The Clara Skirt

Named after the little girl who loves it! Because it is twirly and very girly. I am so glad she liked it!

For this skirt, I cut two circles (using Dana's circle skirt tutorial). I cut a big circle in the brown gingham, and a smaller circle with the flower fabric. I basted the two together at the top, then sewed the elastic waistband on.

I worried that that the skirt wasn't going to be long enough (I shouldn't have worried!), and added an extra band of white fabric. I hemmed the flower fabric and then hemmed the white band after Clara tried on the skirt.

 So the skirt is definitely on the longer side, but I have a feeling Clara will be able to wear it not only this coming school year, but the following year as well. 

And, you know, it just seems so elegant at this length, too. 

I'm glad it worked out. I rather like it all long and flow-y.

Twirl!

Whoa...getting dizzy. 

(Isn't she adorable? Would you believe she speaks three languages? Yeah, pretty incredible.)

And then, to finish, a little personalization for the tag. I used letter stamps I bought at Joann's, and stamped some extra white fabric, sealing the ink with a warm iron (the butterfly was a foam stamp that the kids have played with in the past. No idea where it came from.).

I thought Clara liked the Twirly Teacups skirt the best, but then it was this one that she ended up wearing for the rest of the morning during her playdate with my son. 

Thanks again to Clara and her mom for a fun morning!

Twirly Teacups Skirt

 A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me to make some skirts for her 5 1/2 year old daughter (who is also a friend of my son's). I was so excited to complete four skirts and to have little Miss Clara try them on! It was so different sewing for a "big girl" as I'm used to using half as much fabric for my two-year-old. I had a lot of fun picking out fabrics I thought Clara and her mom would like. This is the first skirt, and turned out to be everyone's favorite.

 I used Dana's circle skirt pattern guidelines as well as Cherie's tutorial for doing a reversible circle skirt. The Twirly Teacups Skirt is indeed reversible, though I have a feeling Clara strongly prefers the teacups showing.

I added the turquoise and yellow bands on the bottoms of the two layers for added interest and used some orange thread to hem the turquoise band (hard to see in the photos, I know). I really like the color combinations in this skirt!

Five-year-olds like Clara definitely have the twirling thing down. I've seen so many other blogs with some darling twirl pictures, but figured my baby girl was too little for that, and wondered at what age she'd start.

 Well...

...after seeing how it's done, my daughter wanted to give it a try!

Hehe, isn't she cute?

Thanks to my super sweet models for this post. I hope to showcase more of Clara and her skirts in the coming weeks!

Two Layers Circle Skirt

Oh? Is that picture way too dark? Is it because I finished at around 11pm and couldn't control myself with the camera? Because I was just so darn pleased by the skirt's cuteness? Why, yes. Yes, yes, yes!

The next day, I couldn't wait to try it on my little girl. So with Popsicle in hand, we headed out to the patio to water some plants.

Water, water, water.

Then stop to smell the...peppers? Oh, yes!
For this late-night sewing session, I also got up the nerve to try out my new serger. Finally! I serged the bottoms of both layers instead of hemming. I felt SO accomplished after getting the thing to work (it seriously sat untouched in my sewing corner for two weeks. I thought it looked scary.).

Oh, and I put a label on the inside. Now we can be sure of the front and the back of the skirt (= quicker dressing). Pretty neat, huh?

Fun skirt for summer. Fun skirt to water plants in. Just fun!

 And for those interested in the nitty-gritty, I consulted Made's circle skirt tutorial for the structure of the skirt, You & Mie for how to do the casing, and Made again for the double-layer inspiration. And one more thing - I got both fabrics at a yard sale for 50-cents each! Whoo-hoo! And it was at least a yard of each. Total score.

Well, doing this skirt has given me some more confidence in sewing (as it's an on-going process for me) and I'm looking forward to making another little skirt very soon!

Reversible Circle Skirt ~ Clouds and Dora

Finally posting the adorable skirt I made a few weeks ago following this awesome tutorial from You & Mie.

I chose to put Dora on one side (I knew she'd love it) and the clouds and gray skies on the other (Kona cotton). I added yellow binding to brighten up both sides.

The reversible circle skirt was easy and fun to do and I love how this skirt swings as my daughter walks!

It's a little long on her right now, but that only means she'll be able to wear it longer. ;)

And some views of the the other gray side with the cloud applique...

Really pleased with this skirt! I can definitely see myself doing another one at some point.

Linking up here:

Easter Outfit ~ Happy Day!

 This morning was a lot of fun. What with waking up to the Easter baskets, eating raspberry pancakes, hunting for eggs. And, oh yeah, dressing up my daughter in her new outfit!! hehe I truly enjoyed this part. I was thrilled to see that The Audrey Cape and Circle Skirt fit. (whew!)

 Photo credit Sara C.

 

 Heading out.

I had visions of her twirling around in the grass WITHOUT her winter coat, but, unfortunately,

 it was freezing out this morning. Never mind the icy cold wind on top of the low 40s temperature.

 But overall, a fun morning. The kids didn't mind about the weather. They just wanted candy!!

Glad the little girl's outfit was made of wool! :)

I'm also entering this outfit into Project Run and Play's Week 1 sewing contest where you had to remix Dana's Circle Skirt. Since this outfit essentially has two circle skirts in it (the cape is a skirt after all), I thought it might have a shot. Wish me luck!

Also linking up with these parties: 
Mommy By Day...Crafter By Night
Sugar Bee Crafts
Funky Polka Dot Giraffe

The Audrey Cape Outfit

I am practically giddy with my latest sewing projects. I am soooo happy with how The Audrey Cape turned out!

 I followed the tutorial found at Simple Simon and Co. for this rather easy project. But what I love about it is that it looks more complicated than it was. (Or at least, I think it does.) I found this purplish-pink wool at Joann's (50% off this week!) and the silky liner (clearance shelf!) and put the the two together to make this cape. I made the button too.

 It has such a vintage look to it, hence the name. I don't imagine my mom would enjoy being called vintage, but this is something that I imagine she might've worn when she was a little school girl. It just has that look to it.

Here's a look inside at the lining.

 And since the cape is made just like a circle skirt, I decided to make one of those too out of my remaining wool. I followed Dana's circle skirt tutorial at MADE.

 Since it's been cooler around here for the last week or so, I figured this outfit, paired with some thick white tights and mary jane stride rites would look great for Easter mass. And egg hunting.

I cannot WAIT to put my little girl in these tomorrow morning!!!

Linking up here:

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