kcwc | ice cream dress

Okay, I must be honest here, I did not make this dress during kcwc week. But I'm away for the weekend and unable to sew ao I thought I'd cheat a bit and show you something I sewed over the winter.

I am so in love with this Oliver + S ice cream dress pattern that I've used it twice (I made a tunic version) and won't stop there.

I am also smitten with this fabric combo (Heather Ross' Far Far Away II linen roses and a Kona solid in mustard yellow). So much so that I am working on a birdie sling in the same combo for myself!

When I made it for her in November it was a bit too big but finally it fits and I'm hoping she will choose it to wear more often.

kcwc | quickies

As always, my intentions don't equal my capabilities. Damn you 24 hour days - you are not long enough!!

So when things aren't adding up and I'm not sewing up a dress a day (damn you unrealistic expectations!) I like to whip off a few quick projects to feel extra productive.

To me there is nothing faster then pulling out my serger and turning a few old t-shirts into kiddie clothes. These striped pants were an old shirt of mine using the body of it. Check out this tutorial by Dana from Made for the how-to (minus the ruching). The best part: using the already hemmed bottom of the shirt for the bottom hem of the legs, and the side seams of the shirt as the side seams of the pants. So easy!

This pair are made from the sleeves of an old shirt of mine. I love this technique - the bottoms and sides are already sewn up so you just have to attach the legs together. Genius! I can't find a how-to tutorial for this, maybe I should make one!

And this little experiment was an old tank top of mine. I shortened the straps, took in the sides and added a piece of polka dot fabric to try and make it come up higher on her front. In the end this was a bit of a fail. But hey, it took me ten minutes and maybe next year it will fit so it wasn't all wasted.

Other great quickie project tutorials out there include:

• two minute t-shirt dress by Prudent Baby
• quick and easy no hem skirt tutorial by Hickety Pickety Handmade
• ringer shirt tutorial by Crafterhours
• shirt into skirt with yoga style waistband by Make It and Love It
• sewing pants 101 by Samster Mommy
• pillow case tank top tutorial by Craftiness is Not Optional
• adult top to child's ruched top by The Mother Huddle

If you have any faves please feel free to share them!

kcwc | sun hat

The irony is not lost on me that I am writing about a sun hat while there is a record rainfall in my area today. Summer where are you? I'm ready and waiting for you!

The sun shone briefly on Monday and I took the opportunity for Alice to try out her new hat.

I've never made one before but I figured a simple bucket hat from Oliver + S: little things to sew was a good place to start. It comes in a few different sizes. Alice's head is 19" around so I  decided to go with the 3-5 YO size with a 20" circumference but use slightly larger seam allowances so it wasn't too big. And it worked!

I wanted to choose a neutral fabric for one side and a more colourful option for the other. Alice had requested blue so I chose this light blue crossweave, its almost like a soft denim.

And for the reverse side I chose sweet and simple polka dot roses in happy spring colours.

This pattern is a definite keeper and I will make a small version next summer for the little one on the way.

I'm not the only one with sun hats on their kcwc list. Take a look at this great bonnet, and Trula Kids' matching caps, and a tiny version of my hat with ties.

kcwc | nighties

I decided to make some items for Alice's summer nights as well as her days. So, I chose a simple nightie pattern and had Alice choose some fabric from my stash.

I remember floating around my childhood in nightgowns and felt like it was time for her to graduate from her full body PJs and float too.

Alice chose this pillow case (yes she is so tiny that I can make her  a whole dress from a pillow case!). The best thing about this fabric is that my parents had these pillow cases in blue when I was growing up so this print makes me so happy.

I will take any opportunity to add a rose.

I loved how simple and easy this pattern was to make. The most time consuming part was the multi step lace on the neck and arms but I enjoyed learning how to do it properly.

I made the two over two evenings and I will definitely make her more of them (and maybe some in flannel with sleeves for the winter).

And the best part? She absolutely loves them and will now only wear her nighties to bed....or to dance around the living room.

kcwc | measuring tip

Just a quick tip I wanted to mention. I seem to only sew when my daughter is sleeping which makes it very hard to measure her (and yes I have tried it while she is sleeping but I don't recommend it). So, my advice to you (and me) is to take all the measurements you need before they go to bed.

Five Green Acres has made a super cute measurement chart for your cowgirl and cowboy. {Thanks to Meg for sharing this on her pinterest board}

So go, now, and measure your little one for your late night sewing project.