Many years I attempt to make a Christmas outfit for the kids for Christmas Eve...Though, I think, that last year may have perhaps been the first year I made something for both kids. In years previous Violet was the lucky one with a new skirt one year and a new dress another. It seems that she's keeping that lucky streak going because she was the only recipient of something new this year. It should be known though, that Henry was offered something new...he turned it down. He really just wanted to wear his Easter suit and shirt to church, in fact, he was adamant that he ought to wear a suit. He did, however, agree to wear last year's bow tie and a handmade felt poinsettia flower to look a bit more Christmasy.
This year, Violet too, had a vision...
She really wanted a red, flowy, plaid skirt. That's it. Easy! Of course...I found this amazing rayon red plaid at Joann and wanted to keep it for myself. I so hoped that she wouldn't like it when she saw it and change her mind. She didn't. I also nearly didn't get it made. I literally was making it on Christmas Eve morning. But, I finished it! Even with a few hours to spare and with a little time to finish up some tiny details for another Christmas gift!
I must admit though...part of the reason I was sewing up the skirt at the very last minute was because I got sidetracked...
You see there just so happened to be the tiniest bit of faux fur floating (literally) around the sewing room one Monday after Violet and I had fervently been working on a gift for Henry over the weekend. It was too much too simply throw away, but it was shedding it's fraying edges all over the floor and everywhere it moved! I also happened to have some of this amazing and sparkly silver metallic ponte sitting there (minding it's own business mind you!) and the two seemed a quick match made in heaven!
So, when I ought to have been making the requested skirt... I, instead, decided to whip up something she didn't know she wanted!
But she loved as soon as she saw it! And felt it!
I used the explorer vest pattern from the Oliver + S "Little things to Sew" book just as I did for these vests last year, which still get tons of wear! I, again, kept it simple and didn't sew any pockets. I added a bit of length to the bodice and little ribbon tie at the top instead of buttons. And, again...it's reversible!
Because sometimes you are in the mood for a little sparkle...
And oh boy does this ponte sparkle!
And sometimes you want a little faux fur...
But wait, let's get back to the skirt...because, after all, we wouldn't really be here if it weren't for it!
Yes, the vest was fun and exciting and really pulled it all together, but it was one of those happy little extras...the skirt was what she really asked for!
It's voluminous, it's twirly, it's got pockets...
It's really everything she wanted.
I used the skirt part of the Friday dress pattern along with it's pockets to make the skirt, because, when discussing what kind of skirt it was that she wanted she said "like the kind that is on my yellow dress"...and so it went...
She couldn't have been happier when I finished it in time, I know she doubted me for a bit there, but when she tried it on she really was delighted! Something nearly like this...
While Violet was the only one that got something new this year...the plaid shirt or skirt of dress for mama and santa ties for the boys got nixed for lack of time...
The rest of still managed to clean up pretty well...
Though, not all of us, perhaps, got the memo to stop singing and smile!
(Note to self...my husband can't be in charge of the camera remote anymore...)
