Butterick 5313 - top and dress

I'm really proud of this..
This is one great pattern!

It started as a simple dress for me..
I made size XXX. I had to widen it a bit on the hip because I'm a bit wider there.. and wide it even a bit more where the dress goes below the hips. but not too much. I first made an attempt that didn't work, the neck binding didn't look good... so for the next try I also interfaced the neck before putting the binding. It was much better..
I also decided that for my purposes there is no need to separate the front top and front middle parts. I cut them together..
This is the dress I made

I think it looks OK. It will look better if I were proper leggings... don't you think?
Then I thought of something.. I have a dress, that I bought years ago... hot red dress. I like it, but the color is too "live" for me... and I don't wear it. Anyway, it has an interesting upper part, and I thought I could make something similar using butterick 5313...
Here's what I did..

I LOVE it!
Here's what I did (I wish I had documented this with photos... because I'll make this again, I know it!
Icut the top front and back as a single piece from the upper top and lower top pattern pieces, I did not cut the skirt for this attempt...
I then cut the front upper top part again... just a bit wider (I didn't place the pattern piece on the fold... about 1/4 inch from it, making the piece just a bit wider), I also made the shoulders a bit narrower (making the neck opening a bit wider).
Am I making myself clear????
I'll take photos the next time I make it!
Following I placed that piece on the front full piece.. right on right, but the 'half top piece' turned in the middle. I sewed the pieces together and following just treated this as the front piece.
I finished the next with interfacing and folding... I thought binding wouldn't look good..
I'm really proud of this top! I usually just follow the pattern's instructions.. but this time I experimented.. and I love it! I'm thinking of making a dress with this top part... Next week is my sister's wedding and if I have the time... it might look good...

The pattern Review:
Easy, simple, cute little dress. The sizing is the same,as all big 4 pattern companies.
The instructions are very clear. Really... nothing much to it!
Changes from the original pattern:
well, a lot..
* cut the upper and lower top parts together
* interfaced before binding
And in my second version. well... all that I listed above.
I'll be making this more times.. as a dress (not to myself - make the top a bit wider in the hip next time!!!!) Possible also as a long sleeve top for the winter... Bye for now!

Swimming suits

Hi all.. We are preparing for the Summer now... Last year I made Modkid swimming suits. Posted right here... Love that pattern
But the swimming suits from last year are still good.. so I thought I should make the new swimming suits using another pattern.
I chose this one. from YCMT. I was going for the ruffled one, but my girls feel they are too old for this. Can you believe it??? Too old for suffles????
Anyway, regarding this pattern.. I choose the higher range of sizes, thinking it's good.. it would be good for a couple of more years.. making the price of the pattern OK.
The pattern is nice, the instructions are very good... I made the basic suit and it turned out really nice, except that it was SMALL!
I started with size 10 for my 9.5 years old... it was so small... My girl is not tiny, not at all.. but she's not that big either. I gave my 6 years old the 10 sized suit and made the biggest size (14 I think) for my 9.5 years old. It was still too tight! I enlarged it a bit and made it the third time! This time the fabric made troubles, was very slinky and even my serger wouldn't sew it nice! and the result is a swimming suit that fit, and it looks OK,.. but when you look up close it doesn't look good.
It's a shame really, because I think the fabric is cute, good and well explained, but I kind of lost the motivation for it. I will probably try it again next year. but for this year those two suits will have to do:

I'll soon post on some dresses I need advice about.. and on the bridesmaids dresses for my girls...
Bye for now!

Summer sewing in the middle of the winter

Ok, it's not the middle of the winter. It's spring here, but for the past few days it's cold and raining and storming!
I Really hate this weather, especially when it arrives only two weeks after I packed all the winter blankets and put them away..

For the past few weeks I've been kind of blocked. I didn't feel the urge to start new patterns, to try new stuff (which is a shame because I have so many new patterns waiting for me!). I don't know why... And I have two big projects coming - the bridesmaids dresses for my girls and a cute dress for myself for my little sister's wedding and summer clothes for my girls. They do not need much, but still..

So I was in the mood for some really easy projects, The first is "Ima and Aba Shel Shabat" (how to translate it??? the little boy and girl that help the kindergarten teacher to lit the candles?). I made a costume for my little guys when it was their turn to help, and left the costumes for the kindergarten.

The pictures are bad. You'll have to trust me as to how cute they looked!
I made my 9 years old the Ceci pants. I already reviewed this cute shorts pattern right here. As I wrote, the pattern goes up to size 8. and it gotten too small for my dd. So I had to upgrade it a bit. I think I did a good job...

And the last of the summer sewing I did (it was funny to make my kids try it when it rained like crazy outside) was the Bandana hat. I got the pattern in YCMK. right here.
I realy like this little hat. The pattern is very good, very detailed, and very fast. There is one tricky part of attaching one of the fabric straps to the brim. I got it a bit off when I tried it the first time... for the third time it was perfect :-)
The patterned fabric are quilting cottons. the blue hat is denim (I did not clean the threads before taking the picture...)and it is the cutest..
I hope to have some more serious projects soon...
That's it for now!
Bye!

Bad, bad blogger!

I know.. I am doing bad! I use my blog for reference when I look at stuff that I made, I find it useful. This is why I keep going... at least I try to. anyway, Spring has started!
So I made the girls cute Modkid outfits. The bubble skirt, which I already reviewed (LOVE that skirt), the tie top (first time.. another great pattern) and the hair band...


Do I need to review? As always, great patterns, great fit, great explanations! Do I need to say more???
I also made a megan dress for m little girl. I made the 18 month size. (she's 20 months old). the fit is great. I highly recommend this pattern!

and last for today, I made Ks 3156 for myself. I liked that it's a pattern for fabrics with just a little stretch. I thought that if I worked well on the fit it will look like work pants. Nothing difficult with them, since there are no pockets, no zipper...

I made size M.. It was big (which is flattering, because I am BIG!) so I cut it again, an inch here, another one there.. then I came with this fit. It's pretty wide, I'll make it slimmer next time I make it. But I do like it. what do you think?
I think I'll be making more, next time less wide, and maybe add something.. a pocket maybe>
There is nothing to sa about the direction.. it really is easy pants. Only two patterns pieces...
Happy Passover all!

KS 3915, Birthdays, Purim

This was a hectic month…
We celebrated a birthday to my 6 years old!



We celebrated a birthday to my 2 years old nephew.


And on top of that, we started reparation of our house.. and we still live in it. It’s going to take a couple of months, of dirt, and noise, and overall a lot of headache… but we couldn't find another place to rent for three months for a family with 4 kids and two dogs.

I hope that once done, we’ll have our home in top condition, organized properly so every kid (and every adult!) has a little space for himself.
But in the meantime, it’s difficult. And I had to pack a lot of my sewing stuff.. I left out just a couple of patterns and very few fabrics, hopefully I’ll manage to make something… but not much for sure.
Other than the cakes I made another Megan dress for my 6 years old birthday:



And I checked KwikSew 3915 for myself.

This is the pattern:



This is my first try… The neck didn’t come out just right.. but almost. I think it is still wearable. What do you say? I left out the little loops because I was afraid I’ll mess it up…


This is my second try. It looks better in real life, but I think the buttons look “not connected”
For this attempt I sewed the neck by hand, very carefully, then I restitched with my machine.
Pattern Review:
A basic Tee with a twist. I like it because the neck is realy special, but I think the buttons, at least for me, are not a good idea. The top is comfortable, not tight fitting at all.
The instructions are clear but to be clear.. the neckline was tricky for me to make.
I sewed it by hand and only when I saw I like the result I repeated the stitch with my machine... Just so you know.
I'll probably make it again, at least for the Summer.
It's not my top favorite pattern, but it's a nice one and I'll make use of it!

And now. Purim! for my older girls I bought costumes. I wanted to sew but.. time was a big issue. But for the twins.. well, I thought that waisting money on a one time 'animal costume' was a shame... so I made them tiger outfits. Very comfortable!
The top is from Ottobre Magazine, 01-2009. size 92 which is very big for them, but all my other magazines were already packed when I thought if it...
The pants are Vilkas pants,, Made those in the past for my little girl when she was their age.
The fabric is knit tiger fabric, very nice... I
I did not bother with the finish of the costume..
The tail can be is attached using velcro, so I can take it off in case they find it uncomfortable...

So, a few pictures...

A big post this time... Hope to come back again soon with more.

His and Hers...

Yes, I wasn’t here for a while… No, I have no excuses… I keep wanting to update the blog but I have no time.
So I’m just briefing now..
These two are old patterns that I’ve used before…

The pants are Ottobre 04-2008-2. Made out of fleece, pink for my little girl and grey for my little boy. I don’t have a good picture of those, but trust me, they look so cute in it! (I actually have great difficulties taking a picture of both of them together, since they never seem to sit down, they always tend to grab each other, take things from each other or simply hug each other :-))

The pattern review, I don’t think I reviewed it here ever. It’s a simple pants for toddlers, nothing much, It is cute and tested so I chose it. I made size 80cm for my 1.5 years old. It’s slightly long for them.. but not too much. I would have made them more, since it’s so easy and a great use for fleece leftovers, but I have so much clothes for them… so why bother!

These two are the from Ottobre 01-2009-11, also size 80.
I left out the elastics in the legs’ bottom part… but I may do it anyway. Again, not great pictures, but they really so cute in it.
I placed just one pocket only on thr front. They really enjoy putting stuff in their little pockets.

for the pattern review I can refer you to the review I wrote years ago when I sewed this for the very first time.. pattern review

The last thing I made is a new top for myself, from Burda 09-12-104.. I really like it, It comes out comforatble and roomt. I made size 40. The only changes from the original design is that since I did not have enough fabric for the full neck part, I made it shorter... meaing the turtle neck is not as high as it should be. It's still nice though.

Here's what I plan for the coming month...
* birthday dress for my 6 year old
* two new long sleeves tops for myself.
* two new leggings for the girls (one per each)
* cakes for my 6 years old birthday


I have been working like crazy this past two months... I get frustrated of how little I manage to make at home, at "my other life". I'm sure this is not only me, I guess a lot of hard working mothers out there wish they had some extra time, to sleep, to craft, to just get some rest.
I assume that within a year or two life will get a bit easier. Until then I force myself to be happy with what I manage to make, and just 'feel' my fabric stash once on a while... remind mysekf that each fabric will get its turn to become somthing :-)

The Megan dress

My 6 years old... well, she didn't NEED a new dress, but as her older sister refuses to wear dresses at the time, and her younger sister is not walking steady enough to wear dresses yet.. she got two new dresses!

The pattern is The Megan Dress...

I got it from here... Isn't it pretty? and here's what I made of it...

The first version is from quilting cotton.

The second version is made out of denim...

Pattern review:
what a great pattern! So easy to make... so pretty! The dress is twirly enough to satisfy my girl, easy, because there is no need for zipper or buttons. I know I'll have plenty of use of this pattern in the years to come, I already traced the pattern for my little one. I pln to start dressing her with dressses this summer.
The sizing is great. I made size 5 for my 6 years old, and it fits really well. The instructions are very detailed and clear. I LOVE everything about this dress, and I highly recommand it!