For the t-shirt dress, I used the Bimaa Sweater pattern by LouBeeClothing. I just made a regular t-shirt neck for it, instead of the cowl, shawl or hood options the pattern provides. I sewed this up in a size 2 because really, my children do not NEED any more clothes, so I'm trying to be smart and sew them clothes they will grow into. I'm not looking forward to photos of them where everything is too big though, ha!

I lengthened the shirt to be just above her knee, but I forgot it was size 2 so it ended up being longer than I wanted it. I still love it though, and again, lots of room for growing! The stripey fabric is leftovers from the Run Around Shorts I made last year. It's from Riley Blake's knit basics range and I just love how soft it is! And stretchy! If you're looking for a good striped jersey, I highly recommend this stuff!


For the heart, I searched for origami patterns. After failing about six of them, I found one that worked in the fabric I was using. Yes. I came up with the brilliant idea of using gold lycra for origami.

It was fiddly, I used iron-on interfacing to stop it from stretching out too much, and I used A LOT of pins. To sew it I put some greaseproof paper between the heart and my presser foot and used a longer stitch length than normal and it was actually quite easy to stitch down!


The original origami pattern calls for pleated wings, and although the paper version I made up did have cute fan-folded wings, it was just way too bulky doing the same in the lycra! I think it still worked out pretty cute, and I love how the front opens when Eddie moves to make it look more origmai-esque!


Her gold leggings are equal parts C3PO, Kylie Minogue and See Kate Sew inspired! (everytime I think of gold anything I think of all the gold things she has made!). Oh I just remembered that Shauna from Shwin & Shwin made some gold leggings too!


I use my own pattern for the leggings. I thought this lycra would be awful to sew with but it's thicker than normal lycra that I've sewn with in the past. I've made costumes and swimsuits but this is just lovely. The rest of the gold is set aside for a costume for a special lady in my life ^_^


Both patterns I used are patterns I have used over and over. I love trying new patterns and finding new favourites, but it's really good to have an arsenal of basic patterns in your stash so that you can do what you like with them!



 

Oh so Eddie is turning into quite the little model like her older brother. This is her "Eddie give me a smile!" face...



Her bandanna is just a strip of lycra tied around her head, but I really think that accessories are really important with styling an outfit!




Check out the other guests on the tour!

The Summer Concert Tee is a comfortable top, easy to throw on and really easy to customise as you want it! I was going to make a lace-backed one but all I had in my stash was curtain lace, which would have looked really obviously curtainy! I also wanted to stencil something across the chest and I probably still will!


It features a hi-lo hem, and I really love the natural curve it takes without being so obviously here is the front and WOAH here is the back. It's a nice curve and I really like it! I don't know if I'm making any sense but I mean there are some shirts I've seen where the curve just doesn't flow.



The fabric is this stretchy terry towelling like a beach towel but stretchy! I bought it from a fabric store years and years ago because look at these beach shorts I made tiny Vincent! I seriously thought it was an opshop buy, until I read that post just now! I have no idea why I would have bought so much of it!


I'm not sure if it could be made up in a woven fabric (not stretchy), but I bet if I made the neckline a bit deeper I could. It seems like it could be a nice flowy top from some pretty fabric in my stash!


So this is just one pattern from the first Perfect Pattern Parcel. There are 5 different patterns for women and I think they cater to all kinds of styles and sewing levels that you ladies may have! Can I tell you the really awesome part about the PPP? Okay there's two awesome parts. The first is: you get to choose how much you spend on the parcel.

Yeh. That is correct! You can spend a lot or a little, however much you can afford but most importantly, however much you feel you should be spending on it!

Here's a little incentive that may help you decide how much to spend on it

And if you are like me and kind of freak out at such a responsible decision (can't my mum make all my decisions for me?) Moxie & Gnatsy have decided to help out a charity of their choice with every Perfect Pattern Parcel release. To help little kids that don't get the same advantages that my kids have.

Yeh I hope that got you right in the feels! Haha!


 Oh yeh and the part where you get 5 patterns and get to do good in the world at the same time? Admirable!


That was supposed to be a coy look, but from sideways it just looks like I have no neck. Why is it so much easier to pose my children than it is myself? (95% of the time they pose themselves so I probably shouldn't take credit lol)

Want to know more about the Perfect Pattern Parcel?

About PPP:Put together two entrepreneurial makers driven by their internal voices and one self-taught hacker with an "if you build it, they will come" mentality, and Perfect Pattern Parcel was born. We are passionate about supporting independent designers in their craft and fostering a community of makers to grow. Our mission is to offer high-quality pdf sewing patterns written by indie designers while supporting children's education.
About Donors Choose:Donors Choose is an organization that matches up the needs of teachers and their students for specific projects with willing donors. The funds raised from each Pattern Parcel sale will go to help K-12 students in minimizing educational inequality and encourage a community where children have the tools and experiences necessary for an excellent education.
About Parcel #1:Pattern Parcel #1 includes sewing patterns for women that are modern classics, featuring both flattering silhouettes and garments that are comfortable to wear. From a new little black dress to weekend play wear, the patterns in Parcel #1 have got you covered.
Support Indie DesignersIndependent designers create patterns that are innovative, imaginative and in line with current style trends. Their patterns encompass a broad range of sizes and fabulous “out of the envelope” fit because they're thoroughly tested by real people. With detailed and well-explained instructions, these patterns often teach as you sew. Independent designers are approachable, providing support, suggestions, publishing additions to your favorite designs, and hosting interactive sewing events. When we are patrons of indie designers, we are supporting small, mostly women owned, businesses. We are developing the community around us. We are helping to making dream come true. 

If you want tio know even more, you can check out their website and buy the Perfect Pattern Parcel right here!

I'm pretty excited to be showing you my version of the Small Fry Skinny Jeans by Titchy Threads (aka Laura of Craftstorming). If you've been folowing the tour, no doubt you've heard about how amazing this pattern is, how thorough it is and how it is actually a lot of work to make a pair of damn fine jeans! But you've seen all the jeans that have been made with this pattern, and can I just say the quality has been A+? It's not the sort of pattern you rush through to get it done, it's the sort of pattern you know if you take your time and do things properly (something I am trying to learn this year!) then you're going to end up with some amazing jeans!

Don't forget you can buy the pattern using discount code TOUR20 at the checkout to get 20% off your purchase! Hells yeh.




Alright, so here's the deal. Jeans rule, but for the longest time I've been wanting to make myself a pair of motorcycle-type jeans. So what do I do when I want to sew something for myself? I sew it up for one of my kids instead. Of course!


I was aiming to get started on the kids wardrobes for Winter, but these jeans fit Vincent now, which makes him pretty stoked about that! He LOVES these jeans, and I wish I had made them up in bottle green so that he could wear them to school because he definitely would. The kid loves skinny jeans. And leggings. If it's baggy, it doesn't get worn (you should have seen the tears when he had to wear tracksuit pants to school the other morning. yeesh!). Are any of your kids pedantic about their clothes like that? Let's not get started on how he always needs his hair slicked down!

So I traced out the jeans, they're a size 3 width and a size 4 length because I knew the boy would want them tight, and the fabric I used is a stretch denim, but probably more stretch than actual denim. I bought it a million years ago at a garage sale. The first thing I made from it was a pair of little skinny-leg pants for chunky Vince way back in 2010!



I marked little panels for the jeans on the pattern I had traced out, each leg has 4 panels on the front and three on the back. For the second panel, I was going to do tiny little pin tucks to make the lines stand out more, but I didn't have enough fabric so I just topstitched the panels and I think they turned out alright!


 And, as usual with clothes for Vincent, the all important lego pocket! I added a welt pocket to the front of one of the lower panels of the pants. It's lined with the same fabric as the main pockets, the scraps leftover from this dress. Satiny fabric with The Phantom printed on it. Vincent loves the comic appeal as well as the way it feels when he puts his hands in there.


That flesh coloured part is the pocket lining, part of the Phantom's face haha, not Vincent's pasty shin!



The best part about sewing for my kids is that it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks, hah! I think it looks rad, Vincent thinks it's fun, and they're his absolute favourite jeans right now so I personally feel like I have won the lotto with these bad boys!

The back belt loops I crossed over into a little x, just for fun!


The Small Fry Skinny Jean Pattern is simply amazing. It's like no other pattern I have used before and it definitely sets the benchmark. Usually I prefer quick sews, but with something like jeans you really need to not rush through every step. Laura's pattern illustrates every step beautifully, with very clear instructions! You only have to print out the size that you need, and the sizings are just spot on! I really can't peak high enough praises on this pattern!

This badass mural was painted by my friend Alysa!

 If you're keen on sewing your kids' wardrobes like I am (life goal to have the majority of the kids' stuff made by me, and at the moment it is sitting at about 70%) (they have a lot of clothes) (and shoes) (so many shoes), then you're definitely going to want the Small Fry Skinny Jeans pattern in your arsenal. It's multi-sized, stretching from newborn right up to size 12! I


FYI, he busts out most of these poses himself these days. I just tell him to move his leg a little more stronger or not to plaster on his fake smile. Werk it, son!

There's so many options with this pattern too. You can make them into shorts, there's two pocket options and two fly options. Don't feel like you can handle sewing in a zip? No probs! Laura helps you sew in a half-fly! You know what though? Definitely give the zip fly a go! Her instructions rule and at the end you're going to be all like "Hells Yes! I just sewed a pair of JEANS." And you know you want to be able to say that!


I've got grand plans of sewing up the kids Winter Wardrobes this year, and these skinnies are the first item on my list I have knocked off. I plan to make a plain black pair for both the kids and then a statement pair for both of them too! Just need to find some show-stopping stretch fabric in a good weight! I'm hitting the op-shops at the time of this post, so if you follow me on Instagram you'll know if I find success or not!



Click the blogs below to go and see what they mad for the tour! You're going to be blown away, promise!

Hello! Today you can catch me over on iCandy Handmade where I will be sharing with you my tutorial on how to make this fun pompom mobile! It's so quick, so easy and best of all? Very inexpensive!!


While you're there, check out the other awesome guest posts they have for their DIY Babies series, and don't forget to enter into their giveaway!