the amazing kids clothes week
May 18th, 2010
1. McCall’s vest 2332 and bow tie, 2. Day 1, 3. Tea towel pants, 4. Kids Clothes Challenge, 5. annabelle in ruffle top, 6. Baggy towel pants, 7. 90 minute shirt with pleats, 8. Princess & the Pea Sundress – 2, 9. Goldfish
I was a little unsure about kids clothes week when I first posted about it. There are enough tasks to get done everyday, I didn’t want to add to that list and make mothers out there crazy (or crazier). But I thought maybe we could eek out a little bit of time each day and that wouldn’t be too much to ask. Then blazzam! You took that little bit of time and ran with it. I am floored by the creativity and skill and perseverance of you all.
1. front, 2. Ice Cream Dress, 3. yellow pants . front, 4. kids clothes week challenge :: day 1, 5. sailboat pants – on alice, 6. WIP – polka dot dress, 7. kids’ clothes challenge – y’s shirt, 8. kcwc rainbow leggings, 9. Vintage Dress
There is inspiration in the flickr group to last all summer long. I cut out twice as many patterns as I got to sew last week–and I’m sure I’m not the only one–so the group is sure to keep growing. Looking at all that you’ve made makes me want to sew so much more! The list will never be completely crossed off and I’m ok with that. Thank you so much for doing this challenge with me. I had a blast and my kids were pretty excited too. One of the participants (arg I can’t remember who) said her daughter told her it was like Christmas getting all these new clothes!
I will definitely be doing this again next year. We could beef it up with prizes (most completed projects, most botched projects, most beautiful on a hanger, most beautiful on the actual child…) or we could just keep is as it is. You guys made this challenge successful, so what do you think it should be like next year? Really, I want to know.
Keep it simple! You don’t want to make it too involved–otherwise you will end up blogging more than sewing. This year was perfect!
(But maybe another one in the late summer/early fall for warmer weather clothes?)
thank you for organizing it! it was really fun and motivating!
Prizes are fun, but I agree with Molly that this year was perfect. I had a really great time just challenging myself to sew, sew, sew! Either way, I’m glad you’ll be doing it again next year and I’m sure I’ll back to play again! Thanks again for hosting such a fun challenge!
oh my goodness. the cuteness is ridonculous. last week was a bad week for any extras like sewing around here, but all this inspiration is GREAT for future reference. thanks for organizing, meg!
I completely agree with the other girls. Keep it simple. This was perfect. No pressure motivation for getting some cute things sewn! I also think Molly had a great idea to do it “seasonally”. Once in the spring / summer and once in the fall for back to school. Thanks so much for organizing this and hosting such an inspiring place to share what we’ve made!
I loved how you did it. Prizes are always cool, but it might stress everyone out more:). I loved the no pressure part of it! It was so great! Thank you for the challenge! (and for posting my boys in their vests and bow ties!!!). Thanks Meg!
I agree. So much inspiration. I also have more projects to complete and a botched pile that I’m not sure what I’ll do with yet. My bag of scraps is growing too so I’d love a round of scrap project inspiration. Anyone interested?
Thank you for organizing it.
It was fun thinking that in the same moment when I was sewing at least 10 other mums were sewing as well :o)
I’ll sure join next year!
Lia, yes, scrap projects would be great!
Thank you for the challenge! I enjoyed it just like it was because it helped me find time to sew. I would love it if you did one in the fall, too for items for the winter. It was a lot of fun!
Fall clothes take more time, so I’m hesitant to do another when it gets cold (though the other hemisphere seemed to keep up with the challenge just fine!), but I could be talked into it.
Also the name is a little bulky. Can anyone think of a better name for the challenge?
Lia and Anja–I thought this was a great scrap skirt:
http://crafterhours.blogspot.com/2010/04/dresden-plate-skirt-tutorial.html
Yeah I enjoyed this challenge so much! And of course, didn’t complete my list but am not giving up yet.
I could be into an autumn/winter blitz as well…
And I also vote for simple. I definitely felt the pull to blog about my creations but not the time since I was so busy sewing. So, the flickr was a great way to compile all the inspiring amazingness in one place.
thank you again Meg!!
zoz
oops I meant “xox” not “zoz” – maybe I’m more tired then I thought!
oh, don’t contest-it-up! Keep it just the way it is so that the focus is on sewing for your (or a favourite) child. Contests tend to be more about the modeling and photography in the end – even this challenge was a “challenge” to get a nice photo with new duds on the kid! Why photograph when you could be making an extra pair of pants or shorts or summer dresses?! There’s my 2 cents!
wowzers i am agog! Meg, you’ve started something wonderful! such amazing creativity out there! i resolve to take part next time.
Like the others I thought it was perfect just the way it was. Not only have I seen such great things made by others (and added to my list of things to sew), but also somehow got into the swing of sewing every night. Thank you so much for organizing it.
Thanks for the challenge Meg. I had a great week sewing, and it’s nice to know my boy won’t be running around in the nude for at least some of winter here in Australia, and that his clothes are handmade with love. I think it should be a twice a year event – just before summer and just before winter. If you decided to offer prizes, I think they should just be random, otherwise you’re creating too much work for yourself, as others have said. Thanks again!
I enjoyed it so much too – and am glad that I’m not the only one who enjoyed the relaxed feel of it enormously. There was no pressure, no keeping track, no onerous time committments and that just made it soooo enjoyable. I’m sure I did more because of it! I’d hate to see a competitive element added in because it was lovely just looking at people’s work without any other motive than just enjoying. Would love love love to have another in 6 months, but certainly every year if you would! Can’t wait to have some time to go back through the group and admire properly.
I agree with everyone – twice a year – keep it simple – amazing inspiration – don’t want to stop now! Thanks so much Meg for giving us all the little push that we needed …. can you do a challenge for getting the housework done ;) ha ha!!
I stunk it up this time. I have projects laying on the ironing board waiting to be finished last week, but 100 other projects kept coming up. Hopefully next time, I’ll be able to carve away the time better.
Oh I missed this. What a fantastic idea, I hope to join you next time.
i had a great time.. although the weekend was too busy for me to sew. so i am going to take two more days later to finish. it was a great inspiration and i would love to do one in the fall also!!!!
thank you for doing this – it was so much fun, if a little crazy making for me. but it was inspiring, i got a bunch done, and i can’t wait to do it again!
hey meg! I so wish I could have done some kids stuff this year for your week. I like how you set it up, I think you did a great job of organizing it all and I actually really like that there weren’t any prizes. It makes you feel better about sewing what your kids will really like rather than what you think people would vote for.
I can’t thank you enough for this challenge. It not only got me moving, but also, I had been moaning about the lack of cute boy clothes patterns. Now I have loads of links and ideas!
Nicola