Farbenmix love

I purchased several Farbenmix patterns from a co-op in, ahem, January.  I am just now getting around to sewing them up! 

I bought the Laguna skirt which is similar to the Redondo, except it has a floaty layer.  When I purchased the pattern I didn't realize that my girls were already in the largest size!  So I figured I better get around to sewing one up or they would never be able to wear it....

So I spent hours (not really) picking out the perfect fabrics only to discover that I didn't have enough of one. Hours later I finally picked out the black with white stars. 

The great thing about this skirt is the fullness.  The twirliness.  The fluffiness.  All of which are redeeming qualities according to my girls.

I even made 10 yards of bias tape by hand to hem this dang thing.  And as soon as I was done I told hubby that I wanted one of those fancy bias tape machines they sell at JoAnn's.  Repeatedly burning your fingertips is no fun, even in the name of fashion.

I also worked on a Farbenmix Lore.  This pattern has shorts and a top but I bought the pattern only interested in sewing the top.  My girls are also about to outgrow this pattern as I made the largest size. 

I picked up this cute DC fabric from Girl Charlee and at the last minute I remembered I had some ruffly binding that I thought would look cute stuck up at the top. 

Now, I didn't make these to go together but little lady was not in a modeling mood so it's what I got. 

Super deluxe twirling capabilities.

Nin's birthday shorts

Nin's birthday was yesterday!  My big girl turned 8!!  We bought most of her presents but I decided since I had been promising all summer to make her some shorts that one of her presents would be mama made shorts.  And you know what, we didn't even let her open any of her presents!!  Aren't we mean.....  She gets to open them at her party tomorrow.  Plus we let her open one last weekend, so don't feel too bad for her. 

The shorts I made last summer don't fit anymore and I had used the largest size range on that pattern so I had to find a new pattern.  Browsing the Farbenmix Flickr group I decided I wanted the Unella Blomma pattern.  It's a shirt and short pattern, but I mainly just wanted the shorts. I have a nearly identical shirt pattern in one of my Ottobre catalogs that I have made 3 or 4 times. 

A couple months ago I went out and bought lots of mama fabric.  Lots and lots.  Probably 8 or 10 different pieces.  I wanted to make myself some new skirts and capri pants.  But then I got pregnant and got all sick and tired.  So I thought it was pointless to sew pants for me since I won't be able to wear them in a few months.  Even if I wanted to sew, I was too sick and too tired to do it!

So the point is, I used some of this mama fabric to make Nin these shorts.  Now, I bought 3 yards to make myself some pants and these shorts took about 1 yard so maybe next summer I can make myself some shorts.  If I am being honest with you, that won't actually happen.  I don't wear shorts. 

Pattern:  Farbenmix Unella Blomma
Size 146/152- they do seem a bit big but I have to wait until tomorrow to try them on her!
Embroidery:  Tinimi- strawberry fairy

After I made KK the strawberry dress, poor little Nin was so disappointed because she loved the strawberry fairies.  So I felt like I should use them on something for her.  Plus, when you pay $16 for one embroidery design you kind of feel obligated to use it more than once...

The shorts have these tucks and pleats all over them.  Two on the waist front, 2 on the yoke in the back and one on each front pocket.  I don't know, are pleated shorts a thing of the past?  Or are they acceptable for 8 year olds?

Cute little tags that I ordered from a Night Owl's Menagerie co-op.

Ribbon detail on a back pocket.  I saw another pair of these shorts with ribbon on the back pocket and thought it was cool!

 A happy sun!

And since I was all tuckered out after making these shorts, I went to Target and bought a plain pink shirt to match! 

Here she is in the whole outfit.  I know the pictures are horrible but I had about a 2 minute window to take these!

Not too big, they fit perfect!

Strawberry breakfast feliz

My mom works for a local university and every year the President and his wife hold a breakfast for all employees.  It's called the Strawberry breakfast because it features a buffet of delicious strawberries and all the toppings you could imagine!  Whipped cream, powdered sugar and chocolate to name a few.  In addition, they have all the traditional breakfast foods. 

Last year my mom invited my 20 year old brother, but at the last minute he didn't want to get out of bed to go so she decided that she wasn't inviting him anymore!  So KK is next in line!  But I decided at last minute that she can't possibly go to a strawberry breakfast without a strawberry dress.  So I went shopping for the fabric and downloaded the embroidery files and set to work making this thing 2 days before she needed it!  Now, I didn't have a lot of time and I hade a million other things to do but I needed to make time for this!  I guess I spent about 7 hours on it over 2 days, including staying up until almost midnight one night! 

Hubby thought I was crazy and at points I was beginning to doubt myself, but I got it done!  I did have to leave off one of the embroideries since I just didn't have time, but I think the dress is spectacular!  I have made several Feliz's before but none with this much detail!

Pattern: Farbenmix Feliz
size: 140- the largest size, boo!
Embroidery- Tinimi

Front

The best part about this dress?  The ruffles!!!!  After one look at it, KK said, I love how it's so big and fluffy!  The ruffles started with 440 inches of material that was 3 in. wide.  That is 36 feet!  Good thing my serger ruffles!  Here is the back before putting it all together..

And the twirl factor is pretty awesome...

This girl twirled all day!

With my mom!

Here is Nin's party dress version!  She wore this for probably 3 years until it was so short it was inappropriate!  We passed it down to another little girl though.

A brown and pink version....

And a Christmas version...

Farbenmix Tini

Another great Farbenmix pattern, the Tini!  I bought it 2 summers ago and never got around to trying it out.  So it's about time I used it! 

I was cleaning out huge bins of fabric that people have given me over the years and found a bunch of older fabric.  It was stiff, probably because it is polyester, but I was hoping a trip through the washer and dryer would loosen it up.  I was right!  So I combined this black and white polka dot, some yellow gingham and some train fabric.  I think they look great together!  You know, sometimes I will sit and look at fabric and instantly an image pops up in my head of what I want to do with a piece of fabric.  That happened with these particular pieces.  As soon as I layed them down next to each other I knew they needed to be a tiered peasant style dress.  They are a little to young for my girls, so in mind they belonged to baby Avie!  I love when it all works out!

Pattern:  Farbenmix Tini
size 86, which is the smallest it comes, but may be too big for tiny little Avie. 

I searched for a long time trying to find an embroidery of those railroad crossing signs that are yellow with black letters that say R/R.  But I couldn't find one that was just perfect.  So I let it go.  But I still think the dress came out pretty darn cute!

Update:  I finally got a modeling shot of this dress on little Avie!  Not too big at all! 



Farbenmix Amelie

I recently purchased some new Farbenmix patterns and one of those was the Farbenmix Amelie.  It is so simple and can be "girlied" up in so many ways!  And you know my girls, pretty much anything with pink, sparkles, ruffles, frillies and glitter is great. 

Neither of them need any clothes at the time moment, so this tunic was for creative purposes only.  Meaning, it wasn't needed but I just wanted to make it so badly! 

Pattern: Farbenmix Amelie, size 140
Embroidery: Huups, this one in particular.

This sucker has 3 different embroidery sections

The hood

I had every intention of making matching gray capri leggings to go with it.  But, I ran out of the gray cotton lycra I used for the top.  So she just wore black leggings.  I promised I would make her some when I ordered gray cotton lycra next.  But let's face it, by the time I get anymore back in stock, she will have A) outgrown the top and B) forgot I promised to make her gray capri leggings.  ;)

Farbenmix Zucka

I recently bought a new Farbenmix pattern and made up a skirt for each of the girls. Farbenmix Zucka is a skirt pattern. The word zucka in German translates to sugar. Or so the pattern tells me. I mean I don't speak one word of German so I guess it could mean ugly and I wouldn't know! This pattern is very cool and offers lots of opportunities to add in ribbons and laces and trims and ric raks and tags, which is right up my alley. I really want to purchase an emroidery machine which would make these skirts even better!! But I digress... Both are in size 134, which makes it a tad longer on Nin than KK. KK back back pocket with tag, ribbon and random stitching little Farbenmix tag on the front bottom hem and the ruffle hem on the top layer Nin back back pocket with tag front pocket with ribbon and fancy schmancy stitiching tag on the front with up close of hem twirl! There are certainly lots of pieces in these skirts, but they are worth it!

Farbenmix Encinitas

I ordered a bunch of Farbenmix patterns in a co- op last summer.  I finally got them in January and set to work sewing one up for Addi Bo's birthday gift.  I chose the Encinitas which can be a super frilly, ruffly, twirly dress.  It can also be made plain, but what's the fun in that!  And since the birthday girl is very girly I chose pink!

3 1/2 yards of fabric later and I had this!





Upfront ruffles



Top view



And a little tag that peeks out of the ruffles when the dress moves



The dress is a peasant bodice attached to a double layer skirt. The upper skirt has 3 long tear drop shapes with 3 shorter upside down u's all sewn together alternating long, short, long, short, long short. It's what gives the dress the scalloped effect. The under layer is just 6 long tear drop pieces that also create a scallop shaped hem. Now, I don't technically know if I did this correctly. I mean, the pattern was in German, and I don't speak German. And I had a few pieces leftover. But from what I gather looking at other examples is that the leftover pieces are to create pockets if you want them. But I went without because I didn't think the dress needed them!

China Doll

I made little Addi B a china doll outfit.  It turned out very very cute.  This outfit took many hours on my new embroidery machine but it was so worth it!  I hope she likes it!

The skirt is a double layer with 2 designs on the side panels and china doll ribbon down the seams.  The top layer is hemmed in red bias tape.  The bottom layer is red twill with a ruffle hem.

Pattern:
skirt- Farbenmix Insa size 122 which may be a touch big.
embroidery- Stickbaer

shirt- Farbenmix Antonia of course!
embroidery- Stickbaer