Well goodness.
I didn't actually mean to be gone for so many days. I did keep sewing... and chasing a puppy... and we made our maiden kayak voyage of the season. With the weather cooling, we are all finding ourselves outside and taking up projects. I have lots to share next week...
But back to the last bits of kid clothing.
First, Sophie also got some new pajamas. I traced her favorite capri lounge pants for the pattern and used freezer paper to stencil her matching shirt.
These pajama pants all came together so quickly. I am seriously considering getting started on some solstice pajamas this year. At least, once I'm done sewing costumes. And speaking of Halloween.....
I fumbled through this cape for Sophie's costume. I cannot divulge the full details of her costume at this time..... but she had her mind set on a very specific cape. We found this fabric on sale and while it seems innocent enough. It is not. It's slippery on one side, velvet on the other, slightly stretchy, and frays easily. I sewed it together with french seams and top-stitched the whole cape to ensure it was durable. It made the construction time consuming, but I think the results were worth it.
It's a tiny bit wonky from stretching a bit as I sewed, but I'm okay with that. And of course, no one here noticed but me. I stitched a decorative design along the edge in deep purple and used a bit of handmade bias tape for the bottom hem. Sophie picked out the toggle closure at the fabric shop and this is by far her favorite piece of the cape. She wore it all evening, commenting on how cozy it was and that she would wear it around the house once Halloween was over. Which is exactly the sweet thing a mama loves to hear when she just finished up an entire afternoon of sewing for one garment. Ahem~
I hope to show you all some sneak preview bits of costume development in the next few weeks. I see a lot of coffee and late night sewing in my future. Especially since my deadline is October 23rd. My Aunt is teaching a quilting retreat in Cordova and my mom managed to piece mileage tickets together and get me there for a long weekend. It's all really crazy, but I'm so excited to see my Aunt (it's been six years!) and travel with myself, my knitting, and my sewing machine. I hope it fits under the seat in front of me.
Hope the rest of your weekend is lovely.
Thanks to Meg for another inspiring week of sewing kid clothes.
See you next week for the regular random posts you're used to.
xo~
stephinie
Fantastic fabric you have used in your projects. Especially like the twirly skirt, my girl needs some summer skirts so might try this pattern.
Posted by: Lisa | October 14, 2012 at 02:26 PM
Gorgeous cape, Stephinie! I want one in my size!! My husband banned me from sewing costumes after I agreed (as a relatively novice sewer) to make my boys capes/cloaks out of slippery material while I had a baby who wouldn't sleep without me and always wanted me to hold her. Mama meltdowns ensued...(but we still have them! I got them done!) I've snuck little touches in here and there since, helped the kids freezer stencil shirts, that sort of thing, and I agreed to sew my youngest a sparkly cape this year--my husband's been away so he wasn't here to stop me. :)
However. I said Absolutely Not to sewing a Captain America costume...
Posted by: amy | October 14, 2012 at 06:22 PM
Gorgeous indeed!
I hear you on the late nights...it's hard to justify sewing while I'm surrounded by boxes, but I did vow to make lil' man a sorcerer's hat this year to go with the (orange!) cape I made him for his birthday. I LOVE the stitch you used around Sophie's cape and the trim. Oh my! I usually take so much time trying to figure out the math of cutting the fabric without a pattern that I am just glad to be done. But I love the detail you add to your work. Inspiring!
Posted by: landgyrl | October 14, 2012 at 09:10 PM
It's super easy and I *love* the results :)
Posted by: Stephinie | October 15, 2012 at 08:31 AM
Oh my.... as a novice sewist I once made two satin dragon costumes. It was traumatic. Truly. Sewing those slippery sides together on a not-so-great sewing machine. I should share that story here around Halloween :)
Posted by: Stephinie | October 15, 2012 at 08:32 AM
Oh the boxes.... impending doom for us :) This is the first year I goofed on cutting and had to improvise. Hence the extra sewn in piece on the top of her hood.... it worked! I was very careful when cutting the remainder pieces though.... and there are so many more to sew! Oh boy!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 15, 2012 at 08:34 AM
I was wondering where you were headed...A quilting retreat makes me envision a movie I had seen once with women sitting in rocking chairs, hand stitching their piece of the quilt...
Love the cape.. My mom made capes for my boys 20 years ago and they have made their way around the family. I'm ready for a new sewing machine..Not that I mind my gramma's 1950's table model Singer. It does the job..But,fabric gadget wise,is limited. I would love a new computerized version with all the gadgets and options..Christmas is coming!!!
Halloween...speaking of sewing mishaps..Lessons learned.. Never drink wine and think you can work on a project...Back to the fabric store for me...OOPs!!
Posted by: Tammy Miner | October 15, 2012 at 10:13 AM
I love that owl fabric! The stenciled shirt is fantastic too- it matches so well!
I'm glad she loves the cape. There aren't many things more satisfying than a child happily wearing something handmade. I just knitted my daughter a sweater and she claimed it was too itchy every time she touched it but now that it's done, she's worn it every day for a week and hasn't mentioned the 'i' word once. :)
Posted by: Casey- Sesame Seed Designs | October 15, 2012 at 04:02 PM
My Aunt is an amazing quilter.... and I'm excited to take the class. But truly... I am even MORE excited to have a few drinks and many (MANY) laughs with these two amazing women in my life.
I've done the wine+sewing thing here too. Big oops :) haha!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 15, 2012 at 06:04 PM
I wrote a post once on the first longies I ever knit for my little guy. They were not a big hit. I bribed him with chocolate chips to get a photo... and after many, many washes in a wool wash they softened up enough that he finally did get some use out of them. They were never his favorite though! Oh well... I did try :) haha!
http://www.gypsyforest.com/welcome_to_gypsy_forest/2009/04/torturing-for-the-wee-one.html
Posted by: Stephinie | October 15, 2012 at 06:07 PM
Love the cape! That looks like a keeper for play everyday! Did you use a pattern to get started or create on your own?
Posted by: Katy | October 15, 2012 at 09:34 PM
It's a Burda Halloween costume pattern... #9472 :)
Posted by: Stephinie | October 16, 2012 at 07:23 AM
I'm just excited for you getting to go back up to Cordova! You, your mom, and aunt, must all be freaking out!
Posted by: Jennifer | October 16, 2012 at 04:50 PM
The cape is really beautiful! The purple stitching was a great choice. I had so much fun doing the KCWC thanks to reading about here. You can see what I worked up here: http://kathrynpagano.com/2012/10/15/kcwc-the-final-result/
Posted by: KC | October 17, 2012 at 12:43 AM
I'm really looking forward to it too. They are two of my very favorite ladies :)
Posted by: Stephinie | October 18, 2012 at 08:50 AM
You certainly had a productive week! I love the last dress you made, the colors are awesome!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 18, 2012 at 08:51 AM