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4.26.2015

Ottobre 3/2014 No 15 in Charley Harper Interlock Knits

I feel like it's been awhile since I made a valiant effort to participate in Kids Clothes Week.

Ottobre 3/2014 #15 in Birch fabrics 
(Iris put on her shoes by herself!) :)

Since I sew on a weekly basis, I usually just add whatever I've made to the KCW pool and call it good.  But this time, I was particularly inspired by the animal theme.


Ottobre 3/2014  No 15 in Birch fabrics 

 Also, we're nearing the end of our homeschool year (three weeks to go - woot!) and our only break this semester was our one week whole house declutter.  Normally, I don't sew during the week so I was thrilled to carve out some time for creativity into my day.  This was perfect.

Ottobre 3/2014  No 15 in Birch fabrics 

While I did not reach the KCW goal of sewing 1 hour per day, I did do a little something most days.  It's amazing how it really inspired and energized me!  I needed Kids Clothes Week this season more than Kids Clothes Week needed me!  :)

ottobre 3/2014 no 15 in birch fabrics

I made the girls' dresses from the summer 3/2014 edition of Ottobre - #15.  Time and time again, I am so impressed by Ottobre sewing instructions.  They do assume a foundational sewing knowledge base but the finishing is always so beautiful and the instructions just make sense to me.

This pattern ran short for some reason.  So I paired Iris's dress with these puppet show shorts.

ottobre 3/2014 No 15 

 I added some length to Tia's dress but still had to finish it with a 1/4" hem.  I wish I would've added even more.

ottobre 3/2014 no 15 

 This was my first time sewing a knit with snaps.  My loving husband did the dirty work of inserting the snaps for me.  It required a hammer and some pounding, so the job was really quite manly.  :)  I chose these pearl snaps for Iris's dress.

pearl snaps 

And these simple metal ones for Tia's.

  metal snaps

Next time I would leave the interfacing off of the snaps area because it was so thick and it was pretty difficult for Dan to get the snaps through.  I'm not sure I would have stood a chance had I tried to do it myself.

ottobre 3/2014 no 15 

 This Birch interlock knit is simply perfection.  It is a dream to work with!  The fabric for Iris's dress is called Charley Harper Nurture - Foxsimiles.

ottobre 3/2014 no 15 

When my niece stayed with us for a month two years ago, we joked that the fox was the new put a bird on it.  And hey, two years later, the fox is still going strong!

ottobre 3/2014 no 15

Tia's fabric is from the same collection by Charley Harper, but it features mama and baby koalas.  It's pretty adorable, and man, cream colored Birch interlocks are so incredibly soft.  Rae said something about it possibly being related to the fact that there is less ink in them.  I'm not sure, but they are really amazing!

tia in charley harper koala

And that wraps up my spring 2015 Kids Clothes Week!

ottobre 3/2014 no 15
kid's clothes week

27 comments:

  1. Well those are both mighty cute! I love the prints and the little shoulder snaps. Your girls are adorable and look so ready for spring. I've not usually followed the KCW theme but this one kind of inspired me as well.

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  2. How adorable! I found your blog a week ago and you are inspiring me to see more. I seem to promise clothing to my kids and the. Don't get around to finishing them until it's the following year!

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    1. Hi Pam! Well, it's great that you finish them! I think most people would just give up!
      Thanks for the kind words about my blog!

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  3. Ok, I take the both of them, they are just so adorable !!!

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  4. I love that Ottobre dress as well! Lovely choice of fabric, I adore that koala print!

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    1. Oh man, it's such good stuff! So soft and Charley Harper's koalas are adorable. <3

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  5. Very cute as always. I'm sort of in awe of you now that I know you turn out these gorgeous creations by sewing only on the weekends! Also thanks for the review of the fabric; I'm in knit sewing mode and looking for more lines to try.

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    1. Thanks, Masha! I think you would love these knits. They wash/hold up well, too - at least my previous Birch interlocks have.

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  6. Absolutely adorable!! I just bought a little floral Birch knit to make something for Ellery's birthday this week. It really is so nice! Loving those koalas!

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    1. Oooo, I can't wait to see it. {Insert heart eyes} :)

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  7. Way to go Mom! Your mad sewing skills are so impressive. Everything is beautiful.
    p.s. does miss T have any idea just how beautiful she is???

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  8. those are such great dresses, and even better together! all these new knit prints are so much fun! and iris' shoes, oh man...adorable.

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  9. Two stunning dresses! And the koala-fabric... I ran across it the other day and fell soooo in love. Might have to buy it now :-)

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    1. I don't think you would be disappointed! :)

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  10. They are really sweet dresses. I love those fabrics! And their shoes. So adorable! I also got Christian to put in the snaps the one I time I had to use them.I was terrified to ruin my dress!

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    1. I know! It’s pretty scary, right?! I’m glad Dan did it for me. It might also be intimidating doing it for someone else. It’s one thing to ruin your own handmade, but someone else? The pressure is ON! :)

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  11. These are gorgeous! I've been eyeing up that koala fabric, nice to hear it's lovely & soft. Putting snaps in knit fabric sounds hard to me but it looks great. I really am going to have to check out Ottobre magazine, I've heard so many good reviews of it.

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    1. Yes, I think the snaps are a bit intimidating. So glad Dan was able to do it for me. <3

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  12. Ah, so pretty! I'm feeling the interlock lust all the way from here! (Fabric diet, fabric diet, fabric diet ... ) Such a great little dress, and yeah, I feel ya on the snaps. I never seem to be able to get them in securely enough so I usually don't bother. Maybe I just need to give Steve the task?! Haha! Good to have a manly man around the house, eh? ;-)

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  13. I share your love for that organic Birch interlock fabric. Love both dresses!

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    1. Yeah, it's really good stuff! I am so glad companies like Birch are producing such high quality knits these days. Knits have come a loooong way in such a short amount of time!

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  14. just stop with these two - what cuties!!! love the charley harper prints, these dresses are super great. love your fancy snaps too - nice work dan!

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  15. What a great collaborative effort - you do the sewing and Dan does the snaps! Sounds like how I would have wanted to divvy up the labor as well:) Love the knits you chose - I had never seen that koala one! They both looks so adorable in their new knit dresses, and the best thing is you know Iris will be able to wear Tia's when she's big enough. I'm glad you enjoy working with Ottobre so much - as I've said before, the tracing of the patterns alone makes me weary before even starting!

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    1. Definitely a bonus to pass these clothes from one child to the next.
      You know, about the tracing, your eyes really do acclimate to it. I can just 'see' the pattern so easily now, in fact, I would much rather whip out an Ottobre pattern now that tile a PDF. I never thought I would say that, but it's true. It just takes some getting used to. You are such a talented seamstress that I know you would get the hang of it in no time.

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    2. You have more faith in me that I do:) Or perhaps I'm just too impatient? I have about 5 Ottobre issues that I should peek through again. There really is some great stuff in their designs.

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  16. Love both of these dresses. I've seen that koala fabric in another dress and it's just divine! the girls look gorgeous.
    Mentally adding setting snaps to Dan's skill list (ranked above the burlap ribbon and about equal with hot glue gun use).

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