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!)  

Spirit Jacket for Wellie Wishers!

If you've been around for a (LONG) time you might remember the Spirit Jacket I tested for Cole's Corner a few years ago.  I made Zeke a really cute jacket that he never wore (also, click that link up there to see the jacket.  How little does Zeke look?!?!) and I didn't think about it again for a couple years.  

Now I'm on the prowl for all things Wellie Wisher sized since Kessa got one for her birthday so I was thrilled when Nicole said she was going to make the Spirit Jacket in that size.  

How cute does Camille look in her jacket?!?!  It's a raglan style and can be made with sooo many different fabrics!  (I actually misplaced that bottom snap.  That was my bad, not the pattern.)  

This jacket is also the perfect canvas for adding fun embellishments to!  I just slapped initials on Kessa and Camille's with some Under Wonder and then did a quick stitch around them.  

The doll pattern is on sale through Sunday for just $3!  

and if you don't already have the kid's pattern (it's great for girls AND boys!!) be sure and grab it too.  

The kids pattern even has pockets and it's a super easy, beginner friendly pattern!  

see?  Adorable!!!

and if you don't have any bottoms check out these leggings!  Lots of lengths and a SUPER fast sew.  

Dublin Dolman

Terra from New Horizons has done it again!!!  This time it's a Girls Dublin Dolman that has sooo many options you'll have a different one for every day of the week and then some!  Plus...we talked her into making a matching 18" doll one that includes ALL the same options!  

This first one is the banded shirt length with short sleeves.  There are also options for a tall gathered band and bands for the sleeves, long sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, tunics, high low, gathered waist (shirt and tunic lengths) and it comes in sizes 6-12 months all the way through size 16!  

Marie Grace is sporting a simple tunic length version.

 (the sleeves were lengthened in the pattern after I made this one) 

  

 Grace was feeling a little crazy when we took pictures....

This version I think will be a huge part of Grace's fall/winter wardrobe.  (She prefers "dresses" to shirts and pants.)

This is the gathered waist tunic length version with a slight high low hem.  It's so cute and easy to make and because the bodice is so small you can use scraps or fabric you spend big bucks on and want to use sparingly for it!  

So, there you have a picture overload of my crazy kid and mini me!!  Go buy the Girls Dublin Dolman from New Horizons!!!  

Perfect Layering Tee

Have you seen the little adorable new Wellie Wisher Dolls from American Girl?  Kessa got one from my husband's family for her birthday and her first request was for me to make the doll more clothes.  When Nicole said she was making some patterns the Wellie Wishers I was all over it!  The Perfect Layering tee for girls and dolls was first up on the list.  It comes in tank, short, 3/4, and long sleeves, has regular and tunic lengths with options for hems or bands and it looks great!  

This shirt is tight fitting and perfect for laying under things...or wearing alone if that floats your boat!  The black one is the tunic length with 3/4 length sleeves (and I added some fun heat transfer of course!)

There are also two different options for finishing the neck.  You can do a traditional neck band (as I did on the black tunic) or you can do a binding like I did on the aztec print shirt.  

 
This is the hemmed length with short sleeves.  It's very easy to mash sizes too!  Since it's such a tight fitting shirt I made sure to take new measurements of Kessa and make the shirt accordingly.  I did a 7 chest graded out to an 8 hips and an 8 length (for my 10 year old.  :p )

and how about some bottoms???  Cole's Corner also released a basic bottom pattern for Wellie Wishers that included pant, capri, short, and shorty short lengths.  They're SUUUUPer fast to make too.  I cut and sewed 4 pairs (one in each length) in probably 30 minutes the other day.

So, what are you waiting for???  Go buy them!  :p  I'm ready to make the girls more of these in waffle knit to wear under their t-shirts this winter.

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.