KCW - Shorts time!

I had plans to make some shorts and tanks for the boys this Kids Clothes Week.  And well. I got the shorts done!   My time yesterday and today has been spent trying to figure out what's wrong with my serger... to no avail.  So I think I'll be sewing up the tanks on my regular machine tomorrow instead!

But, well, I made SHORTS!  Nothing fancy, but I've been meaning to make them shorts with these fabrics for over a year!

First up, some for little E.  These are a modified version of the Quick Change Pants pattern from Anna Maria Horners book Handmade Beginnings.  I didn't make them reversible, and shortened them to shorts length.  I added an inch to the top to account for cloth diaper but and an elastic casing and bingo!

I still made them to long, but I added a huge hem which I could roll up even more to make them fit like this.  They will last a while as his big brother technically fits the width of his Quick Change Pants I made him in the same size years ago!

Oh and the fabric?  Why yes, his but is covered in a small scrap of lion fabric from the new Cotton + Steel line!  And the buses are Kokka linen/cotton, both from Fabrications!  This little boy LOVES buses, he was super excited when he saw them!

Next up?  Radio shorts!  I have had this fabric from over 2 years I think and always planned to make shorts with it.  So I did.  And I have enough for more shorts!

These are the shorts version of the Clean Slate Pants in 4T.  This is a great pattern!  It's available as part of the extended Pattern Anthology Collection as well until this Monday! I just did the basic pants with the pockets, but in the future I totally want to do the welt back pockets and a fly!  I also just ran the elastic through the whole waist band instead of leaving a flat front.  My blue accent fabric was just a thinner quilting cotton which I hadn't interfaced, so it needed something more.

And oh, he seems to like them too!  Although he keeps asking me what the radios are!  Kids these days!

Toting Arrows

I haven't sewn myself something in awhile  Sure, I have like 17 dresses and 30 things cut out for the boys,  so it made perfect sense to buy a new pattern and make myself a bag instead or sewing any of those.

Actually, I kinda needed a bag to carry various crap (errr useful stuff) currently diaper/kids stuff, and eventually to take to work when I head back in 2.5 months.  So when I saw Noodlehead's Super Tote pattern back when she released it, I knew it would be perfect for both!    Sure I could have just downloaded the .pdf, but honestly, if I have the option, I like the tactile paper versions of things, so I contacted my friendly neighbourhood and awesome fabric shop Fabrications and asked if they could order it in.  One week later, it was in my hands.

I also picked up some of this awesome arrow fabric from Melody Miller's recent Ruby Star Polka Dot collection, as it just wanted to be on a bag!  I'm stockpiling some of it in a different colourway for a dress I think.  If I walk around wearing a dress and carrying this bag in the same design, that won't make me look weird right? hehe.

The lining is Boston (midtown) by Jay McCarroll (I love bricks!) with a splash of Echino dots for the interior pockets.   The gusset and straps are some twill from good ol' Fabricland. I had thought to use the dots on the gusset, but realized I wanted something more understated so to make the arrow design shine, hence the twill, which I think goes perfect!

Over all, it was a wonderful pattern to sew, no real issues, and I did a few things I hadn't really done before, including putting in a metallic snap (yikes it was easy!)  (I also fully lined the front pocket) and putting in the inset lining zipper, which again was way easier then any zipper I've put in clothing!   

I did add one little thing to the pattern, and that was to insert some D rings on little tabs between the lining and the exterior fabric at the sides.  This is in case I want to add in a longer carry strap to wear the bag across my body for longer walks!

And this bag holds a lot, but is not huge, I think it's kinda the perfect size, and I'm super happy with it.

Now, on to finish the 56 other things on my list!