Patterns for Pirates Swashbuckler Swim Trunks

 So I know it's August and so many are already toting their kids back to school. Which is crazy to me! We don't go back for a couple more weeks. But anyway, you still have time to make a super cute pair of swim trunks for your little guy! And want to know a secret, you can use this pattern for shorts too! That's what I actually made here using Pattern for Pirates Swashbuckler Swim Trunks.

I am so in love with the color blocking option of this pattern. (There is an option to make simple basic solid trunks also.) How cool are these! And they are so simple to make too! (I use way too many exclamation marks. Sorry! Opps! They just sneak in.) These really didn't take much longer to make than simple shorts. I had these sewn up in about an hour if I remember correctly. No side seams make them a quick sew, even with the extra steps to color block.

To take them a step farther, I hand drew a little sail boat on the bottom  that I then hand embroidered. This little boat makes me smile. Boys can totally pull off embroidery! 

One step on the pattern that you can also see above is to topstitch on the elastic. It makes the shorts/trunks have more of a ready wear appearance. It also keeps the elastic nice and straight. How annoying is a waistband that keeps rolling? None of that with this option!

Check it out, no side seam! You don't have to worry about your blocks matching up exactly.

The fit of these are great. They have a relaxed fit, with a slightly lower crotch that is common with board shorts. My guy is skinny! These are a 4 with the elastic taken in slightly for his skinniness.

 

I made my shorts out of kona cotton. And even though I didn't line these (which is super easy to do with Judy's directions!), his pay off for doing such a great job modeling for me was a run through the local fountains. The shorts stayed up even soaking wet. I'd say that's a win! 

I seriously adore this kid!

The required artsy shot. :) 

And of course the "This is the last frame I am giving you, Mom" look.

Go here to great your copy of Pattern for Pirates Swashbuckler Swim Trunks. Sew up a great pair of swim trunks for an end of season trip to the pool or beach, or sew up a great pair of shorts for back to school! Either way, you will get a super cool boy look from this pattern!

GYCT Designs Jean & Jamey Jammies

I was so lucky to be chosen to sew up these adorable pajamas for my son as a tester for GYCT Designs. I am thrilled with how these turned out! The instructions were super clear, even with so many options available. You can make your jammies with long or short sleeves, shorts or pants and you can choose to add cuffs to your pants as well. Oh and there is a cute gathered top option for girls also! Soooo many choices! We went with short sleeves and pants with cuffs on them and I couldn't be happier!

 I love how you can use smaller bits of knit that is left over from other projects for this. You can get totally crazy with this and mix and match all sorts of fun prints together for an completely unique look.

We went rather classic and used this ooga print I've had on hand for a few years now paired with some white interlock. Simple, calm, clean look and totally comfy.

We had a lot of fun with this photo shoot too! Thomas thought it was hysterical that I drug his bed out, loaded it into the van and plopped it down in the middle of a field. Amazing how doing something so crazy can cause him to be a wonderfully cooperative model. However, if I do this again, I will check to see if the field has four inches of mud in it BEFORE I carry the bed into it. At that point I was already invested and just placed the bed in the least muddy spot possible.

It made for some great pictures though so I'd say it was worth the small bit of mud I got on it.

This real smile is a hard one to catch.

The pattern is on sale Monday and Tuesday on both Etsy and Craftsy  so snag it up quick for only $5.95! But if you forget, or whatever, it is totally worth full price! So many options, have I mentioned that?! It's like you are getting four patterns for one price!

If you are super lucky, Chelsea is giving away two free copies on her blog GYCT Designs so go check it out and sign up!

CraftingCon Come to the Dark Side

When I saw the announcement for CraftingCon I KNEW I wanted to sign up! I have never participated in a sewing competition before and I admit, I was way nervous because I am such a newbie blogger, but it was so fun!

The rules were to create an outfit that fits our theme that is practical. No costumes, it has to be everyday wear that they can play in and something that "they can wear to the grocery store." Props are allowed and it has to be fun and have an element of play. I can do that!

There were a list of themes we could pick from and I chose Star Wars. I am not a Star Wars geek myself so much, but my dad is and he has pulled my children into loving it, especially my oldest daughter and my youngest son. So, I knew I had to sew something Star Wars. And I knew who was going to inspire my look.

Darth Vader.

Thomas thinks he is just way cool. And what's not to love?! He has a light saber and a cape! 

So I got to work googling the different styles Darth Vader has sported over the years. Pulled out one of my favorite patterns, Peek-a-Boo's Boardwalk Henley Hoodie and got the work! I knew this pattern was perfect. I used gray and black striped knit fabric to mimic Darth Vader's armor. Then I used scraps of knit fabric to applique the design of the buttons on the control panel on Darth Vader's chest and the shape that is inspired by the belt buckle. Applique is a super easy way to dress up a basic boy's shirt! You can find lots of tutorials on how to do it like this one here. I used a really short stitched zig zag stitch to mimic a satin stitch on my shirt, but I could have easily just used a quick straight stitch since knit doesn't fray.

 Bam! The perfect everyday Darth Vader look!

And, it has a cape. Of course! Thomas made sure of that. I added this cape the same way I added the cape to this shirt here, only this time I used the hoodie option of the shirt instead of the henley.

He is one super happy kid!

I paired the Little Sith Lord's shirt with a pair of Peek-a-Boo's Castaway Cargo shorts. They are made of some super comfy charcoal gray knit that is perfect for playing in. Or the random light saber battle.

Yeah, I know Darth Vader's light saber is red. My daughter has made that VERY clear. But, we had a blue light saber on hand and I couldn't find a red one. So, blue will do. ;)

This picture cracks me up!

I am so happy I was able to participate in CraftingCon! Go check my post out at Friends Stitched Together!

Happy sewing and may The Force be with you!

Guesting Post at Gracious Threads

Guess what! I am doing my first guest post ever at Gracious Threads!

I was so lucky to be able to join Jess with her Embellish is for BOYS series!

Want to know what I made?

Here is a little hint.

 

Yes, that IS glitter on a boy's shirt! Want to see what I made and how you can do it yourself?

Head over to Gracious Threads and check it out!

While you are over there don't forget to link up what YOU have appliqued for the boy in your life for the chance to win 1 yard of fabric from the Purple Seamstress. And on day one of this week, you can find a chance to win the Banyan Tee from Figgy's.

So much awesomeness going on!

Get creating for those boys in your lives and share what you made at Gracious Threads!!

Buccaneer BBall Shorts Review

I promise I haven't abondoned this whole blog project thing. Things are just so crazy right now. But that's good because that means I have been working on a TON of stuff to share with you!

A few weeks ago, I was asked to help test out the recently release Buccaneer BBall Shorts.

 If you aren't familiar with Patterns for Pirates you need to go run and check out their stuff!

It's all patterns for BOYS! And cute and cool and FUN stuff too! Boys deserve fun ,cool clothes and Patterns for Pirates are making sure you have the patterns

available to sew them up for your little pirate!

This pattern is great! First up the size range is HUGE! It starts little bitty at 3 months and goes all the way up to a big boy size 16! How awesome is that! You can also use both wovens and knits for this pattern. I LOVE the knit pair I made my son. (not pictured, sorry!)

All the shorts shown here are made of ponte.

The directions were super clear and easy to follow. And the shorts are a really quick sew.

We really like the fit. The are a bit longer and baggier than a lot of shorts. That makes them super comfy and I am sure they will be nice and cool on the hot summer days.

 

There are several ways to embellish the sides of the shorts. Above is the wide panel piping option. My fabric wasn't the best choice for this and the seams are a bit bulky, but my son doesn't seem to mind them at all and he is really sensitive to seams, so I think it's just me that finds them bulky. 

And my serger. I broke a needle. :P

There are two different hem lines to the pattern as well. I did the straight hem for all of my pairs. But there is a fun curved hem line that is bias finished. It's pretty cool!!

Above here is the no panel piping option. I am much happier with this pair. 

There are also a few different options for doing the elastic waistband.

There is even an option for a working draw string waistband!

My son is also sporting Patterns for Pirates Matey Muscle Tank in the picture above. Again, great pattern and super fast to sew up! And guess what! It also has a huge size range going from 3 months to a size 14! You can sew a tank for every boy you know with one pattern!!

I have it on pretty good info that Patterns for Pirates has a some awesome new stuff in the works.

You definitely need to go like their facebook page to keep up with all the super cool things they are coming up with.