Handmade Wardrobe // Esme and Tully

cardigan: Named Clothing Esme cardigan (simplified hack) in a brushed sweater knit from StyleMaker Fabrics

pants: Style Arc Tully pants in a lightweight bleached denim from Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics

tank top and shoes: Target

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I have two new handmade makes in this outfit, both of which I had very different experiences making!

First - these Tully pants. Remeber my obsession with the Spring Shorts over the summer, and how I made 5 different verisons of them. Yeah, these are the fall verison of that for me. They are peeeeeeerfect. And I’ll probably make another couple of pairs before fall is over. I had to make no alterations and the fit is perfect straight from the pattern. I really like it made up in this lightweight 6.5 oz bleached denim, but now I’m kind of curious what it would be like made up in a slightly heavier denim to more like a pair of fancy jeans.

And then there was this cardigan. Oh man, this cardigan. It took me three days to finish this thing up because it just was not going well. I wanted to make an Esme cardigan but cut short just below the pockets. Literally nothing went right in the process. And I realize now that It’s not anything to do with the pattern, but with my fabric selection. The pattern calls for a medium to heavier weight fabric with very little stretch, and I chose this very lightweight, very stretchy and drapey and droopy sweater knit. As a result, the pockets drooped, the placket was all twisted and funky, and the whole thing just drooped and was sad looking. I ended up cutting off the placket and cuffs, and just turned under the raw edge with a little knit hem tape for stability. I also stitched the pocket bags to the front of the cardigan, so that the stitching is visible from the front. This helps the pockets not droop quite so much. In the end, It doesn’t really look like an Esme, more like a much more simplified version of it. But for all the issues, I still think it turned out pretty good in the end!

handmade wardrobe // mommy and me leopard

my dress: True Bias Roscoe dress in a silky faille from Spoonflower (designer is Michelle Aitchison)

my boots: Target

Penny’s skirt: self drafted

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Remember the leopard print from my last post? The sublt pink leopard print? This is the same one, just in bolder colors! It’s from the same designer, bought on Spoonflower (link is above). Except this one I got in the silky faille fabric. It’s a tad bit thicker than the crepe de chine I got the other colorway in. Its not at all sheer and really silky to the touch. I really like this one!

I’ve been on a True Bias patterns kick lately, between Ogden, Calvin, Hudson, and now Roscoe. My first Roscoe! And I’m in love. I went with the shorter dress/tunic length of the bodice, but used the longer/wider ruffle hem of the midi dress view for my perfect length.

I only had a strip of fabric left over in the end - not close enough to squeeze out a dress for P, too. So I went with my go-to, super quick and easy make for P to match me - an elastic waist gathered skirt. One rectangular piece of fabric, one seam, a quick casing, and some elastic. Voila - a skirt. I have a tutorial on Megan Nielsen Design Diary if you need help with this simple sewing project! I added some buttonholes and a black drawstring on this one too for just a bit extra.

handmade wardrobe // Sudley dress, and matching Cottesloes, too!

dress: Megan Nielsen Patterns Sudley dress in a burnout organza from Joann Fabrics (no longer available)

swimsuits: Megan Nielsen Patterns Cottesloe and Mini Cottesloe (tutorial for peplum and skirt) in a rust swim fabric from Blackbird Fabrics (no longer available)

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Its a two-in-one post! Or rather, three-in-one! Back in July, I made another set of matching Cottesloes for me and P to wear to a beach party. For these ones, with just one hack technique, I created two different looks - peplum bottoms for my two piece and a skirted one piece for Penny! You can find the tutorial for how to do this over at Megan Nielsen Design Diary.

I also made a really fancy beach cover up using this sheer/burnout organza, and you guys, I’m in loooooooove. Exactly what I was imagining. And that little keyhole detail in the back of the Sudley (can be worn in the front, too!) is just too cute. Because It’s sheer, I had to take extra special care to make the inside pretty as well. Since you can see it! So I finished all seams with either french seams or bias bound edges. I have a really pretty mustard yellow silky fabric that I want to make a slip dress out of to wear underneath, so I can wear it off the beach, as well!

handmade wardrobe // lovely Sudley

top: Megan Nielsen Sudley blouse in crepe de chine from Spoonflower (designer is Michelle Aitchison)

jeans: Megan Nielsen Ash jeans

boots: Target

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I don’t make a lot of woven blouses, especially longer sleeved woven blouses, so I needed to fix that! How cute is this little Sudley one? I simply used the cropped bodice length of the dress view, but shortened the skirt to peplum length. I also lengthened the sleeves to just below my elbow, and added an elastic casing at the sleeve hem. Easy peasy! One of my favorite things about the pattern is that it is reversible - the keyhole can be worn in the front or back!

Love love love this fabric! I’m kind of obsessed with Spoonflower. Not the prices, but the infinite options. I’ve been really into leopard print lately, after years of being anti-leopard print, ha. But this one subtle and cute. I also chose the crepe de chine because I liked how lightweight and floaty it was for this style. It is sheer, so a cami is needed underneath. But that was anticipated.

handmade wardrobe // leopard lela

tee : c/o Gumption

bracelet: c/o Gumption

skirt: SewDIY Lela skirt in a leopard print crepe from Blackbird Fabrics

purse: old Urban Outfitters

boots: Target

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Just a super fun little skirt to head into the weekend with! It’s been awhile since I’ve made a shorter skirt, I usually stick to midi length. But this leopard print just felt like it needed to be something fun and flirty. I used Sew DIY’s Lela skirt pattern, but cut it short just below the pocket bags and added a ruffle flounce at the bottom. I love it! I’m picturing it with a fuzzy sweater and knee high boots later on for fall.

The tee and bracelet I’m wearing is from the cutest online shop called Gumption! It’s run by a fellow Holly, and everything in the shop is from a small business that fits into atleast one of these four categories - female run, U.S made, ethically made, or has a mission to help people in need. Their mission is all about empowerment and girl power and living your best life. It’s absolutely the cutest and you should check it out!

handmade wardrobe // calvin the beautiful

dress: True Bias Calvin wrap dress in a lightweight silk jacquard c/o Measure Fabric

top: Megan Nielsen Patterns Rowan bodysuit

booties: Target

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Soooooooo I just made my dream dress. And its the Calvin wrap dress. Which is funny, becasuse I would usually shy away from a style like this. Lower v-cut, thin straps, wrap styles usually hang funny on my non-existent bust. But with a few adjustments, it’s seriously my new favorite make. As I do with all of makes with bust darts, I removed the darts completely. Bust darts are just unnecessary when you have no boobs haha. I also lowered the button hole and thread chain locations at the side seams down by 1”. I think this was necessary due to my long torso and, again, no bust. If I would I kept the locations as-is and had the top wrap there, the wrap-top section would have sagged. Now it lays perfectly flat across my chest!

This fabric you guuuuuuuuuuys. Its silk. I don’t usually go for luxurious fabrics, but I just couldn’t resist this one. The print! The subtle dot texture when you get up close! The silky feel! It’s all so good. And also probably the reason why There is only a few yards left - I wasn’t the only one that fell in love with it! Sorry hurry up and snag some before it’s gone. But Measure Fabric does have some other really pretty silks, so you should check them all out, toot. Working with the silk really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it was a bit slippery. But with plenty of (silk) pins and a little patience, it really went pretty smoothly. I feel like this type of silhouette is just perfect for a dreamy, silky fabric. So it’s worth it.

Also, I should mention - the bias binding is from Imagine Gnats, and is the perfect match. I order both this peachy pink, as well as a blue one that matched really well. While the blue maybe would have been a more obvious choice, I fell in love with the way the pink looked from the moment I put it next to the fabric. Even though its a light color and it does match part of the print, It seemed like the perfect contrast. I’m still so happy with this choice!

I debated whether to style the dress for these photos like this with the rowan bodysuit and booties, or just the dress alone with simple heels. Like I said, I am actually surprisingly comfortable wearing the dress alone and it looks really good! And the weather here is still warm enough later in the day to be able to wear it. But I also know most people are already in fall mode, so I figured it was a good idea to show a layering option with this silhouette/pattern!

handmade wardrobe // mommy and me Eucalypt tanks

both of our tanks: Megan Nielsen Eucalypt tanks, women’s and mini in a dotty rayon from Fabric.com

my shorts: Peppermint Magazine Spring Shorts in a slub linen from Stonemountain Fabrics

Penny’s shorts: self drafted

my hair clip: Turtle Story

both our shoes: Old Navy (mine & Penny’s)

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My friend Megan just released two new mini paptterns - including the Mini Eucalypt tank and dress! I made these matching tanks for me and P back and June, and have dying to share them. It’s a simple pattern, a quick sew, but oh so satisfying.

Penny is wearing the smallest size available which is a size 3, with no adjustments (she is 3 years old). It is just tad bit big on her, but she also falls just outside the measurements for the size 3. I chose not to make any adjustments, because I figured that it being a tiny bit oversized now is worth it for it to fit her still next summer. The more wear, the better! And the longer I can twin her in it haha.

And now that summer is dying down, I’m also picturing it with a cute chunky cardigan layered over it with her little leggings. Cuuuuuute, right?!

handmade wardrobe // pure sunshine

my top: Simplicity 8839 in a yellow seersucker stripe from Mood Fabrics

my jeans: Megan Nielsen Patterns Dawn jeans

my booties: Target

Penny’s dress: Jilly Atlanta Macy Pinafore

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Man, mini yellow pinstripes are really hard to photograph when you’re not up close! These are better in person, I swear.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this fabric when I bought it. A big puff sleeve top for me (my second one this month), and something cute and ruffle-y for P. The Macy Pinafore fit the bill, and I knew what to expect from it since its the third one I’ve made her. I plan on carrying hers into fall by paring it with a rust colored long sleeve tee underneath and some tights and boots. Cute, right?!

Snapshots // Sunflower Field 2019

my dress: Megan Nielsen Patterns Darling Ranges dress with added sleeve ruffles in a sage green cotton/linen from Style Maker Fabrics

Penny’s dress: handmade/self drafted

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Our yearly trip to the Colby Farms sunflower field did not disappoint this year! In fact, it may have been one of the best visits yet. It usually gets super busy/super crowded. But this year we were the first ones there and even had the entire field to ourselves for a bit!

see previous years photos here - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (not Colby Farm), 2018

handmade wardrobe // Ogden dress hack, round 2

dress: True Bias Ogden Cami hacked into a gathered dress with tie straps, in a floral crinkle cotton from Joann Fabrics

hair clip: Amazon

purse: vintage, purchased at Crompton Collective

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I’m going to keep this short, since this is the second time I’ve made this Ogden dress hack (see the first from earlier this month). Only addition was adding tie straps to this one! Love this hack, probably one of my favorites!