Newborn Onesie for my nephew

Scroll down for english, please. 

Não sei se alguém se recorda, mas em 2014, um pouco antes do meu filho nascer, fiz-lhe dois bodies com um molde que eu mesma desenhei e que partilhei aqui no blog para quem queira usar também. Pois bem, desde esses dois não tinha tido oportunidade de voltar a fazer mais nenhum até que soubemos que a minha cunhada mais nova ia ter um menino. O menino já fez uma ano em Outubro - só para terem noção de há quanto tempo costurei este último.

I don't know if any of you can remember, but, back in 2014, just a little before my son was born,I made him two onesies with a self drafted pattern that I later shared on the blog for anyone to use. Well, I haven't made anymore of these ever since, until I knew my sister-in-law was having a baby boy. The baby boy was one in October - so you can have an idea of how long ago I sewed this latest one. 

Tinha apenas um metro deste tecido que comprei na Feira dos Tecidos numa visita a Lisboa para me encontrar com algumas amigas das costurices. Logo ali fiquei encantada com ele e pensei em fazer um pijama ou qualquer coisa assim para o meu filhote. E uns meses depois foi mesmo isso que fiz e que já foi partilhado aqui. Com o pouco que me sobrou desse metro de tecido consegui fazer este body.

I had bought just one meter of this fabric at Feira dos Tecidos, when I went to Lisbon to meet some of my sewing buddies. Right there I fell in love with it and thought about making some pajamas for my son or something like that. A few months after, that's exactly what I did, which I have shared here. With the little fabric Ihad left I was able to make the onesie. 

Não resisti a tirar esta foto acima, para comparar os tamanhos. Em cima o minúsculo body para o meu sobrinho, por baixo apenas a parte de cima do pijama que fiz para o meu filho em tamanho 2 anos. Fazer roupa para recém nascidos é uma coisa extremamente ternurenta.

I didn't resist taking the photo above, just so you could compare sizes. On top the tiny onesie for my nephew, and underneath only the top portion of the size 2 pajamas I made for my son. Making newborn clothes it's extremely cute. 

Como já mencionei acima, o molde é meu e só o tenho neste tamanho, a quem interessar, podem encontrar tanto o molde como o passo a passo para o mesmo aqui. Tem opção de manga curta ou manga comprida. Na altura para o meu filho fiz um de cada. É um projecto que requer o domínio de algumas técnicas e que dependendo da vossa experiência poderá levar mais ou menos tempo, o que eu acho pessoalmente é que vale a pena. Eu senti-me imensamente satisfeita ao terminar cada um dos que fiz até aqui.

As I mentioned above, it is a self drafted pattern, one size only, if you're interested you can find both pattern and instructions to sew it right here. It has a long and a short sleeve option. Back when I made my son's I did one of each. It is a project that requires some techniques knowledge and according to your experience might take more or less time, in my opinion, either way it is worth making. I did feel so pleased when I finished each one of them. 

É também uma oportunidade excelente de dar uso àqueles pequenos retalhos de tecidos que adoramos mas que não são suficientes para nada. Deixo abaixo - para quem ainda não viu - os exemplos dos que fiz para o meu filho também. No meu caso reciclei outras peças de roupa para os fazer, usando o color blocking. Ficaram bem giros e diferentes do que se costuma encontrar por ai. Ou seja, mesmo a minha cara.

It is also an excelente oportunity to put those small scraps from your bin, the ones you love deeply but are never enough for any of your projects. I leave below - for those who haven't seen it yet - the examples I made for my son too. In my case, I refashion other pieces to make them, using some color blocking. They got pretty awesome and different from those rtw around. So, just so me. 

Suit for my baby boy

When I first knew about my niece's wedding, first thing I thought was "what will I sew us for the event?!" Yes, that's right! I was so happy to have an excuse to sew some fancy clothes than just the practical ones I've been sewing lately. 

A couple of weeks before the wedding I made the first outfit. And that first outfit was made for the smallest person in this house, my adorable  3m old baby boy. He looks just like a miniature man in his suit and everyone was melting over him. However, he wasn't so happy when I put it on for the first time. I was always a fan of little girls. Dresses and skirts and pretty things, after all, I learnt to sew as I created a full wardrobe for my barbie dolls as a child. Now that I have the chance to sew more often to a boy, I am surprised at how much I enjoy to do it. Before S. I would occasionally sew for my nephew but he wasn't really happy about the things I made him, and I totally understand why.

Back to the suit itself. Nahhhh, I didn't refashion this time. But I was able to use fabric from my stash. The main fabric is light grey with very thin white stripes. I bought it on sales, I guess this year already. For the vest lining I used purple satin I had left after an order (so, free fabric). For the inseam pockets and tie, I used scraps from an adorable quilt fabric. I bought the onesie for 1.99€ and that's all I spent to make it. Buttons were also in my stash forever.

Although I have a couple of vest patterns, none of them went all the way down to size 3M, but that's fine. I grabbed my favourite baby shirt pattern (used it here, here & here) and adjusted it in order to get a vest pattern. It couldn't be better. It was so easy and it's so tiny that I got it sewn in a blink of an eye.

I wasn't as lucky with the pants. I didn't have a pattern smaller than 6M with the design I was searching for, and I didn't care to draft my own this time. I had the perfect pattern, exactly what I wanted in size 6M. I guessed that would work, so I used a Burda pattern for this.

The onesie, as I said before, was store bought. All I had to do was cutting and patch a tie into it. It was a major success all through the party. I didn't try the whole thing on him until the day and as expected, the pants were a bit too large on him, but that's fine, he'll be wearing it for a little longer. The onesie was just the right size and I loved the see it on him. 

the Boggie Boggie outfit... or so daddy said

Sewing series, tours, contests or sew alongs are my very favourite thing. And I love to take part in all of them for the fact that they motivate me to get things done. You might have noticed that this blog has been kinda slow lately... if it wasn't for the weekly glimses, it would be a desert blog. If you paid attention, the latest items I have blogged about were made either for a tour or a serie, etc.

Project Run & Play - season 10 - is running and I always enjoy to sew along with their themes. This season though, I haven't sewn specifically for PR&P. I had the themes in mind and combined them to other challenges I have been sewing for. I have mentioned countless times that my baby is a crying one, not often allowing mom to sew. In the little periods that he'd nap, he would wake up screaming to the sound of the machine. The last couple of days though, he has been an angel and mom has finally been able to accomplish a few items that were on the list. 

More than anything you will still see a lot of outfits made for a serie, or a tour... (yes, there will be a few things coming until the end of the year), I will often test a pattern if I get lucky to be selected... Today though, I am blogging about something that I did without any other than PR&P theme in mind. 

So, enough blah blah blah. This is the third week already, and the theme is denim. Again, what a great motivation it was. I spent a few weeks telling myself (and hubby) that S. needed some new pair of denim pants, but time was passing and I didn't do them until this week. It's not something really original, but it's what we needed and I am determined to sew clothes that my kids need instead of sewing endless pieces that will never be worn after the photoshoot. 

Last Sunday, after putting the kids to sleep, I drafted the pattern from a pair of existing jeans from his sister (and they have the fly sewn the right way for a girl which is rare). I only did the waistband differently, using a knit waistband because he has reflux and things should not be too tight around his waist. And honestly because it was so much easier to do! 

The pants have functional front and back pockets, and front and back leg pieces aren't sewn together in the center, instead it has a snaps closure on them to allow a quicker diaper changing, a feature that I really appreciate. Sewing this style of baby pants was a first time for me, without a pattern or any instructions and it worked so much better than I expected. I get so happy over those little things. I used left overs from a pair of adult jeans that were probably cut into shorts before. It was just enough for the little man's pants and I was able to use the original hem.

So, I had the pants. Now I needed something to go with it. I first thought about making a shirt I had just tested, but my little man will be 3M on the 2nd, and this pattern's smaller size was a 6-12M. I then thought about a AC-Snappy Tee because it starts at 3M (and I have actually finished one a few days ago - will be blogged soon - I made this one and this one before) but although that is a quick sew, I needed something easier, so I refashioned a plain white onesie that came from a friend. I had just come across this post and had to try something similar. I checked through my felt stash and improvised a little green monster with pretty much three of everything. I handstitched it to the onesie and my baby's new outfit was complete. When daddy saw it, he called it the boggie boggie outfit. So be it. I am sure  he'll wear both pieces to the max as long as they fit.

oh... and forgive the fact that I didn't iron the onesie before photos! I forgot!

Refashion Month |Skirt Fixation|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

We are a mother/daughters team and we blog at Skirt Fixation about everything to do with skirts! When we signed up to be a part of Magda's Refashion Month, we had no clue what we would be refashioning! How's that for planning? But sometimes we work best when we fly by the seat of our, er, skirt! So we signed up and thought hoped inspiration would hit later. Then Magda was one of our contestants during Challenge Create: Adult Edition, and we learned a lot more about her, including that she was expecting a baby boy. By the time the contest was finished, we loved Magda and her style and her new unborn baby, and knew we had to make something for the little one. Having welcomed a baby boy to our family in April, we had a pretty good idea of what the perfect baby boy gift basket could contain! (And to make it extra special for Magda, the refashion queen, we had to include a refashion!) So here's a photo of the finished baby gift set.

 

Please come over and see which piece was refashioned and read about all the others too!

HERE

My Weekly Refashion Share #1 |FREE pattern & tutorial|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

A couple of months ago I made these two onesies for my baby boy. You can read more about them by clicking each photo.

   

They were both refashions from t-shirts, and ever since I made them, I've been wanting to share a tutorial. But not only a tutorial, you can have a FREE pattern, the one I drafted for my own. If you are expecting a baby, or have someone close to you that is, this would make a great gift, so go ahead, grab the PATTERN, print it and let's start sewing. 

Note before you start: 

- Some pattern pieces need to be taped together. In order to do that, you have to match the number on the pattern and letters A to B. Example: piece 4A to piece 4B. Tape them matching the symbols on both pieces. 

- I didn't realise it, but I've added two star pattern pieces, but just one is enough, of course. It is an optional add. 

- All seams are 1/4" except for sleeves hem, which are 1" long. (they are included in the pattern)

- Just one more thing, I've added a pattern piece for the short sleeves and one for the long sleeves option, when cutting your fabric, remember you just need one of the lenghts. 

Supplies: 

I have used t-shirts for the entire pieces. Even for the knit bias tape (in black). If you choose to add the star appliqué, you will also need just a little bit of fusible interfacing too. You can mix different fabric colours, but try to keep them from soft knit, it is a piece you're making for the delicate skin of a new baby. You will also need snaps. 

Cutting:

Start by cutting your pieces (make sure to have the right sides facing up). Information on how many to cut on each piece is on pattern and on the picture above. Besides the pattern pieces, you will need to use two tiny bits of scraps, cut them about 1"x2", fold it lenght wise and use a zig zag stitch all around the edges. You'll have two little squares you'll want to save for later. 

Sewing:

- Start by hemming both sleeves. Finish hem edges, then fold 1" towards the inside, press and stitch. This step is not pictured because I used the original hems from the t-shirts. If you're doing the same, remember to cut 1" off of the pattern piece. 

- With right sides together (RST) pin shoulders. Finish your seams (with a zigzag stitch/overlock), and press towards the back piece. 

- Place onesie with right side facing up, put sleeve RST and pin the sleeve all around (in case you have any doubts, check the colour/fabric of right and left sleeve in my onesie to check if you're doing it right). 

- Sew it and finish your seams. Press towards the sleeve. Do not repeat for the other sleeve (left side) yet. 

 

- Use one of those little scrap squares to add to the side seam in the right side of the onesie (first red arrow). When you sew the sides together it should be attached to the front side piece, and will stay in the interior of the onesie when you're done (as seen on the fouth photo below). 

- The second arrow on the first photo shows were the other little square will be added, but we'll get there a little later. 

- Put RST of the side and pin it from sleeve to bottom. Sew and finish your seams. 

- Make sure you have enough bias tape (I used about 44", but I guess it might change a little according to the stretch in your fabrics so the best thing to do is to measure all around your piece to know how much you will need, or just go, with the same measurement I've used and add an extra inch or two to be sure it will be enough. 

- Start pinning the bias tape right side of bias, facing wrong side of onesie, at the bottom of the front left side seam and go all around until you reach the bottom of the back left side (I hope it is clear in the first photo below). 

- Press seams down, turn about 1/4" and then the same again. 

- Pin and sew (on the right side) with a double needle or a zigzag stich. Don't pull your fabric while stitching, allow your machine to feed it and just guide it carefully. 

- This is how it will look when you're done with this step:

- You can add the other sleeve now, following the same steps you did to attach the first one, and can be seen on the photos below. 

- Close the left side seam. Put RST, and remember to add the second square to the seam. Pin, sew and finish seams. 

- Your onesie is almost finished. The last step consists in adding snaps. Check on pattern the places you should add them, they are marked with a circle, but you also have this photo here to help you:

And just a little more help, here's how snaps should be added:

Optional:

- I had just one extra step in my onesie. A problem that turned into garment design, I'd say. When I finished the whole thing, I realised it had two holes in the buttom of the back piece, as arrows below point to. To cover the mess, I've cut a piece from the black t-shirt scraps, used fusible interfacing to make it stiffer, used the star shapped pattern to cut an applique, pinned and stitched it on top of the holes. You can also do it to add style to your onesie, or not. Also you can apllique it in any other place of the onesie if you'd like. 

Now put it on your new baby and enjoy your newest creation. 

Tiny Little Clothes |PR&P9#4|

Last week of the ninth season over Project Run & Play and it means Signature Style everyone. Sewing along PR&P has helped me define what I'm all about when I sew for my kid(s!). I would always put a lot of thinking into this week's look, when sewing along with previous seasons, but this time, I was sure that whatever I did, was my signature, so I just did whatever I wanted/needed to do. 

Yes... I've realised I am pretty pratical and functional when it comes to dress my girl, and now the boy (on his way). I always try to fill gaps in the wardrobe, and sew from my stash or refashioning pile. That is absolutely part of me when it comes to sewing for them (or myself actually). And refashion I did again, of course. I did an outfit for the boy this time. It includes the pants I made during KCW and another onesie. I had planned two looks for this week, one for each kid, but I realised it was time to slow down a little. I started sewing her look too, but the top was left to do later, so today I'm only bringing in the boy look...

Both pieces are newborn sized. The pants (Small Fry Skinny Jeans Pattern) are 0-3M as I mentioned in the previous post, and the onesie is 0-1M size (self drafted). These are pretty tiny pieces, funny how quick we forget how small they are right after we deliver them. And how quick they'll grow out of these.

But I so wanted to make something special for my boy. He'll get a lot of onesies from his big sister (we have many neutrals), so I figured some mommy made with so much love pieces would make the difference. It's not like he'll care that much anyway, right? 

I used his sister's stained shirt for the left frontal panel of the onesie and for a sleeve. Then I used a tank top of my own for the other front panel, back and second sleeve. I used scraps from the black t-shirt I've turned into leggings for G. back in week 1, to make the bias that finishes off. On the back I've appliqued a star cut from the black scraps too. That was not decorative intention; half way through sewing the onesie I found two little holes in the fabric. That star was my way to cover them and save all the work I had had so far. I don't like the white panel like it is right now... I want to stencil something into it, but I'm still not quite sure what. Ideas and suggestions are welcomed! I still need to attach snaps to the onesie, just like the (long sleeved) first one... but I have to buy them first. 

The pants are so tiny, so cute it hurts. I have used the same fabric from my maternity shorts, scraps of blue from the overalls I made for G. back in February for the waistband and front pockets lining. I used a button from my stash but it's mainly decorative. To make it functional, I added a secret snap. It has been fun sewing for the boy for a change. I always thought my boy clothes would end too girly, but I am taking some time thinking what colours would be more appropriate for the boy, what kind of patterns would I like to use the most... just trying to figure things out in my mind and go ahead and try one after the other, bit by bit. 

So, here's my Project Run & Play, Season 9 recap...

Week 1 |Take me to the Zoo| Panda Inspired - 3 pieces (1 for the boy; 2 for the girl)

Week 2 |Spring Break| Paris Inspired - 2 pieces (for the girl)
Week 3 |Design Your Own Fabric| Potato Printing - 2 pieces (for the boy)

and of course, today's post...

Week 4 |Signature Style| 2 pieces (for the boy)

I pretty much had a black and white PR&P season... did you realise that before I even mention it? and I had plans to continuing through week 4, but changed my mind at the very last minute. The onesie has a bit of black and white flow too, but the stripes are actually of a greyish green. 

KCW |day 1| onesie for the boy

So, today starts Kids Clothes Week again. This time I decided to do things right, I've signed in the site when I read another season was coming, I have thought what I wanted to make, I printed out some patterns, etc, etc, etc. 

And it's funny, because the more I have on hands to do, the more I seem to get things done. Yesterday, after bedtime, I was able to make a plastic bags dispenser (an order for a costumer), finish up editing my entry for the second week of Challenge Create, and even cut the fabric pieces for the actual garment I sewn today. 

Today, the results from Challenge Create for the first week were up (and the link up for week 2 sew along is open too!) and I got a lovely second place, which I wasn't expecting (I was last in the viewers votes), and then I was surprised again when I knew - through a comment another blogger left me - that I won the second week's sewalong of PR&P. What a beautiful day! 

But it was also a beautiful day because it was warm and sunny, and I felt energic again, and sewn the first onesie for my baby boy. The very first thing I want him to wear after his birth. KCW has a theme this time, "Mini Me"... so in order to follow the theme, I grabbed two S tops of mine that I wasn't wearing at all. I really liked the colour but they were too short even for me. 

So, using both pieces I made the onesie. It's a newborn size (0 M), but the tops weren't enough and I had to use some scraps I had from a white t-shirt for one of the sleeves and the binding. I love it so much. It isn't 100% finished yet, I need to add some snaps still, but I'll do that after putting G. to sleep. And maybe cut a few more pieces... Oh, and by the way, the onesie was self drafted!

I've also been printing my fabric so I can sew up a quick project to enter this week's sewalong over Project Run & Play. Maybe it'll be ready to share tomorrow. So, I am sorry if I am a little late answering mails and comments, but it's been busy busy busy around here... and I still have to start my third look for Challenge Create too!!! Auch! Anyway, I'm happy for a good KCW start! What about you? Are you sewing along this week?

Two Onesie Refashions

Oh Sunday already! Another week from our Refashion Month gone. It's going so fast! Have you been enjoying it? Have you been sewing along? Don't forget to check out our Flickr Group, where sewalongers have been sharing their creations too. There's so much more to come! 

Today I am going to tell you a bit more about two items you've seen before. The two onesies I have refashioned to go along with the Harem and the Play Pants. I had those onesies bought since last summer. My first plan was to fabric paint them like I did with the playboy inspired onesie, but I never got around to it, and I thought I´d might use them now, or soon they won't fit baby G. anymore. 

So, it brings me to the day I made the Harem shorts. I was short on time and needed something quick to refashion that would match my shorts for the photoshoot. And tah-dah: I thought of the well hiden onesies. I chopped the button of one, and turned it into a t-shirt. 

I had scraps from a striped t-shirt of mine that I had cut long ago, to make a comfy waistband for my jeans during pregnacy. That was a tight small shirt and I had basicly the top and sleeves left. So I actually used it to almost 100% to create the look above. I used most of it to make the short's cuffs and then I was able to cut a little stripe to add on the bottom of my newly made toddler t-shirt. 

I've also switched the original sleeves for the ones from the original striped shirt. Of course I had to resize them first. 

To make the detail on front, I used little scraps from the fabrics used in the shorts, and made bigger and smaller petals applied with the reverse applique technic which was something new to me. 

And I enjoyed it so much that I had to use it in another onesie. This one was even quicker, since all I had to do was making a little M pattern (traced by me), and applying it to the onesie. A few minutes and voila, it looks like a complete new one. 

Just because they were such an easy and quick projects, I even had some time to make a matching hairclip with scraps from the play pants (same fabric used for the onesie, of course), to make it all matchy as a gift for my little niece.