Sewing for Kindergarten - Groovybaby...and mama

Uhhh, today is extra exciting for me because I have a Danish guest. And not only a Danish guest but one of my favorite Danish bloggers, the lovely and hilarious Trine from Groovybaby...and mama.

Trine makes the type of clothes I love myself. Comfortable, very often in knit but with great great details that makes it stand out big time. She both sews for herself and her kids so there is something for everyone on her blog.

In Denmark the kids start in Kindergarten when they are 6 years old. You know, in case you thought this beautiful little lady above looked at bit older than the other Kindergarten kids we have seen so far.

Trine has made her daughter Wilma (yeeees, we do have more other girl names to choose from, haha) this AMAZING leopard jumpsuit. I am obsessed!

Now go and check it out....okay, okay...Please!

Thank you!

Project Run and Play, week two. All Wrapped Up!

Phew, made it to week two of Project Run and Play and this week's theme is CANDY.

Let me present to you my look: 

All Wrapped Up!

At first I was a 'deer in headlights' when I realized that week 2 had a candy theme. But suddenly I thought of this amazing neon fluorescent vinyl I bought like 6 months ago.

I hope I am not the only one thinking about candy wrapping paper when I see this vinyl!?

The whole time I had plans of making rain jackets for the girls with it but hmmm, I guess I got busy with other things and pushed this 'big project' ahead of me even though Wilma asked me every week when I was going to make it. Soon sweetheart, soon! Ahem!

I used the Oliver + s Secret Agent Trench Coat pattern as a base for the rain jacket. It has raglan sleeves and well, since it is also a jacket pattern I knew it had the right shape and size too. It even has a girl version with a gathered waist but I decided to go with a detail I have seen in several Japanese sewing books where you sew a wide ruffle on the outside of the fabric to finish off the jacket. This creates a small ruffle above the stitch that I just love.

And in this case with the fluorescent ruffle it is even more perfect than I had anticipated. The vinyl is super fluorescent from the edges and I just love how it stands out. I was a bit worried how I was going to sew it on because I could obviously not sew in gathering threads and my gathering foot did not work with the vinyl either so I simply had to hand fold and gather as I sewed. It worked, phew. Only a bit sweaty afterwards. 

What else did I change from the original pattern? I added a wide front placket with room for double rows of snaps. 

I added a hood - I mean no rain jacket without a hood, right! 

I changed the pockets into sort of a kangaroo style pocket. And I changed the sleeve straps a little bit by making them straight.

When sewing the sleeve straps I used a technique used when sewing with leather. That worked like a charm.

You basically fold the seam allowances on the top strap and put it directly down on another layer of vinyl, stitch 1 mm from the edge and then cut the extra of the bottom layer after sewing, as close to the seam as possible. This way you don't have to sew the two layers right against right and turn inside out...because I am not sure that would have worked very well with this fairly stiff material. These straps have completely square corners and are just the way they should be.

Oh boy my new Juki industrial sewing machine from Gold Star Tool totally saved me from disaster here. The vinyl was harder than I thought to sew in and there was no way my domestic would have made the same result. I am not even sure it would have been possible.... even with the teflon foot I had ordered. It was super nerve racking to sew this. The needle made fluorescent holes so I had only one chance for all the top stitches, ahhhh! And since you can't iron it I had to top stitch everything to make the seams lie down. Phew, it was like a workout to wrestle with it.

I also made a lollipop sweatshirt - I could not make an entry without a bit of color blocking, could I?!

The pattern is self drafted. The shape is classic sweatshirt with raglan sleeves and rib in the neck, sleeve and bottom opening. I tried my best to have the stripes follow all the front from left sleeve over the front to the right sleeve - it aaaalmost worked. 

It is also continuing over the left shoulder and then all the stripes are being faded out on the center back neck seam so the right shoulder is all pink front and back.

Both fabrics are soft and comfortable French terry.

Wilma kept on this clothes after the photo shoot which is always a good sigh, right

Last but not least did I make these super comfortable 21 wale cotton corduroy slouchy pants in this beautiful soft baby pink. The fabric is from Kaufman.

The pants have pleats in the front and a waistband with adjustable elastic. 

Side pockets with a decorative buttoned flap.

 Back welt pockets also with buttons...but this time actually with a purpose....to keep the pockets in place. 

Those buttons...aaaamazing! Wooden painted buttons from, yes you guessed it Lots of Buttons. They have a ton of this type and sooo many cool ones.

And a tapered leg with a fixed fold up at the end of the trouser leg.

In the little intro on the Project Run and Play site I promised you a little funny story on how I realized that I basically just designed (well, it is a classic shape but you know what I mean) and drafted the Figgy's Pattern's Banyan Trousers. 

So I had help editing my photos from the amazing Celina Bailey and this sunday we were basically constantly in contact. She editing photos and me writing on this post, answering her questions so the photos ended up looking in a way I liked and so on. Lots of fun and for SURE less stressful than doing it myself. I think we all know were my strength is...and it is not photo editing (I wish, but nope).

SO I was writing about these pants and was not sure what the correct English term for that fixed fold up that the pants have was, so I thought I would ask Celina if she knew. She came back to me saying she was not sure (her first language is not English either remember.) but I should check Figgy's Pattern's Banyan Trousers and see what they call it. 

Ooookay, I thought, that was a very specific and detailed answer....you know compared to "try google it" which is the answer I usually give when I don't know the answer to something. So I go check them out and haha, besides for the pocket details these are basically the trousers I have just spend quite some time drafting the pattern for (altering an old trouser pattern I made for my daughter). The pleat in the front, the adjustable waistband, the tapered leg and the fold up (as they, and now me, call it). Oh well! 

And why did Celina have that answer right on hand. Because she had just sewed a pair for her post in my Sewing for Kindergarten-series. Too funny! Well, now we know that I for sure will like what she has made....like I ever doubted that...I LOVE everything she makes! Including her editing.

I mean look what she did with this photo of Wilma looking a bit hmmm thoughtful.

Yes, the storm is coming (the voting storm, hahaaaaha) but first I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Celina Bailey from Petit a Petit & Family for editing my mediocre photos into these little masterpieces this week. Wow, you are talented my lady!

And to Olga my blogging BFF from Kid Approved for keeping my spirits up when last week's voting results took me by surprise and shocked me for a few days. Don't worry I am over it now. Expectations can be a tricky thing!
By the way she has been sewing along with the candy theme too. You should go and show her some love HERE.

And thank you to all the rest of you blogging friends, real life friends and family and blog readers that came with encouraging comments and fantastic compliments on my week one entry. Of the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU! You have no idea how much it meant!

Oh, and don't you just love those clouds, rain drops etc that Celina added to the photos! Well, you can get them HERE.

Yup, don't you forget it!

Thank you SO much for coming over!

Now head back to Project Run and Play and give me that vote, please!

Sewing for Kindergarten - Charming Doodle

When I was searching for participants for this series of course I also asked my Sewing Rabbit Creative Team friends if they had any Kindergartners this year....and I was super lucky. Two of them did and Elisa from Charming Doodle was one of them. (The other one was suppose to come on later this week but, ahem I used all her time this sunday having her edit all my week two Project Run and Play photos so we have pushed her post a few weeks).
Elisa is fairly new at sewing but that does not keep her from starting up big projects like a reversible quilted vest (did you see that POST?) or like here sewing welt pockets. And not only is she starting them, she is also finishing them with amazing results. I am so impressed!

Elisa's daughter Emerald (Emma for short) goes to a school where she has to wear a uniform and can only wear navy, khaki or black pants. So what does a Mom who sews do....sew some cute navy pants of course. And because Elisa is just plain amazing she also made a paint skirt, a nap mat and a pocket for her school issued book bag. 

OH, and on her site there are scheduled tutorials for it all. Today is the nap mat.

So what are you waiting for...off you go:

Thank you!

Sewing for Kindergarten - Craftiness is not optional

Today I am going to use the word 'blogging super star' to present my guest. I mean this lady! First of all she has been blogging longer than I even knew blogs existed. She sews the most adorable clothes for her three adorable girls, she is hilarious and she is the type who put star shaped cheeses in her daughter's color coordinated bento lunch box....which normally drives me crazy...but with Jess you know she just can't help it. The parties she is throwing looks like straight from a magazine and her baking looks like a pro decorated it. Yeah, she is pretty much amazing.

Jess has made this perfect Oliver + s outfit for her oldest daughter Ava.

Go check out all the details here:

Thank you!

Sewing for Kindergarten - Elegance & Elephants.

Beside the future heart breaker in the photo below we are also getting a visit from his Mom the AMAZING Heidi from Elegance & Elephants.

She is the lady behind some very popular pdf sewing patterns: The Ruffle Top/dress and the Bubble Pocket Shorts that I both had the honor to pattern test for her. Her newest pattern The Fedora Hat is on my to-do list for sure!

She is also the person you don't want to be in a competition with because she usual wins, haha. Fully deserved and all!

Tobias (the future heart breaker...I mean, seriously!) is doing a combination that I did not know existed. He is partly being home schooled by Heidi and partly going to a private school. When he is in school a uniform is required so Heidi have sewed this perfect home attire for him for the other days.

Love it!

Go check out all the details here:

Thank you!

Sewing for Kindergarten - Sew a Straight Line

My guest today is one of my favorite ladies, Sabra from Sew a Straight Line. And she can really sew...which she is doing a lot.....when she is not looking after her four boys. And this is turning into funny-week because she is hilarious too. 

Sabra sewed for her son Jonas. She based the outfit on his personality and preferences.
Here is what Sabra said: " He's a very sporty kid, with strong opinions on his professional sport teams.  He chose the graphic and details for the tee.  Both pieces are easy to mix and match with other pieces in his wardrobe, and easy for himself to get dressed on his own with no buttons or zippers." 
I love that she thought about him getting easily dressed. And I can't wait to give those pants a closer look. They look so great! 

Thank you!

Sewing for Kindergarten - Crafterhours/Adrianna

Just because I have some madness going on with a certain competition, Sewing for Kindergarten is still going on. And today I have one half of one of the funniest blogging duos in blog land, Adrianna from Crafterhours.
They are also the ladies behind Skirt Week and are simply just plain awesome.

Adrianna's daughter Penelope is going to private school where she has to wear uniform plus they live in Asia in a tropic climate, so this lovely outfit is for an upcoming vacation to cooler temperatures.
Look at those cool jeans!

I wonder what this looks like from the front....let's go see:

Thank you!