Ottobre 03/2010-6&7

I think this might be my favorite of the Christmas gifts I made this year.  Little girlie outfits are so fun to create!

The outfit is completely handmade - knit and sewn.  I even crafted the flower clip!

Both dress and bloomers are from the 03/2010 issue of Ottobre.  The dress pattern is for a short summer tunic, but I wanted this to work for winter wear, so I lengthened it considerably.  My niece, for whom this was made, isn't yet mobile, so long skirts won't get in her way.  I love this bloomer pattern!  As with all Otto patterns, it is really beautifully designed, with a higher waistline in back to accommodate a diaper bum.  The sleeves and leg openings are gathered with elastic shirring, which is easy to do and cute.  The zip is an invisible zipper, which I would put in anyway, but the pattern actually did call for it.  I love Ottobre.

The knitted items are the Joyful cloche, and the Confection Baby Shrug, both knitted in Red Heart Shimmer yarn.  Rav notes are linked for the knitters.  It's hard to see in the picture, but there is a metallic thread running through the yarn that gives it a sparkle.  It is so cute in person!!  Both hat and shrug pattern included decorative eyelets, which I threaded with a sheer green ribbon to coordinate.  The flower on the hat is actually a removable hair clip, so the wee princess can wear it or not, as she (or her Dad and Mom!) choose.

My Yankee Doodle Sweetheart

Isn't she sweet! I finished her July 4th outfit today.Her dress is the Flower Girl Dress from Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing. Since I made Logan's shorts by her Huck Finn pant pattern, I decided to just have a Heather Ross 4th. I did change up the skirt, just making it tiered instead of the basic gathered skirt that the pattern calls for. I also added buttons to the straps. They are quite snug (or they will be once I move the buttons up a bit) and I wanted to be able to get the dress on and off with a minimum of fuss. This is a very sweet pattern. Pretty on, as you can see. It does run REALLY small. Myra (who is 10 months old) is modeling a size 2 for you, but with 1/4 inch seam allowances. I basted them at the 3/8 the pattern calls for and couldn't even get the bodice over her head. Thank goodness it worked at 1/4, or I'd have had to recut the bodice.
I also made her some bloomers. Since she's a crawler and her diaper is bound to show I always make bloomers to go with her dresses. I have been using Butterick 4110 as my TNT bloomer pattern, but I decided to give Ruby's bloomers (from Weekend Sewing) a try. They are great! The legs are elasticized with elastic thread in the bobbin. Couldn't be easier. They whip up in minutes, literally. I couldn't decide which of the two fabrics to make them out of, so on the advice of my excellent Mother-In-Law, I decided to just do both. And they were so easy, it was no big deal.
We are ready for the 4th!!