Pirate Revival

Aaaarrrr ye know what they say, betterrrrr late than neverrrr aye! This was the 3rd and final installment for Celebrate the Summer Boy. Another re-fashion and another pilfer from daddy’s ever-shrinking wardrobe.

Did you see Dana’s rad board short tutorial? I will agree that unless you make boardies in regular cotton, like these beauties from Made by Rae, cool swimear fabric is few and far between. So can you imagine my excitement when these actual men’s boardies retired last summer?! As for their construction; it was a first attempt at a pants re-fashion and it did come together in the end but the insides are butchered!

I’ve been eyeing off this men’s surfie tee and awaiting its hand-me-down, knowing it would make the perfect little boy’s summer singlet. I’ve never made a singlet before and it was much the same as constructing a shirt pattern from an already existing one. The contrasting ribbing is a stripey knit fabric and I think I will coin this creation a nautical ensemble with a hint of pirate.

AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

11/06/2011

Aqua, white and all things nice

Boy Makes

And now may I present to you, unapologetically, another pair of Oliver and S sailboat pants. Maybe its time for a new gig…anyone tried the sketchbook pants? I wanted to make this version in dreamy aqua and white for the last few days of Celebrate the Summer Boy, and then its back to reality…winter.

I did forewarn that there would likely be a mass ‘pipification’ of everything following this project.

So when my local ran out of the real thing there was no choice but to DIY. I’d never have thought it was as simple as slotting some cord inside bias tape; so obvious now.

The best part: my gentle pestering finally paid off and this vintage photo tee was generously donated to our cause; that is to be hacked up and re-fashioned from daddy to Archie size. No part of the beast was wasted and even the ‘v’ neck made it across.

07/06/2011

Hot Chips and Seagulls

Boy Makes

I’m so excited that Dana and Rae have announced a summer edition of Celebrate The Boy. I’d been mourning the loss of Celebrate the Boy month since it finished up, and pining for the next one. I’d be quite happy if we celebrated monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, whenever. So even though we are approaching winter I couldn’t resist jumping on board and pretending its already summer… maybe the clothes will fit come the real thing.

A thrifted men’s mustard shirt re-fashioned to Oliver and S Sailboat pants, also seen here.

This top was experimental sewing in action! I was dreaming of something slouchy with a hint of nautical. I traced one of Archie’s shirts to get the basic pattern, and kept the original front piece of this women’s size 14 shirt. Its super stretchy so I thought to try cotton stay tape on the bottom seam and also the shoulders so it didn’t pucker. It worked like a dream! I wanted to add a little detail on the sleeves and added a tab / flap (plucked from a dress, complete with button holes) and some thrifted buttons.

The window of opportunity for capturing this human pinball is ever shrinking. When our backdrop becomes a cocoon and I can see myself turning all ‘stage mom’, we call it a day.

17/05/2011

Kids Clothing Week Challenge: Day Two

Boy Makes

And now for something completely different! No, not really. This is exactly the same Heidi and Finn ‘comfy yoga hoodie’ pattern as seen on day one of the Elsie Marley KCWC. If you want proof of how quick and managable this really is; it was whipped up during nap time…yay!

1T is the smallest size in this pattern and kind of works for a 7 month old (albeit a large one) with the sleeves rolled up. The only thing I couldn’t figure out was why this pattern has a one-size-fits-all hood? It echos in there. Still, I love this kokka postie goats fabric and am quite chuffed with how it turned out.

Hellooooo…is anybody in there?

17/05/2011

Kids Clothing Week Challenge: Final moments.

Boy Makes

Don’t ask what happened to days 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Elsie Marley KCWC! Obviously I went out too hard and got burn out by day 3. On day 7, I realised there was still time so I went at it like none other than a crazy sewing lady and even sustained a spectacular sewing injury in my haste! And because time was running out I grabbed what was at hand and I tell you, paper hand towels and sticky tape work a treat on a punctured finger. Sweating and bleeding, I just snuck these babies (pictured) into the flickr pool in the nick of time! I am so in awe of those of you that went about the Kids Clothing Week Challenge systematically and produced one item each day! I will be adopting a new game plan next time…