Hi, guys! Hope you’re all well! I’ve got something a little different to show you today- kid sewing!
I met Hayley of Mouse House Creations last year and immediately wanted to be best friends with her. She’s super fun, sweet, and is involved with so many cool crafting adventures that it’s kinda crazy (she’s the designer behind Mouse House Creations and a co-founder of the Willow & Co pattern collective). So when she asked me to be part of the blog tour for her new fabric collection, I was stoked! And get this: it’s fabric that you can COLOR on! How fun is that?!
The collection is “Color Me” by Hayley Crouse for Michael Miller Fabrics. There are two variations, “A Royal Life” and “Space Adventures”, and each variation has a border print in addition to an all-over. Hayley worked with her kids, Ethan and Ainsley, to design the fabric, so everything that’s included on the fabric was requested by those two. Fun! I would have been so excited to customize my own fabric when I was a kid… I used to agonize for ages before picking out my Lisa Frank designs, so how great would it be if you could avoid the choice and have both killer whales AND golden retrievers?! Mind. Blown.
I decided that this fun fabric was a good excuse to sew something cute for my nephew. He’s two years old and is absurdly adorable, and now that he looks more like a little boy than a baby, it’s prime time to start making him cool clothes! So I chose “To the Moon and Back” for him because ALIENS. What kid doesn’t want a shirt covered in flying saucers?!
I mean, look at this little alien. I LOVE IT. It’s ridiculously cute.
I knew right away that I wanted to make a little buttondown for Noah. He’s too big for M6016, a tot-sized pattern that I used to make a teensy Magnum P.I. shirt. So I did what I always do when I’m stumped- I asked the friendly folks on Twitter for pattern recommendations! Becky Jo suggested I try Ottobre, and was kind enough to send me the 3/2012 issue. There are so many cute patterns packed into the magazine! I’m looking forward to trying out several of them.
I used pattern #19 in a size 96 (he’s between sizes, so sizing up seemed prudent). I made some modifications to the pattern to simplify it a bit- since the print is so over the top, the bias-bound hem and faced sleeves would be a bit much. I mean, the shirt is covered in aliens and planets! It doesn’t need anything else! 😉
Oh, and before I forget, the fabric is printed on Michael Miller’s Cotton Couture fabric, so it’s a bit thicker and softer than the quilting cottons in my stash. I think it will make for a really comfortable shirt!
I couldn’t resist… I had to try a little coloring myself! 😀
Thank you for letting me be part of your tour, Hayley, and thank you for the fabric, Michael Miller! If you are interested in this fabric, check out the store locator, and be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour! The first blogger, An of Straight Grain, made an adorable fabric coloring book. I’ll be making these for the little people in my life, for sure!
One last thing: if Noah goes crazy coloring on all his clothes, it’s not my fault. 😮
Ginger Makes... 
Omg imogen would love this! What an awesome fabric idea. I love the little shirt. I bet your nephew will love it!
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I bet she would love coloring on it! She is such a sweetie, btw! I so loved the photos of her and Vinnie in their dino tails!
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I absolutely love this shirt! And I’m also in love this fabric line- it’s such a great concept and it’s going straight onto my wishlist. There are so many possible ideas that I can’t wait to see what everyone else created too.
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The fabric really is such a cool idea! I never would have thought of it! 😀
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You are awesome!!! Thanks so much for joining the tour and making something so perfect! Can’t wait until we can get together again!
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Thanks for having me! I had a blast! Let’s hang out soon!!!!!
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That is so cool! I think I should get some of that for my littlest–he’s a bit young now, but in another year… And I love the disclaimer at the end, ha! 😉
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I mean… as long as I have a disclaimer, I’m legally free of responsibility, right? 😉
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That is so fun! I know I would have really loved being able to color all over my clothes when I was a kid. (Honestly, probably as a teenager too, considering what I used to do to my backpack and binders!) Nice that there’s a boy-friendly print too, since my radar is definitely out for that stuff right now.
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Ooh yes! Your boy clothes are going to be so fun! Hobbit is one lucky duck!
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This is a adorable!! And fabric you can colour? Awesome! Your nephew is such a little cutie!
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He is such a funny little guy…. he’s at that age where everything he does is hilarious. And, bonus, he’s a pug lover! 😀
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Love the pic of your nephew and the little dog. So cute. This shirt rocks, the print just puts a smile on your face. Making kids clothes is so fun. I’ve recently finished two iddy biddy dresses.
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Kids’ clothes really are fun to make! It’s a blast choosing fabrics that you can’t really wear yourself. Plus they sew up so quickly!
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Oh my goodness… too cute!!
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The little mini-sized clothes are just so cute! I need to sew for him more often. 😀
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Perfect idea for fabric! If your nephew manages to resist sewing on that, he’s a better man than I. Hmmm, if only my son was a bit younger..
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My nephew is probably a little too young, as he’s only just turned 2, but I couldn’t resist! And it’s big for him, so hopefully it will fit when he’s old enough to really enjoy coloring!
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What a cute shirt! I think every kid needs to have an opportunity to colour their own clothing 😉
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Agreed!!!!!
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okay that is TOO MUCH!!! how did you resist the coloring temptation?!!
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Dude, I had to pack up the markers and mail them with the shirt! Too tempting!!!!!
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Love the auntie disclaimer at the end 🙂
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I’m no lawyer, but I’m pretty sure that gets me off the hook! 😉
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Ack! We have little pouches made out of coloring fabric in the store where I work but clothing is taking it to a whole new level. I love it!!
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Ooh, that sounds so fun! Actually, now I’m thinking I’ll have to make him some little pouches and school supplies when he goes off to kindergarten! Great idea!
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Such a cute shirt! Lucky little nephew 🙂
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I need to sew for him more! These teeny little garments sew up so fast!
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This is supercute! I never know what to do with fabrics like these. Got to check out the coloring book!
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that comment went through? wow this is the first time WordPress grants me permission to use my wordpress.com account to comment,lol.
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So so adorable, you are putting me to shame with your non selfish sewing! I am sure little Noah will really love it. I have a little cousin named Noah who I really should sew for too!
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Awww, two little Noahs! How fun! It’s pretty fun to make things for little kids- the seams are all so short that garments come together in a flash!
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I just busted jane in her car seat coloring on her leggings and the back of the seat with a crayon. Came off the seat, thank goodness! But not her leggings. Too bad they weren’t made from this fabric. The shirt is adorable!
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Awww, Jane! It’s not too surprising that there’s a budding artist in your family! I can remember my sister and I hiding under our bed so we could draw on the underneath side of it without my mom noticing. 😀 Kids are crazy!
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LOVE your work Ginger!! and your blog! have three nephews and twin baby boys so that’s a great incentive to get that Ottobre magazine and that awesome fabric! Thanks for sharing!
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The shirt looks awesome! I wish I had clothes that I could color. Thanks for sharing!
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DUDE. what is wrong with me – I don’t even know how I missed this! I just randomly came over today to stalk you, how I do, and I saw this. ADORABLE! I love it! I’m so glad it worked out SO DARN CUTE. “Magnum P.I. shirt” HA! Genius.
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Hahahaha, thanks girl! And thanks again for the magazine! 😀
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