More outfits for the boys

I'm sure I've mentioned before how much I like the Little Explorer pattern by Make It Perfect? Well I've made another 5 pairs for the boys for Summer!

3 for J: 1 in black linen, and 2 in Denim (spiders and stripes contrast trim).

and 2 for N in Denim (same as J's - the spiders and stripes contrast trim). N was supposed to have another pair in a chocolate linen but I seemed to have *ahem* misplaced that material!

The shorts for N are a size 1 and he is only in size 00 at the moment which is why they look quite big on him.

I love the denim but next time I will do it with a contrasting thread. The matching thread colour just makes the pants look too homemade. I'm also thinking about putting in a fake fly on the denim ones.

And of course there will be matching appliqued tops to follow. I'm just trying to draw some of my own pictures this time so we will see how they go.

Zippered Pouch

J currently has an obsession for all things Dinosaur and on a wet and rainy Saturday we decided to explore Sydney a little and took him to see the Dinosaur exhibition at the Australia Museum in the city. Although it was only a small exhibition, J had the time of his life. But I think the part that he enjoyed the most was the trip to the giftshop afterwards where they had shelves of dinosaur toys! Of course he was able to pick out a little present for himself and he chose a packet of large dinosaurs.

J also has about 12 small dinosaurs which he has been diligently carrying around with him and I have been promising all week to make him a little bag to keep the dinosaurs in. So when one of the ladies at EB showed me a link to a Make It Perfect zippered pouch tutorial I knew I had to give it a go!

http://tonicoward.blogspot.com/2010/05/zippered-pouch-tutorial.html

The instructions called for a 7 inch zip but when I raided my sewing kit, I only had a 6 inch zip so I just adjusted the width of the pouch by an inch to accomodate (it was Friday night and I had had a few vinos so there was no way I was going out to buy a zip!).

It was such an easy to follow tutorial - I only had to unpick once and that was because I was so clever and managed to sew nice and close to the zip - so close that material would get caught in the zipper teeth when you opened it.

So here's the final product - you can see it is a perfect size for all those little dino's! I can see quite a few more of these pouches being sewn up in different sizes - don't you think a little one in Christmas material would be perfect for holding an iTunes card or gift card for Christmas presents?

Now J is asking for a bag for the big dinosaurs we bought at the Museum!

MIP Little Explorer Pants and Applique top

OK, I've done it - my first MIP perfect pattern completed. I have to say I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pattern - it really is so easy. I loved the pattern so much I even recommended it to a lady at my local fabric shop.

The Shorts - have I mentioned before I love the brown and blue combination??? Both my boys are very fair skinned so they really suit bright colours. The pants are made with a linen/cotton blend so they will be nice and cool for summer.

I love the elasticised waistband - not only is it super easy to make but it is perfect for J for pre-school. He get so focused on playing with his friends he only remembers to go to the toilet at the last possible minute and buttons and zips are very hard to undo.

The Applique tops - I think I have just fallen in love - how beautiful and EASY are applique tops? I can see so many more of these appearing in my boys wardrobes. The MIP Little Explorer pattern comes with a Turtle applique design but at 3 1/2 J is really into dinosaurs at the moment so I thought I would try a dinosaur applique I found on a blue t-shirt.

For some reason tops always seem to be in the wash in our house so I thought I had better make a second top for these shorts - or maybe I am just so excited about making applique tops. So top number 2 is a blue singlet with a rocket applique - perfect for those really hot humid summer days.

I have already made a second pair of these pants in black and white, and am off to Spotlight to pick up some more linen today. I think I might even try them in a denim. I think both J and N will have quite a few pairs of Little Explorer shorts in their wardrobes this summer - and don't even mention those applique tops!

Patterns I've bought

The lovely ladies over at the EB sewing forums have put me onto two pattern brands - Oliver + S and Make It Perfect. I've just received three patterns I ordered from Kelani Fabrics.

Firstly from the fantastic Australian brand Make it Perfect - Little Explorer Pants

Oliver + S Sandbox Pants

and finally the Oliver +S Bedtime Stories PJ's (I understand they are being discontinued so if you want the pattern you had better get in quick!)