Wrap skirt

 I totally agree - I could have ironed the skirt before putting it up on the blog.

Oh well, there's always a next time, right?

The Skirt Week Challenge ends tonight so I figured I better post the skirt today, and since it's already 9:50 pm here, I needed to get the pictures over with.

 I will post a tutorial for this skirt, after I make another one for the other twin - of course not looking exactly the same, since they don't like the same things ...

But let me tell you, this is a quick skirt to sew! And I really like the look of it.

Lucky with this one, I guess! I guess this skirt makes my fourth just this week! I'm on a roll. I do have a pattern for the dress to finish though and I have some other clothes "in my head" - waiting to be made. 

My girls are really getting bigger - they're 8 and they don't always like the nice, cute clothes. They want attitude.... And I want to make clothes that fit their personality, while still trying to teach them to dress appropriately. So I guess you'll be seeing a lot more of bigger girls clothes that are still decent around here in the future!

Do you have any thoughts on the topic? Please share!

Bubble skirt - trying to explain ...

I just love the whimsyness of the bubble skirt, my girls not so much. I had to remove the elastic at the bottom - then they really liked the skirt.

Sort of an explanation for a size 8:

Two rectangles: 70 cm x 37

     27,5 x 14,5 inch

Four rectangles: 35 cm x 20

   14 x 8 inch

Grab the biggest rectangles first. Sew the side seams. Fold over about 10 cm, 4 inch and sew three seams - leave an opening in the seam for the elastic. Add two rows of elastic.

Now take the four rectangles. Sew all the side seams into a circle.

Fold the skirt in four, side seam towards side seam and then fold one more time. Now you have the place for where to attach the four rectangles. You can see this in the above picture - the seams of the four pieces do not align with the seams of the skirt.

Add piping in between the skirt and the four rectangles as you attach them.

Make the hem wide enough for an elastic, leave an opening in the seam for adding the elastic. Make the elastic wide enough for walking - this is a crucial step - otherwise you might see some injuries!

This is the same skirt as two posts below - only a shorter version. You know what to do if you want the longer version ...

Enjoy the skirt, with or as in our case, without the elastic in the bottom!

A skirt for me!

This skirt is for me. I tried to take some pictures with me wearing the skirt. But those pictures just won't do well on the blog ....

Totally not suited for blogging. I do love the skirt for summer though!

It's flowy (it is a word!!!) soft and really comfortable.

Six panels with an A-line form, sewn together and a wide band as a waist band.

Easy peasy!

Two patterns in the making! (And also two birthday presents)

 The new dress is ready to be written into a pattern, I think it will be ready by the end of the week, I hope.

I really like how this turned out in the end - it still has some of the features from the Project Runway dress, but a longer bodice.

 It will still have the three different options in the back.

My twins are going to a birthday party tomorrow. This dress will be for the birthday girl along with the skirt below.

 I really like how this skirt turned out, I still have to try out a few different options, but the general idea is in this skirt. A circle skirt with a square bottom and elastic at the bottom! I am picturing dome different options with this as well!

If you'll just be a little patient with me, I'll have the patterns ready for you soon!

Have you seen Skirt Week over at CrafterHours? Fun!!!

Kids clothes Week - Day 7

 I did this skirt Sunday, I promise... A favorite dress that's too small, made into a skirt! I just cut off the top and attached an elastic, pulling on it as I sewed.

 And this picture just makes me so happy! Spring is finally here - this is my favorite spring flower - I picked this for my grandmother EVERY spring - several times every year. Today my daughter came with these for me! Happy mother.

 I made another carousel top - into a dress. I liked this fabric better than the pink one - sturdier, not so wobbly and all over the place.

 I put the "carousel" in the front - the conversations in our house go like this: How is Ariana wearing it? In the back? Okay, Then I want it in the front...

 My twins just do NOT want to wear the same clothes - and I've always urged them to dress differently, so I'm happy with this. Ariana (pink dress) is more girly girl - and Arielle is more "clean" and rocked!

 I made the bottom edged curved.

This pattern is a fantastic pattern. I cut the fabric Sunday (still counts as KCW, right?) and sewed it up today - in less than half an hour. I had already sewed it once - but it's so nice, goes together so quickly and I can alter it any way I want!! The fit is also very nice. My girls are 8 and I cut it in size 8!

I buy all my fabrics in Norway, so I don't think it's of much interest for most of my readers ...

Tomorrow is Labor Day in Norway -  a day off of work - can I hear a HURRAH!!!

Kid's Clothes Day 1

 i had planned on making Lil Blue Boo's romper today, but I didn't have any paper to print the paper on ... (I forwarded it to my job, shh, I'll print it there tomorrow - we are allowed to ... just saying)

I like to recycle ... when I have clothes that I don't want/fit anymore, and I like the fabric, I put it in my remodel pile ... this skirt used to be my tunic. The fit was never right for me ... used once or twice. But Princess A loved the fabrics used. She tried to pick it for another project, but we weren't able to use it for that.

So ... today I had one very happy girl - telling me, "mommy I can't use this skirt with long sleeves, you know..." "Oh, why not" "Mommy, you just don't know what's stylish ..."

Happy she's happy!

Shirt and skirt tutorials

So, here are the tutorials i promised you, both for the shirt first and the part of the skirt.

Materials needed:

1 yard knit fabric

lace

ric rac or ribbon

Cut out a pattern from an old shirt or desired pattern.

Front piece, back piece and two sleeves.

Sew the shoulder seams of the front and back together, right sides together.

Sew the sleeve to the bodice.

Sew the sleeve and down the bodice part in one seam. Repeat on other side.

Cut one long piece, about 2 inch wide on the diagonal. Fold over, wrong sides together. Attach to the neck line.

Cut the lace a little wider than the bodice and your desired length.

Ruffle the lace to fit the bodice.

Pin it to the bodice, top stitch around. Make as many layers as you please.

Sew a ribbon or a ric rac to the bottom hem.

Skirt:

Materials:

1/2 yrd cotton

Lace

binding

2 buttons

zipper

elastic

Sew a basic skirt with a waistband. I made mine a little wide and a little roomy around the waist.

Cut the lace the desired width - make it a little ruffly, sew binding across the top.

Fasten two buttons, one on each side.

Measure where you want your button holes. Sew them.

Now you can fasten the lace apron and remove it - two skirts in one!

In the back - fasten a zipper - I wanted a visible one.

Because I had some elastic that was black and a little pretty, I decided to sew it on the outside for decorations - pull the elastic as you sew.

Now your child can wear her new skirt!

31 days - I've lost count!

 What a crazy, busy week ... I've had seminars, crazy at work, my students were caught cheating, correcting tests, going horse back riding, finishing my daughters dress, teacher's seminar day, Sunday School, two birthday parties....

Maybe that's why my daughters, one in particular, really acted up at church today!?!

The pictures are the birthday gifts, one for a neighbor lady, I used this tutorial: 

Embroidery hoop tute - I made it in a neutral color and painted some French words in front - bless this home.

 Today the girls had a party at a play land for one of the girls in their class. i made a jersey knit skirt with a flower appliqué and a bag.

 i'm stll setting my boundaries with my acting-up-daughter. Still showing tough love - because I think she needs it.

Today I want to link to a very nice post I read about 10 things children always will remember!

Read it!

kcwc - day 6 and 7, of course someone has to throw BIG fit!

 On the very last day of this week, my dear daughter has thrown a big tantrum, lasting more than two (2) hours!!!!!!! I was really in my sewing mood, starting the above dress, and that's how far i got... but before the week is up, you WILL be able to see the finished product, you see, this is my signature outfit for Project Run and Play.... I WILL FINISH IT......

 I finished the apron - my tantrum girls drew on it for her cousin, it reads: my apron, I like to cook! It's her birthday at the end of the month.

so here is everything i accomplished this week, not bad, when you look at it like this, but i still didn't get everything i wanted done...

Romper - no

black dress - no

Christmas dress - in the making, but with a different inspiration

coat - in the making, but more like a cape

hooded dress - started, but need to rip some seams

shirt - no

pj's - yes

skirt - yes

bow tunics - yes

tunic - no

From this list, I still need to make an everyday dress, bought a pattern..

Christmas dress, started

coat - started

fleece jacket - oh well

I'm happy with everything I accomplished - but something else has to pay when i sew this much in one week - now I HAVE to correct some Norwegian tests!!!

kcwc 1 - skirts

For the first day of kcwc (see link below) i made four skirts - one corduroy with pink bow, two jersey skirts and one refashioning from an old skirt of mine.

For the skirt above, i found my inspiration here: 

but I know my daughter doesn't like the bow as big as this, so i made it smaller.

The jersey skirts were really simple, sew the two sides, end pull an elastic while sewing for the waist... done deal!

For this skirt, i just adjusted the waist, now it functions as a maxi skirt for my daughter.

 We both love this skirt, and it has been worn a couple of times already (yes, I started last week... shoot me)

Not liking her pose as much.... but she loves the outfit!

Will be back tomorrow for more kids clothes!