Like Father, Like Son

I wanted to make a tie for Caleb for the wedding and then I thought to myself, why not make one for Bill as well? I’ve had this nifty Alexander Henry dragon print lying around for ages, and I thought it would make a nice tie. I like the scalloped design in the background. I already reviewed the Burda Osman Tie pattern I used for Bill’s tie in my post Holiday Gifts: Necktie.  I went … Continue reading

Captain New World?

This weekend, in a fit of argh-I-can’t-find-the-pattern-for-the-skirt-I-want-to-make, I decided to embark upon another project entirely.  Each year we make a point of going to the Maryland Renaissance Festival several times during the season.  Usually, we dress up at least one of those times.  And usually, I make new costumes for the whole family.  Last year, we didn’t get to go at all, what with me and the Broken Leg Drama.  The Renn Faire is not exactly … Continue reading

Party Shirt & My Son, the Fashion Model

Simplicity Pattern #2907 Toddler Separates: Toddler Pants, Shorts, Dress, Shirt or Vest (pictured: Shirt, style D) Sizes: 1/2 – 4 (pictured: size 4) Material used: 45″ Commercial Cotton Print (7/8 yd) Other Materials: 6 snaps or buttons, fusible interfacing, hook & loop (optional) Doesn’t he make an adorable fashion model? OK, I know, he’s my son, so of course I think he is cute. This pattern went together like a dream. It is so rare that commercial … Continue reading

Holiday Gifts: Necktie

Pirate ship Necktie Originally uploaded by alyson_olander Strictly speaking, this was not a holiday gift.  My dad’s birthday falls just a few days prior to Christmas and, because I understand how much it must suck to get a load of Christmas ‘n’ birthday combined gifts each year, I make a concerted effort to give him one gift for each. This year’s birthday gift was a pirate ship necktie. Now, be honest, a necktie is kind of … Continue reading

New clothes for me!

I’ve been working on this new blazer/jacket for a couple weeks now. It’s really cute, but it’s also sort of a pain in the butt. I haven’t posted about it yet because I’m still working on the flippin’ pintucks. Plus I think I’m out of interfacing. But it really is cute. Really. See? Cute. Mine is going to be in this greyish-periwinklish wool/cashmere blend, with vintage silver-backed glass buttons. A while back (like six months … Continue reading

Quick-and-Dirty (Renn Faire) Skirt

So last weekend, we headed out to the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Sadly, I have not lost all of the baby weight from when my son was born and all of the “Renaissance”-wear that I have fits my pre-baby size and shape. I spent hours slaving over new clothes for my husband and more hours slaving over a costume for my son, and alright, I even spent a few hours slaving over a Polish Vest (Folkwear … Continue reading