my red kerchief girl

Ah, Superbuzzy. How I love thee. And how dangerous you are to my (not growing very fast) Paypal account. Sigh. I fully drained my account with last weeks big update over there. Good stuff. Soooo much good stuff. And I had no idea that the red kerchief girl (link is to PINK kerchief girl. Red is sold out - read on) would be so fabulous until it arrived here. One eensy little half yard of it's goodness. I used every little scrap of that half yard about two hours after it arrived in the mail (just enough time to wash and dry it...barely). And then I promptly hopped on over to purchase a wee bit more ("but the paypal account is drained?" you might ask. Um, that would be the 'household' account I dipped into. Bills, schmills. I've got red kerchief girl fabric to buy. Priorities, please).

I took that new favorite fabric and put it to use on a pattern from my new favorite pattern book. I'm not alone in my love for Girly Style Wardrobe - Amy shared some photos and thoughts last week. It really is fabulous. I have a copy on loan from a friend, and I'm soaking up every single minute of that loan, studying all of the patterns in hopes that I'll remember them when the book is gone. In a very risky move, I cut right on into my new favorite fabric to try out the pattern above. Who has time for muslin, I ask? (I know, I know...one of these days I'm going to pay dearly for my impatience).

Miraculously (rather, unbelievably), it worked. My version ended up with some pleating at the shoulders (to avoid a sagging neck that was happening), which the pattern does not. Otherwise, it's pretty true to the pattern, except of course, that I couldn't actually read the pattern. This is the first time I've tried to precisely follow a pattern from a Japanese craft book instead of just using it as inspiration. I may be cursing myself by saying this - but I thought it was really fun - kind of like putting a puzzle together. Of course, I can say that because in the end it all worked out. (This time.) Edited to add: Jennifer, of moving hands, just put up a great informational post about sewing with Japanese patterns.

favorite fabric + favorite pattern book + favorite girl = happiness.

Comments

[Viv]

First commenter: how is that possible?! Very adorable. And Superbuzzy - yes! Hard to resist.

[kerrie]

oooh, how gorgeous!

[Heather]

Oh it's wonderful! How do those Japanese pattern books work? Is there a paper pattern to cut from or do you just eye it and go? I can never figure it out from people's posts. I saw that book plus several other recomendations on movinghands at wordpress last week!

[earthchick]

Every time I think you've already reached the height of possible cuteness, you surpass yourself with something like this. ADORABLE, all of it - fabric, pattern, and, of course, baby girl! [p.s., love the top with those precious linen pants and the red sneakers!]

[SOULEMAMA]

Hey Heather! The books usually don't have pattern pieces (atleast not the ones I've seen). The 'patterns' do include illustrations - much like a US pattern would have some of the images to go with the instructions. It's a little funky, but if you have experience sewing, and are willing to work it out a bit, it's doable. I also think once you do a few, some of the repeated symbols become clearer.

[heather]

i love how you're not afraid to just go for it, and look, it's wonderful!

[erin]

cute!!! all of it.

[bellablue]

Hoping, praying my order comes today... cause I have kerchief girl coming too! Adelaide looked completely sweet in that shirt (of course, the girl would look completely sweet in ANYTHING -even a SpongeBob shirt. LOL!) xoxox

[Nancy]

the dress came out great, really sweet on adelaide ( i love her name by the way)
i wanted that apple fabric so bad in both of those colorways but didn't get it- wah! still waiting on the fabrics i did order. those supebuzzy updates are irresistable, aren't they? i have no business spending money either..

[Stefani]

I didn't think that fabric could get any cuter, but when you put it on that sweet girl...heavens! Nie job Mama!

[amisha]

so incredibly cute! perfect fabric for that sweet pattern.
i drained my monthly spending money on that update too... our picks are remarkably similar :)

[Judi]

Absolutely precious! I'm so wanting to dive into the Japanese books myself but am worried that I won't be able to figure out the patterns without being able to read them...... Hmmmmm... maybe you've turned my mind around on that subject. Crud..... there goes my PayPal account too!

[julia]

beautiful! i think you should change your blog name to "nonstop inspiration". i love it!

[LauraJ]

Adorable! You could photocopy the best parts of the book before you give it back? I used to do that with library loans.

[Jennifer]

Lovely top! I would like to add that the books like Girlystyle Wardrobe DO come with full-size patterns in the whole range of sizes. The pattern set is always on a folded page at the back of the book. Unlike American patterns made from tissue, these cannot be cut out, so you have to trace out your own first. Well worth the effort, I think! So there is no guesswork involved, really.

[SOULEMAMA]

Jennifer - Um, wow. I can't believe that I've NEVER noticed that (just went to look in my book, and of course you are right!). That would have saved me a lot of guessing! Thank you for pointing out what SHOULD have been obvious to me. ;)

[Lora]

OMG what a precious outfit on a beautiful wee one!! I just discovered Superbuzzy and need to transfer BIG FUNDS to paypal so I can drain mine too!! I find their hedgehog stuff too dang cute! Oh I just need a snuggle from that wee one of yours!! I did a snuggle fix from my 3 year old this morning, and nice and warm and toasty from his morning bath wrapped in his spiderman towel. AH those little moments.

[Grace]

SO adorable. xo to your sweet wee girl in her adorable wee red kerchief girl smock!!!

[hannah]

um yeah, i dipped into family funds this time too. good thing that book was sold out though. cuteness galore.

[Kim]

Oh my goodness, that is such a cute top!!! I want, no need, to make one for my dd!!! glad to know about that book. SO CUTE!

[brandie]

so cute!! i am loving that shirt, and that cute girl in that shirt :)

[Kristin]

Darling! I just discovered Superbuzzy a couple of weeks ago and have already made two orders. I do love that green apple fabric, which I also got a half yard of. Love the trees too! Thanks for the tip on the Japanese books.

[Mama Urchin]

Total sweetness.

[amy k.]

that books kills, huh!? and that top is so cute!!

I think it might be my favorite pattern book ever-well, except for the patchwork one, and the aprons one-okay nevermind.

[Adina]

Been readin for a while now, never commented, but that shirt is cute enough to bring me out of lurking! Your blog serves as morning inspiration (along with my coffee) at my house! Thanks again for such a cute project.

[Amber]

Oh, I was very tempted by that fabric but, alas, my paypal account is dry, too, and so are any hopes of dipping into the other accts! I guess I'll just have to enjoy your lovely pics of a beautiful shirt for your pretty little girl! Great job!:-)

[Mariko]

Sooo cute! I've gotten to the point where I can hardly even buy our fabrics because I can't make a decision about which ones to get! The kerchief girl top turned out fabulously. It is very fancy!

[abbyjane]

Really beautiful shirt and really beautiful little girl!

[Maria]

Oh my, both the little girl and the outfit are so absolutely sweet! That polka dot bow must be the height of cuteness. :)

I've been reading your blog for a while already, but have never commented. I truly enjoy your happy, vivid posts.

[Veronica TM]

this post is overflowing with beauty!

[molly]

i can completely see why you couldn't hold back. I'm impressed that you even had the patience to wash and dry the fabric! it all looks too cute, amanda!

[Karen H]

You are such an inspiration and your work is fabulous! The top is so adorable, especially with your wee little one wearing it.

[Sue]

I love the top, and the fabric looks wonderful too.

[Cottage Magpie]

OMGosh! That is so cute! And I'm totally wowed by how you could just adjust the pattern as you go. Quilts I undersatnd, but clothing just escapes me! It's nice to sew vicariously through you! ~A :-)

[Sarah]

Beyond precious - and the top seems to fit your sweetie's personality, too. Superbuzzy is a dangerous habit - but like all such things, definitely worth the risk. Thanks for typing such great stuff. :)

[Jessica Chapman]

Cute fabric and ADOREABLE little one!!!! :)

[robin]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW!! I want ALL of your fabric NOW!!!!!! (Drool, drool) Such a pretty Princess, such FUN fabric!!!!<3

[colleen]

Supercutie!

[JoAnna]

I was looking at that fabric, but never would have come up with the cuteness that you seem to be able to do! So sweet.

[Joanna]

Oh. my. gawd! That is possibly the cutest outfit EVER! I got my hands on a few girly patterns, and even cut out some of the pattern pieces and then panicked! I've a 10 mo. old girl who I so want to shower with beautiful homemade clothes, I just lack the nerve. Some day...

[Nicole]

Between this post and the one on moving hands I just spent over $50 at yesasia on japanese sewing books! Wow am I excited! Never mind that they won't ship until June 12th.....my kids are going to be adoreable! Now off to superbuzzy to spend the grocery money!! LOL

[little dresses]

i love this lil dress!

[Di]

The tops are beautiful! I am always amazed when people can turn all those Japanese characters into something beautiful!

[Annie]

I'm totally, unashamedly, jealous of your fabric! Love IT!

[littledresses]

i LOVE lil dress im gunna have to try it sometime!!!!!!!!!