DAY FOUR: Pickle Toes and Duck Butt!

Aaaaaaand we're back. Day Four! How you doing so far??
Well today let's just power through! So let's finish the bodice and add the skirt!

I had a little issue sewing the top piece to the body. For some reason I had this weird little lump. I couldn't figure out what piece was off but I think it had to do with the very edges of the blue, maybe it wasn't even or cut correctly. I fully admit to being a not so precise cutter.

 I used black for the neck binding

 and blue for the arm bands. I totally messed up the topstitching on these though, like ROYALLY. Yay for seam rippers.

 I decided on a two panel skirt. Since it's going to be a little big, I didn't want to to be too long for her. I used the middle layer and just cut them both shorter, with one a little longer than the other. I hemmed off the top so that they would more closely match the bodice. I held it up to the bodice and figured about how wide it would need to be.
I was going to do a lettuce hem, but my machine would cooperate and then I couldn't find a damn allen wrench to take one of the needles out! I searched high and low. So I just decided to do a regular serge edge but stretch while I went.

 One both of those were done I pinned both together and connected to the bodice, being careful not to stretch either side too much.

 It's hard to see in this pic, but I was trying to show that I'm sewing the bottom blue layer and the top damask layer too.

And finally I am done. It was a success. I already have someone asking for one. The next one will be better. Things I will do differently next time: a smaller size in the panel top. It's meant to be a more slouchy fit, but I tend to like more fitted on Camille. Especially when adding the skirt, you'll need something more fitting so the skirt isn't huge away from the body. It's also pretty long on her, the bottom of the bodice part hit her lower than I though, so the smaller size might be good for that too. I also think I will make the back piece a solid black if I make another, just to break it up a bit.
I had her try it on to take a couple quick pictures and then I said okay you can take it off. She asked me "Is it done?" when I told her yes, she said "then I'm going to keep it on"
So that's a good sign! Then she got refried beans on it from dinner so nice pictures will have to wait until after the wash!
Let me know how you felt about these patterns! Did you have any problems or confusion? Enjoy it? I'll definitely be making more of these, I love having a cute pattern to use for my hoarded panels!

Thanks guys!

DAY THREE: Pickle Toes and Duck Butt!

Howdy again!
So we have our sleeves attached to the shoulders and the pockets done! Now we have to attach the bodice! If anyone is adding the skirt to this shirt, This is my trial of how to do this. Because of the arm hole construction, I can't just make the back panel smaller because it would move the arms too far behind. So I'll show you what I did instead!
So first we have to add the side panels to the front panel. I did these according to the pattern. Just the front panel to the sides. I LOVE THESE POCKETS!

 So here you can see my dilemma! I haven't added the back panel but you can see how the shirt is QUITE a bit wider than the top skirt panel. So here is where I get creative. I am going to make the skirt panel larger and angle the back panel down.

 the back panel flares out a bit when pinning so I'm just going to go straight down instead of following it.

 This will nip in the waist a little bit. It's about 1.5-2 inches on each side.

 Ta-Da! It's hard to tell because of the pattern, but its a few inches narrower at the waist!

Tomorrow I will show you the skirt and changes I'm making that to fit. Yay!

DAY TWO: Pickle Toes and Duck Butt!

Day Two Has Arrived! Today will be putting together the top , sleeves and pockets!
I'm not going to super explain each steps since duh you've got the pattern too! I'll let my sweet vinyl tablecloth and pictures do the talking:
shoulders!

 Sleeves! I need to work on my cutting skills. Even curved cut edges would make pinning/sewing easier I think!

 Sleeves attached! Aaaaaaaaaand I forgot to topstitch. Dang

 I did something wonky here and I think it was that I cut the blue shoulder fabric too long. This is the piece that goes under the arm. I ended up trimming it a bit and them seaming it nicer when I added the bodice parts. But for now it looked lame:

 I wasn't too sure about pockets since my kid picks up everything and puts it in her pockets, rocks, bugs, food, etc. She just liked to collect which can be gross when doing laundry haha. But she loves exploring, so I like to encourage that! For the pockets, they're a little ruched, so you have to stretch them out. I found pinning both edges then stretching out with my one hand and putting one more clip in the middle was the easiest way.

 They turned out really cute, they puff out a bit.

I really like this pocket style a lot. I think I want to add it to other shirts for Camille. I love pockets on everything so I'll start her early on her pocket obsession.

Tomorrow is a bit of a more explaining day because I have to figure out how to narrow out the top to match the skirt. I will be expanding the skirt pattern a bit end narrowing the back panel to compensate. Stay tuned!

DAY ONE: Pickle Toes and Duck Butt!

Welcome back!
This month is going to be a bit different! We have TWO amazing patterns this month! So there is something for everyone! You have options this round! You can make:
Duck Butt Designs Panel Pocket Tee
Pickle Toe Patterns Adorabelle Twirl and Swirl Dress
OR
A MASHUP OF BOTH!!
That's what I'm doing! I will be doing a short sleeve Panel Pocket Tee (possible with the pocket, I'm not sure yet) and an adorabelle twirl and swirl skirt attached to it.
Now, the top of this shirt pattern is a more loose fitting style, so I will have to modify it a bit to fit the skirt.
SO! Here is what I'm working with! I actually decided on something a different solid color, but didn't take a picture with it. I love this panel, will be super cute on my 3 yr old. And I decided to use some of my hoarded Damask. I was okay using it because I know Serina is coming out with a new version SOON! Yay!

 Firstly, since I'm only using parts of the pattern I cheated a bit and only printed the pages I needed and then cut them out. I cut the size 4T for both, knowing I will be doing some adjusting as I go. Since it's my first time doing this with these patterns, I'm sort of winging that part :-)

 I use my ever trusty Clover Pen. Seriously. I love this thing. I have it in multiple colors. Because it's AWESOME!

 So, as I said before, I'm doing a short sleeve version, so that Camille can wear it this summer.

 Here's the skirt color:

 and I'm thinking about doing just a two panel skirt. My kid isn't a super flouncy girl, she's a tomboy but still likes dresses. So I think a Star Wars dress will definitely peak her interest.

So that's all for today! Cut your pattern and your pieces!! And show me what you're going to be making!!

KNITorious Lesley Flutter Top Sew A Long: Day Three

I waited to post this last day for a bit to try to get some more people to comment, so hopefully a few more people made this awesome shirt! I'm definitely going to make more of this one!

Last few steps were just pretty much hemming. Hem the sleeves, sew up the sides and hem the bottom! I actually messed up my sleeves a bit so they turned out a little wonky. I might actually trim them off and re do them, but for now, it is what it is!

 My finished shirt!

Things I would do next time: blind hem on neck and bottom, flutter or regular hem on sleeves. And make the body side seams go up a little farther. Currently I'll have to wear a tank top underneath it, so I'd like to make the seams higher to cover a bit more!

That's all! Show me what you made!!

KNITorious Lesley Flutter Top Sew A Long: Day Two

Today is neck hem and shoulders! Page 5 steps 7-11! I decided to do my usual blind hem  neck. I think that it makes for a nice looking hem and is super simple! See last months sew a long for some more info on how to do it. I use it on like everything. It looks way fancier/harder than it is!

So the pattern gives you two options, or you can be a rebel like me and do it your own way! So many options!

Once you sew your neck hem on both pieces, we're going to sew up the shoulders! So match your shoulders right ride together and seam them up! Here's what's I've got so far. Forgive my "retro"" flooring haha

If you lay it out flat, it'll look like a poncho!

I won't be adding a contract band to the bottom, but if you want steps on doing that just let me know!
See you next time!

KNITorious Lesley Flutter Top Sew A Long: Day One

Welcome back everyone!

 

This sewalong we're going to be working with the awesome Seamingly Smitten!! We will be sewing her Lesley Flutter Top for Women. That's right, it's time for some selfish sewing! I don't know about you guys, but I rarely sew for myself! So let's start with the usual:

 Print the pattern out!

 Be sure to measure and check your size also!

I decided on the jellyfish fabric that I had on hand! I love it so much, the colors are so beautiful!
After I printed my pattern, I taped it all together. I'll be honest, it's very possible that I printed it wonky, bc my lines didn't totally match up. But I didn't feel like re printing, I know I'm terrible.

 Anyway, i'm all cut out now!

And I think it's going to be beautiful! Post your pictures on facebook below this post and show me your cut out project or fabric selection!!


Thanks!!