Figgy's...Once Again! (But Kicking it Old School)

So, gosh....these are my baby girl's (I know, I know...a BIG GIRL!) third and fourth Jane dresses (though one is clearly a Jane top).  This pattern is from back in the ye olde days from Figgy's Patterns.  So, I hate to say it, but it's no longer available, unless you can find that crazy, sneaky copy still left in your local fabric store - not sure if Bolt in Portland would have it, but it's always worth checking!

I had done the size 2/3 many moons ago, when Camden was just over 1, and you can see how big it was on her then - and she can STILL squeeze into it!  Silly me, though:  Last year (maybe summer 2012), I decided that since the other one WAS getting a big shorter, I'd upsize...to the 4/5, and it didn't fit THEN and doesn't fit NOW.  It is so excessively long, though I can't wait for her to wear it, because I did the cutest machine embroidery on it, LOL.  My computer ate the pictures of the green dress, but here is a progression of her getting older in the linen one with Liberty contrast:

This time around, I decided to do the size 2/3 and lengthen the dress - and naturally, I thought I'd lengthen the shirt, though I wonder if next time, I would only lengthen half the amount between a 2/3 and a 4/5...and also shorten the waistband, as I find it a bit long on the vertical (and while we're at it, I should have lengthened the sleeves, but ah, well...)  I still love it!  I'd been holding onto this fabric for a year or so, and it was perfect for this blouse!  You will find in the pictures that I used shot cotton for the green dress version - and for the waistband, etc. on the blouse, which is one of my FAVORITE lining fabrics for children's wear.   The color has a nice depth, and the fabric is pretty lightweight (definitely pull out the size 70 needle for this stuff - and be ready to use your straight stitch plate, if your machine has one, as my wide stitch plate loves to suck this stuff down into its gullet).  It does clearly wrinkle a bit, but no mind!  I can handle that.

What is going on here???

Reading 100 Angelina Ballerina books, LOL

Anywho - the blouse is constructed with French seams, which are so super easy.  I'm a bit nutty about making them look good, so, after I do my first 1/4 inch stitching of wrong sides together, I press the seams open THEN together.  I then trim that seam allowance down and flip the fabric out so it's right sides together, and I press it again before doing the next 1/4 inch stitching.  For French seams, it's usually best to have a lighter weight fabric, as it can get HIGHLY annoying to stitch them if the fabric is heavier.  The directions for this pattern are great (again, I apologize that I'm doing an old pattern, but it's worth it if you can find it!) - and the dress is a quick sew, which is nice!  Also, the dress has pockets, which Camden always finds fun!

Clearly, these are octopus hats!

You'll also note in the photo above that she's been getting some wear out of those leg warmers, aha!

Lastly, a couple randoms - at the park on Sunday afternoon....it was such a NICENICE day!  She is wearing a mish-mash of things, LOL.  Her Celestial top by Figgy's, her Color Me Pretty sweater by Elena Nodel and her Nozky leg warmers.  The second picture is from today - we like to LAYER whenever we head out on the bike now, so, her Pepper sweater is peaking out from under her Molly jacket, along with a random scarf - my second I ever knit.

A Wee Post: Nozky Leg Warmers for the Chilly Air!

Lemme just say - it's effing freeeeeeezing, Mr. Bigglesworth!  Well, cold enough that a bike ride in the 32 degree (into the wind, I might add!) isn't exactly the coziest 25 minutes of my life - times two.

Anywho....cold is the word!  So, in these tough times, LOL, what does a 3.5 year old need?  Too right!  Leg warmers!  Luckily, this is one of those times when I did something as exciting as a free pattern - the Nozky by Monika Sirna.  They're cute and simple, and the directions are well-written.  Also, Monika was super fast to answer a question the other day in her Ravelry group, which I appreciated!  They're a quick knit....unless you're, as usual, like me, and do silly things (with this pattern, on the green pair, I thought I'd try to knit the same leg warmer twice, for some reason, so, there was some ripping out.).

I finished the orange pair first (Tomato on Madelinetosh DK), then I did the Jade pair.  I should have done the orange pair on size 5 needles, but I did not.  Ah, well - still cozy and warm, even if a bit loose.  I will say I also did NOT do the knitting with elastic in the top ribbing, as I'm lazy and figured they'd work fine enough.  Definitely not fine enough for gymnastics, but for the love of fashion and warmth, they'll do ;)

As I have a bajillion other knitting projects to do, these might be Camden's only two pairs of leg warmers this winter (Yikes!  I still want to do SOCKS!!  When will this allllll ever happen?!), so, I hope she enjoys.

I haven't yet blocked them, so, here they are in all their glory - unexciting photos notwithstanding.

And here she is because it's her REAL smile, and there is more knit-wear featured...LOL (though she is presently playing a RECORDER in her bedroom - NOT laughing about that!):

A test hat pattern that I'm totally blanking on - and her Magical sweater

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!

DMK Cape Dress or Where Is My Kid Hiding???

My long-awaited (awaited by MYSELF, if you must know) cape dress is alllllll done.  Well, Camden's, though I clearly put in all the hard work.

Looks innocent and NOT HUGELY GIANT here, LOL

And by hard work, I mean that I cut the outer cape pieces a couple months back, and they've been sitting, gathering dust, as I had no lining fabric to match, and I must have some sort of silk/cotton-silk as a lining in this sort of project.  As lack of luck would have it, Mill End had NO cotton-silk blends in stock that were wide enough for this pattern - as you can see, it's QUITE voluminous (let's not beat around the bush here, people).  Granted, I cut a size 5, for some reason, but I do wish the pattern had overall better shaping, including in the neckline.  A size 3 would fit better, as long as the neckline was lower and the chest was big enough around.  The top of the back, though, seems quite snug, so, I don't think the size 3 would have fit well in that department.

Snugaroo, eh???

The pattern is the Cape Dress (not sure of exact name - too lazy to go look!) by DMKeasywear (Dear My Kids) on Etsy.  I'd link the exact pattern, but I haven't seen that particular one in the shop for a while.  (Is there a reason for that????)  I HAVE done one other DMK pattern at this point - this one, and I do love it:

Anyway, it's generally a quick sew, though I naturally made it take longer by not using my cabeza and sewing the hem in a way such that I couldn't turn it right side out.  No idea what I was thinking there - so...had to take out the 3853976 stitches and re-do it.  The wool didn't press too badly, and the silk was lovely enough to work with, so, all was well.  I'm not normally a HUGE BOW person, as many know, but eh - it'll work for this.  If I'd known THEN what I know NOW, I would have done a size 4, for REALZ, and I would have scooped out that neckline a bit more.  It's intensely high/tight.  I'm not sure that doing a size 3 would have worked - not sure if the chest circumference would have fit Camden.

The pattern itself, besides being quick, is written well and is super easy to understand!  I also think the pattern pieces are done well - that is something I appreciate, as I'm not a huge pdf person.

Here it is in all its gloriousness ;)

Don't be toooo afraid of this volume, y'all!

And how about this cuteness after story time yesterday???  This is Camden's friend, and they were racing around, getting a bit more energy out, naturally :)

Sweet Poppy, AKA Spring in Fall

Today is a chicken stock-making kind of day, which always means chopping up and throwing into a pan eight hundred types of vegetables and herbs - preparing for a white chicken chili.  I could go on and on about its awesomeness, but that's not what this post is about (and truth be told, I haven't had it in over a DECADE, and I've never actually even MADE it myself - here's to hoping, LOL), so, I must move on.

As for today, I honestly only have "Quick!  Let's snap some shots before we rush in for our chiropractic adjustment!" kind of pictures, so, I'm not sure they do the pattern justice.  It took me about a month, as always, to knit a sweater, and this one is Elena Nodel's Sweet Poppy.  It is honestly SUCH a quick knit, for as long as those sides are.  I used Colour Adventures (also Elena Nodel) yarn in Watercolours. I do know that with this pattern, more of a semi-solid would have been a better choice, but it still came out pretty, even if those cables aren't super obvious.

My one Greek tragedy (I just can't knit or sew without them!) during this project was getting a good way into the shoulder increases, trying to convince myself it'd be a good fit.  In the end, I had to spend part of a 3.5 hour car ride ripping the sweater out because it was too small - and then starting over on larger needles.  And who knows - the back on this version looks too wide (could be my poor blocking; who knows?).  Camden, however, LOVES it, and she keeps putting it on even just to wander about the house.  I could have gotten some super cool 80s shots of Camden today in her new Figgy's top, leggings, leg warmers and this sweater, but alas, I have to keep my cute Figgy's top a secret for a little bit longer.

Signature dance move???

The pattern was super easy to follow, and quick, as I said (keeping in mind that I can make ANYthing slow...hence the month in making it).  I do think my armhole stitch pick-up wasn't very clean.  I didn't weave the ends as strategically as I'd hoped, but I do think getting it wet for the blocking only made it more obvious, as it's such a drapey knit.

Did these indoor shots just to see if the color came out differently

Long on my baby girl, as it's a size 4 - no biggie!

Go out and knit one of these suckers!  They're great!

Tessa Ann Designs (Buttons, y'all!!) interview time!

Holla, y'all!  Tonight, I'm featuring an interview with Tessa of Tessa Ann Designs.  She and her husband design and sell super fun polymer clay buttons on Etsy, which people use for knitting, sewing, hair accessories and even collecting!  Her Facebook page can be found here, and just drop a convo on Etsy if you are needing any customs - or look through the pages and pages of ideas!

Here are a couple pictures of Camden in projects with her TA buttons!  (And let me tell y'all out there that it is WAY a LOT of WORK to scour for old pictures that show what you want in DETAIL.  Argh.)

Oliver and S Book Report dress

Springtime in Hollis

Wendy Sweater

Without further ado....

What started you in the business of making buttons?  Did it start out as mostly a hobby/side business, or did you have big plans from the beginning?  

In an effort to create a new idea for a scrapbooking embellishment for a project of mine, my husband and I discovered polymer clay in our local craft store aisle. We knew we wanted to make handmade buttons with it, but had no idea how we would even begin. We scoured the aisles of Michael's, pulling things that were good shapes and textures in order to possibly make buttons. I was working at my local scrapbooking store part-time during this time and my employer really loved the buttons I was creating and let me put a row of buttons up on the shelves for sale. Within the day, they were mostly sold out. This excited me. I went home, and Steve and I baked trays and trays of buttons to take and restock the shelves. Again, they sold out. A customer suggested we open a little shop on Etsy. I had never heard of Etsy, so I had to check it out. I was so impressed at the level of creativity on Etsy. I read success stories about how people were supporting themselves through their hobby. I had to try. This had always been a dream of mine. To support my family doing something I was actually passionate about and loved doing, not just clocking in at a meaningless 9-5 job, where I was just present and getting through the work day. In April of 2008, I opened my Etsy shop, selling my buttons on handmade decorative pillows. After many e-mails and messages from potential customer,s inquiring about where they could find the buttons on the pillows, I only then was confident enough to list a few sets. Again, they sold out. This little bit of success excited us and we began trying out many styles of buttons and really mastering our craft.

For your particular business, did it take a lot of capital to start up, or was that not a huge factor?

It took us literally, under $10 to start our business initially. Product cost was super low and Etsy’s  fees were reasonable.

I understand this is a husband/wife effort; was it that way from the beginning?  How did it come about?  

Steve and I have worked on buttons together from the very beginning - always a team, but at that time, he worked full-time, managing a bank, and would come home to help me fill orders. Two years later, we realized we could do well with both of us at home filling orders and creating new designs. It was January of 2010 when we decided to see if we could make it work... if we could earn a living all on our own, making our handmade buttons. It was scary and we were unsure, but we did it, anyway. We believed in our buttons, and by that time, they had become a huge hit and we were shipping them all over the world.

Buttons soon to find a home

It's all in the details!

Is the business now something bigger than you thought it would ever be, and what are your hopes for expansion, in terms of new products that you offer?  I see, for example, that you recently came out with stitch markers for knitters - had people been asking for them?  What else do you offer now, besides buttons?

I am always dreaming of expanding and taking our business to the next level. I dream of teaming with a manufacturer and creating an entire line of product based on our button designs. I can envision an end-cap at the end of Joann Fabrics, with a collection of fabric, buttons, yarn and trims that all coordinate. We really try and pay attention to what our customers are asking for, and stitch markers were something that was continually brought up. “Oh, your buttons would make the most adorable stitch markers” is what we heard over and over. We decided to buy some supplies, make a few up and see how the response was. Just like our buttons, the response was awesome and we now have a rather large list of custom orders that we are excited to create.

What makes this the best job for you and your family?  How does it help and how does it hinder you when you need to make plans/go out of town?  Do you and your husband work together or separately during the course of a week?

Working from home has its benefits and struggles. The benefit is we can raise our daughter together as a team, and we can come and go as we please. We can work as much or as little as we want. We can show up for work in our PJs!! Nothing is tying us down. We also love that we can literally run our business anywhere in the world. We have even dreamed of living abroad for a year or two. Travel plans have to be really planned out ahead of time, as we never close our business, and we always have pages of orders to fill each week. So, going out of town means working double time to get caught up. This means we really don’t go out of town but only 1-2 times a year. It’s a sacrifice we have to make now, but we feel it is worth it, as our business is just growing and growing. We feel we live in the most beautiful town on Earth, so just taking a drive to the river or heading downtown Bend to have some cocoa is enough of a vacation for us!  Before our baby girl was born, we worked side-by-side 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week creating and filling orders. We can’t really do that now with an almost 2 year-old. We have a good system in place. In the morning, I answer emails while he gets her breakfast. When she goes for her morning nap, I head up and help him fill orders. In the afternoons, we trade off working, based on who has the most buttons to make and who can get them done most quickly. Admittedly, Steve is much quicker at reproducing buttons than I am. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and a bit too meticulous ;)  

Lastly, when creating custom products for customers, what helps you in the design process?  What do you like a customer to help out with?  Photos, etc.?

When customers contacts us for a custom order, they usually have an idea of what they want, and I just help them decide what colors they would like if they are matching to a yarn or fabric. There are times, though, when a customer has no idea what they want and that’s always fun too! I usually reply with an outline of what I need to get the creative process going such as: What size of buttons does your project call for? How many buttons do you need for your project? Most of our customers are knitters, so a colorway name is usually given or a photo is attached by the customer of their work in progress. And, lastly the theme. Do they want simple buttons or something with a design? Once they reply with these questions answered, I am able to brainstorm and come up with ideas for them to choose.  I always love taking photos of the finished custom order and proudly (okay, sometimes nervously) presenting the order to the customer, hoping he or she will love what we have designed for them. Each button is made with a lot of heart and soul :)

All those buttons!

Thanks so much to Tessa for this great interview!!!  Her is a photo of her super cute family!