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’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.

We’ve got three heading to school this year:  our oldest is a sophomore (!!), Miss #2 is heading to all-day pre-K, and Mr. #3 will be at preschool three days a week once he turns two.  That’s three lunches most days of the week.  We’ve been sitting pretty on the lunchbox-rescued-from-yard-sales tip for a couple years, but this year, I felt the siren song of a new indulgence: laminated fabrics.

Ever since Anna Maria put out her Good Folks laminates, Westminster/Free Spirit has had the good sense to put some of their top designs out in this format.  These are not oilcloth, they’re the actual fabric coated in a thin layer of PVC laminate, and they’re positively fabulous to work with.  You can pleat and gather them, they’re supple and forgiving, and the prints are amazing.  I pulled from the selection we have in the shop and whipped up three new lunch bags for this new school year.

Yes, I said three.  Miss #1 loves hers so much she declined to be deprived of its company for the day to allow it to be part of this photo shoot.  Rest assured, it’s faboo.

I used Ellen’s free pattern from over at The Long Thread, and these whipped up in a snap!  I’m especially fond of the leather handles on Mr. O’s bag (the leather came from a salvaged interior designer swatch book).

Loving these, and very excited that all my Twitterfolk gave me excellent suggestions for bento boxes to put in them!  I ordered these via Cool Mom Picks, and also popped for some back-ups here.  Looking forward to whipping up school goodies all year long!

Happy stitching, y’all!

Project details:  Pink lunchbox was made from 1/4 yd of Lindy Leaf laminate from Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane, plus 1/2 yd of Bite Me quilt-weight cotton from Michal Miller.  Black lunchbox was made from 1/2 yd of Slim Dandy laminate from Nicey Jane and 1/2 yd of Rat Race quilt-weight cotton from Michael Miller.  Handles are in red 1″ cotton webbing and black remnant full-grain leather.

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!

Thanks to all of you who’ve given such great responses to the release of the Overmost!  Ever since its debut on MADE, I’ve heard nothing but complimentary words, and I’m so grateful for that.  It’s such an easy, sweet shape and a quick sew, and I really love it on girls and boys.

And because I love it so much, I’m giving you a chance to win one!

Up for grabs are FOUR finished versions of the Overmost, in four different sizes.  These are all made specifically for this giveaway, and are constructed using some fabrics I’ve been hoarding in my stash.  I think every pair turned out super cute, and had to slap my own hand to keep from saving them ALL for our kids!

Size 12m, in a Michael Miller airplane print called Fly By Day–bright blue background, aircraft all over, and a red plaid reverse.

Size 2T in an out-of-print Michael Miller Waves design, very chic and vaguely Asian, with a cotton stripe as the reverse.

Size 3T in a linen/Tencel washable blend in a softer-than-soft spring green.  Amazing drape, and lined with a wonderful leaf print cotton.

Size 4T in a fabulous Japanese cotton/linen blend from Etsuko Furuya.  Bright fuchsia, with a small-scale plaid reverse.

To win, leave a comment.  That’s all!  Giveaway is open through NEXT WEDNESDAY, July 21 at 12 noon.  Winners will be announced here on the blog, and your fabulous new Overmosts will fly to you on gentle wings!

Thanks again, everyone, for all the kind words and your endless support of independent design and the handmade.  You’re awesome.