Knitting up a storm: what I did on Xmas break

On my Christmas break I’ve had lots of free time at home to basically veg the hell out, sit on the couch watching endless Netflix, bake cookies, and knit.

Knitting and I always have a back and forth relationship: there are so many things that I want to make that I get project burnout before I even start. It’s really the perfect thing to do, though, when it’s cold and rainy out, you have a plate of chocolate chip cookies sitting in front of you, and you want to be *slightly* productive while sitting in front of the t.v.

I started on a hat for myself and finished it in about 5-6 hours. I know, I’m terribly slow. But still, it’s really cute and gave me something to do while learning about Inca ruins and the Spanish Conquistadors. Score!

I also started a pair of yellow mittens for Thea literally a year ago. Oh god, the shame. In digging around my knitting bag the single mitten turned up, and Thea found it, put it on, and ran around the house showing everyone. That shamed me into finishing the second one, and making an cord to attach them together through her jacket.

Now, if I could just get paid for eating cookies, watching t.v., knitting, and drinking endless pots of coffee… my life would be complete. P.S. If you’re on Ravelry you can check out my projects here. The mitten pattern is here, and the hat pattern is here. Knit on, my knittahs!

Geranium Dresses + Go To Leggings

The other day I made myself an Ikat Washi dress (no, I haven’t blogged about it yet, but I promise to get around to it… eventually).  Phoebe loved it so much she asked me if I could make one for her.  Usually the answer is no (adult patterns are not child-sized, natch) but in this case I could.  That Rae is a super genius!

We have a tradition of late of the girls getting first-day-of-school dresses made by me.  Most of the time I try to pick out the fabric, but this year I let them do it.  Yep, it happened.  I actually happen to like what they chose (gasp!) and I was excited to make them some Geranium dresses.

I sewed these assembly-line style and they went… medium fast.  The dresses have a lined bodice with back button closure, pleats on the front and back, and pockets (pockets oh yessss).  I used snaps on the back instead of buttons.  I did the faux cap sleeves and scoop neck (no cutout) so it looked more like the Washi I made for myself.  I originally bought 5 yards of material (I figured 2.5 yards for each dress) and I have a good 2 yards left over.  So Thea will get a Geranium dress too, and they’ll be matchy x3.  IKNORITE.

I sewed a size 6 for the middles and they fit perfectly, the length was good, but I figured some leggings wouldn’t hurt.  I had snatched up this silver dot jersey from Girl Charlee (it has these metallic silver pin dots that are raised up from the fabric - no longer available or I’d link to it) and I knew it would make fantastic leggings.  I searched around for a pattern and came upon the Go To Leggings pattern by Go to Patterns, and since it was a PDF download (my fave!) I had instant gratification and could get their leggings knocked out super fast.

It took longer to print, tape, and trace the pattern than it did to sew the leggings.  They went together lightning fast, like, no lie.  I was amazed.  There are lines to make shorts, capris, or full length leggings, and all sorts of fancy embellishments.  I just wanted some plain jane standard leggings, but I love how many options come with the pattern, and that there’s a huge range of sizes so we can use it for awhile.

Sewed up the leggings on my serger (I used white thread, shh, don’t tell) and zigzagged the elastic onto the waist.  I hemmed the bottoms by about a half inch using a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine, and done!  Not pictured: I made a matching pair for Thea so she doesn’t feel left out.  Srsly I’m going to be making leggings for days now.  I’m addicted.  They fit so well and Charlie wore them to gymnastics so that’s the real test of whether they’ll hold up or not.  

Fancy first day of school outfits, yey!

Nightgowns! Kwik Sew 3105 + Butterick 4005

I've been sewing up a storm lately, not that you can tell by my (lack of) blog posting.  Stuff for me, and a bunch of stuff for the girls.  Totes bustin' my stash, which feels good y'all.  Feels good.

In any event, the other night Charlie came out of her room in her "jammies" -- meaning a shirt that was roughly a bazillion sizes too small.  I rolled my eyes as hard as I could and then decided to make up some fancy nightgowns.  

I don't know about the rest of the world, but making nightgowns doesn't excite me that much.  It's like buying new towels or sheets: totally necessary, but boring and nothing that you're really ever going to be able to show off.  Oops, I guess my sewing ego is showing.

I originally wanted to make this Kwik Sew pattern (3105) (OMG SO ADORBS) but I couldn't find it in the store and I did NOT want to order the paper pattern online and pay shipping.  Yuck.  So I found this See and Sew (Butterick) 4005 in the store and made up 2, one for Phoebe and one for Charlie.

It's so cute, it has gathered sleeves with elastic, three box pleats on the front, easy peasy front/back facings, and a simple button closure in the back. (Do forgive the instagram photos. I have not been inspired to take regular camera shots.)  I made them both a size 6 even though they're closer to a 7 in RTW since I knew the nightgown would be boxy and a little big on them regardless.

Takes a lot of fabric, though, but I love the fullness.  Fabric for the middles' nightgowns was some $3/yard apple flannel I found at Joanns.  Fabric for Thea's was some flannel that I already had in my stash.  Woot!  Not pictured was some lace I had lying around that I used for the hem on Thea's nightgown.  

After making up the Butterick pattern, though, I wanted that Kwik Sew nightgown even more, so I bit the bullet and ended up ordering it online anyway.  Aw shucks.  I also ordered yards and yards and yards of lace trim from Deb's Lace and Trims online since I have literally nothing in my stash, and really, you can't make a nightgown without some sort of lace trim. 

YOU GUYS, that shop has such great trims, and really really cheap, and super fast shipping!  Don't bother paying $2-3 per yard for lace trims.  Go order some from Deb's.  You're welcome.  I used this one on Thea's nightgown (hello! 5 yards for $1.25!  yes please!)

Anywho, I whipped this up last night, yes, same owls from the other nightgown just in a blue color way.  I have a sickness, but at least I'm consistent.  

The pattern is easy -- front/back bodice, gathered skirt, then ruffle on the bottom.  No closure.  I chose View B (sleeveless).  The application of the lace trim was interesting, but it worked.  I hated to gather the ruffle on the bottom thinking it would take forever, but nope.  It went pretty quickly.  The lace is probably a little wide for the pattern, but I don't really care.  It's just the cutest thing ever, and she loved it, so everybody wins.

I have plans to make 2 more of the Kwik Sew nightgowns for the middles once I get back from my work trip (Ireland, aw yeah!) and I pinky swear to take real actual pictures and blog about it.  Pinky swear!

Conversations with Thea

One of Thea’s and my weekend traditions is to take a nap together (damn y’all, but I love me some nap time) and I generally read her anywhere from 3-5 bajillion books before we close our eyes.  This conversation took place while we were reading Ferdinand, and we were at the part where Ferdinand won’t fight in the bull fights in Madrid, and so he is in the cart being transported back home.

Thea: Is that guy tied up? (talking about the guy driving the cart)
Me: No, I don’t think so. He’s steering the horses.
Thea: Is he drinking milk?
Me: Um, no…
Thea: Is he drinking water?
Me: No, he’s taking Ferdinand back home in a cart.
Thea: … Oh.  He is very handsome.  But… I don’t want to marry him.
Me: Ok, I think that’s a good idea. You can wait until you’re big, like me, before you get married.
Thea: Yes, I will marry Daddy.
Me: Well, no, you will find your own person to marry. When you’re much much older.
Thea: What if I can’t find my person?
Me: You’ll find your person. I promise. I will help you.
Thea: Can you be my person?
Me: Yes, I will always be your person.
Thea: You’re my BEST friend.

After she finished talking she grinned at me, put her head down on my shoulder, and fell immediately asleep.  And then my heart grew two sizes and I ate her up.

Happy Birthday Charlie!

Today Charlie is seven.  I totally can’t believe it.  WHERE DOES THE TIME GO, I ask you?

We’re celebrating on Friday, but I did stay up way too late last night making cupcakes for her class for today.  Can I just say I love that they can bring in cupcakes to school?  That used to be one of my favorite things when I was little, to have a mini-party with treats in class. At their old school they didn’t allow baked goods (everything had to be prepackaged) so I’m glad we get to do stuff like this.  

I did the same thing I did for Phoebe’s birthday, with the cupcake wrappers and flag topper thingies.  It takes awhile to print and cut everything on the Silhouette, but it worked out nicely while the cupcakes were baking.

I made this frosting (no cinnamon!), and piped it on with this frosting tip.  And added sprinkles, at Charlie’s request.  On the way to school a lady stopped Bryan in the street to tell him how nice the cupcakes looked.  Score!

I did a fancy braid for Charlie’s birthday hair, and used some of the leftover glitter hairspray from Halloween.  Phoebe got in on that action, too.  I’m glad Thea was asleep for this part.

We have a few small treats for Charlie to open later today, and she asked for a “big girl bike” that we’ll take her to pick out on Friday.  Along with her birthday dinner (ham, of course).  

On Miss Charlie’s birthday request list were: crayons, coloring books, stickers, and socks.  Socks!  ZOMG she cracks me up.  Of course, she got everything she asked for.

She’s a little firecracker, this one.  Very laid back and easy going, with an incredible sense of humor and quite a strong sense of justice (she hates even the inkling of being treated unfairly).  She’s very generous with her affection and makes friends really easily.  We love her so very much, this Super Charlie of ours.