Knit Toddler Vest

I finished this vest for Henry yesterday. I used this pattern from Vanessa at A Little Original but I got a bit mixed up at the top so mine doesn't sit quite as nicely. And I used some super bulky thick and thin yarn I got from the thrift store in the fall.

I forgot how sweet he looks in a vest and collared shirt, I used to dress him like that a lot last winter. I couldn't get a really good picture of him so instead I am putting up 5 not so good pictures.

A Sweater for Henry

I've been working on this sweater for Henry for about a month on and off and now it's finally ready. I used this 7-hour toddler sweater pattern but made it all in garter stitch just for something a bit interesting. I wasn't sure if I liked the garter stitch until I added the pockets - with the pockets it didn't look like such a blob. It's made from a thrift store pure wool that's a bit scratchy so I'm glad it turned out just big enough that it can be worn as more of a jacket over other sweaters, keeping that scratchy wool away from his skin.

And the most fun part was that I made the buttons! I made them from a stick I found in the backyard. I just put the stick in the vice, used a handsaw to slice small sections and then held the little buttons with my hand while drilling two holes for the thread. Then I did some minimal sanding. This was something I'd been meaning to try for ages and I'm so glad I did. Even though I thought it would be easy it was even easier than I had thought. I definitely want to do this again, am thinking I should gather some sticks for this purpose before winter comes.

Shorts for Henry

This summer has been very hot, Henry hasn't even gotten to wear his summer pants much. It's been shorts weather everyday. So I finally got around to making him a pair to add to his wardrobe. Of course the completion of the shorts was accompanied by a cold spell, thus the sweater.



I kept them super simple and I think they turned out perfectly. Just copied some well-fitting shorts (like in the pants pattern tutorial) and used a simple elastic waist.

Summer Pants

I did some more summer sewing for Henry this week. Finally got to try out this pattern from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings for reversible pants. Just like Anna Maria Horner's baby in the hood jacket they involved co-ordinating several fabrics. With the different coloured back yoke and the turned up cuff, that's 3 fabrics to pick to coordinate. Plus the reverse side. So that was the hardest part - choosing the fabrics. I got to use this fish fabric that I got from a man's shirt and the very very last of that indian fabric, a fabric that has shown up in almost all of my sewing projects in the last few months, I will miss it.

And for the reverse side I used two linens that I had scraps of. This side was the afterthought side but I definitely like how it turned out too.

The pants are just two layers of thin cotton so perfect for summer. At first I was reluctant to complicate elastic-waisted pants because they are usually so simple and easy to make. But making them reversible is great for rolling them up - perfect for summer and perfect for growing boys. These should fit him for a while.