The Oliver + S Lunch Box Tee and Culottes was a bit hit and miss for my daughter.
She LOVED the t-shirt and wanted to wear it every day after I'd made it, but it is indecently short. It's really cute with it's cropped, boxy shape but when you're 4 and you're constantly putting your arms above your head and twirling, and then you tug the front of your skirt/pants down below your belly it's not such a good look!
The fabric was a remnant from The Fabric Store, and there's plenty left over to put a band around the bottom and save this from looking like a t-shirt from two summers ago.
The T-shirt is the View B in a straight size 4. I've since made the long sleeved View A with the pockets and the body length is better but the sleeves are a bit too short. Note to self, add length everywhere!
I edited out all of the many photos with her arms up and belly out, but the posing did get pretty silly...
The culottes are, I think, seriously cute, but this photo-shoot is the only time they've been worn. They're hanging in the wardrobe, ready for an outing anytime she gives them the nod... They're also a straight size 4 and the fabric is a stretch velveteen - at least I think that's what you call it. I picked it up ages ago from the Fabric Store and previously made some Field Trip cargo pants from it. Those size 2 pants and these culottes both came from 1.5m of fabric. Curiously, those pants were largely rejected too. I should have seen it coming for the culottes then, right?!
I'm holding out hope for these culottes. She might come around. I'll document the long sleeve tee soon and then at least I'll remember how much more length to add to the next one.
Meanwhile, I've been playing around a bit more with the pattern and been very happy with those results! - to be revealed later this month, and I don't mean revealed in the sense of an eyeful of belly button cause your t-shirts too short!
Very cute, I do hope A gives the culottes a go. It's all in the marketing - you just need to put the right spin on it (although what that would be, I have no idea) As for the too-short t-shirt, at least kids can get away with that. I like my own tops long, long, long!
ReplyDeleteI don't seem to be able to find the right spin either. I thought the Elsa-ness of the blue might work, the skirt-ness of the pants, but no... It's probably missing a dinosaur motif or something "obvious"!
DeleteLove the culottes, so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up on the length of the tee. My children are short but long bodied.
xx N
Thanks Nicole. I think mine have normal-ish torso lengths - although my husband has an incredibly long torso. But P certainly inherited my brothers monkey length arms!
DeleteLove the culottes on kids! Hope she will give them a nod of approval soon! My daughter decided she would not wear pants last spring and would only wear dresses, so a couple of pairs of shorts and tops hung in her wardrobe practically untouched... You can't win them all :) I think the band at the bottom of the tee will do the trick!
ReplyDeleteWe've had a sudden reacceptance of skirts and leggings over dresses only, and occasionally shorts get a look in (for bike riding days) but pants are lagging far behind. I figured these were much closer to a skirt than pants,,,,
DeleteYep, the t-shirt needs a bottom band.
Wow, those culottes are adorable! Hopefully you can win her over for them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. It's actually a really nice pattern to sew, so even if they hardly get worn I'm still glad I made them.
DeleteHmmmm!!! These are both adorable, but I see the concern with the top. I love the way the cropped looks though! I wonder, a long sleeved version would look really cute as a sweatshirt/pullover on top of regular length tees on cool mornings. The culottes are fantastic; I hope she changes her mind about them! This pattern is one of the many I have that I haven't yet opened!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute little outfit. Looks perfect for play. Do you use a double needle on your knit hems or a zigzag style stitch? Trying to make it out in the picture :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ocky. I'm doing double needle hems and trying not to cave in and buy a coverstitch machine!
DeleteI have a second bobbin casing with the tension backed right off that I use for the hems, and then I use woolly nylon in the bobbin. My hems don't break like they used to.
The only fabrics that don't look perfect are really lightweight jerseys where the double needle lines tunnel a bit. They're perfect if I iron them, but seriously, ironing t-shirt hems? Not me!
Woolly nylon! I must get some of that. Thanks for your tips! and no I am never ironing t-shirts either :)
DeleteBelly is a much better look than muffin top :) I think it is the fabric as the outfit looks really cute the fabric is a bit stiff looking, not sure.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. It's a real bottom weight fabric. I think it was probably intended for skinny stretch jeans or similar. I have a1.5m cut of the same fabric in pale pink and I'm thinking it may have to be a coat...
DeleteI love the culottes--we wore a lot of them in college and I might just need to make one for my daughter. But more than anything, I love her hair and smile.
ReplyDeleteTHanks Asmita. You know, your daughter's haircut is one I've been admiring for about 2 years or more. Those little curls. Just gorgeous. So I really appreciate your comment.
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