Pattern: Ottobre 1/2013 #31 Passenger Trench Fabric: tight weave cotton; lining light green dot cotton Notions: gray buttons Total Cost: ~$18.00 Size: 128cm Child's Age: 8 [Tights: White pin dot Old Navy; Shoes: Mud boots Walmart; Raaf en Vos] --------------------------------------------------------- It's taken me a while to post this one. Spring has gotten in the way. Weeding, biking, mostly weeding. But I'm so glad I got it done in time for the season. I've been wanting to make Monkey Pants a trench coat for several years now.  I bought my first issue of Burda just for the child's trench coat. I painstakingly traced the pattern, bought the fabric and never made it. She had a trench from the Gap I loved so much, she wore it for about four years which is like wearing something for half your life when you're child. When I saw this in the Ottobre issue, I was determined to make it before she got to old for the cuteness of it. I had a heck of...

Blendtec is having a Smothie Stash Contest on their facebook page.  Vote for our photo or enter your own for a chance to win a Blendtec blender. I've been making smoothies for the kids for about a year and recently ventured into hummus. I even made my own tahini yesterday (for the hummus). Ironically, I didn't even know what tahini was before yesterday. I also made sun butter for my nut-allergy guy. It's a great way to ease your way into a healthier eating lifestyle.

Pattern:   Ottobre 6/2012   #33 Peilisali Dress Fabric: 1 1/2 yds camera fabric Hobby Lobby; pin dot fabric Hobby Lobby Notions: aqua piping, invisible zipper Total Cost: ~$14.00 Size: 128cm Child's Age: 8   [Tights: White pin dot Old Navy; Shoes: Raaf en Vos ; Cardigan: Target] ---------------------------------------------------------   When I spotted this camera fabric at Hobby Lobby, I couldn't help myself, I had to make something with it.  Why not a dress. I picked out the white with black pin dot fabric for the yoke for a bit of contrast and also decided to add the aqua piping in between the yoke and bodice for a bit of color interest and playfulness to the black and white. I think it's a fun dress, perfectly complemented by these shoes I was finally able to snag up from Raaf en Vos for the small price of an arm and a leg. I made the size 128 cm which is probably still a bit big on Monkey Pants' slender frame but that's OK...

S ewing W ith A P lan for Kids Clothes Week . These are from various issues of Ottobre magazine.

Pattern: Ottobre 3/2012 #28 Hawaiian Flowers Dress Fabric: 1 yard Heather Bailey, Nicey Jane, Lindey Leaf - Pink Notions: elastic thread Total Cost: ~$4.50 Size: 128cm Child's Age: 8 [Cardigan: Target; Salt Water yellow sandals] --------------------------------------------------------- I wanted to make the Trumpet Flowers Dress from the 3/2012 issue since I got it. I even got a hold of the fabric from the magazine but my daughter was too scrawny last year to fit into the smallest size. I meant to make it for Easter but I ran out of time, and I didn't want to be making it in a rush since I've been considering it a special project. So, instead, I picked the Hawaiian Flowers Dress #28 from the same issue and used a fabric from my stash. I was very pleased with it. I think she's finally at the point where size 128cm fits her! It worked out great for a casual Easter spent mostly playing out in the back yard.     from Ottobre This shows a better vi...

Baby Lock is giving away a serger this month!

Pattern:  Jalie #2802 Men's Skating Bodyshirt ; Jalie #2803 Men's Figure Skating Pants Fabric:  7/8 yd tan polyester; 1 yd tan faux linen (JoAnn Fabrics) Notions: black grosgrain ribbon; gold colored buttons, elastic Total Price: $15.50 Size: Jalie kids size G (I did not make the hat) Tie was made from a McCall's pattern ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I decided to make this dance costume for my little boy two days before his team competition.  They have been learning this dance for months, but somehow, I only then realized that he was the bugle boy???  I don't know how my brain works sometimes. I have only recently found Jalie patterns. They seem to be the only pattern company that focuses on sportswear.  I have made a girl's leotard and boy's, so this was my third project.  I bought all these patterns at the same time directly from their website with the buy 3 get the 4th ...