thejennigirl

The music class shirt on little boys is cute, especially because the gathers allow for baby bellies. But the Sketchbook has served me well for many many iterations, and making it short-sleeved with the collar is that pic exactly. You can also do Peter pan collars on little boys as long as they are low enough on the chest to button all the way up.

@MaggieH absolutely nothing wrong with slow sewing. Far, far better to have one good dress than half dozen rushed, ‘okay’ versions.

I will keep a look out for it and I am very keen to see your lace version.

Perfect your skills and pattern and you WILL have something you can see up for that last minute invite.

Good luck

xx Nicole

I would have definitely put this on my boy.
For up to 2 years I would make it as it is. (2+2 blouse would be adorable too) after that age I would consider leaving off the tucks and trimming the excess from the side and front to match the yoke.
I would keep the width at the sides for a chubby boy or trim the side too for a slimmer child (drafting a…[Read more]

@MaggieH how did it go?

I dismissed this pattern as a bit of a dull sew UNTIL I sewed it.
Very red faced, it is just lovely.

Stay stitching is a support for sewing, once the sewing is done it has done its job.

Clipping the curves is important for a nice neat turn and curve.

On a very sheer fabric, where the clipping will show, I trim the seam very closely and it will curve nicely but you need to be a bit careful.

I hope that helps?

I found by getting a good fit in the bust and shoulders the dress ‘skimmed’ the rest of me. It sort of tucked under my bust and hinted at a waist.

Here I had just had my 6 baby and was quite lumpy https://www.flickr.com/photos/motherof5/14999667107/in/album-72157636708064826/

See how it has gentle shaping.…[Read more]

@enbee I had forgotten about the cup size, apologies. You shouldn’t have too then.

I wish I has time to start this and do it with you.

I guess what I would do is is muslin the 8 graded to the 12 ( as you suggested). Put in one sleeve and check the bicep, you made need to add some there, check arm movement and check length.
Sometimes I have to…[Read more]

Me, me!
Small shoulders, big boobs and a big tummah!

You need to make a muslin. A FBA will be your friend here. I did one here http://fiveandcounting-motherof5.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/mama-gets-her-groove-back.html I have no idea if it is the right way but it may help you get started.

Liesl’s FBA instructions are brilliant.

Let me know how you…[Read more]

I didn’t look at the sizing, but since Maggie’s been helpful and done so, then yes, just make the size 8 and add length.
I think your daughter and my son must be the same shape. He’s nine and I generally make a size 8, lengthened to 10-12 then throw on an extra 2 or 3″ sleeve length again!
Lengthening will be easy as the sleeves are quite straight…[Read more]

You know what I would do?
I’d use the Building Block Dress block to get the right chest, shoulder, armhole width… That goes up to size 12. Make a basic dress or two to be sure of the fit.
Then I’d take the elements of the Sunday Brunch: wide cross over front placket, short bodice with gathered skirt, Mandarin collar and wide sleeves and draft…[Read more]

One of the easiest ways to deal with a sheer fabric is to underline. That is; cut the main fabric and the lining fabric, baste them together around the very edge, then treat them as one for the rest of the construction.
Obviously you won’t get the clean inside finish of a true lining. But you also won’t see your seam allowances through the sheer…[Read more]

Is it the circles on the second picture not lining up that has you worried?
Don’t forget that it’s at the stitched seam line, not the fabric edge, where they should line up. Whenever I get those slight discrepancies I try pinning the seam line at the notch point, matching the notches, and then work out from there and it usually works as the curve…[Read more]

Absolutely! I haven’t shortened the Parachute pants but it would work fine. I often do this to the previous years trousers as my son grows in length much faster than width.
I’d do a 3/4″ single fold hem and use a twin needle. If you’re not keen on twin needle hemming then a zig zag or even a long straight stitch, as the hem won’t need to stretch…[Read more]

these are two attempts… from googling (Fit for Real People is not in at my local library) it looks like I need to fix the shoulder slope more than the width to get rid of those neck-to-underarm folds, and make the neckline/collar still bigger, right? There’s also a good inch that could be taken away under the arm in the striped one. A work in…[Read more]

Trust the instructions! The beauty of Oliver + S patterns is that sometimes it seems counterintuitive, but if you do as the instructions say the finish is always beautiful!
So, yes, the facing is stitched with the right side of the facing against the wrong side of the pyjama top. Just as in the illustration (below step 1 Attach The Facing).
Now…[Read more]

Before the BB Dress book came out I drafted a princess-seam long dress for dd’s First communion based on her beloved Fairytale dress. I used dupioni, with french seams, lined with cotton voile — it was comfortable and beautiful with just the right amount of swirl and spin, and held the (painstakingly, squintingly applied) beads nicely.

Does this blog post help?

metro t-shirt keyhole modification

If you omit the placket allowances and cut your back pattern piece on the fold, then you can create any shape of slit or keyhole opening you like at the centre back and facing as shown in that blog post.
Just be aware that you need to…[Read more]