BILLOWY PINNY

We've been shivering here for two days now,  it seems the cold weather has really crept in now.  That being said, I have been busy drafting some patterns.  One was the pullover dress with hood that is now in the hands of my lovely pattern testers who volunteered their time to go through the process with me.

And so to while the time, I am putting in here  a tutorial on a pinafore I made.  I call it the "billowy pinny" - you'll see why as we go along.

So here we go:

I called it the "Billowy Pinny" because of the wave billows around the skirt.  :)  haha.

Please find the free pattern here, it is only in size 2 though, https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-E_yAW6AU4iQ24xR29hMk9oVkE/edit

If you were able to follow through with the patterns, you will cut 6 pattern pieces as shown in the illustration below.

 

 Before you attach the back facing to the back bodice, make sure you hem the bottom part of the facing.

 Cut your straps on fold, stitch them, serge/overlock to avoid fraying, as I used wool material.  Turn inside out.

Sandwich your straps between the back facing and back bodice.  Straps should be pointing downwards.

Stitch in place from the armhole, top of chest and down to the next armhole.

Turn inside out and top stitch around.

Do the steps on the front bodice but not attaching the straps, as the straps will later attach to front bodice by buttons.

It's time to attach front and back bodice sides. Make sure sure to flip up the facing before attaching sides, right sides together please.

 The sides should be looking like this, now overlock the edges.

 When attached, the inside seams of the bodice should look like this.

 Front and back bodice attached front view.

 Make sure to topstitch ends of straps.

 You may attach the buttonholes at this time.

 Cut two bands of the main fabric:
1- 3.5"x32"
1- 2.5"x32"

 Don't forget to cut another band of the contrast fabric in 3.5"x32".

 Attach contrast fabric to main fabric with a straight stitch.











I opted to zigzag the hem of the bands.  You  may of course overlock them, but make sure you use a matching thread.                                                    

Attach the bands together.

 

Add caption

NOTE: GATHER YOUR SKIRT

with the bands stitched together, gather your skirt before attaching to the bodice.

 Turn inside out and wala, there's your pinafore.

 You may put embellishments just like I did with the ribbon tied around the skirts.


Now you go try them on your little girl and gow bilowy pinny!

I enjoyed making this dress, I hope you will too! Cheers!

That boy in the house :)

I have two children actually, my son reminds me that, oh yes especially when our Savannah came along.  I would usually get a secret glance my way from my son during times when all I do is rain kisses on her. I can feel a wee bit of jealousy there more so that my son has been used to be an only child, they're like seven years apart.

Don't get me wrong, he adores his little sister, always a doting and caring brother that he is.  He loves to see her wear all the dresses I make her and sweet little outfits.


So this week, I vowed to make an outfit for him, only for him.  :)  He is in his age where he is starting to feel conscious about how he looks and lately have been listening to him complaining about how baggy his pants all are. I didn't want to buy another pair of jeans so I went on a trek to clear up my closet full of jeans I have never worn and so here is what I whipped up for the entire afternoon.  I somehow put a big smile on my son's face :)







I started to make skinny jeans out of my size 10 French Connection jeans that I bought but never got to wear it because it came  too wide at the leg part and very long for my short and rounded stature, lol.

The striped sweater, I foraged from Vinnies op shop.  I drafted the pattern from one of my son's collared jacket, I omitted the collar and used ribbing around instead.

 The brown cap is what was left of the brown corduroy fabric stash I have left.  If you remember the reversible sunhat I made last time, instead of the wide brim, I made a bill out of pellon ( thickest one).  So here's goes, Simon Hugo's fall outfit made by mommy!

 He doesn't fancy my idea of posing for fashion, he finds it really cheeky lol!

 That S on the sweater, he loves his name so much he wanted me to patch an S.

 At the back of the hat, I used an elastic to better fit.

Savannah won't agree to being left out, somehow even in her nappy glory , she managed to squeeze in lol!

Have a nice weekend ahead you guys :)