Ansley's "Fluffy Coat"

Somehow I got the idea to make a reversible minkee coat and mentioned it to Ansley. She wasn't going to let me forget either! For future reference, this was not the wisest idea b/c there is some bunching in the armholes. Linings are thinner than the outer coat for a reason and it seems that lighter fabrics work better for reversibility, at least in child size.



She wanted it to be purple on one side and white on the other. I used McCall's 6641, which is for a lined coat. I used view A because the minkee is pretty thick already. I omitted the facing and chose to use the purple minkee instead of fur. The purple side has pockets but the white side doesn't to minimize some bulk.



I forgot how it's nearly impossible to unpick stitches in minkee even with contrasting thread! The coat doesn't hang as nicely as I like but I couldn't fix it. I opted for an elastic loop closure because the coat is reversible and I haven't learned how to install a reversible separating zipper (which I also couldn't find and didn't want to wait to order). Buttonholes would've been kind of messy with the minkee shredding. It's supposed to have a button sewn on it but I haven't done it yet.



I tried to sew the sleeves like this coat but the fabrics were too thick. I ended up sewing on a band bias tape style with a lot of basting and my walking foot. This time the fluffiness of the minkee worked to my advantage as you can't really see the stitches on the purple side. :) (she's calling to a "butterfly"- a moth).



She loves it!

We Love Fall!!

It's been pretty crazy at our house with preschool and dance lessons and piano lessons and being sick. Here are a few recent pics:







Visited one of our favorite spots.

























Checking out Daddy's stove.



First face painting from the Fall Carnival at church.

Pinwheel Dress and Tunic

Last week Ansley started preschool!! I promised I'd make her a dress for her first day over a month ago but ended up putting the finishing touches on it the night before.





I used the Oliver and S Pinwheel Dress and Tunic pattern and am thrilled with how it turned out!!! The fabric is by Kate Spain for Moda Fabric from the Serenade line. I had purchased this fabric for myself with a gift card I won from Project Run and Play (which started today- so much fun!!) with plans to make a not practice Lisette Traveler Dress, but it was one of the few pieces in my stash that was large enough to make both the tunic and the dress.



The hardest part of this photoshoot was finding a pinwheel. I guess the first week of September is past pinwheel season??



Aside from cutting out the tunic pieces upside down, the dress and tunic went together smoothly. :) It was kind of nice to practice sewing up the flounce and the tunic before doing the real one. I am SO EXCITED with how smooth the sleeve cap is!! These are my best ones yet!! The instructions were very thorough and clear, with excellent tips.









Ansley and I went to pick out some bias tape and I was looking at the greens and oranges. I asked her which one she liked and she said grey- which turned out to be the best match.



I cut out the pattern in a size 6, since I don't want Ansley outgrowing it in the next month. She's four but has been wearing fives.



A few more pics on the way home. The sky was golden and the light was amazing. All of these pictures in this post (and most posts) are untouched.











Thanks for stopping by!

Fun at the Fair Part Two

(part one here)

Puddles do make great pictures!



We enjoyed smoked salmon, a hamburger, fries, corndog, fried snickers, peaches and cream funnel cake, and a strawberry lemonade and cherry limeade.



Frystache.













Bunnies!









I really want to do a shoot like this sometime.