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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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Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics

There may be snow on the ground, but we’re already dreaming of summer and days spent in our favorite swimmers. Thanks to the Raspberry Creek Fabrics 2019 Swim collection, I’ve gotten a head start on summer sewing. Initially I couldn’t wait to get my hands on swimwear fabric and get to making myself a new suit. A few days later, however, the insecurities set in. Did I really want to share my body in a swimsuit with the internet? Should I get a spray tan? It’s been years since I last made myself a swimsuit, what if it’s a colossal fail? This. This is why I blog and give myself deadlines. If I hadn’t made the commitment, I would’ve let these doubts get the better of me. Despite my doubts, I’m always thankful that blogging pushes me out of my sewing and style comfort zones. Alright, enough about my insecurities, let’s talk about these suits.


My Son’s Palm Euro Suit

My 5 year old has been wearing this style of trunks since 2017 when I met Rachel of Little Fish Apparel. I purchased a pair of her trunks and since then, my son hasn’t worn any other style. Last spring Sew Like My Mom released the Palm Euro Suit pattern and I fell in love with the style and quick construction. My son fell in love with the fully lined inside and options to have his favorite style in a variety of fabrics. There was no question that this would be the pattern for my son’s newest suit. I got this Flamingo Vertical Stripe swim fabric and got to work.


When I say construction is quick I mean that a pair of these can literally be whipped up in the time it takes to get my child ready for the day. I sewed this pair one morning last week in about an hour including interruptions like getting oatmeal for my son, reminding him to get dressed, and answering approximately 100 Minecraft questions. My son wasn’t thrilled with the suit when I first finished it but, was sold after putting it on for these photos. In fact, he opted to wear it under his clothes for the rest of the day. Calling that a win.

This pair is the brief length, fully lined in a size 5. Sizing was spot on when compared to the size chart.

Do we look cold here? We might be a little cold.

Opian Pilatus Swimsuit

The last time I made myself a swimsuit was in 2015 (here). Back then I wasn’t blogging and had a following on Instagram that was mostly limited to family and friends. I shared the photo on Instagram and remember being only slightly nervous. This time I was again nervous, but more so since I planned to also blog about my suit. Upon finishing the suit, my nerves lessened because I realized that this body made a freaking swimsuit which makes me feel pretty good about it. Life is too short to not show your body love for the things it can do. Stepping down off my tiny soapbox because it’s time to talk about this suit.

Fabric and Pattern Choice

With over 30 Raspberry Creek Fabrics swim prints (plus a nice selection of stripes, dots, and gingham), picking my favorite design was a daunting task. Originally I planned to use a Watercolor Palm Leaf print until a moment of inspiration had me changing my mind to this bold Vertical Multi Stripe. Some sewists choose a pattern and then look for the fabric. In my case, I generally choose the fabric first and allowing it to tell me what it should be. This fabric was begging to become an Opian Pilatus. With a cut out back, tie front, and high waisted bottoms, the Pilatus swimsuit combines the fun of a two-piece swimsuit with the security and functionality of a one-piece. Now that I’ve sewn it I can echo others and say that it’s a good one. I did however, make a few changes for my own personal comfort.


Sizing and Alterations

According to the measurement chart, my measurements put me at a size 2 bust with a size 6 waist and hip. Based on this I traced a size 2 top and size 6 bottoms. The pattern is drafted for someone approximately 5’6″ in height so I made a couple more initial adjustments to fit my 5’10” height. To address this, I added 1/2″ to the top of the bottoms, and a total of 1″ to the bodice pieces (1/2″ added to each the top of the straps and bottom of bodice pieces). Finally, I needed to address the coverage on the back bottom pieces. My initial muslin showed much more of my buttocks than I’d like to share with the world. I have no issue with others wearing a suit fitting this way, it was just more than I personally felt comfortable showing. After a couple more muslins, I ended up adding 1 and 1/2 inches at the fullest part tapering to the original pattern lines at the top and bottom. With fitting sorted, I was ready to start sewing.

Construction

I sewed in bra cups but otherwise followed the pattern as written and found it straightforward. Construction took around 4 hours (including lots of try ons between steps because I was loving it). I used my machine’s lightning stitch for the seams and hemmed the waistband and leg openings with neon green thread and a double needle. Upon completion, my bottoms were gaping slightly at the back waist. Begrudgingly, I ripped out the top hem, removed the original back elastic, and replaced it with a piece 1″ shorter than recommended. This fixed the gaping and with a new hem, my suit was complete.

Final Thoughts

What more can I say? Clearly we’re already enjoying our new suits over here and I can’t wait to make more over the next few months. We’re heading to a Great Wolf Lodge next month and my goal is making a new swimsuit for both days we’ll be enjoying the waterpark. Will it actually happen or will I get distracted by other projects? Hoping that typing it here will keep me accountable but not making any guarantees here.

Ready for more swimwear inspiration? The Raspberry Creek Fabrics Suit Up for Summer tour is happening all week. Make sure to check out the other talented ladies included.

Friday: Its Liesel / Amber Lauren Boutique / Violette Field Threads / Confetti Unicorn

For this week, March 11-15, 2019, our readers can enjoy 20% off SWIM ONLY from these sponsors!
Wardrobe By Me code: Raspberry Creek
Simple Life Pattern Company code: SLPCO-RCSWIM
Titchy Threads code: SUITUP19
5oo4 code: RCFSWIM

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors!


Boo Designs / Sew A Little Seam / Titchy Threads / Simple Life Pattern Co. / Jalie
Little Lizard King / Made for Mermaids / Love Notions / Striped Swallow Designs
Patterns for Pirates / Violette Field Threads / Wardrobe By Me / 5oo4 / Sew Like My Mom

Thanks for reading!

Fabric for this post was provided to me by Raspberry Creek Fabrics but all opinions are my own.

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Sewing for Spring with Raspberry Creek Fabrics

Here in Utah, winter is showing no signs of stopping soon, but that hasn’t stopped Raspberry Creek Fabrics from brightening the season with their Spring 2019 Club release. If you’re unfamiliar with the Club line, it’s printed in house by Raspberry Creek and only available through them. This release has 8 collections and over 50 prints total. A majority of the prints are available on cotton jersey and french terry with a few options available on ponte and rayon challis. As part of the Raspberry Creek Fabrics promotional team, I was able to choose a couple of my favorite prints to sew up and share. Let’s get to it!

My Son’s Cardigan

Upon seeing the spring preview, my son saw this Giraffe Print French Terry (also available in cotton jersey) and said, “Mom! I want to look like a giraffe.” I’m a big believer in using fashion as a form of self-expression so I happily obliged. I chose the cotton french terry as it’s my preferred substrate for my son’s joggers and sweatshirts. It’s got enough weight to hold up to the abuses of a 5 year old, while also being light enough for year-round wear.

His wardrobe contains plenty of pants and tees but is sometimes lacking when it comes to jackets and sweaters. With his input, I settled on making a Petit a Petit Goodall Cardigan (find it free in the Petit a Petit Facebook group). I chose a size 6 which was right in line with my son’s measurements. The intended fit is oversized and I love that my son will likely get at least a year or more of wear out of this cardigan before he grows out of it. If you prefer a more fitted look, I would suggest sizing down. Sewing was straightforward and took somewhere around 2 hours start to finish.

My Perkins Shirt

I couldn’t let my son have all the fun with the Club Spring release and this Abstract Floral rayon challis caught my eye almost immediately. The large scale gives the fabric a modern look while the coloring screams spring. After last month’s frantic fancy pants sewing, I’ve been spending February focusing on tops to pair with my fancy pants. Rayon challis is my favorite substrate for woven tops and I knew this print would be a welcome wardrobe addition.

Although I planned to make some sort of top, I waited to receive the actual fabric before deciding on a pattern. Sometimes you just need to drape a fabric around your body to find out what it wants to become. Eventually I decided to sew up an Ensemble Patterns Perkins Shirt. I tested the pattern last May (see my test versions and more pattern details in this post), and my gathered version has become one of my wardrobe staples.

I again opted to make the cropped version. Other than adding 2 inches to the length, I sewed a straight size 4. Sewing took place over an afternoon and an evening taking maybe 4-5 hours total. The result is a top that I’m sure will be worn regularly throughout the spring and summer months. The soft pastel colors paired with the boxy shape make the look feel unexpected and just right all at once. I can’t wait to mix and match this Perkins Shirt with different pieces of my handmade wardrobe style it in new ways.

Conclusions

I’ve been a customer of Raspberry Creek fabrics since 2017 and have used their Club line french terry for nearly 20 pairs of joggers, several sweatshirts, and a few tees. Although I knew the french terry cardigan would be a hit, this was my first time using the Club rayon challis and I was happy to find that it sewed beautifully. The printing process can make the fabric feel slightly stiff until the first wash but, it softens well after washing. Now that I’ve used it, I think that I’ll start purchasing and using it more often. My son is overjoyed to have a giraffe cardigan and both of these makes will likely be favorites throughout spring.

My son and I both paired our Spring ’19 Club Fabrics with pants made from Cone Mills Black Stretch Denim purchased from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. Mine are the Ginger Jeans (posted about these exact pants in this post) and his are the Misusu Patterns Olli Summer Pants.

Thanks for reading!

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Sew Fancy Pants Projects 3 and 4: Persephone Pants and the Olli Summer Pants

Hello! I’m back on the #sewfancypants train and looking forward to sharing today’s looks. My son has seen me sewing up a storm over the last few weeks and always asks, “Is that for you or is it for me?” So, when I had some long, odd shaped scraps left over from my Persephone Pants, I opted to sew them up into matching pants for my son. His pants are the Misusu Patterns Olli Summer Pants which are a favorite around here. Let’s get on to the details.

Fabric

I wear my two solid colored Persephone Pants several times each week, and knew I needed to add another a pair to the rotation. For this pair I selected this Blue/Grey Ventana Twill from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. (Disclosure: this fabric was provided to me for this post, but all opinions are my own). The fabric has a pronounced twill weave and a mid-weight of 7.9 oz. At 45″ wide, it’s not quite as wide as most bottom weight fabrics, so I did have to get 3 yards in order to have enough fabric. Despite the narrower width, it’s priced great and 3 yards of this fabric costs about the same as 2 yards of other bottom weights I’ve used (psssst: to get an even better deal you can use code ‘FANCYPANTS20’ to save 20% at RCF through January). Like many cottons, this fabric relaxes a bit with wear, so I opted to make my pants just a touch tight. I’ve been wearing them since taking photos a few hours ago, and they’ve now relaxed and are feeling just right.

Persephone Pants

This is my 4th pair of Persephone Pants and I still don’t think I’m done making them. If you want to know the my fitting adjustments you can find them in the post all about my first pair of Persephones. Now that I’ve made them several times, I can get a pair sewn up in about 4 hours. Wearing them makes me feel infinitely cooler than I actually am and this blue/grey pair will be a welcome wardrobe addition. Counting down the days until spring so I can start pairing these with all my fun patterned blouses. Something about winter makes me wear black and white on the daily.

I literally spent weeks hemming and hawing over what to make for this post. Time kept coming and I was feeling the pressure to sew something completely new and unique, but no ideas were sparking joy. The thought of making another pair of Persephone Pants felt like an epiphany. As a blogger, there’s often pressure to feel like content has to be completely new in order to share. Making and wearing this pattern makes me happy, and why shouldn’t that be worth something?

Another bonus to having made this pattern so many times? Upon seeing these, my husband remarked that the workmanship was my most professional yet. Sewing a pattern more than once allows me to slow down and hone the skills related to each step instead of fretting about what skills will be needed for the next. When I first started sewing for myself, I made the same few patterns 5-10 times and it was a great way to refine the skills related to each pattern. Since then, my sewing skills have grown and diversified, but I love going back to my sewing roots and focusing on skill building once again. Maybe I’ll do more of that this coming year.

Summer Olli Pants

I was first introduced to Misusu Patterns after seeing the Origami Sweater on Instagram. Elles has a fantastic pattern collection filled with interesting children’s designs for both boys and girls. Finding exciting and imaginative designs for boys is sometimes a challenge, but that’s not the case with these patterns. Last summer, the Summer Olli Pants and Shorts pattern was released and made available for free to members of the Misusu Patterns Sew and Tell Facebook group. Upon hearing this, I joined the group, downloaded the pattern, and promptly made my son a few pairs of shorts.

Once winter arrived and he could no longer wear his Olli Shorts outside, I noticed my son changing into them whenever we were home. After a few days of this, I asked him why he wanted to wear his shorts at home. He replied, ” The pockets fit my duct tape wallet!” I remedied this situation by making him two pairs of the pants for Christmas, and now, a third pair in this blue/grey twill. Now he’ll have plenty of pants to hold his wallet and keep him warm.

The style lines of this pattern lend themselves well to both scrap busting and color-blocking. I’ve already got a few color-blocked shorts in mind for summer. Good-bye scraps, hello wonderfully eighties shorts. Another feature I love about this pattern is a decent size range from 0-3 months all the way up to 5-6 years. My tall 5 year old is at the top of the size range wearing a 5/6 with 1 inch added to the length. It’s also a rather quick sew. With the pieces already cut, I was able to finish all but the hem of these during the 2 hours and 20 minutes I have to myself while my son is at school. This time included a lunch break, so I probably could’ve completed them during that time if I didn’t take a break. The Summer Olli Pants and Shorts check all the kid’s clothing boxes for me: free pattern, great scrap buster, stylish, and a quick sew? What are you waiting for? If you’ve got a cool kid in your life, you need this pattern.

The Verdict

Sticking with familiar patterns in a new to me fabric was 100% the right choice. It also helped the process along when I cut both pairs of pants at the same time, from now on I’d like to do this more. It cut down on the amount of leftover fabric and gave me the motivation to finish both in succession. The long skinny pattern pieces required for the Olli Pants were the perfect size to fit on my oddly shaped scraps and (bonus!) made me feel less wasteful. I’m a Ventana Twill convert and plan to acquire either the Canyon Red or Mauve Berry in the near future. Any ideas on what I should use it for next?

Thanks for reading!

Interested in more of my Sew Fancy Pants Projects? Check out my Sienna Persephone Pants or my Emerson Crop Pants.

Want to see more of what I’ve made with Raspberry Creek Fabrics? Check out my Matching Loungewear, Perkins Shirt, or Gemma Sweater and Ginger Jeans.

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Favorite Sewing Patterns for Clothing the Baby in Your Life

It’s been a while since my baby was an actual baby (he’s 5). Although I no longer sew for a babe of my own, I’m able to get my fill of baby sewing by making gifts for friends and family. Due to a combination of my geographical location (Utah feels like the baby capital of the US) and life stage, I seem to always know someone having a baby. Over the last few years, I’ve found seven baby sewing patterns that I reach for again and again. Today I’d like to share them with you. I’ve decided to list the patterns starting with my most used first. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom because I’ve just discovered a couple new ones that I’ll definitely be using more often in the future.

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Alison’s Tiny Harem Pants

I’ve made this FREE pattern at least a dozen times. It takes about 20 minutes to sew and can be made from less than 1/3 yard of fabric. It only comes in one size, but is the perfect size for those teeny tiny newborns. Babies that I’ve made these pants for have usually been able to wear them from their first day until one or two months old. While they’re too small to be worn beyond a few months, the ease of making them and the fact that they’re irresistibly cute make them a baby shower favorite. The shape and style is gender neutral which makes them the perfect gift for every new babe.

Knick Knack Knickers

This is another quick and easy FREE pattern. Just follow the hyperlink above and click on the cute picture of a baby in knickers to download the pattern. These take me a little longer to sew than the pants above mostly because it takes a few minutes to insert the elastic. Don’t worry too much though, they take about 45 minutes to maybe an hour if I’m taking my time. You’ll need just about 1/2 yard of fabric for 1 pair. This is another pattern I’ve made at least a dozen times. I love them because I make the smallest size which works as pants for newborn babes and then as shorts/bloomers until about 1 year old. Babies grow so quickly that having something to grow with your baby is kind of a nice change from pulling out new clothes every couple of months. If you plan to make more than a couple of pairs of these pants; may I suggest buying some of these elastic threaders? They made my life infinitely easier when I had thread 1/4″ elastic through six pairs of these pants.

Piece A Cake Baby Dress

A couple of years ago, it seemed that everyone pregnant woman I knew was having a baby girl. I wanted to make dresses, but didn’t have a lot of time to make them. I stumbled upon this pattern by Anna Maria Horner and was sold. It’s simple shape allows for the use of all the fun prints. The pattern uses about 1/2 yard of fabric and I’ve been able to squeeze it out of a little less when in a pinch. It’s great for using rayons, quilting cottons, double gauze, lawn, basically any woven that isn’t a heavy weight. This is another “grow with me” pattern that can be worn for a long time. A newborn babe can wear it as a dress and then it becomes a cute swing top as she grows. Did I mention this pattern is another FREE one?

Pitaya Bummies

This pattern designed by Sew Like My Mom is worth every penny. The sizing goes from newborn to 5T so you can use it for several years. There are two views and three waistband options. The pattern has even been updated with a fun skirted and ruffle bum variation. I just bought it in March and have already made five pairs (which is a lot when you are only sewing a pattern for gifts). One pair can be whipped up in 15 to 20 minutes using only 1/4 yard of fabric (for the smallest sizes). I’ve made these bummies for both boys and girls and they’ve been worn and loved several times already. If my husband and I ever decide to have another child, these are sure to be a wardrobe staple for my babe.

Field Trip Raglan

I firmly believe that a basic tee pattern is a staple in any child/baby’s wardrobe. You just can’t beat the sweetness of a teeny tiny tee. This basic raglan tee pattern by Oliver + S has been in my collection for years. I’ve used it to make shirts for my son, but hadn’t used it for babies until this year. The size range starts at 6-12 months, but in my experience, most babies can fit in a 6 month size starting at a just a few months old. It’s also nice as a parent to have baby clothing in a variety of sizes since babies grow so quickly. I’ve made this pattern a total of 6 times and twice for babies. Both of those babes have worn their tees and looked like tiny little men. Too cute!

Olli Lined Pants

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In May, I made the FREE Olli Lined Pants pattern for the first time. I used a mid-weight denim and lined them with flannel. They’re sure to keep baby’s legs cozy during the cold winter months. The pattern ranges from size 0-3 months up to 2-3 years. It also includes a cute side pocket option which I omitted on this pair. I used just under 2/3 yard of each fabric for these pants. This one is worth mentioning because Misusu patterns also just released the Summer Olli Shorts and Pants pattern (in sizes 0-3 months up to 5/6 years) so your babe can wear these stylish pants year-round. I’ve only made the lined pants once for a baby, but just completed three pairs of the shorts for my 5 year old and they’re a hit.

Lullaby Layette Top

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I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve owned this pattern for over two years and finally made it for the first time last month. I purchased it after seeing this modified version on Instagram. I had under a 1/2 yard left of this beautiful yarn dyed fabric and used pretty much every single inch to make this top. Sewing time was something between 1-2 hours. I ended up loving it so much that I nearly didn’t gift it. I wanted to keep it for myself. The pattern also includes a sweet jacket, pants and a onesie or romper version of this top. I have the pattern pieces and fabric already set aside for the next baby who is in need of this top. Immediately planning a second version is a great indicator of a good make.

Thanks for reading! Hope you’ve been able to find some inspiration for your baby sewing. If you have, get to sewing and clothe those babies! Do you have a favorite baby sewing pattern? If so, I’d love to hear about it. I’m always looking for fun patterns to make and gift.

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My Son’s Jean Jacket and Tips for Working With Ottobre Patterns

Hello! I hope you’ve had a lovely holiday season. Today I’d like to share something that I made for my rambunctious four year old. You might recall that I made a Hampton Jean Jacket (here) back in October. My son almost immediately requested one of his own asking for “shiny buttons” just like mine. The boy was in luck because I had just a little over a yard of  Cone Mills denim (purchased from Threadbare Fabrics) left over from my jacket. Since my sewing queue was a bit full of Halloween sewing at the time, I promised him  a custom jacket for Christmas. I was able to pull it off just in time as I hammered the jeans buttons in place on Christmas Eve.

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I attempted convincing my son  to select some unique details for his jacket, (a different color of topstitching thread, different embroidery on the back, etc.) but he insisted that it be exactly like mine. I’m soaking in all these moments when he still thinks my style is cool because I’m sure those feelings are somewhat fleeting.

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You may notice, however, that there are a few details that vary from my jacket. These are all small details such as the absence of welt pockets, the jacket front pockets being sewn to the outside instead of the inside, and bias tape on the inside of the collar. These are all differences between Alina’s  Hampton Jean Jacket pattern and the Ottobre pattern used for my son’s jacket.

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Coming across the Ottobre pattern for my son’s jacket involves a bit of serendipity. I had been searching for a children’s jean jacket pattern, but hadn’t quite settled on one when my friend Lisa asked if I would like to have some of her old Ottobre magazines. I said yes and she brought them to our Modern Quilt Guild meeting the next day. I started to flip through them when I saw the back cover for issue 1/2011. This was exactly the pattern for which I had been searching.

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Ottobre is a well-known name in the sewing community so you may have heard of them. Ottobre is a Finnish company specializing in children’s wear patterns. They produce 5 magazines a year containing children’s clothing patterns as well as a special Ottobre Woman issue. In 2017 they also added an Ottobre Family issue bringing their grand total of issues to 7 each year. You can order both subscriptions or individual issues, although I’m not sure how easy it is to come by the older issues. Each issue is jam-packed with fun and stylish patterns. The specific one I’ve used here contains 40 different patterns. As you may have guessed, the sheer volume of patterns included comes with a few drawbacks.

First, in order to fit all the patterns on just a few pieces of paper, they are printed overlapping and on both  sides of each paper (see first photo below). I managed to make tracing bit more manageable by grabbing a permanent marker and my trusty Pattern-Ease (more about that here). I used the permanent marker to outline the correct size pattern pieces (see second photo below). This made tracing a bit easier on my eyes.

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Second, you have to add your own 3/8″ or 1 cm seam allowances. This isn’t a difficult step, just takes a bit of time.

Third, the instructions can be a bit sparse as each pattern only gets half a page of instructions. This specific limitation might be the most intimidating of the three. My recommendation for this is to select a project with techniques you have previously used. In my specific case, this worked out well because I had already made a jean jacket and was familiar with the top stitching, and other details associated with one. I actually used Alina’s Hampton Jean Jacket sewalong to help me clarify and understand some of the Ottobre instructions.

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Overall, these drawbacks added a bit more time to the project, but none of them would keep me from using another Ottobre pattern. The interesting style lines and endless variations on children’s basics mean I will likely turn to them again and again. I also love the fact that Ottobre makes a decent amount of patterns for boys. I’m sometimes discouraged when it comes to sewing for my son because the indie pattern world is largely dominated by patterns for women and girls.

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I’ll leave you with few more notes about my construction process. Every bit of my leftover yard of denim was used to make this jacket. This resulted in a serious game of pattern tetris as I worked to fit each and every piece. Cost-wise this was a relatively inexpensive project (less than $10) as I only purchased buttons and topstitching thread.  I sized up a couple of sizes in the hopes that my son will be able to get lots of wear out of this jacket. Another concession I made was to use mock flat-fell seams in order to save a bit of seam ripping and time.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this jacket as a present for my boy.  I do however, plan to wait a year or two before making another jean jacket because two within few months was a lot of work. Thanks for reading! Did you gift any handmade items this year? What did you make for the holidays?