(sorry for the camera phone shot)

I think my only regret is that I used green thread for the whole project instead of choosing a lighter color for use on the dove fabric. Pretty minor complaint. There were no major roadblocks, the instructions were very clear and my machine behaved superbly (which probably says more about my comfort level with sewing than the machine itself).

This was the first time I made my own bias tape. I spent 5x as much time wondering how it was going to go than actually making the stuff. Next time I will approach with NO FEAR–it was easy! I have one of those handy Clover bias tape makers. It makes 1″ bias tape or 1/2″ double fold bias tape. If you have one and lost the directions, like I inevitably will, You SEW Girl has a great demo. Or if you don’t want another thing to keep track of, Creative Little Daisy has a GREAT way of making your own tape using a single pin. So cool.

Oh, one more thing: sz 100 cm is decidedly 4T. So, these will fit better in 2010… oh well.

ISBN: 978-4-529-04437-0

That cover dress is too much… I’m getting right on it!

The green is another Ribbed Baby Jacket (now offered free) by Debbie Bliss [ravelry], the gray are two newborn sized Saartje’s bootees [ravelry], and, you guessed it, the brown is a nearly completed jacket from Girly Style Wardrobe! The bootees and jacket each need notions and the sweater just needs to be seamed.

Now the jacket details. Steph (have your heard about her new venture, Popknits yet?) and Jennifer came over for a sewing day last Sunday and I was surprised to find that the jacket was much easier to assemble than it was to cut! (You may recall the crazy pattern page). I did have experts here to guide me, for which i am very grateful. I am not sure i would have set the sleeve properly without guidance or assembled in the proper order either (although on second look, the last diagram of the instructions does give you this info). Even so, as Jennifer mentioned, it’s just like knitting: shoulders, set in sleeves, seam sides, then arms.

The sleeve looks pretty good!

IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. The ruffle of the sleeve appears to be laid out incorrectly in the book. If it is cut as shown, it will make a ruffle that is shorter than the sleeve you attach it too. If you cut these pieces side by side on the fold, you will have the perfect length.

2. Sizing note: I made the smallest size (100cm) and it is a little big for my two year old. I believe the sizing goes by the child’s height. MJ is about 34″ tall and 100cm is about 39″. Makes total sense.

3. Finishing–I plan to use bias tape around the neckline and for the tie. I believe the instructions mean for you to make your own. There are two reasons I chose not to do this: first, I don’t think I had enough fabric. I used a half yard remnant. Second, I didn’t like the idea of a corduroy tie, I thought it would wear too easy and be a bit too stiff.

I’ll try to compile all this info in the final post on this project for anyone else who wants to make it. I’ve also categorized all the Girl Style posts for easy skimming.

I’ve been pouring over the photos and patterns trying to work out which to attempt first. I love love love the aesthetic of the book, but must admit that there is no chance my girly girls will be dressed like this on the daily. We are all about play and comfort over here! Even on Christmas I went with overalls on MJ. But, for something handmade and girly, it doesn’t get any better than these classic, yet contemporary patterns. If only I was a better sewer and fluent in Japanese. I have referenced a few other blogs/websites over the last few days: Moving Hands for a glossary of terms, Thought and Thimble mentioned that a seam allowance is NOT included on the pattern piece–duly noted.

And then I dove in. I chose what seems to be a simple jacket (View D). I think the sizing might be a bit big for my almost-two-year-old so I picked a corduroy suitable for Spring or next Fall.

I outlined the largest size of the pattern in red pencil and then outlined the smallest size (100cm), the one to be used, in red Sharpie. Then I traced the pattern pieces onto muslin with red pencil, added the seam allowances and cut them out.

I must point out that what amounts to two sentences of explanation took several consultations with the experts (Jennifer, Mary, Mom and the Mac), a few sessions of tracing (while MJ colored), several assumptions and one omission. The omission? cutting my own bias fabric for the tie–I’m thinking of using prefab bias tape for that. The assumptions? That I identified the correct pattern pieces. View D also covers a skirt, not to mention that the pattern sheet closely resembles a topographical map of the Adirondacks. The second major assumption is that the ruffle piece should actually be laid out twice along the fold so that it’s longer than the sleeve, not shorter.

Stay tuned for what is sure to be a dramatic, if not adorable, conclusion…