Everything Your Mama Made - Flashback Harem Pants! Tester pics

I was chosen to test EYMM's new Flashback Harem Pants, and look how adorable they are!

Cute with a variety of options. I love these pants! Just baggy enough for cloth or sposies.

I made this pair in a rayon-spandex blend, but the pattern is suitable for knits and wovens with a bit of drape.

The pants are pleated, which in my opinion makes the front sit neatly without adding bulk. The back is elasticized,with the option of shirring or elastic. 

I feel that these pants could last a child a lot longer than store-bought pants, which is great for a home sewer. The cuffed option would be great for a kid that grows vertically faster than horizontally. Ha! Like this one!

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A Day at the Park! And a Riding Cape from Stitch Upon a Time.

We had a wonderful day at the park this weekend. We played around, although the grass was wet and the breeze was freezing. Miki wore her Riding Hood cape that I made, and she looked absolutely adorable.

The pattern is by Stitch Upon a Time, the Riding Hood Poncho, and was very easy to sew up. It's double layer fleece, and a full zipper that I had to figure out, since it was a regular zipper, not the separating kind.

I had both fleece fabrics, the zipper and the snaps in my stash. It's not shocking, though. My stash is well stocked. 

I can't believe how confidently she walks. She just started walking a couple of months ago, and she's already striding around like she owns the place!

I absolutely love how excited this baby gets when she sees a dog. She stares at it, completely unafraid, and runs all out at it. The problem? Her shoes. She's so fast, we had to get her those squeaky shoes, and while people may judge, I'd rather know exactly where my little houdini is. Those shoes are hard for dogs to figure out, since they sound like their favorite squeaky toys. So while Miki doesn't look like a squeaky toy, she sure sounds like one!

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An Elke for Miki!

Since I made the Elke dress for my niece in fleece, I have been obsessed with the pattern. I didn't like the look of the first Elke I made, which was a ponte knit. It turned out too big in the neck and the drapey fabric made Miki look too skinny. I really wanted to make her one in fleece, which I knew would look really nice since I found many wonderful examples on Facebook.

I had made a run to Joann on Thursday for some other fabric, and fell in love with this not-too-girly combination. I have always felt that Miki looks great in navy, and this feminine design makes the boyish colors look super cool.

Again, taking advantage of the awesome properties of fleece, I left the edges raw, and pleated the frill on the sleeve instead of gathering it. I prefer pleats.

Here's the bow! It's big, and cute, and tacked down at the shoulder as per the designer's recommendations. The collar looks nice and appropriately stiff, and fit Miki so well that I need to make her an Elke every winter. It's a must-do on my list now. The whole dress took me just one hour to make, from cut to finish.

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AddieK Designs' Canny Tunic - Tester Pics!

AddieK Designs is a great, fun designer. She is a college professor, and has taught hundreds of students to sew. How awesome is that? Her patterns are aimed at allowing you to fit sewing into your busy schedule, which I really appreciate. I was fortunate enough to get to test her Canny Tunic for women, and OMG, it's absolutely my favorite tunic this season. It's even got POCKETS!!

My first iteration was in an ITY poly print. Lightweight and swirly, this tunic makes me feel confident even on days that are not so happy. I'm carrying a lot of mommy weight still, and I could use every ego boost I can get.

An added bonus to the length of the tunic is that I can carry Miki on my hip without exposing skin.

Plus, pockets! 

This is my second iteration in a sweater knit. It's so nice and warm that I don't usually need a coat to keep me warm. This one is slightly more fitted.

The stripes don't actually line up, I did goof up that bit slightly, but it really doesn't bother me.

The pockets on this tunic are a lovely bright red! Makes me so happy to cuddle in this tunic. I wear these two every week. First pick from the laundry hamper!

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A Few Quick Finishes!

I haven't been able to sew much at all, lately. Seems like every naptime hour is spent cleaning or knitting for my dear Mother in Law. Miki has also started going to bed quite late, about 9pm, and that has severely restricted my sewing time.

Here are a few projects I did manage to finish. The first set is also for my niece, along with the Elke Dress I posted previously. This is a cute top with a bow at the dropped back neckline. The pattern is Create Kids Couture's Delaney, the Cupcake fabric is from the amazing PurpleSeamstress on Facebook. She is the BEST ever! The mint triangles are a popular print from Joann's.

This is the front of the top. The buttons are such fun! I needed something in the front, since many times the back is hidden under a jacket. The leggings are my favorite free patern, LoveNotions' Leggins!

A closer look at the bow on the back:

And a totally fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants dress, made by sewing two rectangles together, shirring the top and adding straps - totally by estimating how much I needed! It's a miracle this top actually fits Miki, but it actually looks great. It'll be perfect for our trip to India, where it gets really hot in the daytime.

The fabric for this top is Joel Dewberry's Bungalow, a print I have been obsessed with for a long time now. I only had about half a yard of it, and decided to make something for my babe. What better use for it?

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