Vintage May :: Playclothes for all!

May 23, 2013 by hungie gungie

:::This post is a part of the fabulous Vintage May series hosted by Craftiness is not Optional and Skirt as Top:::

We are so glad that Kristin and Jess invited us to participate in this year’s Vintage May series- and wow, what a line-up of talented ladies!

We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!

If you are new here, Welcome! We are so happy you’re here.

Last year, we sewed along during Vintage May, using floral sheets from yesteryear- here and here. This year we got our Fraulein Maria on, repurposing bed linens into playclothes for our brood- that’s 6 kids altogether!

Okay, so we were a teensy bit excited for our FIRST GUEST POST! ::sister high-fives all around::

Some of our looks were designed around the unique beauty of vintage bedding, and some just have touches of them, as you’ll see below. Repurposing sheets and pillowcases is great since a lot of the work is already done for you in the form of seams and hems- just make sure to wash them up in some yummy-smelling detergent. You might find the aroma to be uniquely “vintage” as well.

Though our photo shoot reflects some nap-time delirium and lingering (and still lingering…) pink-eye- don’t worry, it ended with a full-on Vintage May/Gangnam-Style dance party!

It only makes sense to start with the oldest… so here’s Jet!

Caroline: Thinking about vintage looks for the boys, I kept coming back to this child actor, who was in some of our other favorite childhood movies (Swiss Family Robinson, Pollyanna, and Toby Tyler). You know him right? He’s the same in all those movies- scrappy, mischevious, and somewhat annoying. But he’s so cute in the hats and knickers and suspenders! So for Jet, I worked up a pair of HG tour pants using a plaid pillowcase for the stripe. I decided to chop the pants below the knee to encourage summertime boyish mayhem. Get it? May-hem? I love a good sewing pun. The suspenders are simply made with 1″ elastic, and upcycled leather + buttons.

Erin: I fell in love with the details and colors of this pillowcase and knew right away that it needed to be a top for Ell. I utilized the entire thing. Normally, I’d leave the existing pillowcase hem for something like this, but I wanted to use the yellow in the flutter straps and the chest band, so I ended up cutting off a good chunk of the bottom. The back closes with a big vintage button and elastic loop. The shorts are E and E’s bubble pocket sailor shorts pattern in yarn-dyed Essex Linen. I love all the buttons! You can get a better glimpse of them up in that first picture.

Caroline: Avery’s look is also reminiscent of Pollyanna. If you need a fix, watch this. I loved her drop-waisted dresses and sailor ties. Avery’s modernized version (say if Pollyanna were to take up tennis) begins with a Flashback tee (minus the sleeves) on top and vintage pillowcase on the bottom. I simply cut the pillowcase in half and pleated it to match the circumference up top. Using the same pillowcase, I made bias tape and stitched it around the collar and arm holes.

ERIN: I love the idea of little boys in vests, but it’s not a look you really see anymore. So, I decided to try one out for Grant using Lindsay’s tutorial modifying it into a racerback… and I love it! I made it with Essex linen (same as Ell’s shorts), and the pockets are cut from the hem of a pillowcase. The inside is a pretty yellow floral sheet (the most masculine one I had). Grant’s pants are based on the Parsley pants pattern, but modified a bit to make them skinnier, and of course shorter. If we had a creek out back, you bet this boy would be wading it.

Erin: For Corinne, I definitely wanted to keep it easy! I love the idea of a one-piece outfit for babies, so I made some bloomers from a sweet pillowcase I had and then attached it to a basic tank onesie- I used 1/4″ elastic to gather the leg holes, and added 3 snaps at the crotch. I thought it’d be fun to add a faux peter pan collar since, they were and are all the rage, aren’t they? I appliqued some shiny gold fabric and added a sweet ivory ribbon rosebud in the center. It’s pretty, but so practical for summer days. (note to self: make more of these.)

Caroline: Wes is wearing faux-suspenders (grosgrain ribbon, d-rings, steam-a-seam) attached to a onesie, along with pillowcase lined pants (based on A.M.H’s Quick Change Trousers). His newsboy cap is from this free online pattern/video tutorial that I found for an adult, and eventually had success with scaling it down for a small head.

Do you remember this part in the Sound of Music?

Captain Von Trapp: “Do you mean to tell me that my children have been roaming about Salzburg dressed up in nothing but some old DRAPES?”

Fraulein Maria: ”Mmm-hmmm. And having a MARVELOUS time!”

Duh!

Thank you all for stopping by! Come back tomorrow for a tutorial on Corinne’s pillowcase romper- it’s an easy one!

And if you know what’s good for you, check out today’s other Vintage May post by Jessica of Happy Together. Thanks again Kristin and Jess for letting us in on the fun!

So long, farewell….

Erin + Caroline

more tour pants + Echino bib

January 22, 2013 by hungie gungie

I wanted to show you guys the boy version of the Toddler Tour pants that I made.

These pants are going to a friend’s new(ish) baby, Chet in Vermont. I hope he digs them as much as I do!

I used a stretch tan corduroy for the main fabric and a bunch of random scraps to create the panels. I made these in a 9-12 month size, so he should be sporting these next Fall! Ahh… Autumn in Vermont. Could there be a better place to leaf peep? I think not.

These are lined with a random cotton print from my stash. For the tag, I used a little piece of ribbon that has vegetable plants on it. I have no idea what vegetable that is down there.

…Looks more like an herb to me…

I was happy to finally use up the Echino fabric that I’ve been sitting on for two years wondering what to do with. Kind of perfect for a little boy. And, it totally goes with my theme here… tour pants… bus bib… tour bus… get it?

So, I cut a basic bib shape (it’s backed with flannel), and finished the raw edges with bias tape that I made from the littlest bit of the Echino that I had left after cutting it up for this bib. And instead of my usual snap closure, I switched it up and used a cute brown button and elastic loop.

You know, keepin’ it fresh around here folks!

And there you have it. A sweet little homemade gift for a baby boy.

If you use my Tour pants tutorial, please let me know- I’d love to see some other versions. They are so fun to put together and personalize for whomever they are for!

Go make some.

PEACE.

-Erin

Toddler Tour Pants + tutorial

January 8, 2013 by hungie gungie

I’m probably dating myself with this post, but I’m sure some of you remember this hippie craze back in the late 90′s… patchwork pants!!

The idea for these came to me in a flash when one of my best friend’s from highschool, Jay and his wife, Maegen had a baby this Fall. I wanted to make their little guy a gift but didn’t feel inspired to make my usual set of baby bibs…so these were born. I thought it would be so fun to modernize these pants… by using some lighter fabrics (there was a lot of corduroy back in ’98!), in softer colors. I think they are perfectly appropriate for a hip little baby!

Maybe you knew a guy like Jay- A really nice/cool/funny guy, who liked Phish, the Dead, etc… went to school in Vermont, now has a super cool job working at Ben & Jerry’s- Bonaroo Buzz? Yeah, he pretty much invented it. I know…I’m jealous too. Jay still gets to jam out at shows from time to time too.

He used to wear pants like these back in the day, just… earthier.

So really, Jay (if you are reading this), you are the inspiration for these. And your sweet little Chet will be recieving a boy version very soon!

Here’s my 9 month old Corinne hanging out in her new duds… munching on some raisins….

oh, and she walks now. no big deal. !!!!

“divided sky the wind blows high…..”

“Take me where the whispering breezes
Can lift me up and spin me around”

So.

Shall we make some pants?

First, you’ll want to make your patchwork panels. Cut your scraps to 4″ wide, and anywhere between 2″ and 4″ long. Sew them together to end up with 2 panels that are 4″ wide and as long as your pants pattern. Make sure you iron all the seams down. Set those panels aside when you’re done. These pants are a great way to showcase some of your favorite fabrics, and of course a great way to use up scraps.

Next, using your favorite pants pattern, cut your 2 front and 2 back pieces. I cut my pants from this thrifted linen skirt- i LOVE this fabric, and the weight of it… I’ve been dying to cut into it and it’s just perfect for these. (there’s a matching cropped jacket too that is waiting to be hacked up!)

I’m using the Quick-Change Trousers from Anna Maria Horner’s book, Handmade Beginnings (though i altered the pattern by not using the back panel piece, and just extending the back piece to make them regular pants.) Dana has a few pants tutorials- i like this one where she shows you how to draft your own pattern from a pair of well-fitting pants you already own.

You’ll want to cut 1″ off the side edge of your back pieces…

…and 1″ off the side of your front pieces.

(these will end up being more wide-leg than your original pattern… adding about 2 inches of “room” to each pant leg of your finished pants).

With right sides together, sew your back pieces (i always label the front and back pieces with tape since it can be hard to tell them apart!) together at the center seam.

Do the same for your front pieces….

Clip the curve…

Next, with right sides together, sew your patchwork panels to your back piece.

Should look something like this… oh, and press those center seams flat!

Okay, your back piece should now look like this!

Now, you can skip the next few steps and move right onto sewing your pants together, but I decided to line these for my baby since there are so many seams. Lining pants is actually super easy and keeps everything nice and soft on the inside.

I’m using this vintage pillowcase since it’s really soft and thin.

Using your new front and back pieces, lay them (folded) onto your (folded) lining fabric- easy to just use a pillowcase!

Trace the pattern with a marker.

Cut it out.

Sew the front pieces and back pieces the same way you did with your other pieces. Clip curves at center, and press the seams open.

Your pieces should look like this right about now:

Time to sew up your pants! With right sides together, pin your front piece to your back piece.

sew the sides first (i’m using a 5/8″ seam allowance).

Trim your edges

Next, sew the inside seam of your pants, starting at one leg… and ending at the other.

Voila! Pants! Almost….

Press your seams open

Now, put your lining pants together in the same way, sew the sides first… then the center….

Press your seams (on a low setting if you’re using a pillowcase with polyester like i am… i almost melted my center seam. whoops!)

Okay, so turn your outer pants right side out, and keep your lining pants inside out. Fit your lining pants into the outer pants.

There will be no exposed seams inide the pants… cozy.

Pin the top raw edges of your pants, and run that edge through a serger if you have it. If not, you can zig zag stitch.

Nice and neat!

Now, fold your top edge over about 3/4″. Using 2 pins, leave a 2″ space in the back of the pants to thread elastic.

Topstitch all the way along the folded edge (i’m using an edgestich foot- love it!) as close to the edge as possible. Then, Stitch along the serged edge to form the casing… just remember not to stitch where you have your 2 pins!

Measure your kiddo’s waist, add about an inch and cut. Coco’s measurement is 17″…

Slip a safety pin through one end, and thread the elastic (mine is 1/2″) on through your casing….

Once you get all the way around, bring the two ends together about an inch, and zig zag stitch to hold them together.

Pin a piece of folded ribbon into the opening at the back, and stitch then stitch it closed.

Now to hem! Fold your outer pants to the inside and press (I folded up 1 1/2″). (**you may need to trim up your bottom raw edges first before you fold them under to hem, sometimes they can get a little wonky after sewing the pants together….)

Then, fold your lining up the same amount and press.

It should look like this:

Sew around each leg hole… i sewed about 5/8″ from the edge.

And you’re done! Your kid is ready to go out on tour!

And play bongos!

With people she doesn’t know!

Or go bouncing around the room! (…or, the parking lot if she’s not so lucky).

(…Just don’t buy a veggie burrito from the kid in the brown Volvo- there’s like one bean, and the rest is just rice and you’ll be jipped out of $3…)

Yeah, I’ve been to a handful of these shows in my 33 years. (but not as many as my sis though! Caroline- STOP asking me to make you an adult version of these, okay? Just go put some Jerry on Pandora and make yourself some falafel if you really need to relive those days. That goes for you too Joanne T!! hahaha…)

I’m kidding… just put them on your little babe, and enjoy the sunset….

“inspiration, move me brightly…”

Anyone going out on Crib Tour 2013?

Coco is!

“Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I’m on my way”

-Erin

Pants for the boy (kcwc day 5)

October 14, 2011 by hungie gungie

I couldn’t end my week of sewing without making something for my boy, Grant. Nothing, too exciting here- except for the fact that he’s actually getting some homemade clothing love, which is rare in these parts!

I used a the “quick-change trousers” pattern from Handmade Beginnings. It took a long time to cut the pattern pieces and all the fabric since these pants are reversible. I had to scrounge for some boyish fabric… I had a lot of this charcoal blue corduroy, and some random clearance fabric.

They definitely fit well, a tad big, but if he can do his normal thing like climbing on tables and chairs- I’m happy.

I’m glad I took part in KCWC this time around… I did my fair share of sewing, but I am definitely out of steam.

Looking forward to several days of beautiful weather while my sewing machine takes a nice long nap.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Erin

**one more thing… here’s Ellery actually wearing her new sweater. She kept it on for most of the day at preschool… success!

It’s all about this guy…

June 28, 2011 by hungie gungie

It’s been a while since I’ve sewn anything for Grant… He’s gotten a couple of pairs of overalls and a mobile, a few other random things along the way…but nothing as of late.

I went to a great yard sale a few weeks ago and after chatting with the owner for a bit about making clothing, she brought out her gigantic secret stash of buttons, adorable vintage girl’s dresses, and a few yards of fabric. I paid $20 for a piece of furniture, and she “threw in” some goodies. One of them being this awesome fabric by Painting Red Rhinos:

How cute are those little surfboards? The first thing that came to mind was to make my boy a bucket hat:

The pattern came from the book, Oliver + S Little Things to Sew.

There are so many great little things to make from this book- I highly recommend it!

The hat is reversible- I lined this one with yellow twill.

I love the glimpse of color that pokes out…

I had enough fabric to make a pair of comfy pants… I drafted a pattern from an old pair of pants and they seem to fit him perfectly.

Future romance-novel cover model??

Where’s the beach?

- Erin

Things Made…

June 10, 2011 by hungie gungie

Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:

Floral bloomers to go with a top, made for a good friend’s new niece.

The top. Note: Single fold bias tape is the enemy. (I ended up ripping it off and making my own. So there!)

A spring tote, waiting for a good home (preferably before Summer).

Jam made with strawberries picked by the fam.

A nursing cover for my sister Erika, who is a new mother to the adorable Sean…

My 3 year old modeling the cover… You should know that she has proudly nursed all of her baby dolls (and stuffed animals, and dollhouse people).

A simple headband for a birthday girl friend.

To go along with this market skirt.

Ellery’s new favorite dress, made not by me, but by my uber-talented mother, Kate.

Another “Awesome Bag” with a few modifications- an interior pocket, aqua twill for the back, and a vintage button closure at the top. Again, using some Echino fabric.

Hope you’re all finding fun ways to beat the heat as well!

I’m off to the pool for a special date with my girl.

(Oh, and my new goal is to make more stuff for this guy! I have many things in mind for him… some comfy summer pants and a bucket hat are first on my list. Ummm, yeah- I’m pretty sure he’s holding me to it! )

-Erin

Easy, Breezy, Ellery…

May 22, 2011 by hungie gungie

I love a good naptime sewing project. Rifling through my box of scraps, I found the start of a shirt that I had tossed aside a few months back. It’s just 2 panels sewn together, with an elastic casing at the top. I had some leftover bias tape from here, so I cut it in half and sewed the two ends to the front, and added a couple of buttons. Voila! A new flowy, flowery halter for my little darlin’.

I’m such a fan of this fabric. I love all the green in it, and the little orangeish-red dots in the center of the flowers. The halter straps are made from this. Both fabrics are from designer, Heather Bailey.

My kids were really good to me and slept a bit longer. Long enough for me to make a second attempt at sewing pants for E. My first try involved using MADE’s kid pants tutorial… they ended up being too tight and short on her, so today I drafted a quick pattern from an existing pair of pants. I’m so happy I did because they actually fit perfectly, and she didn’t cry for mercy when I put them on her.

I knew I wanted to give the girl some highwaters, or “cropped” pants as they call ‘em these days… I love how they look on her. Love her little ankles, and her new neon pink shoes that her friend Caroline gave her (she actually calls this little girl ”Friend Caroline” so as not to confuse her with her Aunt Caroline. ha).