Thank Goodness for Last Year's Scirocco

Late to the game...but also ahead of the game??

That's how we'll view the project,  Honestly, y'all, I have been so awful about sewing.  It makes me feel horrible inside, and I know it shouldn't, but because I'm pretty stubborn about making the kids' clothing, they haven't had anything new in a while.  I mean, I DO buy Tiberius t-shirts, and I buy Camden camisoles (sorry, dudes...Target has my money where the camis are concerned....but could they make RED, please?!!!!), leggings and some plain or striped tees.  Other than that, though, when I see cute sweaters or fun dresses, etc., I can't be bothered, nor do I have money to spend on the types of things I like, anyway, aha!  I truly just like to be able to make their clothes.

Problem numero uno, though:  I haven't been sewing all that much.  I last truly made Camden clothing in December, and I am still light years behind on sewing ANYTHING for Tiberius, other than his pajamas.  I took a mini knitting break recently, too, as that was sucking up all crafting time, and I think my brain was slowly dying, as a result.  That break is sort of over, but I had pumped out four to six sweaters in a three-month span, and I think I needed to chill.  I am working on socks now, and I'd like to work on Matt's Quadri hat.  Maybe I'll cast that on next week.

I am getting back into the sewing room, though, in that I've started a quilting class at Modern Domestic (yes, my favorite place on Earth!).  I'm taking a class with Meredith.  She is a great instructor, and I always have fun when working with her.  I also convinced Matt's mom to take the class, and I think she is having a good time, as well, as she'd been really looking forward to working with Meredith for quite a while.  We are working on the quilt, Quicker by the Dozen, and I actually have a bunch of homework to finish today, for tomorrow's class.  There are two classes left, and all that'll be left is quilting and binding - yay!

Clearly, quilting is NOT garment sewing, but I'd like to finish the quilt and then crank out a few outfits for the kids for summer weather.  But speaking OF, I'm already ahead, as mentioned above ;)

I actually purchased this fabric for myself a few years back, and naturally, I saw it in my stash and thought it'd be super pretty for a Scirocco for Camden, aha!  I always have a good time making the dress.  As fancy as it looks, it's straight-forward and easy.  One can sew a regular hem on all the skirt ruffles and lining, or one could use a rolled hem.  I went with a regular hem this time around, and on the bodice, I used a wee bit of lace, given to me by a friend.

When I first finished it last year, I felt it was too big for Camden, especially in the elastic band in the back.  I told her for months and months that I needed to bring in the elastic, but laziness won out, and I never did until just a couple weeks ago.  I hope, then, that it'll fit nicely through the whole summer so she gets enough wear out of it :O  I believe I made the size 7/8.  She always loves this dress pattern, so, I can't wait to make the next....after sewing all sorts of OTHER patterns (I actually have two blouses to blog about, too, as soon as I finish the coordinating pants).  And of course, trying it on her NOW, it seems it'll be too small before I know it!  How does this happen?!

\And then....other nonsense we've been up to!!!

These three....giggles, fighting...and weirdness!!

I made a mean strawberry rhubarb muffin with this haul from great grandpa's!

Our first date night in quite a while!

The nighttime photos kill me, aha!

All smiles before he decides he is NOT a fan of these quesadillas

Matt's mom working away on her Quicker by the Dozen

Don't worry - I want to make the one on the wall, too!

Word Up! An Oldie But a Goodie!

For those who love comfort for their children (not that I abhor my daughter being cozy, but I just LOVE wovens!), the Heidi and Finn Cowl-Neck Dress is the way to go.  I've done several of these over the past couple of years, and they're soooo easy and fun!  The beauty of sewing a knit is that you can really pick and choose when/how you hem, and that mistakes don't show AS easily - and it's so FAST.  Like.....THIS FAST.  And the beauty of a simple pattern like this?  No need to read directions!

As many folk know, I'm that rare bird who prefers a paper pattern, but this dress IS a pdf.  As mentioned above, there are a few things I can change up:  I can hem or NOT hem at all, as knits are forgiving like that.  I can roll the hem with a serger, use a cover stitch hem - or use a twin needle on my regular 'ole sewing machine.  I do have a serger that can convert to a cover stitch, but I'm lazy (imagine that!) and often just use my twin needle.  I really need to get better about that.  In the case of both versions of this dress, this time around, I twin needled the sleeves, but I didn't hem the bottom, though I have done a rolled, serged hem, and that's lovely, too.  Some people like to play it up by not doing a simple, rolled hem, but a fancier lettuce (read: wavy) rolled hem.  When I use a twin needle or am in general sewing a knit, I lengthen the stitch to 3.0 and widen the stitch to 0.5 - the slightest of zigzags.  This is in the case of topstitching, as I really do prefer to serge my knits when piecing.

Also, with this particular pattern, it's great with a jersey knit, a double knit (which is a little warmer) or perhaps a sweater knit (I should way try that next time!).  I behaved and perused my stash of knits for fabric, and I found a Patty Young print from the Flora and Fauna line way back when - and then a lovely, thin knit I bought on Etsy at some point.  I found my daughter still fit into a size 3, so, I just lengthened the sleeves and bottom hem almost an inch for longer wear time.

As for pictures, here we go!

Such a silly girl!

This is her, saying, "I'm NOT tired!"