The pattern that grew with baby

When I was pregnant with my son, I was working in a lab at Cornell and sewing doll clothes on the side.  I knew our income was going to drop significantly after I went on an indefinite maternity leave, so I started researching cloth diapering. This was 2004, so cloth dipes were just starting to make a resurgence nationwide.  I happened to live in Ithaca, NY (which was, and always will be stuck in the early 70's) so I had lots of support from other cloth diapering mamas.  Anyways, cloth diapering itself wasn't that hard - lots of laundry, some stinky diaper pails...but all in all not too bad. 

We bought disposables when we were traveling or when the house was on the market, but otherwise we did great with very unfancy cloth diapers (handmade pre-folds with purchased wraps).

Louie spent most of the early weeks in onesies and sleepers, but when it came time to dress him up and take him out, I found that pants for his size didn't fit over his diapered bum.  Maybe it was the hormones, too many episodes of Baby Einstein (specifically, Baby Neptune), or possibly too much time on the mothering.com forums, but I came up with an amazing concept for a WAHM  (work-at-home-mom) business...POOFYPANTS!  I had learned a lot about drafting and sewing pants from sewing for odd-shaped dolls.  I applied this knowledge to engineer pants for a creature with a huge butt and tiny ankles.  Knowing that length would outpace width, I designed the leg openings to be rolled up or cuffed. 

The first few pairs I made were 0-3 months (Lou's size), and 3-6 months (which seemed HUGE at the time - lol).  I made an insane number of pairs out of my fabric stash (latent nesting hormones) and put them on ebay with matching onesies (simple patch applique, but very cute).  I immediately got requests for larger sizes.  Since I didn't have a model that size, I waited a few months.  When Lou was 7 months, I drafted the 6-9 month size.

 

He was thrilled.  By the time he was 10 months old, I was back into doll clothes, but I still drafted the 12 month size just for him to wear to a party.

 

I actually sold a LOT of Poofypants during my first few months of motherhood, and not just to the cloth-diaper set.  Turns out, the pants looked super cute on all precious baby butts, regardless of the padding.  Moms loved the fact that they were reversible and grow with baby.  There is just something special about the fit - and it changes just like the little ones' proportions...no grading rules - just a mama's instinct (sooo contrary to my scientific training).  It works so well, though.  The infant sizes are more "frog-legged" while the toddler versions are designed for running around, squatting, and having tantrums :) .

I drafted my original patterns on tissue paper from my baby shower gifts, and I stashed them away when I moved on to bigger kids' clothes and eventually patternmaking.  I dug them up last year, and decided that they might make for a fun pattern.  I thought they were different enough from my Easy Fit Pants (which is probably my best seller of all time) to warrant a pattern just for the little ones. 

So, I made a set out of fresh, fun, Sis Boom prints, appliqued a teeny onesie, and sent the set of to a gorgeous baby and her photographer/bowmaking mommy. 

I put the pattern up for sale...and it was an insta-hit on Craftsy, Etsy, and YouCanMakeThis!!!  So even though my baby is long out of diapers, I get a little teary-eyed seeing testimonials like this:

"I'm a beginner and I found these instructions the clearest of any i've used, with step by step diagrams and clear worded instructions. I also love the range of sizes provided and the separate patterns per size so they are easy to cut. The pants are absolutely gorgeous!" 

"Easy to Sew, Plus best pattern I can find for those Newborn sizes! Love It"!

"A very well-written pattern and crystal clear instructions. Plus, the finished garment is totally adorable and an excellent fit! I was lazy when doing the coordinating trim and just used a bit of bias tape! "

"This is the easiest pattern I ever bought. Very clear instructions, several pictures - easy to follow. I have some experience in sewing but I'm sure any beginner can make these in no time!"

Vanessa and Bettyann...MONTHS in the making!

OK - not only was the pattern months in the making, but so was this post!  I went into book writing mode, and my bloggy brain shut down.  The manuscript is in, so I can yammer again :) .

Jennifer and I are so happy to announce our two newest Sis Boom patterns!  Vanessa (for women) and Bettyann (for girls) are very simple, loose-fitting shift dresses. 

    When Jen first showed me this design idea early last spring, I thought "no problem...a band, some straps, and the rest is just gathered and flowy" - wrong.  Turns out, it was one of the most complex projects I've worked on so far!  I started out making the bodice band fitted, but that made for saggy straps.  Honestly, I was ready to scrap the whole thing, but Jennifer kept after me because she knew this style was in demand.  So I went back to the drawing board...added in some ease, made the back fully elasticized for necessary give, and tweaked the strap positioning.  I also added curves and slants in all the right spots to make everything hang nicely and cover beautifully.  Since I was in the middle of a move from MD to NY, I really relied on my quality control team to make sure this one was a go.  Here are a just few of the pics...  
Judy of Hickity Pickity made mommy-and-me maxi dresses for her gorgeous girlies!  She's been selling her handmade frocks like crazy at art shows in Florida and around the world in her Etsy Shop!          And oh my goodness, of course Jenny jumped in and made a great top for herself!  She is just as cute in person, I can say this with authority because I got to meet her at Quilt Market!!!       Oh - and look at Jenny's little daughter Kelsey!  Clever Mama paired the Bettyann with a Leighanna made from ruffle fabric!  
Awww - here is Christine's little doll Eleanor!  She looks great (and cozy) in her dress with a turtleneck underneath!
  Jeanne's little girl (above) in the Bettyann, and her almost grown-up girl (below...doesn't she look just like Amanda Seyfried?) in the Vanessa!



Jen went for all the options (ruffle sleeves, pockets) and I just love the results!


Kristina - an awesome photographer AND talented seamstress - made this Vanessa for her tween.  Perfection!

My friend Sheri, who I left behind in Baltimore (sniff sniff) made this.  The little one did her own accessorizing :) .


This is the back of Cathy's dress.  She is my queen of customer service, and is always getting requests for back views, so she gets the pics!  

Andrea made the most darling circus-themed Bettyann (complete with Easy Fit Pants) AND she drafted a mini-me dolly-version!!!!
  Oh!  and here is one more recent addition from Judy! Awwww!  

 

 

 

A chef, a gardener, and a meteorologist....

Sewn Hats was designed to appeal to all ages, genders, and professions, and the latest stops on the blog tour are great examples of the diversity of styles you will get from this book!!!

Yesterday, Melissa Stramel (from Lilac Lane) posted about her darling Sweetie Pie Chef hat,  It is reversible, available in child and adult sizes, AND has a  comfortable stretchy knit band. As I've mentioned probably a gazillion times, my husband is a classically trained culinarian, and this hat really warmed his sub-zero iron-chef heart!  Go visit her blog to see some precious pictures of the prototypes.  Once you are there, leave a comment and win (then go check out the beautiful patterns in her etsy shop)!

In keeping with the super-sweet and delectable theme,  Joanna Figueroa posted about her adorable Summer Blossom hat on the Fig Tree Quilts Blog.  I have to admit...when I signed on to do this book, It was like winning the lottery to find out I was going to work with so many of my fabric designer heros on this project!!!   I about died when I found out Joanna amongst them!  She also has a beautiful new book out, entitled With Fabric and Thread.  For sewn hats,we collaborated to come up with the most perfect baby/toddler sunhat ever. Go on over to her stop on the blog tour for more details, a chance to win, and some absolutely darling photos!

The next hat is perfect for the weather we are having on the East Coast today.  The retro-inspired Raindrop Rain Hat is made out of laminated cotton, and is great for braving the weather in style.  It was contributed by Alexia Abegg of Green Bee Design & Patterns.  This lovely young woman has designed everything from quilts to totes to clothing (for kids and adults).  I have to say, her writing and illustrations are impeccable.  There are so many awesome designer laminates available, the possibilities are endless for a great rainhat.  In her stop on the blog tour, however, she mentions that she made test versions out of a variety of fabrics, and they all came out great. 

Popping my head up!

Such a great blog tour is going on for Sewn Hats, and here I am stuck painting and scouring :p .  Every now and then I'll wash my hands and hop on the computer, but then I have to jump up and sand or grout something.  Good news is, the house goes on the market tomorrow, and I can relax and ride along on the tour.

I just want to share some of the amazing stops we've had so far!!!

First up  is Patty Young of MODKID Boutique!  I so love her designs, and her techniques are impeccable.  Her own book, Sewing MODKID style, came out earlier this year, and it is loaded with wonderful patterns and techniques for working with knits. For this collaboration, She came up with a precious, easy-to-make sunhat for babies and little girls.

I love the ruffled brim and woven ribbon accent.  It has a cute covered button option at the tippy top, and it is reversible - 2 hats in 1!

Then we go on to visit Kaari Meng of French General fame!   Not only is she the owner of a fabulous shop in California, she is a wonderful entertainer (ask Martha Stewart), fabric designer, and a big name in the scrapbooking industry.  She has published several sewing books, and she had a very distinct vision with regards to her signature sunhat.  She provided me with the raw materials, and "voila" a beautiful hat was born!  You can read all about it here (as well as some wonderful comments from her readers).

Next, we travel up the West Coast to visit with Dolin O'Shea of Lulu Bliss.  She has a garment industry background, is amazingly talented in writing/editing sewing patterns and instructions for best-selling sewing books (she's worked with the likes of Jennifer Pagnelli and Amy Butler)!  She also has her own line of crochet and knitting patterns (available here on Craftsy).  Her Jackie Pillbox hat is so fabulous!

It is put together with perfect vintage couture construction (Dolin's specialty), but is so simple and straightforward to make.

Going even further up the West Coast, we stop off to see Kathy Mack of Pink Chalk Studio.  Kathy is the owner of Pink Chalk Fabrics, and the author of a line of very popular sewing patterns.  Pink Chalk was the first big online fabric shop to venture out into downloadable patterns, and she has been such a great partner in getting the word out about Sis Boom and Scientific Seamstress patterns.  She is so precise, professional, and enthusiastic in both her writing and sewing.  So needless to say, I was thrilled to work with her on this project!   She put together the perfect visor for both adults and children.  It keeps the sun off the eyes, and the heat off the head.  So go over and read her post (still time to win a copy of the book from her)!

And I just have to mention, the model was my son's first grade math teacher.  She is beautiful inside and out, and I was so happy she could be the face of this great design.  Oh, and her mom works at our local quilt shop, so of course she has great taste in fabric :) .

Finally, head straight across the country to NYC!  Lisa Carroccio, of Domestic Diva's Distasters, is a perfectionist seamstress, self-proclaimed pattern snob, and one of the wittiest people I've ever met.  I've "known" her since the early days of eBay boutique.  She started out making one-of-a-kind doll clothes and then moved on to fancy girlie AND cool boy-centric designs (Lou owns one of her creations and he is not allowed to outgrow it).  Now she has transitioned to commercial production with her Downtown Joey line, and is still such a great support to all her designer friends from the boutique world who are moving into commercial production. 

One of the accessories in her line is an awesome skater/military hat, and she kindly contributed the pattern to the book.  Even though she originally designed it for little guys, it looks great on big boys too (as evidenced by the hot bearded guy on the cover ;) ).  I have to mention, she was also a great mentor for me during the writing and editing process.  She also contributed the awesome Spiderweb Rosette embellishment instructions to the book...you can get the free tutorial here! 

We've had some additional blog tour stop confirmations, too!!!  Please check out:

9/15 - figtreequilts.typepad.com - Joanna from Fig Tree Quilts
9/18 - prudentbaby.com - Jacinda and Jamie!!!!

Oh, and my winner for the Monday drawing (I'm so paint encrusted and technically inept to do a random drawing, so I literally covered my eyes and pointed)...is  Lainie!
she said...

"I am so excited for this book!!! I love the Newsboy in addition to MANY others. I'm definitely a hat girl ;)"  Lainie, you are the winner....please send me your mailing address and any inscription suggestions - info@scientificseamstress.com !