I have to take a break from the kids clothes week programming to show you these quilts. I made these a loooong time back when Kathreen from whip up asked me if I’d contribute to an art quilt book she was putting together.  Of course I said yes, even though the last quilt I made was almost 3 years go. Well, now the book is out and April has been quilt month over at whip up to celebrate.  I haven’t actually seen the real book yet, but I’ve seen all the projects inside and not only are they beautiful, they are made by some of my favorite people too.

I think I heard “art” more than “quilt” when she first asked me and so I made a quilt specifically to hang on the wall (I was thinking more in a frame than with tape at the time, but whatever). I wanted a modern landscape and thought powerlines crisscrossing the sky would make a nice patchwork. I could have made (and you can, if you make it!) the fabrics look like the actual horizon, but I went all arty and actually really like how it came out. The piecing of the little quilt does take some time and I didn’t want people to be put off by that, so I made another quilt with the same design only without any patchwork–a whole cloth quilt.

My favorite part of these quilts is the piped binding. I like how it frames the quilt and is just barely there. I know it’s a little hokey, but I also like how the binding is a little like a wire. These quilts have been gone for a long time and it’s nice to have them home again.  I was just sitting back that whole time while Kathreen was working her patootie off.  She did an amazing amount of work to put this beautiful book together and now I should get my butt to a book store to see it for real.

It’s true there aren’t as many tutorials out there for boys, but don’t let it get you down. Just because boys don’t wear dresses doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish.  My son picked out this outfit to go to school tomorrow: a neon green striped shirt, a blue plaid button down, gingham board shorts and wellies. Blazzam!

inspiring handmade clothes for boys

1. brown trousers, 2. My First Liberty Shirt, 3. Red pants, 4. sleeveless hood, 5. jardinera 2 años, 6. undies-front, 7. dress shirt, 8. leisure world, 9. 90 Minute Shirt

tutorials for boys clothes

1. boy’s shirt refashion 2. slim slacks 3. 90 minute shirt 4. hoodie refashion 5. hip little pants 6. men’s shirt into a boy’s shirt 7.  little boxer briefs 8. vest 9. diy long sleeve tee

A couple of children’s clothes designers I love are jacksprat and Martha from uniform natural (though I don’t think she does kid’s clothes any more). They both stick to a muted palate which really lets the details of the clothes stand out.  That’s not to say your boys should only wear gray, by all means let them wear pink!

This week (and maybe into next week) I’ll post tutorials for boys and girls clothes that I’ve found around the internets and some inspiring photos of handmade clothes as well. If you have a tutorial or image you particularly love, please link to it in your comment, but try to stay on topic (girl’s tutorials in the girls clothes post, etc) so we can use these posts as a reference while we are frantically sewing late at night.

inspiring handmade clothes

1. Ice cream dress, View A, 2. flower girl dress, 3. i made my first children’s top, 4. more scraps, 5. broek voor Nuncita, 6. apron skirt no.7, 7. Lemon Floral Milkmaid Skirt, 8. Oriental Blossom Sun Dress, 9. shirt from frock pattern

fantastic tutorials for girls

1. seaside stripes 2. lazy days skirt 3. peek-a-boo skirt 4. little girl leggings 5. peasant top 6. repurposed skirt and leggings 7. twirly skirt 8. girls dress from men’s shirt 9. ruffle sleeve top

Also, there are a lot of very lovely free patterns from fabric designer nani iro. I can’t link directly to them and the site is in Japanese, but click here and have a look around. I know these are all super summery, so here is one wintery project for those down under.  And don’t worry, boys are next.

the buttons:

Feel free to copy and paste these on your blog (click on the picture and it will take you to the link to use).

the rules:

Okay, there are no rules, but it sounds less wishy washy than guidelines or suggestions. Really there is only one thing you have to do if you want to participate in kids clothes week: sew.  Sew one hour each day the second week of May.  You should probably be sewing clothes for your kids, since it’s kids clothes week, but I think accessories are close enough. You don’t have to start a new project or buy new material, you could just finish those pants that have been waiting for cuffs or the sundress you started last summer that still needs buttons. The point is just to work a little each day and see what you have to show for it at the end of the week. There aren’t any prizes, but you can post photos of your finished work in the elsie marley flickr group and we will all oooo and ahhhh over them. And that’s better than a cheap trophy, right?

the players:

kim,   tracy,   melanie,  mon ami,  annri,  terry,  kristin,  mary jo,   andreae,  karen, jess,  annika,  morgan,   kristin,   jen f,   amanda,  karin,   frekled hen,  angie k, shauna, cookcleancraft, staci,  rochelle,  leslie,  fiona,  stephanie,  april,  kyrie, anna,  jennifer,  tessa,  sandra,  britt,  andrea,  monique,  stephanie,  kate,  heather,  samlamb, trula,  rebecca,  crafty tammie, nanette, melissa q.,  pamela, beth,  roxy,  heather,  anja,  suzanne,  many a mickle,  elisabeth, candace,  mojavi,  suzann,  georgi,  ellie,  sophie,  erika,  hillary,  gabrielle,  kiona,  zenzhetty,  jules,  ellen,  islay,  kari,  addie,  jenny,  jennifer,  stephanie,  kari,  tara,  louise,  laura,  deven,  mrspilkington,  wanett,  rachel,  erin,  lisa,  cheryl,  beth,  sarah,  dottycookie,  casey,  michelle,  sarah,  belly,  jacqui,  beth lemon,  odessa, lia,  mama urchin,  kimbery,  rachel,  robyn,  sarah,  laurel,  katherine,  hillary,  kathleen,  ginerva,  jennifer, kayanna,  shisomama, shannon, nancy, tami,  audrey,  becky,  brooke,  stacy,  mama-pan,  rhea,  amy,  mary,  angela,  courtney,  chrissy,  kathi,  natalie,  kirsten, jenna, beki,  imene,  chantal,  sarah,  barbara,  kelly,  gail,  christine,  ingrid,  jerri,  claudia,  melody,  grace, isa marie, sabra , commonplaceiris, grace, wendy, lisa, marina, kristi, ellen, marlena,  courtney, caroline, kara, valeria, shanee, jackie, robyn, heather, helen, katherine, the artful parent,  two pockets, wendy, michele, rachel, emily, jessica, courtney, susan, tanya, shael, emily, ash, emmy, michelle, natasha, michele, lexie, sara, kim, jillian, heather, miktha, connie, huana, abbie,  helen, andrea, susannah, sandra, zuri, julie, uk lass in us, tlbor, jill, katie, melanie, christie, cat, jenny, sony, lynn, frikadel, ruth, eva,  julie, tangerine dreams, rebecca, cheryl, elana, emily, rebecca, corina, anna, robyn, carrie, becky, paige, kerry, renee, cassis, pati, erin, lizzy,  kendra, ane, lucy, tracey, josie, nichole, samantha, meg, andrea, megan, stephani, briana, natalie, cheryl, heather, rhianno, valerie, sascha, mandy, tanja, naomi, chantal, lily, nicola, stephanie,

to see all the posts from kids clothes week click here!

Soozs had a fantastic post last week about learning to sew. Among other things, she talks about how frustrating it is, but how with every mistake you make you are learning how to do something and how not to do something.  I remember screaming at the sewing machine when I first learned how to sew and there are still moments when I find myself swearing at the machine, or the fabric, or myself. Learning anything is frustrating as hell (just ask my 4 year old) but I think sewing has taught me to be patient with myself. So yesterday, when I was trying to make french macarons and failing miserably I went back to her post and read it again.

I used to make these cookies a lot when I worked in a bakery, but I had a professional oven and vats of ingredients and a huuuge dishwasher at my disposal.  I have none of that here.  My oven is very old and very crappy. These cookies are ridiculously delicate and difficult to make–they even have their own verb in french that describes the way you mix the batter.  So my day was spent failing (and eating my failures–sugar high! sugar high!).  But thanks to Soozs’ pep talk, I ended up with a few good batches.

And after a few more failures I now have a lovely platter of french macarons to take to a baby shower tonight.

Do go over to Soozs’ blog and read her post on learning to sew, even if you learned a long time ago.  And if you’ve joined the Kid Clothes Challenge (and yay there are so many of you already!) or are thinking about it jump over to this post about sewing for your kids on Indietutes because it’s pretty good too.  Now I’m going to see if there are any failures for me to snack on.