Pajama Time for Easter (girls) S4766

Out comes my girls go to PJ pattern for daughter and cousin. Again using up 3 pieces of fabric courtesy of my quilting mum who "donated" the fabric to my cause (obsession more like it).

I didn't have enough fabric to make matching sets. But I thought since it was coordinating fabric, I could get away with it. Especially as the border trim fabric is a bit umm...old fashioned. They needed the more fun prints to liven them up. Imogen loves it. She helped pass me the elastic for the arms.

Imogen and I are now packing up Zoyas PJs to mail to the US. Hopefully it will get there soon...with lots a live!

Oh and I used the custom labels like I did on the boys PJs. Check out that link for the blog I got the idea from.

One I didn't even have to hem the top as the border along the selvage could be left. Sadly the other boarder had printing on the selvage so it had to be hemmed.

Pajama Time for Easter (boys) - KS3042

Well not Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton (which I do know by heart), but rather making lots of summer jammies!

We have a family tradition (that our immediate family started, nothing dating back 100's of years here) where we give the kids new pajamas on Easter.  This year I took that a bit further thanks to all the fabric my mother, the quilter, gave me. 

I also got to use an awesome, yes awesome, idea from a fellow sewer blog on making custom labels (Probably Actually blog post : http://probablyactually.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/label-making-101/).  I picked up the stamp pad and stamps at Michaels here in Canada (at 40% off I may add).  And I love the results!  I set the ink with the iron.  I was still a bit concerned as mine is red ink...which after sewing into the garments, I thought...what if it runs when it's washed (you know the red sock in with the whites)!  So as soon as the garments were finished, I washed them...and no running of the ink--phew.  They were so fun to make and the boys loved them!

So here are Alistair's PJs
These ones were the trial pair as there was only enough fabric for bottoms...which he has decided are daywear not PJs.  All boys wear the same size, so it was a breeze cutting them all out and sewing like a factory!

Cousin Grayson's PJs

And friend Keenan's PJs -- these were the most challenging as I really wanted to get a pair of full-length trousers...but I didn't have enough fabric.  That was until I remembered how I sew quilt binding...so I pieced together the waistband casing using this technique.  It worked like a charm as as the pieces are angled together, there isn't the bulk!

All using KS3042

Oliver + S - Free Skirt and Top

Well in the 5 bins of fabric, coutesty of my quilting mum who cleaned out her stash,  I found this cute floral perfect for a skirt...but a bit plain on its own.  So I dug some more and found 2 fat quarters in purple.  Perfect!

I used the free downloadable patterns from Oliver + S.  The skirt wasn't made from the full 45" wide--as something had already been cut out.  So I'm guessing about 35" was used.  I don't think I'd want it any fuller.  On both fabrics, I used everything--there wasn't an 1" square of fabric left.  The top straps are pieced together using angled seams (so as not to create bulk or jump out when you look at them).  I even got to use up some stash lace in the top.  Bonus!

Imogen was playing 'horsey' with Alistair where one gets a rope tied around them, while the other hold the handles of the skipping rope like reins.  Then they run around the house in circles yelling 'niegh' and 'yee-haw'. 

The skirt was too long to I did 3 decorative tucks to shorten it up. I actually prefer the skirt with the tucks.  I find the simplest designs are always made special by little interests like tucks, lace etc.  They make it special.

Skirt  http://oliverands.com/free-patterns/lazy-days-skirt/

Dress (that I shortened to a top) http://oliverands.com/free-patterns/popover-sundress/

Napkins and more napkins

Well my mum has been making lots of healthy changes in her life. And one thing I volunteered to help with was cleaning out and organizing her sewing room which is a double bedroom. She would take a stack of fabric and throw over her shoulder to the floor what she no longer liked or thought she would use. This turned into 5 rubber made totes. I then (read HAD) to go through these bins of fabric before donating them to Cloth for Kids (an organization of volunteer sewers who make things from donated fabric for less fortunate kids in Saskatoon and their schools)

Out of these 5 bins of fabric I took out items for gifts and kids items. So first off were making some napkins.

Here's a photo of them done in my sewing room window...I made a few!  All have a different front and back.  All have now been given away to friends and family.

The polka dot fabric above on the far left and right was purchased at Prairie Chicks to finish off these napkins off.  I'm super happy how these turned out.

These are backed in red--for Christmas...and went to my sister-in-law.

These are backed in navey blue with little gold stars.  My other sister-in-law received these to use at Christmas.

These are the only napkins with the same fabric on front and back.  They were given to my girlfriend who owns no napkins--she can't say that anymore.

These veggie napkins are going to a friend with 4 kids.  I hope it reminds them all to eat their veggies!

And these fun ones went to another friend with a 4-year old boy.  Rockets away!

More PJs KS3234

This pattern has gotten a great work out! I used up some fleece from Chris' vintage stash from Fabricland. Good stash buster!

St Patricks Day Dress - Oliver + S ice cream dress

Ooh I loved finally getting to see this pattern. I've seen so many online versions. The top bit is from my stash and the main part of the dress is from Prairie Chicks, a very cool store just outside the city. I even got to use a 'green' button from my button stash!

I sewed this the night before St Patricks Day at school. Imogen lived waking up to see her new dress on her chair.

Traveling in the house in my PJs

Well this is a classic Alistair pose. All dressed up in his PJs I made while touring the house with his Rollie suitcase! This is a tried and true pattern using up some Chris vintage fabric from my days at Fabricland.