Sewing Jag

As I've posted before, since I found out that there will be a 3rd little Tater Tot in the brood, I've been sewing for 2 girls instead of 1. We do not know what the baby is, but I want to be ready in case Bonus turns out to be a she.  I don't really have a preference, I just don't want to waste a day of dressing 2 girls alike if I can help it. I've posted one set of dresses that I made and another set for the boys. I haven't had a chance to post the girls dresses that go with the boy set. 

Here's the girl version of the sailor set.

I have a few more sets left to do, but here are several that I've been able to finish.

Feed sack bloomers. I appliqued rose hips using the fabric onto the shirts

vintage sheets and lace

Betsey Johnson fabric found in NYC on sale

I had  matching vintage buttons for both dresses. Don't you love the detail in them?

Didn't want you thinking I only sewing for girls. Here are some sleepers I did for a Boy Bonus.

My goal is to not go over $5/yard unless I just looooove the fabric. So far, I've done fairly well. I got a whole stack of feed sacks for about $3 each. The sheets...who knows? Maybe a dollar or 2 for the full size sheet. I have so many, I'll be making their prom dresses with them.  I have a few more sets to go before my self imposed deadline of the New York trip.  I'm worried I'll find a lot more fabric and not be able to start anything new because of a backlog.

I've also taken the plunge and started sewing for myself a little bit more. I made a couple of maxi skirts for me and one for Meg with some really cute blue chevron print knit and some polka dot print knit. I have to say, sewing for a pregnant Meg was easier than I thought. More on that later. Taking a look at several patterns on Pinterest, I kinda combined a few techniques and came up with something that had as little math as possible and with the least amount of sewing. My technique was super simple. I measured from my waist to where I wanted the bottom of the skirt to hit. I then measure my waist and divided it by 2. Some patterns say add an inch to that, but that didn't work for me the first time so I just left it at 1/2 my waist. I marked the waist measurement on the fabric, in the center and then just drew a line down from the each side of the waist, drawing a line at an angle to the edge of the fabric. I then cut out a waistband the measurement of my waist and 10 inches wide. Sewed that thing together, added it to the skirt part (after sewing together the sides), and I had a maxi skirt! When you sew on the waistband, you sew it so the seam is on the RIGHT side, opposite of what you would normally do. It's covered when you fold the band down. I made 3, 2 for me and a maternity one for Meg. Unintentionally. Which made me sad that a skirt I made for myself fits a person who is 9 months pregnant. 

This fitting setback was caused by the fact that ALL the patterns said to measure your waist and add an inch. The width of your hips and your, uh, bottom, keep the skirt up. UNLESS you are built like me and have no bottom at all. Add to that a little (or a lot) of a midlife tummy and your skirt, like mine, will fall off your body. You will then have to alter and alter and alter it (and curse the pattern makers, those skinny, young things) until you finally figure out that your waist is bigger than your hips. With that slap in the face from reality, you will recut a waistband smaller than it needs to be (and maybe a little tighter) so that when you put your grand children on you hip, you skirt will not slide down your body, unnoticed by you but noticed by everyone else. You are welcome.