Summer PJ's {Kids Clothes Week}

If you sew for your kids, you probably already know this week is Kids Clothes Week. It's a challenge to spend at least an hour a day on sewing for your kids before the next season. It's such a great motivator to get things done, especially when you follow what everyone else is making. I wish I had time to make some amazing outfits, but for now, I'm thrilled to just get summer PJ's done.

Pretty soon my girls aren't going to be able to wear their long flannel pj's anymore. Summer nights can be brutal in our old, tall house, even with central air. They would be good with a giant, old t-shirt, but I like to have at least one cute pair of pj's for them.

As usual they were matching. I made all the pants, repurposed one of my old T's for Lydia and simply embellished the tanks for the other two. I know my limits.

They waited patiently all week to finally wear them to bed.

In addition to the pj's I also refashion some shorts for Jefferson and a skirt for Clair. Sorry no pictures. If you want to see what other mom's are making you can check out the blog HERE, or the flicker group HERE or search the hashtag #kidsclothesweek.

Tea Attire

Having the proper attire at our tea party not only set the perfect mood, but also provided a great activity to keep the girls busy. 

Here is some more info for the fascinators that were such a hit at the party.

You'll need:

headbands

felt 

hot glue and gun

tulle

fabric flowers

assortment of trimmings

ribbon

feathers

pearls 

etc.

I made the base of the fascinator before the party so they could quickly be assembled. 

The base of the fascinator is made by sandwiching a headband in-between two felt circles. It's held together with hot glue. The top circle is 5" and the bottom circle is 3". I used my Go! Baby fabric cutter to cut the circles, but you could easily trace a bowls or cups about those sizes. I purchase the silver headbands from Ribbon Retreat, for 40¢ a piece. 

The first step was letting each girl chose a gold or pink tule for the flare at the top of the fascinator. I attached the tule myself so that no one would get burned. I found these rolls of tulle at our local party supply store for about $3.50 each, using a roll instead of tulle from the bolt was very convenient. 

While I was attaching the tulle, the girls picked from the assorted trimming and started designing their hats. 

I took some time in the days before to make several fabric flowers. If you need some ideas of how to put these together here are two good tutorials. I hot glued mine together.

fabric flower tutorial from Simply Analogy and 

fabric flower tutorial from Cherry Street Cottage 

Lydia wanted to make sure blue was included and I loved these butterflies I found at the party store in a pack of 20 for about $4. 

Some other items not pictured are various items in stash, white feathers($1.50, walmart) and pink glass beads ($2.50, Walmart)

Once they decided what they wanted they brought everything to me and I put glue where they wanted it and they stuck their trimmings on. It went really smooth. This one was designed by my 5year old. I was worried about what she would want but thought she did a great job. 

I made four fascinators the night before, one for each of the women helping at the party. It was really fun, and would recommend this activity for women too.

Here are two more examples of the ones I made:

Now for her dress.....

Did anyone notice Lydia's cute tea dress. I desperately wanted to make her a lace dress for the party but knew I had limits especially because I wear out so easy these days. 

Luckily I found the Timepiece Dress from DownEast at their clearance center the week before the party. 

I found it in a women's medium size but it was only $10 and I knew it would be easy to scale down to Lydia's size. 

 After 40 minutes of altering we had the perfect tea dress. I unpicked the sleeves, brought down the shoulder line, tapered in the sides and reattached the sleeves. I also added a ribbon belt and an old flower clip we already had. 

I love the lace and embellished neckline. 

For more info about the party go HERE.

Sail Away School Dress Tutorial

I've been a little obsessed with all things nautical lately, so I made this little number to help my oldest sail through her school year. 

I'll be showing you how I refashioned a men's shirt into this adorable neck tie top. 

I also have a tutorial for the gabardine flat front skirt. It can be recreated in any size with a variety of fabrics. 

Let's start with the shirt.

You'll need:

-a men's shirt with no front pockets and wide enough to cut smaller shirt and strips for neck tie. 

- a shirt to use as a pattern, pick one without a separate sleeve. 

- biased tape

-matching thread

Step 1: cut out shirt

I turned my shirt inside out centered it over the buttons. Because the final shirt won't stretch like the t-shirt I added a couple inches to the sides as I cut it out.

Step 2: cut neck line

After cutting, I separated my front piece from the back, folded it in half and cut a lower neck line. 

Step 3: sew shoulders 

Pin front and back right sides together at the shoulders. Sew and finish edges. 

Step 4: pin and sew biased tape around arm holes

Because my fabric had some good stretch to it I was able to make my own biased tape with scraps of the shirt. If you use a traditional cotton shirt you will want to buy or make matching biased tape with another piece of fabric. 

Step 5: sew up the sides

Pin, sew and finish the edges. 

Step 6: make neck tie

Going back to my shirt, I cut 4 strips of fabric 1-3/4" wide. I cut them as long as the shirt would allow.  I sewed ends of the strips together to make two really long strips. Then I sewed the two long strips right sides together all the way around leaving a small gap, which I used to turn the tube right side out. Once turned, I ironed and topstitch the tie. 

Step 7: finish and fold under neck edges. 

I serged my neck edges and ironed them under. If you don't have a serger you may want to do a double fold. 

Step 8: pin a sew on tie. 

Lining up the center of the tie and the center of the back, I pinned the tie around the neck.  Leave an opening in the front about 2" from the edge, so you'll have room to tie a knot. Stitch around the neck, overlapping the top stitch on tie.  

Step 9: top stitch opening in front. 

Secure the folded neckline in the front by topstitching as close to the tie as possible. 

Step 10: Hem bottom and you are done.

Easy Flat Front Skirt

You'll need:

- 1-2 yards fabric depending on size

- 1" elastic band

- matching thread

- four buttons

Step 1: cut skirt pieces

The length and width of these pieces will depend on the size of your child. I will tell you how I did it based on the size of my child who has a 24" waist.

Here is what I cut for a 24" waist:

2 - 4"x 12" strips (12" is half of 24")

2 - 4" x 15" strips ( 12"+3" for room to stretch)

2- 13" x 24" (13" was how long I wanted the main skirt and 24" will give me a good gather)

1- 10" piece of elastic (12"-2")

Step 2: sew 4"X 12" and 4" x 15" strips together 

 Match up the same sized strips and sew right sides together across the top. After sewing a seam across the  4"X 15" strips, you'll sew the elastic band onto one of the stripes just below the seam.

It will look like this.

Sew it to only one of the pieces do not sew through both or you won't be able to turn it right side out.

Step 3: Press seams open. 

These will be the front and back of your skirts waist band. The elastic piece will go in the back.

Step 4: sew front and back panels together

With panels still open pin front to back right sides together and sew up the sides. You will have a tube when you are done.

Step 5: Topstitch waistband

Fold the waistband in half right sides out and topstitch the top and then over the waistband securing it in place.

Step 6: Sew skirt sides and gather.

grab your larger skirt pieces and sew the ends right sides together. Gather the top to the size of your waist band.

Step 7: attach the skirt to the waistband. 

pin and sew skirt to waistband matching up sides.

Step 8: finishing details

Topstitch gather to waistband and add buttons.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if I left anything out. 

1st Birthday Outfit

When one of my good friends had a baby last year, I asked her what she wanted for a baby gift. This was her 3rd girl and she wasn't really needing much, so I thought it would best to give her a choice.  I was thrilled when she said she wanted a birthday outfit for the baby's first birthday. 

I had several ideas, but decided to go with this fun pendant-banner jumper. 

I used heat and bond to apply the pendants and sewed over the tops with a double stitch. 

The jumper is actually a re-fashion. I made it from a men's shirt I found thrifting. I thought the multi colored stripes were perfect for a birthday. 

I kept the buttons in the back. 

I used all my scraps to make a couple banners and a hat. 

Happy Birthday Myra. 

This project has been linked to THESE parties and Design Dazzle.