Waiting on a Rainbow (with a little sewing on the side)

I had every intention of getting some maternity photos with this pregnancy around 34-35 weeks -- after all the heartache we've been through in the last four years, this "rainbow" pregnancy was certainly something to commemorate. And I've always regretted not getting decent bump photos with most of my babies (only Little Man has a handful of "maternity" photos, taken in my parents' back yard -- my goodness, my husband and I look like babies ourselves!). I knew exactly what I wanted to wear, the absolutely lovely "Eliza" dress from Emme Mama. The only problem was the price tag...it's hard to justify spending more on a cotton gauze everyday dress than I did on my silk wedding gown, even though it's a company I'd love to support because of their ethical manufacturing. I decided to try my hand at drafting my own dress, and even made a trial run before we moved (which was a significant help, as it turned out). 

And then our house needed more renovations than anticipated (well, not all of them were needed), and our shipment was delayed by a month... As you can imagine, sewing a new dress was hardly my top priority when our belongings finally showed up. I finally managed to squeeze in some sewing, and finished my "knock off" dress just before 37 weeks. Cutting it a bit close, wouldn't you say? Though during the delay, I remembered a local museum that has the loveliest grounds. It turned out to be the perfect setting, and we all wished we could stay longer (we were trying to find the happy medium between closing time and golden hour, so our visit was a bit rushed). I suppose we'll just have to go back! 

Back to the dress details:

Even with some experience to guide me, I had to tweak (and tweak, and tweak again) to get the fit right. After the first try-on, I had to reduce the length/circumference of the puffed sleeves and hack almost eight inches off the skirt -- which meant removing and reattaching the ruffle. At which point, I realized that the ruffle just wasn't full enough, and still a bit too long. So it was removed again, expanded to include an extra length of fabric, and re-hemmed. 

I feel a bit narcissistic posting so many photos of just me (and Kit, by default!), but I've omitted photos with my husband and children for the sake of privacy. I promise that the rest of the family was involved; the littles have been so excited to welcome a new baby to the family, and it was truly sweet to capture memories with them as we all anticipate this little rainbow's arrival.

It seems foolish to make a maternity dress only a few weeks from delivery! But it should prove a boon during that awkward postpartum stage (and beyond, for that matter); it's insanely comfortable and nursing friendly. Besides, it has a decidedly autumnal flair, so I suppose it wouldn't have been ideal for the blistering summer we've had.

I found my cotton gauze on Etsy -- the five yards I purchased yielded the dress with plenty to spare (in fact, I've already made a wee pair of Misusu Olli pants and a bandana bib for Kit with the leftovers, and still have a yard or so left). It washed up beautifully, with a slightly squishy texture. In the end, the fabric cost about a fourth of the "inspiration" dress...considerably more budget friendly.

I debated hiring a photographer for a maternity shoot, but in the end I'm glad it was just us -- I didn't need or want a whole album of photos, especially since there are only so many ways to pose with "the bump." But I did want to capture a few memories of a season that's come after so much waiting and prayer. Thanks to my in-house photographers (i.e., my husband and oldest son), a tripod/remote, and a bit of help from Lightroom, we were able to do just that. We even managed to get a full-family photo, which is a bit of a shock considering how many people and how little time we had. *wink*

It's surreal to be here, in the final days before we meet this sweet boy, Lord willing. My heart overflows with gratitude for the Lord's undeserved mercies in bringing us to this point. So many times as we walked (stumbled? crawled?) through the valley of grief and recurrent loss, I wondered if the clouds would ever part. The darkness seemed so consuming and so endless at times. It's true, the scars of loss will never fully heal on this side of eternity -- I will always be a mama missing her babies until He wipes away my tears for good. And let me be quick to say that a "rainbow baby" was not the inevitable outcome of our valley sojourn, nor the only way God could bring healing and hope to our hearts. But I am so grateful for this little life, this tiny soul who has already brought so much joy to our family. He is not a "replacement" for the sweet babies we lost; he is a precious gift entrusted to our care. A gift that we do not take for granted.

We're ready to meet you, Little Kit! 

Streams of Mercy, Never Ceasing

We're nearly there -- just a few more days before we start the long trek back east. 

While I don't think we could ever tick every box off our bucket list, we did fit in one last visit to a favorite spot, this fairytale oasis tucked away in a nook of the desert. Of all God's glorious creations, waterfalls were one of His best ideas, I think. I never leave this place without feeling refreshed, in both body and soul.

If I look a bit hot and disheveled, that's because I was! The hike to the falls
isn't long, but it's all uphill in the sun on a toasty day. 

The water is so clear, and deliciously cool. Anything green is a novelty, and I think this is the only spot we've seen moss out here! This was probably the nicest visit yet for me, because Scout is now old enough to move about by himself -- lots of slippery rocks and a steep drop off about forty feet from the base of the falls make it a bit nerve-wracking with a toddler. This time it was more visual rather than hands-on supervision, and I could enjoy myself and the other littles more. I've just realized I've never posted about this particular spot, and I don't quite know why?

On the way back down, we met up with a local, who allowed me to get quite close before he dashed away to "safety." 

24 weeks with this little miracle. We're now at "viability," when the baby's chances of survival outside the womb climb dramatically (and continue to climb with every week). While we've never had issues with preterm birth, it's still a relief to reach this milestone. The mist of the falls and the rush of the water were reminders of God's endlessly flowing mercies, as I savored sharing this final visit with our sweet baby.

This dress must be my fourth or fifth "last project before we move." I just couldn't let my sewing motivation go to waste, and knowing that my machine will be packed up for nearly a month probably added to my desperation. Technically I did throw together a few new demi-camis after I finished this, but this was essentially my last project!

Rather than trying to do shirring on the waist,
I made a casing and used five strips of 1/4" elastic.

Using a peasant blouse pattern as a base, I drafted my own pattern. I really want to recreate the out-of-my-budget Emme Mama dreamy Eliza dress in cotton double gauze, so this was a bit of a test run (though I did change some elements to better suit this printed rayon gauze). I was worried I'd need a lining because it's described as semi-sheer, but happily it's opaque! It's the perfect maternity and nursing dress, and so, so comfortable. 

 I had barely enough fabric, since it arrived in two two-yard pieces. The ruffle ended up a bit shorter than planned, but in the end it all worked out. I did do a fair bit of tweaking after the fact, because I think I overestimated the sizing a bit -- it's hard to know how big the bump will get, you know? I do wish I'd put the waistband a bit higher, but I decided to leave it; not only was the elastic a nightmare to feed through, but I think it will sit perfectly fine post-bump. As a seamstress I have to remind myself sometimes that if I bought a dress off the rack, it probably wouldn't fit just so. Being able to tweak and tailor is a bonus when I've already reached my goal of a wearable garment. If I do get to make a double gauze version, I'll have that much more knowledge under my belt.

And now, I suppose, I should really get back to the finishing touches before packers arrive tomorrow...

 

Resurrected

About two years ago, I made a maxi dress out of this dusty rose rayon jersey -- and it was an utter flop. It was inspired by the empire-waist maternity/nursing friendly dresses I'd seen, but my design just didn't work. Perhaps I can blame the unexpectedly, excessively stretchy fabric? The flutter sleeves were far from flattering, the weight of the skirt stretched the bodice too far, the ruffles on the v-neck weren't proportioned right, and the high-lo hem just looked odd. I wore it once, shortened the bodice (which actually made it too short, ugh!), wore it once more, and then let it languish in my closet. As the rainbow pregnancy I hoped would be right around the corner turned into a series of miscarriages, there seemed little point in bothering with it.

Early this spring, I realized that I still had a yard of material left. All the dress really needed was a new bodice, and surely I'd have enough for that.

I pulled out Butterick 5242, a pattern I've posted twice on the blog before (here and here) but I've actually made five times. You can see one I made two years ago in my 16 week bumpdate photo, but the other two don't have pictures yet -- one is new, and the other is at least three years old. 

20 weeks with little Kit

This dress definitely needs a neckline filler, but that's part of what makes it nursing friendly. My favorite option is a "demi cami," essentially a tank top cut off at the midriff (you can see a photo if you scroll down in this post). I don't mind wearing them, as they don't add much bulk or warmth, and they certainly expand my wardrobe options. I actually need to make a few more, as several of mine are well past their prime. 

The skirt is salvaged from my maxi dress, so this is my most "unique" version of this pattern -- though I actually stayed closer to the pattern for the bodice this time. Most of my versions have been sleeveless, with self-drafted facings for the armholes, but I decided to use the sleeve pattern (shortened, I think?) for this dress. I don't like the look of the sleeves on the pattern cover, but I think the lightweight fabric helps. I'm also happy with my decision to actually line the bodice, rather than face the neckline edge like I usually do. The latter works well for more structured knits, but this silky jersey needed some extra oomph. The waistband is also double-layered, to help support the weight of the skirt. 

I redid the original hem to make the high-lo a bit less dramatic, and also shortened the skirt a bit. I think the length was part of what made it look odd before -- though, you can't judge for yourself, as apparently I was disappointed enough with the first version that I never took photos of it!  

This dress hung in my closet for a few weeks before it was ever worn, due to our very chilly spring. I thought it would be quite appropriate to wear on "Resurrection Day" (Easter), as the dress itself was resurrected -- but Kit's gender reveal scan the day before called for a blue dress, instead. *wink* I'm not sure if this will make it all the way through nine months of pregnancy, as my bump already feels ominously large, but it's quite comfortable now and should be perfect post-partum. 

Not all sewing flops have happy endings, so I'm grateful this project had a chance at redemption.

Pleiades, If You Please

After my success with my first Pleiades dress, I was determined to make another one. By the time I got around to it, there was a baby on the way -- no problem, the Pleiades is quite maternity friendly! But I still made a few alterations to ensure that I'd get as much wear out of it as possible.

Sixteen weeks with our rainbow in this photo 

I had quite a bit of blue tencel blend left over from my Brumby skirt, and with some careful placement I was able to eke out all of the pattern pieces. Granted, even though I lengthened the skirt pieces, this Pleiades ended up a bit shorter than my last one. I typically prefer longer skirts, and it does feel strange to have my knees showing! It doesn't help that it's insanely windy here, an issue that I'm looking forward to leaving behind when we move in a few weeks. The night before I wore this dress I hacked a pair of nylons by cutting off a few inches from the top and sewing on a bit of salvaged maternity panel -- it took all of five minutes to do, and was far cheaper than buying maternity-specific nylons. Somehow wearing sheer nylons makes me feel more covered? Anyway.

I sized up a bit for this dress, as my original Pleiades -- which fit perfectly when I made it -- is a bit snug around my ribcage now due to pregnancy (I already have a "generous" ribcage, but pregnancy expands it even further!). Not unwearable, but why not make this one a bit roomier if I had the option? Besides that, I made few alterations:

1. I shortened the bodice, to allow more room for the bump. 
2. I added a few inches of width to the skirt front, also for the bump! 
3. I raised the neckline, a carryover from my original dress.
4. I transferred the invisible zipper to the center front seam, making this dress nursing friendly. I was concerned about how this would work, but it turned out beautifully! 
5. I needed a way to conceal the zipper tab, so I added a bow to the neckline. It's essentially a long rectangle of fabric sewn into the neckline, and wasn't too difficult to work out (similar to sewing a sash into a waistband, just around the neck instead!). I like how it echoes the ties on the sleeves. Actually, I just noticed that there's a similar option on the Pleiades 2 pattern.

I almost always add ties to the sides of dresses, whether they are in the pattern or not! I don't have to tie them tightly, but if I need some extra shaping they're invaluable. 

We took these photos on Easter, the day after our gender scan for little Kit, as an announcement for family (it's hard to believe that's over four weeks ago...). Actually, this dress had been hanging unworn in my closet all spring due to unseasonably cold weather, and it just so happened that I also had a new pink dress in my closet -- I decided I'd wear whichever dress corresponded to our baby's gender for Easter. Obviously, we're team blue!

Brothers!

Apparently spring is (still) having a bit of an identity crisis, so I've not been able to wear this dress since Easter (and that pink dress hasn't been worn at all yet!). But once the weather cooperates, I'm hopeful this will be a closet staple in the coming months/years. What a blessing and joy to have a "bump" to dress again, and lovely fabrics and patterns to dress it with! 

Snuggle-Ready

While I don't need my infant boys to look like 30-something lawyers, I'll admit it's difficult to add rainbows to baby clothes without a girly vibe. But this mama's got to get her rainbows in somewhere! And after a joyful anatomy scan today for little Kit (who was quite cooperative, bless him), it seemed liked the perfect time to share one of those rainbow projects.

I had some butter-soft jersey left over from another project (I think the boys' National Parks pajama shirts?), and thought it would make a cozy newborn gown. Stitched Together's free pattern and tutorial was just the ticket, a blank canvas for a bit of rainbow art.

The rainbow was a simple addition -- a bit of ecru braided cotton clothesline, with the center fibers pulled out (easily done). I traced my lines with a washable fabric pen, and stitched the now-flat rope with a wide zig-zag stitch. 

A wee bonnet was also in order (again, a hard thing to pull off for a boy!), and for that I mildly modified the free Ottobre jersey baby hat pattern. I lined mine with cream bamboo jersey. Hopefully it will fit! Not only is it hard for me to remember how small a newborn is, my newborns have varied wildly in size (the smallest was 7lb 4 oz, the largest just a hair over 11lb...). But at least knit is stretchy, and anything too big won't be for long, Lord willing.

Little Kit trying to put his hand in his mouth! 

It was such a delight to watch (and for me, feel) Kit wriggling around today! We finally decided on a name, and after the good news today we're rejoicing over God's many mercies thus far. Can't wait to meet you, baby boy -- but please stay put for a few more months! 

Bits and Bobs for Baby Boy

Once we found out that our newest baby was a boy, it didn't take me long to pull out needles (of various sorts and sizes) and set to work! I do love crafting for babies (especially my own!) -- few materials required, lightning progress, and everything tiny and sweet. I save only the best hand-me-downs from previous babies, because I know I can easily restock with thrifted finds and handmade garments. The perfect excuse to let the creative juices flow.

Sweater: Summer Cardigan pattern from Jord clothing
Pants: Self-drafted harem pattern
Aviator hat: Made for Laddie almost 8 years ago
Rainbow teether: Couldn't resist!

This was my first time using a Jord pattern, as I found them only recently. It seems I have a preference for knitting patterns from northern Europe, which can sometimes be frustrating due to the language barrier -- happily, some of Jord's patterns have been translated into English! I instantly found about six patterns I wanted, but limited myself to just one to start. Garter stitch is lovely for a cardigan, because it practically eliminates purl stitch (which I just don't enjoy). Granted, I did modify the pattern to knit the sleeves in the round, which meant alternating knit and purl rows on the sleeves. But I didn't really want to sew them up later and baby sleeves knit up quickly, so I'm happy with the compromise.

Overall, the pattern was great and quite concise. Though perhaps a little too concise, as I did have some difficulty with the instruction to do an i-cord binding around the entire sweater! Having never done one before, I was a bit lost. But happily YouTube came to the rescue, and I now have another skill under my belt. It does make a tidy finish, though rather time/yarn consuming. I absolutely love the Marine Heather colorway in KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Tweed. This is another yarn from my "fairy yarnmother," and after using three skeins I still have plenty left! Five little wood buttons finished it off.

I'm not sure if I did something wrong, but there is a noticeable indent about an inch from the yoke, on one of the increase rows. I think I did all of my increases on the right ride (with garter stitch it's not always easy to tell!), but if I did it again I would increase on the wrong side because I think it's less visible. I may leave it, or I may improvise a little brown "stripe" detail with a coordinating yarn, probably using a crochet hook. It might be a nice touch! 

Next up was a little pair of linen harem pants in roughly 0-3 months size (I'm awful with sizing!), which I hope will match the sweater size. I had a pattern that I'd drafted for Scout, which I modified slightly. I decided to do cuffs this time, since I tend to have to roll the hems and don't love the bit of serged edging peeking out -- I almost always use white serger thread, because I'm too cheap to buy three coordinating thread cones, and too lazy to change it out for every project, anyway. So these pants got a thick cuff, which is rolled up about half-way in the photos. I'm hoping this will help them last longer, too, since I can roll/unroll the cuff as the baby grows.

The fabric is a beautiful linen from a Wiksten Tova hack that I no longer wear -- the bottom half was the perfect size for a wee pair of trousers. I enjoyed adding a few details like the faux placket on the front, and the real-but-entirely-useless pocket on the back. And teeny tiny wood buttons are so sweet!

I also made a more masculine cotton rainbow for little Kit, our long-awaited rainbow baby. He's been giving me a few nudges as I write this, the most miraculous feeling. Though his seeming preference for my bladder does worry me a bit...

A recent order of fabric means that Kit's wardrobe will be expanding a bit more! All that rapid growth over the first year of a baby's life means more sewing opportunities for mama, which I'm doing my best to cope with. *wink* Something to keep me busy while I wait and pray to hold this little fellow in my arms.

Littlest, Kit

As a frugal person who prefers minimal interventions during pregnancy, I never would have imagined paying for an elective ultrasound. But with strict hospital visitor regulations, an utter lack of patience on my part, and the discovery that a blood gender test would actually cost more than the ultrasound -- well, for the first time in twelve pregnancies, we found ourselves at a private ultrasound studio so we could find out the gender of our rainbow baby as a family. Our only ultrasound thus far had been at eight weeks, during the "jelly bean" phase. In other words, not much to see other than the actual presence of a baby! But at 16 weeks, I knew there would be more shape and movement, and this would give our children the opportunity to see their little sibling in utero. Besides, it was hard to imagine waiting another twelve weeks to see the baby at our anatomy scan. Yes, yes, I know for most of human history ultrasounds haven't even been an option... It turned out to be a wonderful experience, and both the facility and the employees were lovely. Just a brief appointment, which suited my low-intervention preference, but we got to see our sweet baby moving around and -- most importantly -- found out the gender!

All of our children have been team girl, for the simple reason that Rosa is the only sibling that doesn't have a sister. But it should come as no surprise that our newest addition is another BOY! 

We celebrated with treats, and Little Man and Rosa helped me pick out a few things for the baby at a local consignment shop; they were so sweet as they oohed and aahed over all the little baby clothes. 

I'm always impatient to find out the gender of my babies, but with this pregnancy it's been elevated more than usual. Part of that may be that technology has advanced since Scout was born, and knowing that early blood tests are readily available makes it harder to wait. But I also think it's because I feel like I'd been waiting for a "gender reveal" not for the sixteen weeks of this pregnancy, but for one hundred seventy-four weeks -- that's how long it had been since we lost Baby J, just a few weeks before his anatomy scan. I know time is precious with each baby, that there's no guarantee of another week or another scan. And even though a stronger bond may ultimately make loss more heartbreaking, I'd rather take that risk than stay detached (though each pregnancy-after-loss mama is unique in their feelings about that). I'm so grateful for every day with this baby boy.

From left to right: hand + arm (upper left corner), profile, heartbeat

Of course, now my husband and I are faced with naming this baby! We have so many girl names that we both like, but both struggle to find mutually acceptable boy names. It's a dilemma I relish, though -- what a joy to have a little boy to name. Figuring out a blog non de plume was comparatively simple, to my surprise (it's often not). Foxes are one of my favorite animals, and fox babies are called "kits." Well, Kit also happens to be a nickname for Christopher, a name I've loved since childhood but my husband has vetoed. So here on the blog, this little one will be "Kit." 

Somehow the anatomy scan that seemed ages away is just around the corner, and I've started feeling the sweetest little movements over the past week. Little reminders that as much as this all seems like a dream, it is wonderfully, delightfully real. Praise God for His mercies!

PS -- Of course, there are knitting and sewing details to follow!

Gift for a Fairy Yarnmother

Over a year ago, a reader contacted me with a question -- she was downsizing her yarn collection, and would I like some of her stash? Shortly after, a box arrived on my doorstep. And then another, and then a third! Each one filled with beautiful yarns in some of my favorite fibers and a rainbow of colors. So many sock yarns! There were even a few cuts of fabric and a puzzle (how did she know?). I dubbed her my "Fairy Yarn-mother," and the name stuck (I don't know how she would feel about that, but hopefully she'd consider it a compliment!). You've already seen some of the results of her kindness, like Rosa's Izzy, my Elven Woods socks, and my Pinky socks. And there are more projects soon to be posted!

More crochet forays -- this time a bookmark, which was a challenging but enjoyable project.

In spite of my gratitude, 2021 was a difficult year in many ways, and it was over 12 months before I finally sent a little "thank you" package in her direction. It was also ridiculously hard for me to settle on what to send. Choosing gifts is not one of my strengths, and it's even harder when I have limited information about the recipient. But clearly sewing and knitting were something we had in common, and we also share a favorite Jane Austen novel! In the end, I went with those themes and hoped for the best.

A few lavender sachets in these Ruby Star Society "Purl" prints were a must:

And I made a small box adorned with a facsimile of Jane Austen's manuscript for "Persuasion" -- I used to make these regularly for my Etsy shop once upon a time (though with fragments of thrifted novels), but haven't done one in ages. I forgot how much I enjoyed it! 

A few goodies completed the package, and off it went. I must say, it's making me itch to make Jane Austen wares again...
 

A Home for Unfinished Objects

It's been a few years since I made my first real knitting bag (which is still used regularly!), and after I recently bought several prints from the Ruby Star Society "Purl" collection I knew it was time to make another. After all, I do like to keep a few projects going on my needles at all times... 

I didn't stray far from Erica Arndt's drawstring bag tutorial, and was so pleased with the result! And the fabrics just make my heart happy -- so perfect for a knitting bag, and in colors that I love.

One of my changes was to add a few pockets to the interior, which should help a bit with organization. I also interfaced my lining (just featherweight) to give the bag some extra structure, and that seems to have worked well. I used a simple cotton clothesline for the drawstring, and made my life more complicated by adding fabric tabs to keep the drawstrings together -- I didn't think a knot would work well, and I do really like the tabs. 

With a cross-country move on the horizon (only about 3 months to go!), I'm feeling the urge to use up fabric and get things sorted! Granted, this bag didn't make much of a dent in my stash, but every little bit counts, right? Right now I'm working on matching dresses for Rosa, Rosa's American Girl doll, and a little friend from church -- a much more satisfying use-up-the-fabric type of project!

 

Starstruck (The Pleiades Dress)

When I found the Pleiades dress pattern by French Poetry, I was intrigued. I fell in love with the simple details and the styling -- and, let's be honest, the name -- and kept coming back to it. When I found the perfect fabric (Cloud9 Organic's Rayon 2020 in "Wildflower Meadow), I finally ordered the pattern and printed it out. 

I knew I wanted to lengthen the skirt, and I had ordered barely enough fabric (actually less than it called for, I believe). But with some serious finagling, I was able to fit all of the pieces. I did not do a mock-up of this pattern, which was absolutely bonkers considering that the fabric was not cheap (hence why I'd purchased barely enough), and I was very invested in the success of this project. Also, no extra fabric meant no chance of re-cutting ill-fitting pieces. But after plenty of fear-induced procrastination, I took the plunge and started cutting. And the let the already-cut pieces sit for ages, because I was terrified that it would be a failure! Sometimes I frustrate myself...

I did change the neckline to be a bit higher, added length to the skirt, and added narrow ties to the waist (in case I wanted to fine-tune the fit). And somehow, some way, it all came together beautifully! The fabric was a dream to sew, everything matched up where it needed to, and the dress just feels good to wear. I opted for the tie sleeves (though I do want to try the lantern sleeves soon!). I had to order a covered button set online, which happily means I have plenty of extras for future projects. It's been a hot minute since I covered a button.

Happily, about sixty seconds of tinkering put my serger settings right -- it had been off for a while (I think little hands had played with the tension dials!), but I knew I wanted to finish off all of my interior seams nicely. Sergers can be so finicky, so I was relieved it proved to be a simple process. 

This was one of those dream projects where I barely used a seam ripper, and the construction process felt incredibly satisfying. I held my breath for the first trial fit, and couldn't believe it when everything was just right -- I  don't think I even needed the waist ties I added, but I like the look anyway. And raising the neckline is always a gamble, but that was also a success. The original would have been quite scandalous! I would have needed a demi-camisole (like I made here), which I didn't really want for this dress.

I haven't gotten to wear this dress much (yet), as I finished it in October and the weather was already chilly. It's more of a spring dress, anyway. But I did wear it for our family Christmas photos, which we took in October while the cottonwood trees at a nearby state park were at the height of their golden glory.

There's a moth in the center of this photo, if you can spot him!

This easily stands out as one of my favorite sewing projects of all time (along with my wedding gown, senior recital dress, and a few other notables!). I'm eager to make this dress in other colors and prints -- perhaps, if you'll pardon the pun, a whole galaxy of Pleiades? 

A Bit of Brumby

Well, it's becoming clear to me that I have no sense of proportion. I barely post for months, and then inundate my blog with as many posts in two weeks as I've posted in the past year or so! But there you are. 

And here's my Brumby skirt! I hesitated for a week or so with the pattern in my cart, and then there was a fab Black Friday sale that sealed the deal. 

My husband snapped the photo for me while we were out for our annual "Christmas/New Year's Family Breakfast." It was snowing at the time, which you can sort of see in the photo. 

I can't seem to find my fabric details in my e-mail, but I think it was a tencel blend? Really, really lovely fabric to work with, and it almost has a sheen to it. I went for an exposed zipper, and really like how it turned out. I've already worn this skirt so much! The oversized pockets are such fun. 

I've had a difficult time feeling much sewing mojo lately, but this was a good project to put me back in the mood a bit. Now I need to post that dress I finished back in October... *cough*
 

Christmas Pajamas: 2021

I really put off the annual Christmas pajamas this year -- sometimes I'm done by Thanksgiving, other years I'm adding the finishing touches on Christmas Eve morning! I did manage to finish these up a day "early," but goodness, you'd think by now I'd have figured out that it's worth it to start a bit earlier?

Anyway, they all turned out and that's the main thing! All four children got "coordinating" pajamas this year, with a Star Wars theme. I found some cotton Star Wars prints at JoAnn's, for the pajama pants -- four pairs of simple pajama pants go together surprisingly (and thankfully) quickly!

For the tops, I used some Telio organic cotton slub jersey, in grey for the boys and rose for Rosa (appropriately). 

Amazingly, I was able to find the perfect fabrics for the appliques in my stash, with one exception! I even had some Wonder Under left over, which I hadn't even thought to look for until it was time to start sewing. For all of the appliques, I found images online that would translate well to silhouettes. I printed them out and traced them on my WonderUnder. As I was working with all knit fabrics, I didn't bother with fancy edges and did a simple straight stitch as close to the edge of each design as possible.

Scout got a "baby Yoda with his bone broth" shirt, with the backside of some sweatshirt fleece for the fuzzy tunic. The green was some leftover mineral knit from Birch fabrics. 

Little Man's was the easiest design, a simple Mandalorian helmet:

And Laddie's was the most complicated, with a rather detailed BB8 motif! I did buy a thrifted orange tee for this applique, since I was quite sure I didn't have anything in that shade in my stash.

Rosa got Princess Leia -- I used a tiny scrap of Birch Organics french terry in "Marsala" for the lips, which I'd actually purchased to make another Jasper sweatshirt dress for myself. I ended up lining the pocket of my sweatshirt dress with the leftover jersey from Rosa's shirt, which seemed serendipitous. And there was enough french terry left to make a coordinating dress for Rosa... but I'll post them another time.

At last, all wrapped and ready to go under the tree! The littles were delighted with their Star Wars creations (they each also received Star Wars Lego sets the next day, so perhaps that was our theme this year?), and have worn them often ever since. As someone who rarely spends more than $1 for an entire set of pajamas, this is quite the yearly splurge! But it's well worth the looks on their faces, and  since they wear their Christmas pajamas until they are literally falling apart, it's a decent investment. 

For Christmas pajamas in years past:

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2018

Christmas 2019

Christmas 2020