Sewing: Sunny Back-to-School Bateau Neck Tunic and Dress

Well, it's that time of year. I love back-to-school! And I love the idea of some new clothes to wear back to the classroom.

Truth be told, my plans for summer sewing were too big. I had more planned than they could wear or I could photograph. (Kind of nice for a change, actually.) So some of it is now officially part of their back-to-school wardrobe.

Take this set for Tess: I love the sunny orange and yellow polka dot jerseys (both from Euro Girls Boutique) combined with the Heather Ross Briar Rose Cotton Jersey. I used my Bateau Neck Top pattern and lengthen the top to tunic length. I took the short sleeves from the dress pattern extension and added side vents (also included in the pattern extension).

I added the yellow embellishments to Tess's tunic by creating a stack of three roughly cut circles with the largest size on the bottom and the smallest on the top. Then I stitched an "x" on top of them to attach them to the tunic. Cute I think! And so easy.

Scarlett got another dress. Because that's what she likes best. I made a sleeveless version of The Bateau Neck Elastic Waist Dress (Bateau Neck Top pattern + extension)

I was inspired by Dana's sleeveless version of the Bateau Neck Top with bow. It makes a happy back-to-school outfit. I love the pink and yellow striped jersey from funkaliciousfabrics on Etsy.

I think we're all set to go. Audrey too, pictured here in one of her summer outfits--a striped middy blouse. It should double just fine for back to school.

Here we go! I hope your transition is going well.

Back-to-School Bateaux Tour Wrap Up

I was so thrilled with the Back-to-School Bateaux pattern tour during the last couple months! Not only am I grateful to the friends who sewed and shared their interpretations of The Bateau Neck Top and The Bateau Neck Dress, but it was nice to challenge myself to post more frequently. And it was really fun to keep thinking about these basic patterns and all the possibilities for creating with them. I still have ideas...but I'm switching gears for now. I'm sure you'll see more of these tops and dresses in the future.

I am sharing one more with this wrap up, however. A red boiled wool Ruffled Bateau Neck top I made for Scarlett when I first started working out this pattern. Well over a year ago.

This is one of my favorite combinations: boiled wool and a crisp cotton shirting for the ruffle.

I've got a quick wrap up of all the stops on the tour and a few tutorials, which were part of the mix. I also wanted to let you know that I started a Pinterest board to collect examples and inspiration for these patterns. I see so many things that could be imitated with The Bateau Neck Top or Bateau Neck Dress pattern and wanted to keep the ideas in one place.

Bateaux from my Guests:

CINO: Granny Floral Bateau Neck Dress; KoJo Designs: Sequin Trimmed Bateau Neck Dress; Luvinthemommyhood: Hot Pink Bateau Neck Top; The Cottage Mama: Bateau Neck Top with Birds

Delia Creates: Silver Dotted Bateau Neck Dress; Cirque du Bebe: Bateau with Image Transfer; No Big Dill: B is for Bateau Neck Top; My Sparkle: Bateau Neck Top with Woven Trim

Lemon Squeezy Home: Pleated Bateau Neck Top with RickRack; Simple Simon and Co: Bateau Neck Dress with Neon; MADE: Bateau Neck Top with Dotted Pocket; LBJ Studio: Striped Bateau Neck Dress

Bateaux I sewed:

Boiled Wool Ruffled Bateau Neck Top; Rainbow Chevron Bateau Neck Dress; Striped His and Her Bateau Neck Dress and Top; Hodgepodge Rainbow Bateau Neck Top

And the Bateaux tutorials!

Me: Boiled Wool Ball Monogram; MADE: Big Shoulder Bow; Me: Faux Layered Sleeves; Me: Pom-Pom Trim

Thanks so much to the talented women who sewed with this pattern! And to you who have been excited about it. I hope it's a staple for your sewing for years to come. Stay tuned for more from Wee Muses Sewing Patterns.

Sewing: Hodgepodge Rainbow Bateau Neck Top

Maybe it was due to my unfulfilled grade school longing for one of the three-quarter sleeve rainbow t-shirts (the white ones with the rainbow across the chest and down the arms--anyone remember?) that I was so excited about making a rainbow shirt for Scarlett. 

It's interesting how clothing is iconic of an era. I remember girls at school wearing those rainbow shirts with Ditto jeans, which had seams running up the back of the legs and over the backside (sort of like another rainbow). Wow. Maybe I should have made a rainbow shirt for myself!

This shirt is different though. Scarlett loves rainbows! And picks out rainbow, or multi-colored, fabric often. It's difficult to find good prints in this category, in my opinion. So I was excited to spot this rainbow stripe at funkalicious fabrics Etsy shop. I thought it would be perfect with the happy aqua cloud fabric from Euro Girls Boutique. And it is! 

So there you have it: a hodgepodge rainbow Bateau Neck Top. I love mixing the fabrics this way. I made this top for Scarlett, wrapped it up, and suprised her with it on her birthday. Something handmade just for her. Sewing is so great that way.

Hope you are having a "happy clouds" day.

Sewing: Pom-Pom Trimmed Boiled Wool Bateau (Tutorial)

We are enjoying some gorgeous Fall colors around here. It's early in the season so there is still plenty of green mingled with the golds, oranges and reds. On a sunny day the surroundings are pretty hard to beat. Come to think of it, a grey day looks pretty great too.

I love sweater weather, so I couldn't resist making a Bateau Neck Dress in this gorgeous green boiled wool ("Lana Bollito" from Harts Fabric) to usher in Fall. This green is what I would call a "mature" color, but the peacock blue pom-poms give it a more youthful vibe. And Scarlett was excited about it.

I made the dress in the button-back version. I hadn't sewn this particular combination from The Bateau Neck Top and Bateau Neck Dress extension patterns and it was fun. With a solid colored fabric such as this I like the opportunity to add the detail of buttons down the back (found these great green buttons, Belle Buttons by Dritz, at Joann).

The pom-poms along the neck and top of the hip pockets are a new twist I've been planning for a while. This trim is another reason for the button-back--the trim doesn't stretch.

The dress has plenty of give for my active girl, and to be certain she would find it comfortable I lined it with a cotton knit to eliminate any itch. I also used a stretch twill for the facings in a coordinating peacock blue--a good color if it shows but softer than the wool. I love using boiled wool and lining it makes it more versatile. I will share a tutorial on that sometime...

In the meantime I have a tutorial below for adding the pom-pom trim--it's a nice way to customize a simple top or dress like this. 

Welcome Fall!

Back-to-School Bateaux: Cirque du Bebe

The amazing image transfer on this Bateau gives it away right? Of course this is Sophie of Cirque du Bebe! She is next on the Back-to-School Bateau tour.

Sophie has amazing style and manages to sew for herself in addition to her kiddos. I love what she did for Project Sewn last season, especially her Chevron Love finale. Her version of the Lady Skater Dress convinced me to finally buy that pattern, though I haven't sewn it yet and know I won't wear it as well! She has a great talent for knits evidenced by this darling outfit as well, not to mention a bombshell bathing suit (bathing suit!). Sophie makes sewing look so up-to-date--there's nothing "homemade" about her handiwork.

So I'm flattered she has applied her fresh take to The Bateau Neck Top. You can see more of it here.

Back-to-School Bateaux: luvinthemommyhood

This pretty in neon pink creation is the work of none other than Shannon, of luvinthemommyhood.

Shannon has created such a great community on her blog! She has a talent for gathering creative women together and cheering them to get to work. Her KALs (Knit-A-Longs) are packed with motivation, inspiration and great technique tutorials. Shannon has a wealth of sewing tutorials too. I love this Wellen Tank--so sweet! She does a roundup like nobody's business (check out this amazing doily craft roundup), and she just has a fabulous eye. Her pattern shop at Very Shannon is full of knitting and sewing projects, all with unique twists (I love the oversized skirt pockets on her new Sally Dress). And she is a die hard perfectionist so you can be sure things are beautifully laid out and clearly explained.

All of which is to say I feel lucky Shannon is sharing a Bateau Neck Top she made today. You can see more if it right here.

Back-to-School Bateaux: Lemon Squeezy Home

Christie from Lemon Squeezy Home is on the tour today with such a great take on the Bateau Neck Top!

I'm not sure Christie remembers, but when I decided to make this blog public with this post in 2010 Christie found it and was my first follower! I so appreciated her comment and having her as a follower. Her enthusiasm and support says so much about her genuine caring for the people she comes in contact with, as does her blog, where she frequently shares what matters most to her. Seems she is always doing something interesting and fun with her kids (dry ice bubble experiment anyone?), and I loved all the cute projects she posted getting ready for her most recent, sweet Ruby, such as this chevron knit blanket (hmmm, she seems to have a chevron thing going...) and these bunting gifts. Christie has a knack for clever design (washi magnetic bookmarks! and this great idea) and styles herself as well as her projects!

You can see more of this great project of hers here. I love that rickrack trim peeking out of the Pleated Bateau Neck Top!

Back-to-School Bateaux: Delia Creates

You likely recognize this cute and energetic little girl...she and the great sewing are the work of Delia at Delia Creates. She is next up on the pattern tour.

Delia's is one of the few "blogger friends" I have met in person and she is a total pleasure--just like her blog. One of those generous individuals from whom one can learn a lot. She is always pushing herself to innovate and improve and share what she has discovered. I was thinking the other day that I really could benefit from studying her self portrait tips. Can you believe what she accomplishes with a camera remote? Or with yarn (love this blanket), or long summer days, or even scraps? Let alone the amazing things she sews for her boys (suits!) and little girl (my favorite, "First Baby" dress!)

She made a Bateau Neck Elastic Waist dress in a cute grey dotted knit that seems to work perfectly for run-around days. You can see more here.

Back-to-School Bateaux: KoJo Designs

Look at this perfect Fall number from KoJo Designs! Kirstin is next on the Back-to-School Bateaux pattern tour.

Kirstin is one of the boldest DIY-ers around! I am always impressed by scale and success of the projects she tackles. Whoa. And lucky for us she is happy to share. She produces amazing gatherings (I loved this Farmer's Market party--so perfect for kids!--and entirely different Sprinkled party) with all sorts of handmade details. She is not intimidated by electrical projects like these amazing copper lights. I need to make a stack of these vintage sheet cocktail napkins. And when I get business cards I need to gild the edges like this. She and Delia have been hosting Color Your Summer for a few years now, which is chock full of great home, wardrobe and entertaining ideas. She seems to be the friend with a solution for whatever you need!

I love what Kirstin did with the Bateau Neck A-Line Dress. Do you see that glimmer of sequins on the pocket? And paired with the boots. Check out more of her back-to-school look here.

Giveaway: Euro Girls Boutique Organic Knit Fabric

It's Friday the 13th and it's your lucky day because I have a great giveaway to share! In the spirit of all of this sewing with knits, Euro Girls Boutique is giving away a great bundle of their new European organic knits to one of you readers!

I have ordered a whole bunch of their fabric to sew Bateau Neck Tops. They have such a fun selection of graphic prints: wide and narrow stripes, such as these Berry stripes, and big polka dots like those in some of the first Bateau Neck Tops I shared.

They have little polka dots too, such as these Blackberry and Sunny Yellow I used for the Faux Layered Sleeve Bateau.

Plus they have chevrons, star prints, and cute characters (I just snagged some of this darling pink "Hedgy" knit).

The knit fabric from Euro Girls Boutique feels wonderful and has a great 4-way stretch. It has been a breeze to sew with (especially with a "stretch" or ballpoint needle). And it's 60" wide--so you can get a lot more out of it than you would think!

So I am excited they are giving away a bundle of their newest organic knits to one of my readers. If you win, you will receive 1/2 yard of each of these 5 fabrics pictured below. That's a bit more than a $50 value--so great!

You could combine a couple of these prints and make a "hotchpotch" style Bateau Neck Top, or use one to add faux layered sleeves under a short-sleeved Bateau Neck Dress, or make a complete top in one of these fabrics for a size 18m to 3 year old child. Or make something else. Leggings? A pull-on skirt? So many possibilities.

Multiple entries are welcome. Giveaway is open until midnight September 20 and I'll announce the winner at the end of the month. Good luck!

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