Avengers Assemble: Phase 2

Well, the boys got their hero shirts, and I was going to make one for Mitch next, but I was still not happy with my pattern choices for him, so while I was considering those options, I decided to go ahead with mine.

Again, I used the combination of black Laguna jersey and printed Marvel jersey, both from fabric.com. The bindings are also the Laguna jersey, although this wasn't an ideal choice. The recovery is great, but it was a bit curly and thin, so getting it through the coverstitch binder was a bit of a hassle.

The pattern is from the 02/2015 issue of Ottobre Woman. It's a pattern I've been meaning to try, and the shoulder yokes were perfect for the little splash of Avengers jersey. It's otherwise a very basic cap sleeve tee with bound, scoop neckline. The armholes are also bound.

As far as sizing goes, I made a straight 38, with the exception of lengthening the shoulder line out to a size 42 for a longer sleeve. Since the style isn't otherwise particularly fitted, I didn't make any other adjustments. I could have added a dart, but I dislike darts in jersey, so I'll live with the armpit fold. That's hard to get rid of in a kimono sleeve anyway.

Cool points if you recognize the reference of my decal! If you don't, feel free to watch it here - but there's NSFW language!

Y'all see Cap there on my shoulder? He's watching my language...

Ottobre 03/2004-17 toddler dress pants

It's been a while since this cute face has graced the blog. Poor Duncan just happens to have hit the size range where I really sewed a ton for Logan, so he has many hand-me-downs to destroy before I need to sew for him. Even the shirt he's wearing is one I sewed for Logan. You can see it here.

Except in the area of dress pants. Logan is really hard on dress pants for some reason! As a result, the ones that survived to be passed on didn't have much life left in them, and Duncan has finished the job of wearing them out.

So, I pulled out Ottobre 03/2004-17, which I had made for Logan when he was this size, so the pattern was already traced. The version in the magazine has a ton of decorative panels, which I skipped since these are church pants.

The fabric is a wool/poly blend suiting that I've been slowly using up for little boy dress pants. I started out with 3 yards, and am now down to just Barbie sized scraps. Yay for stashbusting!

It does have a real "big-boy" zipper fly, but with elastic throughout the waistband for comfort. I was using supplies from my stash, so the zipper is too light colored, but the fly is nice and deep, so you can't see it when worn. It closes with a snap rather than a button. Easier for all concerned.

The pockets are very low profile, but I did line them with a fun Cars print quilting cotton. Mater sees you!

The only problem is that they are ridiculously too long. My Duncan is not a tall boy. I was thrilled at his last checkup when he finally made it onto the growth curve. Despite taking off nearly an inch in the hemming stages, I still need to shorten them more.

Despite the length, they fit really well in back. The elastic snugs them up nicely back there and the fabric has a nice smooth drape.

He's a whole lost faster when I roll them up! Slow down kid. Mom needs a picture.

Ottobre 06/2008-17: the Rosy Red coat

Myra loves wearing her fleece hoodie, but winter weather in Utah requires more serious warm gear.

It was time for a coat. A real, warm, cozy wool coat. With a hood. THE CUTEST HOOD EVER. Myra calls it her unicorn horn, but I think she looks like a little elf.

It's cute with the hood down too, but Myra always wears it up.

The pattern I used is Ottobre 06/2008-17, the Rosy Red coat. It has a generous cut, with the shoulders and chest shaped with yokes.

Here is the front yoke seam, as well as the bling-tastic buttons Myra chose. You can't really see it in the picture, but they have iridescent glitter embedded in them. Very Myra.

The back yoke curves across the shoulder and provides shaping there. The sleeves are one piece, but eased at the elbow for shape. Very nice drafting.

The length of the coat is really great. Long enough to be very warm, but short enough and with enough ease to allow for play.

The fabric I used is a wool/poly blend coating from Fabric.com. I'm not sure how long I've had it, probably about a year. The colors are a little unusual, with a neon yellow and pink plied yarn woven with a graphite grey in a houndstooth pattern.

Myra chose this neon pink satin as her lining fabric. It's a perfect match to the pink element in the wool. I used an all machine method of lining this coat that I learned testing a pattern that is soon to be released. I'll tell you more about that when I can, but suffice it to say, the method is awesome.

The pattern called for a layer of batting for warmth, but my wool is plenty thick, so instead I underlined the shell with cotton flannel. I used up some scraps from Myra's nightgowns. Since it is hidden under the lining no one sees it.

The only hand stitching I did on this entire coat was to catch stitch the pocket bags to the underlining. I didn't want them flopping around in there.

The pockets are nicely recessed, and since I underlined them with flannel as well, very cozy. You can see just a flash of pink here as Myra jumps.

Myra loves her new coat, and I'm pretty thrilled with it, too. I was looking back today at some of my early projects and it kinda hit me how far I've come. I made a COAT! And it didn't even scare me!

Can you believe how grown up she's getting?? It wasn't so long ago that she looked like this. We've come so far, the both of us.

Ottobre 03/2013-17 polka dot dress

On Myra's last day home with me before she started Kindergarten last week, I asked her what she wanted to do. She choose fabric shopping at IKEA! I love that kid. Anyway, she picked out a home dec weight cotton in red with large polka dots and told me she wanted a dress.

I think it was the perfect choice. It couldn't have turned out any sweeter.

The pattern I used is from the 03/2013 issue of Ottobre, design #17. The only change I made to the dress was to leave it unlined. The fabric is quite heavy and I thought another layer, even of Bemburg, would have been insufferably hot. Instead, I bound the neckline with bias.

I generally find that Ottobre dresses run a little short for Myra, so I lengthened this one to the next size line just in the skirt. That's a typical alteration for her. I like the length it is, but I also think the length as drafted would have been fine, so it looks like this style is a little longer than usual.

In back, there is an invisible zip, which lined up quite nicely at the waist. I also put a small button and loop at the top, concealed under the collar. I like the way the collar squares off at the back - a nice detail that is different from most peter pan style collars. I'm also pretty pleased with the way the polka dots lined up throughout the dress. In a print that large, a mismatch would have been pretty obvious, so I'm glad they behaved.

My favorite detail of this sweet little dress is the front "placket". It is actually a pair of pintucks pressed away from center front with decorative buttons down the center. Pretty sneaky, eh? The front is cut on the fold, which made aligning the dots super easy there. And I didn't have to sew a full placket, which made this dress pretty quick to sew.

Myra loves it! And it's great for dancing. Just don't tell her she looks like a Dalek... ;)

Ottobre 03/2004-17 refashion

Poor Logan just hasn't gotten much representation in the sewing room lately.  But, now that I'm thinking and sewing fall, you'll be seeing more for him!  His greatest need is long pants, so I want to sew up a few in quick fashion, but still wanted some cuteness.  Enter the refashion...  Mitch had an old pair of aeropostale khakis that he couldn't wear, but still had plenty of usable fabric in them.  So, now Logan has a pair of khakis!

They are a little big on him.  I had to roll the waistband to keep them up, although perhaps the elastic just needs to spring back into shape, so we'll see what they look like after a wash.

I used Ottobre 03/2004-17 for the basic pants pattern and the waistband/back pockets.  What I really liked about this design is that despite the zip fly (which looks cool) it still has a mostly elasticated waistband, which makes for easier potty breaks.  Logan is very independent in this regard!

I preserved the original side seams and hems, so I didn't do all of the piecing, hip pockets or back yoke of the original design.  I did make the mistake of trying out Ottobre's fly zip method.  What???  I was all over confused and ended up with a little dimple at the base of the zipper.  Grrr.  Of course, Logan will never notice, but I know.  Next time I'll stick with my standby Sandra Betzina/Jalie method.

I also managed to salvage the original zipper, buttons and belt loops!  So, besides thread and a jeans needle, I purchased nothing for these pants!  And I didn't have to make belt loops, which I find tedious and unrewarding.  I don't have a coverstitch with a belt loop attachment, so they never look as even as RTW.

I'm pretty happy with how well these went together (despite the zipper!).  Logan declares that he likes them, so I think I'll be making them again, this time with pockets, yokes - the whole works!  But perhaps a little less elastic in the waistband...