Prefontaine Shorts for Kids into Track Pants

If your kids are anything like mine, they love their Prefontaine Shorts. I recently went through Jimmy's dresser to make a box of hand-me-downs for his cousin and to cycle in the larger sizes in anticipation of warmer weather. I did this in the hopes of sending winter away, but it snowed one more time. Grr... In any case, while were were cleaning shorts out Jimmy saw these:


Unfortunately they are obscenely too small for him now, never mind when he would wear them three months for now. Into the hand-me-down box they went. Cue the tears. Huge, pathetic tears. So I promised him new ones. Lots of new Prefontaines.


Since it's a bit too cool here for shorts I lengthened the pattern in to Prefontaine Track Pants. Success! They're great comfy, wide leg pants. Or hell, even jammies. Lord knows Jimmy would wear them day and night if I let him.


Here's how you do it:
Use a clear gridded quilting ruler to mark a line 1.5" above the bottom of the front pattern piece parallel to the bottom edge. Make sure the line you makre is above the entire retro curve of the side seam, but below the crotch point. Mark a second line on your back pattern piece the exact same distance up from the bottom hem. Cut the bottoms off of both pattern pieces along those lines.

Measure your kiddo's hip to ankle length. Tape paper to your both pattern pieces. Reattach the retro curved hems of the pattern pieces so that the length of the pattern's side seam is your child's hip to ankle length plus 1.5". True the inseam pattern lines to match crotch points and bottom hems.


You will need to make a longer length of "bias" tape tshirt trim but one upcycled tshirt was still more than enough. Then just assemble your track pants as you would the Prefontaine Shorts. Easy, peasey. Now I've got one happy boy.



Don't have a copy of the Prefontaine Shorts for Kids pattern yet? It's part of the Pattern Parcel #2 sale as the Bonus Pattern. Or you can get it directly here.

Pattern Parcel #2 is here!

The countdown timer has ticked down to zero and I can finally share the patterns in Parcel #2 with you all! Without further ado, I present to you Pattern Parcel #2. Sugar, spice and everything nice. Parcel #2 is a collection of essential Spring patterns to wardrobe a little girl. Right in time for Kids Clothes Week and the Spring holidays.


Pattern Parcel #2 includes:
Celestial Tee by Figgy’s
September Tunic & Dress by Too Sweets Patterns
The Caroline Party Dress by Mouse House Creations
Hanami Top & Dress by Straight Grain
Hosh Pants by LouBee Clothing



Unlock the Bonus Pattern Parcel #2 also has a Bonus Pattern. To unlock the Bonus Pattern and have it included in your Parcel #2 purchase, just choose a price of $24 or greater. The Prefontaine Shorts for Kids by Made with Moxie will automatically be added to your Parcel!







Need a little inspiration on how to mix and match the sewing patterns in Parcel #2? Check out this little video we made for you. A special thanks to Thomas Knauer for letting us use his fabulous fabric designs! I am again jealous that these garments do not come in my size.

Perfect Pattern Parcel #2 from Perfect Pattern Parcel.

Now, I know exactly what you are thinking. "I wish I had a set of those Parcel Dolls!" You wish has been granted! The ever fantastic Rachael has created this printable of perfection just for you. Now you can print our your own Parcel Doll set and use them to design your Parcel #2 makes. You are going to want to print out at least two, you know, so the kids can color on their own. ;)

Don't forget, Kids Clothes Week starts next week! Now you can have a brand new collection of indie patterns to sew up for your little ones. Let's face it, your sweet girl is going to look so damn adorable in these patterns. Go grab yourself a copy of Parcel #2 and don't forget you have to choose a price of $24 or higher to unlock the Bonus Pattern.

Happy Friday, y'all! Have fun with your Parcel Dolls. I hope your weather is warm and your cares are light.

I've got the itch! Kid's Clothes Week, Parcel #2, and Selfish Sewing Week

Pull out your calendars, friends. Next week is Kid's Clothes Week, and more importantly, this Friday is the much anticipated launch of Pattern Parcel #2. That's right, this Friday at 9am EST. Don't sweat the time zone. We put a countdown timer on the site for you. ;)

Now as much as I should be prepping for KCW next week, I can't hep but want to abandon it all because I know is coming up! That's right! Rachael of imagine gnats and I have another week of amazing indie patterns to feature and for you to WIN!WE have some juicy patterns lined up that you will love to sew up. So grab a pen and draw a line through April 28th through May 3rd. Because that week is for you.
As makers we often put others first. We sew for gifts. We make clothes for our families. We knit for charity. We create to fill our stores. When was the last time you allowed yourself some Me Time? Women have spent the past, well, forever, being raised to think that we should always put others first and that do do anything else makes you an awful person. It's the reason we make less money, don't climb the career ladders as high, and a wealth of other issues. We guilt ourselves and each other if we ever allow ourselves to be first. And it's just stupid. I've never seen another man point a finger in another man's face and accuse him of being selfish.

So twice a year, for one week, for at least one hour a day, I am giving you permission to do some selfish sewing (or knitting, quilting, crocheting, etc). Use your skills and talents to make yourself sometime nice!

This year we'll be hosting Selfish Sewing Week over at Kollabora. If you have not joined Kollabora yet you are missing out. I know what you're thinking. Just one more social media thing to update and tend to. Not so! I implore you to go check out their site. You can share your projects, make a brand page if you have one, even sell your patterns through them. Kollabora was designed by makers for makers. It's like FlickR, but none of the things that make you hate it. Just way, way better. I'm in love. You can even make collections of your favorite patterns or projects for future inspiration.

Selfish Sewing Week is sponsored by Girl Charlee, Hawthorne Threads, and Auriful. If you are not familiar with these companies, do check them out. I love their fabrics and threads. Plus, great customer service. I've got a Girl Charlee order on the way that I can not wait to dig into!

So, yes lots of sewing coming up! Pattern Parcel #2 is this Friday. KCW next week and Selfish Sewing Week April 28-May 3. See you on Friday, when we reveal the patterns included in Parcel #2. Woo Hoo!

Wiener Dog Hoodies: KCW Day Two

Having kids that are only 20 months apart is almost like having twins. You really have to do everything in pairs. I can't make one hoodie. I have to make two. Which means double trouble during Kids Clothes Week. (deep breaths)


On Monday, Jane put on a new shirt her grandmother had bought her with wiener dogs all over it. As I helped her pull it over her head, Jimmy looked down at his plaid shirt and sadly asked, "Where my doggie shirt?" My mother in law has two wiener dogs and my kids love the hell out of thos dogs. I couldn't let Jimmy down and leave him without a doggie shirt.

I go through the kid sale racks often for blank or mostly blank clothes that I can upcycle into something nicer all the time. There hoodies I bought last year on sale. They said something silly on the front, but would be easily enough to cover up.


I whipped up quick wiener dog appliques with freezer paper and Pellon Wonder Under on fabrics the kids picked out. (Which probably took as long as it did to make the damn things.) A quick press with the iron and a run of zig zags, and the wiender dog hoodies were made. I added some handstitching with embroidery floss around the appliques. Jane requested her name on the heart of her hoodie. I was tempted to write "I heart my..." above Jimmy's wiener dog, but decided to keep it PG.



Nutters

Quick and easy appliqued wiener dog hoodies? Check. Just the kind of project I needed during Kids Clothes Week when I'm making for two!

What did you make today?

Crochet Skull Cap and Upcycled Jeans: KCW Day One

I'm dedicating this Kid's Clothes Week to Jimmy. Sewing for boys is fun, and then there is this boy! Who knew a two year old could ooze so much character? His smile just slays me and he knows it. Plus, little dude loves him some new clothes.


Case in point: Jimmy's new skull cap. The boy won't take it off, which is a huge sigh of relief. Last winter this kiddo wouldn't keep a hat on if his life depended on it. I'd put one on and before I even turned away it was off and thrown somewhere. A few weeks ago, Rachael was cleaning out her stash and had tons of yarn she wasn't likely to use, so I told her I'd take all her natural fiber yarns. The ball of olive green wool yarn was just perfect for a Jimmy sized hat.


Yaaar! It's his pirate face.
When I make hats, I use this awesome guide to double crochet a circle just smaller than the person's head size. Then I stop increasing and double crochet until the hat is the length I want it. I finish with a few rows of single crochet with a size smaller crochet hook to tighten the brim. It's such an easy, no brainer crocheted skull cap pattern. So easy, I'm working on one for my husband, who can never find a large enough hat for his head and next in line is hat for Jane. She is feeling left out already!


Jimmy's jeans are upcycled from my favorite pair of maternity jeans. I am a huge sucker for a good pair of jeans and if I could have figured out how to un-maternity these jeans I would have. I never send a good pair of worn jeans to Goodwill. Instead they sit in the sewing pile until the kiddos need new jeans. Both Jimmy and Jane are long and skinny waisted kids. Store bought jeans are either going to fall off or be too short most every time. Upcycling adult jeans in to kid jeans is great. You get to use the original hem and side seam, so they whip up quickly and look store bought. Add pockets and a encased elastic waistband, and your done.



Moose antlers. Don't shoot!
I would love to be able to make a shirt like this flannel one for Jimmy. Anyone know of a good yoked shirt pattern for little boys? This one is one of my favorites in his wardrobe, but as you can see, the sleeves are already too short for him. Any suggestions? Also, do you know of a good shop to get pearl snaps from? I've only got the ring kind.

Kid's Clothes Week Day One done, and my little dude is so ready for fall. I just want to go apple picking with him, carve pumpkins and roll in leaves. Sigh. He has that affect on me.