Best Of - City Gym Shorts

So I was supposed to be writing about something else today but I made shorts yesterday and I am so excited about them I had to post. These shorts. Wow. No I know what you are thinking….they are just shorts but seriously. How. Cute. Are. They. 

These shorts are the possibly the biggest bang for your buck sewing project I have ever made. And here is why….they are;

• Free - the pattern is free and you can find it here on the ever inspiring Purl Bee. They are called the City Gym Shorts and it is a free pattern for kids size 2 right through to womens size 46 hip. Who doesn't love The Purl Bee?
• Fast - super fast. I think they took me about an hour per pair.
• Cheap - They can be made from scraps as they need tiny amounts of fabric and look great in two fabrics so you only need a small amount of each one.
• Long lasting - what I mean by this is that you can make them two sizes too big (which I love doing for small people as they grow so damn fast!) and they still look ace. They would look better obviously if they fit her but they still look super cute. The photos show size 8/9 on a 6yo who is nearly 7. 
• Beautifully finished - for how truly simple these are, and for how easy and fast they are to put together, you get a beautifully finished garment.
• Cute - I mean come on! Kid legs in floral liberty gym shorts are possibly the sweetest thing ever.

So a couple of quick notes.

1. Part of why these flew together was that I don't pin at all - right up until attaching the waist band! You do need to pin the waistband. If you are an advanced beginner then give not pinning a try. Even the binding. Just go slow around the corners and you will be fine. The worst that can happen is that you need to unpick a bit. With a bit of practice, less pinning will make you very happy and very fast. Note that not pinning will not work as a sewing strategy on slippery fabric, or things like armholes. Or gathers. Maybe I need to write an actual post on things I do to speed up sewing?
2. When preparing the waistband and ironing the edges towards the centre crease (this will make sense when you see the pattern) I make a small change. I ironed one side perfectly to the middle, as directed, but then ironed the second side about 1 or 2mm back from the centre. This means that this second side is slightly wider than the first. When you initially attach the right side of the waistband to the inside of the shorts, attach the side that was ironed exactly to the middle, so the skinnier side. This simple change means that when you flip the waistband over it easily covers the stitch line. I wish I had taken a photo for you! This is a really simple change that makes things much easier and neater.

I talk about my favourite shorts for small boys in this post about Happy Homemade V2 (apologies for the gender streaming!) but I've included a picture of them below to whet your appetite. They are a fantastic project. 

So City Gym shorts - one of my favourite sewing projects ever! Are you a fan?

Felicia x

Best Of - Small Girl Frocks

I would estimate that over the last six or so years I have made at least 40 small girl frocks. Some thrown together, and some laboured over with intense amounts of love, patience and ultimately joy. So today I wanted to talk about the one that has truly become my absolute favourite and why it is I keep making it over and over again.

To set the scene I'll tell you what I need from a girls dress. I want something

• That is comfortable.
• They will get a few years out of - in other words that i can make two sizes too big without it looking odd.
• That covers their shoulders - due to the super harsh Australian sun.
• That is flowy and cool. 
• That is not precious or fussy.
• That layers well.
• That goes together quickly but is finished beautifully.
• That can handle the rough and tumble of being worn by a small person*.

And out of all the patterns I have tried over the years there is really only one that fits the bill. Drum roll please….

Her favourite version - the bear dress!

The Geranium Dress

So first the details. It is made by the super clever Made By Rae as a downloadable pattern with two versions - Version 1 has sizes from newborn to size 5 and then Version 2 has sizes from 6-12.  This pattern is so worth the few dollars. Like all of Rae's patterns there are a heap of different variations written into the pattern. Have a look here at the flickr group to get a good idea of just what can be made. 

I make a single variation but it also comes with a different neckline, with ruffles at the shoulders or with a more traditional tank shaping. Being lazy in many ways, I tend to just pick a version and stick with it so I don't have to redraft it. That said, when a version is this pretty why bother with others?

So what is to love about it. As well as being all that I mentioned above, I think my real love comes from the ease with which it comes together (even if you are a beginner!) AND the beautiful finish of the dress. If you were to french seam the side seams of the skirt then there are no exposed seams. There is absolutely nothing fiddly about this frock.

The next thing I love is the fit. It is really comfortable. There is nothing constraining about it. It doesn't pull. It covers the shoulders but doesn't restrict their movement. And then whether you are teeny baby or 8yo then this frock works so beautifully. It isn't fussy. It is sweet, but made with a slightly sturdy fabric is perfectly suitable for climbing trees - tucked into your undies of course!

I've realised as I have been posting these photos that actually I really really love the back view of the frock. Pretty buttons make it!

Perfect dress in the extreme heat of the tropics.

And for the beach.

My middle one came up today - the first hot day we have had in weeks - and said "mama I need my flowy dress to get the air through (pointing at the armholes). It's my favourite mum!" Almost made my heart hurt with the sincerity.

Not much else to say. Try it if you were looking for a small girl frock. You won't regret it.

Oh - before I go. I just found another pattern I love the look of and really want to try. It doesn't seem quite as comfy as the Geranium as it is a bit more fitted. Nor does it have the shoulder coverage. But it is so so very sweet to look at. You can find it here.

Felicia x

* which I've also realised is a reason that I don't use solids as much as I would like….see the first photo as an example.

Best Of - The Banyan Tee

The Banyan is my go to pattern for kid's knit T-shirts - for school tees, for up-cycling and also for pyjamas. I have tried other T-shirt patterns but this is the one I come back to over and over.* I think in my time I would have made it easily fifteen times. Maybe twenty.

What I like about it is that it is a little looser - which means more growing room and more comfortable for the small people. And because I sew my knits without an overlocker the looser fit means less broken seams and a nicer finish. It is also super quick. All in all it probably takes an hour or two. And if you can make more than one at a time I think you can do it quicker. 

So the details. It is a pattern by Figgy's which is available as a pdf download from Stitch56. There are actually two different shapes. A boys shape which is looser and a girls shape which is more fitted with a different neckline and what I think is called a handkerchief hem. You can see some beautiful versions by sewers on Pinterest here. ** I adore the striped girls versions. They are next on my list.

The bit that I really really love about the Banyan is the neckline. In both the boy's and the girl's pattern, it has a lovely shape. However, my favourite thing is that I LOVE how simple it is to put on the neck band AND the total lack of fiddly-ness. Having to fiddle with a curly knit fabric to do a neckline is one of my least favourite things to do when sewing. This technique makes it super simple. 

I love this pattern so much that I asked Sophie to teach it at The Craft Sessions 2013***. You can see what was made in her class in the photos below. All of those fabrics were recycled from tees from the op shop. Sophie has also made a bunch of them for her small boys which you can find on her blog. 

Not the best photo - but fabulous garments!

I LOVE the fact that it looks wonderful with a combination of fabrics all thrown together which means that you can use small bits and pieces (I would call them scraps if I wasn't writing at ridiculous o'clock after being out with girlfriends for a glass of wine....my apologies!)

I did the same thing on the horse tee below. I took a tee that had holes in the arm, that belonged to my partner, and used the existing pattern for the front of the small boys tee. Can I tell you how happy he was that he got a new T-shirt out of a T-shirt that used to be his dad's? This is a winner all round.

Over the years, I have learnt to wherever possible make the front of the tee a dark colour. The grubbiness of small kids when eating and playing has meant the end to many a light coloured garment. By making the front piece dark I think I get an extra six months out of them before they become too feral to wear.

While I love the girls shape I often tone it down a little to make it less flappy and more practical. A version of this can be seen below in yellow - still flappy but not so much. I know literally nothing about pattern adjustment. I just wing it and redraw lines. It often works out. In the yellow version I just redrew the wings to make them less wingy. I then smoothed the curve on the bottom. It is a little wonky but she is happy. I was attempting to do the half up and half down thing inspired by Brienne but I accidentally cut off the back bit....ridiculous but true.

I have included photos of this last pink T-shirt to show you the joy of winging it and the use of the lovely Banyan neckline finish. I found this tee a month ago. Cut out and half made. I have no idea why I abandoned it - it may have been because I wasn't sure what to do with the back. I couldn't look it up because I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the pattern is. It definitely isn't a Banyan. Once I figured out that it would go over her head even if there wasn't an opening, I attached the Banyan neckline finish, then I literally just sewed the two pieces together. Dodgy but such a sweet top. Dodgy can equal joy!

Have you used the Banyan? Or is your go-to something else. I would love to hear.

Have a great long weekend.

Felicia x

*I have tried the Flashback Skinny Tee by Made by Rae - which I really like but hasn't become my basic. Again - I liked it but it hasn't become my basic tee.

** When the pattern was first released it came with some pants. So some of the pictures on that pinterest search are the pants. 

***She is back teaching this year!!

Multiple projects are the way forward

Craft is all about feeling. All about how you feel and how it makes you feel. That's why having multiple projects on the go is the way forward. It means there is a way of including craft in the everyday and therefore enriching that experience - no matter what the day brings.

So I thought I would give you a quick walk through of the projects (and the feelings) I have on the go at the moment, so you get a sense of just how mood specific it can be. 

NOTE: If your name is Simon or Julie - look away. Nothing for you to see here!! 

1. Comforted - or the long term when-there-is-nothing-else-to-do project. 

I have been making this scarf for over two years - and it will be stunning. It takes about 20 minutes to do a single row and by my calculation I have an astonishing number of rows left. It is made with cashmere though, as a special present and so it is worth spending the time. I always have this as a go-to when running out the door, when nothing else is in a fit state to take with me. This is always in it's bag, ready to go, waiting for a stitch. One stitch at a time. 

2. Love - or the bugger-this-is-boring-but-I-have-to-get-it-done project

I love love my SIL. She is sweet, kind, super-amazing smart and a great cook and one of the few people I would knit for outside of my kids. But this cardy is a hard hard slog. 5ply and nothing but stocking stitch ahead of me. I really want it to fit her and so I am slightly avoiding doing it as I'm worried it won't. Classic perfectionist avoidance - if I don't finish it then it won't be less than perfect, because it's not finished. Anyone else know about this kind of crazy??

Inspired - I'm sure you recognise the image. The irony is that I won't get to make this until the event is over.

3. Inspired - or the wow-I-feel-super-inspired-to-do-this-but-can-only-do-it-when-I-have-uninterupted-crafting-time project

I so want to start this quilt. I posted the fabrics and an idea for the design on instagram last week. But in order to do it I need some time. Not evening time as I make mistakes in the evening but about 2 hours of daylight. And it isn't happening. Weekends are out as I have a pile of small people and the daytime is currently taken up with my little side project. In my head I have already started; I have ironed the fabrics, done a small test run and it looks gorgeous. It sadly exists in pile form only - a pile that sings to me each time I walk past it in a longing and loving way.

Organised - Summer wardrobe basics

Organised - Colours and fabrics chosen by my little fella. 

4. Organised - or the kids-need-clothes project

This also exists in a pile at the moment (except for the one I did today which is pictured above). I know what needs to be done.  A couple of skirts and three pairs of small boy shorts in a hardy but soft light weight canvas or linen. No more will I be making shorts out of quilting cotton weight. That kid is playing soccer and keeps ripping the bottom's right out. Not sure how it's possible. I will be making my favourite boy's short pattern Pattern "l" from Happy Homemade. Seriously the best kid's Japanese pattern book of all time!

Fun - Love love love this pattern, fabric and small person

5. Enthused - or kids-don't-need-clothes-but-gee-this-fabric-is-pretty project

I have made a few of these dresses so far and see many more in my future. They cover the shoulders, are a sweet vintagy style and are simple to make. Pretty fabric and a great pattern = fun. Bring it on.

6. Motivated - or gee-I-can't-wait-until-this-is-finished project

I love this new knitting pattern called James. Super simple but with great shape. I started this twice and had to rip it out. Luckily I am doing this as a knitalong with my lovely friend Karen over in the US of A. Go and check her out. She is pretty amazing.....and she is now waaay ahead of me due to my false starts......competition and the promise of a super jumper is enough to keep anyone motivated.

Quick and dirty - new elastic into winter tights.

7. Frugal - or the *&%$!*& mending pile 

Nothing to say here except how on earth does this thing grow at the rate it does and why did I have so many children? 

Nurturing - Just because it will make her happy. 

8. Nurturing - or gee-I-love-my-small-people birthday project

A rabbit with a pink dress. While I love sewing felt (gorgeous feeling of the needle sliding through the felt), I hate starting it. Wrangling embroidery cotton is just plain annoying - unknotting the right colour from the big tangled mess. I might need to have a look in on Melissa's Embroidery Classes to see if she has some tips.  

But the small person will love love this rabbit. She has already named her Sophie. She and Sophie are to have matching pink dresses. I have also been asked to make baby Lucy (her doll) a matching quilt to the one she takes to bed each night. How could I say no?? 

9. Happy - or I-need-a-new-dress-or-two project

I have two to make. One is another Wiksten tank (See hundreds of gorgeous versions here). This tank is awesome. I wear this pattern more than anything else in my wardrobe. Over jeans, over leggings. Love it. (If you aren't confident about applying binding, working with light weight fabrics, french seams, handkerchief hems and beautiful finishes then sign on up to Sophie's Wiksten Tank workshop. You will finish the day with a beautiful tank and a feeling of pride and joy. What more could you ask for?). The other is a modified Darling Ranges dress by Megan Nielsen. I have made two of these before. The most wearable day to day dress ever. 

Adventurous - Started with some rough numbers and an idea.

10. Adventurous - or I-have-an-idea-and-I-want-to-try-it-out project

I've had this idea roaming around in my head for a while. Colourwork with a plain background and a single colour at a time. I love the contrast of colourwork done this way. The child doesn't need any more cardigans. But some scrap yarn was singing to me as I walked past and I really wanted to try this out. Just to see if I could make what was in my head. 

Excited - Gifts in the making.

11. Excited - or gee-I-created-this-craft-event-and-I-want-to-make-it-special project. 

No explanation necessary for this one.  

.....and there are more.

Who else needs more hours in the day??  Do you have different crafts for different moods?

Felicia x

Registration Update - Registration will close on October 10th. This lets our teachers better organise their classes and you organise your materials. Thanks for the registrations that have come in over the last few days! We will be sending the class confirmations and final materials list out to you all this week. 

"Best Of" - Happy Homemade V2

I thought I would start a mini series of the "best of" patterns/materials I go back to again and again. These are my tried and tested and repeated patterns/materials - my go-tos. Might help some of you that are looking for some ideas?? Or those of you that don't have time to shop around and just want to get to the good stuff fast - these posts might save you some time.

On that note, the proviso is of course that this is just my opinion - you might hate them. Craft can be like that. One persons water is another persons wine....or something like that. That said, this first one up can really have no arguments.....it is that good. 

Best Of Japanese Kids Pattern Books - Happy Homemade V2

We are going to start with my most used kids pattern book of all time - Happy Homemade V2. Have a quick look around the internet and you will find this book comes up more than practically any other Japanese pattern book for kids. 

This book is a fabulous all rounder that includes my favourite small person shorts/jeans pattern and my favourite skirt. Both boys and girls staples are fully covered in this book. This is my go to book at the start of a season, after they have beanpoled their way out of last years clothes and I need to do the "right - we have no skirts/pants/shorts - let's sort that out!" thing. 

When I do this kind of making I almost always make multiples at a time; like the three skirts below. It's much faster than sewing things one by one, and really gets the wardrobe situation sorted quickly. Skirts are now covered. 

Ran out of pretty washi tape - sticky tape it is my friends....

I love how this skirt makes the little waist look so sweet - even with the just-got-outa-bed-dreadlocks. It is a little vintagey, great for twirling and good for summer or winter. 

When I went looking for pants to photograph for this post I found 6 pairs of various sizes made with different modifications. This number doesn't include the shorts made from this pattern either. Or the ones I have given away. I make them using a denim with a small amount of stretch, which combined with the elastic waist makes them super comfy for playing and climbing.

The jeans/pants

There isn't actually a jeans pattern in the book. There is a pants pattern but it is very simple. The pattern I use is a shorts pattern but because of how Japanese pattern books are (you trace out the pattern from a sheet) then I just extended them to the pants line to make the shorts into jeans....have I confused you yet? Japanese pattern books often use the one base pattern and then have different variations that use the same base. So I use the shorts pattern with front and back pockets but added the length from the pants pattern to make jeans.

Happy Homemade V2 also has a gorgeous layered dress - pattern f - that I made as my middle one's birthday dress. This dress is just stunning on. Terrible for sun coverage but great as a birthday frock. Wonderful twirling potential. 

This book also has other stuff I haven't yet tried making. There are a couple of different frocks and shirts - most of which I plan on making at some stage.

The lovely Anna has made about 15 versions of the dress and shirt pattern. I just clarified with her tonight  when she popped in and she has made 2 of the dresses with the yoke and 5 shirts/frocks of the pattern with the front tie. Again great basic patterns. 

In the interests of keeping it real - here is the gorgeous frock on Anna's lovely small today- complete with the water blotch or two. 

The lost buttons = true love? This frock has been worn fairly constantly for the last few years.

The book has pretty much every basic clothing type covered. Shorts, pants, skirts, shirts, hoodies and dresses. When I purchased it many moons ago it was only in Japanese. Thankfully it is now also in English. That said, it is for someone who has some basic skills - not a complete beginner as the directions are a bit on the vague side. They show you what order to do everything but not how to do it. 

Favourite short/jeans pattern

Favourite skirt pattern (and the shorts)

One of Anna's favourite frocks

I love this hoodie. I have plans to get there soon.

Beginners: If you are looking for some good kids patterns for beginners please try  Made By Rae - for great everyday kids clothes that are quick and easy to sew  or Oliver and S - for more formal, incredibly beautifully finished clothes. Both of them include great instructions and I promise you that you will come out from making them knowing more than you did at the start. 

Do you have Happy Homemade V2? Is there another Japanese kids pattern book you love more?  

And are you interested in me doing more of these types of posts?

Felicia x