Kids Clothes Week - Refashioned Waistcoat and Tweedy Tailored Shorts

Yes, that's a car, not a camera!

Here are my first offerings for Kids Clothes Week - Let's start with the shorts. I love them!

 

I used Figgy’s Banyan pattern (again!) using the shorts pattern as the basis for these. I made a few changes though; I wanted a simplified tailored look so I took out the pockets and zip fly and redrafted the waistband so that it was higher and could feature the mother-of-pearl buttons (I saved those from an old cardigan). Using a bit of mint green thread to sew on the buttons adds a pop of colour.

I fully lined the shorts as tweed can be a little rough and used the Figgy’s adjustable waistband method which helps them stay up on S who has no bottom whatsoever! 

I love this herringbone tweed – I made a dress from it for myself a few years ago and used a small remnant to whip up these shorts. They would work well with tights in the cold too but we went for a summery look today as the sun is out and we want it to stay out!

These also fit in with another blog event happening at the moment - Calling All Kids on the excellent Alida Makes blog which is challenging people to make clothes for kids that challenge gender stereotypes...surely nothing crosses the gender divide more than purple tweed?!

Next, I made the little waistcoat out of one of my old tops that was stained and ready to be thrown out. I love the colour of the jersey though so I decided to refashion it into a cute little waistcoat.

After!

 I popped it on S inside out and went to work with some pins; I took in the sides and reworked the shoulder details, removing the lapel and making it smaller, then I popped some darts in the back and cut a curved high-low hem around the bottom to make the most of the drapey jersey. I have to admit making a curved hem on the slip jersey was tricky, but nothing a funky bit of orange trim doesn’t cover up!

 

Kids Clothes Week

I'm really happy to be involved in the Spring Kids Clothes Week this time round and even more excited about the things I'm planning to make! It's an online event in which participants sign a pledge to commit to making clothes for their children for one hour every day for a week. Sounds fun? The idea is to kick start people into starting those projects that they've always wanted to make, but some how got round to.

Once you've pledged your time it's the commitment that keeps you going...I know an hour a day is never going to happen long term, but I guess doing it for a fixed amount of time illustrates that no matter how busy you are at home, or at work (or both!), you can make some time for yourself to do the things you really want to do. If you can make one hour a day happen for a week, maybe a few hours every weekend doesn't seem so unachievable any more?

I love sewing because I end up with stuff at the end...a finished product, a practical, usable thing. So I'm looking forward to seeing how much I can do in 7 hours this week...watch this space!

Scallop Pocket Skirt

Using up some stretch cord and some cotton scraps I had in my stash I decided to design a little skirt for S. She got some cute little boots for Christmas and has a few skirts but as usual a waistband that fits with a length that’s not indecent are hard to find so I decided to make her something. We did some sketches and she liked the idea of having shapes on the pockets.

I put in some little scallop edged pockets with a contrast lining which turns down. I should have top stitched it because the lining moves a little when it’s worn and played in. But the design evolved during the making of it so that’s something to think about for next time...except I never seem to make anything twice! When I started making the skirt I hadn't planned to turn down the pockets but it looks really cute. S wasn't impressed that both the pockets were the same - she wanted some asymmetry it seems...everyone's a critic, especially 3 year olds!

I used the same floral print cotton for the facing on the waistband and for piping around the waistband. I got a bit confused making one of the pockets so one is finished with french seams and the other isn't!Wah!

I wanted to use this project to learn at least one new technique so I learnt how to make a welt pocket for the back of the skirt using the floral cotton for the welts and a blue and white polka dot cotton for the pocket lining. I used this youtubevideo which made the whole process seem very simple. I love this little pocket. Sweet.