This summer the kids drawers will largely be filled by clothes made by mom and grandma. While I was sorting through fabric and deciding on patterns to fill the current holes I started thinking about what they would actually like- what is going to get worn.

Now I will disclaimer this post with my kids are 2 and 3. Their opinions are subject to change. And some of the things that didn’t get worn are more me than them. But just for fun here are the 5 things they wear the most and the 5 things they don’t.

It’s Getting Worn and Loved-

I’m linking the post when there is one, click to check out details and more pic.s if you like.

The Anywhere Dress this little striped dress became a fast favorite of mom and toddler alike. It also elicited the incredibly rare husband compliment.

Monster PJs- If they are in the drawer that’s what he’s wearing. Period.

Parasaurolophus shirt- I didn’t do a post on this but it is a repurposed shirt re-made using the free Basic Tee pattern from Dana.  I made a stack of them and then O and I searched the internet for images of his favorite dinos to freezer stencil onto his new shirts. He has 5 different dino shirts. He pretty much just wants to wear the Parasaurolophus shirt. Side note- quiz me I can name like 50 dinosaurs based primarily on silhouette. 

Rollerskate dress- I made this dress for Easter, but it’s comfortable and cotton so it gets worn. I made her up a reversible version this weekend, there will be a post later this week.

Raglan Tee- I made some tweaks based on the original tutorial and draft in this post, and used the remaining monster knit. The sleeves pull slightly farther out on the neck.

He likes this version best, and once he got over that it could be worn out of the house and not just for pjs- is pretty happy rocking it. I also applied the neckband using the raw edge method from Sewing for Boys Raw Edge Raglan (also a well worn shirt).

So that’s the good stuff, time well spent right?

What about the blood, sweat, thread and swears that turned out to be less productive?

I’m Not Putting That on, Just NO

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Recently Jill from Sew a Fine Seam had a post about waiting for spring.  In this part of the country it can be a very difficult time indeed.  Even though last weekend we turned our clocks ahead…spring forward…and the equinox is this week, we still have a TON of snow that needs to melt and really the 2 inches that we shoveled yesterday in 20 degrees, did nothing to reassure us that spring is indeed almost here! In Minnesota the snow is even deeper than here in Wisconsin, as you can see in Rachel’s picture from earlier in the week here.  It’s hard to believe that we will ever be able to open the windows and breathe in warm fresh air again.  This winter has been snowier than the last few, and I am sure that is part of my wondering if the tulips will ever be able to poke their heads out.

While Rachel has been busy sewing Easter outfits for her little ones (pictures this week!), I have been busy working on a variety of things.  I feel like I have been floundering a bit, although when I look at the stack of  things that are finished it seems that I have been busy! We have had new babies come into our lives this March and that is always exciting.  I have a new nephew and one of the ladies I work with had a baby girl after two boys!  Very exciting for her.  I love knitting and crocheting for babies so with these two additions I had a very good reason.

Last winter I made  a cute lime green sweater for Miss M.  She has been able to wear it through last spring and fall and it is just now getting a little small.  Although 3/4 sleeves are still in fashion, so I bet she could even wear it this spring.

That got me to thinking that  maybe I would make another one in an off white color that may be more gender neutral.

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We’re taking a minute to share what we’ve been busy sewing and creating for the store. We have been enjoying growing and  developing our little shop. Take a peek, or visit the link at the bottom of the page to see everything we’ve got going on over there.

Valentine’s Day is here and gone, and we are looking ahead to Easter! Can you even believe it? Soon spring will bloom. Although here in the Midwest we can have some pretty wild rides in March and April, it is good to know that with Easter’s preparation the warmer weather cannot be too far behind.

We are bringing you some fun new items for this season in the Etsy store. Back are the new born hats with a style for the new guy in your life. White hat with a small brim and decorative button. Also available the plain with a flower or a scalloped edge for the little girl in your life.

Our popular aprons have also returned in three patterns for girls and two for boys. They are all fully reversible and have adjustable neckline straps. These aprons have 3 pockets to hold lots of your child’s favorite goodies. They will fit children age 2-5.

Donna has been busy pattern drafting new girl pjs! New PJ’s are available in this girl style, or a fun boy style. They are made of lightweight cotton flannel, perfect for the transition time winter to spring to early summer. Available in size 2,3 or 4.

Bunny lovey blankets are crocheted out of cotton yarn and are available in blue, green or pink.

Baby girl crocheted dress and matching hat are available in hot pink, mint green or lavender. Size 0-3 months.

To accent your little guys favorite outfit we have a variety of color and patterns of ties available. They are pre-tied with a Velcro neck closure. Include neck measurements with order and we will make them to size.

As usual all of our items are cotton fabrics and 100% machine washable. Our yarns are cotton or cotton/poly blend and are also machine washable.

Come see all of what we’ve been up to at the store!

It’s the last week of the season over at Project Run and Play. This week’s theme- your signature look.

This raised some really interesting questions around here. What is our signature style? Do we have one? Is it the same?

That is the interesting thing about sharing a blog space, we don’t always agree on what looks best. Shocked?

I think Donna and I would both agree when it boils down to it, we both have a more traditional style. That casts a really large net. But for now I think that is as committed as we can get.

I really love this little classic jumper from You and Mie.

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This is going to be a fun week here at Once Upon a Sewing Machine! We’re really excited to be welcoming Siestas and Sewing this Thursday for the launch of our new boys series! We’ve been happily sewing up boy clothes and writing up tutorials to share with you this year, we hope you’re excited too.

This week also launches a new event, the Sew Fab e-Pattern Sale. For us it’s a great combo of designers we know we like and designers we’ve been wanting to try out patterns from. 5 days to get an awesome deal, we’re pumped to be an affiliate.

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Rachel and I have been the sewers in this family ever since she was little. My younger daughter also sewed in her younger years and throughout her 4-H years.  Although I always felt their sewing skills would serve them well, Rachel picked up sewing again during her college years and younger sis did not get back into sewing until after college, grad school and a couple of years of life. She has recently begun sewing again and luckily lives near her older sister who can help her through the bumps along the way.

Before Christmas this year my son asked if I would help him choose a sewing machine for his wife who was inspired to begin sewing. Of course I was excited to be able research machines AND spend his money. She would be a beginning sewer, so we needed just the basics. It turns out basic machines are way more complicated thanthey were when I was buying my first ” basic ” machine.

So this is the story of how I introduced her to her new machine. She unpacked the box and laid out all the pieces.

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In our bold new years en devour to sew more for the boy I decided to check out some additional options for fabric shopping. I casually dropped my sister a text, did she want to come with me to try to find this fabric warehouse I had heard of after work? Sure she would come! (Later she admitted she had much too loosely interpreted the word warehouse, she didn’t think I meant an actual warehouse.)

I did.

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