just call me a sewin’ fool!

Wow! I didn’t mean to take such a long hiatus! 2 and a half months!! What a bad blogger I am. I have had a tough time with my health for the last couple of months and haven’t really been doing anything housey. In the time that I do have I’ve been working on my girls’ spring and summer wardrobes. I still have a way to go, but at least I’ve made SOME progress….. Please remember that I have to make TWO of everything! It takes a lot of time, but the end product is always worth it. I love that my girls aren’t “cookie cutters”. They never have on the same thing as other kiddos. I like that they have their own little looks. Sewing isn’t as hard as it looks. I’ve learned to love and enjoy it. Fabric can be expensive but by waiting for sales and coupons I save TONS of money. I could never afford to buy these things in a store! Things like I make can cost around $100 in a boutique! If you shop wisely for fabrics like I do you can make most of these outfits for around $10 or so. You can make a pair of ruffled pants or capris for under $5! I buy all my tshirts to embellish/monogram at Target for $5 each. That's $10 for a complete boutique style outfit!!! I have spent many hours finding patterns that are both adorable and easy. I will be sharing the patterns and fabrics I used in the outfits below. If you ever have any sewing questions please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help you in any way I can!

My hands down favorite source for all patterns is FairyTale Frocks and Lollipops. Terri has the BEST selection of children’s patterns I’ve ever seen, and she’s also getting in tons of GORGEOUS fabrics. Check her out!

I LOVE downloadable patterns…It’s so much easier to cut out each individual size than tracing over all that tissue paper. I used the Betsy/Joey sewing pattern for these ruffled shorts. They’re super easy and come in 3 lengths. You can make them with or without ruffles. These are perfect for boys and girls. This fabric is Jennifer Paganelli’s Casey Scroll. It’s getting harder to find, but several sellers on etsy still carry it. It’s one of my all time faves.

I cut out one of the designs from the fabric and appliqued it to the shirt….. I’m going to do a tutorial soon on embellishing tshirts.

Close up of the short:

I fell in LOVE with this fabric from Michael Miller when I first saw it last fall. It’s called Plain Jane and comes in several colorways. This aqua/red/white is my favorite. I used my friend Aimee’s boutique bottoms pattern. They are by far my all time favorite pattern. I use them for everything….ruffled pants, cuffed pants, gauchos, pajama pants…you can also use them to make shorts. Her patterns are all created with the beginner in mind, and she walks you step by step through the pattern. She even makes ruffles easy! I appliqued this shirt too and love the way it turned out!

Here are the same boutique bottoms paired with this tie shoulder top by Indygo Junction. This pattern also includes a pattern for shorts and capris.

Close up of the shoulder tie. The fabric ties are so much easier to use than the typical ribbon ties. They stay tied!

This is some patchwork fabric I found last year at Hobby Lobby. I typically only use designer fabrics, because they wash and wear so much better. The colors also stay truer after many washes. I loved the look of this though, and I took a chance! I used PortabelloPixie ruffled pants pattern. These are the single ruffled capris. This pant is more fitted and tends to run a little small.

I used Lava Flowers by Michael Miller for the short and pod posey for the ruffles on this pair of Betsy/Joey shorts. I’m thinking I’m gonna monogram this shirt in lime green ;)

This may just be my favorite. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Heather Bailey’s Pop Garden line. The lime greens, pinks, greens, and yellows in this fabric just scream SPRING. I love how the stripe coordinates perfectly with the paisley. If you look closely you will see that this paisley is made up of all kinds of flowers. This is another example of the Indygo Junction top and Boutique Bottoms like I showed above.

Some of my favorite places for fabric are:

fabric.com

Fabricworm on Etsy

Craftersvision.com

There are SO many sellers on Etsy. If you find a fabric you like just do a search.

Mamas, get out that sewing machine you have shoved in a closet, buy a couple of beginner patterns, and get started! You’ll be amazed how easy it is and the feeling of accomplishment you get from all those people who will stop you on the street and compliment your children’s clothes…… That’s when you get to say, “Thanks. I made it myself!” ;) Be prepared for all the oooohhhhh’s and aaaahhhhh’s that follow!

Happy Sewing!

Linking to:

Rhoda's Thrifty Party

Metamorphosis Monday