Retro Reproduction Dress: Corduroy & Pockets

The Retro Reproduction Dress FREE Pattern is available here.
The pattern and tutorial for the Bubble Pockets are available here

Today was our cool-weather day for the week (82 degrees today, compared to upper 90's the rest of the week!), so it seemed like an appropriate day to try out a Fall outfit.  Last winter I bought some corduroy  on clearance at Joann's with the intention of making a cute jumper for my daughter-- which, of course, I never did.  But now with the Retro Reproduction pattern available I have no more excuses-- it's easy, quick, versatile, and you can do so much with it (come on, that was a great sales pitch!  Are you sold on it yet?  And did we mention that the pattern is free?!)

Anyway, the Retro Reproduction dress makes a GREAT corduroy jumper to wear with a long-sleeve t-shirt and leggings.  Perfect for those cooler months.  For this version I decided to add bubble pockets (I'm not sure if that's really a thing, but it seems like it should be) with an exposed lining and piping.

 

These pockets are perfect for a three year-old:  they are just the right size for all the little figurines that she loves to carry around. 

And despite the summer weather, we did test it out with the long-sleeve t-shirt and leggings.

So what do you think?  Is there enough interest to have these pockets as an add-on to the pattern? Are there other variations you'd like to see?  We'd love to hear your feedback!

And now, for my next trick....

Something completely different!

Well, it still involves sewing, and kid's clothing, and Kid's Clothing Week.  But this time no florals, no ruffles, and it definitely would not coordinate with pink polyester pants.  For clothing article number two I made the Lucille Top from Shwin Designs: a color-blocked raglan tee with a very modern feel.  

This is the second pattern I've made from Shwin Designs.  The first, last fall, was the Pepper Pinafore, which is an adorable pattern but was a frustrating sewing experience due to sizing issues in the arms and chest.  With the Pepper Pinafore,  even though my daughter was solidly in a 3T at the time, and her chest measurements matched the 3T measurements on the pattern's sizing chart, it was waaayy to small.  I had to remake the pattern in a size 4, and extend the length of the bodice to make it fit. 

So I hoped that this time, with a knit patten, I wouldn't encounter the same problem.  Just to be safe, I made a 4T.....and it was too big.  Mostly around the arms.  It did turn out to be more of a tunic than a shirt, but it looks great with a pair of leggings.  And there is room....lots of room...to grow!

For the bottom portion of the shirt I upcycled a woman's long sleeve blue t-shirt.  The top is made out of an eyelet knit that was a hand-me down fabric.

Overall, a quick sew, an easy pattern, and a nice twist on a classic design.  I wish I had done a better job with the v-shape in the front and back, the point isn't quite as sharp as I would like.  But I will improve on that next time!  And there will definitely be a next time!  This pattern would be great in short or long sleeves, and is also a wonderful way to highlight small amounts of fabric--for the size 4T, it required only a half yard of each fabric.  One more quick note about Shwin Designs:  while this pattern was fairly simple, I don't know if I would recommend any of their patterns for a beginner, mainly because their instructions are not very detailed.  There are other designers (Made By Rae especially) who include the step details and tips.  With Shwin Designs, you are left to figure some of it out on your own.

And before I go, just a question for you all out there:  How do you balance making clothes for your children that they won't outgrow too quickly versus clothing that fits them really well right now?  I don't want to spend my time and energy creating items that my daughter will outgrow in two weeks, but I really don't like making clothes that run big, either.  I want to make her perfectly fitted clothing that she can wear for the next year-- I want it all!  So what do you do?

KCW Day 3: Geranium Vest and Pierrot Top

Since my last make (The Mother of All Plaid Coats) was so very involved I really wanted something a little less intense.  This get-up is for my 19 month old.  In Georgia our winters aren't quite as intense as they were in Kansas City so we really just need a little added layer here and there.  Here enters my idea for a toasty vest to layer over long sleeve shirts.  I've had lots of great experiences with the Made by Rae Geranium dress which needs no introduction in sewing blogland so my thought was there has to be a way to take the basic bodice and transform it into a vest.  So here's my remix of the Geranium dress into toddler vest.

For those of you who are interested in the way I converted the dress to a vest, here's a fast and dirty recap. From the bodice:

• I omitted the button overlap from the back and added one to the front
• lengthened the bodice
• curved the bottom front hem
• flared the side seams slightly at the hemline.  
• Lastly, I added a crochet pocket just because I love the hand made look of it. 

 I also made the Pierrot top by Made by Rae patterns to go with the vest.  I modified it a bit, lengthening and narrowing the sleeves and adding an elastic casing at the cuff.

 The little houses are from  the Oliver + S blog.

I don't think I really need to offer much in the way of a pattern review since I think these patterns are so well known but they sew up quickly and predictably which is a plus.  The fabrics for the vest were thrifted, the lining being from a flannel sheet.  The top is a gingham from my stash (long ago purchased at Hancocks).

So far Kids Clothes Week has been productive for me but that's mainly because I began cutting everything out last weekend and the baby takes a good long nap in the midmorning.  Thank you baby G for knowing how much I need my sewing time and honoring the nap schedule like I knew you would :).    

Bueller?  Bueller?  Bueller?

Starting a new blog makes me feel a little bit like Ben Stein in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off":  it's hard to know if anyone is actually out there listening.  But this is an exciting new adventure, and I can't wait to get started!

So....Kid's Clothing Week is January 27th through February 2nd, and there's no time like the present to plan, right?!  It's a good thing we started our planning (relatively) early, because I felt like it took me a looooong time to decide (it really didn't, but I was being indecisive, so it felt longer than it actually was).  Here was my problem:  There are a lot of fantastic patterns out there.  And I have a lot of wonderful fabric.  And KCW only lasts, well, a week.  So it was hard to narrow down the patterns and the fabric and be realistic about what I can actually do in a week.  But, I think I finally made up my mind (although I reserve the right to change my mind at any time, including but not limited to, the week of KCW).  Here's what I'm thinking:

Lily Knit Blazer by Peek-A-Boo Patterns

I'm planning on using some turquoise jersey knit that I picked up at a thrift store last summer.  It was $5 for three yards, it's hard to beat that price.  The yellow floral cotton was a hand-me down fabric, and I think it will make a nice contrast for the waistband and cuffs.  I'm not sure yet if I'll do the princess seams, I'm not impressed by the pictures I've seen where the piping becomes very wavy.  So that feature is TBD.

   
The Geranium Dress by Made by Rae

I love Made by Rae patterns-- but really, who doesn't?  They are quality patterns that are fairly simple, but also have the possibility of lots of variations.  The sizing is roomy, without being too large. If I make one of her patterns, I don't have to worry about my daughter outgrowing it in two weeks.   Last May I made a Geranium dress with flutter sleeves, and I think it's about time for another one.  The time I'm thinking about including the cap sleeves and the front notch, just to spice things up a bit.  I definitely live on the wild side....  I found the pink heart fabric on the clearance rack at Joann's last week, it was an additional 50% off, so only $3 a yard.  It's a nice medium weight cotton, it will be perfect for the dress.  I haven't decided yet whether I'll do the bodice in the purple background fabric or if I'll do it all in the hearts.   Another element that I appreciate about this design is that it is just as cute with a long-sleeve tee underneath.  Since we live in the Midwest and it will be cold for at least another 4-5 months, I appreciate the versatility of a pattern than can be worn year-round.


The Josephine Dress by Violette Field Threads

 I've eyed the Violette Field Threads patterns for a while now, but this will be the first one I've made.  I think many of their designs are on the frillier side, which I occasionally like (it's like a food craving, every once in a while I just want to make my daughter something really girly and frilly, even though it's not my style, and once I do, the craving is gone!)   For KCW I plan on making the long-sleeve dress with the ruffle along the button placket.  I was recently given six or seven yards of quilting-weight toile in a rose color, and it seems like it would be perfect for this classic style dress.  I am indecisive on what color to use for the belt-- a contrasting color, something similar, dark, light?  What do you think? 


 And finally,  The Lucille Top by Shwin Designs

Shwin Designs has patterns with a very contemporary feel--- not many ruffles here.  The Lucille Top is one of their newer patterns, and it's an interesting twist on the basic tee.  I really like the look of their designs, but the one pattern I made previously (the Pepper Pinafore and Cami)  had sizing issues.  So I'm a little apprehensive of their other patterns, but because I love the look, I'm going to give it a second chance.  Hopefully because this is a knit instead of a woven it will be a little more forgiving in terms of the size.  This project is going to be an upcyle/recyle project.  The bottom half will made made out of an old royal blue t-shirt, and the top will be made of of some eyelet knit that was given to me by my grandmother.  Depending on where how low the v-shape falls on her, my daughter may have to wear a cami under it. 

So those are my plans, we'll see where KCW takes me!