Handmade Wardrobe // rio Daisy

Mine and Penny’s tees: True Bias Rio Tee and Mini Rio Tee in a floral knit from Style Maker Fabrics, ribbing from Isee Fabric

Penny’s shorts: self drafted

my jumpsuit: Mimi G free pattern with her Sew Def magazine (old) in a viscose linen noil from Blackbird Fabrics (old)

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Well look who has a new favorite pair of matching t-shirts! It’s the latest pattern from True Bias- the ringer style Rio tee. Super cute and has a vintage-y vibe. The only issue I had i that I found it to run a tad bit small in sizing. I cut my usual size, and its a bit tight in the arm. I’m going to go up a couple sizes for the next one. Penny’s size 4 is perfect, though! And the ribbing binding was actually pretty easy and came out with a nice clean finish.

My jumpsuit is something that I’ve made two other times before, I just love this style so much. This time i lowered the neckline because I just want it to be a layering piece over cute tees. I also widened the leg by 1.5” each, and changed the length too. Oh yeah, and everyone always gets confused as to where to find this pattern. Click the link above to take you to the exact issue of the Sew Def Magazine. You have to pay for the issue, but the pattern is included free. (And yes, its the right one, even though it doesn’t list the free pattern in the description).

Handmade WARDROBE // Dove, Hacked

my top: Megan Nielsen Dove blouse, hacked with cap sleeves in a polka dot lyocell linen from Joann Fabrics

Penny’s top: self-drafted

my jeans: Megan Nielsen Patterns Dawn jeans

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Eeeeeeeeek! I’m so excited to finally share this one! If you haven’t heard, Meg recently re-released her Dove blouse pattern in her extended sizing, as well as in Curve sizes! With the re-release, I created two hack tutorials -one of them being this sleeveless/ little cap sleeve version. I looooove it. Probably my favorite woven blouse in my closet right now. You can find the hack tutorial (as well as the other hack for a rounded neckline) on Meg’s blog - Design Diary.

Also, how cute is Penn’y matching outfit this time?! I saw someone on Instagram (ack, I can’t remember who!), make a similar little dress/top in this fabric with tan colored gauze bloomer shorts to go with it, and it was so cute! Penny already had some thrifted bloomers in the same color, so it was fate <3.

Handmade wardrobe // Retro Spring

my top: Megan Nielsen Patterns Jarrah top, sleeveless with bands, in a striped cotton jersey from Blackbird Fabrics

Penny’s top: Megan Nielsen Patterns Mini Jarrah top, sleeveless with bands, in same fabric

my shorts: Peppermint Mag Spring Shorts in organic french terry from isee fabrics

Penny’s shorts: Lowland Kids Shorties in same fabric

Penny’s turban: self drafted (find more in my Etsy shop Nelly Lou)

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Soooooo, I’m in love with this outfit. This is giong to be my summer uniform, I’ll call it right now. The shorts are one of my favorites, of course - this is my fourth pair I’ve made. And although its a woven pattern, I took a chance and made this pair in a cozy french terry. They’re like cozy sweatpant shorts and its everything I could want or need right now, haha. Penny’s matching shorts are so cute, and make her little legs look so long. Silly me cut a size 4, ya know, because shes about to turn 4, so I though maybe she’d be moving up a size this summer. But they’re actually pretty big on her. Which is fine, becasue that just means they’ll probably fit her for multiple seasons. But for her next pair, I’ll definitely be cutting a size 3 .

And now for our tees! I’ve been trying out a few different tee patterns lately, and this is by far my favorite. Just the right amount of boxy and slouchy. And the shape combined with this stripe makes it feel like it came straight out of Madewell. It’s actually a Jarrah sweater, but just without the sleeves! No need to adjust the pattern - because it’s a drop-sleeve pattern, you can just turn under and hem the sleeve edge if you want. But for some added stripe play, I added some bands at the sleeve hem. And Penny’s is an exact mini copy!

Handmade wardrobe // solee

my top: DIY Solee top, instructions by Nataile Ebaugh

Penny’s top: DIY using the same method, just no elastic at the waist

fabric: rayon cotton voile from Blackbird Fabrics (no longer available)

straps: velvet ribbon from Mood Fabrics

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So, funny thing : my top originally started out looking like Penny’s - loose and wide and floaty at the hem. I already had it finished and everything. But then I saw Natalie post her DIY Solee top on Instagram (and Star’s version, too!), which was a similar style, just with elastic at the waist too. And I fell in love. I decided I NEEDED THIS to have elastic at the waist. But I already had this cut and finished at an almost- cropped length, not enough to turn up the hem even more to add in the elastic. So instead, I simply took some scrap strips of fabric and made a separate casing that I stitched to the inside of the top, and then threaded the waist elastic through that. Voila! It worked!

It worked out fine for me in the end, but if you want to do it the easy way, Natalie has step by step instructions in her Instagram stories.

P.S - I love how mine turned out, but I’m OBSESSED with hiw cute Penny’s is. This is one of my favorite styles to make her, and its also one of the easiest since its just a rectangular piece of fabric with some elastic. Easy peasy!

handmade wardrobe // Mommy and Me Tania

both of our sweaters: H&M

both of our culottes (not skirts!): Megan Nielsen Tania culottes and mini Tania culottes in a rayon blend dot print from Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics

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Ok, I’m just going to start off by saying that I’m obsessed with this set of photos and these outfits! I mean, look at that chunky sweater on Penny, omg.

But anyway, could you guys tell that these were both culottes and not skirts? That’s my favorite thing about this pattern. Look Ma - they’re pants! And guess what, Megan is currently offering Mommy & Me bundles for both the adult and mini patterns! So now is your chance to grab them now, If you want to try some twinning, too.

handmade wardrobe // fall tones

my top: Friday Pattern Company Adrienne blouse in a striped knit from Blackbird Fabrics

my pants: Style Arc Tully Pants in a linen/viscose from StoneMountain and Daughter Fabrics

my shoes: Target

Penny’s shirt and turban: both self drafted in same knit fabric

Penny’s jacket: H&M

Penny’s pants: thrifted

Penny’s boots: Target

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I told you to expect another pair of Tully pants. Totally obsessed with this pattern. This time, I made it out of one of my favorite drapey, slubby linen blends. I made a pair Spring Shorts in this same fabric and love it. so much so that I’ve bought it in 2 more colors for future projects.

Another new favorite pattern, and my second version, is the Adrienne blouse. I mean, can we just take a second to appreciate those sleeves? It’s such a quick and easy make with such impact.

Not much to say about this set. Just some favorite makes in some favorite fabrics paired together. If you haven’t tried either of these patterns out, I highly suggest them!

handmade wardrobe // Sudley dress, and matching Cottesloes, too!

dress: Megan Nielsen Patterns Sudley dress in a burnout organza from Joann Fabrics (no longer available)

swimsuits: Megan Nielsen Patterns Cottesloe and Mini Cottesloe (tutorial for peplum and skirt) in a rust swim fabric from Blackbird Fabrics (no longer available)

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Its a two-in-one post! Or rather, three-in-one! Back in July, I made another set of matching Cottesloes for me and P to wear to a beach party. For these ones, with just one hack technique, I created two different looks - peplum bottoms for my two piece and a skirted one piece for Penny! You can find the tutorial for how to do this over at Megan Nielsen Design Diary.

I also made a really fancy beach cover up using this sheer/burnout organza, and you guys, I’m in loooooooove. Exactly what I was imagining. And that little keyhole detail in the back of the Sudley (can be worn in the front, too!) is just too cute. Because It’s sheer, I had to take extra special care to make the inside pretty as well. Since you can see it! So I finished all seams with either french seams or bias bound edges. I have a really pretty mustard yellow silky fabric that I want to make a slip dress out of to wear underneath, so I can wear it off the beach, as well!

hanndmade wardrobe // mini cottelsoes

swimsuits: Megan Nielsen Patterns Cottesloe and mini Cottesloe

gingham fabric: Raspberry Creek Fabrics

pink monstera leaf fabric: Spoonflower

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Guys, I’m so excited to finally be able to share these with you of the newly released Mini Cottesloe swimsuit! I went a little crazy during testing and made P three new suits (you’ll see two in this post, I’ll show you the last one in another post).

You may recognize my suits and the fabrics from previous posts. Luckily I had saved all my leftover fabric after making mine, and had just enough to squeeze out Penny’s matching ones.

Just like with the mini Eucalypt, Penny fell just under the measurements for the smallest size 3. For the gingham one piece, I shortened the one piece by about 3/4”, but probably could’ve taken off a little bit more, too, or at least tightened up the elastic along the back neckline. See how there is a bit of gaping underneath the back ties? Thats where I would re-work it next time.

On the two piece, I left it as is, purposefully leaving it a little bit big. She only was going to wear this one a couple times this summer, so I wanted iit to fit her next year, too! Overall, I’m pretty happy with the coverage on her. I may add a little bit more width to the bum next time, though. Just my personal preference. The coverage is pretty good, but with a lot of movement (hello, toddler) it shifts a bit and rides up. Still not horrible, and shes not like, flashing everyone haha, but just thinking a small adjustment might help!

handmade wardrobe // mommy and me Eucalypt tanks

both of our tanks: Megan Nielsen Eucalypt tanks, women’s and mini in a dotty rayon from Fabric.com

my shorts: Peppermint Magazine Spring Shorts in a slub linen from Stonemountain Fabrics

Penny’s shorts: self drafted

my hair clip: Turtle Story

both our shoes: Old Navy (mine & Penny’s)

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My friend Megan just released two new mini paptterns - including the Mini Eucalypt tank and dress! I made these matching tanks for me and P back and June, and have dying to share them. It’s a simple pattern, a quick sew, but oh so satisfying.

Penny is wearing the smallest size available which is a size 3, with no adjustments (she is 3 years old). It is just tad bit big on her, but she also falls just outside the measurements for the size 3. I chose not to make any adjustments, because I figured that it being a tiny bit oversized now is worth it for it to fit her still next summer. The more wear, the better! And the longer I can twin her in it haha.

And now that summer is dying down, I’m also picturing it with a cute chunky cardigan layered over it with her little leggings. Cuuuuuute, right?!

handmade wardrobe // pure sunshine

my top: Simplicity 8839 in a yellow seersucker stripe from Mood Fabrics

my jeans: Megan Nielsen Patterns Dawn jeans

my booties: Target

Penny’s dress: Jilly Atlanta Macy Pinafore

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Man, mini yellow pinstripes are really hard to photograph when you’re not up close! These are better in person, I swear.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this fabric when I bought it. A big puff sleeve top for me (my second one this month), and something cute and ruffle-y for P. The Macy Pinafore fit the bill, and I knew what to expect from it since its the third one I’ve made her. I plan on carrying hers into fall by paring it with a rust colored long sleeve tee underneath and some tights and boots. Cute, right?!