Mini Rio Trio // Rio Ringer Tee // Sewing For Kids

Mini Rio Trio // Rio Ringer Tee // Sewing For Kids

Friday, April 17, 2020

Hi again! Today I'm back with the Mini Rio Ringer Tees (new pattern by True Bias) I made for my kiddos!

I don't sew for my kids as much as I used to. Haha, hello. They were the ONLY ones I sewed for, once upon a time! My, how things have changed. :)

But I do still very much enjoy sewing for them from time to time. When Kelli shared that there was going to be a mini version of the Rio Ringer T-Shirt & Dress to test, as well as a women's version, I knew I would make one for myself and my youngest, for sure!

As it turned out, the mini version was just so cute and adorable, and I had plenty of fabric to play with, that all 3 of my kids ended up with a new tee!

I made each child the size that corresponded with their chest measurement and the fit was very good! My oldest was just a hair outside the size chart for a size 10, but I decided to go ahead with it anyway, knowing that my daughter could easily get away with wearing it if it didn't fit him.

It is a bit short (The final kids version has been lengthened a tad from this tester version) on him, but overall I was pretty pleased with how well it fit him! He unfortunately has grown a bit since I sewed it a few months ago, so he's not very keen on wearing it other than for these photos, so I suppose Miss O has a new handmade-me-down and can now twin with her little brother. :)

For reference, Evan is wearing a size 10, Olivia a size 8, and Aiden a size 4. I added 1/2" in length to each shirt.

The fabrics were all from my stash. Have I mentioned how much I've been enjoying sewing from my stash this year!? The striped fabric I used for the boys was a surprise add-on in a package I ordered from La Finch Fabrics. Both of the ribbings I used (teal and pink) are from The Fabric Fairy, which by the way, is a great place to check for ribbing fabrics!

The fabric I used for Olivia's shirt is an Art Gallery cotton/spandex. It was gifted to me by Rachael of Imagine Gnats. I love, love, love the geometric print! It is in fact the same fabric that I used for my tester version, which unfortunately didn't fit. I had planned for us to be matchy-matchy, and I'm a little sad that it didn't pan out! But I do think I have enough of the fabric left that I can maybe squeeze out a tank for myself.

The Mini Rio is definitely a fun pattern to sew for the kids! I can see many more happening, since I have quite a bit of brightly colored rib knit from The Fabric Fairy that I bought ages ago specifically for kids' tees! I'd better use it up, ay!?

*This post contains no affiliate links. I will fully disclose the information if affiliate links are used. 💗

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Sew Family Jammies // Sibling Pajamas

Sew Family Jammies // Sibling Pajamas

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are honest and my own. If you make a purchase using the links, I make a small commission which helps support this blog. So, thank you!!

Hi Friends!

It's week two of the Sew Family Jammies blog tour, and I'm excited to be sharing the matching sets I made for my kiddos!

Sew Family Jammies is a fun new event, hosted by Sew Altered Style. You can keep up with the blog tour and the fun jammies being sewn on Instagram HERE, as well!

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with sewing pajamas for my kids each year. I love the ridiculous cuteness of the outcome, but hate adding too much to my plate at this time each year, as I tend to do!

I've only made matching, or coordinating, sets for my kids a couple of times in the past six years. It feels like quite a job, so I haven't done it as often as I probably wished I would have. 😄 Below is a major throwback blog post! I also included an Instagram post from last year's sets. Click on each photo to be taken to the post!

Oh my goodness, my babies!!!!

Dolly got a matching pair last year too!

I "officially" swore off make Christmas/Winter pjs a few years ago; or so I thought. Then last year I got sucked back into it, and same thing this year! So now I'm just rolling with it and admitting defeat to being able to resist, lol.

This year however, I have truly, truly, LOVED making them their matching sets! It can definitely be attributed to finding a really great, simple and FAST pattern for their pj pants! I also kept things super easy by BUYING a plain t-shirt to embellish with the scraps!

Are you ready for this?? The pattern is available for FREE, y'all! It is the Pajama Party Pants by Peekaboo Patterns, and is available at no cost to newsletter subscribers. How great is that!? The pattern ranges in sizes 3mo - 12 years, so you really can sew pjs for all the kids!

To be honest, I'm always a bit leery of free pajama pants patterns, but I have to say, I think the fit of these is pretty great! It's definitely on the generous side, but I completely am on board with that, because they grow out of them so darn fast!

My oldest is in a size 12, sadly, so I'll have to figure out something else next year! My other two are in the sizes they fit into best, based on their measurements, and they are pretty true to RTW sizing, so if you are making pajamas for children "not" in your household, you should be pretty close by sewing their corresponding RTW size.

Speaking of sewing for other children. Not pictured, because the models were not available, are 3 other sets of pjs I've made for cousins and a friend! I'm not done sewing for this event yet either. 😉 I was really unsure how much fabric I needed to buy and WAY overbought, so my husband will also be a recipient of pj pants this year!

In this "pose" they are mimicking the animals they chose for their shirts! :)

And now; speaking of fabric and matching pants... The fabric I used for the pajamas is from JOANN, and completely picked out by my kids. I was super brave and took them all three to the store with me and let them peruse all the Christmasy fabrics! It took a while, and of course I had to guide their decision making based on available yardage of certain fabrics, but in the end they chose this buffalo plaid. The reason being that I already have a very similar pair that was purchased last year and they wanted to match me! (Cue the heart bursting)

I haven't told you the whole story between my pants yet either. Last year, all of my sisters, my mom, and myself, bought matching pajamas, so this year, we will have quite the matching party on Christmas morning!! Lol.

It will be all of us, plus the five grandchildren. And my husband if he feels like joining in on the crazy matching party. Should be fun, yes!??? 😁

Keeping things simple is the way to go for me, but I hope that I will be able to keep making their Christmas PJ dreams come true in the years to come. 😊

I wanted to quickly mention the appliques on the kids' t-shirts. I made them the old fashioned way by searching Google for free image files; printed them out; traced to wonder-under and then fused and appliqued on to the tees. I made an IGTV all about this process that you can view HERE. I used a different fusible product in the video, but the process is the same!

View this post on Instagram

Sew with me! I'll walk you through the steps to applique letters onto any tee! Outift Details: Handmade Tee (@heyjunehandmade #unionsttee) EZ-Steam II: https://amzn.to/2MbBCK4 Whole outfit, plus links to RTW items 👇 : #LTKunder50 #LTKstyletip @liketoknow.it http://liketk.it/2FvOH #liketkit Music by: Ikson Official

A post shared by Heidi || Handmade Frenzy (@heidi_handmadefrenzy) on Oct 4, 2019

A little tedious, but it really didn't take that long! In fact, I was able to sew all three of these pajama sets in only a few hours after the cutting was done. Such a quick and fun project!

LINKS:

Fabric: Super Snuggle Buffalo Check Flannel - JOANN
**PS, This fabric is currently on MEGA-SALE! It's really easy to sew, the plaids matched up so quickly and easily! I didn't even need to use pins!** ONLY through TODAY 12/10/19

Wonder-Under: JOANN

Pattern: Pajama Party Pants (available for free to newsletter or facebook group subscribers!)

Click the photos below to shop the tees I used for the kids, as well as another buying option via Amazon for Wonder-Under.

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Motherhood & Sewing // #easeintomotherhood

Motherhood & Sewing // #easeintomotherhood

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Today I'm honored to be a part of the July blog series called Ease Into Motherhood. Ease Into Motherhood is a sewists' celebration of motherhood and the changes it brings to our lives.

I can actually thank motherhood for bringing sewing into my life. I learned how to sew pretty early on by watching my mom sew. *It's amazing how much you pick up by just WATCHING!* I had a tiny sewing machine of my own when I was little and would sew scraps together. I don't remember ever making anything tangible, in fact, the thing I remember the most is my thread constantly getting tangled up in that little machine. Lol.

In high-school, I took a home ec. class that solidified the basics for me. After that, I hardly touched a sewing machine until I was married. I attempted a quilt top after being married for a year or so (I had the itch for a hobby), that quilt top still languishes unfinished in a box somewhere in my attic. I did manage to make some very simple curtains (completely straight panels with a rod pocket), with the help of my mom. Thanks Mom!

After my first child was born, I made a few more very simple projects. I remember making a small foam pad with a pillow-style envelope cover for his pack and play.

I mentioned earlier feeling an itch for a hobby. I worked outside our home up until I had my first child, then became a stay-at-home mom. This was something my husband and I wanted and planned for before we were married. It was all I ever dreamed of. I just wanted to be a mom. I thought that would be everything; my fulfillment, my purpose, my calling. Being pregnant for the first time, my mind was consumed with all things baby and I thought once he arrived, that would be my "thing". And it is. All of those things. All moms know, this is a 24 hour job, there is no off time, ever. And hard as it may be, as much as I feel like I want/need a break sometimes, it is the most fulfilling thing I could ever imagine doing.

Now, looking back, I realize even after Baby #1, that itch for a hobby really was an urge to MAKE. At that point it didn't really matter what it was, I just needed to MAKE. I discovered blogs while pregnant that first time, and started to soak in all the inspiration and creativity that I could. I started my own little blog at that point, filled with total randomness. No one read it. Haha! :)

After my baby was born and a few months old, I needed a project. It needed to be something that could be done in short bursts and still give me that satisfaction of completing something I MADE. So I started a little personal project to bake my way through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook and blogging my progress. It was a fun little project, but life happened and we made a big move and life continued to move on. My new project became fixing up the house we bought and starting over socially and building new friendships and finding a church family.

Fast forward to becoming pregnant with Baby #2, I became even more obsessed with fixing up the house. Finding out a little less than halfway through the pregnancy that Baby #2 was a girl had me thrilled with all the girlie things I could make. By this time I had discovered Pinterest and ideas were never ending. I also picked back up with sewing a few things here and there. I made curtains for the nursery, frilly this time, and all by myself because my mom was hundreds of miles away. I was so proud of them! They were made from a clearanced sheet and an old skirt of mine. I also made a car seat cover and a nursing cover. I was so excited about those tangible projects, I just kept going. I made more of those things for friends, and also made a few drawstring bags for my almost 2 year old son and some for the new baby. I also made headbands for her.

Then baby girl was born and life was amazing. I had the smartest, cutest little 2 year old boy and the most precious little baby girl I had ever laid eyes on. A few months went by and the euphoria wore off. By the time she was 6 months old, I felt like all I was doing every minute of every day was feeding two mouths or diapering their bottoms.

At that point I was feeling very unsettled and depressed and felt lost as to why.? I mean, this life is what I always wanted, right? I went to the doctor to make sure all was well on that end and it was, we made a few tweaks, but overall everything was healthy and as it should be.

A short time later I finally pin pointed that I felt like I had lost myself. Who was I anymore? I mean yes, I was a mom, I was a wife. These things I still loved with all my heart, but who was "I"? I cried out to God in those lonely times and the answer didn't come right away, but soon I started to feel the urge to make again! And it started to make sense. I NEEDED to make. I needed something that would let out this energy I felt like was trapped inside.

Around the time she was a year old, I was so inspired by Pinterest and all the amazing (yet simple) clothing sewing projects I was seeing that I decided to give them a try! I remember setting a goal for the month of January 2013 to sew as many clothing pieces as I could. I called it "Sewing Month". (so original) That month I made 2 simple maxi skirts for myself, a peasant dress, a pillowcase dress, and a ruffle skirt for my daughter. I made a pair of kid shorts by MADE and an embellished tee for my son, 5 more carseat covers and a baby blanket. I was on such a high after such a successful month! Now granted the maxi skirts for myself were a bit of a flop because I had no idea about fabric choices at that point. But all the rest of the projects were successes and the clothes I made for my kids were worn and worn and worn.

After that, "Sewing Month" turned into "Sewing Year", which actually means "Sewing Never Stops". I was happy again. My kids were happy too, when Mama's happy, everybody is happy. This is all too true. My kids loved it when I presented them with a new thing to wear, and they were willing photo subjects as well! *I also started my blog around this time, so if you're interested to see some of my first sewing projects you can browse the archives!*

About 2 years after I started sewing and blogging, I became pregnant with my 3rd baby. During pregnancy the sewing slowed a little bit because of lack of energy and also my nesting instincts come out in the form of "PAINT THE WHOLE HOUSE". I'm pretty sure Baby #3 is my final, so... Sorry house, looks like you won't be getting painted again, maybe ever. :)

After he was born though, the sew-jo returned rather quickly. I had that urge to MAKE again, and I knew I had this thing to fall back on this time, not to mention I recognized what the feeling was. The transition was so much smoother this time. I had that thing that made me feel like "ME", and it was there any time I needed it. Around the time he was a year old, I started sewing much, much more for myself. This was partly driven by the fact that taking 3 kids to the department store and trying on clothes was just literally more than I could handle most days. And online shopping also yielded in major frustration because so much didn't fit and then I had to fuss with returning to the store anyway or sending it back, sometimes with return shipping costs.

My oldest is going into 2nd grade this year, my daughter is starting Kindergarten and my "baby" will be 2 1/2 at that point. We are currently in the midst of summer "non-schedule", and sewing time can be hard to find sometimes. I also have a garden and do lots of canning in the summer, so that takes away from it too. I can find that frustrating, because I want to accomplish all these sewing projects, but my kids all want all the things. Like eating, all the time! Or swimming, Mom, please come in the pool with us! Or just plain old couch-sitting with them. So hard (I'm being sarcastic here). So really, my frustration is self imposed, because all the rest of the things are SO GOOD. And the canning also satisfies that need to MAKE. It makes me so extremely happy to open up my pantry and see it chock full of food that I have grown and preserved to feed us for the rest of the year. I'm not going to mention anything about the state of my house. It's chaos all the time right now, but I've given myself permission to let it go until they start back to school in a month. Then I will purge. And find more consistent sewing time again!

I really can't complain about the number or quality of the projects I've made this summer, they've been great, but us sewists' like to set lofty goals for ourselves!

So in summary. Motherhood brought me sewing. And sewing brought me that "thing" that made me feel like "ME" again in the midst of this glorious, wonderful, hard, thing that brings us the title of Mom. It's truly the best job in the world. *All the puffy hearts and tears right now* I'm going to go kiss my babies.

Thanks to Jodi, Erin, and Monserratt for hosting this series and making me stop and think about how rich my life is. 

Thank you for reading! If you made it to the end, you are the best of the best!! :)

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Cuff Pants & Rowan Tee // Sewing For Boys

Cuff Pants & Rowan Tee // Sewing For Boys

Friday, January 13, 2017

Welcome to the blog, Little Buddy!! 

I just organized a bunch of my photo mess collection on my computer and was devastated to realize that I had almost no video of this little man from the past year! Then it dawned on me that they are all on my phone. Whew. In fact he is the star of the show on my phone's sd card. BUT. I made it another 2017 goal to get out my big camera more and take photos and videos of my kiddos, because I just like having better lit photos than my phone can produce. Especially of this little one, who as of late, seems to be growing right before my eyes!!

Turns out, I just so happened to finish up a little outfit for him last night, so I took advantage of our little photo shoot to benefit the blog as well ;)

What he is wearing is a pair of Brindille & Twig Cuff Pants and a Titchy Threads Rowan Tee.

I finally sized him up to the next size in the Cuff Pants from the first time I made him several pairs, over a year ago! This pattern gets a lot of mileage, Woo! But really, so does the Rowan Tee. This is actually the first Rowan I've made for him, but he's been in the same size Safari Raglan (also a TT pattern, and the sizing is the same) for over a year as well and the sizing is still great for him. 

Both patterns are made in size 12-18 month. For the next Rowan Tee, I will narrow the neckline. I'm not sure if it's because of the fabrics I chose, but it is plenty wide on him.

Both fabrics I used are from LA Finch Fabrics. The pants are a french terry remnant that I built an order for, just so I could snatch it up! The shirt fabric is an absolutely scrumptious baby rib knit. It is seriously so thick and soft, I just want to snuggle up with him in it! And smoosh his cheeks. But that's every day anyway, so...

The neckband ribbing is one I've had in my stash for ages. I love the pop of color against the near neutrals so much!

Links:

• Pants Pattern: Cuff Pants by Brindille & Twig
• Shirt Pattern: Rowan Tee by Titchy Threads
• Pants Fabric: French Terry Remnant (sold out) from LA Finch Fabrics
• Shirt Fabric: Heathered Sky Blue Rib Knit from LA Finch Fabrics

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