Monday, September 30, 2013

Sewing for Kindergarten - Petit a Petit & Family

The super short version of the introduction to my last guest in Sewing for Kindergarten could be:
This is the coolest AND sweetest woman I might ever have met. 
But there is SO much more I want to say about the wonderful Celina from Petit a Petit & Family.
For example that I love everything she makes, or presents or recommend. She used to work as a childrenswear designer so her blog is kids clothes heaven. She is The Queen of Pinterest. She is one of the most helpful women I know. For example she has helped me edit my photos for Project Run and Play....I am pretty sure you noticed a difference in my photos from week one to two....yeah, that's when she took over! Oh, she is super modest too. Yup, the full package.

There is another amazing thing about her...she always delivers big time. Actually you just need to hurry to her blog because she has put 5 (yes, five) outfits, all made by Celina over time, together for you. And I think this AMAZING tuesday outfit sets a pretty great tone for what you can expect, right. I mean HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!


Thank you!!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Sewing for Kindergarten - Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

Yay, Stacey from Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy made it!
You might remember she was a 'hopefully maybe' when I announced the series because she was in the middle of moving back to the US (from living in Denmark actually of all places) and buying a house  too so it is with extra big pleasure I welcome my guest today. 


Stacey have made this great, great Angry Bird backpack. Seriously I do not know what it is but I have not met a lot of kids that are not obsessed with these grumpy flying things so this is for sure going to be popular.

Go see more photos and details here:

Thank you!!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sewing for Kindergarten - Girl. Inspired

Another day, another blogging star. I mean THIS lady....please go to her blog and see for yourself. 
The photography is aaaaamazing and whether she is sewing, cooking, decorating her three beautiful girls' rooms or whatever...everything is done to perfection and always crazy beautiful.
Oh, and who are we talking about?
Stef from Girl. Inspired of course!


Now take a look at this crazy cool outfit for example.
Perfection!

Go see more no doubt amazing photos and details here:

Thank you!!


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Project Run and Play, week three. The Little Queen of Plaid.

Wow, the emotional roller coaster also called Project Run & Play has come to week three and I am still on board.  Phew. A big thank you to those who voted and to the judges who gave me some scores for the last challenge that made me blush and VERY proud. Thanks!



This week the theme is PLAID and I proudly present my Little Queen of Plaid.


When I think of plaid, I think wool, autumn, cosiness and warmth but also country life, horses, fields aaaaand a gold crown - naturally! So what is it with that gold crown? Well, I once saw a documentary about the British Queen's (extra) castle in Scotland and the whole thing just had plaid all over it - not the actual castle but like the vibe. And that documentary just popped up from a far, far place in my brain when I was thinking about what to make for this week.


Working on her queen face.....or something like that.


So what have I made?
Yup, Queen Evelyn is exciting about it in case you wondered.


I found this great dusty lilac wool plaid at Hancock Fabrics and worked from there.
The fabric screams pants with lots of great details to me BUT since this little Queen does not wear pants (unless it is leggings and under a skirt or dress) I knew that would be a waste of time and quite possibly a painful photo shoot. 
SO what is pants (shorts) but looks and feels like a skirt....yeeeees, culottes.
I have a post about drafting culottes HERE.


And of course they needed pockets. I have been obsessed with these ruffled welt pockets ever since I saw them the first time on The Sturdy Hall Jacket From Go To Patterns. And I think they fit wool culottes perfectly. And if you are interested in making these side seam welt pockets I have a tutorial for the non ruffled version HERE


They also have a comfortable and toddler friendly elastic waist and belt loops.
I fully lined them plus I made the inside of the waistband with a cotton so there is no scratching on the sensitive skin that all kids have. For the same reason I made cotton facings to hem the pants so there is absolutely no wool on the inside. The lining is slightly longer and closed up with the hem facings the same way you would close up a winter coat. That way the lining will have some 'streching' abilities and not pull the outer layer out of shape.


To compliment the culottes I made a shirt and a vest.
Let's talk about the shirt first, shall we.


This shirt is made from a self drafted pattern and it is one of my favorite shirt patterns.
This is one of the patterns I had in my women's collection, you know, way back when I did such thing back in Denmark. And I have since made it into a kids pattern (shirt and dress).
I absolutely love love love the shirring around the neck.
It is kind of a simple detail but with such a big effect. 
There is also a single row of shirring in the end of the sleeve to add volume to the sleeve.
The shirt have darts in the back and a front buttoned placket.


Here is a closer look at the neck shirring.
When you are wearing it, your shoulder will of course stretch out the shirring and the weird v-shape the shoulder seam have now will disappear, promise! 


And then we got the vest with ruffles in this very queen worthy pre quilted gold fabric.



Even though I have drafted this pattern myself I am not going to pretend that I have invented this model at all. I have seen this vest on other blogs. Plus adding ruffles instead of a small sleeve is used a lot in Japanese sewing books. BUT I still totally love it.
And I really really love that my vision, about having the piping follow the arm hole and then continue on the outer edge of the ruffle, succeeded. 
To do it this way I had to first sew my ruffles on the fabric and the cotton lining. Then the piping and then the outer and lining together. 
Touch down in the geeky sewing department, yay!


Here is a look inside the ruffle lined with this really lovely woven striped cotton fabric I have had for years (in other words I have no idea where I got it from, ahem). It is the same fabric that is used for inside the waistband and the hem facings for the culottes plus inside the crown hat.


A look inside the vest. Again, like the culottes, the lining is a bit longer to avoid it pulling the outer fabric when wearing it. And gold facings all the way around for sturdy edges and a nice look. The neck facing is nice and big with room for a label if this was going to be produced. Not that I have any plans of that....but you know, ha. Old habit I guess.


And then the crown hat.
It is made from the Oliver + s' Bucket hat pattern.
I narrowed the brim to make it more 'real' hat and less soft sun hat looking and then I extended the sides to make the crown shape and made a pattern part for the short inside part of the triangles where the oval top got sewed onto. 
I added the black piping to make it more sturdy and of course to accentuate the crown shape and simply make it more visible.


And there you have it....The Little Queen of Plaid.



Again thank you to Celina for giving me advice before taking these photos, helping me edit them afterwards and basically gather my thoughts on theme and inspiration - in other words being my mentor. And to Olga for moral support, hilarious commentary and general cheering. And to ALL OF YOU for voting and leaving comments I will cherish FOREVER. Seriously THANK YOU!!!!



And speaking of voting...what are you waiting for...the voting is over at Project Run and Play
Vote for me, please!

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Sewing for Kindergarten - If Only They Would Nap

My guest today is one of the nicest people I have met...okay, okay I have not actually met her but the interactions I have had with her always shows a very very nice side.

Jess has four boys, the youngest is a baby, so the natural thing to do when your oldest is starting Kindergarten is of course to...home school. Let me just say, Moms who homeschool....I have the BIGGEST respect for you!! I could never ever do it myself. Me and my kids would rip each others heads off on day two. So GO Jess!


Jess have made this great comfy casual look which also work when they meet up in the homeschool group.

Go check it out here:

Thank you!!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Sewing for Kindergarten - Sew Like My Mom.

The last week of Sewing for Kindergarten is off to a great start with my guest Melissa from Sew Like My Mom.
Besides being the woman behind a blog full of great stuff she also made The Darling Daisy Dress that I sewed and gave away two copies of a while back.


Melissa have made this great sweater dress for her daughter.

Let's go see what that is all about...

Thank you!


Friday, September 20, 2013

Sewing for Kindergarten - Rae Gun Ramblings.

My guest today is Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings. She is another lovely lady whom I was so lucky to meet at Fabric Weekend LA earlier this year. Seriously the sweetest! And clearly very talented - see below!


I could also present her as the most popular aunt ever because look what she made for her niece. I mean whaaaat.!! A Totoro cape. I am not even going to show it to my kids because they are going to demand one RIGHT AWAY and ehhh, I have no idea how to do those amazing applications. Maybe Melissa is going to tell us on her blog?
Marissa's niece goes to a school where she has to wear uniform so that is why she made her something for out of school. Fine with me. I absolutely love Totoro and this cape. Cutest thing ever!

Now let's go check it all out, shall we:

Thank you!


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Sewing for Kindergarten - Flickr Features

What better way to fill out the empty slot in the Sewing for Kindergarten guest posts that happened today because sweet Celina from Petit a Petit & Family offered to help me edit my Project Run and Play photos and ended up spending so much time on it that we had to postpone her post today. But don't worry she will be back friday the 27th of Sep to finish off the series. And without putting too much pressure on her, I have a feeling she is the perfect person to do just that thing....okay, now I am putting pressure on her, sorry!


So let's get to the features and since I missed it this weekend, sorry, I will show a bit more than last time. And let me just say right away....I did not know how to choose...there is SO much good school clothes uploaded to the three Flickr Groups. You should really go check it all out. But for now stay here and see some of my favorites.

Let's start with the Preschool group:

Popover Raglan Dress
Karly fron Zafarani have made this lovely knit dress. I have said it before...you know how I LOVE a good knit dress. Absolutely perfect school clothes in my opinion.

047
My good friend Olga  from Kid Approved have made this great dress from a Ottobre pattern. I love the almost high waisted look this dress has. And you should go read the post. There is a funny story about the cup her daughter Ania is playing with here.

skater dress - full front view 2
Laura from Behind the Hedgerow have made this beautiful Skater Dress from Kitschy Koo in Liberty print knit. Can I please have one too...pretty please!




Some features from the Elementary Group:

the 'inside' of her Roller Skate dress
Darcy Bee have uploaded this cutie in her Oliver + s Roller Skater Dress. Adorable!

Knippie Juni/Juli 2012 model 22
And I mean, seriously, how could I not feature this little guy. How cute is he!!!
From FABulous Home Sewn.

See more fabulous school clothes here:

And the middle/high school feature:

Jumpsuit
You might recognize this jumpsuit. This is Trine from Groovybaby...and mama's oldest and sooo beautiful daughter. Looks like she got lucky and got a jump suit too like her little sister Wilma did for Trine's guest post in this series.



Below is a recap of the posts in this series since last Flickr feature.
Make sure you are not missing one...they have all been amazing!










Don't forget there is an amazing prize for each winner in the three Flickr Groups so start sewing and uploading.
We have one and a half more weeks of guest posts coming up too.
Woohoo.

Thank you all!!