swallow's return

autumn

Some colorful tops and cozy bottoms added to the shop today, just in time for the beginning of Fall. Liberty tana lawn detail tops available in girls' sizes 6-12 months through to 6 years. Corduroy bloomers available in girls' sizes 3-6 months through to 2 years.



Love the deep plum and chartreuse together.

100% cotton corduroy bloomers in light plum.



Teal, mocha and indigo...

Bloomers have just a hint of a ruffle at the hem.

floral dress

Just added to the shop: cotton sateen floral dress / tunic. Available in girls' sizes 1T through 6. Magnolia blossoms are blooming in half the world at this very moment!

stripes again.

Where did my May go? A blur, an absolute BLUR. And now it's already halfway through June - gah! I've FINALLY done up some stripey bloomers to match the top. Size 3 months through to 6 years in shop.

stripes.

Ivory cotton top with ivory and black striped yoke and cotton/linen blend ruffled cap sleeves in a honey-caramel colour. Girls' sizes 1T through 6 in shop.

blue strawberries and green apples.

I love the thin, black outlines of the strawberries and apples on this vintage fabric. Cloud white 100% cotton broadcloth with vintage fabric detail. Girls' sizes 1T through 6.

swan applique dress

Pearl grey 100% cotton broadcloth dress with vintage swan applique and a sunny yellow tie around the waist. Girls sizes 1T through 6.

chambray dress

A new dress for the shop. A rayon blend chambray with vintage fabric yoke and eyelet trim at arms. Sizes 18 months thru 6X.

 

 

lace top.

I was sorting through some clothes today and found this lace blouse that was given to me by my roommate when I lived in Holland. It belonged to her mother when she was a young woman. It's unwearable now, torn and too fragile at the edges. I want to save it though. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of clothing I've owned. I could use the back to make a cushion cover or...any ideas?

A tiny remnant of what's left of the tag.

 

kcwc days 6 & 7

Coming out of day 5, I was only up for some simple pieces: some diagonal-detail loungies and a lucky clover shirt for Oliver and some red gingham slim-jams for Aris. Sew 'em. Done. The loungies' grey fabric and the striped tee fabric are upcycled from old t-shirts of mine and the green stars knit is some jersey I had in my piles.

Okay, these pants were easy and fun. Just slice a triangle off the bottom of any leggies pattern and then use that piece as your pattern piece for the contrasting fabric (but remember to add 1/2" seam allowance along diagonal edge). After you sew the inside seams, you've got a cool diagonal detail that wraps around the leg, add some cuffs and an elastic waistband and you're done.

For the shirt, the four-leaf clover kinda came into my head last minute as I was needing something to cover up a tiny stain on the fabric. I drew one on paper, cut it out and then pinned the paper to some felt and cut and stitched as carefully as I could.

The gingham slim-jammy pants are intended for the four-year-old who still said no to modelling for me so, they look REALLY slim on big brother. I think this might be the beginning of a bit of a gingham kick for me. It so brings back memories of gingham clothes I had when I was a kid.

Well, it's wrap-up time. This week was a bit of a roller coaster ride but amongst the swimming lessons, grade one cross country practices and meets, my mom's birthday party and trips to the grocery store, I got six pieces made. That's one more than my last KCWC so yeah, I'm feelin' pretty fly. I got super-inspired by other participants' projects and discovered some new blogs along the way so all in all, seven days of sewing goodness!

kcwc day 5: little village vest

I only have one little picture for today. It kind of took me all day to recover from this one - a testament to the ups and downs of sewing for one's children. I stayed up WAY too late last night making what four-year-old and I both agreed upon yesterday afternoon was going to be such a nice, warm, cozy vest; boy was I wrong!

I quilted the corduroy with the batting underneath in a grid pattern; I sewed bias trim around the armholes, the front AND back hems and the neckline. I was nearly at breaking point while applying the snaps but I wanted to get it done for this morning to surprise him. And? He didn't even want to try it on let alone allow me to take some pics of him wearing it let alone entertain the notion of wearing it to preschool! Since when did he get so fickle? Should I have picked up on signs of this at various points in the past? Hmmmmm...My throat swelled up; my eyes became a little hot; I took a deep breath. "Okay," I said, "we can put it in the charity pile." "Can we take it to the shop today?" Gulp.

I took the photo to document and then I hung it in my sewing nook hoping that one day he might change his mind - fickle in reverse. Anyhoo, I have resolved to just take it light and easy with the rest of this week's projects; I can see the light!