Skirting the problem

I finished up this little skirt last week. I’ve had the pattern since last summer but just hadn’t gotten around to making one. It’s very simple to sew and the pattern is free! (You can find it here, from who else but my favorite pattern maker).

There’s just one problem. The dutchkid won’t wear it because it’s not a dress. Sigh.

I had to convince her to wear it for the photo with the “help” of jellybeans. I tried to tell her that it was just like a dress, but she could wear her favorite shirt with it! No dice. I had hoped to supplement her wardrobe with a few of these, because the ban on pants around here is starting to make me crazy. Almost as crazy as her obsession with wearing tights. It seems this is destined to be the summer of the sundress. I may have to hide the tights.

The dog and the new pajamas

My mother’s dog is named Samson. This is quite possibly the most ironic name ever, mostly because while the biblical character of Samson was a brave, strong hero this in-real-life Samson is the the ultimate scaredy-cat of a dog. Anyhow, Sam’s favorite hobby is to sneak into your room and steal your unmentionables to bury. My mom has entertaining stories about how she came home to find her underwear all over the lawn.

While we were home over the holidays, I accidentally forgot to close the door to the room we were sleeping in. This time he decided against the unmentionables but went for the dutchkid’s jammies. Cute froggy print ones, that he took right out of the suitcase. No doubt this spring when all the snow melts my mother will find them in her flower bed.

So this made making her new pajamas higher on the priority list of projects. I already had purchased the Bedtime Story Pajamas pattern from Oliver + S and this week I finished them up:

(forgive the odd angle, the pants aren’t really that much bigger than the top)

Seriously, I love her patterns – clear and detailed. As a relatively novice seamstress, I get frustrated sometimes because with other patterns they assume you know how to do things. I am still at the point where I need it to be spelled out so that my finished project looks good. Especially with clothing.

And here she is wearing her official “smile” for pictures. It cracks me up every time.

The dress in action

As promised, a few photos of the dutchkid in the finished product, she looks happy about it don’t you think?

The dress

I’m working on finishing up that bubble dress. I still have to finish up the buttons but isn’t it cute? If I do say so myself. I spent most of my weekend doing that and worrying about my mom, who has been really sick. So the dress was a good diversion, I hate being far away from family when stuff like that is going on. It doesn’t help matters that my mom is as stubborn as a mule about going to the doctor and I can’t use my considerable powers of coercion as well via phone. Thankfully I have a new step-dad who is just as Dutch and just as stubborn (ha!)

About the sewing, the pattern was great. This is the first dress I have ever made, so it was challenging for me, no doubt. The pattern was marked as for an advanced beginner. I thought the button placket was going to make me tear my hair out. It isn’t perfect, but not too bad for a first attempt. I’ll get some more shots with my willing model once I have it completely finished. (I tried it on her yesterday and she didn’t want to take it off). I’m so excited for the fall patterns at Oliver + S because I really really want to make the kimono pajamas next.

Sewing Giddiness (and guilt)

I have been itching to try to sew this super cute bubble dress for the dutchkid. I just ordered the pattern from Oliver + S because they have free shipping right now (woo-hoo!). Let’s just hope I can actually sew it. Don’t worry, when it gets here and I get started I’ll show you some pictures.

And my sewing machine is fixed! It sounded horrible before, but now it’s quiet and working much better. So now maybe I can finally get around to finishing the boxers for SMC that have been sitting around since the move. My poor regional contact person just emailed me wondering if I needed anything, to make sure I’m ok…. yup, I’m fine just a slacker. Argh. I have most of my curtains up, so I’m putting the rest of them on hold to get some boxers done. Somehow my projects keep multiplying while my free time gets less and less. I just can’t seem to keep that pesky good idea fairy locked in her closet.