Say Hello to My Little Friend Zip Pouches!

If you haven't seen the CUTENESS that is the Little Friend Zip Pouch by Minki Kim, you need to get on Instagram (she is Zeriano there) right now and follow that designer UP!  She designs the best wee bags and also happens to design great fabric.  I now own one fat quarter bundle of her Someday fabric line, and I can't wait to use it!

So.  You WILL notice the CRAAAAZY fabric combinations on these bags, aha.  That is not lost on me.  I seriously just whipped out of Camden's fabric cupboard anything that made a little bit of sense.  Because this was the first time I made the pattern, I saw these as test runs, and I planned on sending them to my nieces and nephew.  I so hope they love them!

The pattern is super easy to understand, though I do think the fabric amounts need to be better specified for the ears (bunny vs. cat).  She mentions in the pattern that an 18-inch zipper is a better choice than a 16-inch, and she is right.  The 16-inch zipper worked, but I'm glad I only had to use one of them, aha.  I did use fusible fleece batting (or whatever it's called, LOL), rather than regular batting, and that worked great.

As for the face embroidery, I just used DMC floss, and I went to town.... I am no expert, as you can tell, and I didn't pop/hide my knots.  She doesn't specify how she does it, and I am that wacko person who makes giant knots JUST IN CASE, so, they aren't popable, LOL.  Also, I have a couple books, but I was closer to my computer and reminded myself on how to do a couple stitches, like the back-stitch and satin stitch.  I'm pretty sure I failed on both accounts, but they results are still decent enough.  I felt bad leaving knots inside the bag, but I did try to leave the black knots on darker sections of fabric, where they wouldn't show as much.  I do need to work on perfecting the embroidery, for sure.

Anyway, the pattern is great, and the results are darling!  I still need to tack up the cat ears, but I wanted to hurry and get photos!

And how about a little days in the life.....

Working away on the table

A little Boss Monster

The pilot, Greg, captured a selfie, aha!

They were so lucky to fly!!!!!

The Combination Meant to Be: Oliver and S 2 + 2 Skirt and Music Class Blouse

I realize I kick it WAY old school with Camden's outfit choices.... patterns that came out years ago that I sew up over and over.  But a cute, classy look???  I can't help myself!  I'd like to move Camden up into a classy, trendy look, but those patterns don't quite exist - at least, not the things I see in my head, LOL.

I sewed up the 2 + 2 Skirt and Blouse by Oliver and S twice before... six years ago :O  WHAT?!!  Why have I waited SO LONG??  Camden was clearly SO SMALL, LOL.  But I was somehow confused by the direction of the button loop and remember thinking I put it on wrong.  Also, looking back at the photos, I'm all, WHY did I contrasting thread on that skirt?!  And why did I use contrasting bias tape on that shirt???  The little things, LOL.  I was pleased with my wee bit of embroidery and hand-stitching, though - and still am.  

Overall, though, I don't like that blouse, so, when I made it this time, I knew I wanted to use the Music Class Blouse, which is my favorite blouse pattern!!  I feel it's a better fit for the skirt, too.

Both patterns sewed up easily, and I made sure all was well with the button loop, and I made sure to add two wee snaps in the placket.  This outfit was meant to be one of Camden's birthday outfits, and she wore it to school last week.  I also managed to grab the photos quickly before heading off to school that morning, aha!  It also happily looks super cute with her Mini Rock Rose sweater - yay!

I am pretty bummed I waited so long to sew this skirt up again.  I need to quickly whip out at least one more before she is really out of the size 8.  Before that, though, there are so many other things to sew!

Days in the life!!!

This and the one below are the rough draft for a paper she had to write about a challenge she faced

Birthday dinner night on March 20!

Living Large in the Little Girl's Skater Dress by Kitschy Coo

This is a new favorite for Camden - the Little Girl's Skater Dress by Kitschy Coo.  She so far has two, and I have plans to make ONE more for the season!  This is the third knit dress pattern I have tried in the past six months.  The first was the Sew Straight Patterns Uptown/Downtown dress, and I love that one, then I sewed the VFT Kensley, which I wasn't a fan of - maybe because of the gathered skirt???  Anyway, I love the Skater!

I used a recent-ish purchase from Joann Fabrics - another Doodles Line knit.  It isn't my favorite knit to work with, and you DO need to wash and dry it a good three times, but it works, and Camden clearly loves it.  She wore it today for her birthday party, too!  The other version was a good use of stash - albeit a nerve-wracking one!  I totally checked to make sure I wasn't playing fabric chicken, but that turned out to be a lie.  There was definitely a flattening-out and an ironing of the rolled edge to eek out enough room for the front bodice piece, but I made it!  It makes me happy to use this remnant, too, because I first used it in a Modkid Penny dress for Camden years ago (and which I can't find a photo of).

I don't have anything earth-shattering to say about the pattern, except that I printed out the pdf and traced the pieces onto my usual Swedish tracing paper.... in the largest size, which almost seems silly.  I'm crazy bummed that this pattern doesn't go up to at least a size 10.  I'll have to see if I feel bold enough next year to try and grade it up.  The Lady Skater seems to skip a few sizes, so, I don't think I could make her the smallest version of that, sadly.

Anyway, I did lengthen this pattern - only the skirt portion and only by an inch, but it's a great fit for now.  The directions may or may not be great, LOL.  I'll assume they are fine, but it's a straight-forward pattern, so, I didn't use them, and I did make the cuff at the sleeves a bit wider, as I like that look better - and thought I'd prefer sewing it on if it was bigger, LOL.

A cute, simple pattern - and I did short sleeves on both, but I could totally make a version this fall, before she's too big for the pattern, hopefully, with long sleeves.

And some time in the life of....

Such a good dental patient!

Little guy never stays in his own space, LOL