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.

Simplicity 2526

I'm about to embark on a string of Holiday crafting, which I won't be able to show you until after the fact.  So, it may be a little quiet around here until I get finished.  First though, Myra needed some snuggly pants, as it has actually been sort of chilly.

I made them out of a minky-like fleece that I found at Walmart.  Sometimes I get really lucky there.

The pattern is Simplicity 2526, which I used last year for some corduroy pants for her.  Maybe I'll get around to that adorable coat and hat next year.  It is a nice basic pant pattern that has a cute shape and fits her well.

It's a little boring, so I added some ribbon trim to the side seam.

Here is the rearview.  They are a little long, but I'm leaving them that way.  She's not tripping on them, and you never know when a growth spurt will hit.  I'd like these to last her all winter!

She's happy with them, but then they are a lurid Barbie pink.  What's not to love?  After she snuggled with them all day, I have to say it looks like these are a win!

Simplicity 2526

I was all set to work on Mitch's scrubs - pattern altered, cut out, ready!  I just had to thread the machine.  I have 11 spools of blue thread.  None of them were the RIGHT blue.  So I decided to work on a pair of elastic waist pants for Myra.  I love instant gratification.

This are the bottom half of a set.  The tunic will be made of the fleece from which I made the flower applique.  It is cut out, but I'll make Mitch's scrubs first, now that I have just the right shade of blue thread.

Here is the applique.  I cut out a couple of the flower motifs from the tunic fabric.  Since it is fleece, and I don't have to finish the edges, I decided to stitch around the center and down the middle of each petal, for a more dimensional look.  I like the way that it turned out.

I think Myra does, too!

I actually bought this pattern for the freaking adorable coats, which I will certainly get around to making.  The pant pattern was a nice bonus!  It is actually a quite nice pattern, with plenty of diaper room and nice shaping.  It's a bit long on Myra, but I think she inherited her Daddy's short legs.  It has just a bit of a flare at the hem, which is nice, but I probably won't use it for Logan, since it does have a slightly girlie look.