School Clothes

When I was in elementary school, August meant one thing.  It meant that school would be starting soon and I always had mixed feelings about that.  Long days at the beach would be over, but it did mean school clothes shopping.  My mom did go through a sewing phase for me when I was in 5th grade and she made me a classic 1970′s wrap skirt.  I loved that skirt because I got to choose the fabric, and because my mom made it.  So, I wore it with a pink blouse and braids.  With birkinstocks.  And knee socks. 

But I digress.

This year, as my Suzannah enters 3rd grade (insert sound of hand smacking forehead here) I am determined to:

a) Sew her blouses, dresses and skirts

b) Use fabrics only from my stash

c) Involve Suzannah as much as possible

So, I searched around for a simple patterns that I could use to create a kind of uniform.  I wanted a blouse pattern that could also be lengthened to make a dress.  I found it in Simplicity 4206.  This is a fast and easy, versitile pattern.  I bought it in sizes for both girls so let the dresses and tunics and blouses begin.  Here’s the first one.

She picked out both fabrics.  But I’ll tell you what fabric really got her excited. I ordered Lecien’s Happy Chihahua from Fabricworm and together, we made a lazy days skirt. 

And of course I had to quickly make one for Isabel too.  You can make these great skirts in 45 minutes – even less time if you have everything all ready to go.  You use about a half yard of fabric, some elastic and about a yard of trim or ribbon and it all costs under $10 and no one else on the playground is going to have one exactly like it.  What could be better than that?  Well, maybe if Suzannah would wear birkinstocks with knee socks….

About these ads