Fleece Sweatshirt with Elbow Patches

So, it's almost Christmas! So exciting. We've just finished up our homeschool lessons for the year. These guys have kept me busy this year! There hasn't been much time for sewing...unless it is for them!

I made this super-soft fleece sweatshirt for my oldest son a few weeks ago! It is plain navy non-pill fleece (from JoAnn Fabric) and has elbow patches. The fleece was in the remnant bin. Bargain!

Baby Hats

I  just love making hats for babies. These are for our church to donate to the local maternity unit. (Other hats I’ve made found here.)

 

Scarf from a Thrifted Shirt

I have been loving thrifting. I wrote about this great shirt I found at a thrift store a few months ago and how I completely butchered it by trying to make it fit me. I really loved it.

I wrote about trying to make it into a scarf. And you know what? It worked. So many pleats in that shirt…I spent an hour one day seam-ripping the pleats.

That hour turned into a waste of a perfectly good naptime. Because I ended up re-pleating the shirt to try another idea.
















That idea still didn’t work. So I just cut the whole thing apart and made it into a scarf. I serged the edges.

And I love it. I wore it two times this weekend.


I’m still enjoying my thrifted clothing. But I think I’d better stop trying to repurpose everything. It is so much easier to start with plain old fabric.

I’ve been making more clothing for my boys lately. I’m working on a few items for Christmas. I did finally make a pattern I’ve had forever. I’m learning that I do waaaaay better with sewing when I have an actual pattern to start with.

Also, after I make the pattern once, it’s much easier making the same pattern a second time (for the second boy).

Red Christmas-ish Headbands

I have two big red flower and big red bow headbands for sale. Each is $7 plus $3 for shipping (if applicable).

 

Crocheted Baby Hats

I have called so many hats for babies “my favorite”.

However, these bow hats are truly my favorite. (For now.)

Raccoon Iron-On Applique

I love that raccoons are the ‘in’ character for kids’ clothing. My littlest guy got some jammies for his birthday with a raccoon. So cute!

And now my oldest son, who has started carrying a backpack to a few activities including our homeschool co-op, has a raccoon on his backpack.

Pink Flower Headband

I love bright pink. And I love chevron. And fold over elastic.

“The Three Little Pigs” Hats

Halloween is fun for lots of kids. One reader ordered three piggie hats for her little girls. The free pattern to make a newborn sized pig hat can be found here. (I take custom orders for pig hats in any size.)

Halloween Hat Sale!

I have been working my fingers to the bone this week with custom orders for hats for Halloween.  At this point, I can’t take additional custom orders and promise that they’ll be there for Halloween.

However, if you have waited until now to decide about your child’s Halloween costume, let me show you a few hats I have available and your child could wear for Halloween.

And they’re all on sale! 



I will send you the hat of your choice for an additional $3 for shipping. If you order more than one, we’ll work out the shipping.

Invest your Halloween costume money in a hat your child can wear all winter long.

Email me to order your hat! Sale prices are only effective until Halloween. 

My email: monkeyseemail@gmail.com

Purple Owl Hat

I just couldn’t pass up this beautiful purple yarn at the store. I had to buy some. I made this owl hat. It’s for sale ($24 plus $4 shipping) and fits children age 5 and up.



I just love this color!


Email me at monkeyseemail@gmail.com for information about purchasing this hat or custom ordering one like it.

Adding Roll-Up Cuffs To Pants

My son is tall. Our whole family is tall.

My oldest son is very slim. He needs pants with about a size 4 waist and size 6 length.
I fixed a few pairs of pants for him to make them longer. And they roll up to reveal either fleece or flannel on the inside. I love the look of lined pants for my boys.



This was a relatively simple alteration and I wanted to share it in case any readers needs to lengthen pants for their kids. Or themselves. Or husbands.

Newly Crocheted Hats!

I’ve been working on a few custom hats this week.

First, another pilot hat.

Completed Fox Hat & Pattern

I have a completed fox hat (made from my fox hat pattern) in my shop. It's perfect for kids age 5+ and fits adults, too. 

Click on the picture to check it out. 

 

And if you crochet, make sure to check out the PDF pattern for sale in my shop. 

Shades of Blue

Our church has collected hats to be given to new babies at the local hospital in the past. We’re starting to do that again, so while we were on vacation for a week (24 total hours of driving with three small kids all age 5 and younger—really, it wasn’t as bad as it sounds…)
I crocheted a dozen hats for the donation basket.

Snap-Sleeve Blue Shirt

I made myself this shirt over the summer. I had a terrible time getting it photographed and finally had my five-year old take these pictures today.

Headbands. Commentary on Failed Projects. Dry Shampoo Questions.

I’ve made a few baby headbands lately. One was sold prior to photographing, but here are two others that I really love.

Halloween Hats

Thinking about Halloween Costumes yet?

My boys are. And if you’re familiar with my blog, you’ll recall my dislike of Halloween. It’s just the inconvenience of it. But my boys dress up. They like that. So that’s fine.

I do have a few Halloween hats for sale. If your child is dressing like a cat and you need a 6-12 month hat, this one is available. Email me at monkeyseemail@gmail.com and it can be yours for $15 + $4 shipping.

Bright Blue Gingham-Lined Hoodie

This cute little hoodie is for my littlest guy. It took me forever to make and finish. But it fits perfectly (not much room to grow…) and he looks extremely adorable while wearing it.

Wide Stripe Owl Tab Hat

This little guy. He’s so much fun. And doing so well with his preK/Kindergarten school work.

I made him an aviator hat (like I'd made for his younger brothers) and I’d also made this wide stripe hat with a little owl-theme tab (for sale!). But I actually like this one better on my oldest guy. Maybe it is the bold colors, the style, not sure. Just seems more age-appropriate for a five year old.

Crocheted Aviator Hats & Custom Orders.

I am so excited about the winter aviator hats I made for my boys! 

It’s not hot and sunny today, so it seemed like a good day to get some photos.

I made the littlest guy’s hat a little large so it will fit all winter. (He is turning one year old in a few weeks. That was fast!)

Catching up with Life Lately. And Projects.

This summer, I feel like my life has been exponentially busier. Its like someone has hit ‘fast forward’ on my life. I spend my days accomplishing everything and nothing. I do the same tasks of daily life each day.

My house remains a disaster.

I desperately need to have a professional photo taken of my children. I tried to take them out for a photo shoot one day.



My oldest turned five. He stopped going to bed at night. He’s up until we go to bed. It’s been a real issue.

Sewing. I sort of miss doing that. I made another pair of shoes for my littlest guy. He’s working on walking alone!

Etsy Coupon Code

I'm offering a coupon code this weekend in my Etsy shop...

use coupon code Monkeysee10 for 10% off. 

Click on any of the pictures to go to my shop. 

Blue and Gray Striped Shirt

You guys! I made another shirt. That actually fits. And the seams aren’t all wavy and crazy.

In My Etsy Shop: Hair Ties with Fold Over Elastic

Come on over to my Etsy shop and check out my new listings for fold over elastic hair ties!



I made some of these as gifts for friends back at Christmas time. They were very well-received. A few friends suggested I sell them.  I ordered some new printed elastic and they are even better.

These are seriously the most wonderful hair ties and won’t cause damage to your hair. So if you don’t feel like making your own, check them out in my Etsy shop.

Gingham Coastal Craze Baggies

I made another pair of coastal craze baggies (pattern by Peek-A-Boo Patterns). The last two pairs were for the middle and youngest guys. I made a size 6 since I used a gingham, non-stretch fabric (he would usually wear a size 5).

Boys’ Summer Shorts

I made two pairs of shorts for two of my three boys. They are pretty cute! I purchased a pattern from Peek-A-Boo Pattern shop. It is the Coastal Craze Baggies. (Affiliate links.)

First Serger Project: Pink Spring Top!

Someone from my church let me borrow her serger. The next day, another woman from church said I could purchase hers (cheap)!

So I’m enjoying a renewed interest in sewing right now.

Baby Shoes

Back while I was pregnant, I pinned some Toms-inspired baby shoes. (Go follow me on Pinterest.)
I finally got around to making some for our little guy. It helps him keep his socks on.

The Ambulance Driver Shirt

My little almost-five-year-old loves to pretend he is an ambulance driver. Or a police officer, fire fighter, paramedic, or doctor. Sometimes he is all of the above.

He is loving costumes. So how about a shirt that can double as a costume? I finished a shirt I started awhile ago for him and made it into an ambulance shirt.

Etsy Update

I completed a few zippered pouches that are for sale in my Etsy shop.

Letter of the Week Crafts: Y and Z

Our last two letters.

Y is for Yo-Yo.

Letter of the Week Crafts: W & X.

Almost to the end. Have you been making letter of the week crafts?

W is for wheelbarrow.

X is for xylophone. They LOVED this craft and pretended to play the xylophones with the pretend mallets. (Popsicle sticks and pom poms!)



Just two more letters to go!

Letter of the Week Crafts: S, T, U & V.

S is for striped snake.

Recess Raglan for Kid’s Clothing Week Challenge #KCW

Kid’s Clothing Week. KWC. #KWC. Every time it is happening, I am too busy to sew stuff for my kids. I LOVE to look at pictures of stuff other people sew.

Cake Batter Oreo Bars

I made this recipe to take to a church event. I found the original recipe online and didn’t have all the ingredients. So I substituted and they were SUPER good! Here’s my version.

Pink Owl.

I made this pink owl hat with a yellow flower and a covered button middle. It is size 3-6 months.

Birthday Owl

We went to a cousin’s first birthday last week.

I made another owl hat for him as a gift.

Late-Winter Owl Hat

Ok. I’ve made loads of owl hats. This might be my newest favorite color combination. And my newest favorite way to make an owl hat.

Colorful Hole Patches

Sometimes there is a right way to do things. And then, other times, I like to make up my own way to do things.



A few (years?) ago, I shared how I patched a hole in my favorite jeans. It worked.

Matching Recess Raglan Shirts

Last summer, I was a pattern tester for the See Kate Sew Recess Raglan shirt. I made this cute blue and gray version for the younger (now middle) bear.

I wanted to make versions for both boys. So I cut them out. And I made one for my older son. And the fabric was so hard to sew. I had to completely forgo the bottom hem.

Maple Granola

This recipe was adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe I found online. It it so amazing. I’m not sure it is healthy so I try not to use too much. A heaping tablespoon of granola is such a fabulous addition to yogurt.

• 3 cups oats (I used the non-instant, bigger pieces.)
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 3/4 t ground nutmeg
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (non-packed)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 molasses
• 1 t vanilla
• handful of raisins (about 1/2 cup)

Combine oats, sesame seeds, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon in a bowl and mix well. Meanwhile, on the stove, combine maple syrup, brown sugar, coconut oil and molasses at low heat. Stir until everything liquefies and combines. Add the vanilla, stir and pour over oat mixture. Stir well to coat.
Transfer mixture to baking sheet. Spread it out and bake at 300 degrees for about 38 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Add the raisins during the last 8 minutes of baking.

Yum.

Fox Hat Crochet Pattern–Discount Code

My first crochet pattern is now available in my Etsy shop! And since you read my blog, you can have it for 50% off. (Keep reading for the discount code. . .)

The pattern is actually 25 pages long. It shows pictures for lots of beginner crochet techniques you’ll need to know to complete your own hat. The hat itself is worked in a unique way that is e-a-s-y and fast.