Namesake

When Danny named our newborn son for a constellation known as "the hunter" I wasn't quite sure if the name fit our baby boy. Now I couldn't imagine him with any other name- it is truly part of his identity and he is always excited to see his name on star charts and elsewhere...

...more frequently than one would expect.

He is always so proud to point out his constellation and always reminds us that we are gazing at his belt. Knowing this, my dearest grandma made his day by sending him a care package of space goodies including this little patch.

 

Needless to say, it had to find a way into his wardrobe. Inspired by this, I made Ori this little bomber jacket fit for a particularly cold fall.

 The shell is a twill with a layer of cotton batting and a golden 50/50 sheet lining. 

 

 The construction was pretty standard- more or less comparable to this oldie.

The only tricky part was figuring out how to work in the rib knit hem to the zipper- that was a bit of puzzle which I solved through a bit of sewing meditation. Deep breathes, deep breathes. And it turned out it worked for me- and it works for him too.

Why is Phia crazy excited?

Kids Clothing Week, of course!

And why am I crazy excited? Oh, just guest posting about a particularly cute pattern over on KCW to ring in another completely inspiring week of child sized handmades. Check it out!

Studio Top

 Sewing has been hit or miss lately. There have been more unfocused and tired days than there have been inspired and limitless days. For a while I have been trying to plan every single stitch I make to stream line my process, but have realized that that is just not how I function the best.

I made this color block top after seeing the fabric laid out next to each other. I think the challenge of making a stylish color block top is less the choice of colors and more to do with the proportion of the blocks. I wanted to keep this one sweet and simple for phia so I kept the middle band slim and higher up the bodice.  

 

I used stiffer fabrics- a pale pink poplin, black kona cotton, and a 50/50 teal bed sheet which were pieced together, and the front and back of the top are joined just below the black stripe at the armpit.

The front has gentle pleats at the neck and the back has a line of three buttons.

And since I personally love seeing pictures of handmade clothes flipped inside out, here is how the piece is lined. The back has a rounded little placket to accommodate the button closure and hits just at the seam of the middle stripe. 

ps: Happiest birthday wishes, Ma! Love you!

A Handsome Homecoming

For this weeks boy challenge I decided to make something appropriate for my little guy's return to school- new dress duds fit for picture day and his very own letterman jacket.

 

The jacket was made with sweatshirt fleece and it is set to become his new go to when running out the door. The dress shirt is made from a bed linen with faint yellow stripes, and the pants are a stretchy red suiting material that look perfect dressed up or down. I loved the vibrant red color for boys the cut is a comfortable skinny style- casual yet dressy.

The jacket is definitely the piece that stands out in this look. I knew I wanted to make it royal blue for Ori's future school's colors and settled on either red or yellow trim. Yellow just happened to be the trim I found while thrifting- I cut up and salvaged what I could from an old sport wind breaker and then backed it with ribbed knit. It took a great deal of fiddling to get just the right amount for the neck, cuffs and bottom hem.

Speaking of a great deal of effort- these smiles did not come easy. I realized during this little photo shoot at a nearby high school that Phia is a much more manageable model to work with. It took me about 15 minutes to figure out exactly what I could bribe Ori with. He turned down the already promised trip to red mango, and held firm with the agreement that I download "bad piggies" once we got home. And for that cheeky grin, I will conclude that was .99 cents well spent.

If you have a chance, check out project run and play and cast your vote!

A Very Useful Accessory

Here's my first kcwc project to be finished:
A reversible vest all fit for Ori. It was a simple little project that came together really quick- I love how motivating instant gratification always feels.
But, I had to use the power of persuasion to get Ori to like his vest. I might have told my train obsessed son that it is the same vest that a certain railway controller wears.
And for anyone who would like to put one together, here is a little walk through.

Signs of Spring

A recently turned plot all ready to grow some veggies.
A stack of bright and airy pre-washed fabric waiting for kcwc.
A floaty lace top made from remnant pieces from the thrift store.

Sewing Along

A little friendly motivation was needed to get me in gear to finish this project. Just browsing at all the pretty tops in the spring top sew along was hugely inspiring; possibly so inspiring it could be considered borderline peer pressure. Anyone else sewing along?
This top was based off the darling ranges pattern, which coincidentally is also having a sew along. The neckline was raised, and I cut the skirt piece to be more narrow and top length. The fabric is a light grayish sage color and kind of matches my living room walls perfectly.
I made this after feeling a little too under dressed for the preschool party circuit. It is simple and airy, and I am kind of loving my favorite detail, the little petals along the neckline.

Peach Tea Dress

This dress was a "just because" project I have been longing to work on. I had no real reason to make it, other than just wanting a lacey-peach dress.
I am enjoying it- the lace cap sleeves add a sweet touch to the relaxed cut.
The material, a muted peach color which I have been craving to wear, was found in the Joann's red tag section.
I rejoined the working force in November and have been treating any sewing session I can sneak in like a precious gift. I was happy to use some of that time to make something so fun ......yet slightly impractical.

Room to Grow

I have been squeezing Ori into too-tight shirts- my boy hit a growth spurt and has been in need of new duds.
Based off the size of an old shirt, I made him this little pullover with a medium weight knit I found while thrifting.
I was so happy when I made my first successful placket, and have been looking for excuses to make more. It was a simple 1.5 hour project- most of the time was spent on the buttonholes.
Thankfully, he's a fan.

Darling, Darling Ranges Dress

That's not a typo- I just had to reiterate how darling this dress is.
For the past couple weeks I've been trying to scrap together enough time to make this dress- especially after I saw this very pretty polka dot version. It is made from the Darling Ranges pattern by Megan Nielsen, and I am pretty in love with it.
I have to admit, it is one of the first patterns that I have followed from start to finish, while taking part in only a minimal amount of "winging it". I kept it simple and made mine with a beige, medium weight, textured suiting material and vintage value buttons.
After I started to put on the finishing touches I noticed that it was a little large on me. As a quick fix I top stitched around the waist with elasticized thread, and really liked the extra drape.
It was very worth the wait, and I am very excited to make a few more.

To be Young and Fashionable

While cropping these photos I realized how grown up Phia is now. We put this little outfit together to wear with the blue jacket I recently made, and when she came marching out of her room, I was taken aback as how much older this ensemble made her appear. Maybe it was just the combination of the stylish little chambray and the ankle length slacks- or maybe she just is getting older right in front of my eyes.

Little Enjoyments

My sewing time has vastly slowed down lately, and I have noticed myself trying to plan out every next chance I will have to sneak away and sew. I bought a cute pattern or two and have been trying to match them up with the perfect fabric to ensure a pretty finished product. And sometimes I have to remind myself that some of my most favorite projects are simply by chance. This shirt started out as the skirt piece for a dress I have been longing to put together, but quickly realized that the fabric wasn't going to work for the pattern after I had cut it.
But I might be okay with that.

Either Or Top

Sometimes the most simple designs prove to be the most versatile.
I am enjoying this recently made top either lounging or running errands, at either preschool pick ups or nights out, on either hot or cold days.
And that's pretty much what my days have entailed lately- going back in forth between busy and relaxed while trying to enjoy every moment.

Seasonal Specialties

While lamenting how much I dread freezing cold temperatures to a friend, I was reminded that I had better start savoring each moderate day we are left with this year, along with all the simple pleasures that make fall special.
And thusly, I will enjoy every cool weather hike in which we discover cute little moss growths...
...the ability to wear handmade skirts without leggings...
...and the deliciousness of apple cider donuts.