Girls BundleUp Tour

I am one of the latest bloggers joining the BundleUp tour, so, I guess by now, you've already seen all the patterns in the bundle and have probably get yours too. If not, or if you don't even know what I'm talking about, let me tell you. This is a bundle sell of 11 patterns at a fraction of the cost, in this case especially designed for girls. The more patterns you buy, the more you save. 

Today I get to tell you about three patterns included in this bundle. I was a (happy) tester for two of them, and I did get the third one for free for this tour, but all opinions are my own.

Phresh Blazer by Winter Wear Designs
Let me start with the first one I tested, and let me tell you, one of my favourite patterns ever!!! It was so hard to keep it secret after I did my first (test). I have discovered, as I was putting clothes up in her closet, that I love to sew outerwear for my girl. So it's no surprise that I love this pattern so much. This is the cutest little girls blazer, sizes 1-14, and there are many options to make it your style. It is fitted, long or 3/4 sleeves, gathered or straight sleeve, with or without ruffles on the back (the most adorable feature I know, I skipped them for this one but have done them in the first blazer - which I will be blogging about soon). With or without welt flap pockets. Pattern recommends fabric with some stretch, but you can really use any fabric, just size it up one number. The first blazer I made was a 2T, but it turned out too tight on my little miss because she - apparently - grew in a few weeks since I had measured her. For this one, because I was using a not so stretchy faux leather, I went with size 4 and it's great. I did the straight, 3/4 sleeves option here, and I added the pockets too. The colour blocking on this one is my own, I refashioned leftovers from a coat and it wasn't enough so I had to grab another coat to finish, which was already cut, but it was a different colour though. I didn't have enough of any of these two to make the sleeves one colour only, so I had to get creative and added a band to each sleeve, and prayed that it would work. For the facings I used the same fabric I used for the pants, and I used a black homemade satin bias tape. Because the faux leather doesn't fray, I didn't bother to finish my edges. Little miss loved it too. When I was laying down the clothes for her to put them on, she realised there were two new mommy mades so she asked me "Are we taking pictures, mom?". I couldn't help but smile. 

Freestyle Harem Pants by EYMM
After testing the blazer, the chance to test the pants came along. As soon as I read "harem" pants, I jumped at the oportunity and was so glad I was picked. It was a pattern that I was really missing in my stash. I love the harem pants look, either on my kids or myself, and the only pattern of the same style I had didn't go many sizes up. This one goes from NB to 18T and includes a 18" doll size too. How great is that to get your daughter and doll matching?! And if you are petite as I am, you can even make a pair for yourself too. Actually, I got the bug of making either this or the blazer (or even both) for myself. Who knows?! Anyway, there are 3 lenght options for this: pant, capri or short. You can also do a regular hem, add elastic or use a cuff. There are pleats on the front. The waist band has two options too, one straight or curved on front. Two rows of elastic on the back (in my size, other sizes might have more). I opted for the pant lenght, elastic hem and curved waistband, which is something I love. I didn't use interfacing in this one but I might next time. This is a size 3T and the fit is spot on. I used a vintage satin from my stash. It was there for years and it was given to me by my MIL. I wasn't sure about this fabric print ever since, but because of the drape I tried it on. I wasn't sure at first, but I guess I've learnt to like it. Honest opinions, please?!
Ps - if you'd like to get a version with pockets, click here for a tutorial. 

For the photoshoot we used her new boots which she loved, and we styled the outfit with a rtw shirt, a handmade beret my mom made her (I have a matching one =D), and a scarf I made her, out of leftovers from a previous refashion. It was actually made a long time ago, but I have never blogged about it.

"Adeline" Knit Ruffled Cardigan, Top and Dress by Foo Foo Threads 
I've said this many times before, I know, but I am saying it again. I am not a very ruffly person. I like them here and there, but most of the times I avoid ruffles. When I first saw the "Adeline" pattern though, I was sure I wanted to sew this up, because I saw the potential beyond the ruffles. Hence, my non-ruffled-at-all version of this pattern. The "Adeline" comes with multiple options, and you can make a cardigan (hello!), a drop waist dress or a top with it, with an adorable peter pan collar. As for the sleeves, you can make them gathered, long (with or without ruffles) or short, and even sleeveless. It ranges from size 0-3M to 10Y. It is meant for knit fabrics and the bodice is lined.

For my own, I choose to make a cardigan and I skipped the lining in this one because it was already a sort of heavy knit. It is a refashioned piece too, of course. I used a woman's sized shirt to make it. For the collar, I also used a little piece I had left from another recent refashion for the boy. When asked what she liked best, contrasting collar, or the same fabric, my daughter picked the contrasting, so grey up it is. I used bias tape made out of the same fabric to finish the front pieces and also the collar inside. I opted to add only one button on top to close it instead of a full row of them. I like it this way.

Little miss wasn't so much in the mood for a photoshoot this time. Dad and I both tried to take some nicer shoots but even ourselves, we weren't feeling very inspired. Perhaps because the weather is changing again and a very cold wind was coming. This time we used a rtw shirt and handmade shorts, a refashion from 2013 (and yes, they still fit all along).

It was a pleasure for me to follow up and be part of this tour. Here's a list of everyone who has been blogging about the patterns in the bundleUp. Believe me there have been great things shown, you don't want to miss all the great work from this talented ladies. 

|day 2| Refashion Month Guest: Ari from Max California

I'm not really sure when exactly I found my first guest blog, all I know is I became a fan right away! Today I am introducing you the creative lady behind Max California. Ari was the winner of Season 6 of Project Run & Play and we have competed together for the Sew Off too, her boy designs are the best always, so check out her blog if you don't know it yet!!! 

Hello! I'm Ari from Max California! I was super stoked when Magda asked me to be a part of Refashion July, as recycling and refashioning clothes is a MASSIVE part of my DIY aesthetic. I was cutting up band t-shirts and re-constructing them into  new shirts or skirts for myself and my friends when we would go to gigs (pre-motherhood!). Most weekends I would be found on the floor of my sewing space hacking up a t-shirt last minute literally as everyone was walking out the door to jump in the taxi to take us out! These days, I sew less for me and more for my kids, but I still have a huge pile of clothes that I use more than fabric meterage! During Project Run & Play I made friends with an awesome little lady who will be showing her stuff off here later this month, Suzanne from Winter Wonderings. She wrote an amazing summary post about the cost of competing that really struck a chord with me, and made me more determined to refashion old clothes instead of buying new clothes or new fabric. Since the competition I have bought only a few metres of lycra for a costume commission and some fleece for Vince's Sonic Hoodie, All my sewing since February has been out of my stash of fabric and clothes! Today I'm going to talk about the two ways I go about refashioning! The first way is to see a shirt, or a pair of pants, and cut them down to size. Resizing them to fit you or your small ones. Finding a dress that is a few sizes too big and cutting it down to a dress that will fit you. Or doing the reverse! I have found kids tees I loved, then adding fabric to make them larger and fit me! Of course it's not all just complete resizing. You may see a skirt that you like the buttons and features on it, and re-use those features into something completely different. The second way is to view the clothing you are going to refashion as fabric. This is the way I use mostly and the way that I am going to demonstrate to you today! When I got to the op-shops things that catch my eye mostly are the patterns on fabrics. Or even just plain fabrics, it's easier to find a colour I want in a second-hand shirt than new off the bolt at the fabric store. In my stash of 'clothes to cut up' I had this old singlet from my sister with roses on the front, and this nightie I bought from the op-shop when I was pregnant (It was super comfy but it needs new life!)

I decided to make Edison a few Bimaa Sweaters, since I love the cowl-neck on her and we are heading to New Zealand in a month for a family vacation! It is going to be FREEZING and the Bimaa Sweater is my go-to layering piece for her wardrobe. (PS. I'm not affiliated with Lou Bee Clothing at all, I just really dig Sarah's patterns! I was not paid/bribed to pimp her stuff, it's just seriously that awesome.) I decided that the singlet would be the main body of the shirt, and the pattern on the nightie would be for the cowl and cuffs. I wasn't sure if I was going to manage to squeeze out the sleeves from the singlet as well, but the side-seams were very flat and on the *outside* of the shirt rather than the bulk being on the inside. So I cut the sleeves out of the side-seam sections that I normally would discard.

Check out my scraps! The white singlet is on top, and as you can see there is HEAPS of the maternity nightie left! The finished result? Well, see for yourself!

 You can see in the sleeve up there the side seam of the original shirt!

Now I have heaps of leftovers for maybe some little matching leggings?

You can check out other things I have recycled and refashioned by checking out my Recycling Clothes tag on my blog! Thank you so much for having me Magda!

Baby Leg Warmers and a little extra

Please excuse the mess behind us and the fact that I still was wearing my pajamas ;)

I just realised that there's a few things handmade in this photo, when in fact I only wanted to picture one. hehehe

That thing I was hoping to take the shoot to was the adorable leg warmers baby G. is wearing. They were made by my mother. This is the second pair, she actually made a pink/salmon pair before, but G. hasn't used them yet, and this one is by far much cuter. Mom had made two pairs before for my nice. She's a quick knitter. The same can't be said about me. I could only stitch one way, and it was straight, I never knew how to start, and easily forget how to end something. Not to say I would take months to actually finish anything i'd knit. 

Though a few weeks ago, I asked mom to  p l e a s e  teach me again (!), I wanted to make G. a scarf. And I have learnt how to start it on my own. Mom tried to thaught me but I was being a very slow learner and she quit. =( Shame one me. But then, I decided I was going to pull it through, and after a single try I made it. I finally understood how to make it. 

Only a couple of weeks after, the scarft was done. what?! But baby G. won't let me put it on her. Not even to take a single picture =( So I had no choice but to use a bear as a model. At the edges of the scarf I attached two pompoms. I didn't make a pompom in years, and I made them amazingly fast. Hurray for me!

My next goal is to make her a bonnet... f e a r  i t! 

I actually finished another knitting project right before I started the scarf, but it still needs a little button touch and then I will share it. 

Now let's get back to the beggining of this post. Let me just point out the other handmade stuff showing on the photos above. 

First thing is the hair clip hanger baby G. is holding on her hands. It was a blank canvas I turned into a clip hanger, and it matched the decor in her room. It is made of the same fabric I used for her curtains, bed cover, pillow, and crib protectors. 

Second thing is the sock monkey I have showed you here. 

Third thing, is the clip with the red flower on it. I made it a while ago, way before she was born.