Trop-top

6 Comments June 15, 2015 apinchofsewing

This year is being particularly difficult for me being away. It is only my second year in the UK and although I really like to be in here it doesn’t mean that I don’t miss what and who stayed back in Portugal, so I am really looking forward for the summer holidays and so are the girls. They talk about them every single day and even started to make a pile of things they want to take, but they still have a long time to wait …

While we don’t go and the girls are in school I am preparing the outfits 😉 This time I made them another set of practical clothes, good to play, jump and have great fun.

For the tees I used the trop-top pattern by Ivanne S. and for the shorts the Flexi-shorts by Tadah Patterns.

I had already made one version of the trop-top, but this time wanted to try it using knits, so I made the version A, in size 6 with size 4 for width using a very soft cotton from Art Gallery Fabrics for the front and a plain white cotton for the back. I only bought 1 meter of this fabric and regret it, because I like it so much. Both, colours and texture, are great!

Somethings I really like in this pattern are the finishing options that allows to reach a garment with perfect finishes.

For the shorts I needed something that would look good with almost everything, so I used a fabric that I already used several times before, chambray (not very original, I know, but needed). The pattern offer several options of length, hem finishing and waistband, thus I chose the high paper bag waist and elastic bubble style hem in size 5.

One thing that definitely doesn’t help is the weather. I know always the same thing and I should expect it, after all this is the UK weather, but last year was not like this and cold in June is a bit too much for me. Only last week the roses from our garden bloomed as well as the lavender with its incredible fragrance and even though it is a bit cold we took advantage of a few minutes with sun and went outside to see the new flowers 🙂

Wish you a great week 🙂

12 Comments April 20, 2015 apinchofsewing

It’s Kids Clothes Week again and the theme is “Wild Things”!! The theme couldn’t be more adequate to my girls, each one in her own way 😉

I have to say that I loved the theme when it was announced but when it came to the time of organizing my ideas I frozen! Then I decided to make something in the style I usually do. Not very original, I know, but I want things to be worn not just photographed. So I thought, well wild things live outside and now its spring… why not a blue (sky) top with some flowers where the wild things can be happy!?

As soon as the Trop-top from Ivanne S was released I bought it but then I couldn’t decide if I would make it first in woven or knit. On the other hand I wanted to make something for M to match the dress I made for F before, so I grabbed the opportunity and woven it was!

I really like this pattern and all the possible options it has. The instructions are very good, the inside is as perfect as the outside (bottom photo) and even has bonus to make (more) different versions. Next time I will try with knits and really hope the pattern it will be released for woman as well.

To go with the top, Little Lady M needed shorts! So I made her the Clover shorts, already made before.

For the top I made view B without opening in the back, in size 6. It is a little large on M. but I was afraid size 4 would not last the whole summer. The fabric is a light chambray and for the sleeves and bias is Liberty already used many times before 😉 and the same as used in F’s dress.

The shorts were made in size 5 (again) in pink chambray and I couldn’t found buttons that I liked so decided to use covered buttons in the same fabric as the top details and to be honest like it.