Back to School Blog Tour

Welcome to Day 4 of the Lulu & Celeste & Sprouting Jube Jube Productions Back to School Blog Tour!

When I signed up for this tour a few months ago, I thought I had *all the time in the world*! I worked out the four patterns I was going to make, printed them all out, took them to the beach and taped them together. I had planned to trace them there too, but let’s just say, the beach got in the way, haha!

A week after getting back from the beach, my parents arrived from Australia and I thought, “Perfect! Babysitters! For a month! All the sewing time in the world!” Hahahahahahaha! Between tons of out of town travel (Hershey Park (PA), Monticello/Charlottesville (VA), Maryland Renaissance Festival), playing board games after the kids went to bed (we got my parents into Splendor*), and the general busyness of back to school season, sewing really took a back-seat.

The night after my parents left (Friday), I set to work tracing out my patterns and getting all the fabric cut out. And of course the weekend was a blur of activities (swimming lessons, a farewell party, and a company trip to Kings Dominion theme park), so projects were again on hiatus until Monday!!!

So, I busily sewed as much as I could on Monday, and thought I would get most of it finished by Tuesday night. And then a stomach bug hit me!! Then, 5:30am on Wednesday, a small voice appeared next to my bed to tell me she was feeling sick too. And so Wednesday resulted in cancelled activities, tv binge watching, and me desperately trying to finish off my outfits before golden hour hit (all between running back and forth from the bathroom of course!)!

But I made it! Well, almost. Three of the four items got finished. Maybe next week I’ll get the last piece done, but for now, these three will do!

(And hopefully I’ll be able to update later in the day with modeled photos… Understandably, my model wasn’t feeling up to her photoshoot last night!) (10/5) Finally updated with modeled photos!

Mouse House Creations Clover Shorts

This is my second time making the Mouse House Creations Clover Shorts. They are one of those things I always look at and wonder why I haven’t made more! The style is so cute – with pockets, pleats, cuffs, belt loops, and a belt to boot! I actually made two belts – another one in orange – that I will show you some other time ;-). For these Clover Shorts* I used a lightweight denim and quilting cotton from JoAnn.

This one is a little dark, but here you can see the back tab on these shorts. There’s also an option to add two more tabs – one at each side.

I had hoped to make them a little longer, and this was easy to do at the back, but not so easy to work out for the front because of the pleats. In the end I decided to just keep them as is and work out how to adjust the length later when I actually have time!

Mouse House Creations Lillian Pintucked Dress & Top

I picked up the Mouse House Creations Lillian Pintucked Dress & Top* pattern a few years ago after eying it for quite some time! Of course it has taken until now for me to actually get it made!

For my version, I made the unlined top. The instructions call for seams to be finished with a serger, but I thought it would look a lot nicer with a French Seam instead. To do that, I widened the seam allowances to 5/8″ before cutting out my fabric. I used French Seams in all seams except for the armscye.

I wasn’t a fan of the facing at the back of this top (at the closure slit). I’m pondering other options for a future version – possibly by doing a complete facing across the entire back bodice (note, there is an option for a full lining). There are also no notches for the sleeves, which made setting them a little challenging.

For the fabric, I used Art Gallery quilting cotton in “Soaring Free Clear”. My next one will be out of voile, which hopefully won’t crease so easily!

Petitboo Magnolia Skirt

I won the Petitboo Magnolia Skirt* (formerly E+M Patterns Skirt No. 5) a few years ago but again, never got around to sewing it up. Which is madness, because it is so easy to make!!

The skirt is literally two rectangles sewn together and then cleverly folded with a waistband and underskirt attached.

For the underskirt, I thought it would be fun to team it with a scrap of lace I had laying around. I love the results! The fabric is a mid weight denim from JoAnn. (Love that remnant bin!).

And last but not least: the photobomber had to make an appearance! (As soon as I set up my camera equipment, she made a beeline for it!)

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to check out all the amazing makes from everyone else on the tour below!

Monday, September 25, 2017

Host: Sprouting JubeJube

Sewing by Ti * mahlicadesigns * Momma You Can Make It * Kutti Couture * MoonStar – Wondermirakel * Call Ajaire

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Host: Lulu & Celeste

Sew and Tell Project * From-a-Box * MeMade * House of Estrela * Sprouting Jube Jube * My Heart Will Sew On * Tales From A Southern Mom

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Host: Sprouting JubeJube

mahlicadesigns * Gracious Threads * Adventures With Bubba and Bug * Elli & Nels * Bellevi * Little Heart Threads * Sewing By Ti * Lulu & Celeste

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Host: Lulu & Celeste

Paisley Roots * The Crafting Fiend * Sewstarly * It’s Liesel * Tales of a Tester * Kaleidothought * auschick sews

Friday, September 29, 2017

Host: Sprouting JubeJube

SewSophieLynn * Sew Haute Blog * mahlicadesigns * Sew and Tell Project * RP Custom Fabrics Blog * FABulous Home Sewn * Sewing By Ti * Phat Quarters

 

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