Ottobre 03/04-7&8, 06/08-2

Thanks to all who chimed in about magazines. On reflection, I realize that I have browsed through a few issues of Sew News at B&N and Joann and have never picked an issue up, which tells me I probably wouldn't be too interested in a subscription. I think I'll just stick to Threads and Otto for now and keep up with the fashion part of Burdastyle through their website. Google translate can be pretty funny.

In sewing news, I delivered the baby gift this weekend, so I get to show it to you now.

My friend favors more classic looks for her kids over frilly and ruffly, and when I was hunting the stash for a completely different reason, I saw this corduroy and I knew it was going to have to be a pinafore for her newest little princess. This will be girl number 3, but the first one to be born in a cold climate, so I thought she could use more cold weather clothing for her.

The underlayer is a long tee and leggings made from a soft ponte knit left over from this dress. I can personally attest to its comfort and snuggliness. The tee is made from the 03/04 issue of Ottobre, and I made it for Myra here. The leggings are from the 06/08 issue (which I happened to have out as I was tracing). They are basic leggings, pretty much identical to the pair in the 04/04 issue that I used when I made this for Myra.

For the button loop, I used a clear hair elastic, which I've seen done by several other bloggers. What a great idea! It was so easy and looks great.

The pinafore is from the 03/2004 issue of Ottobre. I made it for Myra a couple of Christmases ago. You can see that version here. The pattern calls for elastic at the hem on the sides, but I found that interfered with diaper changes, so I left it out. I think it is pretty darn cute with the A line skirt instead. I LOVE the pleated pockets. Alas, the aren't very visible in this busy print. I topstitched with Mettler Poly Sheen thread in the hopes that the topstitching would be visible, but it pretty much disappears, too.
Overall, I'm pleased with how well it turned out. I hope that Laurie and Baby V love it, too!

Ottobre 03/2008-8 - the "Peasant" shirt

I'm not sure why Otto calls this one the "Peasant" shirt.  I think it's pretty classy!

Cute, eh?  I hope it still fits him at Easter!  It's a little big right now, so I think I got the size right.  I guess we'll see how fast he grows.

The pattern is #8 from the 03/2008 issue of Ottobre.  It isn't an exact match for Logan's shirt, and I thought about altering it to make them identical, but I decided that would be a little too matchy-matchy.  I'd rather they just coordinated.  There are a few things that I wish I had transferred though.  This shirt was much simplified, which made it easy to sew, but I think it lacks a bit.  There is no back yoke or button bands and the hem is straight rather than a more traditional shirt tail hem.

The details I did like were the cuff plackets and the bias cut pockets with flaps.  I kinda wish I had cut the flaps on the bias, but they are still cute on grain.  The cuff plackets were done a little differently in the pattern, and I have to say, I wasn't a fan.  The pattern called for the underlap to just be narrow hemmed.

As you can see, I bound it in a more traditional way.  In fact, I just used the directions from Logan's shirt.  Overall, I am happy with the shirt, since it was quite easy, but if I make it again, I think I'll draft a yoke and front bands.  I just prefer the look that way.
I got a lot of comments about the snap setter I used on the last shirt, so I thought I'd tell you about it.

Here it is!  Crazy simple - just 3 pieces of plastic.  For such a useful tool, I thought it was really inexpensive.  At SewBaby, where I got mine, they are only 9 dollars, and adapters for other sizes are 3.50.

Here is how it works.  You start by putting the prong side of the snap into a depression on the base of the tool.  Put your fabric in place on the snap.  I found it helped to push the prongs into the fabric a little, especially if there were multiple layers. Then you place the second piece of the tool which holds your fabric in place and aligns the snap to the base.  You drop the appropriate snap into the hole, then put on the cover, and hammer the snap together.  The cover has a circle that shows you where to hit.  The instructions that came with the snap setter were great.  The only thing that I found was that with my little girlie hammer (and girlie arms) I had to hit between 6-8 times to get the snap to really hold together.  The instructions only say 2.
I do have a few words of caution.

The first is to be sure that you protect the surface that you are pounding your snaps on.  This is my hubby's workbench, so I didn't bother, and you can see the little circles created by the press.  Just putting a magazine or the yellow pages underneath is sufficient.

Second, if you are using pearl snaps, be sure to get the correct adapter.  For the first shirt, it wasn't a problem, but after a while, I started cracking snaps.  I'll be ordering the adapter before I put the snaps on Myra's dress.
Overall, I think this is an awesome too, and I know I'll be using it a ton!

Ottobre 04/2004-2 & 03/2004-8

With my last shreds of soil separator paper I managed to eke out a tee shirt pattern for Myra.  She really needs some long sleeved tees, and I wanted some leggings as well, for layering under summer dresses that she hasn't yet outgrown (but will by the time it is warm enough to wear them again!).

Here is her first tee.  I didn't want anything fancy, since she'll be wearing it under things, but I liked the little keyhole at the neckline.

And a pair of basic leggings.

I did the waistband slightly differently than the Ottobre directions and it looks exactly like her RTW leggings.  Basically I attached the elastic in the round to the wrong side of the pant top with a wide triple zigzag and my overcast foot so it finished the edge and sewed it in one step, then folded over the edge and topstitched it down with a twin needle.

For both pieces I used a "ponteroma" double knit from Hancock.  It is super soft and cozy.  I think it will be perfect as a warm winter layer.

"Why are you taking a picture of my in my long johns, Mommy?"  Yeah, not too stylish all by themselves!

But just right with a little dress over the top.