Floral Pants: Wild Flowers and Skinny Jeans

Floral PantsKid’s Clothes Week Day 4: Floral Pants

To finish up Kid’s Clothes Week: Wild Things, we decided to make a pair of skinny jeans: wild flower style. Floral pants have been all the rage lately showing up in magazines, in stores, on Pinterest, and in the streets! It was only a matter of time before we took on the challenge!

I had some lovely coral floral fabric from Joann’s that I had purchased for a jacket (as it was a bottom weight) that would be perfect for the project.  And it was definitely going to be a project, as I had never made a pair of pants before!

After searching for days, literally days, I found a pattern that I thought would be able to be the foundation for the floral pants.  Believe me when I say that there are not many skinny pants patterns for young girls (or boys) out there! I ended up going with the W Pants pattern by Blank Slate Patterns.  The pants have some pretty significant slouch to them (perfect for young boys), but they offered a unique slanted pocket design with instructions for welt pockets included.  I knew I could alter these to make the perfect skinny pants!

W PantsAlterations I made:

  • Smaller waist with little use of elastic for smooth finish
  • Side zipper in order to take on and off
  • Decreased the size of the bottom by adjusting the crotch (following the instructions from Collette Patterns here)
  • Slimmed the pants from the hips to the ankle in 2 diagonal lines that were about 1 inch (plus seam allowance) larger than her actual leg measurements.

Finished Product:

Overall, I think they turned out fantastic! I was especially proud as they were my first pants ever.  If I had time to do again, I would make them even smaller in the bottom as they stretched out a little.

Here are some great shots from the, plus our inspiration!

Floral Pants

 

Floral Pants

 

Floral Pants

 

Floral Pants

 

We even added a little leopard print accent on the inside waist band as the theme is Wild Things, after all :)

Floral Pants

 

Scirocco Peplum Top Tutorial: Wild Things

Scirocco Peplum Top TutorialKid’s Clothes Week: Wild Things

I love Kid’s Clothes Week!  This season’s theme: Wild Things sparked my attention early on.  There are just so many possibilities!  However, when my rapidly growing up almost 9 year old announced she was “too old for animal faces on her clothes”, I was stumped.  I wanted something cutsie! She wanted something trendy.  We ended up going with a very chic leopard print peplum top.

Once we decided on a peplum top, I immediately went back to one of my favorite patterns: The Scirocco Dress from Figgy’s.  I knew the tried and true pattern would be the perfect starting point!

This time, instead of the tiered dress, I decided to modify the skirt to create a peplum top.  I also modified the back panels again to avoid the dreaded gape often caused by the bulkiness of the pattern. I simply drew the inner diagonal line closer in by 1 inch and all the way to the bottom corner, sparing just enough for the seam allowance plus 1/2 inch.  On the peplum top, I cut the triangles shorter, going all the way to the side about 2 inches from the bottom of the front pattern piece.  As the bodice has a lining, the side seams are still encased and do not show any unfinished seams.Scirocco Peplum Top Tutorial

To add the skirt, I simply made a circle skirt (with lining in the same material).  Instead of cutting on the fold, I cut straight through so that there would be side seams.  The back was created 4 inches wider (for the elastic waist band).  As there is more material in the back, it creates a certain oomph on the behind.  The length hits right about where the second tier of the dress would have hit.

Scirocco Peplum Top Tutorial

 

Scirocco Peplum Top Tutorial

 

Scirocco Peplum Top Tutorial

Upcycled Dress: Violette Field Threads Olive Shirt

Violette Filed Threads Olive ShirtLast season of Kid’s Clothes Week got me so wrapped up in “upclycling“, that I have continued to turn two more dresses into shirts for Cadence.  One is another Juicy Couture dress from her Mimmy (that was way too short for me) and the other is an Ann Taylor dress of mine that hung in my closet for 2 years with the tags still on.

As they were both striped dresses, I thought the Violette Field Threads Olive Shirt pattern was a very good choice for an upcycle project.

Violette Field Threads Olive Shirt

Violette Filed Threads Olive ShirtWhat a wonderful pattern! I have never gone wrong with Violette Field Threads, and I just love the ruffles on the back! I made the similar Adele Dress pattern awhile back and was very pleased with the results.  This time, I wanted a simpler look, so I omitted the top ruffle.  I had enough fabric left over with the grey and pink Juicy Couture dress, to make a scarf for a very sophisticated look.

The Process:

I laid each dress out flat and cut along the side seam so there were two pieces (a front and a back).  I folded the front piece in half long wise and laid the Violette Field Threads Olive Shirt front bodice pattern at the fold.  This way, I was able to keep the neck line from both dresses!

I repeated the process with the back panel.  The rest of the back was a large enough piece to turn sideways in order to create the back ruffle with contrasting vertical stripes.  The only thing left to do was sew up the sides, and create the straps/sleeve bias with left over fabric.  Some of the easiest sewing I have done yet!

 

Violette Filed Threads Olive Shirt

Violette Filed Threads Olive Shirt

Violette Filed Threads Olive Shirt

 

Violette Filed Threads Olive ShirtViolette Field Threads Olive Shirt

a. juicy couture chain link dress b. juicy couture striped dress c. tory burch tank top

 

 

DIY American Girl Doll Wardrobe

DIY American Girl Doll Wardrobe American Girl Dolls; every little girl’s love. Well, maybe not every little girl’s love, but definitely mine! And! We have the “fortunate luck” to live within minutes of a giant American Girl Doll Store!

However, when Christmas came along with the the American Girl Doll catalog, I just knew that the whole thing would be full of circled items.  I was not mistaken! With “the sky’s the limit” wishful thinking coupled with sky high pricing, it was hard to pair down the Christmas list.

This was a call grandpa and some DIY!

DIY American Girl Doll Wardrobe

Isabelle Wardrobe On the top of the list (coming in at around $300) was the Isabelle Wardrobe.  It did not come as a surprise to me as she had recently received Isabelle as a birthday gift (in October).  However, at that price, it would be all she would receive for Christmas.  So, I started my Pinterest hunt for the perfect DIY American Girl Doll Wardrobe.  I didn’t have to search for long, because I found a cute design with plans and everything right here!

I enlisted my father (whom is lovingly called Baba) to help with the word-working, and I sanded, primed, and painted. With the suggested Target washer and dryer set (an additional cost), the wardrobe was complete! The finished product ended up costing less than $50 and was more than we could have dreamed.

 

How to Make a Dog Sweater: KCW Day 7

How to make a dog sweater

Winifred Rose

It is now the last day of Kid’s Clothes Week, and I have accomplished 3 out of 4 intended projects.  I’m going to take that as a win!

This last project includes my two girls: Cadence and Winifred Rose.  Winnie is one of my kids too, right?! I couldn’t help including her in this wonderful theme: Upcycled!

After finishing a simple skirt for Cadence, from a Tory Burch Tank Top that no longer fit me, I had plenty of fabric left to make…..something! I thought about it, and decided to make a matching sweater for Winnie! How cute would that be!

How to Sew a Dog Sweater

NEED: How to make a dog sweater

  • 1/4 yard fabric of choice (mine is knit)
  • 1/4 yerd fleece (contrasting color)
  • 4 inches of velcro

PATTERN:

  • Neck Measurement (where the color would go plus 1 inch)
  • Chest Measurement (largest Part
  • Tip to Tail Measurement (from neck to bottom)

*Winnie’s measurements are: 10 X 12.5 X 10

From there, simply draw a rough oval with the given measurements (adding an inch on all sides for seam allowance), and leaving a small flap on the side for the Velcro.  Cut out the neck (about 2 inches in a half circle shape (with enough room on either side for Velcro strips.

Sew right sides together, leaving a small opening to turn right side out.  Once turned, sew shut and attach the Velcro. Wallah! And that is how to sew a dog sweater in its simplest form.  I have a feeling I will be making many more!

 

Upcylced Skirt

The skirt turned out nicely too.  For a simple skirt tutorial see here.

 

Now, Cadence and Winifred can go out in style!

How to make a dog sweater

 

 

Check out my other blog posts here!

Floral Pants: Wild Flowers and Skinny Jeans

It is now the last day of Kid’s Clothes Week, and I have accomplished 3 out of 4 intended projects.  I’m going to take that as a win! This last project includes my two girls: Cadence and Winifred Rose.  Winnie is one of my kids too, right?! I couldn’t help including her in this wonderful […]

Read More

Scirocco Peplum Top Tutorial: Wild Things

It is now the last day of Kid’s Clothes Week, and I have accomplished 3 out of 4 intended projects.  I’m going to take that as a win! This last project includes my two girls: Cadence and Winifred Rose.  Winnie is one of my kids too, right?! I couldn’t help including her in this wonderful […]

Read More