Annual Christmas Clothes

Before Christmas gets too far away (like it absolutely  did for me last year, see these very belated posts here and here) I'm just going to do this quick check in and have a record that I did in fact make Christmas outfits for the girls. I already had fabric that I'd used to make Sophie some new shorts for 2022, so I grabbed it out and asked the girls what they wanted. 

Sophie wanted another pair of shorts. No surprises there. Clover Shorts pattern once again MVP. 

Pockets all round! Rachel asked for a skirt with hidden shorts inside. I explained to her what a skort was, and then modified the Clover Shorts pattern to make one for her. 

My only regret is that I forgot with the skort that I wouldn't be adding the cuffs, so it would have been prudent to add a bit of length. The skort fit her beautifully, but it won't grow with her for very long at all as a result. 

She's rockin' that skort though. 

Christmas Outfits

It's that time of the year again, when I get excited about celebrating Jesus' Birthday and use it as an excuse to sew new things for my daughters. Sophie's shorts from last year were now too short and had been handed on to Rachel (very reluctantly on Sophie's part). 

Knowing that the dress I had made for Rachel last year had been too big and all I would need to do to have her wear it again would be to let it out, I had her try it on at the end of November. The crazy news was that Rachel had grown up, but not out at all. So the dress still fit, and now, just ended at her knees, rather than past them. This dress is going to get to be worn again next year too! Unbelievable. 

With Rachel sorted (two Christmas outfits!), I swung back to Sophie. She was keen for another pair of shorts. So I pulled out of the fabric we'd gotten last year but not used, and got to work. I used the Clover Shorts pattern again (why break what is working perfectly?) but just lengthened them, since I noticed that Sophie generally grows out of things in a length department, before she does in a width. Hopefully these will last quite a while this way. 

The other thing we got the girls was a Christmas shirt each from Tee Turtle. They had a huge Black Friday Sale and I was getting a couple of other things for presents anyway. Since the girls had shorts to wear this Christmas, it only made sense that they needed shirts to go with them. 

It's been nearly impossible to get a good photo of these girls together in their Christmas gear. I don't know if it's the heat, the end of year tiredness or just another growth spurt in their brains rewiring things, but getting them to stand for a photo is nigh on impossible. 

Oh well. At least I have these memories right? 

Lady Bug Shorts

After Rachel made her Lady Bug Jumpsuit, there was still quite a bit of fabric left over. Enter October, when there was the usual growth spurt from both girls and the subsequent cupboard cleanout that comes along with a season change. Noticing some gaps in the shorts department, I was inspired to quickly sew up a couple of pairs with the leftover lady bug fabric. 

As always, the Cover Shorts make some beautiful shorts, and because I've made so many of them now, they are quite a quick sew. Got to love Rachel's cool music vibes in the photo below. We were waiting for her piano lesson when we took this photo. 

Both girls are stoked to have pockets and like that the red lady bugs feel a bit Christmasy. I left off the cuffs in favour of getting both pairs out of the fabric, but I did make them slightly longer, since the girls have grown up and not so much out in the latest season.

Even though I don't love that they have matching shorts, they are still pretty cute. 

Rachel's Sewing Achievements

As I went to share what Rachel sewed up for Sophie's birthday in January, I realised that I missed documenting her very first sewing machine achievement from August last year. Time to rectify things! Before Rachel sewed an Enormous Pikachu, she made a dress. 

It's reversible and has some little patch pockets. It was a good basic starting place for this little seven year old learning to sew. I'm all for sewing things that are practical. This jelly fish fabric was a $2 remnant I picked up from Spotlight, and the reverse is rainbow fish that was gifted to use from Aunty Sue a while ago with fabric that I've used in lots of places (like here, here, here, here and here).

After a break and an Enormous Pikachu, Rachel said she'd like to make Sophie a pair of shorts for her birthday. We looked through the stash and I had some grey arrow fabric that was leftover from a shirt I made for Steve (un-blogged) that would do. 

Rachel is coming along in leaps and bounds with her sewing and we had this out in about two hours. She lined the pockets and the waistband with some scrap fabric leftover from skirts for fun pops of colour. There ended up being enough fabric left over for my mum to get a shirt for Hugo out of it too. Makes me glad to know it's all been used and nothing wasted. 

We used the go to Clover Shorts Pattern which I have used countless times before, the most recent of which being Sophie's Christmas Shorts. 

Is there anything better than a lovingly hand made birthday present? I love that the shorts match the Pocahontas shirt that we gave Sophie. It's the spinning arrow! True believers know what I mean. 

Good work sewing things Rachel. You are amazing.

Christmas Sewing

I thought that the girls had Christmas dresses, or at least Rachel would have, since she should fit Sophie's from last year, but no matter how many times I went through the cupboard, no outfits were to be found. So off to Spotlight I went to grab some fabric. 

The girls came with and we came back with two pieces of Jocelyn Proust fabric. Rachel's was a little more pink than I would have liked, but I couldn't talk her out of it. Sophie liked it so much that she asked if there were leftovers, could she get a pair of shorts. 

So I made Rachel a dress, using the bodice pattern from the dress I had made for the girls for Fiona's wedding. I didn't have Rachel around when I was tracing it though, so I just traced the size six and winged it with the adjustments. I also lowered the back neckline, so I wouldn't need a zip that was as long and could use up one from my stash. 

I could absolutely have traced a size five for her though, because the whole dress turned out enormous. Two darts in the back and pin tucks in the skirt and it's wearable for this year, and next year I'll just let all that out and she can wear it again. Excellent. 

The lace in the skirt is also from the stash. I had the exact amount for twice around, so that felt very good. And I had exactly the right amount of fabric left (half a metre) to get a pair of shorts out for Sophie. 

I don't love it when they match, but I wasn't going to not make the shorts and let the fabric go to waste. I used the Clover Shorts pattern again and Sophie loves the pockets. 

I was planning on making her something out of the other fabric we had, but it was already the second week of December by the time I made these, so it didn't feel too worth it. Sophie's shorts are pretty loose, so they should fit her next year too. 

Hopefully it's not too matchy... in any case,  since both girls will have another year wear out of them, next year will be less matchy once I make a second Christmas option. 

Made Rachel Some Shorts

Did the usual cull of clothes in the girls wardrobes at the end of the winter season and the subsequent shuffle down of clothes that they have grown out of. I was on the look out for gaps and things they might need, but was surprised to find these were rather few indeed. Rachel just needed shorts. 

I suppose I could have made more than one pair, but to be honest, I'm not sure she'll wear them too much, given her history of dress/skirt loving. Still, these are pretty cool and she does love them. Especially the pockets. 

More Shorts

What can I say? Kids keep growing and needing more clothes.

Sophie's recent acquisition has been two new pairs of shorts. I actually made these much earlier in the year in anticipation for the season-change-growth-spurt, which seems to be a common occurrence, at least in this house.

The first pair were made from some funky material I picked up at the Spotlight Boxing Day sale. Rachel got the bunnies for her Easter Dress, and Sophie got this material for a pair of shorts. After making it I regretted not adding pockets.  I'm not sure why I didn't add them. Couldn't be bothered maybe?

Anyway, the second pair did get pockets. My mum donated this material after she had a substantial amount left over from making Rachel a Star Wars dress. It is pretty wonderful material, and the red for the pockets and cuffs worked perfectly. I almost regret not adding the belt loops, even though they'd never get used, just for the cool color pop on the waist band, but oh well.

Here is Sophie enjoying those pockets as we walk down the street together during a global pandemic.

The pattern is the Clover Shorts from Mouse House Creations which I have made numerous times before and is still the sweetest shorts pattern ever. After seeing Sophie transition into these shorts from the last set I made, which I didn't use the Clover Shorts pattern for at all, I've come to the conclusion that I should only make Clover Shorts in future. They just fit better are just so much nicer than the other lot.

I've still got more fabric in my stash, so even if the social isolating continues for another six months, I should be able to make more shorts for the next growth spurt. Whew. It's the small things that remind you the world will keep turning in the midst of the turmoil.

Christmas Clothes

My mum got in early this year (again), and made both girls some super cute Christmas Dresses in October. Sophie's is the same material as Hugo's shirt below. Too cute.

I was thinking I wouldn't bother to make the girls anything, but I was cutting out some Christmas fabric to make some more bunting, because one can never have too much bunting, and I realized I had enough to make them each a thing.

Rachel got this pillow case dress. Mostly because some of the fabric was already cut up to be a pillow case dress. The front half, the red with green holly print. The matching back piece was not quite all there, so that was turned into bunting and I cut a new one out of that green Christmas fabric that I've used before twice (Sophie's Christmas dress in 2017 and the first ever bunting).

It's all held together with the red ribbon that we cut for our official extension warming party. I still have so much of it.

I asked Sophie what she would prefer, and she asked for shorts, so I made her some Clover Shorts, which are still the most fancy shorts ever. There are loads of parts to it, it's pretty easy to use up scraps with this pattern too, so that was a total win. In hindsight, I probably would have gone with a red fabric for the cuffs, rather than the white owls, but oh well.

I had the owl print in the box, just a fat quarter of each, so it was good to use it, and what didn't go into the shorts, went into the next lot of Christmas Bunting, which I will also blog about soon. The pockets are two different prints of red based Christmas fabric, one from my stash and the other (which you can't see) was leftover from mum's. Oh, and the waist band is some more leftovers from my stash. So much using up of fabric! Hooray!

The girls have both worn their new Christmas outfits already (in November), and it really does make you excited for the season.

Shorts. So Many Shorts.

With the change of the seasons and subsequent clean out of the children's wardrobes, I have noticed several gaps in their clothing that needed filling. So obviously, I filled the need. At the time, I didn't realize how many shorts I was making, but now I see, oh so clearly. 

The first set of shorts were just Sycamore Shorts in various sizes. Hugo was lucky enough to score a pair too, which I made from an old shirt of Steve's. I had been planning to make a dress for Rachel, but in the end couldn't be bothered to figure out how to do it, and shorts was easier. 

I kept the buttons (just sewed the seam down so they don't open) and added some left over tie (from Sophie's Dress) on the other. They look pretty groovy, and seem to be comfortable for Hugo too.

The girls got shorts too. Sophie one pair, and Rachel two. I used left over blue material from Rachel's Lillie Dress and some stars material for the first pair. Given that Rachel pretty much loves dresses (every day), I knew these shorts wouldn't get much wear unless they looked like a skirt.

Tada!

And I was right about the wearing factor. She does like them though. Only when dresses are not an option of course.

The two other shorts were made with some material from Steve's Aunty Sue in Sydney. Free fabric! Is there anything better?

To make them more fun, I let the girls choose iron on patches. Sophie choose the koala, and Rachel the giraffe below. Rachel also got a pocket with the very last of the blue material. Another ploy to get her to wear them. Having a pocket to stash anything she collects is a definite bonus for her.

 Now the fancy shorts! This time, Sophie gets two, and Rachel gets one. Sort of.

These are all made from the Clover Shorts Pattern, which makes for some really shiny shorts. Pockets, cuffs, flat front waist band. So beautiful. They are also made with a very mixed collection of material. You might even noticed that blue spot material has been used to make Clover Shorts before.

The colour match is not great, but I had just enough of that unicorn fabric left over from Sophie's Library Bag to make the front and pockets from. I did have other material that was a better colour match, but I went with the blue spot because it was the same weight, or kind of material, which is apparently important?

The other unicorn fabric I got on sale at spotlight with the star material, and they go together marvelously well. The blue floral stuff was in the the material from Aunty Sue, and that colour matched so well. Perfection!

Rachel's shorts were the star material with some of the pink-orange stuff from Aunty Sue. Unfortunately for Rachel, when she put them on, they fit, but were a little tight to get on and off, so she actually ended up with no Clover Shorts. I gave them to another little girl.

Shades of Blue

When one has decided to mass produce for one's child, it is my strong recommendation that the material chosen, is all the same, or a very similar colour, thus enabling mass production to occur without having to change the thread on one's sewing machine. 

This was certainly the case for the quick sewing I did last weekend. Sophie needed new shorts for summer (and boy is it coming in quickly this year!) so I asked her to choose material from the stash (still trying to use it up before buying more) and got sewing. I was able to cut everything out on a Saturday morning and sew two thirds of it Saturday night. I ran out of elastic and needed to borrow a pattern for the last pair of pants, so the final sewing happened the following Sunday night.

Can you see what I mean by it all being the same colour? I had blue thread on Sally the Sewing Machine the entire time. So fast. Sophie got four new pairs of shorts. Three of which are Sycamore Shorts Patterns, which is my go to basic shorts sewing pattern (see?) I left the pockets off two of them (the blue flowers and the pink-ish one, but put them on the owl pants, because I had the coordinating blue (left over from Rachel's Easter Dress). The owl fabric I've used before in an Izzy Top for Sophie.

When I measured out the fabric, I noticed that I had just enough of the blue/owl combination to make one more pair of shorts, though slightly smaller, so I made a pair for Rachel. I kind of like the mix of the shorts and pockets being alternating.

And since I was making something for Rachel I decided I'd make her a dress too, just because I could. I have heaps of this blue with white flowers material left over too, at least another two meters I think. Actually not sure where it came from. The pinky material came from a lady at church.

The final pair of shorts were Clover Shorts, which are by far fancier in construction, although I left out the pockets, sash and belt tabs for easy sewing. I still did the cuffs though. I don't know where this fabric came from either, maybe the haul from my friend Kurt recently? But there is also loads of this still. I'll be making more shorts out of it in the future!