Ottobre 4/2010-19

The nerdlet likes to wear dresses.  She pretty much has refused to put anything else except a bathing suit on since she could point and grunt.  When I received my first set of back issues of the Ottobre magazine, the nerdlet asked me to make her a jumper.  It was pink and I thought she was asking for it because of that, but when we went fabric shopping, she pointed to a burnt orange and asked for the jumper in that color.  I've made it first in this black linen print because I didn't want to mess up the orange.  I'm sort of regretting this because this is a complicated pattern.  Not that it was difficult to make, but there are a LOT of intricate steps.  I sort of love it and sort of dread making it again.

My first time shirring.  It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, though I did think it would shirr and stretch more than it does.  I'm also worried about it bothering the nerdlet's skin.

The front.  There are eight pleats at the top, a second button placket, and four pleats on each pocket.  The pocket bows are much more complicated than I feel is necessary for a four-year-old.  And the pockets are gathered to shape before being sewn down.  I don't think that you can really see any of those details in the picture, but I think it looks kind of impressive in person.

The back is shirred at the bodice and the legs are shirred all around.  

I'll try to get pictures of the nerdlet in it tomorrow if she's actually willing to put it on.  I may offer to put it on the bear cub first so that she'll volunteer and be eager to wear it.

X-large Bib

Last June I experimented with the free bib patterns out there because Darth Baby spit up all the time and was always soaked in baby puke.  None of them were quite right so I ended up making my own.  I know it was a good pattern because people would take them when I left Darth Baby at the gym wearing one.  I mean really, who would still a bib unless it was just fantastic, right? When I visited my aunt this past November, I left a couple with her for my cousin's granddaughter.  When we went to El Paso again a few weeks ago, my aunt asked me to make her some more since she has outgrown the previous set (which were probably newborn to 6 month size).  I tried to get my cousin's son to send me the baby's chest measurements, but he just told me she was wearing 24 months, which the bear cub wears, but the bear cub still can wear the first set of bibs, so it wasn't really helpful.  I ended up having to guess.

This is what the finished bib looks like:

I was going to make more, but I've decided to wait until she tries them on before making more because they seem kind of big to me.  The one on the right I made slightly smaller by taking 1/4 inch off each side of each sleeve and by changing the angle of the cut of the sleeve of the towel.

The pattern I drew out to start.  Basically the sleeve is a trapezoid with the long ends curved out.  I tried to make the picture clear enough that you can see the inch measurements if your interested.

Because I didn't have measurements, I made it long enough to fit four sleeves on the 42 inch length of fabric.

 Cut the hand towel in two.

 I was thinking to use 12 inches in length, but the towel was 15 so I went with it so I wouldn't have to sew bias tape all the way around.  The half towel is folded over in the picture.  It's easy to fudge this.  Cut a rounded curve for the neckline and line as a slant for the sleeve with just a curve at the end.

 Sew both right sides to the top edge of the sleeve cut of the towel so that when they are pressed, the right sides show on both the inside and outside of the bib.

Sew bias tape around the sleeve area.

Sew the sleeve shut by tacking the corner to the bottom of the sleeve.

Sew the tie to the neckline.

I used 30 inches for the tie across.  I start by sewing in the middle and going outward twice.

When I mail, I tend to just turn boxes inside out.  By the way, these potatoes are delicious.

The finished package ready for me to label and ship.

Burda 06-2011-111 Last Take for now

Four pairs of shorts made today, three of which will definitely get heavy rotation.  The last may get use if I'm out of laundry or lose some weight.

Take 4 has larger darts and a dipped front and ended up too small.  I love the fabric, but there is no stretch and so slightly uncomfortable for now.

Take 5 is back to being a straight size 48 that has been lengthened.  Very comfortable and will get heavy wear.

Take 6 has a dipped front.  Snug and comfy, though my mother might make comments about it being too fitted.  The fabric is a very thin stretch denim that is this blue on one side and the tan below on the other.  I'm not sure which is the right and wrong side, but I liked both.  I got it off the discount table at Hancock's.

Take 7 also has a dipped front and is from the same fabric as above.  I made the waistband from the other side, but I'm sort of glad that no one will see it since I'm not sure I like it as much as I thought I would when I did it.  These last two pairs went much faster since I decided to skip the pockets after all, weighing the need for shorts over the need for pockets.

Tomorrow, I work on a pattern for a larger size bib of this version for my cousin's granddaughter.

Burda 06-2011-111 Take 5

Back to the pattern used for take 3.  Can you tell that Q took the girls to my mom's for the weekend?  I love that Q has a good relationship with his in-laws so that I can have a weekend off every now and then.  I'm debating over spitting takes 6 and 7 out quickly or trying another shorts pattern.  This is a medium weight, non-stretch denim with tiny multi-colored sequins randomly sewn on in a meandering pattern.  These are my favorite pair yet, though I don't think you can see the glory of these shorts in the picture.

Burda 06-2011-111 Take 4

Too many changes to a pattern that works already wasn't really the best idea.  I took the four darts in 1/4 inch on each side for a total of 2 inches out of the waist, cut the an inch off the center front seam, and added 3 1/2 inches to the length (this is after grading them up to a size 48).  The original shorts are uber comfortable but are too short and they ride a little and gape in the back.  The new shorts fit great in the back, but are tight and bunch in the front and because of this, the pocket gapes open.  They are wearable but not really that comfortable.  I think they may fit great if I were to lose at least five pounds, but as I'm not the best at losing weight, I think I may return to the original pattern for the time being.


Anyway, on to the pictures.

Burda 06-2011-111 Take 3

You may get tired of posts on this particular pattern, but I love these Burda shorts and I'm in severe need of more shorts.  I currently have the two versions of this pattern than I made this year, a ratty pair that I've worn through all three pregnancies that really needs to be retired and a pair of Thai fisherman shorts that I made to wear during the pregnancies that really are too big and I have pinned smaller.  The first pair of these shorts I made with this pattern I feel are too short and my mom and aunt are embarrassed to be around me in.  I lengthened the second pair and will for all future pairs.

These are made out of a deep, rich blue-green corduroy that I had started to make a dress out of but found that I didn't care for the style of the dress, so I butchered the dress to make these shorts.  The pictures are poor so I don't know how much you can see.  I actually added the pockets this time, but took the one out on the side with the zipper because at the curve of my hip, the pocket was opening wide and I had used a highly contrasting quilting cotton for the pockets.

I plan on making at least four more pairs of shorts.  I drew the pattern out again this time changing a few things.  I made the shorts 3 1/2 inches longer, the darts all 1/2 inch bigger (1/4 inch on each side for a total of 2 inches out of the waist, and cut the an inch off the center front seam.  I'm a little worries about the center front seam change as my intention isn't to have it dip in the front, but have less ease in front.  I'll be making the next pair fairly soon so we'll see how my changes pan out.  I'm a little worried about over fitting because truthfully, I love these shorts already and even the really short first pair I made is super comfortable.  I figure I'll make a pair and if it doesn't work go back to the original pattern.

Ottobre 4/2001-1 part 2

The shirt was made for the bear cub, but my nerdlet believes anything that I make should be hers.  When I tried to coax the bear cub into trying it on, the nerdlet was right there offering to let me try it on her.

I asked her if it was a bit warm and she said no and that they were perfect for pajamas for her.  It looks like it fits her pretty well, but it was difficult to get over the nerdlet's rather large head  and she had a hard time getting her arms in and out, but neither one of those issues should be a problem for the bear cub.  The shirt has got to be one of the easiest shirts to make so if I need a quick three quarter sleeve shirt for any of the girls in the near future I might go with this one.  Also, I ordered a bunch of FOE so I'm excited to have more to play with.