FREEZER PAPER SENTCIL :: HANGOUT HOODIE

Just popping in for a minute to show you the cutest little hangout hoodie from peek-a-boo patterns. I sewed this up for my friend's little girl. Her name is Sailor so I HAD to add a little nautical flair! I used a freezer paper stencil to add a gold anchor. She is such a cutie; she is going to rock this shirt!

SEWING :: WIDE LEG PANTS :: TAKE ONE

I really love the town I live in. We have so many fun festivals and our downtown is a blast. As the girls get a little older we have been able to enjoy ourselves a little more and take advantage of the stuff happening around town. It has been wonderful! Almost every event/ place we have been to I have noticed women sporting these wide leg flowy pants. Every time I see a pair I fall a little more in love. They are like maxi skirts on steroids! I first thought I would draft a pattern of my own but after an ugly pant-sewing flop a few months ago I just kept putting it off. Then the stars aligned and I found the greenstyle willow ruffle pants. I wasn't interested in the ruffle for this project but I loved the design of the pants. So I grabbed some stretchy (cheap) fabric and made a wearable muslin.

 

I really like how they turned out but I do plan on making some changes. I cut out a size small for the waist and legs and I used the longest length (xl maybe?). Next time I would cut an extra small in the waist and hips because I would like them a little more fitted on my booty.

 

(Back view)





 

The rise was also a lot longer than I wanted. I plan on removing the waistband and cutting off some of the length on the rise and then reattaching the waist... one day. For now I just tuck the extra material into the waistband but it does get annoying having to readjust every ten minutes, so I will probably fix it sooner rather than later.

 

(front view)

 

I love love love the drape of the legs. I actually wouldn't mind a little more width. I am thinking I might size out when coming down off the hips so it looks a little more like a maxi skirt when I am standing up. I made a total newbie error while I was sewing these pants and I pulled the material because the pant legs weren't quite meeting up and that is why you see all the puckering down the leg. It is actually pretty bad, but this style pant is so forgiving that I think they are still wearable. (and I have gotten a TON of compliments too!)

 

 

These are seriously the most comfortable pants in my closet and they are versatile to boot. I have thrown on some flip flops (it is still so warm here) and worn them to story time with my girl, and I have put on a pair of heels for a date with my man out on the town. They are lovely. AND they took less than an hour to sew up with my serger! What! Definitely expect to see more soon.

 

Happy sewing,

 

Rachel

 



fantastically easy bathingsuit cover

I ordered the cutest bathing suit cover this summer on amazon, Backless Black Bikini Cover-up (affiliate link). I. love. it. when I want to feel a little sexy. Hence I purchased it for a child-free vacay the hubby and I went on this summer. I will warn you that it is made from a really thin knit so it stretches. So if your plan is to walk to a pool or beach and then take it off you are golden. If you plan to carry a baby on your hip while walking to said pool or beach I would recommend making your own from a little thicker material that holds it's shape a little better. Funny story- Last time I wore this cover it was on a beach excursion  with just me and my girls. I wore it to the beach and then I slipped it on again to head into a store to get Popsicles on the way home. By the time I was putting the girls back in the car the cover was so "backless" that is was hanging UNDER my bum. Folks this was NOT made for chasing babies. But it is very flattering if you get to go somewhere without kids ;) If you have kids in tow you should make something a little more sturdy like the version I made for my girlfriend.

 

She was heading on a cruise with her hubby and she LOVED my cover up but she could not get one in time (mine shipped from china) so I decided to make one for her. I could not find a knit as thin as what my cover was made from so I decided to just dye some spare knit from my stash.

 

 

 

 

It definitely holds it's shape MUCH better than the one I bought but the drape is not as forgiving. Luckily she looks like a barbie doll so she can pull it off :)

 

 

 

 







I added braided staps.

 

And a little love note. Overall I think it turned out really stinking cute. I am defiantly planning on making one for myself next summer. If you would be interested in a tutorial for this wrap let me know. I would be happy to make one for you and go ahead and get one done for next year!

 

                                                       happy sewing,

 

                                                         Rachel

nursing cover revisited

A long while ago  in  my "It's baby time!" post series I wrote a (halfway) tutorial on nursing covers or hooter hiders as we call them around these parts! Well one of my dearest friends had a sweet little boy recently and she needed a nursing cover so she could start getting out and about a little more. I am always so happy to sew up one of these little covers for friends who want one. Although I have many good friends who are talented nursers sans a cover alas I was NEVER coordinated enough to manage that. This girl (talking about myself) is a sit down, have a boppy, in a completely private place kind of girl. It takes concentration for me the first couple of months! (my poor babies ;) So that makes me very understanding of the new mommas who want a little privacy while they "do their thing."

 

This was the first project in a long time that I went to pick out fabric specifically to use on it. It was so much fun finding fabric that I thought "matched" my friend and her style.

 

 

 

You know, it always surprises me how quickly these covers come together. I am generally intimidated as a seamstress (I use that term lightly) by hardware, such as D rings in this project, but truly it is not complicated at all.

 

 

 

I added a little hand stamped label to the inside corner because every new momma needs to hear they are loved as much as possible, especially when they are listening the the ear-piercing wails of a hungry newborn :) I really like making useful presents for people and I realized with this present that adding a hidden message makes it even more exciting!

 

                                                      happy sewing,

 

                                                          Rachel







bubble shorts and a pillowcase top

My sweet niece turned one earlier this summer! You know, the same one I was just planning the coed shower to celebrate. Where does time go?! Anywho, that sweet girl deserved some new outfits for her big day. First I made her one of my favorite patterns ever, elegance and elephants  bubble short pattern. You can see the pair I made for Zadie here.

 

                        

 

 

 

Jeez I love these shorts! I also whipped up a pillowcase top paired with some go to leggings.

 

 

 

The top was completely inspired by you and mie's color pop top.

 

 

 

Using a strip of knit fabric for the tie made the project super duper quick and really comfy too. The best part is that she loved it (well her mom did anyways!) Sometimes it is really nice to be reminded that simple sewing projects can be just as rewarding as more complex time consuming ones and it is really fun to make a gift for someone you love.

 

Happy sewing,

 

Rachel

 

 



My dream... Pattern Stash

The spring summer cleaning bug hit me this weekend, like literally when EVERYTHING in my craft closet fell out on my head. (more on that later) After I reorganized all my crafting stash, including my fabric hoard, I felt ubber (definitely a word) inspired to get some selfish sewing done. So I of course spent the evening searching the internet for new patterns to love on. Now here I am sharing the love...
(P.S. I got so inspired I started a sewing pattern wish list board you should check out!)


                       

First off is made by Rae's washi dress pattern. How can you not want to sew this dress after seeing SO many great variations around the web!

                 

Holla Grainline studio! This is the most normal shorts pattern I have ever found. Simple. Sweet. It looks like something I would wear everyday. The scout tee would not have grabbed my attention on it's own, but I have seen some pretty awesome ones on the inter-web.


                   

                   

Megan Neilsen I am in love. truly!  Do you see those culottes? I need that pattern, along with the blouse, tank, and sweater... And I hear they are so pretty in their little packages too. I am thinking this may be the first pattern designer I will have to purchase from.





Victory patterns is rockin' too! This is not my usual everyday wear but if I have a special occasion this is the site I will be visiting.

There are more but I will stop here before my (and your) bank account kills me! Happy sewing!

Easy Peasy homemade babyshower gift

My dear friend is having a sweet baby girl soon. I needed something to give her besides my go-to baby shower gift, my personal lifesaver, the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. (affiliate link) So I made a couple of sweet outfits for her.

I used the circle skirt pattern from MADE and dyed cotton onsies to match. I love sewing for newborns because  it always looks like little doll outfits!

The flowers on the headbands were made by following this tutorial.  the only change I made was to not use any felt instead I used fabric circles for the base.

 

I am excited to hand this gift over this weekend and I am even more excited to see a sweet new baby in this outfit!

 

Rachel

Banyan shorts

I hinted last week that although the blog's been quiet the sewing machine has still been a whirring. Here is some evidence for you. I made the Banyan shorts by Figgy's patterns. The list of things that I sewed for the first time for this pattern is epic! 

•  cuffs
•  functioning fly
•  pleats
• first time using button hole elastic
•  patch pocket

Wild huh?! And I think they turned out okay. Now, I will just keep to myself how many hours days it took me to make these bad boys, especially that fly... and I STILL didn't get it quite right! But next time I definitely think I could cut my time in half, and get the fly right. :) The fabric is Amy Butler and I lurv it. Honestly I think using such a busy print was a lifesaver in hiding all my little mistakes. The only sad news about these shorts is that they are to big for the Z-baby. Better to big than too small right!

A super sweet button from my stash. Isn't it just perfect!

Pretty aren't they. I kind of want some in my size too!

Happy sewing

Rachel

Linked to these great parties!

KCW day 3

If you follow me on instagram then you saw this little sneak peek at the and of KWC day two.

Thankfully, I got to sqeeze in the time to sew it up. This pattern is called Tangerine from Ottobre Spring 11. I really love how it turned out. Please ignore all the dangling strings!

And a little hint at today's sewing...

                    

Rach

Kids clothing week day 2

Hi friends! SO I have realized that when I sew a lot I blog, well, none. Sorry! Good news is that I have been sewing a TON lately and have some good eye candy for you. Right now, I am participating in kid's clothing week challenge. Day one was spent collecting fabric and cutting out the patterns. Today I got to actually sew! Whew, I hate cutting.

True to nature, I totally bailed on my list and snatched up the go to pattern's boardwalk skirt when it was offered 40 percent off. I love the two layer look! I replaced the regular waist with jersey and I used ALL repurposed   material! Using only repurposed material is my personal goal this year, let's see how I do.