Kid's Clothing Week - Day 3 & 4.

I raided my stash and found a cute Butterfly print and a co-coordinating fat quarter from Japan that my brother must has given me. He lives in Japan with his lovely Korean wife. He knows that I like to sew and so I often get fabric from him. Japan has some of the loveliest cotton and such cute prints. 

I made a simple short dress/tunic with some ruffles and little butterfly buttons that I bought in Sri Lanka. If I had had more fabric the skirt would have been fuller but you work with what you've got right!  I also added about 2 inches to my old bodice pattern for her to give her more room to grow.  The back has 3 buttons as a closure. 

I'm counting this as Day 3 & 4 because it took longer than and hour and because tomorrow is a Holiday here and my hubby will have the day off. Which means I'd rather spend more time with the family than sitting behind my machine. :)  

Hope your week is going well so far! 

Kid's Clothing Week - Day 2

It's done. My first project of the week.  It could have used an extra half inch around the chest, oh well. She looks cute in it and it should fit her fine this winter.I'll add an inch to the next one! I omitted the idea of adding some yellow piping because it seemed too busy with the floral print and the buttons.

I wish I had better lighting in the house.. and maybe a better camera too. 

I do so love covered buttons! 

Let's hope I can get something together for tomorrow. Off the sketch and check out my stash!

Kid's Clothing Week - Day 1

I've gotten a little bit of a late start with my sewing this time.  Spent my time this evening drafting and cutting the upper bodice of a top I hope to make for my daughter Anaiah.  It's been a while since I've sewn her something to wear so I had to adjust my bodice pattern for her new size. I didn't really get to check the fit so I am a little nervous but I just couldn't bring myself to wake her up to double check. Fingers crossed everything will fit alright.

The fabric is a baby corduroy, nice and warm for winter. Hopefully we'll get a bit of winter here this year. (New Delhi never gets as cold as MN!) The plan is to add buttons with loops to the folded edge with a zip in the back. I also may add a line of bias tape or piping to the bodice line in yellow.

That's all for today! I'm tired and it's been a long day! Anaiah had a friend's birthday party to go to today and I can still hear the loud music ringing in my ears.

Are you sewing something fun this week? 

If you want to know more about the Kid's Clothing Week you can check it out here.

Rainbows and ruffles

She likes it! 

I finished this rainbow dress today. It's my day 2-3 project of Kid's Clothes Week.  I LOVE how it turned out. It's fun, whimsical, and pretty, all the things I love in a little girl's dress.  I did have a little trouble with this dress at one point and had to turn to my seam ripper but it all worked out in the end. 

The back is simple, slit with 2 covered buttons to close. It has some imperfections but I'm hoping that if I don't mention them no one will notice them. :)  

(Most accurate colors)

Twirl - check. 

There are so many wonderful creations in the Flikr group. Go check them out! 

Rainbows and clouds.

I've been sewing away today but do not yet have anything to show for it. Hopefully I'll finish the rainbow dress I am working on tonight after 'bedtime'.  I did get Anaiah to consent to posing for me in her new dress.. 

She had just woken up from her nap.  I think it's fun and summery and hopefully will not just decorate her closet this summer but will actually get worn!  I think the cloud could have been slightly smaller but I love how silly and fun it looks. Only a cute little kid can get away with wearing a big cloud like this I think! 

I think that the back is my favorite bit of the dress! 

Cloud 9

Well, things are off to a good start. I managed to finish a dress today.  I'm calling it 'a walk in the clouds'. I like how it turned out and I think it's going to look great on Anaiah.  I'll have to wait till tomorrow afternoon to find that out though because it was a bit passed her bedtime when the last stitch was sewn.


Overall I like how it turned out. I like the crisscross straps and the shirring, they should help keep her cool in the hot Delhi summer.


I almost wanted to line the whole dress because it is ever so slightly see through but I am glad that I didn't because that would have added weight to this airy dress.

I wonder what other ladies have gotten accomplished today?! I'm sure that there are some wonderful things being lovingly made for little ones all over the place! 

Now what to sew tomorrow.. 

Ready, Set..

It's starting tomorrow, that fun bi-annual week of sewing that is Kids Clothes Week. This year they have dropped the Challenge off the end of the title but it still remains a challenge to me. Spending a little time everyday sewing is fun and I do hope that I'll be able to be productive too.  Anaiah does not actually need any more clothes but I still love sewing them for her.  I'm hoping to challenge myself to sewing clothes for myself as I really need some summer skirts, but that can wait till after this week.  

My fabrics are ready to go. Here is what I intend to use but I might not limit it to this stack.. you never know where inspiration may lead. 

I've also done a few sketches. Never been someone who does well with other peoples' patterns and somehow I enjoy the process of going from an idea in my head or an inspiration from fabric to a sketch and then working out the pattern to fit Anaiah from there. Not that little girls' clothes are usually all that complex anyway, or that I do really complicated things.  I just like to do it myself.  Here are some sketches of mine that will hopefully find there way into dresses this week:

  

So I am all set to get started, except of course that I just noticed that I'm low of white thread! Hopefully I can get to the shop today so that I can be all ready to get going tomorrow.  Maybe some buttons too.. Interfacing! Ok, I better write a list..

Do you sew for your little ones? Are you joining in the KCW? 

... life happens..

What can I say, life has gotten in the way of blogging once again.  I do hope to be better in the future. There has been some crafting, sewing and baking for birthdays since my last post and want to share a few of the highlights. 

I dyed some yarn and then knitted up these lovely fingerless mitts in February. 

Made a birthday dress and cake for my special little lady in March.  

And now, in April, I'm excited to start sewing summer sundresses for my daughter. What better way to get all ramped up for summer sewing than the bi-annual Kids Clothing Week!  I'm excited to participate again this spring!  It's running  April 22nd- 29th and should be great fun. If you sew for the little ones in your life be sure to check it out here! 

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?