M’s new Summer outfit

Leave a comment June 6, 2022 apinchofsewing

Hello,

Hope you are all well.

Today I feel like going back in time, going back to my sewing roots. You see, my daughters were one of the reasons why I started sewing. I wanted to make them clothes that I could not easily find on the shops. Making their clothes was something that I really enjoyed! However, children grow (they do have that habit…), life changes and I started sewing for myself instead.

Nonetheless, every time (however rare it might be) that one of my daughters ask me to make something, I say yes and try to fulfil their wishes. I must add that they are quite precise with what and how they want it.

So, M after seeing a blouse in a shop asked me if I could make her a similar one. The fabric was broderie anglaise and she also wanted the same type of fabric, the big sleeves and the front knot.

I looked through the patterns I had and some that I could buy to achieve the desired look but I could not find anything that was exactly what we were looking for. There are some adult size patterns that would work however, M still is under the children size range. For that reason, I reached for an old favourite, the Maria Blouse by Suco by Susana and made some changes.

I used the bodice, in size 10, without modifications, no collar just finished with bias binding and adapted the puff sleeve option that is included in the pattern. I used the sleeve head as it was and for the rest of the sleeve used the sleeve from the Norma blouse by Fibre Mood as a reference.

The fabric used is a lightweight embroidered cotton from Lady McElroy bought from Minerva. It worked really well for this project!

To go with the blouse M also asked if I could make her a skirt. The requirements for the skirt were: 1. Have a ruffle at the bottom; 2. It has to be green, sage green to be precise. We searched for fabric and we found this lovely embroidered cotton, with a good weight, in a beautiful shade of green that ticked all the boxes. It really is a beautiful fabric and we got it from Lamazi Fabrics.

I didn’t really use a pattern however, the Sabina skirt that I made for myself was a good guide. The top part is not just a rectangle of fabric and does have shape. Again, we are both very pleased with how it turned out.

I must add that now I have a list of things to make for M and that really does make me happy! 😊

Have a lovely week.

Happy sewing!

Maria x

Puff Sleeves Blouse for M

2 Comments May 29, 2020 apinchofsewing

Hello,

Well, three posts in a week! This is a first!

I am really happy to share this make with you. As you might have realised already, I am not very adventurous when it comes to make changes to patterns. I am always afraid to ruin the fit and I end up waiting for a pattern similar to what I am looking for.

Not this time. M did like my Norma Blouse and it is more and more difficult to make things that she like to wear, so I took this opportunity to make something for her.

What M liked the most were the sleeves (can’t blame her) so, that was my main point. Now, I do not know any children’s pattern with that kind of sleeves however, I was determined to achieve it. I had an idea where to start and that was the Maria Blouse from Suco by Susana.

Now, the Maria Blouse already has a puff sleeve option so, that was my starting point. I made the shirt option in size 9 for height with size 7 for width based on her measurements and omitted the collar as per her request. I finished the neckline with bias binding, the same way as the instructions, except there was no collar.

For the sleeves, I kept the puff sleeve head without changes, as it already had the volume I wanted and I didn’t want to mess the armhole fit. Next, I added the length desired. No complex math involved here as I just measured on M where I wanted the cuff.

In order to have the desired volume at the cuff, I kept the sleeve similar to the Norma blouse one, only slightly smaller. Sorry, my pattern making knowledge is close to zero luckily it worked, I think. I am happy enough with how it turned out and so is M.

As for the fabric, I used the same as for my blouse, a dobby cotton (plumeti) from Ratucos.

You didn’t think I was going to waste an opportunity to take photos with M twining, did you? We are not going to wear the blouses at the same time to go out, but it was good fun to take the photos and, in a few years, I will enjoy looking back at those.

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I am pretty pleased with how this bloused turned out but, most of all, I am pleased that I stepped out of my comfort zone to make it, even if was something simple. Small steps.

Have a lovely weekend.

Maria x

2018 Last Makes

1 Comment January 21, 2019 apinchofsewing

Half January is already gone so, it’s about time I finish sharing the clothes I made in 2018. These two dresses, I made for the girls to wear on New Year’s Day.

To wear on the first day of the year, M requested a dress with a peter pan collar and although I own a few patterns that could fulfil her request, I was running out of time (you know how busy this time of the year is, right?) and the Maria blouse pattern was sitting right next to me.

Susana from Suco by Susana recently made the Maria Blouse as a dress for her girl and has a tutorial on how to do it on her blog. However, I made it a little different and used the same width as the pattern piece for the skirt. That means, I only added length.

I made a size 8, without any modifications, apart from the obvious one.

For F, I used the Marlow dress by Jilly Atlanta with the recently released long sleeve extension. I’ve made this dress before and both F and I really like it.

I made a size 8 for length with size 6x for width, with the knee length option. This is a lovely pattern, with its front bodice ruffles. I thought the ruffles might get a bit “lost” in the print, so added lace in contrasting colour and I’m quite pleased with how it turned out. Also, it matches the socks and hair bows… details, I know, but that is one of the fun parts of making clothes!

The fabric used for both dresses is a viyella, bought in a Portuguese kids’ clothes brand stock off. Thank you to my dear friends who remembered me and got me some wonderful fabric that day 😊

It is now about time I stop with last year’s makes and start with 2019 ones instead.

A Not So New Outfit for F

1 Comment December 13, 2018 apinchofsewing

We are now starting to truly feel the Christmas spirit but, before I close my sewing room door to spend family time, I would like to share a few more things I made.

This outfit was made some time ago but, I’m struggling a little to document my makes… This blouse was one of the first things I made F this Autumn and is such a lovely one.

It’s not because I took part in the design of this pattern that I like it and use it a lot. It’s because it was something, I really missed in my daughters’ handmade wardrobe. The Maria blouse was, once more, the pattern used 😉

I made the blouse version (perfect to wear with a pinafore), with long sleeves and ruffled collar (F’s favourite) in size 9 for height with size 7 for width.

The fabric used is Liberty Tana Lawn Ava from Alice Caroline. I found this print and colour so much prettier than I expected, I must say.

The pinafore is the Ainsley Pinafore by Jilly Atlanta. This pattern has a design a little differently than the usual pinafores, as the waistline is raised and I think it actually looks adorable.

I opted for the lower U neckline, elastic back for extra comfort and button straps, made in size 8 for height and 6x for width. That’s why F likes the clothes I make her so much. The fit is much better!

For the main fabric I used a corduroy that was in my stash for some time and for the lining the same fabric as the blouse. How lovely does it look inside? This is another reason for enjoying sewing so much, the pretty inside!

I made a matching (although completely different) outfit for M that I hope to share in the near future. 😊

More Maria Blouses!

Leave a comment May 21, 2018 apinchofsewing

As I mentioned last post, today I’ll be sharing more versions of the new pattern Maria Blouse by Suco by Susana 😊

The idea of this pattern was that it could be used by more grown up girls thence being available from sizes 3 up to 14 years old. Some girls, as they grow up, stop finding ruffles so stylish and prefer simpler garments (I have one at home like that 😉) so we also wanted to have options for them. The simple bodice will be perfect!

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The sleeves and collars are the same as in the gathered bodice version so, as you can see, this pattern is really versatile.

I think most of you already know that I like pinafores and I think this version works wonderfully paired with it. I made F a version, using the shirt bodice, puff sleeves and ruffle collar. How sweet, yet age appropriate, does it look? Yes, I know… I’m partial here. But I really like it. 😊

As in the previous version I’ve made for her, I used a size 8 for height with size 6 for width and I’m pleased with the fit. Not too tight or too loose.

The fabric used is Liberty Capel in mustard from Alice Caroline. F is a big fan of yellow/mustard colours so she “needed” this one.

For M, I also made a shirt bodice version, but this time with the ruffled sleeves. How cute is this option?

To keep it simple, as she prefers it, I made the peter pan collar and it’s such a lovely combo!

Like the previous one I shared, I made size 8 for height with size 6 for width and I think the fit is spot on.

The fabric is Liberty Mitsi in grey and I must confess that when she first saw it she said she preferred brighter colours but when she saw it again paired with the mustard skirt she loved it! She even said it looked sophisticated! I think that’s a win! 😉

You still can get your pattern with a reduced price, until tomorrow (Tuesday 22^nd May). 😊

Thank you so much Susana for all the effort you put this pattern. ❤

The Maria Blouse

1 Comment May 18, 2018 apinchofsewing

Sharing today’s post with you makes me really happy and a bit excited. Susana and I have been working on this pattern for a few months and today, finally it’s coming to life! 😊

As my girls are growing I find it more challenging to get clothes that are age adequate. Not too grown up, not too childish. They like to wear dresses and skirts but jeans are also popular around here and that is also fine, but I still like to look at them and not see a mini grown up. I know this is personal preference and some might disagree. On the other hand, I understand and respect that they are not little children anymore and have their own style and preferences. That is when the idea of a blouse that would be age adequate crossed my mind but, I can’t make patterns…

Also, I thought other girls would like to wear these blouses, but then again… I can’t make patterns, I don’t have the knowledge. That’s when I thought about Susana! I know her patterns and I know she works really well, so maybe she would be interested in making a pattern. I’m so glad she agreed! She definitely put a lot of work into it. A few muslins and a test later, the Maria Blouse is now live! 😊

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The blouse has two bodice options, four sleeves and two collar options. Can you imagine how many blouses you will be able to make with this pattern? Plus, it comes from sizes 3 to 14 years old!

As I’ve made a few blouses, I will make two blog posts. Today I’ll be sharing the gathered bodice version and on Monday I’ll be sharing more versions.

For F, I made a version with ruffle sleeves and collar, in size 6 for width and 8 for length. In case you need, just as I did, to blend sizes, the instructions also include this adjustment.

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F still likes to wear ruffled collars, so I made this version for her. Isn’t the collar so sweet?

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The fabric is very lightweight and I liked it so much when I saw it at Pra Kriar that I forgot to see the composition! This is something very unlikely in me but it happened. I believe it is a cotton though. I bought the last metre available but there was another fabric very similar, that I also bought and it will be another Maria Blouse, for M.

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On the other hand, M is not so keen on wearing ruffled collars… so I made a version with peter pan collar and short sleeves. As you see, the pattern has versions for all tastes 😉

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I must say that I also find a peter pan collar adorable!

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For this version I used a Liberty Betsy Porcelain. This is one of my favourite prints and the colours are so beautiful.

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It’s no secret that I like some vintage inspiration and for that reason I mentioned to Susana that I would like the blouse to include puff sleeves option but I confess that the sleeves Susana designed exceeded my expectations. Those sleeves are so pretty! From my two daughters, F is the one that likes more this kind of style so, I made this version for her.

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