Friday, April 15, 2011
Simplicity 2526
If you'e been following this blog for more than about five minutes, then you know how dress obsessed my 2 year old daughter is. What you may not know is that she wears multiple different dresses as the day progresses. She loves to dress up, and Logan wants to play along, too. So, he's been asking me to make him a blue dress. This required some thinking. I don't want to stigmatize or restrict creative play, but he is a boy. So, I let him choose some fabric and a pattern. I was so relieved when he chose this one!
So, here is Logan's blue "dress". The fabric he chose is a poly peachskin given to me by my Mom. It's very plastic-y, but totally fine for dress up clothes and should be easy care. It was the devil to sew, though. Part of this was because the pattern is designed for fleece or coating, so this thin, slippery, impossible to ease stuff is pretty much the opposite of that. The pattern is very basic, and in fact I wouldn't use it for an actual coat. It is unlined with a one piece collar with facings to the shoulder. The pattern calls for the collar to be handsewn to the back seam, but I just finished it with bias tape.
I think this is neater and easier to do. Instead of buttons, I used snaps. Logan wanted red, just like Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Train. The other gripe I had with the pattern was the utterly ridiculous amount of ease in the sleeve cap.
After fighting with it, I finally just shifted the sleeve up in the armscye until it fit, then trimmed off the excess. That is nearly an inch wide at the shoulder point! In a child size 4! I'm all for a little cap ease in a heavy, tailored coat, but that is insane.
Here it is on Logan. The funny expression is his current facial response to the request for a smile. Anyway, he's very happy with it, and spent the afternoon dancing in it. I think the sizing is a bit off though. He's generally a pretty standard size 4 in the big 4. If anything I have to shorten them, but while there seems to be enough room in the body, it is quite short both in the arms and the overall length. I took smaller hems, but even as a dress up coat, they're too short and I can't see them working at all for an actual winter coat. When I get ready to sew for the Utah winter next year, I'll definitely be sewing from Ottobre.
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16 comments:
excellent dress! perfect for playing dresses with sissy but also good later on for playing Mad Scientist Inventor or whatever.
Big 4 makes me crazy with their sleeve caps. they seem to be obsessed with adding two extra inches on principle or something.
Ottobre. Definitely the way to go for winter. (I am So. Jealous. that you'll get some use out of the winter issues of Ottobre... they go totally wasted on us for the most part, as you can imagine.)
My grandsons like dress up too. I've done ninja, mad scientist, & tigers. They like to dress up as much as the girls.
I agree with beangirl, it is perfect for playing dress up now and later. Great job!
It appears you have either a wild scientist from the 60s or a Dutch painter on your hands! Along with his sidekicks The Princess and The Wee Professor, I wager there's never a dull moment around your place.
LOL. I was prepared to add a witty comment, but I have been beaten to the punch! lol.
Great jacket "dress". He looks adorable.
Lovely jacket, nothing can be perfect for the job......
That is a great idea. You are such a good mom, I have sewn exactly 0 garments for my son in his 9 years of existence :)
I love that idea! Now I can add "lab coat" to my huge pile of dress up sewing.
I found your blog searching for reviews of Ottobre patterns. I agree with just sticking to them for "real" sewing. I've pretty much given up on the big 4.
I love your blog and am inspired by all your creative sewing.
My first thought looking at it is...hmmm, I think maybe Dr. Mommy should make both kids Dr. coats from this pattern. How cute could those be?
How funny, I made the same coat for my son named Logan. My son is 2 and I made the coat out of fleece. I can agree with you the sewing of the garment is a pain. I had the same issue with the sleeves as well. I wouldn't use it as a winter coat either unless I doubled the fleece or something to make it a little warmer. I still haven't snapped mine yet, I think I might go and do that now. If you would like to check out mine take a look.
http://kissingbunniescrafts.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-coat-for-logan.html
What a fabulous, versatile, dress up coat. My son, having 2 older sisters and a full dress up box, was a bit of a gender disregarding dress up fan at this age, but it quickly changed to wearing tutus as Plains Indian head dresses and monster creations. How lovely to indulge your childrens' imaginations.
What a good mommy your kids are lucky to have!!!
That is so cute! And what a good mom you are, to make him a "dress" instead of just saying no. He'll learn soon enough what is "off limits" to him due to his gender. :-/
For Christmas a couple years ago I made my then 4 year old nephew a king robe for dress up (as requested). When he put it on we were saying, "Oh look, It's King J!" He was totally offended and said, "No, I'm PWINCESS J!" It was adorable.
Just toooooooooooo adorable in his blue "lab" coat!
Now that's a versatile dress!
Logan looks so much like your husband.
This reminds me of when my 4 oldest were little. I had 3 boys, then a girl, who was very bashful and cranky. When she was 2, and I took them to see Santa, she wouldn't talk to him. Her next brother up, who was 3, spoke on her behalf, saying, "My little sister wants pink socks and a pink truck. I think she needs a doll, too." I still laugh thinking about her desire for a pink truck.
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