Pattern Review: M6596 top

I was looking for a way to try some new techniques and use up some of my knit left-overs from other projects and I grabbed out McCall's M6596 to assist.

The pattern is very basic, so I knew it would be perfect for letting me concentrate on my new skill building.  What I wanted to learn how to do was a flatlock seam on my serger.

I sewed up view D for this project.

Pattern Source:  I bought the pattern at JoAnn's on sale but you can buy it on McCall's website too.

Sizes available:  It come in sizes 3 to 14 and consists of variations on the same flared knit top and sweat pants.

Special materials required:  The pattern is designed for moderate stretch knits for the top and lightweight woven fabrics for the pants and accent fabrics on the top.

an upcycled version I did with a sweater that was given to me 

Skill level required:  The pattern is labeled easy and certainly deserves that label.  I found the pattern to be incredibly simple.  But, I think the sleeve insertion method is unnecessarily complicated.  It has you sew the main body, then the sleeve, then insert the sleeve.  I like the technique of sewing the shoulder seams and then the cap of the sleeve to the shoulder.  Then you sew from the wrist down to the hem for your side seams.  It is soooo (or sew) much easier.

Good: A cute and comfortable top.

Bad: The way the side flares out is the trend now but I don't find it especially appealing.  My tween does though, so that is good.  And I already said that I found the instructions did not teach you the most efficient way to construct this simple garment.

Overall pattern rating:  3 Bolts 

Now, on to my flatlocking experiment.  Flatlocking is a technique that you do with three threads in your serger where you sew your seams together but then pull the fabric apart so the edges of the fabric actually butt up against each other joined by the visible threads.  The technique is popular for work out clothing so that the seams don't chafe and for thicker fabrics that would have a bulky seam allowance if sewn the normal way.

a view of my semi successful flatlocking

If you are interesting in learning more, here are a couple tutorials with some helpful sights.

Tutorial by Made by me & Shared with you

and a YouTube video.

Be My Valentine

The funny thing about tweens is that they still are very much kids.  But they are starting to develop some more grown up tastes and definitely don't want to look like 'babies'.  And that can make theme outfits a bit tricky.  Like Valentine's Day outfits.  When kids are little, they are much more into having cutsie Valentine's shirts made for them.  But as a tween, they want the shirt, but don't want it to be too over the top or obvious.

So, I have collected a bunch of tutorials that either are a more grown-up version of a valentine's Day shirt or could easily be adapted to be so.

And, I just have to say that I am amazed at the creativity out there.  These ladies have taken simple projects and made some very cool embellishments.

Fabric paints can be a great way to add embellishment to a RTW or hand made shirt.  I love this tutorial for it's detail and simplicity.  I think it also could be adapted for nearly any holiday or mood.

The Pleated Poppy

Fabric applique is another way to embellish a shirt with all sorts of shapes and textures.  Of course, for Valentine's, we usually rely on a heart shape, but really you have other options too.  And you can try some reverse applique for a slightly different look.  Here are some ideas:

Uber Chic for Cheap

Make it Love it

form*work

Another way to add images is to use some sort of iron on material.  Some of you lucky ladies have Sillouetes or cricut machines that can cut out all sorts of images.  But if you are like me and don't, there are other pre-cut products out there or you can go back to the stand-by of fabric paint and freezer stencils.  Here are some fabulous ideas that I think a tween and quite possibly a tween boy could like.

Just Another Day in Paradise

Just Another Day in Paradise

And these next too I really like for their originality and texture.

Uber Chic for Cheap

WobiSobi

And what did I make for my tween?  Well, I actually did not use any of these tutorials, though I still may  in the future.  She had some flannel catch her eye at the fabric store so I made a button down shirt for her to wear on Valentine's Day and any other day she feels like it.

Lumberjack Shirt

It has hearts and definitely will feel like a theme shirt in February, but for the rest of the winter, it will just be a fun and cute shirt.  I think that really is the key: it needs to be fun enough to wear any day and not just February 14th.

The shirt is the Lumberjack Shirt by Patterns for Pirates and we will be reviewing it later in the month.  So stay tuned...

So, do you sew holiday themed shirts for your tween???

Bubble skirt et all

There is nothing quite so easy to sew as a skirt. The fitting is fairly simple and you can often get away with two side seams and a waist band.

And when you want more variety, there are a ton of great tutorials to help you create this wardrobe staple. 

Project Run and Play is doing something different this year by having a linky party each month for a pattern remix. January is Alida Makes' Bubble Skirt/Dress.  When I saw the theme, I thought it was the perfect time to review the tutorial and highlight other great skirt tutorials. 

link

In order to avoid the shirring requirement in Alida's skirt, I used a knit (an old shirt belonging to my son before he out grew it.). I simply stretched it while sewing it to the main fabric the way you would ribbing on a tee shirt. 

For the waist band I used the technique described on Made in this great circle skirt tutorial.

link

On our Pinterest site we collect all sorts of tutorials we like that you can check out but here are a couple other great skirt tutorials for you to try:

link

link

link

The cardi that is in this picture is from last year. She actually has barely worn it because she was not a fan of the ruffles. Tweens can be so fickle. But I think they pair beautifully and much better than the jeans she insisted on wearing with the skirt. 

There is also a very fun event at Friends Stitched Together; a series called CraftingCon and this month's theme is Dr. Who. My daughter loves the show and I thought I could style her up as a tardis for a photo shoot. But she was not in the mood. 

Making Colored Fur Coats

Now that you have decided whether your tween would wear colored fur, how are you going to make it?

Pale Cloud

Fur is not hard to sew, but it does have some special considerations.  One is all that fur.  What you will need to do in order to reduce bulk, is to trim the seam allowances down.  That way, you can sew without all that fur in the way and your seams will not be too bulky.  Second after sewing, you will need to take a small tool, like a stylus, and gently pull the fur on the right side out of the seam.

For more tips on how to sew fur, you can go to this Instructables post or Sew 4 Home.

Several stores carry colored fur and minky is a nice alternative to faux fur.  Here are a couple fabric options that caught my eye on Fabric.com.

Minky Crushed Cuddle fabric

Minky Soft Lattice Cuddle fabric

Minky Crushed Cuddle fabric

There are several jacket patterns out there, many that we featured on our "Making Moto" post in September.  But as winter is coming around the corner, I thought I would also point out some great heavier jacket patterns.

Burdastyle Long Dress Coat

Burdastyle Girl's Asymmetric coat

Peek-a-Boo Pattern's Dowton Duffle (affiliate link)

Peek-a-Boo Pattern's Alpine Wonderland (affiliate link)

Peak-a-Boo Pattern's Great Outdoors Reversible Vest (affiliate link)

And if making a whole coat is not on your list, then what about a hat, scarf, or some mittens.  Then your tween can follow this trend without you giving up a couple weekends.  Here are a few tutorials you may find useful.

Sew Creative

Flamingo Toes

How to Sew a Fur Hat video  

If you make something with fur, colored or otherwise, we would love to see it and hear about your experience.  You can link up to our monthly party or shoot us an email and maybe we can have you guest post!

Costumes --> Steampunk style

Halloween is fast approaching and I am sure your tweens are trying to figure out what they want to dress as.  I (Major Moma) have never been especially a fan of Halloween as a holiday but I have always loved dress up and creative play.  When my kids were little, their Halloween costumes went straight into the dress up box and were used all year around.

But when the kids get older, it can get a bit awkward.  They still like to dress up and they definitely like getting candy, but they are starting to get too old for trick-or-treating.  And have you seen some of the older/bigger sized costumes?  I think the shortness of the skirts are more scary than the blood and gore.  And that is the beauty of a homemade or semi-homemade costume, you can adjust it to be age appropriate to fit your family's values.

The other issue with kids at this age is getting a more 'grown up' look to their costumes.  I would like to highlight a genre that I think can really help with this dilemma.  It is Steampunk.


According to the Urban Dictionary Steampunk is:

source

Star Wars done Steampunk

... a subgenre of speculative fiction, usually set in an anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian alternate history setting. It could be described by the slogan "What the past would look like if the future had happened sooner." It includes fiction with science fiction, fantasy or horror themes. 

Medieval Steampunk: Speculative fiction set during the Middle Ages. 

Victorian Steampunk: A modern Science Fiction work (post-1930s) that is set in the early parts of the industrial revolution. 

Western Steampunk: Science fiction set in the American Old West. 

Western style Steampunk

Industrial/Modern Steampunk: Science fiction taking place in the late industrial age, early modern age; i.e. World War 1, World War 2

Examples of steampunk: 
Wild Wild West 
Final Fantasy 7 
Van Helsing 
The Time Machine 
Hellboy 
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

You can see from this definition and examples that the Steampunk genre really has a lot of variety.  And, you can take just about any character and make it a Steampunk version.  Like, you could take that old princess costume that still fits and add some gears, make the skirt a bustle and call it a 'Steampunk Princess."

source

Here is a tutorial on how to make a gear that can be added to clothing to create a Steampunk look.

gear tutorial

Goggles also are an accessory used quite frequently in Steampunk cosplay.  Here are several examples of DIY goggles that people have put together.  Some are quite elaborate, but you could get some great ideas from looking at them.

source

I have added a lot of Steampunk ideas to our Pinterest Costumes board and you could see if any of them work for your tween.  We have other Halloween costume ideas also pinned on that board, so feel free to check them out.  I hope you got some ideas on how to get creative with your tween's costumes this year!

What is your tween dressing as this year?

Tutorial: conserving patterns

Do you use PDF or paper patterns?  I use both, and they each have their own draw backs and highlights.  But what I do like about a pdf pattern is that I can cut it to the size I need, and then, when my kids grow reprint and cut the new size.

But with paper patterns, if you cut out the size you need, you are pretty much stuck and would have to re-purchase the pattern.  If I want to save a paper pattern for future use, I will use the following technique.

First, I cut the pattern out using the outermost line, regardless of size.  On the straight lines, it is easy; fold on the size you want to use.  It is on the curved parts that things can get tricky.  I slice down to the size I want to use perpindicular to the cutting line.

This will make small wedges that can now be folded under smoothly.  Continue around all curved edges.

When you cut around the pattern, you will need to be careful to not snip the edge of the pattern.  That would cut the fold, and defeat the purpose of all that work for conserving.

Do you have any tricks to conserve your patterns?

Shell in my hand; Sand in my toes...

Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner so, what are you sewing to get ready for the warm weather?  When I think of summer, I think of trips to the beach, water, gun fights, and finding a local water park to splash around in.  And what do all of these things require?  A swimsuit.

 In anticipation of all the water fun, I thought it would be fun to have a series on sewing swimwear for our tweens.  So for the next couple weeks we will be hosting "Shells in our hand; Sand in our toes..."  Hopefully we will motivate some of you to sew up some swimsuits and if you do, please share with the group on our linky parties!


There are a lot of people out there sewing swim suits!  I thought it would be hard until my first one three years ago.  I then found out that swimsuits are way easier than they seem and really worth the effort.  So often when I sew I am not really saving much money.  You can buy cheap kids clothes easily.  I really sew to get the particular look my children/I want and for the personal satisfaction.  But sewing a swimsuit can be much cheaper than buying one.

Zaaberry has a great step-by-step tutorial on how to make a basic one piece suit.  This tutorial should take all the mystery, and fear out of making a suit.

Everyday Chaos

Here is another tutorial by Everyday Chaos talking about how she made this simple one-piece.

Sugar cubes and spice cake

Sugar Cubes and Spice Cake gives some great tips on how to sew binding on your swim suits.

Now that you see how to make the basics, what about modifying that classic one-piece?

Creative Chicks

 Creative Chicks has a virtual laundry list of tutorials on various modifications to your one-piece.

No Big Dill

No Big Dill tutorial

And have you seen the suits Katy has made at No Big Dill???  Really, her's are amazing.  I love staring at them to get inspiration for my daughter and she has a tutorial on how to make simple but very cute modifications to a basic tank one-piece suit.

 There are a couple of ways to finish the edges of a swimsuit.  One is to use a lining without binding.  Another is to bind the edges with a contrast or self-fabric.  This can create a nice finished and professional look.  And I learned through reading several blogs that some of you are using fold-over elastic as a binding on swimsuits.  I bought some recently for my project that you will see later on in the series and watched this video on YouTube:  How to sew fold over elastic.  It was incredibly helpful.  I like the look of it but am unsure how it would hold up under heavy exposure to chlorine.  But since my girl does not swim often, I am not worried.

Now that you have some inspiration:

Ready,    Set,   Go!