I cannot believe I managed to go an entire year without any blog posts! I think I blinked and an entire year passed by. To be fair, we did do an entire major house renovation in there so my sewing room was (and still is) mostly packed up. So here we are in September, the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and winter will be here soon in Alberta. Seriously, as I sit here it's 11 degrees Celsius outside (feels like 8). For those in the US, that's 51 and feels like 46. Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!
So, I bring you the perfect fall Mini Capsule for Miss 6 which includes 2 Cardigans, 2 tees, and 2 pairs of pants which all coordinate into many different outfit possibilities. This is the best back to school wardrobe as she can mix and match to her heart's content without fear of any fashion faux pas. Also - after we finished back to school shopping, she decided her new favorite colour is green so we NEEDED some green pieces.
For the 2 cardigans, I made 2 similar styles from 2 different designers. The first (cream) cardigan is the Seville Cropped Cardigan from New Horizons Designs. I tested this pattern when it released and made it initially in a white cotton/lycra and it literally matched with every top/dress she owned at the time. I absolutely love how this pattern goes together and the fit is just perfect. As of posting date, this pattern is free using a code found in the New Horizons Designs Facebook group. I used a soft french terry I found locally at Marshall Fabrics in the remnant bin a few years ago. For the second cardigan (green), I made the Patterns for Pirates Butterfly Cardigan. It was my first time making this pattern and my only complaint is that the circle that goes around the main part of the top is made up of straight bands so it does not lay very flat as compared to the contoured bands on the Seville. I made the tunic length and went halfway between the short and tall bands. I made this out of bamboo french terry in "moss" found at Black Rabbit Fabrics. If you've never used bamboo french terry, you need to try it. It is my favorite fabric to use for fall/winter due to its beautiful drape and crazy softness.
For both tees, I used the Brynn top from Sew a Little Seam. There are so many options in this top that you can make many different looking tops with only having to print out one main pattern. For the flower tee, I used a fat half (FH) of a light cotton/lycra swaffing bought locally through a destash. I made the front tie option with curved back and cap sleeves. I ended up having to cut two half back pieces due to having such a small piece of fabric but it all worked out. My daughter currently loves sloths so I also bought a FH of sloth fabric from Black Rabbit Fabrics. Luckily their fabric is extra wide so I had enough in the FH to make a long sleeve shirt and I didn't need to piece the back either! So for the Sloth top, I made the long sleeve option with curved back hem.
The pants were a last minute addition to this mini capsule. I decided she needed extra warmer pants for fall/winter but none of our usual shops had RTW french terry leggings yet. So off I went to Marshall fabrics and found the light pink bamboo french terry and brown in a cotton french terry. (The pink matches closest to Mellow Rose and the brown matches closest to Rose Brown on my Black Rabbit Fabrics bamboo colour card). For the pink leggings, I used the leggings pattern included with the Shenanigans Skort from 5 out of 4 Patterns. I believe this is the same pattern or at least a similar pattern to the FREE Little Ninja Leggings. I made them extra long as my kiddo keeps growing out of the lengths of her pants long before they don't fit in the waist. For the brown pants, I finally used the Wild and Free lounge pants pattern by Coffee and Thread. I've been meaning to try these pants for ages and they were the perfect base to try out this moto hack I found since there is already separate front pattern pieces that break at the knee. I love how they turned out and I cannot wait to make myself some moto leggings.
All said, I absolutely love how this mini capsule turned out and I will definitely consider making more mini-capsules for future back to school sewing. What do you think? Have you ever done any capsule sewing for yourself or your kids?
Cheers! Michelle
We're kicking off the Sew Long Summer blog tour this week. We have some really fun and inspiring creations for you again this year.
Sew Long Summer is all about getting those transitional wardrobe pieces ready; finishing up all those things we meant to make this summer; and well, basically whatever Sew Long Summer means to you.
The full tour includes these talented sewists, so I hope you'll follow along and comment on their posts this week.
Sept. 9th Sewing A La Carte, mahlicadesigns, Sewing Vortex, Sewing With Sarah
Sept. 10th The Bear and Pea Atelier, Auschick Sews, Stitched by Jennie, Miss Marah Sewn Sept. 11th Sew Cute Couture by Kathy, A Rose Tinted World, mahlicadesigns
Sept. 12th Little Heart Threads, Lulu and Celeste, The Crafting Fiend, Fils Anddraps
Sept. 13th Petite Font, Sew 4 Five, The Sewing Scientist, Sew Cute Couture by Kathy, Kitty Makes It
