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kids clothes : bermudas

i love that my kids love and appreciate their handmade clothes.  hearing things like "they fit me so well!" is music to my ears.  and i love love love that they are becoming more and more interested in the design + making process.  talk about motivation to create more clothes for them, um yes.

not to be ignored in this love fest is the value factor.  for example, these bermudas were made using materials from around the house and in my stash = free.

as the weather gets warmer, i foresee more of these being made + worn very soon.  i love the length of these shorts for my girls, too.  just above the knee and roomy so that when the kiddos grow (how quickly they grow!), they'll still be a respectable length on their legs.  bermudas are super simple, the same process as making wide leg capris, just a little bit shorter.  and the possibilities for customizing them are endless.  just ask your little designers.  xoxo

old-fashioned girl : [PRP - week two/sportswear]

[old-fashioned girl : our look for week two of Project Run & Play]

looking over the precipice into the great beyond of all things sewing-related, i decided to narrow my focus in on attempting a few new-to-me techniques to create a sportswear look with details true to our style for the week two challenge of sportswear.

ok, truth time.  this is not the road we had intended to travel.  we took a detour.
and as it turns out, that has made all the difference.

you see, my daughter and i (last week's model) had grand plans for a jumper (floral bottom/linen top with "jewelry" on it) + leggings.  instead of sequins and beads, i introduced the idea of appliqueing a granny square to the top of the piece to give the illusion of a pendant - and it would have been really cute, i am sure.  but apparently my calculations were off when i actually got into my studio to make the piece.  i thought it looked a bit roomy, but i still thought we could make it work with a sash or smocking, or something.  but when my other daughter (last week's design assistant) actually tried it on and it fell straight off her to the floor, i had a bad feeling.  so then, just for kicks, i tried it on.  i am not seven.  i am not a size seven, for that matter.  and yet it fit ME.  that was when i called it a complete design fail and knew i would have to start over.

that was tuesday night.  NIGHT.  yeah.  THIS tuesday night.  we'd be taking photos wednesday.

i got on the treadmill for an hour, and decided that as silly as it was, this dress fail was a teachable moment if there ever was any.  give up?  not an option.  so what if all my sewing stuff - including my machine - was 5 miles away in my studio.  make it work, jennifer.  so i got out some scissors and cut off the entire bodice from the sleeves up, then flipped it upside down so that the linen would be on the bottom.  i pressed the hem over twice and started blanket stitching along the reconfigured bottom edge.  i had a plan.  if you visit this space regularly, you know i am seriously crushing on crochet lately, having learned to crochet granny squares a few weeks ago.  with that in mind, i thought of creating a scalloped edge along the hemline a la vintage pillowcases using organic cottons from my yarn stash (having my yarn stash still at our house saved me, i tell you).  the tones graduate from cream to deep charcoal to create an ombre feel.  i basically experimented through crochet stitches until an a-ha moment, resulting in a hemline that makes me swoon.  by 1am, operation dress rescue was in full effect and i went to bed.

wednesday morning was spent at the neurologist (check-up:  MS is stable, knock on wood.  thanks!), then into the studio i went where i had just two hours to transform my new concept into a reality.  i thought of my girly dress tutorial with the idea that this sweet vintage feedsack becomes the bodice with the linen on the bottom.  i added blanket-stitches along the neckline to incorporate a single crochet chain edge + closure, tying in the crochet with a functional element.

our old-fashioned girls wear a lot of linen - it's simple, natural, and makes a terrific blank canvas for sewing, needlework, and even printing.  i especially love that linen lasts forever, growing softer + stronger wash after wash.  plus, linen never looks truly messed-up because by its nature, linen wrinkles.  (as do we all, my friends.)  i also love the idea of making pieces that transition - for instance, this could be a playdress for a younger child, and later be worn as shown here as a tunic with leggings.  speaking of leggings...

the capri leggings (made on Monday, thankfully) are my inaugural attempt at sewing with knits, and i am thrilled that this experience pushes me to try new things.  i have been scared to sew with knits because i thought i'd need a serger (which i don't have, hint hint my birthday is in August, hint hint) - but i figured it would be fun to try anyway, and the result exceeds my expectations.  i created a little ribbing detail at the bottom of the leggings inspired by an image in a Japanese craft book, and then used fold-over elastic (also new to me) for the waistband.  both pieces can be dressed up or down, worn as separates or together, and incorporate simple tricks that turn something ordinary into something special.

so that's it.  long story long.  from concept to meltdown to rebirth as something really special.
click here to see everyone's creations for Project Run + Play week 2 and be sure to VOTE!

thanks for your support, friends! xoxo

tell me a story skirt : [PRP - week one]

and then my freckle-faced daughter looked up with her bright blue eyes and declared, as if the answer were there all along, "Mama, how about we make a skirt for storytelling."

so that's just what we did.

off we went to my studio, where she and i selected four fabrics from my stash - a colorful vintage print with fruits and vegetables in pinks and greens, a large gingham in soft green, a vintage white linen tablecloth, and a Jay McCarroll Garden Friends bunny print.  then my girly proceeded to tell us a story about Hazel, Basil and Moss, three bunnies who travelled through many gardens and down the lane where they happened upon a most wonderful picnic.

[skirt - original for PRP, shirt - land's end with original stenciling for PRP, clogs - Hanna Andersson, jacket - gymboree]

the first challenge for Project Run & Play was to remix of Dana's Circle Skirt pattern, however my personal challenge is to remain true to my love of simplicity.  our version of this terrific twirly skirt features four fabric panels that encourage storytelling all day long.

prior to piecing, i took the vintage white linen (tablecloth) panel and stitched a series of differently colored lines fanning out from center - i love the unique graphic that was created, and how it balances the bold gingham from the opposite panel quite nicely.

the skirt hits the the knee, and depending upon what you pair with it, this little number is appropriate for school, church and even the playground.  for example in this look, i revived a (stained) white top from the girls' closet by creating an abstract freezer paper stencil and blending textile paints to make colors complementary to our palette.

click here to see everyone's creations + VOTE!  thanks so your support friends!  xoxo

mamamade clothes

i am delighted to spill the beans that i will be part of Project Run & Play this Spring!

designing clothes for the girls + other people's kiddos is something i've done here and there, but this is a whole other ball game.  keeping my mind off the competition angle and staying true to my aesthetic will be my main focus.  i'm in it for the fun opportunity to work on these weekly prompts with my girls, and share kids' clothes designs with a whole new bunch of creative women.  (and that includes you too, my friends - you can enter the sew-along each week!)

my two favorite 7-year-old design assistants and i are hard at work, and we look forward to sharing our first little number next week.  in the meantime, come say hello!  xoxo

doing and done

DOING :: a few granny pillows to brighten up the girls' beds for Springtime.  yes, i am hooked.

DONE :: two ever-so-twirly ladybug circle skirts for the girls' music program at school (followed this terrific tutorial on MADE).  i have had a yard of that giant ladybig print in my stash for years and knew this would be the perfect opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece which the girls can enjoy for some time.  and that red polka-dotted number is a poly/satin that was super slippery (translation:  really hard to hem since i have no serger), so i zigzagged twice around the bottom edge and simply left the hem raw.  after the show, into the dress-up bin it went.

what are you making lately?  xoxo

growing up sew liberated (hip hip hooray!)

i am delighted + honored to be a part of the launch of meg mcelwee's 2nd book, growing up sew liberated.  i have had the pleasure of knowing meg through her blog since she was teaching at a montessori school in rural mexico, and have come to know her personally as well.  she is a truly lovely soul, full of wisdom and kindness, and is one of the most articulate people with whom i have ever had the pleasure of speaking.  i have learned a lot from her in terms of sewing and writing, to be sure - but the most precious gem i have received from her has been learning to "follow the child" in my daily life, and being able to respond to the interests and needs of my children.  those words center me, and allow me to be what i need to be for my daughters.

growing up sew liberated is beautifully written and styled in a manner that will inspire both you and the little ones in your world.  the sewing projects have been thoughtfully put together and nestled among them are tips and ideas on connecting with your children through play and creativity, something that is near and dear to my heart.

the girls + i have been swooning over the book for a while now and my little superheroes asked (pretty pretty please with sprinkles on top) if we could make a reversible play cape to add to their collection of costumes + dress-up attire.  and can we pleeeease go to the fabric store for some silky satin?  in red?  and gold? ok, twist my arm...

what a fun project!  tracing and cutting out the pattern pieces took longer than the actual sewing, and it was worth slowing down to do so.  (satin is a slippery fellow, i tell you.  but so much fun!)  the whole thing was super simple to put together, and the result is a spectacular two-for-one reversible time machine, transporting you + your littles to as many adventures as you can imagine.  this pattern is a keeper, and i anticipate many more capes being made in our future.

a note on sizing - we made the large which is sized to fits ages 6-8, but it also conveniently fits adults who play along with their adventures.
the more capes the better. (just saying.)

and here's a treat for you!  meg is generously offering a 20% discount on everything in the sew liberated shop - enter the discount code "JCHandmade" when you place your order - it's good for all of her books + patterns, as well as anything else in her shop.  (the code expires on June 25th, so hop to it!)

and be sure to click on the links below to check out all the stops along the 15-day blog tour visiting some of the web's most popular sewing blogs, parenting blogs, education blogs, personal blogs, eco-living blogs, and some that are simply a combination of all of the above.  meet some extraordinary women, see stunning photography, hear inspirational stories from meg and many of her friends, check out a bunch of projects and share a really nice look into the book. 

• 6/6         elsiemarley.com
• 6/7         made-by-rae.com
• 6/8         artfulparent.typepad.com
• 6/9         rhythmofthehomeblog.com
• 6/10       uncommongrace.typepad.com
• 6/13       simplehomeschool.net
• 6/14       BurdaStyle.com
• 6/15       mayamade.blogspot.com
• 6/16       blairpeter.typepad.com
• 6/17       jchandmade.typepad.com
• 6/20       frontierdreams.blogspot.com
• 6/21       dana-made-it.com

enjoy the book + happy making!  xoxo

 

kids clothes : damage control

my efforts for days 3+4 of kcwc were all about damage control.  there was a tremendous amount of sorting through things, clothes and textiles (a good exercise in itself).  and in doing so, i came across a bin full of items in need of mending, pieces that no longer fit, and a whole lot of prototypes.  everything has been (or is in the process of being) converted - into skirts that is.

- the fabric (jay mccarroll) i used to make this dress last summer was too cute to simply toss into the donate pile.  but after a few wearings, we discovered that the top of that dress turned out to be, um, a little too revealing for a 5-year-old.  bye bye, bodice.  hello, respectable skirt.

- one of the skirts that matches their me-dolls has in the bin for over a year with a torn hem and a few snags.  now there's a reinforced hemline and those well-worn areas were easily covered up with a bit of simple applique.

- and this little number was one of a pair of matching vintage dresses, but the shoulder was torn, and besides, the girls don't ever wear matching clothes. transforming the tattered one was the perfect solution.  and they've still got the other perfectly adorable dress. 

three done + another three to be finished up after they hop onto the school bus.  and that might be it for this week.  i've got to say, i haven't made as much of what i had wanted to make this week in terms of clothes for my kiddos.  and that's perfectly fine with me.  sure it's been a lot of fun, but i've spent the past almost 18 months making and making and making. and while it has been tremendously rewarding in many ways and i most certainly would like to continue along this professional path of writing and designing, i sometimes was left feeling drained from work, lacking the energy to fully be with the ones i love.

i have learned from that.  and timely as always is my friend meg.  if you have a moment, scroll down a bit in finn's birthday post and enjoy her words on embracing "the concept of creativity beyond simply making things."  she writes "You needn't feel guilty for not being in the time or place in your life where you can sew/knit all sorts of things for your children. Just re-route your creativity to living, rather than making."  

you see, what i have made this week is a lot of progress.  i've made time for my kids, been to every practice, rehearsal, game and even volunteered all morning at kindy.  each day i've exercised at the crack of dawn, made healthy + delicious meals for my family, and gone to bed early to give myself the rest my body needs.  i've doodled, taking training wheels off (and put them back on), and played tag - oh yes, a lot of tag.

i've said "yes!" more often than "in a little bit" - that, my friends, is a very good thing.  my fortune cookie this past weekend said that "opportunity will soon come knocking" and that i should "answer the door."
it did.
i did.
and i didn't even eat the cookie.

clothes will surely get made as others are outgrown, most certainly over the next few weeks as the sunshine returns to northern ohio.  and when i do so, i will surely look here for inspiration, thankful for the reminder of just how easy it is to make clothes for my kids that are simple, age-appropriate, and as one-of-a-kind as the children who wear them.

what have you been making this week?  xoxo

kids clothes : wide leg capris

my efforts on day 1 of kids clothes week went bust, what can i say.  some days you just have to roll with the busyness of life.  but i was determined to make up for it on day 2, so i decided to devote one hour in the morning and another later on (which turned out to be a few minutes here and there in between errands, dinner-making and t-ball).

the girls both need some short pants (or long shorts, as it were) for our ever-changing ohio weather, as well as for under tunics/dresses that still fit but are too short.  elastic waistbands are the way to go for runaround clothes at this age, most especially because the kids can usually get a few years out of them.  i traced a simple one-piece pattern using a pair of pants that fit - kind of like how candace made these leggings using the fold, only for wide-leg pants.  there is also a great tutorial on making children's pants from an old t-shirt in the creative family.

these are pretty standard wide-leg capris (or as the girls call them, swishy pants).  if you are looking for a pattern, i am always happy to steer people to simplicity 4206 which i used to make these three years ago.  it's super simple and a great place to start if you are just delving into making clothes for your kiddos.

gotta say, i was happy to see them so happy skipping off to school wearing a little bit of mamamade.  today i'd like to make a few more with a little more personality, and also pull fabrics for a few skirts a la kinchi.

happy day, friends!  xoxo

:

p.s.  the fabric was in my stash = free capris!

kids clothes week : patterns for you

Happy Mothers' Day, everyone!

if you are participating in kids' clothes week - or if you simply are planning to make your kiddos a few garments at some point - then we may become fast friends.  i went through my knitting + sewing designs and discovered that a baker's dozen of my patterns are especially for the little ones.  wonder where i get my inspiration...

TO KNIT -

- twirly remix

- summer crush

- summer crush tank top variation

- old skool

- neighborly

- neighborly *with a twist

- easy peasy

- one willow

and, of course...

TO SEW -

- girly dress

- field day

- 5-minute hairkerchief

- leisurely

- the turnaround skirt

just a few things to get you started.  happy knitting + sewing, friends!  xoxo

- jennifer -

 

a quiet 30

after the girls got onto the bus, i fixed myself a steamy cup of coffee and did something i've been wanting to get back to for some time - i spent half an hour sketching + journaling + brainstorming in the quiet save for the birds singing outside.  not a bad way to start the morning.

i'm really looking forward to meg's kids clothes week challenge next week - one hour a day spent making clothes for your kiddos.  no rules, no deadlines, no stress, no sewing/knitting police.  it's not a contest - just making for making's sake.  my sketchbooks are filled with torn pages from catalogs + magazines as well as a whole bunch of doodles.  i am hoping to try out a few new things, but if i end up simply making some tried and true pieces, then i'm ok with that too.

are any of you joining in?  do you have any patterns, tutorials you're excited to try out?  i'd love it if you would share what you're working on in the comments so we can all get inspired.

xoxo
- jennifer -