Valentine’s Day Outfits / Carmen’s Tunic / Sewing with Knits

 

Have you tried sewing with knits yet?  I finished the girls’ Valentine’s Day outfits yesterday and I love them!  They do too.  This pattern is Carmen’s Tunic by Lille Skapet.   This is only my second time sewing with knits and I think they came out great.  (Click here for my post about the knit shirts that I made for the boys.)

   

This pattern is really straight forward and easy to follow.   Berritt even gives two different options for construction.  I chose option B.

 

 

I especially love the square neckline.

 

  

I’m always nervous that I am going to make something for the girls and that it will be too small.  I have gotten into this habit lately of making things way too big for them just in case.  My girls typically wear a size 7 or 8 but my paranoia took over and I made them the size 9.  This pattern is so forgiving that It still looks fine.  It will just be more of a dress this year and will fit as a tunic for next year.

I also found the perfect buttons to go with this print.   You may notice that the heart fabric at the corner were it meets the purple trim is a bit gathered.  I still need to work on this as I did the same thing on both tunics.  I’m probably the only one who will ever notice it.  When the girls are wearing it there is a lot of movement in the fabric so it is hard to tell.

Since we had the perfect buttons, I just had to make some quick hair clips to go with the outfit.  I literally made these as the girls were eating breakfast this morning.  Just cut a piece of 3/8” grosgrain ribbon to 4 1/2 “.  Heat seal the ends with a liter.  Hot glue the ribbon onto an alligator clip.  Finally, hot glue the button on.  Easy Peasy!

 

 

I definitely give this pattern a thumbs up.  Knits are just so cozy and it is what my girls prefer to wear.  I was just nervous about sewing with it in the past.  I think that I am finally over my fear.   I have Lille Skapet’s legging pattern and plan to try that next.  They also have a really cute dress called Mari’s Playdress that I am hoping will include big girl sizes soon.

If you would like to give knits a try here are a few suggestions:

Lille Skapet

Lil Blue Boo

Made

Carla C

Mod Kid

Train to Crazy

I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

From An Igloo

 

 

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Here are a few of our outtake pictures.

 

 

 

This is my favorite.    Mary Katherine Gallagher Superstar!