Skipper Top

I have kinda kept my distance from knits over the years except for a few projects.

While we don't love each other, we can tolerate each other. I have had few yards burning a hole in my stash for the past year and I figured it was time to use them up for something! When I came across the "Skipper Top Pattern" by the talented SEWMUCHADO, I knew it was the perfect way to use up my cute knits.

 

 

  Emmie has her own kind of style when it comes to clothes and she doesn't have too many of her own things because she wears a lot of hand me downs from her big sister Hannah.  This pattern seemed to fit her style well and I could customize it (color, pattern, pocket choice) to fit her funkiness, and her tall self!

I was nervous at first to get out my ballpoint needle. Knit fabric can be so wiggly, depending on the type you buy. I would highly recommend a light to medium weight fabric for this top. I got this cute dotted knit from GIRLCHARLEE over a year ago. They have a really great selection and I would say their prices are great! - You can even get half yard cuts from them, and that was about all I needed for this little top! Go there if you need knits. I find that Joann's and Hobby Lobby, don't have that great of a selection, and I don't think the quality is as great as GirlCharlee.

 

This pattern was totally great, there are lots of helpful hints on how to sew knits, and lots of options to style the top in your own way. You might think, hey this is just a shirt, but really it is a blank canvas, and a way to really express your childs style. You can change up the pocket, the fabric, you can use a solid or a print,.... the possibilities are endless... oh and did I mention the sizing goes up to size 10! Crazy awesome. To personalize Emmaline's top I added a cute chevron heart and I also used a contrasting band of stretch lace around the bottom of the top. You can't see it too well in this picture but a little further down you can see the band is hot pink. I love it!

Now if I could just get my little bit to stand still and model without, oh woops, where in the heck did she get that lucky charm cereal bar?

We had an impromptu photo session in my loft office and she found my stash. Oh well!

Hope everyone has a great week!

PS- A little tip I sometimes use when figuring out what size to cut for my kid on a pattern. I normally don't prewash my fabric.... why you say? Because I am lazy, have a full time job, have 2 kids.... blah, blah, blah? NO...... because I don't think it makes that much of a difference AND it makes the fabric in my eyes harder to work with once it is washed.... So I know I am a rebel but I size up, sew, try on and then wash after it is worn once. It works for me and usually the fit is fine and there is room to grow!

Call me CRAZY but it works for me! Do what works for you, but I typically go a size up from what my child is currently wearing. I am a BIG fan of clothes that last longer. Emmie is a size 18-24 months, but I made this in a 2t, and right now it looks like a tunic but will be perfect for fall/winter layered with a jean jacket or cardigan.

 

It came out so cute!

XOXO-
Lauren

 

Ruffled Bottom Sun Suit Romper

It took all my will power not to title the post Ruffle Butt Sun Suit! He he he .... I always called them "Ruffle Butts", but maybe in blog world "bottom" is a more appropriate word? I have no idea what the etiquette is BUT I will shout- I LOVE RUFFLE BUTTS! Whether they are on a pair of bloomers, or the back of pants or on a sun suit I love them. End of story, done. It was actually one of the many things I thought about when I was pregnant with Emmie.  "Oh my gosh I can make her ruffle butts!"

 

 
 

Hannah is too old for them, so I plan on totally going all out with ruffles this summer for Em, after all, she is the perfect age for them! She will be 1 on June 8th and I am so excited to dress her in all sorts of fun stuff this summer.

 

I couldn't stand waiting any longer to put something together with ruffles on the bottom, so what did I do? I scoured Etsy for a fun pattern! I thought I could have maybe drafted the pattern myself but I have a lot of friends with little girls that may be interested in these and I wanted to have a nice pattern to use to get sizes super accurate so I could add them to the shop.

 

When I came across this pattern, from littlelizardking on etsy. I had to have it. I contacted the seller and asked about the pattern pieces. I despise don't like to print a ton of pattern pieces. I like a pattern that I can print on one page and the rest are measurements that are provided. I am kinda lazy when it comes to keeping my patterns tidy so I like the one pagers! Wow, was I in luck here, - this pattern only had one piece AND there was no shirring involved.
 

I have a Brother sewing machine that I love dearly but she can't shirr so well, honestly she totally  sucks at it. So I prefer to go the elastic casing route!

 

I am SO ecstatic at the results:



I love the vintage-y feel of it!



I am also quite pleased with my fabric choices. They were really just fabric that I was like, "I don't really like you, not sure why you are in my stash, but I want to try this pattern out and you'll have to do."



By the way,- babies are WAY hard to photograph. At one point, I had to hide her Binky's to get her to kneel like this.



She is a mover and a shaker these days. I know she is thinking - "Mom, I am outta here!"

 

On your mark, get set, go!!!!!



Ahh, here we go- sittin pretty for the camera! Could you not eat those chunker legs? I love her so!

So what do you think? Would you put your girly in one of these? If you all are interested I will add some to the shop! I just can't resist them! I think I may make her one in every size so I can eat up all the ruffles as long as possible.

L

For behind the scenes photos from ODDS OF PINK, follow me on INSTAGRAM: Laurosario