Pattern Review: Baby Go-To Leggings

I had found a free pattern for baby leggings online a long time ago, have some random bits of UFO (unfinished object) fabric that I need to stop looking at, and some 50 year-old elastic laying around.  YAY!

So why not try out the free pattern on the little lady (who is just over a year now)?

Here are my experiences with the Baby Go-To Leggings Pattern.

The good news:
This is a pattern with VERY well-written instructions.  Even as a first-time project, I think someone would have a very easy time putting these together.  There are explanations of terminology, explanations of fabric (and how to determine that you're using a correct fabric), and an explanation on how to piece the pattern together from the 4 pages of letter-size paper.  And thankfully, it includes the seam allowance in the pattern, and since I've found many PDF patterns (especially the free ones) don't this is pretty awesome.

This also took less than an hour to cut the pattern, tape it together, cut the pieces, and sew it all up!

The bad news:
I think this was drafted for a very short, very fat baby.  I was so worried about the waist (which was spot on and even allows for some growth for my kid) that I didn't pay much attention to the length.  Little lady ended up with pants that are 2 inches too short...

I will definitely be using this pattern again.  I will definitely add a cuff at the ankle, though.

Cost:
Pattern--Free (with newsletter subscription for Go To Patterns)
Fabric--Free, as I was really killing a UFO and stashbusting
Notions--Free, from my hoarding of my grandmother's sewing stuff
So...FREE!

All opinions expressed in this post are my own and have in no way been solicited for nor have I received compensation or sponsorship.

I miss making things!

Man, I never thought I'd be so out of touch with my own blog.  I've never been a super-regular journaling kind of gal (even when I had an actual diary with a lock and key that I really just drew on--not in), but the last few months (roughly 7, actually) have probably been the most unproductive of my life externally.

Since January, I've stopped my personal chef-ery business, haven't sewn a darn thing (except a rogue bra strap and hook & eye clasp repair on said bra), haven't brewed a single beer, have knitted or crocheted exactly nothing, and barely have the energy to make dinner most nights.  I've planted exactly 4 tomato plants in my garden, and put together a really cute herb garden in a strawberry pot--that's it.

Internally, I'm sustaining an expectant life.  "#2" as we affectionately call him or her is due, ironically, Labor Day weekend.  As he/she/it is literally sucking the energy right out of me, I do a lot of "supervising".  I'm lucky to have an actually helpful 2 1/2 year old and an understanding husband...

But even though I spend most of my days dreaming about making things and plotting what I might be able to make while on maternity leave, I am lucky enough to be reading a ton lately.  In addition to voraciously reading my National Geographics each month, finally catching up on my SKI and 32 degrees magazines (ironic since there's no snow and I'm really not fit to ski), I've re-discovered the awesomeness that "Leisure Reading" section at Temple University's library which is awesomely situated across the street from my office.

If you're interested in keeping up with what I'm reading or suggesting a new book, please link up!  I hate walking blindly into a book without a recommendation and I'm game to read anything.  I'm 99% sure this is my profile.

Until I'm game for making again, here are my current craft-crushes:
The Cutest Darn Thing to entertain your toddler on Two-Many
I need to have this skirt but am too lazy to make it, but I still really want to buy the pattern
Signs I may miss drinking a bit too much

I hope to have more fodder to share with you all soon, but it may just be musings on what I plan to brew for my post-baby hospital bed celebration...I'm excited about that!

Summer Sewing Project Contenders

My dear friend has very thoughtfully lent me her sewing machine for a bit while I save up for a new one (she has two operational as opposed to my two unoperational machines), so hopefully I can get my sewing back on track! 

Here's a list of things I'd like to sew this summer:

- Finish sewing a shift dress I started before I got pregnant, and I thought of while fabric shopping in New York almost two years ago now.  It's a dark grey cotton shell with a lighter grey lace over lay.  I'm really excited to get this finished and on me soon.


- I'm thinking of re-purposing some old towels into changing pad covers.  I've got a curved changing pad, so it would look kind of like this, but without the monkey...unless I get terribly ambitious and make my own appliques.

- A jersey maxi dress which I would like to eventually tie-dye.  This has been inspired by one of the bloggers I follow, Feather's Flights.  She has just completed a maxi dress sew along, and has been playing with all sorts of fabric dying and treatments lately.

- A baby back pack for my little man.  I found some really fun batik double-sided quilted fabric while looking for notions for his christening gown, so now I'm searching for some shared patterns/ideas to make him a back pack.  Baby bags are kind of lame and look like old lady luggage in bad color combos (totally my opinion and I know you probably disagree).  The hippie in me sn also searching for some cheap to free corduroy to use as piping accents and bottom reinforcement on the bag.  I'm using this free set of instructions as a guide, but planning for it to look a little more like this one.
I think I'll also put a pocket on the front, but we'll see.


- And lastly, I'm considering fashioning myself some 40's sailor shorts or even a 50's style shirt dress like the to the right which I found on Simplicity's site.  I'm actually pretty keen on the entire "Lisette" line (introduced to me today by Casey), so hopefully they'll go on sale soon and I can actually afford them!

That's it for now!  Hopefully this post won't be followed with another like my pregnant projects one!