I generally have a hard time finding pants to fit the girls. The lucky beasts are built like the husband…tall and thin. Keeping a pair of pants from falling off is a challenge.

In the past I have just adapted an old pattern and slimmed it down which never looks quite right. This year I decided to try a new challenge. I am making my own patterns.

I am posting about this here because my family is not nearly impressed enough with this. I felt better starting my Multivariable Calculus course I had to take in college. The husband tried to understand, but really he only managed to point out how messy and smudgy the patterns looked while I was working on them.

The girls like getting measured, but otherwise seem to think this just one more wacky mom project.

Sorry for the photo, it is hard to get a good shot of brown paper. I used old paper bags to map them out. Lots of fractions and percents to get each piece lined up.

We went fabric shopping the other day and picked out:

My plan is to make some capris to carry them to the end of the school year. Maybe a few pairs of shorts. I have been looking at all the sites for children’s clothing (gymboree and such) and Bermudas seem to be in this year, so we’ll try that.

If all this works out I’ll try to include the patterns in the May issue of Handmade Mom. I did enough calculations to get these worked out, someone else ought to get to enjoy them!

The girls and I have been relaxing this week. No school due to spring break.

We got to eat our first salad from the garden last night. Most of the lettuce is store bought, but there is quite a bit of spinach from the garden. We also thinned the radishes and used them in the salad…the whole plant. It is amazing how much the leaves taste like radishes.

Here’s the other big project for break:

I finally started on the girl’s spring wardrobe. I’ve spent the last few days making my own pattern for pants…more on that tomorrow!

I have been planning the girl’s spring wardrobe for several weeks now, but we’ve been so busy I haven’t had any time to actually sew. So I have been looking for something to give me a kick in the pants to get started.

Here it is: Primrose Design has been posting an amazing Stitch School. I love this. Her pictures are so clear. I used to collect all these embroidery dictionaries from Colonial Williamsburg when I was a kid. We visited my Grandmother in CWE every year, and they published these tiny books of stitches. I loved them. The instructions at Primrose reminds me of a lot of the stitches I used to find in these books.

I especially want to try the Italian Stitch along the edge of a pair of capris…or even up the side.

I had to share:

The Ladies Treasury of Costume and Fashion

It has a ton of free patterns, including stuff for children.

This one is my current favorite:

It has that sort of 80’s flair that is in right now. I know a lot of folks that are not enthused about the return of the 80’s, but as a high school teacher it is great…much better than the underwear-as-outerwear thing that left everyone’s bellies exposed!

As I mentioned a while back, big-sis is tearing through her pants. I do not want to replace them right before we get to shorts weather,  so I have been patching away.

Here’s the latest. She wanted an elephant. I added the ball because the elephant wasn’t quite big enough to cover it all.

Looks like a hit!

So I ordered these on Thursday…and they are here! Two days!

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am. Sewzanne’s Online Fabrics is amazing. I think this is hand down the fasted internet delivery I have ever had.

Plus, they sell this:

This is a Heather Ross fabric. Is it not amazing??

And my favorite Heather Ross fabric:

Wouldn’t this be amazing as PJ’s? I’m saving my pennies.

Here’s a shot of the Ottobre designs…not enough to violate any copyright, but enough to get an idea:

Look at all those lines!!

Well…I am off sweets for Lent. I try to cut this out every year. Sugar is my one true vice.

So I am trying to find other ways to treat myself. Especially since I am currently mired in the husband’s corporate taxes.

So, what’s my treat? Ottobre Design Magazine

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These are from Finland (don’t worry, they publish in English). If you haven’t seen them it is really worth a look. Lots of great ideas. I love that you get so many patterns for only $14.

I ordered them last night from Sewzanne’s Online Fabrics. I just got an e-mail saying they are on the way…can you beat it? One day turn-around!!

Big-sis has announced her new favorite color is blue, so she wants some Capri’s. Little-sis is still obsessed with pink, so we know where that’s going.

Next stop, the fabric store!

We have officially entered birthday season. Little sis and I just got back from one today. We have 2 more this coming week.

As always, our budget is pretty well stretched. I also prefer homemade gifts. So this year we are giving Busy Bags.

These are just bags I made from leftover fabric. Then the girls and I pack them with things to keep kids busy…crayons, blank books, stickers, plastic animals, etc. I got a great deal on all this stuff from Michael’s a while back, so we are fully stocked.

These are pink and white stripped on the outside, ad blue gingham inside, left over from Halloween 2005:

The girls in Florida

I decorated this one with silk flowers. I remove them from the stem and sew on with a button.

I might redo this one…I want one for myself!

I have a thing for hearts. Ever since my mom taught me how to do appliques on quilts, hearts have been one of my favorite designs.

So I have been trying to think of a great surprise for the girl’s room for Valentine’s Day. I love the idea of them waking up to a room all decorated for the holiday.

Last year they got their boots. Best gift ever. We usually do not do gifts for Valentines, just mail cards, but these we had to have.

This year I have been using up a lot of their old baby clothes making these, so I think I might pull out the mini Christmas Tree and have that all set up for when they wake up. I have some old potato bread in the freezer, so maybe we’ll have heart shaped French Toast also.

We’re waiting to see if it snows…wish us luck. We still haven’t had a real snow day.

Little-sis told me this as I was tucking her in for her nap today. She is so much fun…huge imagination. Makes getting anything mundane, like putting on socks, take forever. She talks to them. Still, I can’t imagine her any other way.

Otherwise, today was a chilly-indoor kind of day. I patched pants for big sis. She’s busted out the knees in at least three pairs int he last week. We have weeks of winter left they need to make it through. I am trying out some new ideas for patching, here are the yo-yo flowers:

If you’re interested here’s a tutorial on how to make yo-yo’s…simple!

Next project? Taxes! This is the one down side of being the “math” person in our marriage. I get the taxes. This year is a bear, we have corporate taxes, taxes in two states, plus the federal. I’ll spare you the details.

Here’s the sick part…I like doing them. At one time, before I decided to teach, I was working towards accounting. There is just something about getting all those numbers to work out. I just wish there wasn’t quite so much to do this year!