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Today we’re thrilled to be sharing some seriously fabulous back to school fashion as a part of the Pattern Anthology Alphabet Collection pattern tour! I sew for Piper Jane much more frequently than I sew for Burke, and I’ve loved having the chance to make some back to school clothes just for him.
I am beyond excited about this tour- four great patterns (by really fabulous pattern designers), all made using fabric from truly fantastic fabric and notions shops is quite the recipe for great back to school clothes!
The pattern collection includes gender neutral patterns for the W pants, the Recess Shirt, the Study Hall Jacket, and the BBC Vest. All of the patterns have tons of variations and options- different lengths, ways to customize a boy version or girl version, and tons of ways to customize.
The vest- made out of chambray and seersucker from Michael Levine– is not only a great way to take an outfit from so-so to super, it is a fast sew with a great end product. I especially love the contrasting collar on this one. And I can’t say enough about the fabric from Michael Levine! In fact, if you try to buy some of the chambray and it’s sold out, you can blame me. I want to make something for Piper Jane and myself out of this loveliness asap. Love this vest, love the chambray/seersucker- just love all around.
I love the chambray so much, in fact, that I used it for the W Pants as well. Instead of adding a contrasting fabric for the yoke, I used all chambray and added piping along the yoke line. I love these pants, y’all! They are really well finished- Melissa thought of every last detail.
Since Denver stays warm well into the school year, I couldn’t resist also making some W Shorts. I used twill (in ‘stone’) from Organic Cotton Plus for the main short fabric and dyed the twill darker brown for the yoke. The coordinating thread from Coats and Clark was such a bonus on each item- sometimes I don’t take the time to match the thread perfectly when I sew, but the perfectly matched thread makes such a difference! These shorts have gotten some serious wear already- so glad I added shorts to the ‘back to school’ lineup.
Which brings us to the Study Hall Jacket… I think that this is the most involved piece of clothing I’ve attempted to date and I’m so thrilled with the result. The twill exterior (from Organic Cotton Plus then dyed green), with a separating zipper from Coats & Clark, are just such fantastic choices for a jacket. Burke is super into green these days and has been asking and asking for a ‘green school jacket.’ I love that about handmade clothes- you can tailor each piece to your little guys’ (or girls’) preferences!
The lining is a great orange geometric print from Michael Levine– I even added an extra secret welt interior pocket (because after practicing welt pockets for both the pants and the jacket, I am now a proud welt pocket pro!) and Burke is so excited about that little detail. I guess ‘secret pocket’ isn’t exactly accurate since his favorite thing is showing people the ‘lego guy pocket,’ as it’s been declared. This jacket will be perfect for fall around here!
And, last but not least, the Recess Shirt is the raglan shirt pattern of champions! I can not say enough good things about this pattern y’all. These versions were made with some yummy knit from Girl Charlee, and Burke lo-oves them.
He loves the fit, loves the soft material from Girl Charlee, and has put in a request for four more Recess Shirts (he already has four hanging in his closet!). This pattern is rapidly edging up my list of most-used patterns. I can’t wait to make a stack for Piper Jane (after a little Girl Charlee shopping spree!).
My favorite part of this collection is that all of the patterns are really fantastic to stand alone (I can see myself using them again and again), but that the collection together gives a comprehensive back to school sewing package. Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour to see the amazing ways this collection has been customized!
Join us along the Alphabet Collection blog tour- girl. Inspired., Shwin & Shwin, Sew a Straight Line, elsie marley, Melly Sews, Happy Together, see kate sew, Elegance & Elephants, I Still Love You, kojo designs, Petit a Petit and Family, The Train to Crazy, Delia Creates and Craftiness is Not Optional
Fan-freaking-tabulous, Kirstin! He looks adorable. I particularly love that jacket fabric combo.
Thanks friend! You guys really knocked it out of the park with these patterns!
These turned out so so well, Kirst! Great job…they look store-bought!
Thanks Trish- such a high compliment! 🙂
how stinkin’ cute is he? seriously adorable! and that jacket? are you for reals, girl?? cannot believe you made that. i’d like to place my order, please. ignore the children and sew, woman! ha. 😉
Dayna, laughing out loud- what a great comment. Thank you friend!
ps- How did the sprinkle party go????
This is just too adorable! I am also in LOVE with that chambray, I just made Jude a shirt with it, and it has such a great feel and drape, and it looks fancy but not uptight, I just love it. (I may need to get more too) Thanks for joining in on the tour the whole look is amazing!
Thanks Shauna! I LOVED your vest pattern!
And ohmygoodness- I dream of that chambray! It’s so gorgeous (but like you said, not too stuffy), and just sews up so well. I want to make Piper Jane a dress (or shirt) and a dress for me too! 🙂
Way to go on the Pattern Anthology, friend!
Wow, wow, wow!! This is so great! The photo shoot is awesome!!
Thanks Andrea! You girls really did such a great job- kudos!
Beautiful job! Your chambray pants look super slick. Love it!
Thanks friend! That chambray = be still my heart. 🙂
Kirstin, this is amazing! what an adorable photoshoot! love love love! thank you so much!!
You knocked it out of the park!! Love it so much. That coat!! His little skinny tees! The vest! Such a dude!
Okay, fine. I’ve been resisting for what? 10 days? Fine, I’ll get this collection. Tried to ignore it for a bit for the sake of my growing (sewing) to do list, but I’m with you on the whole “I sew for my daughter much more than my son” thing. And this tour is killing me with awesomeness.
Quick Q tho, did you get your ribbing (for the raglan ts) from GC as well?
I absolutely love what you did with the patterns. Love your fabric and colours combinations. And the photoshoot is awesome. Everything is just too cute.
Thanks Celina- I was just checking out your photoshoot as well (that peplum vest and those top stitched jeans were a.maz.ing!). Thanks for the kind words! 🙂
What a stud muffin!! He looks so cool in all his 100 variations of the clothes!! And that photo shoot is amazing! I love the lego guy pocket. 🙂 Way to go, girl!
Every single piece looks store bought!! I am in love with the piping on those pants!!!! I have to do a pair like that. Your son is beyond adorable, too. All of this is just too awesome.
Sabra, what high compliments coming from the Queen of Awesome for this collection. 🙂 Thank you!
everything you made is really adorable! chambray gets me every time. I’m trying not to spend money right now, and people like you are making it hard for me not to pull the trigger on this collection!
Haha, thanks Tara. LOVE chambray. Love.