kcw spring 2014: outfit #1

April 8th, 2014

kcw theme: mini me

Sorry I’ve been away from this space for a while. Preparing for KCW and entertaining my children during spring break ate up all my time. But haHA! I started my sewing early this KCW, so I’ve got outfit #1 all sewn up and ready. But why are there 3 stylish ladies up there? For this KCW, Dorie and I decided that we should have a theme: MINI ME. The theme is optional, of course, and you can interpret it however you like.

I looked in my closet for inspiration and found none. My clothes are rather basic: gray, gray, gray, and sometimes navy. But I like to dream about wearing stylish clothes, so I looked to my pinterest clothes board for inspiration. I picked these three images: a Merimekko dress, a J. Crew (I think) ensemble, and a Madwell outfit. The dress is inspiration for my daughter’s easter dress and the other two outfits I mixed and matched for my sons’ easter outfits.

spring kcw: outfit #1 on elsie marley

This is my youngest’s outfit. Originally I was going to sew the shirt with  black and white gingham just like the picture, but then I liked the grid print (like in the Madwell outfit) with this outfit better.

spring kcw: outfit #1 on elsie marley

I used the Johnny B. Good pattern from Shwin Designs and I absolutely loved it.

spring kcw: outfit #1 on elsie marley

It was my first time doing sleeve placket and cuffs and I have to say,  I’m pretty proud of them. Shauna’s instructions are great. She doesn’t coddle you, she trusts you. This means a little more thinking on my part, which in turn means I really understand the construction of the garment.

spring kcw: outfit #1 on elsie marley

I was going to make a proper tie. Then it got all nice and springy here and I couldn’t stand to go down in my basement studio and sew. I’ve used the little boy’s tie tutorial on Purl Bee before (here and here) and cannot recommend it enough. It takes more fabric then you think a tie would need (a whole yard!) and a fair amount of ironing, but in the end you have a beautiful tie. I used this quick skinny tie tutorial and it worked ok, but it’s really meant for a toddler. I did lengthen it. Still it was a bit too short for my 4 year old.

spring kcw: outfit #1 on elsie marley

I could not find any mint stretch denim anywhere, so I went with this sort of dark sea foam green stretch twill. The material is great for spring and for the pattern–Small Fry Skinny Jeans. I had a great time sewing these pants, but I think the rise is a bit too high for my kids. I noticed it last time, but though I just sewed a size too big. These come up to his belly button, but the fit is great everywhere else. I think if I take an inch off the yoke and maybe an inch off the front they will be perfect.

spring kcw: outfit #1 on elsie marley

 

Still not bad for an easter outfit. Pretty stylin’ even. What do you think?

14 Responses to kcw spring 2014: outfit #1

  1. Marlena says:

    OMG – *I* want that outfit! That shirt is awesome!

  2. gail says:

    dang, that’s a good looking ensemble. that grid fabric is super cool – what is it?

  3. Mellissa Q. says:

    Genius! I love it. That handsome shirt is perfect and the tie. I love your color combinations so much!

  4. Meghan says:

    Very stylish! I love the orange tie and the shirt fabric is really cool. Great outfit!!

  5. Jess says:

    we think alike: I made very similar green jeans for my daughter last KCW! http://graciousthreads.blogspot.ca/2014/01/kcw-day-4-and-some-mixed-results.html

  6. […] blue seems to be the theme of the day. It is a lovely color (used it myself even!) and it pairs well with so many things: a blue floral, sunshine yellow, pink and white […]

  7. Sarah Helene says:

    AWESOME outfit for your son! FAB colors of sea foam green pants with checked long-sleeved shirt and the bright orange with white polka dot tie = UNIQUE ! Sewn with lots of love from mom! Sarah in Minneapolis

  8. kristin says:

    such a great outfit, meg! man you’re little guy sure is growing up these days.

  9. Tara says:

    What a perfect spring outfit! I like the fabric choice for the shirt. It looks like graph paper.

  10. […] check shirt just like the very stylish lady is wearing, but then the grid print looked better on my youngest’s ensemble. So I switched out the grid print for a large scale gingham (or do you call it buffalo plaid? I […]

  11. Elizabeth says:

    Now that is a fabulous outfit! Love the colors and the patterns you picked.

  12. mrs robinson says:

    Oh my, now that is such a stylish Easter outfit!