Zyan’s Christening Dress

February: Christening Dress (McCall’s 4641)

God has his way of directing your paths. That’s called His Will being done. I had plans for my daughter to be christened when she was 6-8 weeks old. That didn’t happen for one reason or another. She is now 6 months old. I have been planning this for a while but since I kind of felt like things would take their course according to not my plans, I held off for a hot minute. I didn’t want anything off the rack, whether it was cheap or expensive. I wanted something that I’d made. That in itself would make it more personal.

It’s not a new pattern. It’s circa 2004. Actually, I’ve made it twice before for my two older daughters. Just not for a christening dress.

I think the little baby model is so adorable on the front. It’s an infants’ tops, dresses, pants, and hat pattern. I used View A as a guide since I made a few changes. I made the size small.

I used, again, stash fabric. It is actually a ‘silk-like’ lining fabric for the underlay and a poly-lace for the overlay. It’s very soft and a bit slippery, too.

There are several changes I made to the dress. ONE: I used a lace overlay. TWO: I used started to use elastic in the waistband. THREE: I made the button placket a little different than “standard”. FOUR: For the hat, I self lined it. FIVE: I put elastic around the whole hat. SIX: To make it a bit special, I used a design card to make some fancy button holes. I couldn’t find the design card so I used two snaps and called it a day. I also kind of botched the snaps because my snap doohicky tool is somewhere in the sewing hut - where? It only knows.

Photo of snaps. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of them. Yet.

I also made a pair of bloomers to go with the dress.

Photo of bloomers This part never happened.

The pattern is OOP but I like it because it’s a simple run-to. You can make it as fancy as silk or as playground-ready in denim as you want. There is really nothing to dislike.

Here are a few photos of the dress in try-on mode.

Until Later, Scheryka

Pinterest Inspired:

Simplicity 5259 and Butterick 5354

 

I have longed for this outfit since I saw it on the NEW social network- www.pinterest.com I am in love with this site. It’s the new FaceBook in my opinion. I have made both patterns before. I don’t have a photo or review of the skirt because it was before my blogging and Pattern Review days. I think I gave the skirt away. I’ll have to check on that.

View F...the pink one.

The top is found here. This one is in the trash because I already knew I wouldn’t keep it long. It was a ‘muslin’ per se.

The fabric for the top is a polyester jersey knit in cream from Fashion Fabrics and it’s been the stash for a while. The lace is a mystery with equal stretch as the knit and I don’t know where I bought it from.

 

For the skirt, I used a twill. It is a medium weight in celery green, I’d say. I love the feel of it. It was acquired during a swap with my sister-in-law about four or five years ago. I was going to make a jacket from the rest but thought it would be too much of that same color. I like it but I am not in love with it. I found a final resting place for it with my sister, Evoni. She would find something to make of it.

 

Both pieces are very easy to put together.

However, I complicated things with the lace on the top and I was going to line the skirt but then I didn’t have enough lining fabric so that got nixed. It still came out good.

 

I made the skirt in size 16 because that is how big I was when first made it. After fit and cut downs, I think I ended with a size 12. I am a 9/10 in ready to wear. I just had a baby girl, too. So, hopefully, I loose a little more weight. I know will since I am nursing.

I tried to do one of those cute pot shots...LOL

Here’s a better one.

Here is my Pinspiration piece:

Here is my version that I wore to church today:

I used what I had on hand. Nothing purchased. Boots and bag, of course. The color is more like the inspiration not the light turquoise looking color.

Excuse the face, it was sunny.

Message for today (Missionary’s Day): John 4:35 “It’s Harvest Time”

Jewelry - Not a good shot.

I know you may be saying, “Hey, that top doesn’t look like that pattern!” No, it doesn’t. I pinned out the tucks on the pattern then cut the fabric in the finished pin out. I only have lace in the front because that’s all I had enough for.

 

Ok, I admit. This looks nothing like my inspiration. But I like it a lot.

 

Well, that is all for this SOTD (Sass of the day). Yeah, I make up my own.

 

Until later. Peace, ya’ll.

WTW is This!?

I’m participating in a baby clothes sew-a-long on Pattern Review. My first item(s) were the bibs and now I tried, for the first time, doing a one-piece romper with the feet. It is my muslin and will still be used because I did not waste my time on this thing! It will be used for sleep purposes only!

McCall’s 6103 is the pattern in reference.

It’s essentially an infant and preemie layette. There’s the romper, onesie, bootie, drawstring gown, pull-over t-shirt, diaper cover, cap, and a dress. I think I covered them all.

This pattern comes in sizes Preemie to Large which are measured by height and weight. I traced the Medium for later but used the Newborn for now.

It does look like the photo/drawing on the envelope. I didn’t finish it because I was not going to put the snaps on. I would much rather put those on the item that I am content with. So other than that…yes, it looks like.

The instructions were good until I got to the leg closure part. That’s another reason why there are no snaps. I do not understand how they are to actually look with these pieces on there.

I like the fact that this pattern had every piece a layette consists of. I do not like the fact that it seems to take the basic way out. There are no RTW features… like the neck bindings are just a turn and stitch function instead of actually attaching a pretty little binding.

I used a waffle-like knit fabric that I believe is a cotton poly blend. It might be like a thermal type? I’m not 100% sure; it’s been in the stash for maybe over a year.

There were no alterations because this is my first time doing such a pattern and I wanted to get the feel of what I was doing. I did add on a flower embroider. I used a dryer sheet for the stabilizer; which have actually worked…until now.

Oh, there is cloud on the left side because I was playing with embroidery and made the flower too close. I took out most of the other one but what’s left was just a head ache. Another reason why this is just a muslin.

Now, things I would do differently are:

1. Add an actual binding to the neck. Oh! The directions did include a decorative elastic version, so I may try that one, too.

2. Sew the arm hems BEFORE I sew the sleeves. They are really small and did not fit over my free arm. They were a job and a half to sew with the whole thing on top, too.

3. Next time, I will use an iron-on stabilizer if I embroider on this kind or similar fabric.

Yes, I am going to sew it again with hopes getting it right this time and using those previous changes. So far I recommend if you can get the closure part right.

The only conclusion I can give right now is that it has potential.

Until I get it right, Scheryka.

Every Baby NEEDS Baby Bibs

What is a need?

A need is something that one can not do without. For a baby that would include diapers, milk (of some kind), blankets, etc…, and bibs. Bibs are for dribs. And every baby dribble and slob, and spit up. It sometimes get to projectile shooting. That’s when you throw all the bibs out the window and just grab a garbage bag. Just kidding.

I was browsing the net and found some really cute bib patterns. I refuse to buy a pattern since I have some that were not given away or donated. I could use those as templates and make my own design. Right? Right. That’s called frugality. My definition? The reality of being frugal.

I happened upon more than a few sites that had some really cute (and some not so cute) bib ideas. Here are some of the bibs that caught my eye.

From Nested

From the PaperSeed

How cute are these? Very cute. I love Paisley and Butterflies! Taken from Creativekismet by Regina Lord.

Taken from Goingsewcrazy.

Looking through these websites and others, I remembered I have TONS of scraps from previous projects. But, in particular, the blocked bib three photos up (the one with the strawberries and dot), made me remember about some fabric I had bought a WHILE back from a store on Etsy. I said fabric but when I got them, I saw scraps! They are actually leftover saree fabrics. And when I say left over, I mean the sewist made a saree, used the leftover for a sleeve cuff or two, then made some fabric necklaces, wiped his (I say ‘his’ because it was a man that I’d them bought them from.) behind, and then sold me what was left! Or I bought what was left…

Don’t misunderstand me, the fabric (read: scraps) are beautiful pieces. I just wish there were more (much more) to them. But, I figured I could sew the scraps together and make a blocked bib or two. Here are the fabric scraps.

front

                               back

I don’t know how many I will be able to get out of them. Probably one front and back or 2 if I make the back out of terry or something.

In the mean time, here are some that I had made while procrastinating on the scrap-blocked bib(s).

I used a bib that I had saved for one of older girls as a template.

I traced it onto the fabric at first

because I wasn’t thinking to just tape two sheets of paper together to get a bigger size. Duh.

But once I came to my senses and done so, I cut a few different fabrics that was in the stash.

I played around with bias.

After I got a little feel of what I was doing, I finished each one just a bit different. The main difference is either the bias trim or sew and turn. Here are the finished bibs.

Just a little closer:

and

Until the next project before my mojo get up and go without me.

~~Scheryka.

Simplicity 2907

Description: Toddlers pants or shorts and dress, shirt or vest.

I made the girls dress, View C in denim and the red and white contrast is a cotton shirting.

 

This pattern comes in sizes A(1/2 to 4). I made size 3 for my two year old.

What I liked most about this pattern is that it can be a blank slate for whatever idea you have in mind for it. The pieces are straight to the point. The front, sleeves, collar, and bottom flounce are ‘cut 2’ pieces, the back is a ‘cut on fold’ piece, and the pocket is optional. There is really nothing that I dislike on this pattern.

NOTE: Remember that in the directions, it states for you to prepare and make the facing(s). It only states to do one side. I said that to say this: BE SURE TO DO THE OPPOSITE SIDE AS WELL.

Or you will end up with something like this:

 

One side will be done and the other will not be done. (And you will think it’s time to move on…yeah right.)

At this point I had to decide what kind of buttons I wanted to use. The pattern called for 4 1/2 inch buttons. Since this was supposed to be for the 4th of July, I wanted to keep up with the theme. I had some red stars…well, I thought I still had red stars but all I found was 2. So, I chose from either red stars, of which I did not have enough, white buttons, red snaps or white snaps. As I contemplated on what I really wanted to use I put on the collar. Ultimately, I opted for red snaps.

Red Stars                    White Snaps

I bought the snaps from Sew Baby…I think…. But when I opened my package it said that I had to put the snaps on with their special doohicki tool. Instead, I used my own doohickie tool that I‘ve had for years. I didn’t know it would work but it did. I had cover the snap (colored) part with tissue so that the doohickie didn’t scar or dent the snaps too much.

                         My doohickie too.  

My alterations for this dress was the pocket and the collar. For the pocket, I ’lined’ it with the stripe fabric, right sides together, stitched at an inch and a half, and flipped the red to the back to form the top trim.

My alteration for the collar was because of my mistake. I cut the wrong size and didn’t notice until it was too late. I was not redoing a thing! Ultimately, that left me with a too little collar where I could not properly turn and stitch the upper collar. What did I do? I put the whole thing together, upper and lower collar and the stitched front and back pieces, and just sewed them together. This is what I got:

 

I want to sew it again, but I am not sure when I will. Hopefully soon, but we all know how that one goes.

I don’t have any photos with my daughter in this one. She was totally on strike! So, I do have a finished picture of it on the kitchen floor.

Yes, I know this version has a vintage feel of a baby car hop or candy striper but hey, she likes it and if I had more stars maybe it would look more 4th of July festive.

Until later, Schey

Simplicity 2627 for Nii

Just taken this one so you can see the ric rac detail.

Made for the baby of the family, I introduce to you Simplicity 2627 in size medium. I first made this one for her but it was way too big. So, either due to my negligence or the oops of the pattern printer, Ann inherited a nice retro looking romper. I believe if I could fit it, I'd actually wear it myself. As you can see the photos came out very dark and needless to say, you cannot keep a little tot still enough to get a decent photo. 

This is the back of the jumper. It has an elastic at the bottom of the straps around the waist.   

Hopefully, I can get better pics before long. Or before I forget to. Which ever come first. lol Well, until later, Schey.