Kid's Clothes Week: Off and Running!

I honestly had no plans to join Kid's Clothes Week this time around, and then, like some mad contagion the Sunday-before-KCW fever hit me.

A few quiet hours in the afternoon and evening on Sunday and suddenly I had half a dozen patterns traced off and three complete outfits cut out. We're off and running!

Today was a rostered day off and since it's already Monday downunder I hit the machines. First up was this little blouse slash T-shirt.

It was eked out of a tiny remnant of a Stenzo knit, and since I was barely able to cut what I needed I relaxed completely about any attempts to keep the lines of spots horizontal or matched in any way.

This little piece of fabric has been in the stash for so long. It was originally purchased from Earth Girl Fabrics and used to line this coat

Apart from the wonky lines I made one other cock up. I folded the fabric and didn't think about the uneven selvedge widths. The top selvedge was about half the width of the bottom one. Consequently one sleeve was cut with a fair chunk of all white selvedge. No fabric left for a re-cut, so I just consoled myself it would only be visible when she raised her arms. Which she does a lot, it now appears...

I was a bit worried the blouse might run a bit short, as I made it once before (here) and I remember it seeming quite cropped. This is the size 120cm and while she probably only stands at 115cm tall it's perfect.

How cute is the back?!

The blouse is pattern "a" from Let's Go Out Girl's Clothes by Yuki Araki. This book has a size range of 90cm to 130cm. I was worried I wouldn't have much longer to sew from these books, but I think there's a second summer in this 120cm sized pattern easily. Phew. I just adore Yuki Araki's patterns and will be sad when they no longer fit.

I had a different pair of pants cut out to go with this top, but since the overlocker was threaded with white I thought I should sew these up first.

The pants are shorts "e" from the same book and again, size 120cm. Did I just say shorts?  More like knickerbockers, right?!

The picture in the book shows these shorts as knee length on the model. Perhaps I do need to measure my daughter cause they are much longer on her. But how cute is the corduroy pedal pusher look?! She reminds me of Tintin! If only we'd found a little white dog to borrow for the impromptu photo shoot this afternoon.

The shorts really want to be sewn in a stripe, as the bias placed pockets and the cross grain cuffs would be really cute in a striped fabric. This corduroy was also a remnant (from The Fabric Store) and again I didn't quite have enough, so one leg cuff is pieced in the inside back leg. Making do and busting through the fabric stash. Yay!

I'll need to make some lighter weight, shorter shorts for the hot summer days, but how cute will these look next Autumn with tights underneath and boots. For now they're perfect for bike riding, or just running about like a mad thing.

 Have you gone mad for Kid's Clothes Week? The challenge is to commit at least one hour a day for seven days to make the clothes your kids need, or just the things that are in your head and won't let you be until they're made.

I'm ignoring the theme, as I've only just recovered from disguising myself and the kids as animals! However, I've gone a bit off piste (for me) and picked a bunch of patterns which does not include a single Oliver + S pattern. There's more Japanese sewing coming up and I'll crack open an as yet unused T-shirt pattern.

Better dash! See you mid week....