miss K.  She's a Ravenclaw and her outfit was the first I made.  (Also, just overlook the less than stellar smiles...she was suffering greatly with ichy and hurting bug bites. )

After the photoshoot I thought of a few more things (well, really just one) that I would have done differently, but overall I love the way it turned out!

I used the Amy Maxi skirt from Greenstyle Creations for the base of her outfit.  I spent two nights hand lettering the entire fabric I wanted to use with Harry Potter related words in somewhat of a Subway Art style.  I used a gold (because they didn't have bronze!  lol) paint pen to do all the writing.

Then, because I wanted to tone it down a bit, I put a gray layer of chiffon over it.   Also, if you give this a try you might want to remember that chiffon doesn't stretch and you might need to cut it a bit bigger.  Just sayin....  It's a good thing Kessa is skinny because I didn't think about that before I made hers and it still fits.  ;)  

The chiffon makes it really fun because you can see through it and see the words in some lights....

and in others you can sorta see it....  and then sometimes you can't see the words at all!!!  It's like....magic!  ;)  

For the top I FINALLY used the Shoreline Tank from Jocole Patterns in a lovely blue just perfect for a Ravenclaw.  Where did I find this oh so perfect knit you ask?  In my closet.  It was a 3/4 length v-neck top from Old Navy that I never wear!  Have I mentioned that I heart upcycling?  

I bought the pattern over a year ago on a half-off Wednesday and then just never made it.  Now that I have, I have plans for lots more.  I love it!  I think I'm going to need one or two too.  It's a super fast sew, even with the knit binding on the arms and chest.  Jodi does a great job of walking you through everything and I love the fit!  (This is the size 5 on my skinny almost 8 year old with a smidge of added length.)  

You can also choose to leave off the ruffles if those aren't your thing.  I'm not usually a ruffle girl but I really like them on this tank!  

And then...I cut a Ravenclaw crest from some gold sparkle heat transfer (because again, you can't get bronze!)  

I fought with my Silhouette a lot over this one and ended up cutting most of it by hand.  Thankfully I was able to save the a through w from some of the messed up cuts and didn't have to do all those tiny letters by hand!  

Be sure and come back tomorrow to see all the details of the Gryffindor outfit!  

Parisian Nights PJs

One of my favorite designers that I test for frequently messaged me a while back and said she had given my name to a new designer looking for someone to test a ladies XL pattern.  I said I was in!  I'm always a fan of testing ladies patterns because it means I HAVE to sew for myself!

Turns out...the "new" designer was Suzanne Winter, the woman behind Winter Wear, who is always making AMAZING clothes and doing reviews over on Pattern Revolution.  She has amazing style so I was super excited to get to test for her!

Her first pattern is available for FREE when you purchase some patterns from the Ladies Bundle Up sale.

So...I got the pattern, whipped up a pair of XL Parisian Nights Pjs (great directions, super fast to sew up, easy and cute!!!)  and then... I tried them on and....they were pretty big and baggy.  Not very flattering....comfy but.....big.

Suzanne asked me to double check my measurements and low and behold....even though I've lost very little weight I HAVE lost some inches since I started THM and working out and I should have made a Large!!!!  I'm counting that as a win!

Now, more about this great pattern...see that contrast yoke on the top?  That can be made with stretch lace and it's SOOO cute!  I was very dissapointed that I didn't have any lace + knit combos that matched but I still like it with just a contrasting knit.  And another secret...soooo comfy!  

Just ignore the photobombing dog.  These pictures are all courtesy of my 7 year old....I think she did pretty darn good!

So....if you sew...run and get some patterns from the Bundle Up sale!  It ends the 27th.  I wasn't really even tempted to get anything in the last Bundle Up but this one has me scrambling to come up with some extra money to get the ones I want because it's SUCH a good deal!!!!

(and there will definitely be more of these pjs in the right size in my future!)

Crafting Con

I have SOOOO many new outfits and pattern tests that I need to blog but it's all going to have to wait.   Why?  Because I have to tell you about something that has my totally geeky heart beating and thrilled.  It's Crafting Con (and also here )!!!!  

So, what's Crafting Con?  It's a monthly (geeky) theme and challenge with contestants, guest posts and tutorials, and a linky party (and prizes!!)  This month's theme is Harry Potter and I'm just playing along for fun.  

I had the kids all take the sorting test at Pottermore (except Zane) and they were all sorted into different houses so OBVIOUSLY I need to do 4 different looks!  Zane's been asking me to make him a shirt for a week or so so I did his first.  The other kids all got sorted into Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff respectfully so we threw Zane into Slytherin (and I think it was a fitting house for him anyway!  lol)  

Anyway, I'm not going to show you all of it yet because I'll do a whole post or two with all the details on everyone's outfits and real pictures but I wanted to come share about Crafting Con.  I was SOOOO excited when I found out about it!!!  

Oh!  And next month....it's Star Wars month and I'm guest posting!!!  Woohoo!!!!  :)