I’m already hearing lots of buzz and excitement about the Sewing Clothing for Kids e-course this spring, and I am delighted to announce that registration is now OPEN!  Woot!

Psst!!  This class makes an EXCELLENT last-minute Valentine’s gift, so do feel free to forward the link to that certain someone who hasn’t yet made it to the store!

This class is a five week online course, open to anyone anywhere in the world, that walks through the basics of making clothing for children sized 12 months to 6 years.  We cover seven patterns, all of which are included with the registration, and most of which are great for both boys and girls!

See images below for a sneak peek into what we’ll be sewing beginning March 12, and then head over to register today!  I am capping enrollment on this class to make sure I’m able to interact with everyone on an individual basis, so if you’re hoping to join us, then sign up sooner than later!

Row 1:

A bonnet with a delightful gathered brim, perfect for summer and spring.

The bib is BIG, and is lined with neutral-colored flannel to make it absorbent.

The button-up shirt can be short or long-sleeved, and is fabulous in all those novelty prints you’ve been dying to use. The cut is great for either boys or girls, and I’ve made it for every season of the year.  Our son’s closet is stuffed full of them, including the one he wore with his Snack Bandolier last year!

Row 2:

The reversible-bodice dress isn’t truly reversible–rather, the bodice can be stitched so it buttons up the front or buttons up the back (you decide when you make the dress). It’s like having two styles of dress in one pattern! This one has a cute trim accent at the hem. We’ll also make a boys’ vest based on this bodice that is fully lined.

The Perfect Pants come in three lengths: shorts, capris/pedal pushers, and full-length. They have a flat front, elastic-waist back, and mock fly.  Check out the ones Rae has made for her kids, who seem to really love them!

Row 3:

More button-up shirt, with its curved hem, and the long-sleeved version has a sleeve vent–varsity skills, y’all!  The patterns in the class are ALL suitable for confident beginners, so anyone who has taken my Essential Sewing e-course or has a similar level of beginner experience is more than capable of making these garments–I promise.

The Overmost in a long version, this time in corduroy with a quilt-cotton lining. This one IS fully reversible!  See more images of the Overmost, which I love for both boys and girls.

Row 4:

The pinafore is sweet when stitched up for girls, and can be worn alone, over pants, over a skirt, over shorts, with a tee, without a tee–our girls live in these all year long!

Row 5:

The Overmost has criss-cross straps at the elastic-waist back.

I like the Overmost for girls and boys, especially with a great novelty button!

A fabulously versatile jacket with either zipper or button options for closures, and can have either a collar or a hood.

Row 6:

The jacket is fully reversible, and has pockets at the side seams.

The pinafore can have a single button at the bodice for the apron variation.

Row 7:

Or you can add buttons all the way up the back on the pinafore for full coverage or to wear as a dress!

Large covered buttons for the reversible-bodice dress.

Row 8:

The cowboy variation of the button-up shirt is cute with its patch pockets, cowboy yoke, and snap finish.

ALL these patterns come included with the class registration, and you’ll learn step-by-step how to sew each one with video instruction and the chance to ask your questions as we work our way through–and get personal answers.  I love, love, love teaching these classes online, and can’t wait to have you be part of it!  Check out this and other online sewing classes on the Whipstitch sewing e-course page, and I’ll look forward to “seeing” you in class!

I’ve had a couple questions about the bonnet that our baby is wearing in the photos I brought back from our trip. Another quick and simple project just for this vacation, and we used the stink out of it.

Very simple pattern from Amy Karol of Angry Chicken through her company, King Pod. This is, obviously, the baby size, with a few minor alterations.  I made the brim longer and then gathered it to give more of a ruffle rather than a crisp, straight brim.  Some decorative stitching using the built-in selection on my machine made the faux-broidery on the edge quick and easy.

The fabric is a delicious handkerchief linen that is super, super soft.  I wanted something that would block the light (which this does thanks to the lining) but that was also lightweight and wouldn’t make her little head all sweaty.  Score!

As luck would have it, gathers are Chapter 1 in The Art of Manipulating Fabric, my year-long self-imposed exploratory project.  I’ve been gathering, as it were, for years, but the variations she gives and the project ideas that spring to mind are staggering.  Check it:

I’m checking off basic machine-stitched one-edge gathers from my list, having made this bonnet using that technique.  Now I’m'a make me some yo-yos, yo.  FTW!

I’m contagious.  At least, I think I’m contagious.  I have at least three friends who have been hoping to get pregnant over the past year or more, and all of them are now expecting babies.  Which is a relief in lots of ways–mostly for them, obviously, because they’re all really excited, but also because I’m off the hook!  We’ve done had our last baby at our house, I’m afraid.

Here’s the thing I didn’t really think about when we had this last baby, though: no more bitty baby clothes.  D’oh!  I do love making tiny things to welcome tiny people.  So having baby showers to attend and new babies and new mommies to shower is a true joy–I’ve gotten so many smiles out of the things I’ve made and things I’ve been gifted for our four that I’m really having fun thinking of special gifts to give to my dear friends as they welcome new babies into their lives and busy days.

Enter Rae, of Made by Rae. Love. Her.  That’s all there is to it.  She and I have plenty in common (former schoolteachers-turned-sewing bloggers, science nerds with needles, kids underfoot, great hair, etc), and I love her voice and her aesthetic.  She makes a great pattern, too, I can tell you–and her newest is just what I needed for all these bitty ones!

The Big Butt Baby Pants are really sized for cloth-diaper-wearing babies (ours are about 50/50–we were full-time cloth folks for babies #1 & #2, but the honest truth is that now we’re about half-and-half) so I was relieved to see that she gives instructions for sizing this pattern to fit a disposable-wearing baby, too.

These are for the shower I’ll be attending tomorrow–if you’re on the guest list, don’t going sending the link to the mom-to-be, now!  Of course, these were so quick and easy–went together in well under an hour–that I might just whip up a couple more pair tonight after the kids are asleep.  Rae includes instructions for a bunch of variations, and I’m itching to try those now.  The instructions are flawlessly well-written, and the pages include every detail you’d need to know to put these together.  They really are great for any skill level, and only have four seams plus hems!

big butt back

Grab a copy of the pattern here.  This is an instant download, so no waiting–which goes to show how cool Rae is.  If you’re a cottage industry, notice that Rae very, very generously provides you with permission to produce these FOR SALE on a small scale INCLUDED in the purchase of the pattern.  Awesome!

Happy Big Butt stitching, y’all!

Edited to add: I did end up making two more pair of these before heading to the shower–for real, they take about 40 minutes each, and are so darling.  The mom-to-be, looking radiantly beautiful, loved them!  I’m even sending over a copy of the pattern for her to use as her new baby grows–it’s a gift that keeps giving.  Like a fruit basket, but better.

Sewing Buddy Program ™

I’m super excited to announce the winners of the Overmost giveaway, but first, I want to say how cool it is to see each of your responses come in looking for a Sewing Buddy!  I love the idea that you can be at any skill level, any confidence level, do any type of sewing, be in any country, be any age and the simple act of having someone who’s checking in and inspiring you and cheering you on will help you get where you want to go in your sewing faster and happier and more excited.  I’m sending out emails today to all those who have already left a comment and signed up, and will match the first batch (!) by end of the week.  Keep those comments coming on the original post–we’re nowhere close to sold out of Sewing Buddies, and I want everyone who wants one to get one!

Overmost Giveaway

Thanks to all of you who came by and left a comment in the Overmost giveaway!  Anyone who blogs will tell you that comments really make our day, and this was no different.  I loved hearing from all of you just like I always do, especially because this time I get to give you something I think is pretty fabulous.

Our four winners have already been notified by email.  Each of them gets their pick of the four sets of Overmosts to be shipped to them for a summer of yippee!  Super thanks again, y’all, and happy stitching!

Winners (selected by Random.org):

#31  Jennifer W.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:56 am — Edit I love these…. so so so cute!

#7  Suzanne
July 16th, 2010 at 8:21 pm — Edit I love the pattern and the fabric used. I also enjoy going to the shop and the demonstrations you have had there since opening.

#2 ~Michelle~
July 16th, 2010 at 4:52 pm — Edit So cute! I know a pair of girls that would love the Etsuko pair (well, sis #1 would love it right now, sis #2 later down the road)!!

#30  Ellie
July 20th, 2010 at 12:39 am — Edit Wow, these are fantastic! I love the design, I love the fabrics! I would be happy to win any one of them, as my baby will grow into these sizes. I think my favorites are the 3T because I just love that shade of green, but I really am oohing and ahing over all of them. Thanks for sharing them with us!

Our oldest was gone for a whole week, visiting with my mother for her annual summer retreat from the siblings.  It was much, much harder to have her away than I thought it would be.  We celebrated her birthday at the lake with my folks, and while we were there, it occurred to me that she wouldn’t ALWAYS want to spend her birthday with us.  In a few years, she’ll want to spend it with her friends, and a few years after that, with her husband, and a few years after that, with her own kids.  It was a bit of a blow, I’ll be honest.  She’s fifteen now, and suddenly she’s not a little girl anymore.

Measuring her for her new clothes, I see in the tape just how grown up she’s become.  It reminded me of my favorite George Bernard Shaw quote, from Man and Superman:

The only person who behaves sensibly is my tailor.  He takes my measure anew every time he sees me.  All the rest go on with their old measurements.

In a lot of ways, I think that summarizes my entire parenting philosophy: I want to meet my kids all over again each day, and know them for who they are, rather than for who I want or expect them to be.  Sewing for our oldest has given me the chance to see her through her eyes, and have a better picture of what she thinks of herself.  It’s invaluable information for any parent, and helps me know how to respond to her and how to better understand the subtext when she acts all crazy cakes the way a fifteen-year-old is bound to do.  Making clothing for her for what may be one of the last times as she grows up and grows out of our house, I am grateful for the chance to see her unfold into a whole person, and hopeful for the future she sees in front of her.

It all happens each day, one stitch at a time, as we sew our children’s lives and they accept and run.  Roots and wings, y’all.