KCWC - Day 7

I'm afraid that I didn't get anything finished on Sunday so I don't have anything to show for the last day of KCWC. I'm totally ok with that. I'm happy with what I managed to get done. There is still a long list of things I'd like to make for this summer for Anaiah but they can wait a little because I need to do some sewing for myself! I love to wear skirts in the summer and really need a few more so those at at the top of my list now.  Hopefully the un-finished things will get done shortly too.  

Here is what did get finished this week.  I feel so honored too that my fishy top was featured on Elsie Marley blog post. It was a great week of sewing. Thankfully other than a buttonhole issue the actual sewing went smoothly. I am coming away from this week feeling inspired by all the other moms (and maybe dads) who made beautiful things. 

I am very impressed by all the wonderful and creative kids clothes that were made with week by all the participants.  Just check out the Flickr pool!  There are hundreds of beautiful garments. Every time I scroll through them I find new 'favorites'!  Here are just some of the ones I loved most in random order:

Me Sew Crazy

Farr Better Life

A Rhythm of Joy

Baby Lux Design

Darci Bee

Daily Design Delivery

Maze & Vale

Sew Country Chick

A Sewing Journal

Aren't they just gorgeous?!  

KCWC - Day 6

I got to sleep in today! Sleep is amazing and I think it's what my body needed because I feel so much better now. I got up really late, so late that it was time for Anaiah's nap! Both she and my hubby took a nap so the house was nice and quiet and I could get a hour or two of sewing in. 

Spring Flowers

I had cut out the pieces the night before and made the piping that I used around the neckline and armholes etc.  So this afternoon it was just a matter of sewing it all together. I also made the little fabric flower today to finish it off because it seemed to need a little extra something.  I love the fabric. It's been sitting in my stash for over a year now. Intended to sew it into an Easter dress for Anaiah last year but never got around to it. Had even made a little shrug to match.. oh well. I think it might still fit if I can find it.. I'm usually a sucker for border type prints and at the cost of about $2.25 a meter this dress was cheap! :) I had bought about a meter and used just over half of it. The border is printed on both sides so I probably would even be able to make a second dress for a younger little lady.. talk about a good deal on fabric! I used a little left over plain cotton to line the bodice and for leftover blue cotton for the piping and edging. So the total cost of this dress is probably around $1.75 when you include the 3 buttons and the piping cord.  This is part of why I sew. I get to be creative and save money all at the same time! It's a blessing! 

For those who have been wondering, this is what my pattern looks like:

This is a short bodice block that fits my daughter just right. ( right now.)  I modify it to make other patterns or sometime just use it as it is like I did in today's dress.  Sorry that my picture is not better but on the pattern block I wrote the date that I 'modified' it on. (modified from the last pattern block), the size as in 6" short bodice and that the center front should be folded. I've added the seam allowance that I like to use around the edge. I've cut this pattern piece out of an old cardboard piece that came in one of my hubby shirts. I often use cereal box cardboard too. When I am using this to make the back I just modify it right on the fabric I am cutting for the back. (raising the back a little if needed - button placket - zip allowances  etc..) For yesterday's fishy top I used some newspaper (because it's plentiful here) and this pattern block to draft that simple a-line tunic.  I probably could have gone straight to the fabric for that top but I wanted it to be one piece so I had to draft the front and sides and then place them as one piece on the fabric to get it how I wanted it to be. 

I am still learning about pattern making and hopefully getting better at it slowly. You  also cannot buy patterns here in India, at least as far as I know. I tend to be a fly by the seat of your pants type of seamstress so moving into a more technical - thought out way of sewing is a slow transition. :) I hope to someday be able to write patterns that other people can actually use too, but I think that will be a while still! 

KCWC - Day 4/5

I don't have very much to show for the last 2 days. I am still dealing with illness at home and that is really slowing me down.  I have been getting in an hour of sewing/ drafting /cutting time but that's about it. Just don't have much energy. 


Here is what I did manage to finish, a pinafore style top. 

Because of the scale of the print I didn't want to use a pattern that was too busy. The simple lines of a pinafore work well for this. I also didn't want to cut the fabric too much so it's cut from just 2 pieces of fabric, front and back, and seamed only at the shoulders. Simple and straightforward.  I loved the fish print when I saw it in the fabric shop even though there is a lot more pink in it that I care for.  I'm not a fan of pink. not even a little. But somehow this print pulled me in so I bought half a meter. I've used basically all of it.  

 I don't think it's very noticeable that the back is basically a bit on the bias because the fish are kinda masking it. 

It may be simple but I am happy with it. Plus it was a bonus not to have to deal with buttonholes or zippers and it's reversible. (not that I think I'd ever NOT want to see the fish.)

Are you sewing clothes this week? 

KCWC - Day 3

Today my little one was home again. Neither one of us is feeling too great, but we both put on a brave face.  I don't know what is going on with me but she has a nasty cough. I hope tomorrow is better. 


I was able sew together the dress I had cut out yesterday. 
I'm calling it the "How tall am I ?" dress because of the fun measuring tapes on the fabric. It's bright and cheerful and I think she likes it.  

Cheese!  - (All important little bowl of gems!)

Don't mind her dirty little toes! She loves to get her feet wet on the balcony and it must not have gotten cleaned after the dust storms we've had this week.  It's a fairly simple dress with just a single button in the back. Lined in white cotton. The only real fiddly bit was sewing those little triangles! I don't think I'll be messing with that sort of detail again soon. . 

Now for some rest! :) 

KCWC- Day 2.

This morning Anaiah woke up not feeling so good so my sewing has taken a backseat for now.  I did get a little tunic made while she was taking her nap and she woke up looking a lot better this afternoon so I think tomorrow she can go to school again.  

I made the top on a whim with a scrap of this batik fabric left from a sundress I made for her last year. YAY for using up scraps! She still fits this dress which makes me so happy because I love those bright colors on her! 

Here is today's little tunic. It's simple, shirred, with wide straps that cross in the back.  I love the way shirring looks. If you've never tried it you don't know what you are missing! I  can really see how much she has grown! Slow down little lady, I want to enjoy you as a toddler a little longer!

She loves to share her gems with Charlie!

I've started on a dress today too and hopefully I'll get some time to work on it later tonight after Anaiah has gone to bed.  

What are you working on for KCWC? Or are you sewing for yourself this week? 

KCWC - Day 1.

 Since I was not quite as prepared as I would have liked to have been, I spent most of today's sewing time just sorting out my fabrics and drawing sketches. I did draft a bodice pattern too. 

Some of the fabrics I am thinking about using this week:

Not sure if I will stick to these as I tend to move from one thing to the next based on mood/inspiration so you never know, I might be pulling out something totally different. 


Did sew up a quick pair of ruffle bloomers. I love how this fabric looks but noticed very quickly how easily it and snag and unravel the ruffles. :(  Probably not the best choice of a very active little girl. I also made this muslin with the bodice pattern to check the fit. I don't know what I was thinking with the ridiculously huge butterfly sleeves! LOL. My model was moving all the time and it's hard to get a good shot but I think it actually fits pretty well. 

Sewing and celebrations.

I know I've not posted in a while. Life gets busy sometimes.  It was my hubby's birthday on Saturday! 

We had a little party at home. It was nice. I am very thankful for my husband. I'm not always the best at telling him that though so I wanted to take a minute to write it down. He works so hard to provide for our family and I really appreciate that. His job can be really stressful sometimes and there are lots of trips and nights spent in hotel rooms for him so I love it when he is home. It's so much fun to see how much he loves our daughter. Having a child was never a big deal to him but now that she is here he cannot get enough of her! I love that about him. I hope the year ahead brings lots of joy for him. Love you honey!

My first checkerboard cake! 

This week is the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. I'm excited to be sewing some summer clothes for Anaiah. It's fun to know that there are hundreds of moms just like me spending at least an hour a day sewing beautiful things for their kiddos this week. Hopefully it will be a productive week for me. I was hoping to be a little more prepared with the patterns already drafted etc., however it just didn't happen ahead of time. So, I am spending today mostly drafting the patterns. I always have a long list of things I'd like to make and this week is no exception.  

If you like to sew for your kids why not join the challenge with me and the hundreds of other ladies over at the KCWC on Elsie Marley.

Sewing for myself.

I actually did it! I made something for myself to wear! and it's a knit too!  I'm usually really intimidated by the thought of sewing knits. I've got a bad track record of sewing with them. Often I'd end up with wavy seams and very messing/sloppy finishing. I will not say this this top is flawless because it's not but for me it's a HUGE step in the right direction to getting over my fear of sewing with knits.  I broke out the double needle for the bottom hem and that really helped. 


I drafted the pattern based on a top I own from Marks & Spencers. I had to make some adjustments to the length and made a faux button placket instead of the actual button holes that had been problematic in the original top. I also added an inch to the bust so that it covers my ladies better and a few inches to the bottom. The fabric is a very thin and soft jersey knit. It was a little tricky at times because it liked to slide around on me but I kept at it and in the end I think I won. 


I HATE how I look in the pictures and sadly I didn't have a fabulous photographer to take them. (Well, he is fabulous but not at taking pictures ;) )  So bear with me. 

I'm hoping to sew a few skirts for myself this year too and possible a sundress. Are you making anything for yourself this spring/summer?