Breezy Summertime Outfit

I know we just entered Spring, but I am in need of some serious summertime inspiration already. Maybe it's because I've been spending the last month on a tropical island, visiting my daughter who just had a baby. And I've been soaking up all my visits to the beach trying to forget that its still winter back home. Whatever the reason, I am ready for some warmer weather to stick around. So, if you're ready to kick winter to the curb too, then read on... hopefully you'll be inspired to whip up something to wear in the hot, humid weather. 

The best fabrics for keeping one cool are breathable, breezy cottons.  So, for this outfit, I took full advantage of loose fitting cotton fabrics so my granddaughter can stay cool this summer.

When I broke my arm this winter and couldn't sew,  all my sewing projects got pushed to the back burner. So, I went to the library and checked out a lot of books to keep me busy. Quite a few of these books were about sewing. I came across a book called, "Little Girls, Big Style" by Mary Abreu which was filled with loose fitting cotton clothing ideas and patterns for children.  As soon as my arm healed, I started sewing this little toddler outfit to take to my granddaughter, who lives with her family on a muggy, humid tropical island.

Just look at those cubby arms and that toddling, independent child.  She is loved so much!

These are beautiful Chinese gardens that we visited in March.  The garden isn't in China, but can you guess where they are?  Hopefully this cute, little girl will stay cool in this breezy outfit this summer. xoxo Grandma



Linked to: Threading MY Way, Project Run and Play

Something's Cooking Chef Set for an 18" Doll

To celebrate the birth of my newest granddaughter, today only, I'm offering my newest 18" doll pdf pattern called Something's Cooking Chef Set free. The set includes the chef's hat, a mitt that really fits onto the doll's hand and a custom designed apron that's reversible.  To get this free pattern please leave a comment below and keep reading.

This pattern offers four different views.  The first is the basic pattern, shown above, where I used San Francisco Giants ribbon because, hey... it's spring training.

 

View 2 shows the addition of a ruffle and a simple applique sewn onto one side of the apron.

View 3 features decorative ribbon sewn above the ruffle.

 

View 4 has a pop of color added by sewing piping right above the ruffle.

 

I love how versatile this pattern is and how tiny pieces of trim and fabric can be sewn together for unique looks to fit anyone's taste. Once you're done sewing this apron, both sides are completely finished so you'll have a reversible apron. How fun is that?  

 

This pattern is now available at my Etsy shop here for only $3.00. Don't want to take the time to sew your own.  As soon as I get back from helping with this darling baby, I'll have a few for sale on my Etsy shop too. If you missed getting this pattern for free, please consider signing up and following my xoxo Grandma blog because you won't want to miss out on getting my next free pattern I'm working on.  Would you?  Let me know if you're making this for your own doll or a loved one's doll.  

-xoxo Grandma

Dr. Seuss Crazy Sock Day

Crazy sock day just happened to land on one of the days I was visiting my daughter's family.  My grandson is only in preschool and this day was part of  Dr. Seuss week at his school. Being resourceful, I looked at what supplies my daughter had on hand and used them to create my version of "Horton Hears a Who" socks.

I began this project once my grandchildren were tucked in bed.  Things seem to move a little swifter when you're free of distractions. I'm guessing you all can relate.  All the hand sewing was done in about 3 hours.  Crazy way to spend a night, right?  

If you're planning on recreating these socks, I'd recommend not using wobbly eyes like I used on the vulture.  The eyes I used for Horton were made from white felt with a green sequin sewn in place with a small black bead. These eyes lasted through a day of preschool playing.  While working on these socks, I slipped the socks onto a round block that was in the toy room which looked to be about the width of my grandson's ankle.  Other than those tips, enjoy being creative with socks, felt, a feather, pom pom, pipe cleaner and whatever else you have on hand to create your crazy socks.  xoxo Grandma 

Green Floral Romper - a Refashion

Time to bring on Spring fashion! The dress on the left met up with my seam ripper because it's time to show you another refashion. For this refashion, I used the free pattern from Elephants and Elegance called the pleated playsuit.  From the original dress, I kept the smocked waistline and the pretty ruffled front.  And let me tell you, I had barely enough fabric from this dress to make a toddler playsuit or as my daughter calls these little outfits, "rompers".

For the shoulder ties, I used the green sashes and a little more of this fabric was used to fill in the low front...can't having a toddle revealing her chunky chest! Then I took off the pearlized buttons and re-positioned them evenly back onto the front.

When I first made this sunsuit, the legs were a bit long but now they fit her perfectly.

Everywhere this little red head goes in a sea of black hair, she's usually surrounded by people wanting to take her picture.  I've wondered what her life will be like when she comes back to the states.  She's just a cute little red head that tans.  xoxo Grandma

If you like rompers, see these additional posts:

Beaded Sunsuit

Dress Into a Romper in 30 Minutes or Less

Shared with:  Threading My Way

Layers of White Dress

A white dress is a classic for any little girl.  This layers of white dress was super easy to make and a good way to use up random pieces of white and off white trim.

I started this dress with a basic white tee shirt that I purchased for under four dollars from Walmart.  I cut 3" off the bottom of the tee shirt.  I next ruched the sides by sewing onto the seam 4" of elastic, which I stretched as I sewed it in place.

Then I added some stretchy off white lace around the neckline.  I cut out a 3" by 4" pocket from some leftover white knit tee shirt fabric and added a scrap of off white lace to the top of that pocket.  I then sewed the pocket onto the tee shirt.

Using more leftover lace, I even made her a coordinating headband.

Next, I added layers of white and off white lace to form a skirt around the tee shirt.  

My granddaughter wore this dress on the day her baby sister was blessed in October.  (If you'd like to see the dress her baby sister wore, which of course this Grandma made, go here.) I made the dress a little big, hoping it would fit her this spring.  She's grown up a lot since these photos but it still fits perfectly for an Easter dress.  Happy Easter all! 
xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Project Run & Play

Boys & Bugs Shirt

This shirt is a fun, easy project to make for any bug loving child.  For this project, I purchased a solid ready made T-shirt for $1.50.  I found this bargain on sale at my local Walmart. I hoped that with my arm still not completely operable due to breaking it in January, that this would be a project I was anxious to try.  

The first step is to decorating a shirt is to download the free bug pattern I designed here.

2.  Gather together the following supplies:

1.  Knit fabric scraps 
2.  Washable fabric marker
3.  Fabric spray glue 
4.  Fabric scissors
5.  Thread
6.  A solid T-shirt

3.  Now using the downloaded pattern, cut out the basic bug shapes from your scraps of knit fabric.

4. Use the fabric spray adhesive to temporarily adhere the fabric to the T-shirt by spraying the wrong side of the fabric and then putting the shapes, right side up onto the T-shirt.

5.   With the temporary fabric marker, draw on the details like the bug's legs and eyes onto the fabric.  These will be the lines that you use as guides for the machine embroidery.

6.  For the legs, use black thread.  I used a technique called scribble stitching to finish adhere the bugs onto the T-shirt.  To learn the basics on how to scribble stitch, go to Threading My Way, here.  As you can see by the close-up photo below, I only used the detail lines as a general guideline.  Plus I finally got my brace off my arm and sadly, my left arm still isn't working right so this is as close to the lines as I could get.  

Enjoy making this simple bug shirt!   xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Threading My Way, Project Run & Play, Totally Tutorials

Knitting & Sewing Lovers Books

Since I broke my arm last month, I haven't been able to sew or even craft much. But I have read a ton!  Reading is one of my other life passions... right up there with sewing! So, I thought I'd share with you a few of the books I've read that have a knitting or sewing theme.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Annabelle finds a box filled with every color of yarn.  You'll enjoy seeing everything she knits with her yarn until an archduke gets a hold of the magic box.  This is a darling and well illustrated Caldecott Honor book.

Fanny by Holly Hobbie I loved this wonderfully illustrated children's book about a little spunky girl named Fanny who wants a Connie doll like her friends but her mother says, "No." So Fanny takes matters into her own hands and sews herself a doll.

The Canada Geese Quilt by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

This is a perfect book for a 7-10 year old to read.  It's a tender story about a girl, named Ariel, who likes to draw and a grandmother who likes to make quilts.

Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae

Kath arrives in Blue Plum, Tennessee at the end of her grandmother's funeral. She is the sole survivor of her estate which includes a fiber and fabric shop called The Weaver's Cat.  Sadly, she discovers something's amiss with her grandmother's estate, mainly that her grandmother is considered a suspect in a murder.  This is a light murder mystery with twists and turns and humor along the way. 

Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Boubon

Harlow moves from Manhattan, New York back to her home town of Bliss, Texas after her great grandmother passes away. She inherits her great grandmother's home and turns this farm-house into a custom dressmaking boutique. Harlow was cut out to be a seamstresses and fashion designer but definitely not a detective. This was an enjoyable, light murder mystery. The sewing tips at the end of the novel were a delightful discovery. Hope you enjoy this reading list too! Let me know if you've read any of these and what you think. If you like reading as much as I do, you might also like these posts:

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