Fall Wardrobe 2.0: Little Honey Edition

With the help of her Oma and some bargain shopping by Mommy last year, Little Honey is not too much in need of clothes.  Sure, most of the stuff I got for her last year is still too big, but she can still wear the shirts and I can tailor the pants a little bit to help them to fit.  However, I got some corderoy to make her a few things.  First, some pants!  I forgot that the pattern I used for the pants were made of a knit material that stretched, so these came out a bit too small in the bottom and too low in the back.  But Oh Well.

Look at that Little Honey! (Look how shaggy her hair is now!  Time for her first hair cut.)  (the shirt she is wearing I embroidered for her last year.)

They come down a little too low in the back.  This was after she tore her room apart.  She would not sit still for a picture.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, JoAnns was having a sale on Simplicity Patterns, 99 cents each!!  I stocked up and got a couple of toddler patterns, and made her this:

Out of Simplicity 5695.  Naturally, it came out a bit big on her, so I took it in a little bit.  It’s basically like the Simplicity 3835 that I made a while ago (in adult sizes of course).  I had been wanting to try to size it for her and so I was excited to find a Toddler Sized pattern.

They are both made out of the same fabric (I had enough leftover after the dress to make the pants) but I think it would look funny to wear them together. 

My Favorite Shorts

When I am not either a. taking care of the Little Honey b. working at my Day Job c. working on my fall wardrobe / gifts / sewing etc d. watching Project Runway / Glee / HGTV e. cooking and cleaning and etc and oh yeah f. spending time with Husband, I am

Marathon Training.

Oh yes, I am crazy.  But it is really fun.    My race is in 3 weeks.  With the exception of this past week, when I was laid up with some tendonitis type of inflammation in my foot, my training has been going well.  I think for almost all my long runs I’ve worn the same pair of shorts.  The thing with running 15-20 miles is that one needs a number of things with oneself, particularly one’s cell phone and Power Gel / Gu etc.  One little key pocket is not enough.  I had a problem to solve.  Enter… the extra pocket(s).

I know, it was really involved and complicated but I managed to pull it off!

Sweet.  Enough for 20 miles!  too bad it’s getting cold out and I won’t be able to wear these much longer.  I guess I’ll be sewing pockets into my leggings and long pants.

Baby Gear

Recently we had a baby shower for my coworker who is expecting a baby girl.  I made these:

I feel that with a newborn, you can never have too many burp clothes.

I found the most adorable flannel.  Isn’t it so cute?!

I did a straight stitch with embroidery thread along the edges.

To keep Baby Girl bundled, I also made this:

The binding went much better this time

I just love the fabric– so cute, and also nice and soft.  It’s almost enough to make me wish I had a newborn to wrap up in this blanket!

Almost. Heh.

Fall Wardrobe

When I started sewing again about 10 months ago or so, never did I think I would end up making my own clothes.  First of all, I love to shop and I especially love clothes shopping.  Second, it seemed so intimidating and way beyond what I would be able to do.

I slowly started to come around especially after reading some of Kate’s Build Your Wardrobe ideas, and by watching Rae have her spring top week earlier this year.

I also felt like the stores I usually shop in were either overpriced or lacked any sort of originality.  (Maybe I need some new stores to shop at?)

So, this fall, I decided to think a little bit about what I needed in my closet, and I looked around a little at some stores to get some ideas.  I came up with 3 themes. (Yes, my wardrobe has themes.  Admit it, that is awesome.)  They are: 1. Textured T shirts (for weekends), 2. cotton tops, and 3. cardigans.

1. Textured T Shirts

So, for the textured T shirts, I was inspired by the new trend I’ve seen at J Crew and at Loft, and I came up with these:

This is a variation of the corsage top I did over the summer.  It is a Target T shirt that I cut the sleeves off of, and added the ruffle to.  I think it looks like a carnation.  Anyways, I totally love it and have worn it a bunch of times.  (Way cheaper than a similar shirt from the store, too!)

Then, I moved on to this:

It’s like a petal t shirt from J Crew, or like this top from Loft, only also made from a Target long sleeved T (and also affordable for the mere mortal).  This one went to my beautiful sister in law for her birthday, and then I made one for myself too (in purple) so we can dress alike the next time we visit.  I also love this one and wear mine all the time.

And then I did 2 of these:

In pink and gray (also wear them all the time).  I followed this tutorial (I had found the link at U Create (oh, and her post for today is Trend Alert!  Ruffles! Oh yeah.  See below for better context).

I have a white T shirt to turn into something too– I am still deciding what kind of “texture” to do.  The possiblities are endless.

2. Cotton Tops

I couldn’t think of a snappy way of describing these.  I went to the fabric store thinking I would only make one shirt, but came out with fabric for 3!  And I have my eye on a fourth fabric so I think I’ll made one more.  Anyways, here they are:

I did not use a pattern for this one.  My original plan was to do some sort of ruffle neckline (who doesn’t love ruffles!) but then they totally slammed ruffles on Project Runway (apparently Heidi doesn’t) and also my husband thought it looked better without.  So a simple sleeveless shell it is.  It might look cute with a wide belt too.  It closes with an invisible zipper on the back (as do the other 2 shirts– I am becoming an expert!!).

I really like this one.  I decided that purple is a good fall color.  Anyways, it’s also a simple sleeveless top, but I made the top bigger so I could pleat it.  It turned out well I think, as long as the neck facing stays down.  I’m afraid it keeps wanting to pop up.

And this is my last one (so far):

Heh.  I admit that the fabric choice is a little… bold… but I love it!  It’s a fine wale corderoy.  It’s Simplicity 3835 again, only I did the dress version and cut it short to be a shirt / tunic.

3. Cardigans

I have always been a cardigan girl.  I think they go with everything and can be worn on the weekends or to work or even to dress up.  I have approximately 28 in my closet already in most colors of the rainbow.  In order to complete my collection, I got 2 lightweight cardigans at Target in colors that match several tops I have in my closet and to go with these fabrics of the shirts I just made.  The best part is that I can also take the tops I made over the summer and wear them into fall and even winter with a cardigan.  (Since I live in what I call the Northern South, I can get away with that sort of thing in winter.)

I have also made a couple pairs of pants for LH out of some old T shirts my sister was getting rid of.  She’s so tiny none of the winter clothes she has will fit her for a while (she’s 18 months and is wearing 12 month clothes– all the winter stuff I got for her last year on clearance is 18-24 month size) so she needed some pants.  I also got some corderoy to make pants / jumpers / skirts.

Also while I’ve been multitasking*, I have been working on a baby gift for a coworker that involves the CUTEST flannel from JoAnns.  I can’t wait for it to be finished!

* soaking foot, eating teddy grahams, drinking diet orange soda, watching the Tigers lose, updating blog about my fall wardrobe

Whew, longest post ever.

action shots

I did wear the 2 dresses that I made for the wedding weekend.  Both fit really well and I think I looked pretty fab.

I know I look kind of bored here, but the rehearsal really was fun.  I was probably thinking about the yummy dinner to come.

I continued my Matron of Honor duties the next day at the brunch.  Here I am with the groom as they finish opening their prezzies.

And I also made this little dress:

Sorry it’s a small picture.  I should take a better one but I never got a chance at the wedding.  (Plenty of other people were.)  Little Honey’s dress is made of white eyelet linen and was actually a combination of this, this, and this.  Super cute.

Well, now that I am sitting back soaking my poor foot (turns out New Shoes + Marathon Training = Blister), eating Teddy Grahams and drinking Diet Orange Soda, while cheering on the Tigers, I have a chance to tell you all about my Fall Wardrobe!  Here is comes!

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