Pattern Companies FAIL!

Over the weekend I refashioned some old t-shirts into new shirts for the kids.  The sad sad news is that the only basic shirt patterns I can find for sale (for children or women) are sold only in Scandinavia and do not currently ship to the US.  I don't understand why there isn't at least one American (or least sold in the US) company that sells basic patterns.  Isn't that what most people would want?  We don't need trendy patterns that are go out of style (if they were ever in style) in a year.  All we really need are the basics!  I'm under the assumption that companies do this on purpose.  Because if we were able to buy the basic patterns, we wouldn't need to buy any other patterns, and they would make as much money selling us patterns that we don't really like but have to settle for anyway.  Well not me!  I won't settle!

I typically make my own patterns from already existing shirts.  Take that McCalls, Butterick, Simplicity, Vogue, ect..  (I'm sure no pattern company will ever see this blog post, but it feels good to rant any way!)

First up was a shirt for Mr. T refashioned from an XL womens shirt I thrifted a few months ago.

I think this is one of my favorite shirts so far.

Next up is a shirt for Miss K made from some of Daddio's T's that were too small.

I've seen several heart doily printed T's around on Pinterest so I wanted to try it too.  Miss K didn't seem to like red and grey top, so I printed the heart on the white.

Painting the doily with pink fabric paint.

Made a pretty cute worn looking print.

I hadn't planned on putting anything on the back of the shirt, but I forgot to stick something inside the shirt to keep it from bleeding through so I had to hide few pink spots.  Oops!

Braided Collar Nautical Dress

This week I needed a quick birthday gift idea for a little lady turning one this weekend, and of course I always feel like I have to make something.  So I started digging through my fabric and to be recycled clothes stash until I found a an blue and white striped shirt I had thrifted a few months ago.  I had bought it thinking I might wear it myself ( I have a thing for stripes), but it was unfortunately too short.  I always have that problem.  I often wonder if I may one of those rare people with an extra vertebra that makes my torso sooo much longer than everyone else.

Anyhoo, I decided I would try to do something with that top, and try to give it a nautical feel since the birthday girl and her parents are going on a cruise soon.  I had found a great fabric.  Now I needed a great design.   I ransacked my pattern stash and found nothing that fit the occasion, or the time I had to spend on this project.  So where did I turn for my inspiration?  Pinterest, of course!  I searched a few different ideas until I came across this dress tutorial by make it and love it.
 

 
 Cute, right?  The really great part is that I didn't even need a pattern.  I just cut the shape I wanted, added a few pockets and some little gold anchor buttons and voila!

A quick, easy, yet handmade birthday present!  Hope she loves it.  Miss K thought it was for her and wanted to keep it.  I guess I will have to hit up the thrift store again!

Fabric bought and pattern taped!

I bought what I could at the local JoAnns'.  I still have a few things I will have to order online!

I spent nap time taping this thing together!

what is more exciting than a new pair of shoes?

A new foot!  I bought a gathering foot for my sewing machine and tested it out today...  I LOVE it!  This is going to make all those lovely ruffled flower girl dresses much easier!  Now off to find something that needs ruffles!   I am pretty sure I heard Captain Morgan mention something about needing ruffles added to his underpants....

Sew Retro Class!

Well, the baby is almost 6 months old now, and while I am still not getting nearly as much sleep as I would like, I am dying to get back to sewing.  AND this sad little blog has sat empty for too long.  SO, yesterday I got an email from Burda style about a new online course called SewRetro: Perfect Bombshell Dresses.  It looks awesome, so I signed up!  I am stoked about this type of go at your own pace online class, since I have two wee ones that don't sleep!  My goal is to get this dress done in time for Christmas.  Hopefully, three and a half months is enough time!

Follow along and watch the progress!