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#SewFreeFall: Family Edition and a Handmade Wardrobe at Disneyland

Hello! I promise that I’ll eventually stop mentioning our recent trip to Disneyland but, it might take a bit. This was the longest and biggest vacation I’ve been on since moving out of my parent’s house after graduating from high school. Taking my son to a place where he kept mentioning, “This is a child’s best dream!” felt magical. My first experience with Disneyland was at fifteen, so seeing everything through the eyes of a six year old was a true joy. Ok, enough blubbering about my feelings here, time to talk about the handmade pieces that kept us clothed.

1. #SewFreeFall: Family Edition

Like me, my son is a big fan of twinning outfits. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he’s an only child but, he LOVES when I make him clothes using the same fabric as mine (just check the #momandkentwinagain for proof) or that match his cousins. This time I couldn’t leave my husband out of the matching fun. I opted out of matching since I’m not likely to wear a Star Wars shirt outside of Disneyland and dressed in a themed outfit pulled from my wardrobe instead (details on my outfit in my last #SewFreeFall post here). With final fabric approval from my husband, I ordered a Star Wars print jersey (here) from Joann.

My husband’s tee is the free Sage Tee by Elbe Textiles. His measurements put him in a size G. However, after looking at finished measurements and comparing the pattern pieces to his favorite tee, I opted to size down to an E. The only other change being an additional 1/2″ of length added at the hem. He’s now worn the shirt twice and is satisfied with the overall fit. It’s a little wider in the sides than his personal preference. Just something I’ll keep in mind for adjustments the next go around.

For my son, I used the free Rowan Tee by Misusu Patterns. I sewed up a size 6-7yr and added 1/2″ to the length. I’ve sewn this pattern a couple of times before and it’s quickly becoming my go-to for quick and easy kid tees. In fact, I’m already planning a few long-sleeve versions for the winter months ahead.

2. Themed Pieces for the Trip

My son was the lucky one this time and got all the new pieces for our vacation. Getting in the spirit of Disney and Halloween, I decided to make him a couple of themed items.

Knight Hoodie

The Knight Hoodie by Charming Doodle has been around the online sewing world for about seven years now. This trip, and the fact that my son is in need of a new hoodie, was the perfect excuse to stitch one up. Here’s the truth: I couldn’t wait to surprise my son with this hoodie so I showed it to him immediately after school one day. He almost immediately teared up because he wished it was a Minecraft hoodie and there aren’t knights in Minecraft. Good news though! After trying it on, he remarked, “It’s so cozy!” and now happily dresses like a knight not in Minecraft.

I used a size 8 with no size modifications. I did slightly change the shape of the front hood to match up with the top of my zipper, giving it a bit more professional finish. The fabric is a black fleece sweat shirting that I purchased from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

Zombie Prepster Pullover

This shirt has been months in the making. My son and I were visiting my friends at Suppose in Preston, ID when we spotted this Alexander Henry zombie print cotton. Over the last several months, we used these Crayola fabric markers to color random zombies throughout the fabric.

A week before leaving on vacation, I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to finally sew up this fabric. The Blank Slate Patterns Prepster Pullover turned out to be just the right fit. I’ve been making this pattern for my son since he was a toddler. There are a few instructions (inserting the sleeve for instance) that are missing from my printed paper version (can’t speak to the PDF version or updated printed versions) so be aware of that if you plan to make it. This version is a straight size 8 with no modifications.

3. Daily Outfits

Making clothes that fit into my daily life is my jam. Packing for this trip was only made difficult by the fact that I had plenty of good options. This, however, hasn’t always been the case for me. Two years ago, I went to Denver for four days and had to buy a pair of pants at Target the night before because I didn’t have enough without doing laundry for four days. It’s taken years to grow my handmade wardrobe to a point where I feel like most everything is useful and representative of my personality. Ok, here’s a quick overview of what I wore during the day.

I wore my Loominous Zadie Jumpsuit on our first full day in Disney. It was cool, easy to wear, and even got compliments from a couple of ladies who recognized the Anna Maria Horner fabric I’d used. One of them was wearing a top made from April Rhodes fabric so we momentarily bonded over our love of fabric. Sewing is pretty dang cool.

On our second day in Disneyland, my son requested that we wear our Mickey Halloween shirts. Paired with my favorite pair of Persephone Pants and a fanny pack, I definitely felt like a stereotypical tourist.

My son is wearing the Misusu Patterns Olli Shorts and Pants (free with code in Misusu Patterns Facebook Group) in both of the above photos. He has four pairs of shorts and three pairs of pants using this pattern so it’s a favorite around here. The large pockets turned out to be just the right size for carrying his autograph book and some small snacks.

4. Family Photo Outfits

Am I over the top for hiring a photographer to capture some family photos while in Disneyland? Maybe. However, we haven’t taken formal family photos since my son was three and I wanted to remember this trip. I also wanted a few photos that included all of us looking decent. The kind and talented Chelsea of Chelsea Frandsen Photography captured these and so many more for us. I’m going to treasure these photos and memories forever.

It took all my self-control to NOT sew anything new for these photos. When I couldn’t decide what to wear, I let my son choose his shirt and chose my outfit around it. This Oliver and S Sketchbook Shirt in pixelated cotton print is one of my son’s favorites. Picking up on the orange specks in the print, I decided to wear my Fringe Dress Pattern Jumpsuit Hack (details here).

We snapped these photos just before heading to Oogie Boogie’s Halloween Bash. My son changed into a costume in the bathroom and I continued to wear this jumpsuit. It worked a treat, except for the incident where the invisible zipper got stuck open in the bathroom. I almost had to leave the bathroom exposing the right side of my body. After about five minutes of troubleshooting, I got the zipper fixed and averted a wardrobe malfunction.

Well, there you have it. All the details of our handmade vacation wardrobes in one place. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for indulging me and reading!

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Sewing Patterns by Masin: Belen Bodysuit

Disclosure: The Belen Bodysuit PDF pattern was provided to me in exchange for a review. Fabric was purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Hello! I’m back from a Disneyland vacation and nearly recovered from a week of nonstop walking, eating, and magic. Before leaving on vacation, I finished one last project: this Sewing Patterns by Masin Belen Bodysuit. Wanting something, whimsical, practical, and a bit sexy to wear for our planned date night, I sat at my sewing machine and got to work. This bodysuit fits the bill nicely by combining a low-scooped back with the comfort of a t-shirt. Ready to dive right in to all the details? Let’s do this.

belenbody-2

Fabric

I waffled back and forth over fabric choice for weeks. Did I want stripes? Florals? A solid? Once the weather cooled a bit, I started layering and realized that the pieces I reached for most often were my black and white prints. They seamlessly mix with everything in my wardrobe while still adding visual interest. Enter this Crowded Faces viscose crepe knit purchased from Topstitch Atlanta (currently on sale so grab it now). It has a nice textured hand, is slightly sheer and, thanks to the spandex content, also has great recovery. Due to the lightweight sheer nature of the fabric, I did opt to line both the bodice and bottom portion of the bodysuit with white rayon/spandex for a bit of extra coverage and stability.

Sizing and Alterations

The Belen Bodysuit sizing chart put me in a size small at the bust then right between medium and large at the waist and hips. Following these measurements, I graded the pattern accordingly. I also added 1″ in length to the bottom of the bodice, top of the bottoms, and 2″ in length to the sleeves. There’s no lengthen/shorten line on the sleeves so I arbitrarily made a straight line to cut and spread along the top half of the sleeve. If I make this pattern again, I might add another 1″ to the sleeve length (for a total of 3 additional inches). Just personal preference here. I prefer extra long sleeves.

Construction

As the last project before vacation, I crossed my fingers that sewing this up would be smooth sailing. Luck was on my side this time and the Belen came together in an afternoon. Honestly, It took me almost as much time to hand stitch the snaps as it did to sew the rest of the bodysuit. The viscose crepe fabric presented a bit of difficulty if I tried going too fast so; I tried to keep a slow and steady pace. Using a lightning stitch, I sewed the whole thing on my sewing machine. A serger was only used to finish the sleeves before hemming.

Lining the Bodysuit Bottom

In order to line the bottom portion of the bodysuit, I deviated slightly from the instructions. Here’s how: Instead of using the crotch lining pieces, cut one front bottom and one back bottom from the lining fabric. Then, sew the side seams on the lining according to the instructions in step 4. Next, place the lining and outer bottoms right sides together, sandwich the lingerie elastic between the two, and sew it on as indicated in step 5. Finally, stitch across the bottom of the crotch pieces with a 1/4″ seam allowance and turned the bottoms right side out. Using a double needle or zig zag stitch, stitch along the edges of the leg openings to secure the elastic and keep the lining from rolling out.

Final Thoughts

I was initially unsure about the idea of a bodysuit. My biggest qualm being that I might feel like a baby in a onesie. Happy to report that I did not once feel like an overgrown baby whilst wearing the Belen. In fact, I felt quite sexy. Well, as sexy as one can feel in an outfit practical enough for riding amusement park rides. The only time I regretted my outfit choice was when my back got a little chilly in the restaurant. Next time I’ll remember a jacket for restaurant wear.

As the weather cools, I don’t see that scooped back making too many appearances. However, I’m imagining this will be a lovely layering piece worn under cardigans, button ups, and my favorite jackets. I’m looking forward to playing around with styling options and can’t wait to integrate this new piece into my fall/winter wardrobe.

One last thing to note: Some of my lighter weight pants do show what looks like underwear lines with this bodysuit so I’ll have to stick to pairing it with flowy skirts or heavier weight bottoms like these 12 oz denim Phillipa Pants.

Thanks for reading!

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Clementine Top and Crew Trousers

Disclosure: The pattern for the Clementine Top was given to me in exchange for a review and I received the Crew Trousers in exchange for my participation in the pattern test (no obligation to promote). All opinions are honest and my own.

Hello all! Today I’ve got a couple of my latest makes to share with you: The Forget Me Not Patterns Clementine Top and the newly released Chalk and Notch Crew Trousers. Combined these two make a look that I’d describe as business casual. My current work environment (as a seamstress and SAHM), only requires that I’m clothed and looking alive for daily activities. However, if I did work outside the home, I have a feeling that this is how I’d want to represent myself. Maybe I’ll pull this out for date night instead. Ready for all the details? Let’s get to it.

Clementine Top

Fabric

I purchased one yard of this marbled scuba knit from Stylemaker Fabrics (sold out but check out their current selection of scuba knits here) in January 2018. Originally, I intended for it to be a Lodo hacked into a top. It never happened and this fabric languished on my shelf for 18+ months. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when it dawned on me that this scuba would be the perfect pairing for the Forget Me Not Clementine Top. The weight of the scuba gives a modern, stiff drape to the cowl and highlights the structure of the princess seams. Match made in sewing heaven.

Sizing

Based on my measurements, I chose to cut and sew a size 36. Technically, my bust fell in a 34 but, I chose to sew a 36 for simplicity and the sizing turned out great. The photos here don’t highlight it quite as well as I’d like but the fitting on the back is especially fantastic. The princess seams make it fit like a glove with no swayback drooping. My only alteration was adding 1/2″ to the top length at the hems. Other than that, I sewed the pattern up as-is.

Construction

The Clementine pattern instructions were clear and easy to follow. Clear instructions combined with a cooperative fabric made this a quick and simple sew. I spent one afternoon on assembly, then hemmed the top and sleeves the next morning. The cowl neck and princess seams added enough detail to make the sewing process satisfying as well.

Crew Trousers

Fabric

A few weeks ago, along with ladies in my local sewing group the “Salty Sewists,” I made a little afternoon trip to visit Harmony in Provo, Utah. It’s a darling store filled with fabric, yarn, and all the best little gifts packed into a small pioneer age house. Oh, the charm! I picked up this coral pink Tencel Twill and knew it would make the perfect pants. The fabric is opaque, has great drape, AND the front side has a brushed texture that feels suede-like. Working with it was fairly easy, although I did have one spot on the waistband where I accidentally stretched the fabric, creating some small bubbles along the waistband. Luckily, that’s covered by a pretty bow so it’s not really a big deal.

Sizing and Alterations

Over the last few years, I’ve sewn nearly every Chalk and Notch women’s pattern. You could say I’m a bit of a fan. It also means that I trust in Gabriela’s ability to get sizing and measurements right. Based on the measurement chart and Gabriela’s recommendation, I chose a size 10 for the waist and hips then graded to a 6 at the thighs and legs. I also ended up removing about 1/2″ of the width around the ankles for a slightly larger taper. My other adjustments were standard for me: 1/2″ added to the front and back rise, 1″ length added at the above knee lengthen line, and 1/2″ length added at the below knee lengthen line. Just going to take a minute here and stress the importance of lengthen lines above AND below the knee on pants. Everyone’s legs are proportioned differently. My calf length is likely not the same as another person of my height and may be the same as someone shorter or taller. If you are thinking about designing a pants pattern, it will make everyone’s life easier when you include both. There we go. Off my soapbox now.

Construction

Despite sewing 90% of my wardrobe over the last several years, I wouldn’t consider myself a quick sewist. Many experienced sewists can whip up a tee shirt in an hour. Often, it takes me two. Pants are no exception. I’ve made probably 10 pairs over the last year and still find myself taking my time to get each step finished well. With that in mind, sewing these pants took me somewhere between 6-7 hours total.

I sewed these over the course of a day while also taking care of my son, getting him off to school, picking him up, cooking dinner, cleaning dishes, and while sitting across the table from my mother (so I might have gotten distracted with chatting). As per usual, Gabriela’s instructions were concise and included plenty of illustrations. This made inserting a lapped zipper (the hardest part: which is totally doable for an advanced beginner) a breeze.

My favorite detail is in the pocket construction. The pockets are shaped and sewn so that they’re secured at the top of the center front. This makes them stay nicely in place and keeps them from flopping around inside the pants. I didn’t know this was something I needed in trousers until now.

Final Thoughts

Do you have a desire to look semi-professional while still feeling comfortable? If so, this pattern combination just might be the one for you. I know it’s the one for me. If I wasn’t wearing a bra with this outfit, I might have worn it to bed. Seriously, that good. Both patterns felt suitable for the advanced beginner. Instructions were clear and I would gladly recommend both.

Here’s the deal: yes, I received both of the patterns in exchange for either a review or testing but; the time, effort, and cost of fabric used in these projects is worth far more than the price of these patterns. I genuinely like both of these patterns and hope you will too!

Thanks for reading!