Happy Birthday, Clifford!

I'm a sucker for a theme.  I really, truly am.  When I have to answer those "What three words best describe you?" questions, I usually put something like "enthusiastic", or-- perhaps more appropriately, "ENTHUSIASTIC!!!!!!" :) 

So Riley's preschool teachers didn't know what they had in store when they asked the kids to wear red today in order to celebrate Clifford's birthday.  See, we don't wear a ton of red in our house, so what's a girl to do but to rush out to Jo-Ann's and buy varying shades of red fabric?!

When I started making Riley-girl's outfit, I had no clear vision except that I wanted a variety of fabrics, some ruffles, and sweetie-bell sweats in red.

We ended up with a tunic top, featuring two ruffles at the neckline (one with puppy prints-- woohoo!) and a big piecework ruffle at the hem.  I like how the grey tones down the red/black theme.

 I even got to use a little more of my Riley Blake chevron for the straps and one of the piecework panels.

 And we are going to get a LOT of use out of these sweetie-bell sweats.  They're so ridiculously comfy.  I may need to make some for myself.  I'm not kidding either.

 Happy birthday, Clifford!  Thanks for giving us another excuse to go fabric-shopping! :)

Summer Yumming Top

 Yesterday was a rocky day for our little household.  It consisted of many tears, little sleep and a couple Mommy breakdowns.  So what does a Mommy do when she's falling apart at the seams?  She sews up different seams! 

**I wasn't planning on a pun when I started typing that, but I guess that kind of thing just naturally flows out of me.  Let's all have a good belly laugh at that awesome pun!  Hardy-har-har!**

But seriously, sewing is a kind of release for me, so when the kids went down for their naps, I booked it to the basement and whipped up the Summer Yumming Top for Riley.  I love it.  It's so bright and happy and yum.  And it has ice cream and dragonflies and polka dots.  How could it go wrong? 

Here's a close-up of the ruffles.  Love the ice cream.  It's so sweet and summery.  And it's been HOT here, so it's perfect for today.  

This top is actually so easy but is one of my favorites to make.  It's just a basic bodice with ruffles sewn on, in the style of my super ruffle skirt.  I finished this in about 1.5 hours, cutting and all.  I know because that is the entire length of time Brooks slept ALL DAY.  What was going on with that kid?! 

For the back, I made a little keyhole closure with a big brown button, to emphasize the chocolate ice cream a little more.  

Riley loves it, too, which is a huge win in this mom's book! :)  Now... I want some ice cream!

Riley Dress-- the best remix of all!

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I finished it!  I finished Riley's Easter dress!  And you'll never guess what I named it: The Riley Dress.  I am "that painting elephant of being awesome."  (Anyone know the reference?)  Well, even with a terribly un-creative name, I'm in love with this dress. 

Remember how terrified I was because I didn't want to mess up on such lovely fabric?  Well, now I don't have to cry myself to sleep!  It has plenty of ruffle-ness. :)

The overskirt is, yes indeed-y, another remix of Dana's circle skirt.  I wanted to do something else with her tutorial besides a skirt, to show off whatever skill(z) I may possess.  I split the front of the skirt, and I edged the entire skirt with a 3-inch ruffle that has both (finished) edges exposed.  That ruffle is about 400 inches long.  Yowza, that was a little work.

The underskirt is a hot pink ruffle fabric.  Ow ow! :)

Looks like I'm not the only one who's giddy over the dress.

We're just all-around silly over here. :)

Now we're ready for Easter!  But so we don't forget what's truly important... Praise the Lord!  Good Friday is dark, but Sunday is a-comin'!

Angelina's Ruffles Tutorial

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I finally got the tutorial done for the Angelina's Ruffles tunic top.  Whew.  I'll tell ya-- I love me some ruffle fabric, but that stuff can be time-consuming.  You really have to show those ruffles who's boss (You!  You are!!).  Oh, and it helps if you stick a whole lot of pins in them. :)

Materials:
3/4 yard of ruffle fabric
knit fabric in matching color
loads and loads of pins
sewing get-up

Instructions:
 Using a well-fitting shirt, create your pattern (like I do here... without sleeves) but do NOT cut out the neck hole.  Cut a front and back piece, shaped exactly the same.

Now this is a little unorthodox but this is the best way I've found to make the neckline and keep the ruffles in check.  Find the center at the top of one of your pieces.  Then mark two inches out from that mark with a fabric marker (or place a pin, if you prefer).  My marks are at the 3 and 7 inch marks.

Then, on both sides, sew your front and back pieces, right sides together, from the arm hole to your mark.  As always, make sure your ruffles are flat and how you want them before you sew.

Cut a 1-inch strip of your knit fabric.  I didn't measure it, but I made it overly long, so I could just cut it when I was done.

Now, on the top of your fabric, place your knit bias tape down, right sides together, starting at the edge of the neckhole.  

I just did this by sight... pin the bias tape in the shape you want for your neckline.  Keep those ruffles in check!  Overlap the beginning and end of your bias tape a little.

Using a stretchy stitch (like a zig-zag), sew the bias tape down just like that, closer to the neckhole side of the bias tape.  Use the edge of your presser foot to guide you.

Now take your scissors and cut out the middle ruffles.  They're now relatively under control. 
Nice trick, eh?

If you look at the right side of your fabric, it'll look like this:

Fold the bias tape to the inside, so it won't be seen from the outside.  Pin it nicely, again, so the ruffles stay put.  Here's the inside:

Here's the right side:

Using another stretchy stitch, sew the bias tape down.  

Now you're going to use the same technique for the armhole.  Pin the ruffles in place under the bias tape.  Sew it on.

Before flipping the bias tape to the inside, stitch up the side seams of your top, including the bias tape.  Then flip it to the inside, like you did at the neck, and stitch it down.  

You're done, and you have a super cute top that is PERFECT for spring and summer!

 

Bubble It Up Dress

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I have major spring fever.  I mean CRAZY major spring fever.  Now that it's been warm for two whole days, I want to sew a bazillion spring skirts, pants and dresses.  Now if only my kids would sleep for 18 hours a day...  Oh, reality, you are hard on me sometimes.

I did get to complete one little dress today, however, and I'm pretty happy with the result.  I originally was doing a tutorial with it, but after I made some dumb mistakes, I had to scrap that.  Don't worry, though.  Riley will be getting a similar dress that will not have those same errors.  And THAT will be tutorial-ed! 

The back of this one turned out differently than I imagined, but I kind of fell in love with it.  It's a knot dress, and I put the hole through which to "string" the straps through way at the outside of the back.  Then I tied them together, pulling the slack of the back into a faux keyhole.  This way, it expands really easily and it looks super cute!

She got a little ruffle around the neck because a ruffle never hurt anybody. :)

You'll notice that, up to this point, you haven't seen Noelle's feet.  Well, I had to reveal her shoes.  Sure, they don't really "go", but she knows how to rock the Pumas.

And for good measure, some sister lovin'.  I love how the bubble flows all around Noelle when she sits down.  So lovely!

Angelina's Ruffles

My aunt (well, technically, my husband's aunt), who is not only a great encourager but also just flat-out awesome, hooked me up with her boss to create this little ruffly outfit.  Have I mentioned how much I love ruffles?  I love ruffles.  A lot.  And this turned out cuter than I ever imagined.  

It's an A-line tunic top...

 

paired with either shorts... 

(I apologize that the shorts look a little funky.  My "model" is super skinny.  I had to tape them on! Ha!)

or capris.  

 

Now just imagine them on an adorable little girl.  Drool. :)