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Galaxy Jams: A Fancy Pants Review and Giveaway

I am more than a little excited about Jude's newest pajama pants.  First, I am thrilled because I have found my new favorite pj pattern, the Fancy Pants Legging by Titchy Threads.  And second, I am over the moon (pardon the pun) for this diy galaxy print.  

Okay, a little more about the pattern.  Laura of Craftstorming has really outdone herself.  If you want to get better at sewing knits, this is a wonderful place to start.  The instructions are fabulously clear and thorough.  My favorite feature is all of the options you get: you can have an elastic free waist, cuff or not, shorts, and the bum panel means lots of cute ways to play with fabric.  And of course, for me a pattern for knits means an excuse to upcycle old t-shirts.  As always in my sewing room, this was sewn on the most basic of machines, so don't let not having a serger stop you from trying these fab fancy pants.

  

I made the size 4T for Jude, and because my fabric had very little stretch, I went with 1/4" seam allowances.  They are a bit snug in the calves, but again, that's just because I used a t-shirt that didn't have much stretch.  Otherwise, the fit is spot on.   Plus, the pattern comes with a great variety of sizes, from 0-3 months to 4T, if you've got a baby to sew for, you'll be set for years!  

Now, let me tell you how easy it was to make this galaxy print: too easy.  As in, "you will likely see much more of it around here soon" easy.  First, I cut my pattern pieces from two (prewashed) navy t-shirts that I had in my stash (don't throw out those business promo tees).  Then I laid them out on a garbage bag outside and sprayed them with undiluted bleach.  My spray technique was simply to test on a piece of dark paper and then go to town: here and there, a few close, a few sprayed from further away.  Once that dried, I dipped an old tooth brush in watered down metallic (acrylic) paint and gave it a little sparkle by running my finger over the bristles, which sprayed the paint in a starry fashion.  

Want proof Jude and I love this pattern?  How about a few too many pictures?

Alright ladies and gents, how about a free copy of this pattern?  You'll have all weekend to enter.  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm the last stop on this fun blog tour.  Be sure to check out what these fabulous bloggers have made:

20th - Abby from Things for Boys
21st - Rachael from Imagine Gnats
22nd - Celina from Petit à Petit and Family
23rd - Jane from Buzzmills
24th - Heather from Feather's Flight
27th - Stacey from Boy, oh Boy, oh Boy
28th - Gail from Probably Actually
29th - Jenny from The Southern Institute
30th - Ros from Sew Delicious
31st - Carla from Small + Friendly

Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this pattern for review.  As always, all opinions are my own.  

Coastal Cargos - Complete!

Inspired by Meg, I decided to try my hand at the Coastal Cargos by Blank Slate Patterns.  Oh man, these bad boys nearly killed me.  So many details. Too many details.  

I skipped the zipper fly, bias tape inseam, and belt loops, and yet I still felt as though I'd never finish.  Until I did.  And now I am so glad I pushed through.  I love them + Jude loves them = victory; sweet, sweet victory.  

They are made of a cotton bottom weight from Joann, plus I eeked out enough left over houndstooth from these shorts for the details.  As always, I have been so very inspired by all the amazing garments filling up the flickr pool.  If I didn't know there was a wonderful group of gals sewing their hearts out, I probably would have thrown in the towel.  All right, my brain is officially fried, so I will leave you with a few more pictures.  

Hooray for another successful Kids Clothes Week!   

Give Old T-Shirts New Life

I know I do this a lot (1, 2, 3).  But really, can you blame me?  Between my husband and my father, I have an almost unending supply of cool t-shirts just begging to be upcycled.

 

Sure, you can get t-shirts for preschoolers fairly cheap, but free is still a whole lot cheaper.  Plus, these are WAY cooler than what's on offer at Target (I know, I checked today).  And they are made in the good old U. S. of A.  Both of these shirts once belonged to my dad (he's a pretty cool dude), and they are thin and super-soft, perfect for spring.

 

I used the Basic Tee Pattern by Dana of Made (score-bonus on having a boy the same size as hers).  The pattern has a great slim, fit and the tutorial is oh-so-fabulously detailed.

I only changed two things:

1. I sewed one shoulder and then applied the ribbing (sans pins, just pull the ribbing slightly as you sew) and then closed the neck hole by sewing up the other shoulder.  This means your ribbing seam ends up at the shoulder which is not as nice as a seam in the back, but much, much easier.

2. The pattern calls for adding 1" in length if you need to make a hem, but I added 2 inches.

 

I'm not getting quite as much done as I'd like for Kids Clothes Week (Jason, AKA Dad, has been sick), but I do plan to at least start a pair of Coastal Cargos.  These tees were a quick sew, and would have been even quicker if I had applied all the sleeves the right way the first time.  

Anyone want to ooh and ahh at my twin needle skills?  I am living proof that you need nothing more than a very basic machine to sew knits (although, I wouldn't say no to a serger).  

  

Are you participating in KCW?  I'd love to know how it's going.  Oh, and I'm desperate for some new sewing tunes, have any favorites?

Tiny Pocket(less) Tank

I finally did some sewing!  And for myself no less!  After seeing many a fab tiny pocket tank on Fake It While You Make It, I decided that it was time to make my own.  And just in time for the Spring Top Sewalong!  I really like this pattern and especially appreciated the grainline tutorial.  

I did have a little trouble with the sizing however.  I feel like every time I measure myself for a pattern (and cut accordingly), it comes out too big.  I know there are worse problems to have, but I'm beginning to think I have a touch of body dismorphia; or else I just suck at measuring myself.  Either way, I cut a 14, started french seaming, brought the sides into a 12, and still find the fit a little wonky.  Next time, I will go in between 10 and 12 and attempt an FBA.  

And there will be a next time!  In fact, I really want to try the dress version next!  The fabric I used is a quilting cotton from a local shop.  I do love the crispness (and loose fit) of this top for the upcoming hot weather.  I feel it will get a lot of wear, even if (or perhaps because) it's a hair tent-ish.     

Now if only I could get this gal to teach me how to model.

Happy Spring Sewing!   

this moment

For me, there is something quite scary about asking others to pay you for your creative work.  Creating these patterns took equal parts hard work and courage.  But then I realized, even if no one liked them, even if I never sold a single pattern and the entire internet pointed and laughed thinking, "She expects us to buy that?"  It wouldn't matter, because Jude absolutely loves them and that, that's enough.  (All of your kind comments since the release have also warmed my heart, thank you so very much.)

Here's to finding the courage to create.  Happy Friday my friends.

  

linking up with Amanda

Ball Buddies Pattern Release and Giveaway

I'm bringing (trademarked toys that rhyme with) bopples back.  It's a ball, it's a buddy, it's a ball buddy!

As a child of the eighties, I longed for my own little one to know the joy of a softie that folds up into a ball.  So I set out to recreate this childhood wonder and did it one better:  These softies are hip and handmade.  

And just in time for a little Easter crafting, they fold up into their very own decorated eggs.  The supplies are few and inexpensive, the instructions are thorough and full of pictures, and the pattern is digitally mastered.  

Both patterns are available at Craftsy.  

Get the Bunny Ball Buddy pattern here.

Get the Chick Ball Buddy pattern here.  

Bring joy to a little one in your life.

But wait, it gets better!  To kick off this pattern release, I am hosting a pretty fab giveaway.  One lucky reader will get a handmade Bunny Ball Buddy, and another reader will receive both patterns free!  To enter please facebook, tweet, or pinterest a link to this post or the pattern itself, then leave a comment with a link to your share for a chance to win.  This giveaway will be open until March 18th 8 pm PST.  

Giveaway now closed.

Here's to handmade love!

*merry moments* Christmas Day

*merry moments* is a way to take a little breather from blogging while still cataloging all the joy that is had this time of year.  Please feel free to add a link in the comments of your own *merry moments*

A funny thing happens when you are trying to be present in the moment, trying to really savor the joy and excitement of a Christmas morning spent with an almost three year old, followed by hosting a large gathering in a small house.  You have lots of fond memories, and very few pictures.  It was a wonderful day.

I thought I'd share a quick story about the pajamas I made for Jude.  They are simple flannel pants.  Jude chose the penguin print at Joann, and I decided to line them with the red snowflake pattern you see at the cuff.  They came together quickly, but not quickly enough for me to make a matching shirt.  I decided that a plain flannel would work quite nicely.  However, when it came time to go to bed on Christmas Eve, Jude declared that he couldn't possibly sleep in unmatching pjs.  I couldn't help but oblige; after all, he is his mother's son.  So I busted out the the iron and a little Heat n' Bond, and five minutes later we were tucking in a very excited penguin-clad dude.  

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year! 

Shark Bag Tutorial and Free Pattern

The people have spoken and they want to make shark bags, yay!  I'm sorry I couldn't get this up sooner, hopefully there is still time to make a little bag for the shark lover in your life.

I have to add a few caveats:  When I create it is a bit of whirlwind.  I didn't take any process pictures, because I wasn't even sure it was going to work.  I have done my best to write clear instructions, but I would not consider this a novice sewing project.  If you are stuck on something please take a break from cursing my name and shoot me an email (smallfriendly at yahoo).  Okay, here goes ...

Shark Bag Tutorial

You'll need:

• gray and white fabric (I used sweatshirt fleece and terry cloth)
• 1" wide strap material, 2 yards (max) cut in half to make two handles
• 14" or 16" zipper (in gray)
• 2 plastic eyes or buttons
• red and white felt
• batting
• Download Shark bag pattern (please note you will need to add seam allowances)

Directions:

1. Download Shark bag pattern and print pattern pieces with no scaling, joining at the lines. 
2. Add seam allowances and cut according to pattern pieces.
3. Sew fins by placing right sides together and sewing along the curved edges.  Turn right side out. (The side fins will be gray on top and white on the bottom.)  
4. Stuff top fin with a little batting and baste it to one side of the top body piece.
5. Sew the bottom together by placing right sides together and sewing along the curve.
6. Attach the front mouth piece to the bottom piece as indicated on the pattern.  
7. Sew the top pieces together by placing right sides together and sewing the curved edge from the nose to the first zipper mark and from the back zipper mark aroung the whole back fin.
8. Insert the zipper.  (Here's one way)  Warning: The top fin makes this step annoying.
9. Time to sew it together.  With the top part inside out (right sides facing, zipper open) insert bottom piece (right side out) so that the straight sides match up.  Tuck the straps and fins down into into place (between the layers), pin and sew all the way around.      
10. Turn out and marvel at your bag!  All that's left is the finishing!
11. Cut two strips from the white felt and notch one long side of each, these will be your teeth.  Attach the teeth to the top and bottom of the mouth.
12. Cut an oval (large enough to fill the hole in the mouth) out of red felt. Turn the bag inside out and sew the oval in to close up the mouth.
13. Add the eyes.
14. Stuff the tail a bit (I used scraps from the fleece).  
15. Enjoy!

Here's to creating unusual gifts!