A Few of My Favorite Things

 I just wanted to pop in and do a post with a few of my favorite pattern test pictures of Kessa.  I'm thinking this might be a fun time of year to do a post like this for each of the kids and we'll start off with K since she's the oldest!

Above are the Just a Jersey shirts I made for all the kiddos.  (Pattern by Blank Slate Patterns)

Above: The Soda Pop Polo from Candy Castle Designs (this one has soo many options and it's a great unisex pattern!)  

Girl and doll Avonlae dresses from Cole's Corner and Creations (she gets soooo many compliments every time she wears this one!)  

This one has me ready for summer!  The Capsule skirt from EYMM with matching doll capsule skirt!

A fun Asymmetric top from EYMM

A High Low version of the California dress from EYMM

An upcycled hack of the Calla Lily Skirt from EYMM

A Riley dress from Made for Mermaids

And last but not least, the Mayfair dress from my beloved Terra's Treasures!

Snug as a Bug!

It's December and like any self-respecting sewing mama that means that I have about 957,342,527 projects looming over my head that I feel the need to finish before Christmas.  If you're like me, that list includes new Christmas pjs!  My kids KNOW that they get new PJs every Christmas Eve.  So, how do we keep our traditions and not loose our minds?  Find quick and easy patterns that fit the bill!  

EYMM's  Riley's Nightgown and Sleep shirt is perfect!  It's designed for knit and comes in a shorter nightshirt length or a longer nightgown length (bet you couldn't have guessed that from the name could you?!?!)  It has both long and short sleeve options and it includes sizes newborn - 18 in one pattern!  (and if you want to match your kiddos be sure and check out the mama version too!)

Now, I've made this several times in knit and I love it.  My girls love it.  It's just so comfy!  This time I wanted to try something a little different though.  It gets cold in our house at night.  We turn the heat down to 61 degrees usually and then the upstairs gets even colder than that.

So, I decided to try out this pattern in flannel.  Super soft.  Super cozy.  Super WARM.  I decided to size up a little bit since I was using something without stretch.  My girls are 5 and 8 and wear a solid size 5 and probably close to a 7 (my 8 year old is pretty small.)  So I decided to just go for it and I cut the size 7 nightgown length out for both of them with slightly shorter sleeves.  The fit is great on both of them.  No problems even though I used flannel!  

You can see that it's obviously a little shorter on my 8 year old than on the 5 year old but it's still a great length for both of them!  

One thing to keep in mind if you decide to use flannel is that you still need something with really good stretch and recovery for the neck binding.  I used a nice weight cotton lycra blend.

One last thing that sets this pattern apart is the binding on the bottom hem.  It's not just turned under and hemmed, it actually has a facing that you sew on and fold under.  I used fleece on the bottom of this two just for added snuggle.  The binding helps the nightgown keep it's shape and it's also really great to add a little weight to keep everything where is should be when you used a lighter weight knit.

So are you sold yet?  If so be sure and use the code SNUGASABUG to save 30% off your EYMM nightgown purchase until 11:59pm PST on Dec. 11. You can use it on Riley’s Nightgown & Sleep Shirt (girl’s sizes newborn to 18tween), Callie’s Nightgown & Nightshirt (women’s sizes xs-5x), or the bundle of both size ranges.

Also be sure and check out all the other ladies on the All Tucked in for the Holidays tour!!!

12/3 — Call Ajaire

12/4 — Gracious Threads

12/5 — This & That & Craft

12/6 — BabyFish Designs

12/7 — Sew Starly

12/8 — Rebekah Sews  AND  Sprouting JubeJube

12/9 — Two Novembers  AND  Just Another Sewing Mama

12/10 — Lulu & Celeste  AND  Snickerdoodle Stew

(this post contains Affiliate links)

It's a Bird, It's a Plane,

no, it's my Crazy Crew in their Superhero sets from EYMM!!!

 Now, if you've been following the blog tour you might remember reading about Clara and her...ahemm...lack of interest in modeling.  Reading that made me chuckle and also gave me a little push to give you a behind the scenes look at the making of EIGHT full (or nearly full) Super Hero sets just days before my blog post was due.  Ya ready?  (also, prepare for picture overload!)

 

First off, let me tell you about my crafty OCD.  I'm pretty sure that's a real thing.  I get these ideas in my head and decide it's going to be totally awesome and from that point on it doesn't really matter what everyone else wants because, let's be honest, the pictures are going to freaking rock!

So, my crafty OCD set in and I decided that the kids all having coordinating satin capes with one side being "their" color and one side being black was going to be A.MAZE.ING.  AMAZING.  (With four kids we do a lot of color coding and it goes like this Kessa's color is purple, Zeke's is orange, Grace's is pink and Zane's is green.)

Next, you need to understand that going to the fabric store consists of an hour drive one way for me, and it's in the same town as Sam's Club so if I'm making the drive I have to stop there too.  So, last Thursday we went on a field trip with Grace and Zane's pre school to a pumpkin patch (goodbye morning!) and then I decide it would be a good idea to make that hour drive and hit up Joann's and Sam's.  We get to Joann's...we find the satin...purple - check.  pink - check.  green - check.  orange - no.  No orange.  BAH!  So now my Crafty OCD is freaking out and I don't have a back up plan.  Kessa is saying she wants a Frozen cape (that's NOT happening today..) and everyone else is asking for something crazy and it's naptime and I'm tired and I HAVE to get fabric for these because they have to be done ASAP.

And then it dawned on me.  These pictures are going to be fine no matter what we make the capes out of.  The kids are going to wear them and love them, and honestly...they're FOR them...not me.  Soo...I made a deal with the Crafty OCD that was going crazy and said, "Here's what we're going to do.  We'll use quilter's cotton in their colors for the back and they can all pick their own lining."  And we did.  And (as you can see) it works.  lol  

The kids all picked flannel for the lining fabric of their capes and last night Zeke had his on and was watching TV when he realized if he turned it around and wore it backwards it doubled as a cozy blanket!  lol!  That made him love it even more.

Ok, so let's talk about this pattern, because, honestly, there are TONS of free patterns out there right?  Why buy this one?  Well the instructions are great and having the pattern for everything together, all in one place, makes it WAY easier IMO.  The pattern includes sizing for 15-18" dolls all the way through size 10.  There are three different mask shapes to choose from and tons of applique patterns and letters and the cuffs are super cute too.  Oh, and the belts!  No worries if you don't have a kid around to try it on because measurements are included.

So, here's what I think about buying it, sure, you could probably figure out something and make your own, but with the code HEROSET you can get the whole kit and kaboodle for $2.97 instead of $4.95.  That's a $3 well spent in my book.  I always try to weigh costs vs. my time spent and in this case $3 makes my life so much easier than spending hours finding the right sizes or making my own or trying to guess which would be best or what length to make something and on and on.

 (Kessa always makes getting good shots so easy.  She's turned into quite the natural in front of the camera.)

The girls both love having matching outfits with their dolls so that being included rocks too!  

Obviously Pirate Kitty couldn't be left out of the fun either so I printed the doll size mask at 60% and it fit him pretty well.  I just free handed the cape for him by looking at the others and then drawing it smaller.  

(Laser Cat??!?!)

And some more "behind the scenes" shots just for laughs.  

The kids have been wearing these close to non-stop since I finished them up.  I think it's safe to say that they approve!

So, be sure and use the code HEROSET for 40% off through 11:59pm PDT on 10/21/2014 and if you need some more inspiration check out these other blogs on the tour!

Bigg Stitches, Little Stitches

Friends Stitched Together

Just Another Sewing Mama

Lulu & Celeste

This & That & Craft

Just Joshin'

Hoodie for Me!!!!

I've talked before about how great Kymy's patterns are and I'm sure I will again.  The Zander Asymmetric Hoodie was first released in the Boy's Bundle Up sale (you can buy it alone now) and the adult version is SUPER close to being released!

I did make some modifications to mine because I wanted a tunic length that I could wear with leggings.  I gave it a slight hour-glass shape and lengthened it about 5-6".  (Sorry I don't have any good pictures of a more distant view!)

I used a great sweatshirt fleece that I dyed hot pink for the main body.  The lining is a Riley Blake fabric called Snapshots that I used colored Sharpies to make even more fun!

 I left off the front kangaroo pockets because I was planning to add hidden side seam pockets but I ran out of time.  Oh well...maybe next time!

This is the first of Kymy's patterns to receive an "intermediate" rating but don't let that scare you away at all!  It's a great sew, I LOVE the finished product and the instructions walk you through everything.  I'm pretty sure my kids are going to need these too.

Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour if you haven't already!!!

Also, you can use the code HOODIESROCK at www.eymm.com for 25% the Zander's Hoodie and Hooded Vest, the Boy's Silhouettes Reverse Applique Pack, and pre-orders of the His and Hers Asymmetrical Hoodie (it's still in testing, being perfected but it will be out very soon!)  

EYMM 4 Seasons Cardi

I've talked before about how much I love Kymy and EYMM.  Her patterns are so fast (I mean, seriously fast!) and super trendy and now, she's done it again!   She just released her 24th pattern (in one year!  More about that celebration later!) called the Girl's Four Seasons Cardigan and Duster.  Like most of Kymy's pattern this has options!  

Options, options, and more options in fact!  It can be made with or without a hood, it has multiple sleeve lengths (extra long, long, 3/4, short, or sleeveless) and it can be made in a cardi length or a duster length.  

I've made two so far (with plans for more already this week!)  Both times I used the cardi length and the 3/4 sleeves.  It's still summer in most of the US but we're starting to think about transition to fall clothing so this version is perfect!  

And because we all know I can't resist a good upcycle I used t-shirt panels for the backs of both of them.  I really really adore the Future President one on Grace and I wish I could get her to wear jeans more often!  lol  It's already sold and gone to a new home.  

But seriously, how cute does she look?!?!  You can hem the edges, to a rolled hem, serge them, or just leave them plain.  I hemmed them on the Future President one and left them plain on the Toy Story one.  

Now, how about that sale?!?!  EYMM has been in business for one year and she's having a HUGE sale and giveaway to go with it!

She's also having a huge giveaway!  You can find out all the details and enter here.  

(this post contains affiliate links)

Princess Mia Mora Cadenza

Better known as Cadence to her friends (and any of you mother's of My Little Pony lovers out there!)

You might remember a while back I posted a little bit about taking the girls to the My Little Pony Fair and Convention.  In addition to their "normal" clothes that I made them they each got a pony inspired outfit too...complete with ears, mane, horn and wings!  

(there are no words for this child...she is...special.  :p  And I love her!  lol)  I had some cutie marks that a friend had made for me and I used them on the arm and chest of Grace's.  I still have one more that she wants me to put on the rump too.  heheheeh.  

 (ignore the spot...she wore this all day and it has the stains to prove it.  lol)  I wanted something that was clearly the pony they loved but still comfy for everyday wear.  That meant it had to have wings.  My girls would NOT have been ok with a Princess Pony costume that didn't have wings (I mean...alicorns can fly, right?!?!)  But for me they had to fit in their car seats.  Pattern's for Pirates Wingman shirt to the rescue!

I modified the shape of the wings to make them more pony-like and then just kind of winged it for the main and ears.  I used part of a tutorial from Sugar Tart Crafts for the horn.  

I used the EYMM Calla Lily skirt and mashed it with the Wingman tee to form a dress.  It was a disaster to begin with and I had to cut it apart and add the turquoise band.  It looks a lot better now but I still like the Luna outfit I made Kessa better.

Overall I'm happy with how it turned out, Grace loves it, and my husband was looking at it today when Grace was sitting on his lap and commented on how "really cool" it was...and he doesn't hand out praise lightly!  I count that as a win!  lol