On the surface this doesn't seem very exciting, but to me it really is!  This is the first time I have made a garment that wasn't a 2T size!  (OH and yes, one of them is "capri" sized, but that's what he wanted) I'm awfully proud of myself since I've had to teach myself absolutely everything.

I bought a cute car patterned sheet set on Target for $10 and used about half of it, so I got 3 pants for $5!  The boys were really really excited about their pants too.  One even said he was proud of me for making clothes.... awww!  I think I might make myself some pants out of what's left.

Thanks for looking!

This was my first project where I came up with an idea and made most of it without the help of a tutorial.  This is also my first pair of bloomers with ruffles!  It really didn't turn out the way I imagined it (all that was similar was the fabrics), but it did turn out to be a cute outfit for E.  So for those reasons I'm proud of it.

I decided to make my daughter an outfit inspired by Kaylee from Firefly and Serenity.  It doesn't really look like anything Kaylee wore on the show, but it really was inspired by her.  I put the whole back story, like how it would have had a third piece and why I didn't want to do a jumpsuit,  here on my blog. http://chimpsgomoo.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/fireflyserenity-kaylee-inspired-toddler-outfit/



This is one of the few projects I've made from store bought material.  It was nerve-wracking!



If you've seen other garments I've made for E you probably recognize the boots.  She loves those things and although I always give her choices she almost always picks these!

Thanks for looking, lots more photos on the blog.

Using another great tutorial from Vegbee, http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2009/03/pt-1-button-down-shirts-to-circle-skirt.html , I've completed my first big multi-day project.



I liked doing this skirt, and I learned things so I will be able to do better next time around.  I didn't even notice stray threads until I saw these photos!



It's really not as lopsided as it looks, I swear, it's just the way she's standing




E says it's "pwee" (pretty) so I guess that's a thumbs up.  She seems to think every morning she's going to wake up with new clothes now.  What am I setting myself up for?!

The total cost of this project was free, thankfully my husband had shirts that didn't fit him.  There's a ton more photos on my blog (fair warning!) http://chimpsgomoo.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/mens-workshirts-into-toddler-swing-skirt/  including mid-project photos.  Thanks for looking!

I've been rather sick the last week, but I made up for it with some sewing this weekend.  Now to just clean the house and we'll be set!



I made a little orange shrug from an old shirt of hers that was stained down the front.  Stain gone and she's got a new shrug!



I made her a little top based on the pillowcase dress and finished it with ribbons.  Next time I will shorten it more, I was afraid I'd mess it up and since it was practice anyways I just made it longer than needed just in case.



DH still thinks it works as a little toddler mini dress.  I would have put pants on her but oh well.



My next attempt was a move away from the pillowcase dress.  Just a small move.  I made her a little playdress and some pants to go underneath.  I grabbed a shirt she'd probably never wear and used that.  You'll notice a lot of blue floral, I was practicing on a set of old sheets, so everything she has from this weekend matches hah!

I'm going to make another one of two playdresses then move on to something else to stretch my sewing skills.  I'd love some recommendations!

About 11:30pm the night before E’s birthday, I realized she didn’t have a birthday crown or hat. Well, I hadn’t bought one because I knew she wouldn’t wear it for more than 10 seconds. So S and I whipped up a quick superhero birthday cape from a $0.20 housecoat I bought at an Estate Sale.



It’s not super-well made, being as how it was late at night and I had so much to do before the party the next day. I plan on making ones for the boys so when I do theirs, I’ll be sure to seam the edges and cut straighter lol

You can read the tutorial with some rather poor quality images on my blog.  http://chimpsgomoo.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/superhero-birthday-cape/

Maybe no more late night projects, eh?

I think I did better with this pillowcase dress.  I used bias tape on the hem and extra fabric for the ties.  I bought this fabric when a store was going out of business before she was even born; I'm so happy she has a dress made out of it!  Everyone really liked it and were surprised I made it!  Which in one way is good but the other...

Now I really need to make bloomers, but I'm stuck.  Any help or ideas?  I messed up with the 10 min trouser tute, I will try that again.

Oh and there's a few more photos on my blog, didn't want to overload anyone.

I never thought I would be able to sew.  But these pillowcase dresses are so easy!  This is the first complete project I have sewn and it was a lot of fun too.  I'm so happy because I loved those sheets but had no mattress that fit them.  They have a new home being cute on my daughter.



I took some leftover of the stripey purple fabric to make the shoulder ties.  It really is neat and tidy looking when a toddler hasn't been playing at the park all day in it and the straps are adjusted right.

I hope you all think it's alright.

A little of my sewing history... I'm a noob.  I've made a few pillowcase dresses that turned out great IMHO, (and I will share them with you all when I have my camera back!) but I'd like to move on to something a teeny teeny more difficult and learn new ways to sew.

My mother bought me this GORGEOUS green and pink paisley fabric and lovely green contrasting fabric from the scraps pile at Joanns.  I have 45 X 28 of the paisley and 45 X 13 of the green.   She's going to be 2 on Sunday (!) and I could easily make another pillowcase like dress for her with this as I use 20 X 40 for those, but like I said, wanna do something different.

Since I have such a limited limited knowledge of garment making, I want to ask the experts.  Is there something else I can make with this amount of fabric?  A simple shirt?  A different kind of dress?  Don't forget... noob!  Please help

Well I think I made a boo boo.  I wanted to try Branching Out and at the LYS I got so intimidated by the teeny lace weight yarn!  I was sure I was going to snap that yarn with every stitch.  The store owner showed me lots of options and one was 100% alpaca in gorgeous green and brown fall colors.  It's so soft!  I love this yarn.

I've done one repeat but I'm not sure it's going to show the lace work well.  The yarn calls for size 6s and I'm using 8s per her suggestion that it might help the lace show.

Here's the link to the yarn http://www.alpacawithatwist.com/products.htm#

I dunno guys, I need some opinions.  Can I block alpaca?  Will that help open it up?  Should I frog it and go for some arm warmers or a different pattern scarf... or even a hat?  Basically - will 100% alpaca DK weight work with Branching Out? http://www.knitty.com/issuespring05/PATTbranchingout.html

[First FO:]

I cheated a little, but I consider a baby a nice finished object, don't you?  You've listened to me complain enough, I figured it was only fair to share the result.  SO...

First FO:
Evangeline Quinn
9/6/07 7:30am (at home!  story is on my blog)
6 pounds 11 ounces
20 in long



Second FO:
Since she came so early, everything I had made for her was way too big! I knit up a premie sized hat real fast. Even the store bought hats were too big.

Pattern: Twinkle Premie Hat http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/twinkle-hat.html
Needles: size 4 dpn

Yarn: sorry, don’t know! A very thin soft yarn that matches one of the few NB outfits that fits her

Mods: Instead of 8 repeats, I only did 5 or 6, I know it says premie hat, but even with just these few repeats taken out it is still a little big.

She was a little camera shy today. Plus her skin is peeling and red still. Someday she will be pretty!   There are better pictures on my blog.  Or will be in a few minutes.