An Artist

Did you know there are coloring pages for blind children? They have raised edges and other raised textures to show dimensions of drawings. It's really quite simple and brilliant. 

The above image comes from a coloring book Rocco had when he was younger. It's called "The Farm Bumpacolor by Kelly". Do you know the most amazing part about this book? It was created by Kelly Rickard for an entry into the Western New York Regional "Invention Convention" competition, when she was in just 5th grade! Of course this won her first place. Since then, Tactile Vision Inc. has made her idea a reality for blind children all over the world.

I must have spent the last hour trying to find any information on Kelly and her story. Nada. I don't even know what year she entered this competition. Is she all grown up now? Does she realize her simple invention changed the world of art to blind children? 

Rocco loves art. I mean absolutely loves it. He draws almost daily. He gets absolutely absorbed into a world of fantasy when he is drawing. He leaves out no detail. It's all scribble to our eyes, but to Rocco it's his work of art.

Sailboat Top

I sometimes forget to let you guys know how a pattern fits, or how I liked sewing with it. Since a few of you asked me how I liked the way this Oliver + S Sailboat Top works with knit and how it fits, I decided to wrestle the monkey and hope for at least one not too blurry picture. 

Like all other Oliver + S patterns there really is nothing to complain about on fit or construction. I made this in a size 2 (Vinny is 21 months old), so I think the size is right on. Although in the photo it looks like it bunches around the toddler pot belly, it really doesn't stretch or pull across the waistline. The length is perfect and I love the scoop hemline that has a facing. I had worried about the faux buttonholes on one side, but his head fit through fine with just one side of the neckline opened. 

Since I made this in a knit I added a rib cuff to the sleeves which the pattern doesn't call for. If you want to add a cuff here is a cuff pattern that I have (or just click on the button in the left column. 

About the knit. It is 100% cotton with minimal stretch which made it sew more like a woven. I think if I make this top again in a woven I may want to add a little bit of width in the midsection of the front panel and I may have to work on my buttonhole skills so that all four buttons are operational. 

So that was all a bit wordy just to say I like the pattern bunches and the fit is awesome.

Union Jack

I made a 90 minute shirt with a men's XL t-shirt from Target. This one is definitely a keeper. I totally love it. The pants are from a blue ticking called a 9.4 oz. denim from fabric.com.

I know this should feel like a productive week for KCWC, but I didn't finish a few items from that pile of already cut garments.

Sailboat Top

Although it wasn't on my original list of things to sew this week, for some reason I felt like making an Oliver+S Sailboat Top.  Their patterns are always impeccable and full of detail which makes for not a quickie project. I do appreciate the attention to detail though. I also had to trace a new size since I had only traced 18 months. I really hate tracing patterns. I have stacks of patterns ready to be traced. 

There are so many ideas swimming around in my brain. It's only gotten worse since I started adding to my "Things to make" board in my Pinterest.

p.s. I made a royal mess of the buttonholes on one side of this top so those buttons are faux buttonholes with the buttons stitched permanently closed. The other side turned out fine and I'm hoping his big head will fit through the opening. I really don't need another sewing fail this week.

Cotton Knit Fabric - Fabric.com

Cotton Rib knit - JoAnn's

Be A Hero ribbon - Farbenmix

Drat!

Yesterday I thought I could quickly sew up another pair of Monkey Spats and another Happy Animals shirt. Actually the pants are a little different than yesterday. These are the Monkey Spats, the wider leg without cuff is the Monkey Pant.

My problem was thinking I could sew while all three rugrats were home-awake-crying-pooping-bothering, you get the idea. On the pants above I did not intend to have the cuff serged onto the pant with the stitching showing. Turned out looking cute so I'm okay with the first blooper.

Upon first inspection everything seems fine. Not true. The lap shoulder is stitched backward. On the hanger it all seems like a slight imperfection. In reality it cannot be worn without looking plain silly. The worst part is this is not my first time to this particular rodeo. I'm pretty sure this exact same thing has happened to me FOUR TIMES! The strange thing is that it has happened with this fabric before. The giraffes must mess with my eyes.

KCWC

Shirt is "Happy Animals" from Ottobre 3/2011

Pants are a PDF patterb from Dans la lune  called Monkey Pants

Fabric from Fabric Fairy.The Guitar fabric is by Kumquat and there is a little orange dot that ties it together with the orange stripe.

 

I Finished the shirt last night and the pants today at naptime. I made the pants in a size 2 and he's 21 months old, so probably a little big. The shirt I made in a size 98 (lord knows what that translates to). When Cenzo woke up I quickly raced to try them on...

The shirt is a little long, but it's a keeper. The pants I need to work on a bit. I have him wearing a disposable diaper and these are definitely going to be better with cloth, so all you cloth diapering mamas rejoice! No alterations needed. That's a first. I have been putting him in disposables when I bring him to day care at my gym so off the rack clothing have been fitting him. I must say I love how cute he looks in jeans. I digress.

The fit of the back circle panel is a little off so I'll have to see what I can adjust for the next pair. Also, the fabric choice although adorable, reads pajama. At least the pants look very pajama. Since we rarely have short sleeve p.j. nights here, I'll make a long sleeve top in the same guitar fabric so these will become Summer p.j's. The orange stripe with blue rib knit trim will look great with denim. I'm clearly a fan of orange and blue as seen here.

I have to say I bought this pattern the nanosecond I saw this post. 

Getting Started

I did some cutting last night.

In preparation

for

some kids sewing this week.

It's such a small pile, measuring only 4 1/2" high.

hopefully soon it will become...

two hats

three knit pants

and

two knit shirts

Hopefully

The Name Game

When I first thought about starting a blog I really didn't think I would be posting about my sewing projects. Coming up with a name that I wouldn't get sick of after one month was difficult. I actually was so unsure that when I opened the Blogger account I used my actual name. That is one thing I knew I wouldn't grow tired of. I kind of wish I had just named my blog Sascha Romeo, but I didn't.

About the first 12 blog names I came up with were already taken. That became a little frustrating. Actually, in hindsight I am glad a few of them were already taken. They are cute, but just not me.

Then I decided since all my children have very Italian names, why not give the blog an Italian twist?  I did like the idea of using the Italian word for "little" (piccoli) paired with something. I think I Googled quite a lot of words that sound cute in English to see how they pair with Italian

little elephants = piccoli elefanti

little birds = piccoli uccelli

little babies/children = piccoli bambini (I think this was taken)

little owls = piccoli gufi

little friends = piccoli amici

little thugs = piccoli delinquente

Some roll off the tongue better than others. The funny part about all my "research" is that all I did was use babelfish for my translation. I figured it didn't matter much since who reads this blog anyway? What is funny is that I used the English to Italian translation, but if you reverse it to Italian to English translation my blog title becomes "little ones peas". Whatevs. I'm o.k. because bottom line is that I like the way piccoli piselli sounds so I went with it. 

Why the long post? I guess I'm just wondering what the thought process was for you guys when it came time to naming your blog. 

~ My little peas are my little bambini ~

Preparing

Kids Clothes Week is coming up and I figured I better commit myself by at least documenting one item that really needs to be completed.

Someone's head grew and is in need of a Summer hat, or two. Don't you love how the hat is just kind of sitting on top looking rather silly? After I took this photo today it fell off into the kiddie pool. 

I've traced off the Bucket Hat pattern from Little Things to Sew. Hopefully I can get more accomplished that week than a little hat, but I'm thinking baby steps right now. The only problem is I'm not sure I have fabric I'd like to use for the hat and if I order it online I may not get it in time. Locally the selection tends to suck big time. 

What are you planning on making during Kids Clothes Week? I actually really need to consider sewing some basics. None of the kids have Spring pajamas and the baby is in need of pants of all sorts. There I go, leaving those baby steps behind.

Oh and totally unrelated (I've been doing that a lot lately on my blog and in person, changing subject), why can't Cenzo poop his diaper and put his hand down the back and grab a fistful of poop when I'm not home and Chef is watching him? Just once?

So Much for Sewing

I haven't been sewing at all. It's driving me nuts. I have been pattern tracing. I even set up a second table in our dining/living room to use for tracing. Our dining table just wasn't working out on account of needing to use it for what it was actually intended... dining. Silly details.

In other totally unrelated news I finally got my order from Vintage Lucy's. I just love their funky t-shirts. I've bought a few in the past and when Cenzo outgrew them I missed them, so instead of making him some cute clothes I took a shortcut and bought them. The only thing I don't totally love is the logo on the back neck (third photo), is a little girlie looking. That paired with my inability to cut his hair so that he resembles a boy kind of puts it over the top.

p.s. The moccasins (above left) I made are still fitting him. Barely. I need a source for leather. Damn you local thrift shops. There has been nothing I tell you. Nothing!