More completed SWAP garments

I've finished up four more garments for the Ottobre Fall SWAP (sewing with a plan). I'm really pleased with how wonderfully this whole sewing plan is going! I've done most of the "easy" garments and am starting in on some of the more complex items.

The fabric I used in the Muru tunic (Ottobre 1/2009 #6) was taken from an old t-shirt cardigan of mine that magically grew shorter and shorter on me. I even re-used the ribbing and buttons. I swear, I had a bad case of preggo brain when sewing it because I must have ripped out every seam at least once. It wasn't the pattern, just me. In fact, the pattern was really quite simple and I enjoyed making it! I nixed the whole clear elastic thing though 'cause the knit was so tender and the elastic so stiff...it just wasn't working. I gathered it with old fashioned basting threads. I'm not sure if I'll try the clear elastic again next time I make this pattern; it will probably depend on how sturdy the fabric is.

I haven't decided how to fasten the Ladybug vest (Ottobre 1/2008 #5). I would eventually like to invest in a snap press, so I may go ahead and do that now, or I may just do buttons. I was even thinking of doing some sort of toggle-button closure. Any suggestions? I think it's kind of funny that it's made of green polka-dotted fabric in the magazine and I ended up making it out of green polka-dotted fabric. I originally thought about making it out of polar fleece (no contrast panel, of course), but the green polka-dot twill just insisted this is what it wanted to be made into. Who am I to say no to strong-willed fabric?

I made the Candy pants (Ottobre 1/2008 #9) once before and knew I liked them. I used cheap calico then and they wore thin in the back pretty quickly. I'm sure this twill will stay nice much longer and be warmer for fall. I tried them on Miss M before turning down the waistband since I had a feeling I'd need to turn them down a bit more than called for to keep the crotch from hanging too low. I'm glad I did. I ended up almost doubling the amount I turned them down and am very pleased with the way they fit her.

The leggings are my own pattern. I made them just a bit too long on purpose 'cause I know a growth spurt between now and spring is inevitable. Since they're made of rib knit, I also made the front and back identical. The ribbing stretches enough in the back to fit properly and isn't too loose in the front. That way Miss M can dress herself without getting them on backwards. I'll definitely be making more of these. They're so easy, so comfy, and so versatile!

Miss M's grandma and auntie bought her this pair of brown shoes -- they haven't even seen her fall wardrobe plan yet! Aren't they perfect? A little more casual than the ones I bought...which is perfect and between the two pairs she should be all set for fall and spring. She may need some boots of some sort for winter though. Not that I mind...shopping for cute boots will be great fun! Tee hee!

Here is my current SWAP plan, and the other garments I've completed so far. Next I'm making the Pink Daisy overalls (Ottobre 4/2009 #8) as a dress rather than pants. Do you think I should keep the pockets on the back, or just the front ones?

MFW ECC: What's different this time around?

I am so excited to go through Exploring Countries and Cultures again. The last time my kids were so little -- 3rd grade and Kindergarten. And now they are in 5th and 8th grades! They have grown so much over the past five years. As I began to think about our plan for this year, I realized two things: 1) my gifted eldest child remembers just about everything we covered in ECC the first time, and 2) my younger one hasn't had many of the basics that ECC covers. So I was faced with a dilemma -- how do I adjust ECC to suit the very different needs of both children? How do I shift the focus for my 8th grader to aspects of ECC that she hadn't spent time on before (such as types of governments, imports and exports, etc.) while also taking my younger child through the more foundational information that he missed when he was just a kindergartener? ECC is designed to be parent-led, family learning, with a supplement for 7th and 8th grade. But I came to the conclusion that I need to deco...

Pilcrow pajamas

I finally finished a sewing project...it's been a while, huh? Little Guy has outgrown most of his pajamas and bodysuits. He has several onesies, but they're mostly short sleeved which isn't really appropriate for this time of year without a cardigan. Ottobre to the rescue! I had traced off the "Naava coverall" (Ottobre 6/2009, #3) but it was already a size too small. I "remedied" that by simply cutting it out a little larger all around and keeping my original seam allowance...a bit sloppy perhaps, but time-saving! I actually cut out two at the same time from the same material. I was going for practicality (something for the kid to wear!) rather than fashion. The other one is nearly done - just the leg binding and snaps left to do. Still, I needed to do something fun to spruce 'em up a bit. The other one was voted by hubby to be video game themed, so I decided to make this one reflect my abject nerdiness personality....

Letter posters with memory verses

I have very fond memories of the cursive letter banner that was posted around the top of the walls in my fifth grade classroom. I thought it would be fun to make something similar for our homeschool classroom (a.k.a. our kitchen). I decided to include a Bible verse for each letter. At this point it's mostly for my own benefit since Miss M doesn't read yet. They serve as great reminders to help her memorize these important bits of Scripture while her little mind is still a sponge. (It saddens me that my memorization skills are not what they were when I was a kid!) The fun part is I saved my work in a pdf file for you to use too! Just click the image above to download the file. I laminated mine before sticking them around my kitchen walls with ticky tacky. (The laminator is a new toy!) Enjoy!

dixiebelleAugust 27, 2009 at 11:26 AM
You are SO clever... that is the cutest outfit! What a good little model too. I love co-ordinating outfits, but my Little Miss M has her own idea of what is matching!!

Some days, when I am finding myself doing more 'reverse sewing' than actual sewing, I just put it away and start again the next day!
MegAugust 27, 2009 at 1:19 PM
You've done so much on your swap! I'm very impressed. She looks very please with it too. I especially love the vest. I've been meaning to try that one out.
teriAugust 27, 2009 at 4:27 PM
beautiful
Nadezhda KonovalovaAugust 27, 2009 at 9:00 PM
The garments are so cute! And your daughter is so little!
cindyAugust 31, 2009 at 8:43 AM
I think pockets on the back would be cute too. You're doing a great job staying on track.
KathiSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:06 AM
Great sewing. You should think about making a tutorial for the leggings..
At the county fair « Sprouting FlowersJuly 21, 2010 at 5:14 PM
[...] entered some of the clothes I made over the past year (here, here and here) and received ribbons on two of them. I was delighted to see that there was a lot [...]

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