Fall Button Ups and Sewing out of my Comfort Zone

Sometimes the biggest thing keeping us from accomplishing something is ourselves. Sometimes I see a project and I think, “Wow, that’s amazing, I wish I could make that,” instead of, “Wow, that looks amazing, I could do that!”

I have been eyeing up button up shirts for a little while. There were a lot of things that intimidated me about them. I didn’t even know how to use my buttonhole foot. It was just one of those, “Oh, maybe I’ll learn someday,” type of things.

Then I got this beautiful yellow plaid from Mily Mae. I started looking up ideas and kept seeing this little boy modeling for Old Navy in his mustard plaid shirt. I became determined to cross buttons off my list and make it.

I purchased the Birch pattern by Sew a Little Seam and realized how clueless I was. Buttonholes were one of the least of my concerns as I looked through and saw several things I had never done. I found the directions very clear and easy to follow on all of the little details (collar, collar stand, sleeve plackets, sleeve tabs, etc…) The designer did an excellent job with illustrations during each step.

Failed it or Nailed it?

I really can’t say how long it took me because I’m a SAHM to four little munchkins and I’d sneak a few minutes in the sewing room here and there to work on the next step, so I worked on it over the course of the day and the next morning.

I am SO happy with the finished product. I really encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and attempt something that you’ve been telling yourself you can’t do. The finished project is SO worth it!!

Here’s my little man in his Birch button up. I did the pleated pockets with flaps (what little man doesn’t want extra pockets on his clothes?), the long sleeve with continuous placket and tabs to roll them up, and the collar option.

Birch Button Up

If you’re looking for some perfect fabrics for sewing up some fall shirts, Mily Mae Fabrics is having a site wide Thankful week sale. It’s the perfect time to stock up on this yellow plaid and many other awesome prints. 🙂

For my daughter, I used the Ellie and Mac Girl’s Going Home Raglan and modified it with a skirt and a little bit of extra length on the sleeve cuffs. Ellie and Mac is having a site wide sale through November and have so many cute options for fall and winter sewing!

*Some links are affiliate links.

Fabrics:

Mily Mae Fabrics

Patterns:

The Birch Button Up

Girl’s Going Home Raglan

 

Recreating Your Favorite Leggings

Today I wanted to share a quick post on how to recreate your favorite leggings. My daughter has a pair of store bought leggings that I absolutely love the fit and style, but they never match anything!

I decided to make her a pair just like them out of some awesome stretch denim I had from Mily Mae Fabrics.

So here’s a couple quick tips on DIY leggings.

The first thing you want to do is fold your store bought pair in half, making one straight edge as pictured to lay on the fold of your fabric.

Leggings on Fold

Now cut out around your leggings, allowing for seam allowance. I used 1/4″ seam allowance down the leg, 1/2″ for hemming the bottoms, and 1″ along the top to allow for my elastic. Cut TWO of these on the fold.

Sew down the seams to the point

Next lay your pieces right sides together and sew the crotch seams (AS PICTURED.) I had already cut my rise (the next step)before taking the pictures, but it helps show another angle or option for cutting your front rise. 🙂 )

Front and Back Rise

Next you want to recreate the same rise your store bought pants have. I cut one half and then folded it over to make sure I copied my cut exactly on the other side.

Now serge (or use a stretch stitch) all the way from one pant leg, around the crotch, and down the other leg. Turn right side out.

After that, I serged 3/4 ” elastic all the way around. Stretch your elastic as you go to fit the width of your pants. I measured my RTW pants, but you can also measure the waist of your model.

Fold your elastic down into your pants and top stitch being careful to catch your elastic in your stitch and stretch again as you go.

Top stitch using a twin needle or stretch stitch.

Next fold your pants legs up a 1/2″ and hem. Last, but DEFINITELY not least, I printed out vinyl hearts to recreate the whole look and applied them. LOVE how they turned out!!

H&M vs HANDMADE

I finished out the outfit with the Going Home Raglan from Ellie and Mac for my daughter’s top. This adorable purple chevron was also from Mily Mae Fabrics! ❤

 

**Some links may be affiliate links

Fabrics:

Indigo Stretch Denim by Mily Mae

Purple Chevron by Mily Mae

Patterns:

Going Home Sweater by Ellie and Mac

 

Feeling like Fall and Sewing

There is just something about the cool crisp mornings that get me into the crafting mood. I don’t think I’m the only one. Craft stores even smell like fall! It’s just such a good time to get a hot drink and CREATE.

When I saw these apples from Total Eclipse of the Stitch I KNEW they would be perfect for fall sewing for my girls!

Chapman Cardigan Paired with I love the 90’s Dress

I decided on the Be Smart Jumper  (Still on sale!!!) for Baby and The I love the 90’s Dress paired with the Chapman Cardigan for Big Sister.

I’m not a pattern matching expert and wasn’t positive of the stripes with the apples, but ended up LOVING the results. I grabbed these stripes from a sweater box auction from KnitPop. Their auctions never disappoint and their customer service is ALWAYS amazing!!

After I gave Baby an apple for pictures, she refused to give it back…I think she fully approves of the print on her Jumper 😀

I still have a few more fall sewing projects to tackle including something with a purple floral that I think will be perfect for family pictures this year, but today I’ll leave you with my favorite sister shot in our apples. ❤ 

*most links are affiliate links

Fabric from KNITPOP and Total Eclipse of the Stitch

Patterns:

Be Smart Jumper

Chapman Cardigan

I Love the 90’s Dress

 

Week Before Easter Sewing

Without fail, I’m always a last minute Easter seamstress for my munchkins. Even when I’ve planned outfits months in advance. Last year I had both of the girls dresses cut over a month in advance but never finished the second one until the week before.

Last Year’s Dresses

This year I’ve sewn a few options, but then never actually decided on something for all four of them until this past weekend. (I think even in my last post I had planned on making the Be Determined Top and Be Smart Jumper.)

So this past weekend I sewed up a dress for my baby using the MCDI Onesie pattern and hacked it into a Onesie dress. (I even blogged about it on their website if you want to learn how! Dress Hack.)

So after I sewed up my second dress hack, I KNEW I needed to make the older girls dresses out of this same fabric. It’s so pretty!!

Onesie Dress

And then I thought, why doesn’t little man get something to match too? So then I found a tie tutorial! It was perfect.

So…Now I just need an extra productive week so I can tackle my pile of sewing projects as well as the other two dresses to complete my kids Easter outfits. I’m considering the Adalynn Dress by MCDI. Stay tuned for the results! 😀

Are you working on last minute Easter projects? I’d love to hear about them!

*Links are affiliate links

 

 

 

Love for the Be Determined Top, Tunic, and Dress!

Hi Friends! My life as of late has been filled with a teething baby, homeschooling, laundry (and more laundry), dishes, housework, the list goes on, but I still like to find time to squeeze in some sewing. It’s a little adventurous seeing where I can squeeze it in during the day.

My latest pattern test has just released today, and I have really fallen in love with it! It’s the new Be Determined Top, Tunic, and Dress  by Ellie and Mac Patterns! It’s adorable paired with jeans or shorts.I’ve also found that it’s super cute paired with a jumper. I paired it with the Be Smart Jumper 

I can’t decide which way is my favorite!!

This sews up pretty quickly, and as always from Ellie and Mac Patterns, the instructions are easy and clear to follow. You can also choose to hem your sleeve without the bottom ruffles, or just attach one ruffle to the bottom. SO many different looks! 😀 I’m planning to use this for Easter and then making my 2-year old the same only with a different color solid to coordinate.

I love these fabrics I chose from Girl Charlee Fabrics

Ellie and Mac Patterns always offers an incredible introductory rate whenever they release a new pattern, and on top of that, the whole site is 25% off for the month of March. SO Generous! Make sure to snag it while it’s under $4!!

Well, the kids have finished their breakfast, so it’s time to run, but I’d love to hear which style is your favorite.

….and just in case you think my kids always cooperate for pictures..I thought all the girls in matching shirts would be adorable….I gave up pretty shortly after starting this photo shoot. 😉  Have a Happy Thursday! – Esther  *Links are affiliate links.

 

Built in shorts… yes, please!

I’m not sure how your kids play, but mine are kind of like wild monkeys swinging from tree to tree. We keep a large stash of undershorts in their drawer because they also love playing like wild monkeys while wearing dresses. 

I was super excited to come across the Abby’s Overall pattern the other day! Another adorable pattern from The Wolf and the Tree.

Along with all of the different overall options, there are skirt options. I chose to use the medium length skirt with the short length shorts to make an overall skirt with built in shorts.

I like patterns with lots of options. I could probably make my girls a full wardrobe of bottoms out if this, and you’d never know it was the same pattern! Next up I think I’ll try out the peplum length skirt with long length pants. A little tulle skirt would be adorable! 😍❤️ This version is going to be a perfect staple for spring and summer! 😁

Abby’s Overalls

She’s always very pleased with more clothes! ☺️

*links are affiliate links

Shop The Wolf and the Tree Patterns here!

Adding tights to the Mama-made list

My daughter is super picky about tights. It’s like she can’t function if something is just the wrong way. This fall I even bought her some adorable glittery tights, but the glitter strands were too, “Scratchy,” so they just sit in her drawer.

I was super excited to try making her a pair of tights, even though at first it just seemed way out of my comfort zone. Sewing a dress is one thing. I’m not sure why adding the accessories to the outfit sounded so intimidating.

I decided to try out the Abby’s footed tights pattern from The Wolf and the Tree. I only recently heard of this pattern company, and had sewn both the Ladies ballet skirt and the Abby’s ballerina skirt and loved BOTH of the patterns! (They are both packed FULL of options!)

Juliet Leotard by Petite Stitchery and Co paired with Abby’s Ballerina Skirt

I really like the method that The Wolf and the Tree uses for lining up your pattern pages. I’m a big fan of bright colors, and I think the smaller symbols make it easier to line up just right!

 

The pattern was easy to follow and pretty quick to put together…even on top of some not-so-needed help from my two-year old.  She was kind enough to place some pins throughout my pattern piece.

I chose the elastic waistband version, so I only needed to cut out two pieces. (My kind of quick sew.) I’m also excited to try out the yoga waistband version.  I was very impressed with how nicely it went together.

I ended up using some burnout fabric that I had purchased from Girl Charlee Fabrics for an awesome deal of $.50/yard during the Black Friday sales! When it came, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with it. I think I’ll still make some cardigans, but it ended up being awesome for these tights! 

Now we are all set for Easter tights, and it is one less thing I have to go out and try and find in 3 different sized, matching pairs! I’m pretty excited!

What do you think about these burnout tights? I’d love to hear. I’m already looking through my stash picking out some awesome prints to turn into more tights for my girlies!

You can find this tights pattern through my affiliated link here: Abby’s Footed Tights.

*Pattern links are affiliated links.

Quick links:

Abby’s Footed Tights

The Wolf and the Tree

Juliet Leotard

 

My Sewing Journey and Adventures

Thanks for joining me as I blog about my most recent projects, review patterns, and share my favorite creations.

Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.

– Jack Canfield

affiliated link: Half Pipe Tee Pattern