Willow & Co's new line

Last year a few indie designers got together and started their own pattern company called Willow & Co.  The theme of the first line was 'glamping' and they created several modern and stylish looks for children to wear.  Some of those patterns go through tween sizes, so we took notice.

Now this year, they have a fresh new line that has more items that are great for tweens.  We asked them to highlight their tween friendly patterns and introduce you all to this company.

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Antalya dress

The Antalya dress is a relaxed-fitting dress with modern details. It features short dolman sleeves, curved front-side panels with gathered details, a separate gathered drop waist skirt at the back, and the option of either an exposed zipper or four buttons with loops. The neckline is finished with binding, and the dress curves can be accentuated with piping.

Limon Dress & Top

The Limon Dress & Top pdf sewing pattern includes all the options you need to make a classically modern outfit for a little girl in sizes 6 months through 12 years. It features pintucks on both the front and back as well as a fully lined bodice with a technique that encloses all the raw edges. You can choose to make a sleeveless dress or top or use the gathered sleeves. An optional placket can be added and embellished with your favorite lace or ruffled fabric. (Note: sizes 6 months to 3T must add the placket to allow for dressing.)

London Backpack

The London Backpack is a medium sized bag that works well for both kids and adults. It features two zipper pockets - a large outer pocket as well as a smaller inner pocket, adjustable straps, and it closes with a drawstring and magnetic snap.

This pattern is versatile, practical, and the perfect blank slate for pattern mixing and making modifications to suit your needs.

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Thank you Willow & Co and keep the good tween patterns coming!!!

Having fun with accessories

When your kids are little, they love to have holiday outfits.  At least you may love to make them and they are happy to accommodate.  However, sometimes tweens get a little less enthusiastic.  But, they still are kids and like to have fun.

We did a post with ideas for Valentine's Day that a tween may not just let you make them, but enjoy wearing.  And those ideas could be modified for just about any holiday or season.

So what if you did not want to actually make a real article of clothing?  What if you have some great theme fabric and want to whip up something super easy and super quick that is not meant to be integrated into an everyday tween wardrobe?

Well I say make an accessory!

I wanted to make a bow tie, because I just think they are so cute.  After wondering around on Pinterest, I settled on a tutorial by One Dog Woof.  There are several bloggers that give patterns for authentic bow ties and several quick versions.  I liked this one because it is all rectangles and suited my need for a quick and not fancy project.

Tutorial

Of course, with Easter coming up, you can use this quick tutorial to make a more formal look for your young man or hipster daughter.

During my search, I saw DIY suspenders.  Oh, how fun would that be?  And when my daughter saw them, she flipped!  I was actually surprised how much she liked them and she is excited to wear them.

Coconut Love Tutorial

Lastly, I had a belt making kit in my notions drawer that I wanted to use.  This is actually the accessory I thought my daughter would gravitate too but instead my son chose it.  Have you ever made a fabric covered button?  Well this is the same deal but with a belt buckle.  And then you make the belt in the same manner as you would for the suspenders.

I made all of these with fabric I got out of the remnant bin so I paid very little for the fabric.  Now the notions for the suspenders; that is another story.  But as much as Abi liked them, I am sure we will get some use out of them.  And it would be easy to cut the straps of and use the hardware on a new project.  I probably would have done better to cannibalize suspenders at a thrift store ... and might next time.

Fancy Headpieces

In January we shared a round-up of of various accessories that you could sew up for your tween.  But today I thought I would share a non-sewn accessory.  This winter I wanted to make some over the top hair clips for my girls.  They like to wear fancy headbands and barrettes and I was hoping to make something that would coordinate with their mom-made clothes.

barrette version

First, I went to a craft store and picked out a couple blank headbands and metal barrettes.

Then I just went a little crazy.  I picked out items from the floral section, the beading area, and a bunch of feathers.

headband version

I took all that eclectic haul home and warmed up the glue gun.  I just started to arrange various items until I figured out what I wanted it to look like.  And then it was just a matter of gluing it all down.

small barrette

These are obviously winter themed.  But think about all the other holidays out there.  You could make a headpiece that works for Easter, 4th of July, Canada Day ... the possibilities are endless.  And this is a project that your tween can do with you.

What?  You don't like mine; or they are just not your style?  Here are a ton of there tutorials and options:

leather bow tie

I love this bow tie by delia creates.  I think it would be great for a tween boy because leather can look so cool and stylish.

Speaking of leather, what about a leather headband?  Ruffles and Stuff has a neat tutorial for a simple leather headband that would look good on ladies of all ages. 

And if you do not want to buy blank headbands or barrettes, you could make some with scrap fabrics. Some good tutorials for fabric headbands are (link in the comments):

pearls and pleats

Beachy headband

ribbon headbands

Reversible fabric headband

There are lots of no-sew options in case you don't want to get out the sewing machine for your hair accessory project.

Crafting Sarah woven headband

For something a little more understated, you can weave ribbons around a blank headband.

sailor knot headband

This is another no-sew option using old t-shirts or scraps of knit fabric.

fabric feathers headband

I personally love this dramatic no-sew headband.  As you can see by mine up top, I like a dramatic headpiece.

la fleur headband

And here is one more option.  This one is absolutely beautiful and would be lovely on Easter Sunday.

Have fun making accessories and please link your creations up to our parties so we can gain inspiration from you.

Pattern Review: Overnight bag

Tweens are usually big fans of sleep overs and it is at this age that they often get involved in sports. So I thought a customized overnight bag would be a lot of fun for our tweens.

I came across this great FREE pattern on the burdastyle website and had to try it out.

I used a fun print I found in the upholstery section of Joann.  I would actually recommend a heavier weight fabric than I used... so go for something the weight of denim.  I used a vinyl for the corners and loved how that added extra durability and textural interest.

Name of the pattern: Overnight bag 12/2010 #142

Pattern Source: Burdastyle

Special materials required:  You will need a 60 inch wide fabric to make the bag as designed.  My fabric was only 56" so, it is a little less deep than originally intended.  That slight modification was fine with me but I should have shortened the straps accordingly.  

Other special materials required webbing or some other durable twill fabric to create your straps, piping, hardware for the tag, and a heavy duty zipper.

Skill level required:  I would classify this as an advanced beginner project.  You have to draw out your pattern and the corners are a bit tricky.  The techniques were just a bit new for me, but if you read the instructions slowly, the actual construction is not hard.

The corners are what really make this bag.

Good:  I love the look of this bag and how it is so functional.  Other fabric great fabric choices would be denim, heavy weight upholstery, and leather.  I also think this bag would be great made in your tween's school colors.

Bad:  Nothing really ... it is free and functional.

Overall pattern rating:  I give this pattern 4 bolts out of 5. 

Infinity Scarf Tutorial Review

If you want a quick and easy accent piece to add to your wardrobe, you should try your hand at an infinity scarf. Seriously, this was so easy!

I found this tutorial over at the Simplicity site (they have a bunch of free things, but not many garments or sewing related ones). 

The tutorial was easy to follow and everything came together really quickly (thanks to a serger). The knit was from JoAnn's, but Sophia has already requested some more (and I want some more too), so we have plans to use some old T-shirts as well.
What you need: The pattern says 3/4 of a yard of fabric, but I used 12 inch for Sophia's and 1/2 a yard for mine and am pleased with how they turned out.
Skill Level: Very beginner--just 2 seams and a little hand sewing to finish it.
I give this one 5 lightening bolts because of how easy it is and how much I like scarves.

Accessory round up

Hello there!!!  Well, the holidays are over and I (Major Moma) thought I would throw out some smaller project ideas since many of us are a bit tired from all the celebrating during the holiday season.  Clothes are not the only item in a tween's wardrobe and certainly not the only thing you can sew for your tween.

Accessories are an excellent project to make a hand-made outfit look custom.  They are also a great idea for beginner sewers because you don't have to worry about fitting issues.

Simplicity notebook cover and carrier

My daughter reads many books on her kindle and here is a cute pattern to make a cover or case.

Violet Fields Threads' Felicity hair flower

Violet Fields Threads' Delilah necklace

Aeroplane bag

Cadet Cap

Burda Shoulder bag

Burda cap

Burda Soft Satchel

 And I just love this rose necklace from Violet fields.
















And several pattern makers have a wide variety of bags and backpacks that you can customize to fit the needs and fashion sense of your tween.




















And what about accessory tutorials?  There are a million free tutorials out there with some great ideas for accessories.  Simplicity has several HERE, and I thought THIS recent post on Sew Country Chic could easily be translated for a tween.

Do you sew accessories?  What do you think of these as beginner projects?