No sewing

I normally find it relaxing to sew once the kids are in bed, but tonight I feel sort of stuck. My energy has all been used up by chickenpox, laundry, cooking and cleaning.

More summer clothes will have to be made tomorrow or the day after tomorrow or...

The Baltic Sea

In the end there was no need for umbrellas. Perfect sunshine, colours and 'Strandkörbe' (my dictionary tells me they are called 'beach chairs'). Do they have them in other places, too?

Cold, cold north

Going on a trip, leaving the sunny weather behind. But someone is well-prepared...

Sunny bandana week

I got so used to sewing every night that I didn't stop. It looks as if we might get some summer weather, so these bandanas are on there way to a little shop here in Barcelona. Does anyone have a favourite?

Weekend - Beach Hoody

A day on the beach inspired this little sweater. When the sun sets it's quite windy and on our way back home it gets a bit chilly and the kids are tired.

Friday - Baby Shirt with pleats

As you can probably tell this is based on this wonderful tutorial. But as always, I can't just stick to a pattern and yesterday I had pleats on my mind. I am sure there is a right way to do pleats, but not being aware of it, I just gave it a try.

I added about 4cm on the fold (8cm in total) and then put in the pleats by folding the fabric (one pleat used up a bit more than 1cm). The trim is added with the serger, folded up and than top-stitched.

Adding the pleats makes it a 'more than 90 minute shirt' but then I enjoy the part of playing around a bit.

Thursday - Hip bag

I never manage to do everything I'd like to do in a day. Tara at Habit says it all perfectly in one picture and two lines - see here.

I know this is not strictly kids clothes, and also not for my kids. But the decision was between a birthday present for a friend of my kids or something for my kids. It had to be the present - I always try to give something handmade.

I'll try again tomorrow - let's see what will have to give then.

Wednesday - Harem pants

I started working on the pattern especially for Kids Clothes week challenge. Now, a week and a few prototypes (i think this was the 2nd version) later I call this the final version.

The basic pattern is very easy - an A-line skirt with a circle cut out at the bottom centre. What I found difficult was how much to cut off, how much to add on the sides to get the right kind of 'baggy'. I found the extra seams help to make the fabric fall nicely - especially in the back.

Although it is still difficult to get a nice picture of the pants - these are pants for running around, not for stills, i find.

Tuesday - Baby Shorts

This has to be really brief, because all my spare time and energy went into making these shorts and taking pictures - now I am late for work...

Monday - Bandana

Protecting that little pale nose against the strong Spanish sun is no easy feat. Sun hats are taken off the minute they are put on and bigger headscarves tend to end up around her neck, or knees, in fact. Well, I keep trying.

This doesn't seem like much in terms of sewing but it kept me busy for while, figuring out how to make something that stretches (so she can put it on herself) and covers enough of her head and doesn't show too much of the seams.

What do you think is the best name for it?  Bandana,  headband, headscarf?

Pocoyó

Tomorrow starts Meg's challenge. The idea is to sew something for our kids for an hour every day. As always, the list of things I would like to make is long, but looking at Pocoyó on the bucket in the playground makes me think that finding the time and energy will be no problem at all. A piece of cake, actually.

Pocoyó is a Spanish cartoon character for kids. Pocoyó means something like 'little me' in English.

Stories read by kids for kids

Smories - great idea. I watched a few yesterday and really enjoyed storytelling 'the other way round'. Do your kids read you stories? Mine sing me lullabies, which don't make me fall asleep but laugh because of the creative interpretation of their lyrics.

Harem pants - Baggy pants - Bombachos

In preparation for Meg's Kids Clothes week challenge  (more here ) I've been working on a new pattern. Harem/ baggy pants are definitely easy to sew, but can also very easily look a bit weird. Well, I am trying to find just the right kind of baggy.