For Baby Roo’s next oufit, the shoes came first:  pink Livie & Luca peacock shoes.

(photo from Livie & Luca)

Baby Roo’s Mama got them for her a few months ago and they just started fitting, so sewing something to coordinate was in order.

Finding apparel fabric in Huntsville is a chore, but there are several good shops in Tuscaloosa, including the Hancock Fabrics near the University.  A saleswoman there told me their selection was so good  because of the large fashion and textile design degree program offered at UA.

The pink patterned knit for Roo’s leggings came from there and matches the shoes perfectly.  The leggings pattern was  Fleece Leggings by Lena (available free at Craftsy).  The knit was so stretchy that I cut a 12 month width and 18 month length.  I added 2 ruffles at the bottom of each leg.

The adorable white ruffled halter top is another free pattern – this time from Oliver & S.  I cut an 18 month size and used white Kona cotton from my stash for it.  It is a really cute pattern and sews up very quickly, esp. with a serger to finish the ruffle edges with.  The only change to the pattern that I made was to reduce the length of the elastic in the back of the top because it would have been way too loose on Baby Roo at the recommended length.

Now that Baby Roo isn’t growing so quickly, it is time to get a good set of measurements so her outfits will fit properly.  The trick is getting her to hold still long enough to let me do that!

I love you Baby Roo!

Hooroo.

Yesterday was Saint Patrick’s Day.  It is one of my favorite days of the year because it is my birthday!  And, I’m lucky enough to be married to a saint named Patrick!  And even better, we were with you and your Mama for the weekend.

The spring weather meant it was warm enough to wear the dress I made you with the vintage Simplicity pattern 3055 from Miss Knitta.  The green Crafty Chloe by Heather Ross fabric was perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

I do confess to a little pet peeve . . . it is how so many of the children’s clothes that I am seeing on sewing blogs are really long, really shapeless and not that great fitting.  So, it makes me extra happy that this dress fit you to a T and the length is perfect for you not to trip on when you are getting up.  There might have to be one more version out of this pattern before you outgrow it.

I love you Baby Roo.

Hooroo.

Spring dress for Baby Roo.  The pattern is a basic peasant dress with vertical ruffles added from the waist down and a shirred ribbon belt attached.  The fabric is silk charmeuse with tulle ruffles in between the silk ruffles.

It took almost 2 yards of fabric to make the dress and ruffles in a size 18 months.  The vertical ruffles are modified from this tutorial by lil blue boo.

The dress was inspired by this dress from H&M that Baby Roo’s Mama saw online and searched for, but was never for sale at our local H&M.  As pretty as the H&M dress was, the blue will be stunning with Baby Roo’s blue eyes.

I love you Baby Roo.

Hooroo.

Peasant dress with Anthropologie inspired sleeves.  Size 18 months.  Pattern adapted from numerous tutorials online.

Fabric is Recipe for Friendship by Mary Engelbreit plus Kona cotton inset in the sleeves.

Sleeve embroidery is my own design inspired by the fabric.

DIY Bishop from Sew Beautiful Magazine – size 2.  Made adjustments according to the errata published on their blog, but the markings for the honeycomb smocking were still off.

Crafty Chloe fabric by Heather Ross at Hancock Fabrics.  Unfortunately, the pink floss shows through from the back a little too much.

Vintage Simplicity 3055 size 12 months.

Fabric is Crafty Chloe by Heather Ross plus extras from stash

Doll outfit is Simplicity 4707

Purse with bracelet handles pattern from the Mother Huddle.  Flower hair clip from stash.

Baby Roo has a very active social life.  She has many friends and for some reason, there seem to be mostly boys born around the same time as her.  Luckily Baby Roo and her Mama made friends with another adorable little girl and her Mama over the past year.

Alexandra and Roo love each other and are so excited every time they see each other.  They don’t mind if the other takes their food or toy and, in fact, they are always trying to feed each other and hug each other.  Sadly, Alexandra is moving back to Germany tomorrow and it will likely be a couple of years before she and Roo see each other again.

This quilt is a little going-away gift for Alexandra from Baby Roo.  She sat on my lap while I sewed it and she sorted through the fabrics for me making sure I put the right piece in the right place.

The pattern is a variation of the Peace Baby Quilt designed by Rene’ of Rene’ Creates.  (She is giving away a copy of her pattern this weekend so go visit her website to enter and see other variations of her pattern)  I can not begin to tell you how fun this quilt was to put together – and fast, too.  It is a perfect quilt for beginners or advanced sewers who need some instant gratification sewing.  The instructions are thorough and easy to read through because they are very well written and it is easy to make with either pre-cuts or using up scraps you already have.

I chose to do the quilt in black and white, with the exception of a blue eye for the dog.  The top of the quilt is from Rene’s pattern and was done in the baby size (30 x 30).  Her pattern includes 3 sizes of quilt tops.  I wanted to add just a little extra personal touch, so I added the dog.  It was based off a little quilt I saw browsing through Flickr.  I sketched it out and made a couple of changes including the floppy dog ear.

The back is some fabric with all of the United States on it to remind her of her time living here.

This is a poor example of quilt photography, but we were under a tornado warning at the only time I had to photograph it.  Hmmm . . . that happened the last time I made a black and white quilt.

It is hard to believe that it is already almost February.  A lot has happened in the past month.  Sweet Baby Roo turned 1 and started walking really well along with getting almost all her teeth except for 2-year molars.  My parents came and spent a fun Christmas with us.  And we finally found a new house and moved 4 days after Christmas.  So, my sewing room is almost all set up!

Since Baby Roo is walking, that means it is easier for her to wear dresses and that is what I love to make for her.  The jumper above was one I bought pre-pleated to save time, but I did the kangaroo smocking and embroidered Baby Roo on her blouse.  She looks SO adorable in it.

I did make a quilt for her birthday, but neglected to photograph it yet.  Too busy playing!  But . . .

This is part of a quilt that I started this week.  It is the Peace Quilt pattern from my friend Rene’ of Rene’ Creates.  She was sweet enough to give me a copy and when I read through it, I realized that I had all the fabric I needed at home to put it together.  The rest of the quilt top is still in the sewing stages, but it was so fun and quick to sew up that even Baby Roo was helping!  I’ll share more about it after I finish the top.

One good thing about moving is you really have a chance to get rid of a lot of excess belongings.  When we sold our house, I got rid of what seemed like half our possessions.  Everything from craft supplies to furniture to books to tools.  And moving into a new house is still causing the same effect to happen.  I don’t want things around that are not certain to be used.

This little outfit came from a a red merino wool sweater from Gap that I just didn’t wear much.  It was destined for the Salvation Army pile, but I decided to put it to use making an outfit for Baby Roo.  The pattern is Vintage Simplicity 3055 that my friend Kendra of Miss Knitta sent me.

There was not enough width in the fabric to make it open along the front, so I just changed the opening to over one shoulder.  Luckily, this pattern runs big enough that Roo will still fit in it for a while, so I will make it again closer to the original style.

Baby Roo is growing up so fast.  I know I’m lucky that we live close enough that I get to see her frequently because I hate missing out on all her new discoveries.

I love you Baby Roo.

Hooroo.

and on earth, peace good will toward men.