kcw fall 2014: storybook
October 21st, 2014
The theme for this season’s KCW is STORYBOOK. I have a lot of favorite kids’ books, but this one is my favorite favorite. It’s fun to read, which is a must when it comes to kid’s books. I hate slogging through poorly written bleh books (I’m looking at you Berenstain Bears). But I Can Fly is wonderfully written, which is not a big surprise seeing that it’s by the great children’s book author, Ruth Krauss. She’s written some fantastic books. A Hole is to Dig is really good too: random and perfectly kid.
1. I’ll Be You and You Be Me 2. The Backward Day 3. A Hole is to Dig 4. The Carrot Seed (affiliate links)
The other reason this book is spectacular is the illustrations. They are done by Mary Blair, the artist force behind Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and many other films. Her style is referred to as an “explosion of color” and it’s hard to argue with that! You really could be inspired to use any palate when looking at her work. I was drawn to the pages pictured above and below: pinks, oranges, yellows, and blues.
I made an outfit for a new-ish baby: a fuzzy sweatshirt, stretchy pants, and a drooly bib.
The sweatshirt is a lot like the one I made for my daughter last year. The salmony pink material is super fuzzy and soft on the inside. I knew it would be warm and snuggly for a baby. And the color just looks fantastic with that burnt orange.
I made a sweet little heart tag on the back. Then as I was finishing up the hem I noticed I missed the tiniest bit and it was fraying. ARgh! So I just went with the heart theme and patched it.
The pants I made from tracing a pair I have tucked away for just that reason. The material is perfect. It’s a thick knit with a good amount of structure and stretch. I’ve heard ponte described that way. Whatever it is, it’s buttery and soft and durable and perfect.
I needed a little more explosion of color in the outfit and every baby needs a bib right? I used this free bandana bib pattern and I’m not sure I like it or not. It’s designed to be a little poofy in the front to mimic a bandana, but it seems little too poofy. It’s a little hard to tell if it works or not because I don’t have a baby to try it on.
I’m nervous about putting snaps in. When I put snaps in the first bib I made I went to unsnap it and they ripped right out of the fabric! Some not-so-industrial-strength snaps are on the shopping list. Though I might wimp out and use velcro.
There you have it: book –> baby outfit! You can see more about these projects on my kcw projects page.
Love that bib color! Also the applique!
One thing I did with bibs is put interfacing in the part where the closure will be and then use small purse magnets. I like purse magnets for many non-purse applications. They are pretty magical.
I just noticed the bib contrast color, too. Wowsa. I want to make a man’s tie with that yellow and a pop of the stripe. Great eye you have.
I had a purse magnet rip out years ago because it was super strong and I have been avoiding them ever since. There are smaller ones? Joanns?
I bought mine through etsy but can’t find my order information. but they weren’t the prong-style magnetic closures. Like this: http://keyka.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/11/using-the-hidden-magnetic-snaps.html. I liked having the magnets inside the fabric because i was afraid the prong-style magnets would come loose and my child would eat them and then i would be that person at the ER with the kid with a magnet in his stomach. i didn’t want to be that person.
‘I Can Fly’ was one of my most favourite stories – I had (almost) forgotten it – the bunny page was my absolute favourite. Must pull it out and read to my daughter…. :-)
Great outfit too (I’ve had the same trouble with snaps – now I just avoid them – I have heard the ‘Snapsetter’ ones are very good though)
how wonderful that I picked your favorite page–maybe it’ll be your daughter’s too!
i love this color palette! and why have i never thought of going to illustrations for color inspiration? so smart.
oh erin, a quilt inspired by this book would be phenomenal!!
I love everything about this outfit! And I hear you on Berenstein Bears. I think we have every book, passed down from a cousin, and I cringe every time my kids pick one to read. Which is every day. I’m going to add I Can Fly to our library.
Have you tried a SnapSetter and their snaps? http://www.snapsource.com/store/products.php?categoryName=The%20SnapSetter&categoryParentName=Attaching%20Tools I hated snaps until I bought this. Cheap, easy, and they actually stay in.
I think a snap setter is in my future! As for the Berenstain Bears, those books quietly make a trip to the basement…never to return!
Sometimes the best ideas come out of what we think are mistakes! I love the heart on the hem line!
That is just gorgeous!!
[…] made a few bibs too, with that same bandana bib pattern I used before. I think this turned out to be a nice little baby […]