Sewing for Birch Organic Fabrics

Wow, this last week was probably one of the busiest I have had in a long time with all sorts of things going on..........whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. One of the projects on my to-do list was to finish some garments I designed for the Birch Organic Fabrics booth for International Quilt Market (which takes place in Houston at the end of the month).

Cynthia, the owner of Birch, sent me four different prints to work with and I honestly had no idea which fabrics she would be sending. It made it kind of fun......I'm so used to picking my own fabrics for specific designs, but this time it was the other way around.

I love working with the Birch Fabrics, they are absolutely lovely. Here are some of the pieces I created for them......

Isn't this fabric the cutest? I couldn't get enough of this one when it arrived in the mail. I have a few scrap pieces left of this print and I definitely think it will be added onto some of Mr. Caspian's clothing. This line called 'Camp Sur' and has a bunch of really great prints!

The shorts romper in the picture is my Run Around Romper pattern for boys and girls. 

This is my Janey Jumper pattern with a ruffle down the front. I have had this vintage trim in my stash for a long time and I was so excited when I saw how perfectly it went with this fabric. In case you can't tell from the pictures, the blue fabric has little fish on it.....too cute!

I wanted to use the camper fabric on a girls dress because I think the logical choice would be for a boy, but I actually love the way this works for a girl. It's kind of a boutique, boho vibe (or at least that's what I was going for).

And then again, I decided to use this otherwise 'boy' fabric for a girl twirl dress. This is my Charlotte Apron Dress pattern without the apron. The skirt was shortened and I added a ruffle around the bottom. The light blue and cream fabric looks like tree bark......it's really neat. I also embellished the bodice with some vintage crochet trim, lace and buttons. This fabric line is called 'Camp Modern'.

I can't wait to visit the Birch Fabrics booth at Quilt Market in Houston, TX. It will never get old seeing my pieces on display. It is such a honor to work with some of these great fabric manufacturers and I still can't believe they ask 'little ole me' to create pieces for them.

By the way........is anyone else planning on attending International Quilt Market at the end of the month? 

It is a trade show and not open to the general public, but if you plan to be there, let me know. And if you see a mom (Grandma Jane) and daughter (me) duo walking around the convention center with their 'The Cottage Mama' bags, stop us and say hello......we would love to meet you!

Seersucker Double Layer Twirl Skirt Tutorial

This was a guest post that I did some time ago over at Simple Simon for the "Skirting the Issue" series. Consider using this tutorial and making these skirts out of corduroy for fall or use your favorite designer quilting cotton in fun prints for a more bold statement. No matter what fabric you choose, your own little lady or the little foster care girl you are sewing for will LOVE to twirl in these skirts. 

My name is Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama and I'm so excited to be here as part of the 'Skirting the Issue' series.  What an amazing cause and I'm thrilled to be able to provide some handmade skirts for some very special little ladies.  I make clothing for my children all the time and the idea of a child never having something special made just for them, breaks my heart.  Every little one deserves to feel special, pretty, girly and loved and it is the least I can do to provide some skirts to hopefully bring those feelings into some little girls hearts.

In thinking about what kind of skirt I wanted to make, I was considering several things.  I definitely wanted these skirts to wash well........meaning no need to press.  I wanted them to be light and summery with a bit of twirl factor, so I decided on making some Seersucker Double Layer Twirl Skirts.  Want to make some yourself?  Here's the how-to........

Seersucker Double Layer Twirl Skirt

SIZE 12 MONTH - 10 YEARS
by Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama for Skirting the Issue

Materials:

Two coordinating fabrics (I chose seersucker)

1/2" or 3/4" elastic for waistband

Trim (optional)

Basic Sewing Supplies

I am providing you with all the measurements you need in order to make a double layer twirl skirt.  These measurements are assuming you are NOT using a serged hem, they are for a regular, traditional 1" hem.  If you would like to do a rolled hem with your serger (as I did), then please subtract 1" from the length of each measurement.

Double Layer Twirl Skirt Cutting Instructions:

**All skirt measurements are meant to be cut on the fold**

12 Month 
Top Layer – 10” x 18” 
Bottom Layer - 12” x 18”
Elastic – 18” 

18 Month 
Top Layer - 10.5” x 19” 
Bottom Layer – 12.5” x 19” 
Elastic – 18” 

Size 2T 
Top Layer – 11.5” x 20” 
Bottom Layer – 13.5” x 20” 
Elastic – 19” 

Size 3T 
Top Layer – 12.5” x 20” 
Bottom Layer – 14.5” x 20” 
Elastic – 19” 

Size 4T 
Top Layer – 13.5” x 21” 
Bottom Layer – 15.5” x 21” 
Elastic – 20” 

Size 5 
Top Layer – 14.5” x 21” 
Bottom Layer – 16.5” x 21” 
Elastic – 21” 

Size 6 
Top Layer – 15.5” x 21” 
Bottom Layer – 17.5” x 21” 
Elastic – 21” 

Size 7/8 
Top Layer – 16.5” x 22” 
Bottom Layer – 18.5” x 22” 
Elastic – 22” 

Size 9/10 
Top Layer – 17.5” x 22” 
Bottom Layer – 19.5” x 22” 
Elastic – 23”

Instructions:

Cut your two layers (following cutting dimensions above).

Sew each of the layers together at the side seam (wrong sides together), meaning sew together on the short sides.  This will form each skirt layer.  Hem the bottom of each layer by folding the bottom raw edge up towards the wrong side of the fabric a 1/2" and then another 1/2" and sew in place.

Place the longer skirt inside the shorter skirt and baste stitch or serge the top of the skirts together.  You can skip this step but it makes then next step easier.

Fold over the top of the skirt 1" towards the wrong side of the fabric.  Sew in place, leaving a 2" opening.

Cut your elastic.  If you don't have a bodkin, I highly recommend one.......they make threading elastic so much easier.  But if you don't have one, just attach a safety pin to the end and that will work just fine.

Thread the elastic through the top of the waistband.

Overlap the elastic by 1" and sew in place with a zig-zag stitch to secure.

Close the opening in the top of the skirt.

I chose to do a rolled hem using my serger because I like the way it looks on seersucker.  I know most home sewers do not have a serger, so the instructions above are for a NON-serged hem.  If you would like to do a serged hem, then reduce the length in the cutting instructions by 1" for each layer.

Add any trim you would like around the bottom edge of the skirt.  I used some of my favorites and this bumble bee one always makes me happy.

Make sure each one of your skirts is clearly labeled with the size.  You don't need to use woven labels like I have here, but just a note attached to the skirt will do just fine.

I also hand sewed a little bow at the tops of some of the skirts for an added special touch.

Here are some of my skirts ready to be sent off to some very special little girls.  I had such a fun time sewing these this past weekend.  The whole time I was just imagining these little girls receiving one of these skirts and knowing that someone had care enough about them to take the time to make them something.  I cannot even imagine being a foster care child, but I hope that this little gesture will at least brighten their day to know that someone out there is thinking of them, praying for them and wishing they could send each one of them a big giant hug.

Sometimes it's important to take time out of our busy lives and do something for others.  This project was a true blessing for me and I thank you for causing me to take a little time to stop and smell the roses.

I encourage you to whip up several of these twirl skirts.  I promise they don't take much time at all and not only will it bring joy into the lives of some little girls, it will bring joy into your heart as well!

Here are some examples of these skirts made from designer quilting cotton:

Have a great week!

Classic Vintage May Dress

Here is a guest post that never got posted here on The Cottage Home that I did back in May over on Jess's blog, Craftiness is not Optional,  for the Vintage May Series........

I'm so excited to be here kicking off the 'Vintage May' series!  Jess and I have a lot in common when it comes to our love of vintage styles for little girls.  My collection of vintage children's patterns is constantly growing.  I am always on the hunt at flea markets, antique stores and thrift stores for new patterns to add to my collection.  I don't think you can ever have too many!  I just love holding and touching the patterns imagining the women of the 30's, 40's and 50's sewing these sweet garments for their little ones. I often wonder if I was born during the right era.  I feel like I would have fit in just right during the 1940's.  But I digress.....

One of the things that really attracts me to vintage children's fashions is the fact that during the 30's, 40's and 50's women really dressed their little girls like little girls.  I kind of feel the same way with my little ladies, there is plenty of time for them to dress like adults, but I want to preserve their girlhood for as long as I possibly can.  And vintage inspired children's fashion is a great place to start!

Today I'm sharing a little dress I created that I like to call 'Classic Vintage May'.  When I think of a classic vintage girls dress, this is what comes to mind.........

My interpretation of a classic vintage-inspired girls dress is an a-line dress with puff sleeves, a peter pan collar, an inverted front pleat with fabric covered buttons up the back.

For a little vintage detail I used a fabric yo-yo that was reclaimed from an old vintage yo-yo quilt and placed a vintage button in the center.  I always think it's really fun to mix a little new with the old, so this was my little piece of 'old' that I paired with this more bold fabric choice.

To me, one of the special things about vintage fashion is the attention to details.  Women in generations past took lots of time and care in the details of their children's clothing.  One of my favorite vintage details is piping and I truly believe it can take an ordinary garment to extraordinary.

I added a classic puff sleeve to the a-line style dress, but inserted some deep plum piping into the seam between the sleeve and the binding.

I echoed the same plum colored piping from the sleeves and inserted into the peter pan collar.  Is there anything sweeter on a little girl than a peter pan collar?  I don't think so and adding piping is an easy detail that can add a lot of wow factor to your vintage inspired children's fashion.

And finally, let's talk a little bit about fabric.  A great way to update a vintage look is to use more modern patterned fabric.  I've certainly see some absolutely adorable reproduction vintage fabrics on the market, but my style is a little more bold.  I chose this larger print for the main dress and a slightly smaller scale accent fabric for the sleeve binding and collar.  The only real vintage fabric I included was the fabric yo-yo in the center of dress.

Some people shy away from using large prints in children's garments, but I think you can make it work if you use these fabrics strategically.  Also the modern fabric that I chose had vintage influences in its design as well, so I think it pairs well with this style dress.  Using modern fabrics helps bring the classic silhouette into modern day.  Fabric is from Tula Pink's 'Parisville' line.

So I leave you with some pictures of this sweet 'Classic Vintage May' dress that were taken out by the well in front of our house.  The well no longer works, but back when our cottage home was built in 1934 it was visited and used daily. I can just see a little girl wearing this style dress running around our front yard playing while her mommy and daddy gathered water from the well.  Those were simpler times, but it sure is fun to bring a little of that vintage back!

Embellished Onesie Baby Girl Dress

Our good friends, Lara and Eddie, (Savannah's Godparents) just had their second baby a little while back.  They have a little boy named Luca who is three and decided to wait to find out the gender of the new baby until the birth.  Since I am such a planner, we found out what we were having with each of our three children, but I give a lot of credit to those who can wait for the surprise at the very end! When I found out they had a baby girl, Francesca Marie, I knew I had to whip up something for the new little lady.

For some reason when my friends have new babies, it makes me want to try to sew something new. Most of them know the kinds of dresses that I like to sew for The Cottage Mama, but it's always fun to sew something different and more unexpected. For Miss Francesca, I made a little dress out of a pink organic cotton onesie. It is size 3-6 month and I thought it would be really cute layered with tights and a sweet cardigan for the cooler weather.

I've been really into using the rolled hem on my new serger (yes, I've got new machines and I can't wait  to tell you about them). I cut a couple strips of fabric and finished the sides with a rolled edge. Then I gathered them and sewed them to the onesie. I added a strip of pre-gathered, cream colored eyelet trim as well. And finished the dress by hand sewing three little pink buttons on top.

The skirt on the onesie is also finished with a rolled hem. I absolutely love the line 'Woodland Trails' from Riley Blake Designs. It's just the perfect shades of pastel for a sweet baby girl.

Another 'Out to Sea' Dress and a Little Sailor

We spent this past weekend up in Lake Geneva, WI celebrating Caspian's 1st birthday and my father-in-law's 60th birthday.  Knowing that we were going to be up to the lake, I couldn't resist making another dress from Sarah Jane Studio's new 'Out to Sea' fabric line.  It just had to be done!

Here are the girls wearing the two dresses that I made for them.  I shared Matilda's dress in a previous post (which is made from my Charlotte Apron Dress Pattern), but I made a different style dress for Miss Savannah.

This dress is a basic peasant style dress with a flutter sleeve and a double layer ruffle down the front.  If you've never sewn a peasant dress, you should definitely give it a try.  It's probably one of the easiest garments to sew because the fit is very forgiving and it will take you no time at all to whip up.  Definitely great for a beginner!

I decided I wanted to add in some seersucker with the 'Out to Sea' line because nothing says nautical summer more than seersucker.  I had this pink and white stripe in my stash and used it as an accent for the ruffle and sleeve.

I did a double layer flutter sleeve with the pink anchor fabric on top and the pink and white seersucker underneath.  I did a rolled edge on my serger to keep the sleeves as light and 'fluttery' as possible.

I'm really happy with the way this dress turned out and Savannah seems to like it too!  I adore the rich navy blue and pretty pink. Such a classic, timeless combination.

How grown up is she looking?  Four going on sixteen........gosh, I sure love that sweetheart.

So with all these nautical dresses, I couldn't help but let Caspian join in the fun with a cute little sailor suit.

Here is my husband, Brett, and Caspian Finn.  I think Caspian looks so much like his daddy!

Caspian's sisters sure love him.....poor guy.  You can just see the look on his face, 'please stop smothering me!'

Here is Daddy and his boy.

I did sell some kits to make the dress that Matilda is wearing that I listed in my Etsy shop. It included all the fabric, trims, buttons as well as the printed sewing pattern to create the exact same dress in up to size 8.  I shared the kits over on the Facebook page first and they sold out very quickly.  I don't plan to offer anymore of this exact same kit, but if you are interested in future dress kits, please join us over on The Cottage Mama Fan Page on Facebook.

Have a great day!