Sunki Dress, Take Three

I don't know why I haven't made more of these dresses, as I love the pattern!  This is another one I cut a million months ago, then I finally got around to sewing it in December, I think - yikes!

The Sunki dress by Figgy's is super fun, though it seems to run a bit smaller than other Figgy's patterns, somehow.  I should have lengthened this one by a good inch and a half, but I'll have to just love it while it fits Camden.  I used stash fabric (Kaffe Fassett???) I'd purchased at Cool Cottons specifically FOR this dress....You can see the first version I ever made is basically the same fabric, LOL.  Please note, though, that I sewed it on the cross-grain, as I wanted vertical striping.

Rather rotten picture - but mostly to show how sad it is that the zipper is a smidgen off

The pattern is totally easy, and I think there is a pocket-sewing tutorial on Shelly's blog, but I don't find it necessary.  The dress goes together simply, as long as you take care with the pocket-finishing, in order to make it come out as nicely as possible.

It's a dress that is great with leggings, and I didn't have time or the right fabric to make a pair to match this version, which is a bummer, but I made them once before and loved them (until Camden's dad let her slide about on the SIDEWALK and put a hole in the LOVELY merino wool :O).

One of the old versions:

Awww, June 2012

I made this version for our mom/dad/Camden date to see Shrek, The Musical - which Camden LOVED, by the way!  She totally teared up when things were rough between Shrek and Fiona!  Super cute, LOL.

Matt is not a giant and is somehow dwarfing Camden, aha!

I always recommend this pattern!!!  It has a cool, hip vibe that is great for older kids...especially when you're feeling over the cutesy stuff that isn't quite meant for older children.

And....a few weeks in the life of....

Yard picnic in February!

A nice day for a walk! 

Dad's scrap wood haul 

It's a Sunshine Day....Everybody's Wearing a Sunnyside!

Let me count the ways, folks.....I LOVE this sweater!  It seems I love all the sweaters I'm knitting the kids!  And there ARE reasons, clearly....I mean, LOOK a the little guy!

(Pause for this brief PSA:  the wind was - I KID YOU NOT - 567 mph today, so, pardon my crazy pictures and excuse the shadows.  This is Tiberius's FIRST official blog post on his own, aha, and while he happily smiles, I am not a baby photographer.)

This is the Sunnyside (FREEFREEFREE pattern) by Tanis Lavalee of Tanis Fiber Arts.  I have some of her yarn for a future sweater for ME, but I have knit nothing else in her yarn, and I'm dying to.  This is my first pattern of hers to knit - and I'm beyond excited to one day knit the Lady Sunnyside that she recently published!

Stealing leaves

Enough about all that nonsense, though - check this thing out!  I knit it with marigoldjen (again, I can't say enough about Jenny's gorgeous colorways!!!  If you haven't checked her shop out yet, PLEASE do!  She is the nicest dyer ever, and she totally works with you if you have any questions/special requests...besides simply dying all that lovely yarn.)

The reason this sweater is great is that you can knit it with ONE skein of fingering weight...at least the two smallest sizes, LOL.  So, I ordered the colorway Anchors Aweigh on the BFL/nylon base - and here is my project page.

Ahahaha!

Tried in the shade, which was silly

Anyway, the pattern is LOVELY - and I like that it's free, but cute...with details!  You can girl or boy it up as you please - cables or a lace edging.  It is something likely best knit in a solid or semi-solid, as I did.  I had no issues, other than knitting TOO far before the sleeve split, LOL (because why NOT?), so, I had to rip out.  Make sure to use stitch markers as needed, in order to keep track of your cables, and you'll be fine.

Also, I HAD to use Tessa Ann buttons...naturally!!!  As always, Steve and Tessa worked with me, as it's so tricky to find just the right type of button for a wee sweater - and for boys!  They offer so many designs, but I wanted to keep it sort of simple, yet fun.  I love these tiny dinosaurs!

Capturing the colorway just inside the doorway

Those dinosaur buttons are HARD to photograph in any sort of light, aha!

Before I added buttons...a few weeks ago!

Not much else to say - I just love it!  And they are both wearing hats (I knit Tiberius's here) knit from the Baby's First Hat pattern by Blue Sky Alpaca (that I always modify into bigger sizes).  Camden also happens to be wearing her Figgy's Sunki dress (the first one I ever made...two years ago - wayyy too big then, LOL), though you can't see it well in today's pictures.  (And while I can find the second Sunki I made camden, I can find no original photos of the one she wore today.  So, I'll a photo for the fun of it!)

Forever ago - June 2012!

And now...in the works will be an Anders sweater, though I need to figure out my gauge issue, as I don't want to go smaller than a size 3 needle, etc.  Also, in sewing news, I do have an Oliver and S Explorer vest to whip up as a gift for someone ;)

Cowl Neck Loveliness from Figgy's - A Pattern Test!

Let's just be honest:  How is this not the COOLEST cowl-neck top on the planet???  I'm so glad I was able to test the Celestial Pull-over for Figgy's Patterns.  It is a pattern that I can easily go to again and again.  I truly do think it's funny when people say that, but with a simple knit such as this, it's quite possible to WANT to sew it up time and again.

The pattern came to me already written up in an easy-to-understand way, so, it's perfect for a beginner.  The shaping is great, and it is the right length for my 3.5 year old.  I did the size 4/5, and while she's not tall at all, she has that wee belly, which means tops always come off a bit shorter on her.  I can tell I'd want to lengthen this some months from now - but keep the chest size the same.

I'm quite a fan of tops/styles that are a bit hip but still meant for little kids.  I'm always wishing to see more of that in the sewing pattern world, and Figgy's Patterns is right in tune with my needs when it comes to that, as evidenced by patterns such as the Ayashe set, the Banyan set and the Sunki dress.

Ayashe 

Ayashe

Banyan

Camden loved it and loves the second one even more so, which is funny, as it's the knit that doesn't work as well for this pattern.  I have to say that people definitely need to be particular when choosing knits, as super light-weight knit blends don't work.  A knit with a bit of structure works great, and there are tons of offerings at Girl Charlee; just be sure to always check the content of the the knit and how much stretch it has.  Never JUST choose something for the cute factor.  And when in doubt, get a feel in person for the type of knits you are looking for, then feel free to order on-line.  A thinner knit sort of sits all loosey-goosey.  I can't wait to find some more great knits, though, to turn into a Celestial Pull-over!!

Here, you can see how the knit is way too loose, so, it's important to choose the right knit for the project

Go grab the pattern now while it's on sale, peeps!