Wideleg Pants for Every Occasion

     So recently I was selected to test the Wideleg Pants pattern from Jocole that is included in the girl's Bundle Up Sale.  At first, I spent two days telling my husband about how exciting and cool it was to test for Jocole.  Then I spent a whole day panicking about messing up and never getting to test again! On the fourth day, I made pants....

But before I start... you want to know the pattern specs right?

Sizes? From Nb-14 and even include a size for dolls.
What kind of fabrics? Anything! (Well anything non-transparent) both knits and wovens work here, and I believe I saw a pair that were fleece. Whatever is most comfortable for the model...
Options? Where do I begin? There is a pants, capri and shorts length. 3 types of yoga waistband: skinny, regular and fold over.
3 Lengths?!? Are there pockets? Of course! Either a patch or an inseam pocket.
Sounds good right?

Washington winters are rainy and cool so I made Bug pants for both of hers but in a few months the capris will show up. The first pair I made were for a fashion forward shopping day with Grandma, who was in town for Christmas.  I paired them with the Fancy Blazer from Love Notions, which went perfectly with the Christmas print I wanted to use.

The fit was amazing! I was concerned that wideleg pants would swallow her and they don't at all.  And they are so super comfortable.  She refused to take them off later when I demanded that she let me wash them. The length was great even for my long legged beauty and the patch pockets were perfect for fitting the $20 Grandma gave her. I used the fold over waistband and it sat high enough for her to be comfortable but not too high to be "weird".

 

While not-so-patiently waiting for the release of these pants, my kids traveled to Portland for their first ever dance conference. On the list was a comfortable pair of pjs for a late night dance party.  Of course, Diva Bug had to have new pjs for this very occasion. I let her look through all of my patterns and she wasn't convinced any of them would work for dancing. (Not even sure why, but she is very opinionated.) Then she asked for another pair of wideleg pants.  So this round, I used the regular waistband and the inseam pockets. 

I intentionally shortened these so she wouldn't have a problem running around barefoot at the pj party.  She must have enjoyed them because she put them right back on the next day. 

I am already mentally planning my next pair of pants, or maybe capris?  Definitely grab this pattern as a part of your bundle.  Go! Get to bundling!

Click here to head over and build your bundle!

Sweet Innocence and Thanksgiving Alterations

      So I was recently lucky enough to be selected to test a pattern for Annastasia of My Treasured Heirlooms. From the moment I saw the dress and all of the options, I knew I would not be making just one.  Bug is a twirling, ruffly, sparkly type of girlie girl so this dress is right up her alley.  The Sweet Innocence dress goes from sizes 2-10 and there is even a doll option that will fit a wide range of doll babies.  There are 3 different options for this dress, two peasant dresses that can serve as underdresses and even a corresponding pair of pants (with or without ruffles).  If you only buy one pattern, this one has everything and more.  You can purchase just the dress (Girls Pattern) or opt for the combo pack that includes the doll version (Girl and Doll Combo).

       So for my first dress, I had some fabric issues and changed my mind forty times but I finally decided to cut the second view with a peasant underdress. I am working with Bug to pick her own fabrics because she is getting more picky and I don't want to sew things that she will refuse to wear.  I started with the underdress. It is a peasant style dress that could easily stand by itself but I used it to give body to the outer dress.

And oh the twirl!

      There was so much ruffling going on... And then I started with the outer dress.  My daughter, like everyone else's daughter, loves Frozen so I have some of every Frozen print.  She really wanted a Frozen twirly dress.I chose the open back with a double ruffle to mat h the underdress.  After yards and yards of ruffles, I think she was pleased...

      After doing the assigned tester dress, Annastasia asked if anyone wanted to try to do something different with the pattern.  Since Thanksgiving was coming up and I promised my daughter a rocking Thanksgiving outfit, I jumped at the chance to try my luck.  I wanted to use the peasant bodice and create a shirt and match it with the ruffle pants.  So I estimated my daughter would need about 6 1/2" added to the bodice to be long enough to make a shirt. 

     I used the tier 1 measurements from the tiered peasant dress to cut a ruffle to go on the shirt. I shortened the ruffle height to match the pants ruffle. Then I cut out the ruffle pants.  I used the pants ruffle piece as well as a ruffle that was an inch shorter to create a double ruffle.  Since my fabric was so dark and holiday themed, I decided to add some gold ricrac along the ruffles to create a little "bling" for my fancy Ladybug. She loved her comfy Thanksgiving outfit!

      So run over to My Treasured Heirlooms and grab your own copy of the Sweet Innocence Dress on Etsy or Craftsy! And check out her store! She has some awesome crochet patterns.... which is a skill I have been meaning to learn.  Happy Thanksgiving from Bubba and Bug! And on to Christmas sewing!

(Bubba is wearing the Old Tyme Baseball Shirt from Dandelions N Dungarees)

Welcome to the Amazing Adventures of Bubba and Bug

So here I am, I have finally decided to start a blog!  I am not sure that anyone wants to know about all of the strange goings on in my world but just in case...

Starting off, I should introduce myself.  I am a veteran of the United States Navy and a recent graduate from the University of Washington who lives in Tacoma, WA.  I am lucky enough to be the mother of two awesome and individual little people: Bubba, age 9 and Bug, age 7.  I work overnight as an LCMS technician at a toxicology lab and spend my days playing supermom, reading and sewing.

Bubba and Bug (and Foxy)

Ahhhhhh Sewing.... the main reason I have decided to blog.  I love to share some of my amazing... and not so amazing... creations that I make for my children (and every so often for myself). In December, I will reach my one year Sew-iversary and I feel like I have come a long way from my first creations to today.  Hopefully, my photography skills have also progressed proportionately.

The Dreaded First Project (CKC Cosette)

Most recent project (Mandy K Designs XOXO Dress)

Well, that is my brief introduction and I hope to be back soon with more projects and other fun things!

Essence