Mama & Me Tops

Score! I made this top and I LOVE it! Thank you to iCandy for the tutorial for the Every Day Tee. The tutorial is fabulous and the top so easy to make. Plus it's now going into my regular rotation because it feels so good on.

 Perhaps the material helped a wee bit too. I picked up this super soft, stretchy April Johnson fabric at Joann's over the summer. I didn't realize that Joann's carried "designer" knit fabrics! So I bought some with a 40% off coupon and then an additional 20% off stacked on top of that and I think 2 yards of this ended up being $7. Hurrah for no shipping costs and good fabric.

So, being so happy with my new top, I decided to reduce the pattern and make a top for my daughter too.

And then wear them on the same day. She was actually THRILLED to have the same top as her mom. I'm sure you can tell from the pictures.

 

 Seriously. Elated. I'm sure you don't believe me. I wouldn't either. Not with this picture of my daughter defying my friend to get any closer with that camera. Right.

Anyway. I -- I -- am thrilled because I loved this tutorial, love my new top, and love being twinners with my daughter. (Never thought I'd say that, but I guess I am one of those moms now. Yay!)

(Yes...matching labels too. I am super corny.)

Polka Dot Play Shorts...and Top

 Stretchy, colorful, comfy shorts! Perfect for play.

This is a self-drafted shorts pattern. I just used a pair of my daughter's pants as a guide, shortening to the desired length. I added the pink trim just to be fancy. ;) For the roll-top waist, I referred to Modkid's Yoga Shorts to guide me on the non-elastic waistband. I love the look.

 The shorts came second, actually. I made this top, modeled in part after The Audrey Cape (I made two capes of my own), but with a few alterations and adjustments.

 The Cape is cut like a circle skirt. My top is cut more like an oval, with the longer parts in the front and back. I sewed about 3" from the bottom around 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock (if you imagine the top looks like a clock)to make sleeves. I also used elastic thread for the neck line and pleated it a little too before sewing on a ribbon bow. To finish off the top, I hemmed the bottom (do this part before sewing the sleeves) and added a tag.

And voila! A hip and breezy top to dress up or down for summer.

Together, the shorts and top might be a little too much polka dotting? So I'm hoping to mix up these pieces with some solids. I think my eyes are starting to cross.

Reach, reach!

 

But I love the look of these knee-length stretchy shorts. My daughter is always running and has had so many scraped knees. My hope is that these shorts will protect her baby skin a little bit better as she hops and skips and plays.

Nice baby lounge-wear too, I think.

I'm adding these shorts to the Shorts on the Line Flickr pool hosted by Designs by Sessa. Check out the other pretty pieces!

Wind and Waves Top

There are some tops I wear all. The. Time. People must get sick of seeing me in them. Again. (Right, hubby?) So a few weeks ago, I bought some new fabric to *replicate* one of my favorite 

go-to shirts.

Same sorta styling, but new colors. I'm liking it! (Hubs, are you?)

Rae's Spring Top Sewalong, which opened this week, kicked me into high gear and I got the top done over the weekend to enter into the contest. Yeah!

 The fabric is a lightweight knit with a lacy look that is most noticeable on the white stripes. These pics don't do it justice, but it's really a pretty fabric close-up.

My favorite details on this top are the sleeves (notice the ends which have the stripes going the other direction? That extra part makes the sleeves a little more fitted too.) and the ruched sides. I think the ruching helps dress up the top. Both are details I copied from the shirt I already own.

Above is a shot of the back. I like how the top tapers at the hips.

Ok, I think that's probably more than enough pictures! It was freeeeeezing out when I got these taken and the breeze made it even chillier. I was like, Hurryuphurryuphurryupbutmakeitgoodhurryup!

Gotta love those sewing photo shoots, huh?

Glad to be done and to have something I made that's actually wearable. I made a hoodie a few weeks ago and it definitely gave me confidence to make another top for myself. :)