All the cousins wore their costumes both yesterday and today and have been having an awesome time in their imaginary world of teepees and pow-wows. And Great-Grandpa was having so much fun watching the little papooses play that he gave me a wad of cash to buy them all moccasins to wear. Those will be a nice treat when they come in the mail in a week or so.

My oldest brother, T, had told me last summer that he wished he could turn all his old, special t-shirts into a quilt, and I told him I’d be glad to do it for him for Christmas. So, I took his prized t-shirts with me in August, and the months of waiting made us both really anticipate him opening this special gift. I don’t know the stories behind all these shirts, but I do know that one involves his first date with his wife, and he’s had at least one of the shirts since high school. (He’s 34.)

He told me that when he was opening it, his heart was pounding and he was fighting tears.

I’m so glad I could make something for him that would be so meaningful.

I also made my youngest brother, J, a quilt. I used a jelly roll with batiks, and I really like how it turned out.

Lots of beautiful, black, thin leather, perfect for cutting up and sewing! I was so excited! For my first project, I made myself a new purse with a leather handle. I used the waistband, because I liked the stitched, finished look.

I used some fabric that I got from my sister-in-law when she was cleaning out her stash, and I love it. I don’t know what you call it, but the lighter part feels like linen, and the black parts like velvet. (Aunt Judy or Mom F., if you know the name of that kind of fabric, can you enlighten me?)

The pattern I used for the bag is a free pattern, called the Phoebe bag. You can download it here.

I’m lovin’ my new purse!

Susan Pevensie from Narnia, Squanto the Indian, Princess J, and Jessie.

Click here to see the post I wrote about the Susan dress.

Click here to read about the Indian costume.

Click here to read about the princess dress. I made it last year for my then-7-y-o, and I just temporarily hemmed it up about 10 inches this year, because my 3 y-o REALLY wanted to wear it.

For the Jessie outfit, I used this idea, but I made several changes: I used felt for the yellow parts instead of fabric and heat-n-bond, and I used a tube of fabric paint for the red detail on the shirt. And, yes, I used red hairspray to make my hair red!

And here is our version:

It’s a little different from Susan’s dress in the movie, but it’s pretty close. And I forgot to take a picture of my daughter with her quiver that she wears across her body, which I think adds to the “Susan effect.”

I was pretty proud of myself, because I didn’t use a pattern, and instead traced the bodice of one of my daughter’s dresses and then improvised the skirt part based on some directions I had seen online for making a medieval dress. Here are the directions, fyi. So, I made a very high-waisted bodice, and then the main front and back of the skirt were basically a big rectangle, and then I sewed the triangular shapes into the sides, adding the loops too, for the lacing. I used a zipper in the back too, so that it could be more fitted and wouldn’t have to go over her head. I hope this makes sense….

Anyway, I’m really happy with this dress, and my daughter is too. Every year I tell myself that I am NOT sewing costumes this year–that we have plenty of dress-up clothes in the dress up bins already. But every year I find such satisfaction in working with my children’s ideas and seeing their excitement over something I lovingly made for them. It might just be a tradition that I wouldn’t dare stop.

For the tunic, I traced the basic shape of an oxford shirt that fits my son well. I wanted the tunic to be blousy and wide, so that it would fit over his head and fit loosely, so I figured that an oxford, dress-type shirt had the kind of fit I was looking for. I drew the neck shape myself, trying to make it wide enough to fit over his head easily. I had to fit it over my son’s head a few times and cut a bit more until I got it just right. I also made a facing for the inside to finish off the neck edge. I used fringe and ribbon to dress up the tunic front, and I used fringe around the sleeves.

For the pants, I used Dana’s basic boy pants tutorial and I traced a pair of pajama pants that fit my son well. I added fringe to the outside pants seam.

For the headband, I just used a scrap piece of the ribbon trim and added a piece of elastic to the back so that it will fit well, and then I just stuck a feather in the back.

I can’t wait to give it to my nephew! I think he’ll be pleased!

My 8-y-o made it for her 3-y-o sister (and the little sister’s special teddy bear.) Little Sister was so excited about the quilt and has been lovingly using it since she received it. Big Sister was proud of her work, and she and I enjoyed some creative time together when she made it. Often, the sewing machine is where I spend some alone time, but it was nice to spend time at the sewing machine with my daughter.

I think this quilt will be treasured by all of us for a very long time.