Sewing for Kindergarten

Wait what, for kindergarten? Yes I know Madalena started first grade this year, but:
a) this is the most cool series to take part in blogland IMO
b) I didn’t get the chance to be part on the series last year when M. started kindergarten

Sooo my sweet friend Mie from Sewing Like Mad the host and creator of this great series, gave me a wild card and so I can take part this year! YAY You can’t imagine how happy I was when she invited me, this series has been such a great source of inspiration, it really is a huge thrill to take part.

This is my first take on Madalena’s Autumn/Winter clothes. I managed to make almost everything I had planned for the series, missing here is a black/dark grey cardigan to coordinate with most of these pieces. But I can say I’m really happy with these outfits.

First I made this green dress that I love so much, sorry for the lack of modesty but I really do and there’s no point in denying it heheheh. I knew what I wanted to make with this fabric has soon as it arrived. It’s another Andrea Lauren print from her Ink Spots collection; I got it from Spoonflower in their Modern Jersey, which is a lightweight jersey with good stretch.

I used Titchy Threads Rowan Tee pattern as a start point and adapted it to dress (I love making dresses from the Rowan Tee, you can see one of them here; but I already made 3 more just never blogged about them).

These are the changes I made: added length and bit of width, kind of an A-line shape on the bottom part; added something like 4 cm total to the center front of the Tee front pattern piece to create a bit of gathering and raised the neckline by 1 cm; elasticized the sleeve seams and the waist. Super easy! 😀

Look at her so focused while fake writing! 🙂 Since school started she already told me she wants to become President of Portugal when she grows up, a dramatic change from her last choice which was DJ heheheh!

Next, I made a skirt with this adorable bulldog print also from Andrea Lauren and also bought at Spoonflower (the fabric is voile). I used Mingo&Grace latest sewing pattern, which features this skirt and a super cute crop top. I made no changes to the skirt itself but added a lining since I was using voile for the main fabric, Madalena is super happy because it added to the fullness of the skirt. I already have another complete set of skirt and top cut waiting to be sewn, and I can tell you that Farrah did a great job as usual with this pattern. I feel like making tons.

For the top I made a Safari Raglan also from Titchy Threads, and if you follow this blog you already know how I feel about this pattern (if you don’t just click here or here).

Yay for almost matched stripes hahahah! 😉 The fabric is super soft, amazing quality organic jersey from Nosh, available here. I think I have to get some more because I absolutely love it!

As you can see she loves the entire outfit so much she even hugs it! 😀

I was super happy to see it looks great with this fur vest from last year H&M collection, perfect for when the days get a bit colder.

I could not be part in this series without using a pattern from my friend Celina, both her posts for Sewing for Kindergarten previous editions were beyond epic and, as everything she makes,  absolutely inspiring to me! I’ve been wanting to give a go at the final version of the beautiful Tip Top pattern since it was released (I had already made a quick pre-test version that I’ll blog about soon) and so I did.

The pattern offers many beautiful options but this time I opted for the top version with elasticized neckline. To tell the truth I wanted to make a dress but didn’t have enough fabric. I had my mind set in using this beautiful double gauze Nani Iro print (yes I finally caved and shared a bit with Madalena heheh) because I just new it would be perfect match to this pattern, and I couldn’t change my mind about using it even after realizing I didn’t have enough, soooo I made a top. I love it! I mean those sleeves… ❤ ❤ ❤ This is a really beautiful design and a great pattern, no doubt  it is a must have.

You’d think this is a spring/summer pattern but actually I think it works beautifully layered with a long sleeve top as you see in some of these photos, so I’ll probably end up making the dress version soon too! 😀

I think the top works perfectly with this denim skirt, no I did not make it because I’m still trying to find courage to sew denim again, last time my machine had to be serviced sooo yeah… maybe when Laura releases the lovely skirt pattern she made for her STYLO spread I’ll give it a go. For now we’re ok with the RTW one. hehehe 😉

I’m a huge fan of out focus photos!! heheh I just had to show some twirling action. 😀 Seriously combining PERFECT patterns with perfect fabric (I bought this Nani Iro at Retrosaria, they don’t have this one anymore but they have others just as beautiful) is a no brainer and you know how I like to keep it simple. 😉 Madalena naturally didn’t want to take it off after the photos were taken… I’m seriously jealous of her top! 😀

Finally a super quick self-drafted skirt and another Rowan Tee, this time with no modifications. For the Tee I used the very last piece (insert cry me a river emoji here) of Nosh dark yellow flame jersey, the same I used on my STYLO spread. Gosh I love this color so much,  it’s the same Tee used as bottom layer in the previous outfit, it goes well with so many things, WIN.

And then the skirt… Just a really basic jersey skirt in this super cute zebra print from my local fabric shop, that place is my doom. hahah I wanted to make pants with this fabric but I know it’s dangerous ground with Madalena, trousers/pants can be severely neglected by her… She really needs clothes because I’m aiming to buy very few items and make most of her wardrobe sooo better safe than sorry. I’m really happy with how it turned out and I’ll probably make a few more of these skirts (I have a giraffe print of the same fabric in mustard, yeah I definitely should have bought more of both prints heheheh).

If your still here after all my blabber and feel like wasting some more time with me 😉 here are a few questions Mie asked and my answers.

Is this your first time sending a child to Kindergarten? If not what number child is this? Yes, Madalena is my oldest daughter and the first to go kindergarten and now first grade.

 Do you feel like crying or celebrating? Celebrating definitely! I love to reminisce on the past but I never feel sad for the years to be passing. It’s a joy for me to see my girl grow and become more and more the unique person she’s destined to be.

And what about your child? She was super nervous before the school year started, but from the first day she has been super motivated and always happy!

What kind of school does your child attend? (public, charter, private, homeschool) She attends a private school, she started there when she was 3 so she’s pretty familiar with everyone and everything by now.

Question to your kindergartner: What has been the best and worst part so far? “The best is learning maths and there’s nothing bad. I love it all!” hahah Yeah that’s my girl! 😉 ❤

 I really hope you like my makings! Thank you so much Mie for the wild card. Can’t wait to take part again when Francisca starts Kindergarten too (yes I’m totally making myself invited for the 2018 edition hehehe).

Since this is the last day of the Series I’m pretty sure you have already seen all the amazing outfits my fellow bloggers made but here’s the tour calendar just in case. 🙂

xoxo

NOSH Women Summer Collection

When NOSH contacted me to see if I wanted to try some fabrics of their newly released Women Summer Collection I was like: Wait what? Is this email really in my inbox?

You see I was spending a few days at my parents’ house in Alentejo (located on a really remote place with zero internet connection or phone reception gahh) and had climbed the hill a little bit, as I do every morning when I’m there, to check my emails because I have a little bit of an addiction. hehehehe I opened mail and there it was… I confess I jumped of happyness and may have giggled, alone in the hill, like a silly little girl! 😀 😀 I just LOVE LOVE LOVE (like in LOVE A LOT :D) NOSH fabrics. I had already tried some of their fabrics for another project, that NOSH was so kind to collaborate with me in, so I knew what to expect: Pure Amazingness!!

NOSH Organics is a super cool Organic Clothing and Fabric brand, with beautiful products that are produced sustainably and ecologically, could we ask for better? I was asked to choose a pack with some fabric from the New NOSH Fabrics and the photo above illustrates my choice. It contained super lovely jersey in the options Kide Powder and Mini Stripes black/natural, some 1*1 Rib in Powder and some of this pretty twill tape in black/natural. They are all amazing, incredibly soft, come in great colors and are organic, which I confess is one of my soft spots! In the perfect world I would only sew with organic fabric.

Little  bit of a dorky face there but we are here for the fabrics right? 😉

So about my makings… I decided to use the Kide Powder Jersey to make a top. I used Liesl&co Bento Tee pattern, I had already used it for another two tops and I’m really liking it (I’ll talk more about the pattern itself in a future post). I used a little bit of the Powder rib to finish the neckline, this is one of my favorite methods I just love that thin line it creates around the neckline. This print is super cute and has the perfect weight for this type of project. But I just felt the uncontrollable urge to make Named Alexandria peg trousers in the blue version of the print… Will I dare?

Fancy a Cinderella pose anyone? hahaha

As soon as I saw the mini stripes I couldn’t stop thinking about making a knock off of a  Billabong skirt I own (sorry I couldn’t find a link for it). And so I did. I drafted the pattern pieces and went straight to the fabric – I know I know I’m crazy, I should make a muslin but this gives me such a high and you already know how I hate making muslins (don’t get me wrong, I know all their value and I will do my best to start making them in the future, it’s a promise heheh). Lucky enough all went down well and I’m super happy with the result!!!

I love to see the stripes in all those different directions. And all these panels surely contribute to a good twirl factor. I’ve told you im still a silly little girl. Madalena already required a mini version obviously!!! 🙂 Once again I live the drape of the fabric, just perfect!

I’ve also decided to make a simple strapless top to go with it using the Powder rib, adding to the mix a bit of their Dark Yellow rib for some color blocking (generously given to me by NOSH Fabrics for that other project I referred before).

I’m really happy with the pieces I made, bet I’ll be wearing them lots this Spring/Summer and basically forever!! 😀

These fabrics are all perfect and I’m dreaming of more already. The new collection has so many great options, I’m really swooning over this one, and this and also this one for the girls!! But seriously all Organic NOSH fabrics look fabulous! I totally recommend checking it since they are a joy to work with and amazing to wear!

Thank you NOSH for having me in this release, it was immense pleasure.

Madalena really wanted to say hello too! 😉

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you aren’t tired of my face by now! hahahah 😉 I have to thank my very sweet husband ❤ for all the photos on this post.

xxx

 (All the fabrics I used for the items in this post were given to me by NOSH, but all the opinions are my own.)