Ruffle Butt Jeans

I saw these adorable ruffle butt jeans (for toddlers, of course;-)) on Pinterest.

They are made by RuffleButts and cost $26.50. That's actually not a bad price;
but not one that I would pay! I love that they look like jeans but have an elastic
waist band so they are super comfy.

I just purchased a pant pattern from Lily Bird Studio. Right away I imaged
making my own, for way cheaper!

First I used some fabric that I purchased at Joann's. A blue stovepipe
denim, on sale, for $6.49/yd.
(And lightweight enough that my sewing machine can handle it!)

I used my Ben&Mia Pant Pattern but you can easily make your own
pattern following Made's pant pattern tutorial!

If you use the Ben&Mia pant pattern, just make sure you don't cut
out the pockets; unless you want front pockets!

I followed the pattern exactly, but to top it all off I cut 3 strips
of denim. About 2.5inches wide by 20inches long.

I sewed them length wise, right side together. Then turned them
right side out. You can use a ruffling foot. However, I just
gathered the fabric as I sewed so it ruffled up. A cheater way,

but much easier too ;-)

And there ya have it...a simple, comfy, easy pant! But also
adorably cute!!

Yes...same pant. Still working out the kinks of this new camera;-)

Sneak Peak...Spring 2012!

I'm all ready excited for spring! Maybe it's the warm weather we've had (55 degrees today!) or that all the stores are teasing me with all their spring collections! I don't know what it is, but I've already started planning Gianna's spring wardrobe. I thought I'd start  2012 off with showing you a sneak peak of what's to come on Gia Rose Sews! So here goes....

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Have you seen Old Navy's Spring Collection? 

Oh boy, I'm in love with a few pieces! One being this simple mustard top.

 

I thought I'd do a little pattern remix using Leila & Ben peasant top pattern. I'm going to mix it up a bit and do over sized 3/4 length sleeves and add some lace detailing. I'm envisioning this tunic top with a pair of cute white shorts.

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Next up will be a pair lightweight jeans with searsucker detailing. 

I love searsucker for summer, it's so lightweight and cool. 

I might just have to make a cute jacket out of some white and yellow print too...hm...

Back to the pants. I'm going to use new pants pattern from Ben & Mia. 

It's a great pocket pants pattern with piping details. 

Only picture them in denim and seersucker piping..

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Another staple in Gianna's spring wardrobe will be a pair of lightweight

linen pants. I'm thinking maybe a super light khaki or maybe white

(I can spot bleach white so they may stay clean)

I'll probably use the same pocket pants pattern but remix it 

a bit to do square pockets and a drawstring waist!

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The next top I've been wanting to try for awhile, but haven't gotten around to it yet. 

It's actually a refashion for a plain tee that G already has...

The tutorial is by Make It & Love It. 

I also have a pattern for some leggings (by Lil Blue Boo)

 that I think I'll use to make Gianna a pair of matching ones! 

I haven't quite decided on the colors let...maybe a sweet light purple...

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I have a feeling alot of skirts will be in the works for Gianna this

spring and summer. She seems to be in love with anything that resembles

a tutu! 

When I saw this skirt on Pinterest I knew I had to remake it. 

Now I just need to think (or find) a cute top to match!

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And last (for now!) I found the perfect skirt tutorial for Gianna's
Easter outfit......

Simply Homemade has a free tutorial and
Violette Field Threads has a pattern too!

I just love it! Very simple but elegant.

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Hope you enjoyed the sneak peak! Hope to see you a lot 2012!

Oops...Even I make (BIG!) mistakes!

Alright, so that sounds a bit cocky. No, I'm not a professional seamstress but 

I can whip up a good outfit with decent skill! Almost all my projects have tiny imperfections but the project I just finished has a...very noticeable mistake. 

You see I've been wanting to make G a cute pair of dark brown cords to wear this winter.

I saw Dana's flat front pant tutorial and thought it was just what I was looking for! She has a pattern drafted for 2T-3T which is obviously a bit big for G. I wanted to try to scale down the pattern for an 18M size.

I also didn't want to waist a good piece of fabric so I tried it out first on some hand-me-down fabric from my 

mom (thanks mom!!).  So off I went cutting, tracing, cutting and pinning. I got the pattern 

down to the right size (check back for a tutorial on how to make an 18M size!) and started sewing.

Very quickly I realized I had used a back piece for the front and a front piece for the back! AH!!

Sure, I could seam rip it but I already sewn an adorable pocket onto a back piece too!

Well crap. Thankfully they were just pj pants and G will be sure to wear them, just not to any sleepovers!

I didn't want the pants to go to waste so I also tried a few different sewing techniques.

I did a lettuce edge on the bottom of the pants so I wouldn't have to hem them. 

This is actually incredibly simple to do! Simply set your machine the narrowest zigzap stitch and stretch the fabric as you sew (lettuce edge can only be down with stretchy fabric such as a knit). The edges will curl up and give it a nice finished look!

Since I used a waffle knit fabric that won't unravel I decided to do a simple shirred waist. I sewed elastic

onto the waist, but pulled the elastic tight as I went. This make the fabric stay flat but the elastic stretches out. Once you're done the elastic will spring back to it's original, stretchy self! Tada!

I hope I didn't lose you in this post. To top it off, here's the "big mistake" pants!

Simple Ruffle Skirt

Like many other crafters I fell in love with ruffle fabric. Whoever came up with this idea is pretty much a genius. I was even more excited when the Hobby Lobby near my house carried it! They only have a simple black ruffle at $12.99/yd but with a 40% off coupon I couldn't resist to buy a yard. I've seen about a million different items being made with the ruffle fabric, my favorites being ruffle leggings and a ruffle skirt. 

My favorite place to buy ruffle fabric is second-hand stores and garage sales! Confused? Let me explain...Designers have also fallen in love with ruffle fabric and there are millions of kids clothes out there made with the ruffle fabric. Take this little Miley Cyrus dress I bought at a garage sale for $3. Sure it's a little juvenile for me but I just knew I could made something adorable out of it for G!

And that's exactly what I did. I simply cut the black top off the elastic, took in the side seam and raised the hem. TADA! A incredibly simple, yet adorable, skirt for my sweet baby G! 

Oh how I love this little skirt. I even found a tutorial for a mama ruffle skirt! Love it!!

And don't worry, for my friends who haven't caved and bought a sewing machine-I'll

be selling custom ruffle skirts! Depending on size; prices will range between $10-15. 

Just email me at giarosedesigns@gmail.com

Urban Unisex Hoodie

I finally made the Urban Unisex Hoodie from Heidi and Finn. The first one I made didn't turn out 

that well. I used a print fleece with a knit lining. It felt incredibly soft and comfy but the thick layers

made the sleeves way too tight. I emailed H&F and they said the Urban Hoodie is a 'slim fit'. 

The instructions also say to use a zig zag stitch, I didn't do this on the second hoodie since I use

a walking foot when sewing with stretch fabrics. Otherwise the pattern sewed up like a 

dream! Very simple and quick. I did do a review when I cut out the pattern here. 

Here's my first try...

Cute but I think I like the hoodie better without a printed fabric. 

And take two:

I love the second one! I used a jersey knit for the outer layer and a cotton, quilting fabric

for the lining (from Hobby Lobby). I did increase the sleeve width by about 1/2inch. They

fit much better now. 

Everything's red!

Suckers, beads, what more can a girl want?!

G's favorite part of the parade...dancers!

Theirs Vs. Mine

My favorite thing to do lately is shop for Gianna...

but instead of buying items I just take pictures and go home and make it!

 I love the sailor/military look that is in this fall. So when I saw this skirt at the Gap,

I fell.in.love. How simple would that be too make?!

Sadly, I couldn't find light pink corduroy so I settled on a darker gray. 

The buttons where in the vintage collection I got from a friend. 

 I decided a sweet necklace tee would be the perfect companion. 

Theirs cost $26.95, mine was less than $5!
I picked up a onesie at a garage sale for $.75; used some fabric paint and a flower embellishment
to top it all off!

I dressed her up in some baby leggs and sparkly shoes for fun. This will definitely be the 

perfect look for fall!

I used Tulip Fabric Paint in metallic silver & 'puff' gold. 

The silver was a pain.in.my.butt. However the gold worked great, I think it helped

it was the 'puff paint' kind. Plus a little flower embellishment attached with fabric glue!

Next pictures will be taken at a park...no one needs to see my embarrassingly 

messy back yard!

Vintage Inspired Infinity Scarf

I saw this scarf on Pinterest and fell.in.love. I knew I needed to make myself one ASAP!

I found the perfect fabric at Joann's....some soft jersey knit in brown and a

flowerly cotton material. Plus I have some vintage crochet pieces that I could add, I've 

been dying to use them! 

The scarf was actually really simple to make, especially since I used my walking foot while

sewing the knit. If you want a full tutorial on how to make your own just head on over to 

A Cup of Sparkle! 

Or you can stop by my Etsy shop and purchase the one I made! I actually made two,

one to sell and one to keep :-)

It's just the perfect accessory for my fall wardrobe!

Ignore the boob shot...oops!

The Aviator Onesie

The little boys I babysit came in shirts similar to this one, from 

Children's Place. I just love them! So I decided to whip up one

of my own...and see a few to customers :-)

You know where to contact me if you want one! 

$8...giarosedesigns@gmail!

Quilted Owl Vest

One of the fabrics I fell in love with at Joann's was this corduroy owl print.

So adorable and sweet...yet too busy for a top (for my style atleast!). Of course,

I still had to buy a half yard.  

While we were out shopping the other day I noticed the poofy vests were still

in style and I knew I needed to make one for G! I decided the owl print

would be perfect, with some warm fleece lining. 

I didn't use a pattern or tutorial but I did stumble upon a great one by Me Sew Crazy. 

She has a quilted vest tutorial that is great! 

Here's my version. I really love it. You could also add button or a zipper 

but I hate sewing on either so I did without :-)

And she knows how to take it off..dangit!
But here's a great shot of the fleece lining!
And unfinished seams....

Fleece Fall Sweatshirt

I got started on G's fall wardrobe! Tuesday night we went to Joann's and Hobby

Lobby to pick out a few cute prints to start with. I didn't want to go too crazy

because I know the new fall fabrics are still coming in! 

Anywho, where was I? 

I picked up a cute damaskish printed fleece from Joann's. 

Last spring I had purchased the McCall's sweatshirt/sweatpant pattern

and planned to use that to make this top. Once I started cutting  out my pieces

I realized even the size 1 was way too big.  So I grabbed a sweatshirt that fit G well

and sized down the pattern quite a bit (maybe a bit too much). 

There are so many fun things you can do with a simple sweatshirt pattern.

Add ruffles, pockets, buttons, multiple coordinating fabric, etc. I have a few

more fabrics to use to whip up more of these sweatshirts! 

Oh wait...maybe you'd like to see a pic of this top that I keep bragging about?

(please diregard the terrible pictures! It's way too hot out to make G model

her new fleece sweatshirt for me!)

Fall Wardrobe Line up!

I know what you're thinking...Fall?! It's only August! This maybe true but G has way too many summer clothes and not enough cutsie fall clothes. Plus, I've been drooling over all the fall fabric that's been coming out! I need a reason to buy some! So low and behold- here is my list of 'must-do' fall clothes for G's wardrobe. (To be honest, I'll be lucky if I get half of these done ;-) )

By Shwin&Shwin:

Military Lace Top- how adorable would this be as a tunic with leggings?!

Asymmetrical Cropped Jacket - because you can never have too many jackets in the fall!

Inspired by Boy Sweatshirt (only with long sleeves)

Inauguration Cardi

Cropped Fleece Jacket

Craftiness is not Optional: Flora & Fauna Tee

HoneyBear Lane: Sweater Updo I need to thrift a sweater to upcycle!

RefugeeCrafter: Rae Shirt This would be adorable in one of the new fall fabrics!

SewTogether: Tab Tunic Shirt I purchased G about 7 long sleeved tees when they went on clearance, 

here's one of the ways I plan to use them!

KiKiCreates: Dress into a Jacket

MyOwnRoad: Rockin Necklace Tee

SewingforScarlett: Dancer Tee
The Quilted Vest-I'm on the fence about this one...
Made: Lined Pants 
HappyTogether: Mini Me Cardigan
LeafyTreetop: Toddler Slippers - perfect for our wood floors! if she keeps them on....
Madeline's Tunic

From Ruffles & Stuff- Ruffle Necklace Waffle Tee
Made By Rae: Square Neck Top
Adventures in Dressmaking: Knit Bow Top

Make it & Love it

Long Sleeve Tee into a Ruffled Dress: Using up those long sleeve tees again!

Ruffled Front & Ruffled Cuff Tee- In G's size!

Initial Pants

And I may even buy a pattern or two from Heidi & Finn

Yoga Suit This looks so comfy, I want one for me!

Urban Hoodie

Girly Cardigan 

All Day Tunic 

(can you tell I LOVE Heidi & Finn patterns?)

And lastly...a few easy projects for ME!
Behind the Seams: Wrap (no sewing needed!)
At Second Street: Drape Cardigan

Phew-that is a TON of clothes I plan on making...who wants to start taking bets
on how many I'll actually get done?

Please share your favorite fall patterns/tutorials and share the outfits you make!!!

Upcycled Sweater to a Cardigan Mini

A friend of mine gave me a great bag of old clothes to upcycle! I am so excited...free knits and sweaters! Heck yes! 

I used a cardigan that fit G for the template/pattern to make her new sweater. The redish (it's actually

hot pink) sweater was the one I upcycled.

Here's the done product! It was SO quick and easy. I'm not in love with it, but 

I think it will be cute this winter with some skinny jeans. 

I'm thinking about shortening it a few inches. A friend of mine says to keep it long, 

your thoughts?

Sorry, no tutorial. But I may try another one soon and I'll attempt

a tutorial then!