PR&P15 |Signature Style|

Scroll down for english, please!

Esta já é a última semana desta temporada do Project Run & Play, o que significa a semana de Signature Style (um look que nos defina, vá!). Para mim significa apenas costurar seja o que for que queira costurar, e desta vez escolhi fazer algo que andava na minha mente há muito tempo, mais precisamente desde que testei o molde fenix romper o ano passado. Adorei o meu e sabia que ia adorar ver a minha filha em algo do género, por isso decidi tentar. 

It's the last week of this season in Project Run & Play and that always means Signature Style week. For me it just means sewing whatever I've been wanting to, and this time I choose to make something that has been on my mind for about a year after I tested the fenix romper. I loved my adult version and I knew I'd love to see my daughter in something similar, so I gave it a try. 

Tentei desenhar o meu próprio molde para a minha menina de 6 aninhos mas falhei... a frente ficou demasiado baixa, sei que não o poderá vestir sem uma camisola por baixo - a parte boa é que até gosto de como fica. Ainda não desisti, digamos que este será apenas uma prova até conseguir aperfeiçoar o molde, entretanto acho que este até dá para vestir. 

I tried to draft a similar pattern for my 6 year old, but I failed... the front is too low and I know she won't be able to wear it without a shirt underneath - good thing is I like how the layered option looks like. I haven't given up yet, this was like my first muslin and I have to get it perfected, meanwhile I think this is kinda wearable. 

O tecido que usei, é também o que usei no primeiro que fiz para mim aquando do teste, nunca falei realmente sobre ele aqui no blog, cheguei sim a publicar uma foto com ele vestido durante o desafio do Me Made May e que podem ver aqui. O modelo pede tecidos com um bom cair e a boa verdade já não me restam muitos com tamanho suficiente - e que sejam apropriados à idade dela, claro. Que bem que me ando a portar, a usar mais do que a comprar... se bem que cheira-me que este mês ainda me vou portar mal. 

I actually used the same fabric I used for my wearable muslin, which I never really blogged about, but have posted a photo here duirng last year's Me Made May. This patterns calls for fabric with a great drape and I sure ain't got that many of those that are long enough to cut it - and that is child appropriate, of course. Oh I'm doing so well, using more from my stash than I bought in new... though it smells like I might be a bad girl ahead this month. 

Sew Geeky Episode 9 TIM BURTON

Have you hear of Sew Geeky already? An idea brought to live by two super creative and talented ladies: Kat from Sew Chibi and Ari from Max California. If you need to know more about it read it over here. I can't consider myself a geek, but when those ladies allowed us to sew along to Tim Burton's inspired episode, I couldn't resist, because I just  L o v e  l o v e  l o v e  Burton's stuff. Besides, I had been wanting to use Sweeney Todd's beach outfits as an inspiration for a long, long time ago. This was just perfect!

And I knew just what to do. Let's start with the girl. Just a little disclaimer first: a couple of months ago I was offered a free pattern of the Peachy Dress & Playsuit from Felicity Sewing Patterns to review. All opinions are my own! That said, the girl's dress then. 

ok, Jack is in the wrong movie here, but he's perfect to host this post, right?! RIGHT?!!!

Would you like to take a closer look?!

I didn't want to do a dress just like the one in the movie, instead I wanted to get inspired by its colours. I also wanted a fresh dress and so the Peachy Dress & Playsuit pattern was just an obvious choice. This is the perfect dress (or playsuit) for the warmer days, too bad it's freaky cold outside and we couldn't do our own photoshoot in the beach too. Anyway, this pattern comes with six styling options (Basic Dress; Basic Playsuit with long or short pants; Dress, Playsuit or Romper with shoulder frills & elastic neckline; Dress, Playsuit or Romper with neck frill; Pillowcase Dress or Top; & Separate Shorts). Besides, it includes 2 cute pocket options, with a total of 4 tutorials on how to sew all possible combinations, with detailed photos and easy to follow instructions. I had zero problems sewing this up so I think it is a begginers good choice too. I am not a very ruffle person, but I'll admit these frills look just too cute on my little miss. She wasn't so happy about me pulling one of the shoulders down for the photo. 

I did the shoulder frills and elastic neckline option for the top, and the patch pockets option for the skirt. The skirt twirls beautifully because it is made out of 4 panels. Besides the elastic on the shoulders, it has a waist elastic too, which makes the top a little puffy and just adorable. I can't tell if I did size 2 or 3 anymore, but I followed the chart and it fits just great. Not to mention this little lady adored her new dress. Even though it was so cold when we did a very quick photoshoot indoors, she didn't want to take it out after all. She covered herself up with a blanket and said it'd be fine like that. The pattern comes sizes 2-14y and I've got the bug, I believe this is one of those patterns I could sew for myself and match my daughter! I love being small... at times!

I love it when I am surprised by a pattern. I was afraid I would end up doing something I didn't like because of the ruffles in this, but when picking carefully from the pattern pieces, and with your right choice of fabric, this became girly enough and pretty much satisfying for me. Having the girl's approval makes it even better. I believe this is the kind of dress every little girl loves. The blue fabric was in my stash. I made 2 dresses with it before, one for me and one for G. when she was only 1 year old. I can't believe there's still a piece of it left. The polka dots fabric was just a scrap, just enough for the pockets and to make the exact amount of bias that I needed. The small white flowers on black fabric, is actually a refashion from an old romper that was hanging in my piles for too long. 

So, what about the boy?! His was a very quick project. I looked through my stash, and I had a women sized striped t-shirt. The stripes were thinner than the inspiration, but the model was much smaller too, so it's porpotional. I didn't use a pattern for this one. I just used one of his 9M shirts (he's 6m now) to trace and cut the armholes. 

I kept the original hem, and only made a round shaped cut to turn it into a romper. I hemmed the seams of this cut and closed with metalic snaps (sewn to it). They were bad quality though and keep opening when my baby boy wears the romper. I will have to change it. Because I reused most of this shirt, and I kept the original neckline, I figured it'd be too wide for S. That was simple to solve though, I picked the neckline from another (white) shirt and sewn a patch inside, so it could cover the wide neckline and make it appropriate for my son. It turned out perfect. To match, I finished the armholes with bias made out of the same shirt. 

For the five minute photoshoot, I layered his romper with a white long sleeve shirt and tights He was looking so cute, but he kept on crying all along. I believe I've got like one or two photos where he's not crying. I also thought the romper would be bigger on him, because I was planning this to be a spring/summer piece, but I am not sure it'll fit 'till then. 

Knock it off Series

This is probably my very favourite series from the sewing community! I wasn't going to participate this time, I haven't been sewing, but then it crossed my mind that I had just finished a knock off a few days ago. The Series are over by now, by I was able to add this project to the Flickr group before it ended, however, I am only able to blog about it right now. 

This knock off was actually ordered by a costumer. Her little girl celebrated her 7th birthday on the 28th of July (same day nd age as my niece) and her mom threw her a Barbie themed partie. She wanted me to make her a tutu and a shirt like the one in the first photo but she requested a few things different. She wanted no bows in the shirt, the silhuette to be black instead of pink and an extra bow for her daughter's hair. 

I made a no sew tutu. I used the knots technique for the second time ever and this one turned out so much better. I might have to make a third for my daughter. She's been into Anjelina Ballerina and dances in her toes often... wouldn't she look adorable doing that in a beautiful tutu?

The t-shirt was my favourite! I searched for a Barbie silhuette online, this one was the one I liked the most, printed it, cut it out and used it as a pattern to cut it on my fabric. I added some interface to the fabric before I cut to make it easier, and then sewed into the t-shirt. Quick and easy with a perfect result. 

I have a friend whose little girl turned three on this very same day too and also had a Barbie themed party for her daughter. I wonder if she would have liked an outfit like this one... 

|Romper Week|

I was thrilled when RaeAnna, from Sewing Mama RaeAnna invited me to be part of her Romper Week. I really liked to follow it (as a viewer) last year and it is great that I am one in line with these wonderful and talented ladies.

A few weeks ago I shared some inspiration I found on Pinterest. I had actually pinned both pictures long ago but you know, we pin so many stuff that it gets hard to go through them all. I liked that it was a romper (good inspiration to sew for this series), but the colours were also inspiring to me because I'd like to sew along with the new edition of Challenge Create. Although we don't celebrate 4th of July over here, this would be a great sew, I love the three colours (red, blue & white) together. I love to combine challenges and create one look with it... This time, it was the motivation RaeAnna gave me by inviting me for her series, it made me actually make something inspired on a pin from my boards and I used the first Theme for Challenge Create, all mixed up into my daughter's new look. 

Specifically for today, I have made a romper I've been wanting to try and sew for a while. It is the Pleated Jumpsuit pattern from Heidi, of Elegance & Elephants. It is a FREE pattern in case you haven't heard of it yet (which I doubt!), so if you want to make your own, click here and grab it. You will love it, you'll see. 

You might recognise the fabric from a previous dress I made her. I didn't have much left in the stash, but I had curtains I had made many years ago with the same fabric. I picked it out of a bag, saved for too long, I wasn't using them again for sure, and it would be the perfect fabric for the romper (remember I pledged to NOT buying any fabrics for the whole year, unless I REALLY need it). 

For the lining in the romper I used scraps, it was just the right amount, a bit less and I would have to go with another one, which I didn't want to, I really like this tone of blue. Plus, it is so close to the refashioned blue fabric from the cardigan/bolero she's wearing on the photo above, to complete the look. I actually made it from left overs from a dress I refashioned for myself a while ago, sleeves and bits mostly. I self dafted it, but I have to fix it on the back, it ended up too wide on the back. 

I went with the 2-3 size for the romper, always believing it'd be too big for my skinny lady. I was fine with that though, because if I make things bigger, they will last for longer. And we all know kids grow a lot through summer time (which is just starting)... I was so surprised it fits so good already, normally when I pick the pattern size by age (and not measuring) it ends up too big, too wide, too something... but it looks perfect and she seems to love it. 

But, if you came here looking for rompers inspiration, and were brave enough to read all through this, you might want to check the Bubblicious Romper I made and blogged about last month, mashing up two different patterns. And I have three more rompers to share this week here in my blog. All I can tell you right now, is that I made two of them for my little boy, and it's from a free pattern too, and I used Heidi's pattern again... with a different fabric and print. 

RaeAnna, has prepared a lot of great prizes, so you have the change to get them. Here's how...

There are 6 ways to win!  The first three will be through a link party and voting!  First place will be given to the romper creation with the most votes, then 2nd place and 3rd place!

And there are also three prizes to be given away through a Rafflecopter entry!

1 winner will receive a yard of Ann Kelle fabric

1 winner will receive a PDF pattern by Mouse House Creations

1 winner will receive a PDF pattern by Sewing Mama RaeAnna

You have until June 28th to upload your romper creation photo!  Voting will begin on June 21st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember to also check and follow her Pinterest Board, for some inspiration and if you have your own rompers to share, link them to her Link Party.

LINK PARTY

Welcome to the 2014 Romper Week!
You are welcome to link up any romper you have made in 2014 - baby rompers, boys, girls, women, they are all welcome!

We will begin voting on June 21st and the top three entries to the link party will walk away with an awesome prize!!(Voting will be 1 vote per IP address....recruit your friends to send votes your way! We will keep voting open until June 28th)

First place - the most votes - will receive:$30 credit to Girl Charlee
Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Romper
Blank Slate Pattern Retro Romper

Second place:Riley Blake Fat Quarter Bundle
Shaffer Sisters Betty Skirt Pattern
Winner's Choice Sewing Mama RaeAnna Pattern

Third place:Fat Quarter Shop Fat Quarter Bundle
Winner's Choice Muse of the Morning Pattern

An InLinkz Link-up

House full of Pandas |PR&P9#1|

Season 9 of Project Run & Play has kicked yesterday with the first theme being Take me to the Zoo. Goal: create an outfit inspired on our/our kid's favourite animal, trying to stay away from costumes though. 

Ever since I saw the themes, I've spent a while thinking about it. I wanted to make something for the baby, then something for G. and just couldn't decide. I thought about the elephant shirt idea (maybe later, because it's really cute), then cats because we've got two, the shark hoddies and then I kept seeing teenagers wearing cute Panda hoodies... 

And it hit me! I want to make Panda inspired clothes for my kids too. They are just too cute and sweet, and they are black and white and G. loves Pandas because of Canal Panda. I only had to decide what to do. I wanted to do something quick and easy because, you know, I've been having lots to sew (with a couple pattern testing in the middle too). So, I didn't get to be that creative. I used other's creativity and just made my takes on some things I had seen online.

First thing on the list. I had to get that Panda hoodie done for one of my kids. Which one? Well, let's start with the baby, shall we?! Now, if you still don't know it... because I have mentioned it to some friends but haven't said it clear out here, the baby that's on the way is a... roll drum... baby BOY! And my first sewing project for him and him only was this hoodie. You can imagine how much I love it, right?!

Especially because I have used one of his sister's shirt that doesn't fit anymore and I wasn't going to put him on. It was all fury, with finishing details in pink, such as the ruffles in the sleeves and hem, the pink bias in the collar and the flower embroidery in the front. 

So, the first thing I did was to deconstruct everything. I used the back of the original one to make my hoodie's front. Lucky for me, instead of pink too, the snaps on it were white. I then used the sleeves to draft new, without the puffiness of the original ones (another girly feature I wanted to get rid of). Those original white sleeves were transformed into the Panda's head. For the black parts I used some velvet I had in my stash for years. And I used rib knit for the cuffs that I had saved from previously refashioned (men) hoodies. 

When I was done with it, I just knew I had to make something for my big girl. I had seen an online Panda look that I loved and wanted to re-create that too. I was running out of any refashionable item to make the mismatched striped leggings, but I had this t-shirt from dad in my pile, and the word fashion standing out caugh my attention. I still could make a mismatched pair of leggings for her. 

But before I made the leggings, I finally made an Izzy top (free PDF pattern). I've been wanting to try this pattern since the day I first saw it over Climbing the Willow. I've seen wonderful pieces created with it, but was always postponing it. No more. I finally tried it myself and am a fan. I didn't line mine though, I used a white t-shirt from my stash to refashion, and the black ribbon knit for the bias again. I also made mine about 2-3 inches longer than the pattern. So it looks more like a dress than a top. I still haven't tried it on my girl.

I followed instructions and used the button tab and everything. But I forgot I wasn't lining, I was using bias instead and the tab had to go over it. I don't dislike it though, looks different but in a good way. I should have made the button tab just a bit longer for it to look better. It almost didn't have enough lengh to actually close. I've used a metallic snap.

For the eyes and ears of the Panda, I used sequined fabric I had in my stash, I added interface to make it stiffer. I embroidered the muzzle in a light pink. Half way through it I thought I could use a slightly darker thread but was too lazy to undo and redo it all over.

And that's it from me. There's a lot more inspiration for kids animal inspired clothes at the link party over PR&P. 

KCW and a pratical knock it off

I'll start with a statement. 

I am cheap. 

I don't refashion and re-use just because it is fun and pushes my creativity. Well, it does that too and I  much appreciate it. But the main reason why I do that is because I live on a budget. We have one only income and it's not that much, so how can I feed my hobby and love for sewing when everything is so expansive (for me at least!)? You have to become resourceful when you find yourself in this situation. 

It has been KCW from the 27th 'til today. Everytime KCW happens, I plan to behave and sew along the entire week and get great things done. In my dreams, of course! This time is was illness that didn't allow me to organize for the event. Still, it seams I always squeeze something at the last minute. Of course, it isn't something beautiful or much interesting. I went practical. I tried to get something done, which was needed and always postponed, left behind for things that could have actually waited a bit more. 

So, my kid went to a daycare center back in September and she needed a school overall like the other kids. I ordered it as all moms and waited, and waited and waited for it to come. Over a month it arrived and it was painful for me to pay 20€ for it. I mean, it wasn't even well finished or anything, I'm sure those buttons are nearly falling by now. So, what does a smart sewing momma do? Go run to the fabric store and buys blue, yellow and red fabric... I knew I had a quite enough of the similar orange and when I organized my fabric stash a while ago I realized I didn't need the red either. Anyway... I bought the three pieces of fabric - just enough for the overall, and spent less than 4€... Mmmm interesting! I could make 5 of these with the 20€. 

But, as I mentioned this has been postponed ever since and I was getting tired of hurrying washing the bought one everytime it came home. and it's winter so it doesn't dry that easy, and yes, I do have a dryer but I refuse to make it work with one piece in it only. So, I finally did the overall this weekend. Started and saturday morning and almost finished, but then I started to feel dizzy again (blood pressure hasn't been nice lately), and I had to stop until sunday, when I finally made the button holes and sewn all buttons to it. Also had to add the pocket (and only realised it's not even when I edited these photos - gotta take it off an do again!), and handstitched her name on it. 

Knock it off |sew along|

So, I told you about this dress I've been sewing lately. What I didn't tell you is that it was a knock off I had planned when I started it back in January. The KCW was the starting point for me to get my hands on it again, and the knockoff series over Heidi's blog was the perfect timing for me to show the finished product. 

It was done yesterday after dinner. But I thought it was too long, and unpicked, cut and pin in place again. I didn't feel like continuing sewing after that and only finished it this morning. It took me about 5 minutes. 

The inspiration (original) piece was the dress romper from the cathalogue from LaRedoutte. It costs 59,99€... I really liked it, but there's no way I was going to pay basically 60€ plus postage to order it. Especially when I could hit it for free! No cost at all. Oh I am so lucky I can sew some. 

I'm so sorry I haven't got a better picture of the original. =( But I guess it's enough to compare, right?!

I did make a few changes though, and I think it got even better... at least for me! errr...

Most important thing: baby G. loved it and did not refuse to use it. That's a bonus. But she was too moody today for photos. Too bad!

Again, I used fabric and supplies that I already had. The dark denin was given to me by my mother-in-law, and the lining are left overs from single sized sheets that I have turned into crib sheets. Since I didn't have 8 of the same colour buttons, I tried playing with them and mixed two tones of blue. What do you think about it? Honest answers are needed, please!

Oh, and just because I am very satisfied with it, here's one more picture. 

KCW. Day 6 and the forgotten romper dress

I said I was done when I finished the only thing I did for the Kids Clothes Week. And I really thought I was , but it seems I just couldn't let it pass like that, when a thought came across my mind. All the way back to January, I started a new romper dress for my daughter, but then I went for the PR&P challenges, then there was Sew in Tune, the Pinterest Challenge, Sew-vivor, The Sew Off, Peques de Cine and April is ending and the romper dress was nowhere to be seen anymore. After I found it, I couldn't find the rest of the fabric - apparently I kept them separated! I spent 1h over midnight searching for it yesterday, because I really wanted to give it another try before the KCW was over. 

I'll try to do it today. Since January the only thing I did was sewing the pockets about two days ago. But later today I'll be off to spend the weekend over my parents.

Sewing Challenges

Apparently all the sewing blogsphere is busy with this week's challenge:

see more HERE

I'm still not sure if I will participate or not. I'm still feeling so so tired! At least my little girl feels well again. It was an entire week having her sick, she's so thin it hurts me... 

Here's something else tempting... I love knock it offs...

see more HERE

I just might sew along too, not sure. I won't say I will anyway, because I was so sure I could sew along Project Run and Play, but only managed to get the 2 first weeks finished. I had wonderful plans for week 3 and 4 but oppssss I missed it! So, for the next challenges I'll just hope on them and see what happens. 

Peques de Cine II

more about it HERE 

This challenge, consisted in creating a knock-off from a movie or series that we like. And then, after recreating the look, we should try to recreate a scene from the movie/series. So, as you can guess, I couldn't do that with a sick kid. I mean, she doesn't always collaborate when she's ok, wonder how it'd be with her sick?! Besides, I would never bother her with my sewing obsessions when she's not feeling well, 'cuz no matter how much I love those internet "things", I'm a mom first and have to care for her.

I chose the movie Pan's Labyrinth, which I love to death! I remember watching it on the cinema with V. back in 2006, and we were the only ones in the room. People thought it was a kid's movie... can you believe it? It's a brutal movie that mixes up a world of fairies and the Spanish Civil War. It's not a movie for kids, for sure. 

source

I knew I wanted to choose a child character for my project after I did a few researches through Tim Burton's movies (he's the man, what can I say?!), and was madly in love with Christina Ricci's character clothing, specially the black and white dress from Sleepy Hallow.

source

I mean, I'd love one of those for myself. I also adored, Sweeny Todd's wardrobe, but they weren't kid appropriated and I didn't have a light on how to make them look like so.

source

I then thought of some movies I enjoyed that had kids on it, and of course, Pan's Labyrinth was my final destination. Ophelia (the character I chose), is a girl that dresses simple vintage dresses, with enchanting details... pleats, slight ruffles on the cuffs and necks. I had three picks, and I went for the nightgown she wears most of the time on the screen. Only because it was the one I could get clear (or clearer) pictures from.

That was also my choice, because the nights are getting warmer and I thought that a nightgown would be something she would wear. I mean, I am sewing to save, right? So, there's no point to sew something that wouldn't be wearable on a daily basis.

I made it a size 3, when she's not yet a 2, but I wanted to make sure it'd last for a while.
I addapted a pattern from an old french Burda magazine, it was from a plain dress, and it had a zipper on the back, so I had to adapt it to have a button placket on the front of the bodice and shape the collar into a peter pan collar too. I had a little trouble with it, and had to do and undo the collar a few times until it got just perfect.

I used a small white lace to embellish my collar. Other details I added was the piping on the cuffs, and the waistband. The sleeves are puffier than the original, because I didn't make any changes to the original pattern on that matter, and I like it better this way. It even looks more puffier on her, because it's still a bit too big for her. The skirt has some pleats but it was kept simple, since I couldn't really tell how the original was made. And I even watched the movie again, especially for this challenge. 

And to finish, here's an overall look G.'s new nightgawn. 

I didn't want to push her too much, she's still not feeling 100%. And besides that, she's still too young to understand why she should pose this way or that way. It was just fun to see her walking around with it, and realise she enjoyed it. 

While I was sewing it, she was asked What's mommy doing? - Pants! She answered. lol

If you liked this, check out the flickr group too.