Leotardo-palooza? Lots-o-leos? Jalie 3241 Again

I made another one of these. It was requested by our cousin who is seven and also in gymnastic (here’s my first one in PINK). Cousin is a big fan, what can I tell you. I already have fabric for another one. The cousin and my youngest MADE me go to the fabric store and we picked out some yowza fabric for their next leotards. Prepare yourselves!.

I love version C, with the boyshorts. I think they are great for these younger ladies.

 

The x-back is definitely my favorite part. You can see this is just a little too big, which is fine. Kids these days grow so darn fast, I can hardly keep up. She wore this all day and that night she was doing wall handstands while we were eating dinner.

 

This leotard prompted this.

 

Sitting next to the warm fire prompted this. We are getting out of town soon and I’m happy about that!

 

I should have more leotards to show you soon.

Jalie 3245 Adult Version

a) I freaking love this pattern.
b) Why have I not made this a little longer with a cowl neck?
c) Does Jalie need someone to sell their patterns? Do they want to sponsor me?
d) Are these not the most fun-tastic sleeves?

This is the Mom Version of the raglan top from the other day.

Burda Challenge February 02-2014 #124

Ewwww, right? When I first say the model photo of this dress, I was like, not flattering. But then I was glancing through my magazine and saw the line drawing. I love the back gathers and the side drawstrings seemed kind of interesting too. I decided that instead of a boring beige poplin, I was use a stable knit for my version. I need some easy, cute dresses for a cruise. This seemed like it would be great for throwing in a bag at the beach.

 

 

I really like how it came out. I’ll probably mostly be wearing it with my purple Keen sandals. Isn’t it cute? It’s loose and relaxed but still pulled together. I can totally see this on the beach or just wandering around. I’m wearing it here with a cami peeking out. For the cruise, I’m hoping I have bikini straps hanging out!

 

I can make it a bit shorter and add heels for a dinner date too. I think I could also make it a bit shorter and wear it now with boots and an undershirt. More of a tunic-y kind of look.

 

The most fun part of this dress is the fun shoulders which is totally obliterated by my crazy fabric.

 

Here’s a close-up of the gathered shoulders with and without notations. The gathers make it really comfortable and give it some interest.

 

CB detail.

 

Instead of make self-fabric sewn ties, I cut long strips and pulled the crazy out of my strips. This knit curls like crazy and they end up looking like this.

 

What’s next? I’m still thinking about that. Happy February, everybody!

Jalie 3245 Again and Again and Again and Again . . .

 

These tops are made from almost all little remnants. The pink/gray stripe is from this recent top, the yellow knit is from a pair of pajamas I made the twins, the purple top is the remainder of this purple Jalie cardigan. Our theme here was solid main shirts and sheer sleeves. I used the next size up for all three of the girls. You can tell they are just a tiny bit too big. They are all slightly different lengths too, depending on how much fabric I had left over.

 

The girls love them. I let them pick the main color and the sheer sleeve.

 

I love this purple mesh.

 

I also made one for me. Of course. Mine is the remnants of this animal print (yes, I know I have an animal print problem). I used it before to make a sweatshirt.

 

I love this white knit I used on my sleeves too.

 

This is a great little pattern if you are looking for a great-fitting basic raglan tee. Jalie is the new KwikSew (like the REAL KwikSew, not the crap-tastic-craft-tastic “KwikSew” they sell now).  I probably sew more basics than anything else for my kids and I almost always use my Jalie patterns. For anyone who hasn’t tried them, TRY THEM! They aren’t a sponsor, btw . . . . just a favorite of mine.

KwikSew 3234 - Long Underwear

I have used this pattern so many times. Like so many. I’m thinking I’ve used it at least 20 times since I bought it. I’m sad that the “old” KwikSew went away. What they lacked in cover photos and fabric choice, they more than made up for in clear directions, and fantastic patterns. I have a few that I really covet and this is one of them. I’ve used every size now from the XS to the L. I bumped the kids all up one size and you can tell they are too big. I’m hoping to get a winter and summer’s worth of wear out of them. These people are growing like weeds, I tell you.

 

I made four pairs of long underwear for the kidlets. They have cross-country ski practice and it’s usually cold out. They wear these under their regular ski pants to keep warm. However, this winter is giving us a run for our money. There is no snow out there right now. It’s JANUARY, people. Like January. We have a 40-year average of 14.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Today it was 56 degrees when I was driving home. Fifty-FLIPPING-six. Needless, to day, the kids aren’t needing warm long underwear. They don’t really need any winter gear. Skiing’s been cancelled because there is no snow. Hhhhmmmmph.

 

They love them. I didn’t put cuffs on the shirt or pants because I didn’t want something bulky to go under some other article of clothing. Instead, I just increased the length of the sleeve and pant leg an inch or two to make up for the cuff. They want to wear them to school and to bed so you know it’s a winner.

 

I serged on the elastic, flipped it to the inside and coverstitched from the RS. I added tags to the CB of these.

 

For the girls, I used a Polartec Powerstretch in Electric Blue. It’s 53% polyester, 38% nylon, and 9% spandex. The stretch and recovery is nice. I have a few yards of it and I’m debating putting some up on Etsy. I may want to keep it all though.

 

For the boy, I used a Wool Ponte Doubleknit. It’s fantastic. There is a wool layer that goes against his skin and a nylon face. It’s a grayish-green. I have several yards of this too. I am debating keeping it all too. Mwaaaa ha ha. I’ll let you know if I put any up on Etsy.

 

Here you can see the inside and the outside. He is always cold so this is the perfect fabric for him.

 

Next up for me? I think a cute dress for a cruise!

Burda 01-2014 #122 Gathered Raglan Tee (January Burda Challenge)

 

Here’s my Burda Challenge garment for January. I decided on the knit raglan top. It’s weird, but I feel like this top looks so much better in person than it does on a photograph. Although, photos don’t lie do they? I love it in person, but these photos don’t look all that great. The light right now isn’t all that easy to photograph in either. It’s been in the high 30s and 40s here so it’s a mess outside. Wet, wet, wet. There is really not much snow left. I want some of the snow you people are getting in the Lower 48.

 

Anyway, details. It’s a basic raglan tee with a few gathers. One is at the bust on one side, and the other is the front and back hip on the opposing side. The sleeves are long and the length of the shirt is tunic length. I had a really hard time matching stripes because my fabric was off grain. It’s National City Swap Meet fabric and was like a buck.

 

I love how the top of the back is on the bias. Makes it really fun with a stripe.

 

I used my coverstitcher for the sleeves, bottom hem, and the self-fabric neck facing.

 

This shows you the areas with the gathers. And I’m fuzzy.

 

I have been sewing up a storm so I’ll need to show you people all of that stuff. I’m going on another cruise soon so I need to make some easy dresses and swimsuits to take with me. Really excited about that!!!!!

Jalie 3241 - X-back Gymnastics Leotard

I used view C, the one with the little legs.

 

I’m sorry but how freaking cute is this??? Some little person is starting gymnastics and needs gymnastics leotards. Where, oh where can we find one?? Ssssssqqqqueeeeeeeeeeee. Shiny, sparkly, flashy, oh ME, ME, pick ME! Needless to say, Little Person is happy.

 

This one is fitting perfectly but I’m going to make her one in the next size soon. It’s a little snug but there is actually room since it’s so stretchy. I love, love, love the x-back. This would make fantastic swimsuits too. Well, with the regular leg openings. It was, I know I’m repeating myself here, so nice to have a machine for overlocking and a machine for coverstitch! See that little coverstitched CB opening? You have to do that (they recommend zigzagging) before you put on the straps.

 

Practicing our moves.

 

For the CB and side seams, I did a 4-thread overlock stitch and a zigzag stitch because I know how hard little kids pull on their swimsuits. The swimsuit seams seem to bust right at CB about mid-back because they pull up the swimsuits by the top and step on the CB and yank. Hopefully this will reinforce it a little bit.

 

This pattern comes with the lining panel.

 

Faux sequin, silver, shiny fabric? Check. I used my coverstitch machine for the shiny knit and I was pleasantly surprised it did a good job. A lot of time the shiny stuff seems to “stick” to the bottom of the foot.

 

I have a ton of these tongue-out-of-mouth photos. Goofball.

 

 

She wouldn’t take it off all night and then she wanted to sleep in it. Not happening.

 

Next up? I think long underwear for four kids. Ski season is upon us. Although, right now it’s in the high 30s and snow is melting like crazy.