Bimaa Hoodie and Hosh Pants

If you've followed my blog for a while, then you've seen me use the Bimaa Top and Hosh Pants patterns a few times.  There's a reason for that--they are amazing patterns!  Both are cute, simple designs that can be sewn up in roughly an hour each!

When Sarah, the designer for Lou Bee Clothing patterns, asked me if I wanted to make another Bimaa top for her pattern tour, I could not resist--especially since she just added a hood option to the pattern! Wow! Now you can make the cowl neck, shawl neck, or hooded versions all with one pattern.  That's another plus in my book.

I had fun mixing directions of the stripes when putting together this top, and amazingly, this Bimaa hoodie only took 1 yard of 60" wide 4-way stretch knit fabric!

From my experiences with making the Bimaa twice before (see HERE and HERE for those posts), I decided to cut the sleeves much shorter this time.  I used the size 5T for everything but the length of the sleeves, and for that, I used just a little more than the 3T length.  Next time though, I think I'll have to use the size 6 (which was also just added to the pattern) for the bodice because Ella is growing so fast!

The Bimaa Hoodie was so easy to sew together.  I used my serger to sew everything except the topstitching around the hood!  If you don't have a serger, then you can still make this pattern using your regular machine and stretch or zig zag stitch.

Be sure to check out all the other blogs in the Bimaa Top Pattern Tour.  I promise you will see some incredible versions from all these talented bloggers!

Well, since I made Ella a new Bimaa top, she needed a new pair of pants to go with it, right?  We just bought these sparkly, black boots, and Ella has not wanted to take them off--at all!  So, she needed some skinny jeans that could fit down inside the boots.  I found this animal print denim fabric in my stash and cut out a new pair of Hosh Pants.  An hour later, the pants were done! Bam!

For the Hosh Pants, I used the size 5T, but again, I used a slightly shorter length (more like the 4T).  I definitely recommend comparing the length of a pair of pants that fit your child already to the pattern piece before cutting out your fabric!  You wouldn't want them too short, and if you are like me, I hate to cut things too long and waste fabric, too.

I added a couple of back pockets to the back to make them look more like store bought jeans. They are well camouflaged with this print though!

The pattern calls for an adjustable waistband, but I prefer to just make a regular waistband and insert elastic all the way around.

So, in about 2 hours times, you can make your special little one an all new outfit too!  Just head over to Lou Bee Clothing for these two great patterns--the Bimaa Top and the Hosh Pants!

Or, you can get the Bimaa Top Pattern as part of the Sew Fab Pattern Bundle!  Today is the last day to buy it, so hurry! The sale ends at 8. a.m. EST on Oct. 8th!

If you buy the bundle for $29.95, you'll get 26 patterns, including the Bimaa, all from different designers, and a whole collection of other amazing pdf patterns to make things like kid underwear, a fold over clutch, a women's cape, kid's cardigans, leggings, and more!  Just click the Buy It Now Button!

I am an affiliate for the Sew Fab Pattern Bundle sale, so when you purchase the bundle using this link, I get a percentage of the sale.  Thanks for your support!

And finally, just thought I would "leaf" you with these amusing pictures of my daughter.  This was pretty much my cue that the photo shoot was over!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have fun sewing!

More Lovely Rita's and a New Bimaa Top

Well, we've made it to the last and final day of Pants Week on sewVery.  I really appreciate everyone that's been following along.  That said, I hit a big milestone for the blog yesterday--200 blog followers!  And as of this morning, I am only 15 away from having 400 Facebook Likes!

So, I announced on FB yesterday that when I reach 400 Likes, I'll host a giveaway here on my blog.  I've got a couple of ideas in mind of what to give away, so please help me get those 15 Likes on Facebook by clicking sewVery.

Now, onto the pants.  Today's feature is another great pair of Shwin & Shwin Design's Lovely Rita's Skinnies.

I guess I can't say enough about how much I like this pattern.  This is my third pair, and they just keep getting easier and easier to make, especially with the pattern design changes that Shauna made to the revised version.

This flowered pair of Lovely Rita's is made using some bottom weight fabric from Joann's that has a bit of stretch to it.  The fabric isn't very thick--it feels kind of like a twill to me--and is ideal for this pattern.

I used the 5T size again, and as you can see, they appear looser than the Lovely Rita Jeans I showcased in Day 2, but the only thing I did differently to this pair is add the button flap detail to the bottom.  So, I think the thickness of the fabric definitely affects the overall fit of the pant.

On all three pair of Lovely Rita's I have made, I chose to fully line the rear pocket rather than fold and press under the seam.  I think it is just so much faster and easier to line it.  On the other two pair of pants, I did use a contrasting fabric, but this print has a lot going on, so I just used the same fabric for the lining.

One of the changes that was made to the revised version of the pattern was to make the waistband have elastic all the way around.  Now, I know what you are thinking, cause I thought the same thing. But the way the front of the pants is cut, there is very little gathering, so the pants maintain their flat front appearance and fit.  I think she made this change to help keep the fabric from bunching up so much on the top of the bum.  As you can see in these pictures, they are contoured to Ella's little tush, and the waistband is high enough in the back to prevent her underwear from peeking out when she bends over.

Ella loves the flowers on these pants and how comfortable they are.  The front pockets are functional but are mainly a design element, in my opinion, since they are so shallow.  She still likes having them to keep a Starburst on hand!

Ella is so happy I made her a Bimaa Top to wear with these Lovely Rita's, too.  This is the second Bimaa Top I've made using EmmyLouBeeDoo's Bimaa Sweater Pattern.  Here's the post to the first one.

I used ribbed knit with a bit of lycra or spandex in it for this size 5T purple/eggplant version.  The fabric is thicker than the fabric I used on the first Bimaa I made, but I think it works well still.  Again, as with the pants, the fabric type makes all the difference in fit.  Since this ribbed knit is a little thicker, the cowl neck is obviously thicker and bunches up more.  Also, even though I used the 4T sleeve length this time, the sleeves look a little long out of this fabric.  I'm not worried though.  It just means she can wear it again come Fall!

This sweater is amazingly simple to make, and the first Bimaa Sweater was the knit project that gave me enough confidence in sewing with knits to want to try other knit projects.  Sarah's website, EmmylouBeeDoo and her pattern have lots of helpful advice for using your serger to sew knits.  That information made a world of difference for me!  Thanks, Sarah!

And thanks to all of you who follow along on the blog and Facebook.  I can't believe how many friends I've made because of this blog.  I hope I get to meet more of you in person at Sewing Summit this year! Please recruit your friends to follow along on the blog and on Facebook, and when my sewVery Facebook page reaches 400 Likes, I'll host a giveaway!

Come back this weekend for a wrap up of all the pants I've made on the blog this past year and a half. You just might find something else you want to make!

Have a great day!

Veronica

Introducing the Bimaa Sweater

Tuesday a week ago was a very interesting day.  I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Sarah from EmmylouBeeDoo and LouBeeClothing asking me if I would be interested in testing out a new pattern--The Bimaa Sweater!  My friend, Andrea, from The Train to Crazy, had recommended that she contact me as a pattern tester!  I'm so glad she did.

Sarah has been blogging for a few years, and I have seen some of her projects on link up parties before, so I knew she was talented and had some great ideas.  However, I was a little hesitant to agree to test out her pattern because it is made out of knit.  Now, if you are a regular follower of my blog, then you know I don't sew with knit--at all!  Nope, I don't think I have a single post that includes a knit item.  That is, until now!

After chatting back and forth with Sarah and being up front with her about my fears of sewing with knit, I finally decided to give it a go and test her pattern.  She convinced me by letting me know that the Bimaa Sweater Pattern does not require the use of a regular sewing machine and can be made entirely with a serger!  She even sent me a link to a post of hers that had tips on how to adjust my Brother 1034D serger settings to sew knit fabrics.  

Now, to clarify, the Bimaa Sweater does not have any finished hems (the sleeves are cuffed and the bottom has a waistband), and that is why I was able to just use my serger to sew it together.  If you only have a regular sewing machine, you can certainly make this top with it by using a stretch stitch or zigzag stitch.  A serger is not required, but it definitely made it easy for me!

Since I don't sew with knits, I didn't have any knit fabric on hand.  I ran into Wal-mart where I picked up this 4-way stretch knit fabric for a $1.50 a yard!  Yep!  You read that right!  A $1.50 a yard.  Normally, I would never buy fabric from Wal-mart, but I had to turn this pattern test around pretty quickly and didn't have the time to go to Joann's.  Surprisingly, I'm very pleased with this Wal-mart knit.  It's a nice medium weight knit that feels soft and has just the right amount of stretch.

The Bimaa Sweater is such a fun look for little ones.  It has that slightly grown up feel to it without it being too mature.  Ella loves wearing this top and told my husband that I made her a Moma top!

I guess she thinks it looks like something I would wear, and I would if it came in my size.  I might just have to look into purchasing the Renfrew Top pattern to make myself a similar cowl neck top!

The Bimaa Sweater pattern comes in sizes 12 month to 5T.  I made the one Ella is wearing using roughly 1 1/4 yards to make the size 5T, and I was very pleased with the fit.  She'll definitely be able to wear this one again come fall.

I love patterns that give me more bang for the buck, and the Bimaa Sweater Pattern does not disappoint!  The Bimaa offers two different neck finishes--the cowl neck and a shawl collar--and either can be made out of pretty much any type of 4-way stretch knit! Plus, the shawl collar would look adorable sewn in a fun knit print for a boy!

Now I just need to pick up a few more pieces of 4-way stretch knit so I can make Ella a version or two using the shawl collar!  The cowl neck version only took me roughly an hour to make, including the time it took me to cut out and piece the pdf pattern pieces together.  The construction of this top is very straightforward, and Sarah made sure the pattern instructions were a cinch to follow with great photos and step-by-step details.

I'm definitely not as scared of knit as I was a week ago!  I know I'm just a novice knit sewer and still have a lot to learn, but sometimes it just takes the right project to help you overcome your fears!  And I not only learned something new to add to my sewing repertoire, but I made a new sewing friend in the process!

Please visit Sarah's blog, EmmylouBeeDoo, for lots of other inspiring projects and free tutorials, and be sure to stop by her Etsy shop, LouBeeClothing, to purchase the Bimaa Sweater Pattern.  While you are there, pick up her Hosh Pants Pattern for little ones, too.  I think they would look great with the Bimaa Sweater!

I can't wait to see what Sarah will be designing next!

Wow!  My Bimaa Sweater was featured at the following blogs.  Thanks so much!