Not to be outfoxed this time

Another reversible version of Ottobre 1/2012's issue Home Sweet Home apron dress.  Sewn in 100% cotton: Outfoxed by Lizzy House, corduroy, and gingham seam binding.

Happy things:

This was a much smoother operation the second time around.  Using very soft, loosely woven fabric for the binding and stretching it a bit while sewing made a huge difference.  I also sewed the straight part of the perimeter separately from the tricky straps, and gave those straps lots of TLC via many pins and sloooow sewing.  Strategically, I topstitched the binding tape on the corduroy side so that any craziness on the underside would be partially disguised by the busy print of Outfoxed.

Less-Happy things:
I feel deep regret for not having cut the appliqué gingham on the bias, which may make the corduroy side resemble the latest collection from Kountry Korner.  And I still can't figure out how to add buttons on both sides to create a truly reversible garment, since that would be very bumpy for the wearer's shoulders.

Ottobre Home Sweet Home apron dress (1/2012, No 4)

This project started out very tidy and with lots of promise: just the way I like things.  I was using up a bit of my Ikea stash from a few years ago, having found the right venue for lightweight cottons with a lot of white in them.  I had found an excuse to buy a new, narrower bias tape maker and had made up gobs of this yummy stuff:

Making your own bias tape is incredibly satisfying.  Iff you own a rotary cutter and Clover tape-maker.

Best of all, I'd found the perfect Ottobre pattern - something with only one piece!  If you're familiar with Ottobre patterns, you know that the worst part is cutting out the pattern pieces.  There's following a million crazy lines, tracing, adding seam allowances...enough to turn me off before I even get started, most of the time.

But this gem had only one piece.  And only one measly seam allowance to be added - on a straight line, at that.  How wrong could things go?

The catch was, this one's a bit of a bear (as my polite, midwestern mother would say) to put together.  The dress has a 3.5 yard perimeter that needs bias tape made, then basting, and then two more go-arounds to attach the tape.  Including four hairpin turns for the buttoned straps.  

So, you save time on the cutting but you pay in other ways.  Namely, when you try to go back over those hairpin turns the second time, to catch all the bunchy bias tape on the wrong side.  Yowzahs.  While this killed any hopes of having created a reversible garment (probably only I will regret not dressing my daughter in hippos, but still!), the outside is okay:

You think I look mad?  You should have seen my mom finishing the edges on this thing!

The criss-cross back is cute and leaves lots of room to move.

Appliqué provides a preview of the lining fabric.

The tape and lining fabrics are cottons from Ikea's kid fabrics.  The denim is from JoAnn.  The chic buttons which you can't really see (but trust me, they're awesome!) are from my local button shop.

For the shoemaker's children

Since starting to sew more seriously for other people, I have sewn very little for my own children.  Which is to say, I've hemmed one pair of pants in 7 months and that's about it.

Over February vacation week, however, I got my act together and sewed a few spring items.  Dress your children in lawn and linen this spring, I say!  They'll look beautiful and you can pat them to cheer yourself up (if, that is, you're the kind of person who perks up by handling nice fabric).

I haven't made this pattern since Jonah was a little one, and I like it better now.  This is a 2T of the Oliver and S sailboat top in Lisette cotton lawn.  I love the Indian print of the fabric and its unbelievably soft hand (did I really find this at JoAnn?!) but the lines of flowers were printed significantly off-grain which rendered it impossible to have straight rows of flowers while cutting the pieces on grain (proof that oh yes, I did find it there...).  Regardless, I love long-sleeve lightweight tops for spring and summer and this is a great one.  For reasons I cannot fathom, this chunky child slipped into the shirt much more easily that my skinny boy did.

"I want to see Ye-oh-ya!"

 Here you can see the four buttons at the neckline.  Some trouble, but classy.  Don't mind the four extra buttonholes I accidentally sewed on the front of the shirt (now hidden by the buttons).

As for Jonah, he's getting his first pair of linen pants for dress occasions this spring and summer (maybe someone will invite us to an elegant party?  Anything is possible).  Again, this is still the Oliver and S sailboat pattern but in a 4T with the hem modified to be full-length.  I'm trying to extend the pants' life by adding elastic in the waist that I can let out when needed and by adding cuffs, which could open to lengthen the pants down the road.  Linen is a very sophisticated fabric for children's clothing and I like it for that reason.

See how happy my children are that I sew for them?  They just love it.

See that extra elastic?  Only a few more sticks of butter in that boy and we might get there.