Is it just me, or are there not quality, modern, cool clothes’ patterns for baby boys? Everything is shortalls or newsie hats or bowties. Seriously. Even after stumbling upon the amazing Heidi & Finn, or Olive + S, I am still searching. Celebrate the Boy is super awesome, especially with the free tutorials, but I don’t want to make my own pattern. I don’t have any cute clothes in which to make a pattern from in the first place. So out of desperation I bought a Simplicity boy’s pattern for a button up shirt and pants. The variations are nice, collar no collar, long or short sleeves, shorts or pants. And because it is Simplicity, it is super easy to make.
The pieces went together smoothly and fit him great (at least, the 12 month size did, even though he is only 6 months old. Baby is gigantic!) So I am very pleased at a nearly perfect* construction!
I was a very pleased with the bias tape “facing” for the collar: an easy, brilliant solution!
I loved using up some of my favorite gem snaps. I was nervous they wouldn’t fit well through the multiple thick layers of flannel, so I borrowed my husband’s rubber mallet and gave them a good old whack! It was both satisfying and exhilarating! I want to find more uses for mallet whacking!
He is so loving his Green Sprouts teething rattle. His cut his first little tooth just this morning! As you can see, the pants fit nearly perfect, a little long for room to grow. The shirt was an odd fit. The shoulders are just-right, meaning no extra-space-at-all can’t-really-breathe fit. However, the body length seemed a bit long. It does neatly cover the diaper/pants gap you so often get though, so maybe I am just being terribly picky. Also, it will be fun to learn how to make adjustments for big shouldered babies.
As you can see, he love’s it!
Also, last night while he was being entertained by his papa, I whipped up a teething necklace. The tutorial is so easy! Check out her blog A Bit of Sunshine, she is not only a fellow Seattle-crafter but has a nice little blog too. Baby freaking loved the teether. Instant joy and relief from his annoying gums!
I am learning more and more with every project. I do love sewing, and now I feel like I have the perfect motivation and audience (and practice model!) I had dreams of eventually fitting clothes to my own odd proportions, so learning adjustments for someone who is tiny (almost all his clothes are 1 yard cuts!) is just perfect. More than perfect, as his first nurse would say.
Dilemma:
My one issue with being both a crafter, seamstress, writer, blogger is trying to distinguish what my own goals and ideals are, or should be. I have this dangerously annoying practical streak (I am a Taurus, obviously, and you are?) that makes me both care and not care, seek fulfillment and seek production simultaneously. The problem is: do I blog or do I sew?
What is the single most important part of this hobby/lifestyle/project/craft? My time is very limited and precious. My baby and family need me, and I need me, and it would be amazing to just be able to take a moment for myself once in awhile. (Seriously, when was the last time I took a leisurely shower or even let the conditioner sink in on my dry hair? My personal time is the first things to go off my To Do list as a Early Life Educator (aka “stay at home mom.”) So I prattle on and on, but is the post with the lovely photos and the online sewing/crafting community more important than the actual product I have crafted?
I just don’t know….
yet.
There is the Sewing Summit which I day dream about… follow all the fantastic bloggers on Twitter or Instagram and daydream about learning from them, about a weekend for myself, about finding friends who have passions like my own. But first, I must decide what is important about this whole thing. Is my BA in writing a waste of paint?
I am sure many blogging crafters out there agree, it is very hard to be consistent and be amazing about both blogging/socializing/media and also sewing/crafting/building/making. Good luck to all crafters, everywhere, in grounding our passions with our dreams.
Love,
MaLora
*Especially if you ignore that I ignored pattern direction on the flannel.
PS: Did I show you my first trial pair of Anna Maria Horner’s Quick Change Trousers? I call them his “Hot Pants” … get it? Hot Peppers? I crack myself up.
PPS: All photos are on my Flickr, here.
I like to make and do. After my day is over and the bike riding is done, the sewing and crafting begins. This is my personal exploration, as I document and delve into what it takes to teach yourself to live your own dreams. 
Awww… so cute! Love the little shirt tail at the front! and the bias neckline finishes it off beautifully. I agree there is always a shortage of interesting boy clothes but hey… I’m beginning to believe that is the fault of men! (ooo controversial!) The likes of JPGaultier and VWestwood to mention 2 are always overstepping the boring bounderies to introduce new shapes and styles but I really dont think men have desire enough to be the peacocks so they never make it to the high street and it never filters through to little boys clothes as a result! This could be a very long comment so I’ll quit while I’m ahead. I think its up to us… the obsessive sewists, to create little wonders, by using patterns and interpreting them and embellishing them in our own way. I love the ‘hot pants’! and your gorgeous little bubba is the every little excuse to practice on. As for blogging versus making. I have no idea. I do think though, that by the time you have managed to steal some precious time to sew something lovely, your pride and eagerness to show it off to the world will find the time to blog too!
I hadn’t heard of either of JP Gaultier or VWestwood so I just looked them up – so awesome! Gaultier’s Spring 2012 ready to wear with the skull blouse, the sailor stripes, so much fun. Really inspiring. But that is off track…
I don’t know why little boy patterns bore me. They are often themed, think the tweed hipster look, or more classic looks like pirates and sailors, or the angry rocker look with denim and long sleeved tshirts. I am craving something new but don’t even know what it is. And my son is only 6 months old.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting! I am excited to learn new things (and to go explore more of Gaultier’s collections!)
I, too have been disappointed in the availability of fashionable boy patterns. I didn’t try sewing clothes for my boys as babies, but was huge into knitting. Everything was either boring or ugly. Now I sew them pajama pants, or Pillowcases, any easy quick useful thing they ask for. They get excited about the fabric and we come up with projects for them.
If the question is, make or blog, I say make. Make the time to make. Give yourself the gift of being creative. Then show us what you’ve come up with!
Your little (big) man is so cute! Enjoy!
Thanks! I can’t wait until he is older and can choose fabrics and get involved in projects like your own children – what fun!
Love those hotpants!