Sunhat - Times Three

This summer we found ourselves without a single fabric sunhat for all three women of the house.  I've never really had one I liked, and both girls have outgrown their princess hats.  I had seen these and thought they looked cute so I thought I'd give the pattern a try.

I intended to make one for myself and then see if I could scale it down for the girls.  Apparently I didn't read the description well enough because its actually a kid's hat.  So I made some for them and then scaled it up for myself.  All my experiments in pattern drafting of clothing have really come in handy. Scaling up a pattern involving three separate curves would have thrown me for a loop a year ago but now it was no big deal - got it right on the first try each time.

Hat number one (for Grace) is the largest size in the given pattern.  Its the same fabric on the inside and the outside, so technically reversible but not a very exciting switch.  :)

Hat number 2 (for Leah) has a wider brim and is a smidgen wider around the head circumference.  Hers is two colors - green on the outside, yellow flowers on the inside.  

My hat is made an inch or so wider than the largest pattern piece around the head circumference and the brim is also significantly widened for more sun coverage.  Yellow flowers on both sides.  

(I used up all that yellow flower fabric on these hats - bonus points for using up the stash.  I also used a quart jar to help hold the hat up on this photo because it kept squishing flat, so it looks extra pointy/tall.)  

We've been using them for a week or two now with good results.  The pattern is a keeper and they were a fun quick sew.  

Baby Boy Bibs

The rush of sewing for the end of the school year has passed I have enjoyed a little breather from sewing.  This summer will be filled with smaller, quicker projects - no big quilt plans and I'll putter on clothes as I feel like it with no real deadlines.   I have finished a crochet bag which I will have to take a picture of and post on here soon.  Today's post is something I whipped up this week.

Baby bibs are great fun to make.   I have a baby shower coming up at the end of summer and thought I could stay a bit ahead of the game and get these done now.  Its a pattern from a magazine I've used many times - I like the shape of the bibs and they sew up super fast and easy.

Its for a baby boy so I was able to work up a few ideas I've had floating around in my head and on pinterest for some time.  Its kind of a 'menswear for baby' theme and I am really happy with how they turned out.  So cute!

(Side note:  I've really got to get better at giving things a quick press before I take pictures.  Sorry about that.)

First up are a few mens shirt prints:

Then two grey cotton with hand-embroidered lines and an appliqued tie:  

My personal favorite is this one - a button placket: 

I reused the real placket from a mens shirt and then added extra buttons to get the scale right.

How cute will that be with little navy pants and a white shirt?!

And then the last one is a cute owl print.  It doesn't fit the menswear theme, but its cute nonetheless and I had just the right amount of fabric left to eek out a bib.  

They are all made from quilting cotton or mens shirts with a layer of batting or flannel in between for strength and better absorption of drool.  Velcro closures.  All machine washable, of course.  

Here's the collection (if you can call it that):  

My criteria for baby shower gifts (most gifts, in all honesty) are to be practical/useful, washable/easy care, handmade, and cute.  These fit the bill.  Happy baby boy!