handmade wardrobe // Adirenne, Dawn, and a matching mini

top: Friday Pattern Co. Adrienne blouse in a waffle knit from Fabric Mart Fabrics (sold out)

jeans: Megan Nielsen Dawn jeans in a denim from Style Maker Fabrics

booties: Target

Penny’s tee and pinafore: Simplicity 8706

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First off - yes, my hair is pink! Kinda crazy, right? For me, anyway haha. But I’ve always wanted to try it out so I finally did it!

So these outfits were originally meant to be made back in November - I had the fabrics as part of my November fabric collection. But the holiday months got so crazy, and I had to skip quite a lot of projects. So here we are in January, and I finally got around to making this Adrienne blouse and Dawn jeans! This is my third Adrienne blouse, and probably my favorite one yet in the textured waffle knit. I just love this pattern! One day, I’m just going to have a closet full of Adriennes haha.

And speaking of third versions of a pattern, this is also my third pair of Dawn jeans! Well, fourth if you count the canvas shorts I made, too. But as far as my denim jeans, this is the first time making the tapered leg -both of my other pairs are wide leg. And I don’t know why it took me so long to make this style, because they are soooo good! Fit like a glove. Well, maybe a teeeeeny bit too tight, but I’m hoping they loosen up a bit with wear. As a note - I made my usual size - a straight size 0 with no grading. I did take out just a tiny bit at my hips just in the seam allowance, but that’s it. I do think that next time I might try to pinch out a tiny bit in the back yoke (I may have a bit of a swayback?), just to see if the fit in the back could be a tiny bit better than it already is. But that’s it! For a few little details, I freehand machine stitched a leaf design on the back pocket that I thought was cute and mimicked the print I used for the pocket bags, and I also left the bottom edges un-hemmed to let fray naturally over time.

And then, of course, there is Penny’s matching outfit. The pattern I used is baby/toddler size pattern. So I graded it up a bit to fit her (not very professionally, just by eyeing it). I may have graded the jumper up just a little too much, though, because it is a bit big. But hey - she’ll just get more use out of it as she grows!

I’m going to make a mental note to re-photograph this set outside in better light once we reach warmer months. I don’t think these grainy-ish indoor photos do it justice!

Handmade Wardrobe // Forget Me Not

fabric: leopard print sweater knit from Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics (sold out. yellow version available here)

my dress: Forget Me Not Patterns Clementine dress (c/o)

Penny’s dress: self drafted

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I recently was asked to review the Clementine dress from Forget Me Not Patterns, and here is what I made! The Clementine dress (or top) is a princess seam, fit and flare style, with the option for a scoop neck or cowl neck. I love a good cozy knit dress, so I was intrigued. Honestly, most of the tee dressed I tend to make and wear are loose fitted and swing-y. This style is very fitted in the bodice and arms, and then flares out from the waist. Different from I normally make, since it is so fitted up top, but I actually like the change and different addition to my closet. The fit ended up being perfect. I cut out my usual size, with no changes, and it fit like a glove. Even though it’s drafted for a B cup, my smaller A-cup bust still fit fine with no adjustments (and a padded bra haha). The only thing I would change for next time is to add a little bit of length. The pattern as-is, it ended up being just a taaaad bit shorter than I normally would like for my 5’6” height. Not too short by any means, just shorter than I prefer. I’m actually thinking I might make a short sleeve version later on for summer!

But for these ones, I chose a sweater knit fabric from my stash that had just enough stretch to really work for this type of fitted garment. I was limited with the yardage I had. So in order to squeeze out a matching dress for P, I had to cut the front bodice for her as two pieces, instead of on the fold. So there is a cetner front seam. But I kind of like the little detail! I also didn’t have enough for the back bodice, so I cut it out of a solid black knit instead for a contrasting panel. Cute, right?!

Oh, and one more thing - did I mention the Clementine dress pattern has pockets?! I actually had to leave them out (I know, for shame!) because of fabric yardage limitations. Although I relaized after the fact that I could’ve easily just used the solid black fabric that I used for P’s back panel. Doh! Definitely something I will actually be including next time.

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 // mommy and me leopard

my dress: True Bias Roscoe dress in a silky faille from Spoonflower (designer is Michelle Aitchison)

my boots: Target

Penny’s skirt: self drafted

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Remember the leopard print from my last post? The sublt pink leopard print? This is the same one, just in bolder colors! It’s from the same designer, bought on Spoonflower (link is above). Except this one I got in the silky faille fabric. It’s a tad bit thicker than the crepe de chine I got the other colorway in. Its not at all sheer and really silky to the touch. I really like this one!

I’ve been on a True Bias patterns kick lately, between Ogden, Calvin, Hudson, and now Roscoe. My first Roscoe! And I’m in love. I went with the shorter dress/tunic length of the bodice, but used the longer/wider ruffle hem of the midi dress view for my perfect length.

I only had a strip of fabric left over in the end - not close enough to squeeze out a dress for P, too. So I went with my go-to, super quick and easy make for P to match me - an elastic waist gathered skirt. One rectangular piece of fabric, one seam, a quick casing, and some elastic. Voila - a skirt. I have a tutorial on Megan Nielsen Design Diary if you need help with this simple sewing project! I added some buttonholes and a black drawstring on this one too for just a bit extra.

handmade wardrobe //dress of my dreams

my dress: New Look 6616 in an Atelier Brunette viscose from D&H Fabrics Co.

Penny’s tank: Megan Nielsen Mini Eucalypt, altered.

Penny’s pants: older H&M

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I am on a roll making some freaking good dresses. This is another dream one! It has two of my favorite things - high square neck and ties. And THIS FABRIC. OMG this fabric. I’m so in love. It is a lightweight viscose and is a bit sheer. I lined the top, bit not the bottom because I didn’t want to add too much weight to the dress. But it’s not an issue because I have a nice collection of slip skirts that I can wear underneath. The pattern did need some adjustments. First of all, the straps were too long. I had to take those up by about 3/4”. And the bust, geez. There is no bust darts because it is just cinched with the sash ties, so that seemed perfect for me. But omg it was still so big in the bust and underarms. I had to take it in by more than 1 1/4” at each underarm, graded down to the waist. Luckily it worked it out. The last thing - not the biggest fan of the construction - specifically the zipper/bias binding. Doing the binding first and leaving the zipper until the very end left the top edge of the zipper unfinished and feeling a bit messy. I would suggest leaving the binding unfinished at the center back, sewing in the zipper, and then finishing the binding over the zipper for a cleaner finish.

For Penny’s, I didn’t have a lot of fabric left to play with, so I made her a quick tank using the mini Eucalypt. I wanted a higher, crew-neck style blouse though, so I raised the neckline quite a bit and added a slit in the back with a hook and eye. I also finished the edges with contrasting bias binding, instead of bias facing, using leftover binding from my Calvin wrap dress.

Penny's handmade wardrobe // yo mama made this

I recently set aside some time to do some sewing just for Penny. I mean, I did use fabrics that were left over from my projects (that turban fabric is from my Rowan bodysuit from my last post), so she’ll still match me, but the time and the projects were just for her.

The top and jumper are actually from the same pattern - Simplicity 8706. Which is technically a baby size pattern, the largest being about size 18-24. Penny is between a 2T and 3T. So I just cut all pieces roughly a little larger than the largest size, and it worked perfectly! I’ll even be able to extend those straps a little longer for more length as she grows into it, giving it a longer life.

Turban is my own pattern that I use for Nelly Lou, and boots are from Target.

snapshots: sunflowers at Colby Farms 2018

Two flower field posts in a row! We're getting flower crazy over here!

Because of the heat wave we're had this summer, the sunflower field at Colby Farms bloomed earlier than usual. I love going here every year (even if it gets crazier and busier every year, too), and this year was extra special because Gramma and K-pa were here with us! Penny loved walking through the tunnels of the rows of flowers and saying she was "flower hiking". I hope she looks forward to this tradition every year like I do <3.

You can see all our other years visiting the sunflowers here (I love all of these photos so much!) - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (not Colby Farm)

PS- my dress is very old H&M, Penny's dress and socks are June and January. Her turban is Nelly Lou.

PacaPod

You guys, I am so in love with this bag. As much as I liked the look of our last diaper bag, it just wasn't working for us like I wanted it to. It was always a hot mess. Everything was just shoved in there wherever there was room. Bottles were in one pocket, formula was buried in the bottom of the main compartment under diapers and toys and blankets, burp cloth in another pocket. Bla. 

Enter Pacapod. They have this brilliant design that involves two small pod bags inside the main bag. One insulated pod for feeding, another designed for diapering. They fit perfectly inside the main bag, but easily come out and can also be used individually (even have their own straps so they can be attached to your stroller by themselves!). Out to eat and need to head to the restroom to change a diaper? Just grab the changer pod instead of lugging the whole bag with you. Genius! 

When Pacapod offered to send me an Oban bag to try out, I literally squealed with excitement! I've been desperately wanting a diaper backpack to be hands-free. Since I actually usually wear P in a carrier when we are out, a backpack made so much more sense. The Oban can convert from a messenger bag to a backpack. So its nice to have that option. We've been out a handful of times now with this bag, and I'm loving it so far! We're staying a lot more organized and efficient than we were before. 

If there is one negative I've found (and it might just be with this style. They offer so many great options!), its that there isn't much room in the bag for extra items with both pods in there. You can put an extra outfit in the changing pod. And small toys, keys, wallet, etc. fit well in the front pockets. But there is no where to put, say, a light blanket or my Solly Baby wrap. It hasn't been too much of an issue yet, though. Especially since we've been trying to pack lighter and lighter as P gets older. So maybe it's a good thing, haha. 

Here's a breakdown of what we are actually able to fit in there, though:

Feeding pod - two (Comotomo) bottles, formula/snack dispenser, squeeze pouch, spoon, and bib. 

Diapering pod - handful of diapers, wipes case, change of clothes, diaper cream, travel size hand sanitizer. (changing pad is included, too!)

Other pockets: Covered Goods cover, Sophie, wooden toy, paci and clip, mittens, baby sunglasses, my wallet, phone, and keys. 

Pacapod offered me their product in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own. 

bonus, here's a happy baby in a swing:

diaper bag: c/o Pacapod

coat: Forever21

hat: old

booties: DSW

Penny's turban: BluTaylor

Penny's dress and jacket: Carters

P's first Ice Castle

This past weekend, we made our annual trip up to New Hampshire to visit the Ice Castle. Last year I was pregnant during our visit, and I remember saying that I could not wait to bring our littlest Darling for the first time.

Walking around there with her was jus as magical as I imagined. She, on the other hand, was indifferent. Haha. Like any 8 month old, she was more interested in the other people and trying to tear off her hats. Next year. Next year she'll go down the ice slides and she'll love it for sure. 

This is and always will be worth the 2 hour car ride.