Panda Baja

Since Blank Slate Patterns' (affiliate link) fall pattern line is coming out this week I thought I should finally write this post about a mod a made to one of the summer patterns.  Back here, I showed you the basic Baja Hoody (affiliate link).  With just three simple changes, I modified the pattern for a more girly feel.

I found this amazing sweatshirt fabric with panda bears on it from Girl Charlee (not an affiliate, but I love their knit fabrics).  It is so soft on the inside and nice and thick for warmth.  I've washed it a few times and it isn't pilling or shedding yet which is a good sign that it'll hold up well.  And of course I knew Bean would flip over the pandas.  They have hearts for eyes!  So cute, hehe.

My first thought was a shortsleeved sweatshirt that could take us in to fall here in MD.  While I was making the test version of her Baja Hoody, I got the idea for a few changes that would turn it into the exact sweatshirt I was picturing.

I cut out all the pieces from the pattern the same way I did for the Hoody.  The first change I made was to sew the front seam together about an inch and a half higher.  Since this is a stretchy knit fabric I knew there would still be room for Bean's head to fit through (the original pattern assumes no stretch) and I didn't want the opening to be quite so deep as the days get colder this fall (even though that seems ages away). 

The second change was made after sewing the front and back pieces together.  I sewed a small length of 1/4 inch elastic to the sleeves so they would gather and puff a bit.  This is my favorite change.

And finally the last change I made was to make a band at the bottom of the sweatshirt to add some length.  I love the style and it was a great addition to make this now-beach-cover-up work as Bean grows a bit over the next few months.

As seen on Instagram, Bean wouldn't take the sweatshirt off when I tried it on her for fit.  She loves it. 

While we were on vacation in MA last week it was so cold she actually got to wear it for a while which was one of the only good things about the weather, hehe.

Flip This - Rollerskate Tunic

This summer is cruising by and there's so much sewing to catch you all up on.  But once again a new month has brought a new Flip and July's is fantastic.

I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I had never used an Oliver & S pattern before.  I've heard all of the raving about them and think the designs are adorable, but there are so many things on my list that buying one of their patterns never happened.

Thanks to Frances Suzanne, I leaped at the chance (they have done AMAZING things with O&S patterns in the past) and purchased the Rollerskate Dress/Tunic pattern. 

The pattern definitely lived up to the hype.  This fully lined tunic looks great inside and out thanks to its techniques.  The construction was familiar to me, but only because I stubbornly figured out most of the construction techniques through the years on my own.  How I wish I had one of their patterns when I was a newbie!  I would highly recommend buying an Oliver & S pattern if you're a new sewist looking to branch into sewing kids clothes.  I'm not an affiliate or anything.  I was just blown away.

Anyway, back to the flip.  I knew with the 4th of July coming up that I wanted to make Bean something to wear that was fun and patriotic, but that she could also wear throughout the summer.  Since knit fabric is my favorite these days, I decided to use a nice interlock through the bodice area and for the lining, but use a heavier woven cotton fabric (that I've been hoarding) for the skirt portion. 

I also thought the neckline of the original dress (View C) was so pretty, that I mimicked it part way down the bodice on both the front and the back by color blocking the fabric.  The navy and white look so nice together and then the pop of red and white stripe is a really cute finish.

The back button is a nautical looking one that I've had in my stash for years.  I don't know where it came from, but it fit this top so well.

To recap, the only things I did to "flip" this pattern were:

use knit fabric for the bodice and lining
separate the tunic into three layers for color blocking (top bodice, bottom bodice, and skirt)

I think these few changes made for a perfect holiday tunic.  And I know Bean will have plenty of opportunity to wear this top again this summer/fall.

We had a tree cut down in our backyard to get some light through to the parts that were getting a little soggy and Bean insisted on "helping" daddy by picking up all the sticks she could find in the back yard and adding them to the pile, hehe.

You should go and check out all the other flips in this months linky and don't forget to vote for your favorite competitor on July 19th!

As usual, linking up to: