A few projects...

I'm still in the process of getting together a cold weather wardrobe for Miss S.  It all of a sudden got really cold (for November) and snowed about 10 inches here.  I wasn't quite prepared, so I got to work sewing up a bunch of long sleeved tee shirts.  They aren't too interesting; they're just very basic long sleeved tees.  I used a pattern that I've used for myself a lot: Jalie 2805.  It is really a pretty great basic tee pattern.  It goes from size 2T up to like a size 22 in women's.  These are five of the nine I made (the others are either being worn or in the wash).  They went together so, so quickly.  It think I spent maybe a total of 5 hours over a few days.  They're going to get some good use this winter :)

I also finally made the Apple Picking dress that I've had cut out for about a month and a half.  I made this dress last year in a cotton flannel and it was a really great winter dress, so I made it again in a cotton flannel, but a different color.  This fabric was left over from the lining of a Minoru jacket that I made for myself, but haven't blogged about yet.

I wasn't sure if it was a good fabric choice, because it's a bit subdued.  When I finally got it sewn up and tried it on Miss S, I decided it was actually really, really cute.

I used blue buttons to pick up a little bit of blue in the flannel, as well as to add a little more color.  It went together great, as always with an Oliver + S pattern :)  I'm pretty happy with it

I also made the Penguin Backpack from the Little Things to Sew book.  I've wanted to make this backpack ever since I saw it.  I thought it was adorable, but was a little intimidated by the thought of sewing a backpack.  We're going to visit my husband's family for Thanksgiving, and I wanted to make a little pack so Miss S could carry toys and snacks by herself for the plane.

True to Oliver + S form, the instructions were excellent.  I used a denim for the body, then some quilting cottons I had in my stash for the beak, feet and belly pocket.  I ordered the slider hardware on the back from Pacific Trimmings.  They were reasonably priced and shipped quickly.

I used some vintage blue glass buttons for the eyes and lined it with a blue printed cotton.  I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and it was actually quicker and easier to sew than I expected.

I've got a School Photo dress in the works, and another Fairy Tale dress in the planning stages.  We'll see if I can get them finished soon!

Warm Winter Dress 2: Oliver + S Apple Picking Dress

This is the second dress I decided to make in the relieving-my-paranoia-that-Miss-S-will-freeze-to-death series :)  I made the Oliver + S Apple Picking dress in a warm flannel.

 I wasn't so sure about this pattern when it first came out, but I took another look at it, and I'm glad I did.  It has some really cute details and I think it's especially cute in the teeny tiny size.

I was reading the back of the pattern, looking at the recommended fabrics, and I saw that flannel was recommended.  I wouldn't have thought of using flannel for this pattern, but I think it worked really well, especially for a warm winter dress.

I found this cute brown and pink flannel at my local fabric shop.  They are mainly a quilting fabric/sewing machine dealer, but in the back room, they usually have a random, but fun, assortment of fabric.  I was originally looking for a gray and pink plaid flannel, but they didn't have one, and I like this just as well.  It seems like all the dresses I'm making are unintentionally in the same brown and fuchsia color scheme.

I made View A with the 3/4 length sleeves and double ruffle at the bottom.  I love the cute little gathered sleeve...

The neck bow and double button placket.  I used some small, cream colored vintage glass buttons from the same seller on Etsy that I used on the Sailboat Skirts. 

I really like how it turned out.  I think it will be comfortable, easy to move in and WARM :) Stay tuned for Warm Winter Dress #3...