Betty Boop Goes Hawaiian for the Holidays!

I made Heather a holiday dress from this pattern:


Here's her dress.


Last week, I completed the bodice (one evening) and I just completed the entire dress (skirt, attaching the bodice, zipper, and red fabric flowers that resemble somewhat resemble poinsettias. Heather modeling this around the home!

After waiting patiently for her turn, Heather finally got her yearly pose with Santa....

A cute little one year old who was after us in line either wanted Hunter or her poncho. Heather was frightened that she was hiding behind my legs to avoid her. I told her that she should not be scared of a baby!

Heather at the Paranaque Town Fiesta, San Diego county, Dec 02, 2006

Heather posing for some pictures while waiting patiently before the "parade" or "promenade" of costumes (sunduan). I am not really into this sort of thing (my mom or her grandma is due to tradition). I just see it as an event that means a lot to the "town natives" of the old country. Overall the celebration is to commemorate the patron town saint, St. Andres or San Andres.

I would not be able to fully embrace this traditon, because I see myself as a native-born American. Lately, I have been disconnected from the ______ community. I do not want to be stereoptyped for having certain characteristics and behaviors. I want Heather and I to establish our own identities, while maintaining respect for various traditions and beliefs.








Is this the same dress that I purchased for Heather at Macy's? This is from a Striderite.com webpage for girls' shoes.

Poncho Princess

This poncho was really easy to whip up!
I hope that Heather likes the Elmo/Grover/Zoe fleece!

From McCall's:


Modeled by Dora the Explorer


Modeled by the real Dora fan herself:






Yesterday (Nov. 10, 2006), Heather and I went to Joann's Fabric and Crafts Store. She was quite a handful (at least not to the point of insanity)! She insisted on having her own shopping basket so that she can put her patterns, thread, buttons in it. I had difficulty finding red fabric for her dress because she was busily and quickly darting from one location to another, sometimes out of my sight, that I get so distracted from what I was doing!

She found a purple flannel ice skater Dora fabric. I just made her a Simplicity 3976 bolero/vest with pom-poms.


Heather insisted on a picture taking (just to keep her still and not fussing further!)


She really likes her new vest!

A New Dora Dress

I just made for Heather a Dora themed tiered dress using McCall's 4113 (Children's and Girls' Slips). Heather and I both like the style of dresses that consist of a knit top with a puffy or tiered skirt. This is the pattern closest to what we had in mind.


This is the dress which was very easy to sew and did not take much time to complete!


Heather has worn this dress (that I finished making late last night) since early this monring. It's wonderful that she would rather wear the outfits I make her over the RTW (ready to wear) ones!





http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=16731

More Dora Outfits!

Yesterday Heather and I visited our local Wal Mart. She spotted the purple Dora Fabric and we just had to get it again! I made her a dress that barely fit her earlier from the same fabric. When Tammy started unraveling the bolt, there was a darker purple version of the same fabric underneath. I decided on that one just for a change. Tammy, the Wal-Mart associate who was at the cutting table, remembered us (I think) from the last time, because she said that "you (Heather) were the one who liked Dora!" She mentioned the next time we visit, that Heather wear her new outfit from the Dora fabric. Tammy seemed so sweet and had a great sense of humor. I also purchased a peach and white plaid fabric ($1/yard), some groovy floral fabric, a pink gathered knit with tiny black polka dots, gold mesh ($3/yd) for Heather's Snow White costume to be used as the overlay for the yellow skirt, and some lacy trims.


I completed Heather's purple Dora jumper earlier this morning. I used New Look 6639. I really did not have any trouble with this because it was a simple pattern. Since this is the first time to use this, the next jumpers will go more smoothly. Heather chose the fabric and the buttons which felt like a rubber eraser. She probably feels empowered because she was involved in selecting the fabric and buttons for her new outfit.




I used Simplicity 3976 for Heather's pants, omitting the flounce, thinking that it might make the pants longer than it should be. I used the elasticised tulle trim purchased at WalMart to line the bottom of the pant legs.


She is definitely happy about her new outfit!





Here's the back of the jumper:


What a drama princess!

Heather's Favorite Oufits Made by Mommy

Heather is proudly wearing Mommy's creations from the same New Look Pattern 6613

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=15742

This is my first sewing pattern review for this website:
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=14820

Here is Heather as Snow White. I created it from McCalls pattern 5153 (my envelope is labeled MP403, purchased from Joann's). This is her official first official costume that she wanted! I reviewed this pattern:


http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=16229








She's still cheerful after munching on an apple!

The envelope had pattern number MP403 (purchased from Joann's costume patterns section) which is 5153 from the McCall's website.


I thought it would be fun to officially sew my first costume.

Halloween Night 2006

Pattern Description:
"Childrens' and Girls' Princess Costumes
Flared dress, ankle-length has fitted, lined bodice with yokes and shaped waistline, dirndl skirt, back zipper, with or without armhole ruffles and purchased trim. "

To make it easier on myself so as to distinguish which colored fabric gets which pattern piece, I traced the yoke front, yoke back, and the sleeve pattern pieces onto scarlet red paper and the three bodice pieces (front, side, back) to ocean blue colored paper.

Heather, my 3 yo made it official. This year, she made it explicity clear that wants to dress up for Halloween. She showed no interest in dressing up before. She helped Grandpa at his house pass out candy to the trick or treaters just wearing a themed t-shirt (Reese's pieces last year, and Disney Princesses the previous year). During one of our visits to Joann's, she picked up this supposedly "easy" pattern from one of store's cardboard stands that had costume patterns, because the Snow White costume caught her eye.

So Snow White she will be!

Pattern Sizing: Girls 2-3-4-5. I sewed a 5 for the bodice and a 4 for the skirt. I had to measure to make sure I was cutting an appropriate length to prevent tripping over it.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, with modifications. The skirt I made did not flare out nicely as on the model. But maybe she was wearing a petticoat underneath?

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes and sometimes no.

AFter reading all of the directions, I pencilled little stars next to the steps that applied to View A. Some steps were also used for the other views. The directions flowed nicely except for the instances when It would have been helpful to include view references (as subheadings) right after the beginning of the "Yoke" and "Skirt" sections. It was probably assumed that the sewist knew that it applied to all views.

For instance, step #23 deals with stitching the yoke front to the two yoke back sections. This step came after a set of directions uniquely for View B for the front and back ruffle. I assumed that preparing the yoke in this manner was a continuation of View B. Then comes View A with steps 24-28 for preparing the armhole ruffle. Then steps 29 -31 deal with pressing the seam allowances of the yoke facings of the yoke and stitching them together! So, these steps assumed I already had sewn the yoke pieces together. So, step #23 should have a reference to all views!

I think a very minor editing would have a gone a long way.



What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The pieces went together fine. The instructions could be reworked to make it more clear to all levels of sewists.



Fabric Used:
A satin type of fabric ($2.49/yd, sale at Joann's) primarily used for costumes. This is not the easiest fabric to work with. I was afraid while I was gathering the skirt, that if I tugged the thread any harder, that I would make a run in the fabric!

I added gold metallic trim (from Joann's ribbon section) to the bodice area.

I edged the bottom of the skirt with a cute lace with flowers and hearts on sale for $1.50/yd from Walmart. This lace has a nice luminescent quality to it!

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
I added more gold metallic trim to the front of the bodice to create a criss cross effect and the same trim to the center of the red bow which is just below the front of the bodice.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, but proceed with caution as you go through each step!

I took time in attaching the zipper to prevent the left and right backs of the dress from being misaligned and gathering the top edges of the skirt to fit the bottom of the bodice! The fabric was not the easiest to work with and I guess I got what I paid for.


Conclusion

I would not rate this pattern "Easy", but moderately easy. When I think of easy, I think of a dress that requires only two pieces sewn at the sides and finishing the hems, armholes and top edges!

But it's worth the time (3 evenings) and the effort! It's amazing the people you make things for know that and show it in their gratitude and excitement.

What's Snow White without her apple ?

Cheers and Vaya Con Dios!

I did not realize that children's costumes can cost so much!
Here's a nice Disney Snow White costume.

They might have used "nicer" fabric, but it's fun making an "original" (thanks to designer M.C. ALL'S)


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Here are two more patterns I used to sew two new dresses (size 5) for Heather. She was so excited about the Lizzie McGuire one.








I purchased the fabric at Wal-Mart for a good deal! The flowered dress is made from a stretchy cotton knit and the Dora the Explorer dress is made from woven cotton. It has a zippered back. This is large in the bodice area! She will probably fit in this nicely in six months or so!









Heather is a big Dora and Diego fan!


Houndstooth is making a comeback







This is from McCall's pattern # 4817 girl's dresses

http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M4817.htm?tab=infants_toddlers_children&page=5









Heather likes Sponge Bob Square Pants!