Simplicity 3575 - Hooded Bath Robe

Let me start off my saying that I am not crazy about this pattern.  I'm not even sure about the results, however, until I find a better hooded robe for kids, this will do.

The fabric that I used for this robe is a sweatshirt fabric in a Japanese children's print that I got from Ebay years and years ago.  I'm not entire sure that this robe is going to fit.  I did cut an xl, but by the time I was done, it ended up between a medium and a large, which is my goddaughter's current size.  Lengthwise, it should be quite long, which is want I wanted.  This thing I didn't like about this pattern was it's construction.  Rather than havea separate band running the length of the robe, you turn under the seam (what??).  Yep, you put on the hood and then just turn the seam under all the way around.  It's not the look I was going for, but like I said, it is the only robe pattern have I have a girl.  Somehow, I managed to get turned around when it came time to hem the robe, so I had to turn it all under a second time (I think the instructions for that part were out of order) instead of unpicking it because I just wasn't feeling it at the time and the robe was extra big.  Hopefully it fits, but if not, it's not a big deal. 

At least the fabric is cute.

Butterick 5153 - Girl's Lounge Pants

I'll just say from the start, that sometimes it's hard for me to stop once I start making kids' clothes.  There.  I said it.

Actually, this was the first idea in my mind when I realized that I would need to make all of my Christmas gifts if there were going to be any gifts for my family and close friends.  Thankfully, when my mom sent me this pattern, she made sure to purchase both the adults and kids' patterns.  Now, I don't know about you, but I love me some lounge pants and I'm hoping my goddaughter likes them too.

This first pair almost did not come into existence.  I really hemmed and hawed about them.  You see the print is Hannah Montana.  Now I know that it was just a character on Disney, but seriously, when I think of Hannah, I think of Miley Cyrus and well.. let's just say her public image isn't the best right now.  However, I really did like the color and it was the only tweenish fleece in my stash. 

As you can imagine, these were super easy to complete.  At first, I was concerned about the rise.  It just looked very long and I thought I would have to re-cut them with a lower rise however, it turns out that the elastic called for in the pattern is 1 inch wide.  (sigh of relief).  Paired with my 3/4" "turn under" (rather than 1/4"), it brought the rise down to a more acceptable length.  I also thought I was going to have to drag a drawstring through the casing, but it turns out that it's just a bow tacked on the outside.  Easy peasy.

I also made her a pair in cotton.  I originally had this fabric for her dad, but I decided that this "holding fabric for xyz is not a good thing for me right now, so I just used it.

I really think she's going to like them.  I know I do!

All in all, I really liked this pattern.  While I don't actually know her measurements, I cut the elastic to a size 10 since her mom said that the waist on size 12 RTW pants is too large.  I'm not in the least bit worried though.  I used the elastic I got from Pam at Fashion Sewing Supply and it's fabulous.  It will stretch for days and days and days. I definitely recommend her elastic.  It's the best (as is her interfacing!).

Farbenmix Quiara Tunic

Now that the Christmas holiday hubbub is over, I am working on my goddaughter's Christmas gift.  Luckily, the family is used to our gifts showing up some time in January.  When Julien was a toddler, she actually thought Christmas lasted 2 weeks!

At first I was at a quandary as to what to sew for her.  I really don't have many girls patterns (size 10/12) in my pattern stash from the big 4.  As a matter of fact, I think the count is 4.  So, I went on the net looking for tween patterns.  What came up in my search were Farbenmix and Pink Fig patterns.  Score.  I already had them in my stash.  Woo-hoo! The largest size on these patterns is 11, but I do believe that it will be easy enough to size up when the need arises.

Since this was the first time breaking out these patterns, I decided to start with something simple, the Quiara knit shirt.

I decided to make the tunic hoodie because what kid doesn't like a hoodie?  Being an army brat, my GD loves camo.  I had this pink camo in my stash, so I used it as the main fabric and dug out this smiley face fabric as the contrast.  (Someone may or may not have relieved Wally World of entire bolts of knit fabric when they were closing their fabric departments years ago and the price fell to 80% off per yard).

Let me tell you, this pattern is a dream.  I "heart" Farbenmix. 

I even got to use fun stitches for the hem!

If you have never sewn with a Farbenmix pattern, here's the deal.  Although this is a German company, you can purchase the patterns in English.  You do have to trace the pattern, but that is standard with European patterns anyway.  You also have to add your own seam allowances.  The instructions are written, however, you can search the net (or the Farbenmix.de website) for the tutorial, which is essentially a sew-a-long.  These may or may not be in English (the tutorials for the older patterns are in German).  The tutorial for Quiara is in English, and that's what I used.  I was not in the mood to read the steps when I could just glance at the pictures and then read if necessary. 

This tunic, for the most part, was constructed using my serger so it was fast, fast, fast!  This is such a versatile pattern.  The possibilities are endless.  Can you tell I like it??

Happy New Year

Wishing you a year full of sewing and crafting bliss and blueberry pancakes (but only if you like them, of course)!