Oil cloth apron

As you can see in the photos, P is not into posing for me anymore. He had to do it, because I made these oil cloth aprons for his kindergarten so he felt somewhat obliged to put it on, but not really enough to put on his model face too.

These were surprisingly simple to do. The pattern was drafted from the old cloth apron they've been using in the group. Since they use them when they put away dishes after lunch (4 kids are always in charge, one for each of the 4 tables they have) I though it might be useful to make it stain and water proof. 
This is actually the same fabric/different color I used in my Last minute floorbed. When I did it then I had some problems with the machine catching on to the fabric, I thought it was because of the plastic feel to it so I had some doubts, but this time it was so simple I couldn't believe it. Cutting the fabric was extremely simple, because it is like paper, it doesn't really move or wrinkle. So I cut the shape out and used twill tape as binding/straps. I did iron the binding in half to get that bias tape look and from there on I just went around, didn't even pin it. No problems with sewing, I am not sure if it is because of the twill tape or my machine just decided to do it this time, but it worked like a charm.

Kids love it! What do you think?

Czesiociuch - Polish brand foy boys and girls alike

Anyone who knows me would, I am positive, say 'this is so Petra' after seeing Czesiociuch, Polish label for kiddos with attitude. I talked to the creators, read it on EastOK Europe.

Mop beanie

I've only taken up crochet several months back but I only got as far as practicing some of the stitches for a few days. I do that often...get crazy about something and then forget about it completely.
So it happens,  I went to buy a circular cutter last week (which made making these color dipped pants sooo much easier) and I found some yarns I just couldn't resist. I've been looking for some fun boy-yarns ever since Peggy made this Fairy Hat for her daughter and this Schachenmayr Boston Style yarn came close enough to make me want to try again.

 I started with this video tutorial by Yolanda Soto Lopez, this is the easiest way to make beanies, you just crochet a big square and sew it together in the end. I love that you can do it without really thinking too much, no counting is necessary because you are just going strait and back. This is how I did the fist 4 rows, after the first chain which is the desired circumference of the hat I did a single crochet stitch into the back of my loop, this causes the ribbed look when you turn your crochet after each row.

Except that after 4 rows I decided that it doesn't make sense to have to sew up the hat in the end, why wouldn't I just make a circle chain one into the first loop of that row and continue crocheting in circles, which basically caused that braided look, because I didn't have to turn my crocheting anymore.

As for the pompom, I was going more for this look but T-shirt yarn I cut up smply did not want to curl up and this is how we ended up with a MOP BEANIE.

Color dipped boy

Continuing on my quest to prolong the life of P's pants...
His grey corduroys got outgrown for the second dime. The first time I just let down the seems to the maximum. Since he loves this pants, not only they were short, they were seriously worn out, and weirdly only on the left knee and thigh. As I didn't want to cut the pants to look like hot pants, I cut them at an angle that could go across both legs and cover all the areas that needed to be cut off, but still give me enough fabric of the other pants to attach and lengthen a little.They look like I dipped them in colour:)

Enough already...

The beanie on the above photos is also a project from my first KCWC two years ago.

Plaid times two

It is KCWC week. Yeeeey!!! I love KCWC, two years ago I started blogging so I could participate in it. It got me back to sewing and for that I will forever be grateful. Apart from that, it is just a crazy exciting week that makes numerous women around the world turn in crazy sewing ladies. As for me, I am one of them too, I sew long into the night and sometimes make the kids try the stuff on before they leave in the morning. Hell, I had my son wear a dress just for the sake of a photo. I got to love upcycling and dropped my fear of knits.
Back when I started sewing I only wanted to do new stuff, buy a fabric, draft a pattern and sew something for my evening out. I never wanted to sew the same thing twice, I thought that was boring. AND, I hated it when my mom asked me to fix something, change a zipper or shorten some pants... and now that is all I do, clothes wise, I mostly fix or refashion stuff, and I love it. To make something from nothing is great, but to repurpose and reuse the same piece of clothing several times gives me butterflies.
My first KCWC project was a sweats upcycle for a skinny 2.5 year old. Now I have a 4.5 year old, whose pants become too short too soon, and I simplycan't make myself just buy new ones and set these aside, too easy:)

So here is out brown plaid pant getting a blue plaid (actually the same one as in that first KCWC project) cuff and some other blue accents to accompany it.

Mustard details off...

and blue on!

I added some blue accent to go with the cuff, took off the buttons and sewed them back on with blue yarn. I even coloured the embroidery with a blue fabric marker.

He's been wearing these since he was 2. When I let down the seem there was so much fabric there that I almost didn't even need a cuff, but it was so much more fun this way:)
What do you think?

Ami Amie - cure for cold

It is freezing cold here in Budapest. The cold just sneaked up on us and we can't really grasp what is happening. Summer was so short I didn't even put away our winter coats (when it was 40 degrees outside I had no energy to put them away, after that we went on vacation, and now it is sort of coat time again.
But, there is one good thing about it, you get to go through new look books, do your research and find a pretty, snugly, colorful brand ami amie. ami amie is a Japanese children's clothing brand making what the call 'happy knits'. The clothes look so warm and comfy and the kids are adorable, just what I needed for this weather, warm clothes and happy little faces.

Fall Winter Collection 2013

Make sure you check out last year's FW Collection, it was too cute.

Oh, and you can still vote for me in Top 25 European Moms 2013! Daily, till October 4.

Messed up Submarine Pullover

A while ago I got this Shauna from Shwin & Shwin sent me the Submarine Pullover pattern to test. I did most of it, and the the whole family got down with the flu, bad one.
Here it is now...the patter calls for thinner fabric, but I wanted to try this out and used coat fabric instead. Great choice, since it is going to be steaming hot from now to eternity, they say. 
The pattern is for intermediate sewers, but I believe beginners can also tackle it without fear, maybe leave out the button holes (like I did, although button holes were never on my list of problems sewingwise). I also did something wrong with the hood so I had problems lining it up, and due to the thickness of the fabric it wasn't pleasant, but in the end I just decided to take it in and leave the placket outside the hood area. What I am trying to say is, there is always a way around things. Sometimes the solutions you find because you messed things up are the best ones and even though the garment might not be perfect it will make it unique:)

 I used daddy's shrunk sweater for the cuffs.

and cuffs of daddy's old polo shirt sleeves for the pockets and the rest of the shirt for the lining of the hood.

And now on the kid:

 

For a short while he tried to be a good sport.

 ENOUGH!

Linking to The Train to Crazy