Girls Portlander Pants

I haven't been sewing much lately because home schooling has been taking up so much time...then throw baseball and softball into the mix and that's about all the hours in my day!  lol

When I saw Terra, the brains behind New Horizons Designs, post the tester call for these shorts though, they were so cute, and I knew they'd be a fast enough sew that even I could find time to finish them, and they wouldn't take a lot of fabric (not sewing much means I haven't been buying fabric and my stash is dwindling!)

The Girls Portlander Pants pattern includes sizes 12-18 months all the way up to a size 16!  I made my girls sizes 8 and 10.  There are also short and pant options, pocket options, and a drawstring option!  Let me tell you, the pockets and drawstrings really push this over the top!  That said, I went simple.  I didn't put pockets OR drawstrings on the three pairs I made for testing and they're still super cute and comfortable!  

These two pairs both have a simple knit body and a cotton/lycra blend waist.  The waist is a mid to high rise but you can always fold it over if you like it lower.  

I also decided the girls needed new tank tops to match so I whipped up the (FREE!!! SAY WHAT?!?!) Key West tank pattern (also from New Horizons) and then added some heat transfer designs that I cut with my silhouette.  Grace's (best seen in the second picture from the top) says "Pool Hair Don't Care" and just seemed very fitting for her, lol, and you can see Kessa's above.  If you click on the link for the tank you'll see that it says it's $7...hmm...I thought it was free!!!  So, to get it for free you'll need to head over to the New Horizons Facebook group and grab the coupon code in the pinned post.  The Key West actually has a TON of different options too, including a slim cut (like the two I made here), a more flowy style, multiple hem lines, racerback or regular tank, and there's a ladies version too!  

How about a few more pictures of more shorts?  This pair is made from sweatshirt fleece and also has a cotton/lycra waist.  Grace loves them and even wore them to softball practice the other night! 

Convinced?  They're on sale for $7 through 5/28 (and if you want the women's version too buy the bundle for only $14 right now!!  That means you get both pairs on sale!)  

Frolic Collection

It's been a while since I've shared something from My Little Plumcake but Michelle has been hard at work behind the scenes for months now preparing for the Frolic Capsule Collection!  

So, what is a capsule collection you ask?  It's a collection of patterns (five have currently been released with more coming -- including a few freebies!) that can all be mixed and matched to create a wardrobe full of basic staples.  Since all the patterns can be mixed and matched it saves you time and money!  

I've only made two of the patterns so far but I'm very excited about some more that are coming too!  

First up let me tell you about the Frolic Shorts.  They can be made from any number of woven fabrics, have a flat front waistband with simple little clean pleats, pockets and a cute curved leg hem. 

I did all my top stitching in a contrasting color to make it stand out a bit more.  

The top I paired with it is the Frolic Crop Top.  

The Frolic Crop Top is a simple, fast sew, fully lined, with buttons (or snaps if you're lazy like me!) down the back.  

The skirt and shorts are both designed to be slightly high waisted so that even with the crop top there is still good stomach coverage (although if you're like me and want to make sure it's all covered even when they're squirming and jumping just slap a tank under it.  I picked up several for my girls for like $1.69 each at Wal-Mart.)

Now, let's talk about this skirt.  Oh.My.Stars.  My girls wore these outfits for Easter and they're both in LOOOOVE with them.  I think it makes them feel extra feminine and fancy,  The skirts have a wide elastic waistband covered with soft knit.  The skirts themselves are layer after layer of fancy goodness.  

The cream and pink one has a lining, four layers of tulle, and then two layers of chiffon.  I did a rolled hem on my lining and chiffon but there are also instructions for a narrow hem if you don't have (or want to use) a serger.  

All of the fabric for the above outfit I picked up at Joanns.  The chiffon is NOT as high a quality as the purple that I got from another site.  I had a really hard time doing the rolled hem on it because it kept shredding.  I ended up roll hemming both layers together...which I wouldn't recommend...but hey, it worked!  lol 

 The fabric for Kessa's top is from Joanns but the chiffon I got from Stylish Fabric on etsy.  It's a GREAT quality and was surprisingly easy to work with (for chiffon).

The patterns all go from 18months to size 10...I know a lot of people wish they went to larger sizes but be sure and check the size charts too.  My (small) almost 10 year old wears a size 7 so we'll still get several more years out of these patterns!  

The other patterns in the capsule that have already been released are a jumpsuit (with a really unique design at the leg cuffs which makes it stand out from other jumpsuits around), and lined jacket pattern that looks cute with the skirt, the shorts, AND the jumpsuit. 

Now, if you made it ALL THIS WAY, I have a reward for you!!!  Coupons!!!  Sales!!!  WOOHOO!!! You can use the code CAPSULE (in the etsy shop)  for 20% off your purchase, or, if you're loving a bunch, you can use the code BUY2GET1 for (you guessed it didn't you?) buy 2 get 1 free!  lol.  

Be sure and share all your creations or ask any questions you might have in the facebook group!  

and just for laughs...I leave you with this little gem.  You're welcome.  

Made for Mermaids has a super cute new pattern out called the Blair top.  Now, I did the most simple version.  Tunic length.  Plain hem.  Nothing fancy.  It's super cute and I did it in sweatshirt fleece so it's extra warm and cozy and my girls love it but it really doesn't do this pattern justice.  

(my yummy sweatshirt fleece is from Mel at Purpleseamstress Fabric.) 

(Grace wanted a picture with Zane too.  Who is wearing some flannel lined Captain Comfy Jeans from Patterns for Pirates.)  

Ok, back to the Blair top.  It's a loose fitting, v-neck, raglan top with 3 different sleeve lengths and a TON of hem options.  There is the plain jane tunic length with nothing fancy like I did, but there is also a Rainbow hem, a high low hem, a curved hem, and options for lace edging, single ruffle, or double ruffle on all those hems as well!

 Because of the fit you can use a WIDE variety of knits for the bodice, from a heavier one (like my sweatshirt fleece) to something more light and flowy.  The ruffles look amazing in light wovens with good drape (think lining fabric, chiffon, lace, etc.)

And the V-neck?  Don't be scared!  The directions are super simple and take you through it step by step.  All of mine looked great (in my humble opinion.  lol!)

So, the girls Blair (from 1/2 all the way to a 14) is on sale right now for just $7!!!  (If you need one for you, the Ladies Blair is also on sale for $7 currently, OR you can buy the bundle and get the girls and ladies both for only $10!!!)

(I should also note that the length on Grace's top is off a little, it was lengthened during testing.)

So, go forth, buy, and sew!!!!  :)

Girls Lisse Release!

Terra, of Terra's Treasures, has done it again!!!  I always love her patterns SOOO much and the Girls Lisse is no exception.  I've made 3 so far and have plans for more!  My girls both love them too.  

The Lisse comes in sizes 6-12 months up to a 16 (and there's a ladies pattern too if you think you need one for yourself!  ;) ) 

It has a hood or cowl options (I've only done hoods so far) and thumb hole or regular cuffs.  

All the ones I've made so far have thumb hole cuffs because we love us some thumb holes around here!  

It's a great pattern for upcycling too because the pieces aren't too big.  

The hood crosses over from one shoulder to the other looks really cute up and down!

 There are also directions for adding drawstrings (which I'm currently missing!  oops!)

The skirt has two little pleats and the petals cross over each other for a totally unique (and adorable!) look.  

And that back view??!?!?  It's so darn cute!  

 So, if you're convinced you need the Lisse in your life head over to Terra's Treasures and grab it now because it's on sale for $7 through the 1st (and the Ladies Lisse is too!) AND there is a sew along that's starting in the Terra's Treasures Facebook group on February 2nd!  Come join the fun!!!

Party Time!

My girls were born 3 years and 3 days apart.  August starts and we have a birthday on the 3rd, another one on the 6th and then Tim and my anniversary on the 9th. It's busy.  Because it's busy (and because they haven't complained about it yet!  lol) we always have one party for the girls.  We don't usually do a big party with lots of friends or anything, just a small, low key thing with family and maybe one or two friends.

This year Kessa wanted a castle cake and Grace...well Grace didn't really care but she loves My Little Pony so I decided to make them a MLP Castle cake.  

I'm no professional by any means, but it turned out cute and they liked it!

I always make them new dresses with their age on the back for their birthday and Grace wanted a Princess Cadence one this year.  I don't have ANY good pictures of her dress yet, but hopefully I'll get some this week.  

Coloring with her Aunt Michelle and wearing a birthday crown from her Aunt Amanda.

 Kessa was a *little* excited about her presents!  lol

These two have birthdays only 3 days apart too!  They've been friends since they could walk.  I love watching their friendship grow and their personalities develop!

Any this picture of  Zeke...it's the perfect photobomb!