Kids Clothing Week (KCW) Fail

Fails

Plural, actually. . .

Fail #1--I totally misjudged the amount of time I would have to sew this week. I thought KCW was the week my husband was going to be away (thus giving me lots of guilt free sewing time).  I was one week off with my timing. So my time to sew early this week was more limited. Oh well. I'm making a go of it, I just started my "week" on Thursday and will end on the following Thursday, not big deal.

My first KCW finish is this pair of shorts made from the new Kids shorts pattern from Dana at MADE. Wonderful, versatile, simple pattern. These shorts sew up super quickly and they are cute.

The fabric is an upholstery weight from IKEA a few years ago. I love the colors.

So the fail here?

The Bug hates them. She took one look at them and said, "Those pockets are too big. I will never, EVER wear those."

The good thing about big pockets? They hold lots of bribes. She agreed to put them on for a photo shoot only because the pockets were stuffed with gummy worms. (The gummy worm bribe was not enough to bargain a matching shirt, combed hair or a washed face)

We've discussed, for future reference, what makes these pockets "too big" (they extend up and over the waist band) and how to improve that on future attempts (shorten the top part). I think I've got it. Just another reminder that my sewing efforts need to more collaborative now as she is getting older and has so many opinions.

As for these shorts, they will find a new home where they will be worn. So all is not lost.

~Lindsay

A Sewing Lesson for the Bug

A few weeks ago a certain little had a case of the pink eye that required a few days at home instead of at daycare.

There may be some children who enjoy such things, but our Bug is a social Bug and too much time with just Mom or just Dad and no friends can be rough. Lots of unique activities are required to keep her mind off of the friends she is missing.

One of the days I spent home with her, I asked if she would like to sew a skirt. She loves to be in the sewing room with me. Loves looking at the fabric and going through the button jars. . .

Doesn't that sound sweet and idyllic? 

In reality it looks more like her pulling fabric and other notions off of my shelves and either throwing it on the floor or worse, "organizing" it for me (translated: moving it somewhere else in the room where she thinks it belongs and I will never find it). Going through the button jar typically involves her dumping a thousand buttons onto the floor, looking at them for 20 seconds and then going back to "organizing", and screaming like a banshee when I suggest she put the buttons back in the jar.

So now that we've established that. . . 

I wanted to sew.

I didn't want to deal with Bug drama while I sewed. So I, selfishly, told her she could make a skirt.

I knew the basic requirement. . . it needed to SPIN really well.

She dictated the rest.

She has been begging to do something with this rainbow stripe fabric for ages so I had a hunch she'd pick that.  I think I got it on clearance at WalMart and it's been in my stash for a year so I was happy to let her use it up.  We had just enough.

Another "must have" is pockets.  She chose the shape and the color of these.

I sewed them on. The curves wigged her out.

And she spent a good 45 seconds hunting through the button jar to find buttons to dress them up.

Small victories.

Yes there are five buttons on the pink pocket and three on the purple. Yes the purple buttons are random and four of the pinks are the same.

I'm not going to pretend that the lack of symmetry doesn't drive me bonkers.

But it's her skirt. Not mine. I fought the urge to control and just let it be.

And she wanted a bow belt. 

A BIG bow belt.

And here is our somewhat finished product.

Completely designed by the Bug (right down to choosing if the ties should be squared or angled at the end).  

Mostly sewn by her, with guidance of course. She really likes that foot pedal. I'm thankful for the speed control on my machine as she tends to enjoy putting the pedal to the metal so to speak! Makes a Momma a bit nervous.

I was tickled to have her wear it to school when she was finally able to go back.

My joy was abruptly ended by a temper tantrum over pocket placement.

Apparently she wanted them on the side seams.

Who knew.

I guess I forgot to ask.

I've yet to make a date with my seam ripper, but I will. No matter how much every ounce of me thinks rounded pockets on the side seams is going to look silly. . .

by golly I'll do it because that's what the Bug ordered and this is, after all her skirt.

I'm pretty sure Momma learned more from this first official sewing lesson than the Bug did.

~Lindsay

Custom Purse

I recently finished up an order for a custom made purse for a friend.

It's made from my favorite purse tutorial with a few adaptations.

My first adaptation was a slit pocket on the front.

(Like that piping? I made it myself!)

Next, a zipper pocket and key fob inside.

Then the standard wall o'pockets that I do on most of my bags.

I am such a fan of pockets. It was fun to get some practice creating some new ones. Especially the zipper pocket. I will definitely be doing more of those.

And in the process I decided I need a new spring purse too. I feel like I just finished my winter one but like everyone, this year I am more than ready for Spring to come and to stay! So stay tuned! I'm actually going to be trying a slightly different tutorial but hopefully applying some of the things I've learned with this bag.