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!

The Little Bear Cub Hood

When I first saw Oliver + S's Little Things to Sew, I wasn't too excited.  I didn't think I'd like making accessories and toys for kids and babies...but I was wrong :)  I should have known that anything with Liesl's name on it would be delightful.  I know this sounds cheesy, but seriously, it's like her patterns are magic.  Everything she designs is absolutely adorable, and the way the patterns are drafted and the instructions written, they're almost impossible to mess up.

I made the Warm Hood from the Little Things to Sew book.  I also have the mittens half sewn (meaning, I have one mitten fully sewn and one not started.  Awesome, I know :).  I made it from a cream-colored blizzard fleece I bought at Joann.  I would have loved to use wool, but Miss S has eczema and I've read that wool can irritate it, so I used the polyester fleece and lined it with a light pink flannel.  I love how it turned out.  She looks like a little bear cub when wearing it.

It went together so quickly and so easily, and it keeps her warm.  This would be a great baby gift...I'll have to keep it in mind.

Blog posting might be a little scarce for the next month or so.  We're getting ready to move into a house that requires some remodeling and we've got to be out of our current place by the end of the year, so it's looking like it will be a little crazy for the next little while.  Hopefully things will calm down after that (but really, does life ever calm down?)