Vintage Skirt

I've been subscribing to Ottobre Kids magazines for some time and I really love the design and small details on each piece. The colorful spread and photography really makes everything looks so put together.  I love the kids fashion on knits and they even offer boys clothes too. 

For first time user, you may need adjustment since the instruction in the magazine is quite minimal with no step by step photos or diagrams and patterns pieces are drawn on top of each other in different color codes and sizes.  Your eyes will likely cross when you try to trace it but since I'm familiar with japanese sewing book, it is still manageable for me.

I've made a dress and 2 jackets for my girls.  Love how they turned out. 

Recently, I ordered a back issue Summer 3/2009 and made up a vintage skirt for my girl.  The pattern is called 'Velma' vintage skirt.

For my recently turned 3 year old, I made a size 98. It was quite true to size. The skirt has 2 square pockets in front, a waistband and ric rac details on the pocket bands and skirt hem.

I used the vintage print fabric that I've on hand. Do you recognize this from my earlier project on pocket skirt?  With this busy print, it's a bit hard to see the details.

I've learnt a new technique to sew the pocket band on the pocket which hide the ugly seams.

I fail in matching print cause the waistband has the apple facing down : ( . I've use the front as inside without realizing it until i've serged the seams.

Added the Apple button. The recommendation is invisible zipper but I didn't have one so I just use a normal zipper and attach with lapped zipper method.

Faux Leather Foldover Clutch

Yup! I've caught the bug to sew one up myself. First caught sight of it at Kristen's blog "Skirt as Top" and really love her doily foldover clutch. Then, chance upon Cherie's faux leather accent fold over clutch and I'm sold.

Bought half a yard of faux leather from Chinatown at $7 per yard to try out. They come in a variety of colors and I bought a pink, turquoise blue and brown to try out.

I use a leather needle for this project and widen my stitch as suggested.  It works okay and I'm surprise how easy it is to sew.

I love the gold metal zipper that I got from a shop at Textile centre. They don't have a lot and size is limited but I'm glad I bought some pastel purple, pastel blue, pastel pink, green and even teal and mint.  The one I got is 10" instead of the required 9". It was okay but i've to adjust the stitch to be closer to the edge in order not to step over the metal teeth. Even so, I had to pick out the zip tab at the end to make the zipper teeth fit into the clutch length. I didn't want to run out to buy new zipper so I made do with what I've.

Want to peep inside?  I line the clutch with Heather Bailey Nicey Jane's Church Flowers in pink, green and yellow that I got last year. I was perfect. I love the sweet color. Not sure what I'll use it for but definitely this will not be my last.

Refashion Man's Tee to Sparky Dress

Here's the part-2 of the quickly T-shirt refashion project. On demand from the other sister.

I use a XL size Man's T-shirt for this. This project is also quite simple but it involve some cutting but I reuse the sleeve, neckline binding and the hem of the T-shirt. Let's jump in the tutorial shall we?

First, get a T-shirt larger than your pattern piece. You can also use knit if you have.  You can also use an existing kids t-shirt for the pattern but I just use the pattern piece from the Racerback dress from Crafterhours.  Fold the t-shirt into half and place your pattern along the fold.

I've place the pattern flush to the bottom of the shirt so that I can use the existing hem.  I didn't curve up the hem so I can use the hem in totality.  Cut out the pattern on fold and you will get both the Front and Back in one cut! Don't forget to cut the back neckline higher cause I forgot to do that and my front and back looks the same! Then, cut off the bodice and skirt so that you can later attach the sparky skirt. Length of skirt will depend how long you like. Just make sure it is the same length of slightly shorter than the sparky skirt.

Lay the sleeve flat and cut out the sleeve for the dress. I didn't use any pattern for us but just eyeball it. I  more of less follow the existing shape of the t-shirt. Be sure to cut the sleeve at the hem so that you can save hemming the sleeve too!

Cut out both sleeves and also the neckline ribbing of the existing t-shirt.

Then, following the steps to sew the bodice:
1) pin the shoulder seams right side facing and sew/serge shoulder seams
2) pin sleeve to arm sync, right side facing and sew/serge sleeves
3) pin underarm seams and side seams, right side facing and sew/serge underarm and side seams
4) as my neckline is much bigger, I use my serger to gather the neckline and then attach the ribbing using my serger, right side facing

For the skirts, just follow the previous tutorial. In a nutshell, cut the sparky fabric and sew into tube. Gather the skirt and pin together with the underskirt and elastic loop. Take special care to ensure the skirts are facing the right direction. Serge and sew the skirts, elastic to the bodice at waistline.

See the nice gathers. I love my serger! I didn't hem my sparky skirt since it doesn't fray.

The new dress.

She LOVES her dress, so twirly and sparkly

Enjoy the photos of the Sparky girls in their sparky dresses!