These are a little over the top to be sure. But so are four year old boys. The patterns is from Happy Homemade vol. 5 modified it a bit, okay a lot. I stole the pocket pattern from a different project in the book and I threw piping in all over the place. The back pockets are my favorite.

I also totally wussed out on the zipper fly and just make a fake fly, that got all janky anyway. Being afraid of putting in a zipper is ridiculous, I mean a zipper isn’t going to kill me or anything. Whatever, here they are: crazy ass orange tight pants with bright blue piping.

He rocked them.

And here are today’s highlights from the flickr group (they are all a little muted today, maybe the rain is affecting me):

1. polaris
2. red riding hood dress
3. library jacket
4. snappy milo cables

only two more days to go!

Oops! a little late today with the round up of tutorials and pretty things. You probably don’t need any inspiration for baby things.–they are so little and cute and ridiculously fun to make. Be sure to add your favorite baby tutorial (not how to make one, silly, things to make for one) in the comments.

amazing handmade things for cute winter babies

1. Swing Coat, 2. Buttery Alpine Pixie Longie and Hat set made from two different wool sweaters, 3. Felted Wool Slippers – Size 18-24 months, 4. Modified and sewn in knit from Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing for Baby., 5. Sold 6-12 month Royal Purple Wool Romper with Flower Buttons, 6. Handmade, 7. little winter hats, 8. the sneeze., 9. log cabin baby blanket (folded)

fantastic tutorials for things to keep your baby warm

1. baby legs 2. pompom hat 3. easy peasy swaddle sheet 4. heirloom cut chenille baby blanket 5. hooded baby towel and washcloth set 6. baby bonnet 7. baby booties 8. winter buggie bag 9. baby snuggler

Wow, tutorials for coats are hard to find–understandably so–but honestly after making a few I can say that really they are not as hard as you think they are. I think a wool kimono top–ooo, like this–lined in something soft would be a beautiful fall jacket and simple to make (here is a kimono pattern for 6m0-8yrs).  On the other hand, inspiring images of handmade coats are everywhere! Oliver + S has a beautiful pattern for a toggle coat with a removable lining called the school days jacket + coat. And really you can’t go wrong with Liesl’s patterns; they are timeless, but somehow modern too and cute as all get out.

amazing handmade coats, capes and sweaters

1. QTPI Hoodie, 2. Swallow Cape, 3. New Fleece Vest, 4. duffle coat, 5. Sweet Pea, 6. Olive Shirt Coat, 7. Vintage Simplicity 5536 pattern, 8. hoodies, 9. St. Chickn

awesome tutorials for coats, capes, vests, sweaters and a skirt

storybook cape and muff, reversible vest, flutter cape, jacket placket, reporposed sweater tutorial, the smartigan, draft your own coat, lengthen coat sleeves, reversible patchwork scribble skirt tutorial

I know the last one isn’t really a coat (well it’s kind of a coat for your bottom half), but I somehow forgot it yesterday and was kicking myself for it because it’s the perfect fall skirt for us to make and for kids to wear:  patchwork (I’m looking at you scrap basket about to take over the world), quilted, wrap around and reversible. Doesn’t get any better than that. So go over to Nan’s house and tell her just how much you love it.

This year I am determined to cut into the ridiculous amount of fabric I have amassed in my basement. It’s not there just to look at, right? It’s there so I can make the clothes and quilts and toys that my family needs instead of buying all that crap. So this is probably going to be the first of many matching family ensembles.

I don’t know how all those bloggers out there take beautiful pictures of their kids while showing off the beautiful clothes they have on at the same time. This is the best photo I got and it was the last of about a hundred, and really it’s not that great. But you get the drift: one long sleeve shirt, one short sleeve, and one pair of leggings.

all made out of this geek chic fabric I found at the thrift store a loooong while back. It is so perfectly seventies: the stripes are brown and this sort of rainbow confetti, meshy stuff (my daughter calls them her sprinkles pants). It’s a knit that has sat on the shelves waiting for me to learn how to use my serger. And guess what? I learned how to use my serger! A gracious friend taught me how while we made the 90 minute shirt together.

She made the long sleeve version and I made the short sleeve, but hers was so cute I ran home and made the long sleeve one. Of course I didn’t read the directions, screwed it up and the sleeves are too long, but that drooly baby really couldn’t care less.

Now my daughter wants to know where daddy and mama’s matching shirts are. Sound of music here we come!

peach and creme fraiche pie to be exact. It was made and already eaten–pie is just so good for breakfast. Though this pie wasn’t quite as good as I thought it would be. It was pretty damn tasty, don’t get me wrong, but the streusel didn’t really do it for me. There should have been more crunch to it. Next time I’ll add some chopped almonds or something else to give it more dimension. Because as it stands this pie is all creamy and softy peachy goodness, which sure as hell ain’t bad.