Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Rey and BB-8 Family Halloween Costumes

As we started talking about what the kids want to be for Halloween this year, I decided it was time I shared the fairly elaborate family Star Wars costume theme we pulled off last year.

Louisa (8) was Princess Leia, Leo (6) was Luke Skywalker, and Lottie (2) was BB-8. I was Rey, and AJ was Kylo Ren.

Les Fleurs Toddler Backpack

Lottie's been going to a fantastic preschool a few mornings a week since April, so she is long overdue for her own backpack! She doesn't usually see the big kids getting on the bus, but a snow delay this week left her in tears for one of her own. The timing was perfect because I had just cut this one that I've had on my to-do pile for months.

This is Made By Rae's Toddler Backpack, which I also made for Louisa and Leo.

I used Cotton and Steel fabric from the beloved Rifle Paper Co.'s Les Fleurs line (rosa floral canvas in natural), and Rashida Coleman-Hale's Mochi line (canvas in scattered pink). Both are a cotton-linen blend and a little bit lightweight, so I interfaced everything with a medium/heavy weight interfacing.

The lining is also from the Les Fleurs line, Bon Voyage Periwinkle. I liked the travel theme inside because the kids have been using these bags for road trip supplies well beyond toddlerhood. I put her name and my phone number inside with some iron-on transfer printer paper.

The only alteration to the pattern was to add an exterior slip pocket on one side and an elastic pocket on the other.

Sommer Hummingbird Dress

I made this quick Hummingbird Dress to go with Lottie's Easter jacket, from the same Sarah Jane sommer fabric line. As it turned out, the maxi skirt doesn't really work well with the jacket. But the dress looks cute on its own, and the border print is so sweet.

 

Easter Sunday Brunch Jacket

It's another classic Oliver + S Sunday Brunch Jacket! This time I really had Sunday brunch in mind!

Little Lottie will wear this sweet, spring jacket on Easter Sunday later this month when we go to brunch at the Boar's Head Inn with my family. It's become a tradition, and one Louisa looks forward to starting on Easter Monday.

Winter Coat for Lottie

Little Lottie needed a warm winter coat. It took me til mid-February, but I finally finished!

I made this for her by adjusting one of my favorite patterns, the oliver + s Sunday Brunch Jacket, and referencing you & mie's Mini Boden knock-off tutorial. Love that coat—the Boden original and Cherie's knock off.

The fabric is organic corduroy from Cloud 9 by Elizabeth Olwen. (Go Your Own Way in navy, which I got from Hawthorne Threads). The binding is the solid corduroy from the same line. The lining is cotton, from a previous Elizabeth Olwen line, which I had leftover from Lottie's lullaby layette jacket from last year.

Wildwood Swingset Skirt

I decided to join in last week's Oliver + S Swingset Skirt Sew-along and made Lottie one out of leftover pieces of Elizabeth Olwen Wildwood (also seen here.)

I made the size 12-18 months and used Gail's tips for making a contrast waistband.

Hedwig Baby Owl No-Sew DIY Costume

Lottie dressed as little Hedwig to go with her big sister, Hermione.

After looking at many, many baby owl and Hedwig costumes on Pinterest, I found this one and knew it was the one. Her tutorial is here.

The main fabric is some cheap white polar fleece that was left over from the Max costume I made Leo a few years ago.

Oliver + S Nani Iro Baby Gifts

Sewing for babies who haven't yet arrived is really fun and special.

I loved imagining the little baby girl that my dear, dear friend is expecting (in only a few short weeks!), while carefully sewing these sweet, small things for her to wear one day soon.

Sen Ritsu Bedford Dresses

FYI, indie pattern designers, your blog tours totally work.

I liked Brooklyn Pattern Co. immediately from her launch. (Yes,  I am biased—I love Brooklyn, our old home, and I ♥ NY. Plus, it is where Louisa was born!)

I fell in love with the Bedford Dress when I saw this version (by Andreia of In a Manner of Sewing) during the Henry & Bedford blog tour this July. I bought the Bedford right away and ordered a bunch of nani IRO (always on my wish list) to make a total copycat version.

Butterfly Blouse and Bubble Shorts

One of the best things about having this little sewing blog has been making a real-life sewing friend in my town, Erin. She and her sister Caroline are an inspiration to me in many, many ways, sewing and beyond.

(Today was an especially good day for the hungie gungie clan because baby (or not-so-baby) Wes had no glow in his scans and is living cancer-free after a long and strenuous treatment for stage four neuroblastoma. YAY!)

While at a much needed ladies' night out (at my current favorite restaurant), Erin gave me Lottie a pair of her adorable bubble shorts, in a fabulous Leah Duncan print (from morning walk). Size 12 months, in case you are shopping for your own. Thank you, Erin!

So as to have a better excuse to blog these super-cute bottoms, I set to work making a top to go with them. Yes, the print on print is a little much, but this is a baby, and I was working from my stash.

Baptism Dress (McCall's 4865)

Lottie was baptized in June, a day before she turned 10 months. Louisa and Leo were much younger at their own baptisms—Louisa wore her Aunt Meghan's dress, and Leo wore his daddy's gown. Since we were a little later with Lottie, those little heirlooms weren't going to fit. Any excuse to sew!

I used McCall's 4865, (which is out of print, but I found on etsy), for the christening gown and bonnet.

Strawberry Baby Dress

I've been hoarding this Heather Ross Briar Rose knit for a while, with baby things in mind (like this!). So I finally busted it out and made a comfy dress and matching headband for little Lottie.

Did I mention she is getting "sooooo big!"? ;)

I drafted the pattern myself, starting with the 6 - 12 month size of the Sew Liberated envelope tee pattern from Growing Up Sew Liberated.

Natty Jane Baby Shoes

I've always thought the little yellow Natty Janes that Delia has on the cover of her pattern were the cutest things ever. I have had my eye out for some leather or pleather to up cycle into some for Lottie, and finally came across some bags at the Crozet thrift store that were just dying to be upcycled.

I used scraps of wool felt from my Christmas stocking projects for the lining.

Lullaby Layette for Baby's First Easter Dress

For Lottie's first Easter, I made her a little spring dress from the Oliver + S Lullaby Layette pattern.

I was completely inspired by youandmie's Lullaby Layette creations while I was still pregnant with little Lottie last year. This body suit with the ruffle sleeve modification (with tutorial!) and this dress modification of the shirt. Both are so beautiful!

Lua Sleep Sack

Another project for Lottie! I made her a Lua Sleep Sack in size 6 - 12 months for this spring.

I used sarah jane Out to Sea prints from my stash, and pink flannel for the lining. I didn't use any batting since it's for the warmer months.

Lullaby Layette Jacket and Little Geranium Dress for Lottie

To match her big sister's Wildwood Library Dress I made Lottie a Little Geranium dress and matching Oliver + S Lullaby Layette jacket.

I used the Elizabeth Olwen Wildwood prints from Louisa's dress and the rest of my Michael Miller organic sherpa from Lottie's hat.

The jacket is reversible and the sherpa is oh-so-cozy. I made size 0-3 months. She is 3 months in these pictures and she is still wearing the jacket now at almost 6 months, although the sleeves are getting a little short.

Purl Bee Baby Lamb Bonnet

Introducing my littlest... Lottie Bea!

She has been keeping us smiling, tired, and a-new-kind-of busy for the last two months, after her much-anticipated 41-week arrival.

For her first Halloween, I made her a cozy little lamb hat from the Purl Bee tutorial.