Attack of the robot pumpkins?

I finally finished one of the other projects I had hoped to complete during KCWC.  Ah well, maybe next time I'll live up to the challenge more.  What can I say, it was a crazy week!

And this week?  Fall is definitely in full swing, which meant Squiggles needed another sweater!  This kid dirties up his clothes like there is no tomorrow, so despite my hopes of keeping his wardrobe trim, it's hard when everything gets dirty so quick!  But at least it is an excuse to make more cute things.

In this case, a robot hoodie!  Inspired by Cirque du bebe's awesome hoodies, I bought the Heidi and Finn Comfy Yoga top pattern.  I've seen their Urban hoodie everywhere in crafty blog land, but I'm still a bit scared of button holes to attempt that one.  But this one was pretty easy!  Except that, like my inspiration hoodies, I used a woven cotton on the outside, with yet more of my stash green knit on the inside.  And, well, just don't look toooo close there are some pulls on the knit that I didn't care to take out :)

Either way, cute no?  Maybe its a bit much as the white background is quite bright, but who cares, I think it's adorable.  Oh and the fabric is I heart robots by Timeless Treasures, designed by Rashida Coleman Hale.  And as I made the size 2, theres room for him to grow into it all winter!

And bonus?  It's looks adorable with the knit pumpkin hat and mittens made by his Auntie at our visit to the pumpkin patch yesterday!

In other news, last week one of our local schools held a fabric flea market.  It was crazy busy, but I manage to snag some good basics like a pile of corduroy for future Squiggles pants, and a piece of pretty knit for something for me for next to nothing.

Not too bad eh?  Now I need to wait for my other recent splurge to arrive in the mail... my first venture into online fabric buying... lets cross our fingers and hope it doesn't get lost in the mail!

Hmm I may just have a fabric buying problem (although I do have plans for it all!), but at least I come by it honestly, ask my sister and mother whats hiding in their closets!

KCWC Days 1-5 - Red Pants!

It's day five of Elsie Marley's Kids Clothing Week Challenge.  And I now have something to show for it.  Where did day's two to four go you might ask?  To a crapload of tracing and fabric cutting!

I've decided I generally dislike fabric cutting, and I'm also super slow at it.  It's kinda a downer, after the excitement of finding awesome fabric and a great pattern, you then have to risk life and limb but cutting into said fabric, hoping desperately that you'll do it right and the finish product will look great, and that you don't later realize you had some other different and potentially more awesome project to use that fabric with.   BUT when the project gets finished and it looks awesome, all is sunny happy times again! yay!

So speaking of sunny,  I cut into some of my super cute stash fabric (in this case some Kokka trains, and Sherbet pups by Aneela Hoey for Moda) and made Squiggles red pants!  That's right, red pants.  The red was my first experience with Kona cotton... soooo much nicer than the standard cotton available at my local chain fabric store!

Pattern seems to be a perennial favourite of many sewers, Anna Maria Horner's Quick Change Trousers from Handmade Beginnings.  My first attempt at them and they were pretty darn easy.

I made the Size 2, which I knew would be long of Squiggles, and boy was a right!  But hey, he'll grow into them eventually.

So That's all I have to show for KCWC so far, not much, but many more things are now cut out ready for the upper of sewing them together!!  If I'm lucky I'll finish one more thing before Sunday, but I'm not holding my breath!

Works in progress..

KCWC has started, but have I? well barely...  This is the current state of my projects..

Some cut, most still at the pattern tracing / still a big hunk of fabric stage.

We went to visit some family this weekend, and got back far later than planned, thus the slow start.

But things should pick up.  And to encourage this, I shall refrain however from posting again until something is finished!  Likely that green stripy thing on the right will be first

The family visit did allow for some lakeside knitting though... very nice.

Back to tracing...

A coat for fall

Last weekend's chills really signalled the start of fall.  And that meant I had to sew a new coat for Squiggles!

Ever since seeing the Baby in the Hood jacket pattern in Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings, I just had to make it.  I thought it might be a bit tricky, what with a button placket and all.  But I am happy to report it is not tricky, her instructions are awesome, and I am super proud of it!

It's a bit stripey, but I love the blue and greens!  I lined it with a a cotton flannel for some coziness like she suggests in the book.  The main fabric and lining is some stuff I found in the local big fabric store, and the accent hood and placket fabric is from the Liesl Gibson (Oliver + S) Modern Workshop line.  It reminds me that I really should try an Oliver + S pattern one of these days!

And isn't Squiggles cute in it?

I only wish I had made the hood elastic a bit shorter so it could snug up around his face more.
He's also wearing it with a pair of Rae's Big Butt Baby Pants that I whipped up with added side pockets.

The photo makes them look weird, but they are just made out of a dark blue corduroy.  And um, well it appears my pockets are uneven.  Heh, oh well.  I do love corduroy for fall though... must get more in other colours for future pants!

I'm also currently planning my projects for the Kids Clothing Week Challenge (aka KCWC).  I plan to give you a preview on the weekend.  Happily it is a long weekend here in Canada (Thanksgiving) Hooray!