KCWC Days 5-7: Snappy Toddler Top and Shorts

(If you are wonder what happened to the "missing day," day 4 of the Kids Clothing Week Challenge was spent finishing up the bloomers to match LA's newest Seashore Sundress.) Sorry it took so long to post this. Life has been busy...but summer is just around the bend!

Last summer I made one of Prudent Baby's Snappy Toddler Tops for LA and it was a favorite. It fit great and was nice and cool during the hot summer months.

I loved the outfit so much, that I decided to make another one for this summer. I followed the advice on the tutorial and enlarged the pattern to 110% to increase the size. PB suggests that this will make a 2T size. I think it is a little smaller since it fits LA great!

Because the blue fabric is a lawn cotton, it needed interfacing to be substantial enough for the neckline and snaps. I used the same blue fabric to create a contrast in the armscyes. I decided to topstitch in blue, which is out of my comfort zone since I normally prefer thread that will blend into the background and hide all my mistakes. There are still some "wonky" areas, but overall I am pleased!

For the shorts, I used my handy-dandy pants pattern as my base. I made a scant 1/8" hem and then shirred 2 rows of elastic just above the hem. It creates a cute bloomer short!

My family and I were wandering through the fabric section at Joanns one weekend (yes, my husband is so awesome that he will suffer through fabric shopping with me if we are out and about and decide to stop). Anyhow, I saw the fabric and LOVED the bright clean colors and thought it would make a cute summer outfit for LA but did not have a specific plan in mind. I didn't know it at the time, but the fabric is part of the Lisette line sold at Joanns. Lisette is designed by Liesl Gibson who just happens to be the designer of Oliver + S patterns.


This is really a quick and easy style outfit to make and I am sure you will see me modify it again next summer to fit LA!

KCWC Days 1-3: O+S Seashore Sundress #2

**Note, this post was originally posted on 5/12/11, but "disappeared" when Blogger had their issues.**




The first project I tackled for KCWC was another Oliver+S Seashore Sundress. I told you I love this pattern! I had some fabric in my stash that I bought last year without a plan and decided that it would make for a cute dress and, because of the nature of the fabric, create a TOTALLY different look. The fabric is Eden by Lila Tueller for Moda.

I decided to modify the pattern a little this time. I used a combination of two fabrics to create a "racing stripe" effect. To help enhance the princess seams and to set off the pockts, I added a small bit of pink piping.

Because I used two different fabrics for the body, I decided that it would be best to continue the look on the backside. In order to do this, I had to make a minor modification to the pattern. Instead of one long skirt piece running along the back of the dress, I needed to divide it into three pieces. This was an easy modification (just don't forget to add in your seam allowances).

I also experimented with making the pockets just a bit bigger. The original pockets are very small. Not a huge alteration and super easy to do.

Ironically, I struggled with button choice more than anything else! I debated between three different styles before I settled on these (or I should say, my HUSBAND decided since he was not a fan of the other two).

Yep, still loving this pattern! I made matching bloomers from the white floral print and am seriously considering making a sunhat to complete the ensemble!

KCWC Day 4-5 (aka: Project RunAway)

Oh my....


This is getting challenging!


No, not the picking out of fabric, cutting the pattern, sewing the parts.


That is all EASY!


The hard part?


Fitting my model!


The child is on the move and it seems to hit hyper mode when I put clothes on her to size. Hemming pants? Much more challenging when your model is running across the room. Figuring out the length of the sleeves? Next to impossible when your model insists on raising her hands over her head and crawls away!


Somehow the designers on Project Runway don't have to deal with this. I think they should have to fit fashions to toddlers. Now that would be a good elimination challenge! Move over Project Runway. At my house, we have Project RunAway!!!


The funny part is, LA thinks it is the most hilarious thing when I am chasing her to fit her clothes. She is giggling, dropping to the floor and rolling, squealing...and I can't help but laugh. But, we'll see who's laughing when she ends up with Urkle pants and uneven sleeves. Just sayin...


Ok, enough rambling! For KCWC Day 4 (technically days 3-5), I finally gathered the courage to make a top without a pattern (just using this tutorial). Guess what? Peasant tops are EASY!!! I made a muslin prototype first and figured out what adjustments needed to be made to fit my LA. A pair of pants in coordinating fabric completes the outfit!

KCWC Day 3

Yesterday I spent nap time drafting out and sewing a prototype of a peasant top for LA. I based it off the tutorial found at Indietutes. I plan to make a few changes to the proportions and work on a top today :) I am really amazed by women who create their own patterns. It is certainly not an easy task and takes a lot of patience!! Hopefully I will have a picture to post later today.

KCWC Day 2

I got in another hour (plus) of sewing this evening after LA went to bed. I sewed the top of her Halloween costume so, other than one accessory I need to make, it is done! The only hitch I had was in accidentally cutting through the threads on one of the button holes...grr! You'll have to wait on pictures until the entire ensemble is complete :) But, I'll give you one little hint--a color hint.

KCWC ---What???

KCWC...come on...you know that stands for Kids Clothes Week Challenge (duh!).



Elsie Marley is challenging participants to create clothes for kids for one hour every day for 7 days. Since I have a pile of "to do" projects on my list and a whole week off, I'm giving it a try. Even if I can't do an hour a day, I figure I can get in 7 hours over the course of the week. I started off yesterday by making the reversible team pinafore and the bottoms for LA's Halloween costume (to be revealed later). Tonight I hope to get the top to her costume completed. Seven straight days of crafting! Here goes!!

A Top for ALL Teams (KCWC Day 1)

Day 1
You can call this a "House Divided Outfit" or a "Who Changes the Diaper Wins" outfit :) In a home where mom and dad do not agree on which team to root for, the child is stuck in the middle and ends up with more collegiate wear than necessary (after all, the only two colors she REALLY needs are orange and blue---but I digress).


I whipped together this adorable reversible pinafore so that she could support both teams at the same time.

So, which side is on the outside? Easy. The parent that changes the diaper can show their school pride! See...it is a win-win situation. One parent is happy because Lily sports their school colors. The other parent is happy because they didn't have to change a stinker!

I modified this pattern so that it would fit LA and not have buttons. Really, this is probably a more accurate pattern, but you go with what you've got sometimes! It took less than an hour to finish and I love it! It is the perfect "year round" top as it can be worn alone, with a short sleeve shirt , or with a long sleeve turtleneck. I have plans for some "bottoms" to go with it...but you'll have to wait for another post.

Now, I'm off to change a diaper :)