This one fits Zoe wonderfully in size 122, without any adjustment. This pattern has a crossover front option, which I may make for the next one. The first thing she did when I had her try it on before I hemmed the bottom was complain that I put long sleeves on it. I told her that since it’s the end of August, she should expect that her clothes will have long sleeves for a while. Lettuce edged, her favorite. Her sleeves look to be about a half inch too long, but she’s growing like a weed, so I doubt that will last too long.

I made this in size 122, with 13 5/8″ of 1/4″ elastic in the legs. If there are actually markings for the placement of the straps, I have no idea where they are.

Zoe is just in this size, so I’m hoping it will fit her for a while. This suit has good coverage. The only thing I’m not crazy about are the tie straps. Well, that and I don’t like the fabric print, but we always make a tester when it comes to swimsuits.

Zoe’s at day camp this week. Every day has a different color theme. Most of the week she’s found something that matches the color from her collection of school and extracurricular program t-shirts. Her school t-shirt took care of red day, her t-ball t-shirt is blue, and so on. Today’s color is yellow. She didn’t have anything yellow. Pink, purple, no problem. Yellow? Nothing.

So, I pulled out an Ottobre magazine with a shirt pattern I’ve been wanting to try for her and went to work last night. I’d been putting it off because I prefer to sew with knits and this one called for a woven, and it has shirring on the front. I’d never shirred anything before. It sounded difficult and involves winding the bobbin by hand, which seemed like something I could definitely mess up. As it turns out, it’s really quite easy!

Here it is, from Ottobre Design 2/2005 – #11, in size 122 with the length of size 134.

It does look a little odd on the hanger with the shirring pulling the front together. I was worried that it was going to gape under the arms, but when Zoe tried it on this morning, it looked fine. And, even more importantly, she loved it. I ran the bottom hem through the serger to finish the edge but didn’t hem it up yet, I wanted to wait until Zoe had it on to see where it was going to fall on her.

Overall, this is a nice pattern, and once I got over my initial fear of shirring, it went together quickly.

Simple pink cotton/lycra capri length leggings for the girly. These are a size 116, I cut the waist elastic at 21″ and probably should have made it a tick smaller, but it’s okay. The coverstitcher cooperated without any adjustments when I hemmed the legs, I love it when that happens!

Ottobre Design, issue 01/2007, pattern #17

My Otto came the other day (last week?) and I finally had the time to sit down and flip through it, making notes on the pieces I’d like to try. It looks like a pretty good issue.

The baby stuff is at the beginning of the issue. So, after I get past the “awww, how cute, wouldn’t it be fun to have another little one…”, I remind myself that I do have a new niece. There’s a cute wraparound jacket, #8, that looks like my sister might like it. And then there’s a little dress, #5, with pants, #6, that can be made to match. But, oh, look at that – there’s a cute little sunhat, #4, too. I may not get around to the dress and pants, but Piper needs a cute little hat! Do I want to try that darling little top, #1, with the shirred front? It’s a definite possibility. It is very cute.

There’s a pair of baby jeans, #11, in there, and I have to be honest – I really don’t like baby pants without snaps in the legs. I don’t know, I guess they aren’t that much more difficult to take on and off than pants with snaps, perhaps it’s just a mental hurdle I have. Of course, it doesn’t matter, really, since I think Jack is past that size and my sister can easily buy a pair of jeans for her little boy. So, anyway…

Cute little jacket, #12, not crazy about the pocket flaps. The baby tee, #9, is cute, but I have enough reliable t-shirt patterns already in my stash that I don’t feel the need to trace another one.

Flip the page and we go on to bigger girl stuff. Another knit top, #29, Zoe would probably like the poofy sleeves and decorative buttons. I’ll put that one on the maybe list. There’s a cute pair of capris on page 15. Camp shirt, #21, and shorts, #23, for Jack land on the “make this” list, though they definitely won’t be in white. We’ll probably try both the short and longer version of the shorts.

A knit top, #33, with a criss-cross at the back neckline makes the list for Zoe, but I’ll have to check her measurements to see if she can wear that large of a size yet. There’s a tee for Jack, #24, that I like the color blocks on. I’ll probably skip the applique on it, though. The crop jeans, #26, are on the maybe list.

Zoe can always use a sundress, #18 fits the bill. The capris, #17, make it to the list, as does the short sleeve top, #32. Finally, I add two swimsuits to the list. First is a cute one piece suit with tie straps and the other is a two piece boy short type on which we’ll skip the butt ruffles.