It's Batman, Y'all!

Our youngest great-nephew, Nathan (age 2½), is obsessed with Batman.  His mom mentioned to me one day, "If you could make him ANYTHING with Batman on it, he would go nuts."  I made Timothy a Batman cape and mask a few years ago, and Nathan wears it all the time now.

So I went online and found all kinds of Batman prints.  I settled on one that was black with the yellow oval "Bat signals" and ordered enough to make shorts for our two nephews, Timothy and Nathan...and a 5-year-old cousin, Owen.  Then I bought black T-shirts at WalMart and used knit scraps to applique the "Bat Signal" on them to match the shorts.  I used my pattern from the cape that I made a few years ago.  Let me tell you, I am not an expert at applique...and sewing black and yellow and making it look halfway smooth was definitely a challenge.  I think maybe I should have done the oval itself in yellow and stayed just inside the knit line.  NEXT TIME, I will know better!

 
I couldn't leave out Zola.  Girls like superheroes, too, y'all!  So I used a thrift-store knit t-shirt in yellow to make her a pillowcase dress, and I had just enough print scraps to make a tie.  I covered some flaws in the dress (aka HOLES and stains) with a big black bat...and I even added a small "Bat Signal" from the print fabric on the back to cover a hole.  It's not the best dress I ever made...and we'll have to put a black shirt and leggings or shorts underneath it...but Zola won't care!  She will have Batman like her brothers...and that's what really matters!

I didn't get a single picture of all three children in their matching Easter outfits.  I was going to do that at the egg hunt, and it rained and the children went in three different directions.  Oh, well...maybe we can do better with Batman!  Time will tell!  Stay tuned!

Bring On Easter!

Last fall, I bought this darling gray, black & yellow Suzani Floral Fabric from Hobby Lobby, and a grey/white chevron cotton from JoAnn...and these fabrics became the starting point for this year's Easter outfits.  Since I don't have a clue how the weather will be, I figured Zola can wear her little yellow knit jacket from LAST Easter if necessary.  The grey was also perfect for making accent pockets on the boys' tees...and I bought charcoal grey cargo shorts for them to wear underneath.  I cannot wait to see the kiddos in these outfits.  I'll try to get a good picture to share here.

The dress pattern is from The Cottage Mama...it's called the "Party Dress".  It has quite a bit of handwork with a lined bodice...but this is the second time I've used it for the Easter dress, and I've been pleased both times!  Next time, I think I'm going to try the alternate bodice (which finishes on the side seams instead of the shoulders - look at the pattern, and you'll understand).  The pants were made from a pattern I have altered that comes from a site called "Made".  Look for the tutorial for kids pants - basic pants.  I calculated the overall length, and subtracted for the ruffles.  My longest ruffle is 4", and the print ruffle is about 2.5".  Both were finished with a "serged hem", so if you are doing a stitched hem, allow extra fabric for this!

Yellow knit jacket with 2014 Easter Dress...
hoping it will be a warm day and no jacket will be needed!

Somebunny's Gonna Look Darling!

A few weeks ago while shopping in west Little Rock, we passed this outfit in the window of a shop that sold children's clothes.  Well, you know where my mind went!  I snapped a photo and went in search of pink fabric.

Since chevron is so "hot" right now, I opted to use this instead of the "windowpane" fabric used in the outfit modeled in the window.  I also found a bunny outline I liked a little better - and a couple of long-sleeved t's on clearance. 

Here is the "before" - and the "afters" for my niece Zola and my cousin Harper, who are about 4 months apart in age.  I think they will be darling little "bunnies"...don't you?!

These Kids Make ANY Clothes Look Cute!

Take a look at Timothy and Zola in some of the coordinating outfits I made them from the Groovy Guitars fabrics.  I used a striped piece for Zola's dress and bordered it with Groovy Guitars.  Timmy got shorts and an appliqued tank.  There are other pieces in the same color family... hopefully Mom will photograph those soon for me to share!

How Many Ways Can You Repurpose a Knit Shirt?

BEFORE:  Ladies Beaded
Knit 3/4-sleeve shirt

Thanks to Pinterest and Etsy, my latest infatuation is repurposing knit shirts and cardigan sweaters as pants/leggings and tops for toddler girls.  So far, I have turned a leopard print cardigan sweater into an ensemble (complete with braided headband and beaded pom-pon flower! - see previous post)... and now I am working on a stack of knit shirts I purchased last week at the local thrift shop.  I have stripes, florals, beaded and plain shirts... reds, blues, pinks, oranges, and more!  I see jackets, "pillowcase" dresses, and more atop some of the cutest leggings you've ever seen.

In my enthusiasm to get started, I neglected to photograph the leopard print cardigan before I began cutting.  So in an effort NOT to let that happen again, I've made photographs of several of the shirts this afternoon, and as I finish a garment, I'll post a "Before" and an "After" photo (or 2 or 3!).  Oh... this is gonna be so much fun... I'll post more when I come up for air!

Here is the finished product for today!  This 3-piece set includes a beaded "pillowcase" dress/jumper with orange satin drawstring ribbon, cropped pants/leggings, and a fluffy pin-on pom-pon with butterfly button accent.  $65 postage paid for all 3 pieces.



AFTER:  Toddler dress/jumper
and crop pants/leggings



Beaded Draw-string Dress/Jumper
Length is approximatetly 15"

Pants - inseam approximately 8"
overall length approximately 13.5"

Pin-on Pom-pon with butterfly button trim
created from fabric scraps