Soccer season

 My boys soccer season is over! Yay for me...oh I mean them :o)

 C wasn't too happy about it after a week mostly because he hadn't made one goal but the 2nd to last game he made a goal , for the other team, but he was so excited I didn't tell him. He now says he loves Soccer.

B loves any type of sport he isn't really competitive, doesn't care a lot about winning he just loves to play the game and I'm ok with that attitude! I'd rather that than him be rude or gloaty about winning....ya know?

They did great and had fun if they have their way we will do it again in the Fall!

KCW Wrap up

I had a lot of fun this KCW and used more challenging patterns than in the past. I didn't do as much as I had hoped but I did sew 4 shorts and 1 shirt. I am learning more and more that I am not a fast sewer I am slow mostly because I am a perfectionist and I can't just let something be it has to look just right (I'm working on not being so uptight about my work).

I made 4 shorts and 1 shirt, I would still like to tweak the red pair.

 

Above are my 2 favorite upcycles I did last week.

 This is my most favorite outfit from kwc. 

C loves it and I think it is sooo cute on him!

Currently my house is a disaster and my boys had to wear mismatched socks to school because somebody was busy sewing and didn't do the laundry ;o) 

 I can't wait until the next KCW challenge!

KCW Day 4: shorts for C

I am finally making shorts for my C boy! Poor kid being the middle child he gets a lot of hand-me-downs and not a lot of new stuff. He will love these! C is into comfy and refuses to wear the one pair of skinny jeans he owns, he will always choose an elastic waist or loose jeans if he can.

 I used the cleanslate shorts pattern I am really liking it it seems really versatile I haven't made the pants length but I'm sure I will like them too.

Ps. I'm working on becoming an affiliate for blank slate patterns so as soon as my hubby helps work out some bugs I will have a link on the side!

KCW Day 3: Mini Boden take 2

  So remember the green shorts I posted yesterday? Well here is a reminder:

They were supposed to look like this:

 

[Source]

Yeah not even close to the same and I could. not. let. it. go.

So I fixed them!

 I used the clean slate shorts pattern (a tiny bit smaller though) and used ribbing for the waistband.

 The Boden ones had a band on the pockets and I decided to do it that way but with a contrasting color. I think it made a huge difference! It never ceases to amaze me what a tiny details do to change the look.

 C said "Mom there are pockets!.....

 ...and a pocket here too!!" 

I also made the shirt today too but silly me was in a big hurry and sewed the sleeve end where the arm hole was supposed to go! I guess it wouldn't be KCW without a mistake here and there ;o)

KCW Day 2: Copycat Mini Boden

 A while ago I am momma hear me roar posted an upcycle idea for shorts and when I saw it I knew I wanted to try it for myself!

Original shorts:

[Source]

 

My 2 copy cat versions:

  I really like them and I know C will too, he prefers elastic waists and more comfy clothing than B.

Although next time I might try a different pattern I tried the kickin-back-sweats from the sewing for boys book and I wasn't too impressed, it was way too baggy for my taste so I took them in a lot, (I might give them 1 more try we'll see).

KCW Day 1: Shirt to shorts

I made B another pair of shorts here is the before and after.

The shirt was a Large fitted long sleeved mens shirt. I had to use every single bit to make a boys size 8 shorts. 

I used the clean slate shorts pattern form Melly sews. A really great pattern the instructions are easy and the sizing is right on. My one and only complaint is that it only goes up to an 8 which B is already too tall for :o(

 Here you can see how I fit the pattern pieces on, I discovered that it didn't matter if my pattern had old seams in it because it really isn't that noticable with the print.

 As you can see I used every last bit of the shirt for these shorts!

 I used the existing shirt pockets for the back pockets, I think it worked out great even though I had to do some tricky maneuvering!

 

 Quick, comfy and cute = a perfect sewing project!

PS. There is a %15 discount on blank slate patterns this week take advantage of it! Here is the code: KCWSPRING13 Go here to purchase!

 

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KCW tips and tools

I decided with KCW coming up I would share a few helpful things I have found and some tips to make you sewing more effective.

 

#1. Don't let your kids get sick (o; Last year I had a lot of projects cut out ready to sew but my kiddos had hand-foot-mouth disease and that is where my kcw ended, lol!

#2. Cut out all you can this week, make sure to label the pattern and pieces, that way you won't have to worry about it next week and hopefully get more sewing done.

#3. Which should be #1, ha! Make a plan, write down the things you need to make, the things you want to make and how much time you have to accomplish it, even if you don't complete everything or even stick to your plan at least you will something to start with.

#4. Don't worry if you can't sew for an hour every day just do what you can!

Here are some helpful tools I have found, hopefully they will help with some of your sewing this next week!

 

Here is a tutorial for making 5 yards of bias tape from a fat quarter of fabric, there are many projects you can use bias tape for even if you don't have a girl, here are some tutorial using it, and here and here.

Now that you have a way to make a lot of bias tape here is a free printable from scientific seamstress for making your own bias tape maker.

Here another free printable from scientific seamstress for a folding template, I can't tell you how awesome this is it saves time and money!

On the Oliver and S site they have a free printable for a measurement chart to keep record of the kids you sew for. I actually printed this last week and already have used it 4-5 times it is so simple but brilliant! That was always the one thing that kept me from sewing for my boys was not knowing their measurements,now I have that all recorded and in my sewing notions drawer for easy access.

Remember to check out my free patterns tab at the top, I have found a lot of free boys patterns. Here are a few example of things I have found:

Shorts and KCW

Here are all the shorts I've made B so far!

Blue blogged here, tan here, plaid here and the green ones here

Also Kids clothes week is coming up next week! Elsie has created a website just for this challenge and I heard that it be hosted four times a year instead of twice, exciting!

 In case you don't know what KCW is here a brief explanation from the new site:

Work on making clothes for kids

one hour each day for a week.

The challenge starts on the 22nd and goes until the 29 of April. I will be sharing even more projects next week!

Nowhere Man shorts

As soon as I saw Shwin & shwin had re-released their nowhere man pants up to a size 10 I bought the pattern! It is so hard to find cute patterns for boys after  size 6 (even harder after 8) that I knew I would get good use out of them.

This was my first experience using shwin patterns and I was very pleased they went together flawlessly and were super easy to use!

There was even an option for making a faux fly but I decided against it this time, I am excited to try it for the next pair I make (you bet there will be a next time!)

 They are super comfy and B loved them too, he wanted to wear them the rest of the day!

If you want to try making pants I can't say enough how simple this pattern was and the little extra details she has really made the shorts turn out quite well.

Again with a silly pose from the boy ;o)

Sew Boy April 2013

I know I usually do SewBoy on a Saturday but my boys have started soccer and I just don't have time that morning to trouble shoot if necessary. So I am now going to be doing SewBoy on Thursday!

 

 

 Once upon a sewing machine has a great tutorial for adding snaps to a toddler shirt, go check it out!

 

 Elegance and Elephants shows you how to make an elastic waistband, I love her blog be sure to visit!

 

 

 Julie-K has a really neat tutorial for adding an adjustable waist to jeans, check it out.

 

 

Stuff mommy makes has a great idea and tutorial for lengthening boys jeans!

 

 

See Kate Sew shows you how to stamp over a stained shirt to look new again!

 

 

 As a bonus, of sorts, I found a tutorial to make a Mens hoodie if you are itching to make something for your big boy (o;

And that's a wrap see you next time!