Kids Swimming Outfits

With a vacation coming up, I needed to get swimming outfits ready for the kids.  I initially planned on making them both shirts and bottoms, but I then I decided to cheat a little.  I found Caleb's shirt at Target for $9.99, and Rebekah's shirt came with shorts for $12.50, also at Target.  I added a white skirt on top of the little shorts for Rebekah (see picture below), and made Caleb a pair of pants out of black swimming fabric.  Can you tell that they are excited to go swimming? 

You can make your own pants by following this tutorial here. 

Welcome Baby Shower Cake

Another baby shower cake, this one for a little boy.  I used the same idea as the big one I made about a month ago(here), and put baby blocks and booties on it.  The block are made out of chocolate cake, these small ones were much harder to frost than the big ones.   Instead of frosting them first and then decorating them, I had to just use the bag and start making stars on them.  Everyone at the shower said it looked nice and tasted great! 

For the guest of honor, I also made a diapers and wipes case that matched the nursing cover I posted about a few days ago here. 

Girl's Ruffled Purse

This is the most adorable thing I've ever made!  I think my niece, who is turning 4, is going to love it!  She's also getting a few Hello Kitty trinkets, because I can't give a purse as a gift without filling it with something.  I found the idea from this blog: The Tip Junkie, which has free tutorials for 24 purses!  I mostly followed this tutorial on The Project Princess, although I didn't have the directions in my sewing room, so I improvised a little bit.  She recommends using canvas or denim to stiffen the purse, but I used rip away interfacing, which did tear a little on me, but works well enough (it was the only kind I had!).  I also used a magnetic snap as a closure.  I can't wait for her birthday party! 

Diaper Cake for a Baby Shower

Underneath that blanket are rolled up diapers!   I used rubber bands to keep all the diapers together, and then covered it with a yellow fleece blanket tied with blue ribbon.  I used safety pins, ribbon, and tape to hold all the baby items onto it. 

Reversible Nursing Cover

This is a reversible nursing cover, made as a baby shower gift.  I made myself a single sided nursing cover when I had Rebekah and I loved it.  I thought a reversible one would be perfect.  I also made this one a tad bigger than my old one, just to make sure it covers everything you want to keep covered.  I followed (loosely) this tutorial on Shannon Makes Stuff, except I used a D-ring for the strap instead of tying a knot, and I used more fabric.  I bought 1 1/4 yards of each print, I think I made the main body 40" x 30" (before sewing).  One side is a cute little boy fabric with cars, planes, trains, etc.  The other side is a more grown up pattern, brown with white swirls.  I think my friend will love it! 

Summer Twirly Jean Skirt - Girls

I am super excited about this skirt!  I got the jeans for free at a garage sale this weekend because the knees were really dirty.  It just so happens that it was a perfect fit for the little girl at church I've been making skirts for, so she's getting a bonus one!  The fabric and ribbon was already in my stash, so I didn't spend anything to make this!  The picture below is the jeans after I cut the legs off, then I turned it into a mini-skirt.

Below is a picture of the three tiers before sewing them together.  I gathered the top of each tier by sewing a basting stitch on the top and pulling the loose threads.  Then sew the three together and then onto the jean skirt.  When it was done, it looked a little plain, so I found some yellow and orange ribbon that went perfectly.  I sewed that between the fabric and jean with a zig zag stitch.  I think it turned out adorable, I can't wait to give it to her!

Here is the finished corduroy skirt.  I think the pink fabric looks great!

Swimming Skirt with Matching Shirt

This is my new swimming attire!  I made a swimming skirt with attached legging underneath that come just above my knee.  This is a two piece, skirt and shirt. 

I made my own patterns using clothes that fit me.  The most important things are to use a zig zag stitch so the fabric can still stretch, and to try it on often!  It's much easier to make changes as you go instead of waiting until it's finished.  I started with the leggings underneath the skirt.  I traced a pair of my own pajama pants to get the pattern.  The picture below shows them pinned together.  Sew the outside and inside of each leg, then sew the two legs together.  After trying the leggings on, I had to take them in a couple inches.  For the skirt, just sew the back and front pieces together.  Once the leggings and skirt were finished, I put the leggings inside the skirt and sewed around the waist, just to keep them together.  Then I folded the waistband over to make a casing for the elastic.  I found that I needed much less elastic than expected, you want it to be tight enough on your waist so it won't fall down in the water!  Talk about embarrassing!  I also should mention that I put a piece of black swimwear lining in the front of the skirt, which was sewn with the front piece like it was just one fabric. 

For the shirt, I traced a T-shirt that I had, which you can see.  There are 4 pieces to the shirt, the front (which is actually a patterned piece and a black lining piece sewn as one), the back, and each sleeve.  This was my first time ever making a shirt and it was much easier than I expected.  The whole outfit took me around 5 hours to complete.

Now summer can begin!  I'll give you an update after I pool test my outfit, which will be tonight or tomorrow at the gym.

Are you wondering why I choose to wear an outfit like this instead of the normal swim suit you see at the beach?  There is a great little book called The Girl in the Dress by Lori Wagner that explains why modesty is so important to God, as well as giving some great tips.