Winter Camp Out

William has wanted to sleep outside in his igloo since he made his first one, but it has been in the 10-20 degree range at night. Last week, it was going to be in the 40's so I agreed to let them sleep in the "community" igloo.

After about an hour, the boys came in needing to use the bathroom. About 10:45, they came in with their blankets and pillows. In the morning, I asked Will if they came in because it was cold or because there were weird noises. He said it was mostly because of the noises.

School Christmas Program

The boys had their music program this month (the girls will be in the spring).

Andy's group-Pictures:

Movies of Andy's group:

Will's group-pictures:

Movies of Will's group:

Winter 2014 Kids Clothes Week: Day 2

All of the pants I am sewing this week are from the same basic pattern that I used for the boys' camo cargo pants and Will's pajama bottoms.  I tried to make them all a little different, mostly in the pockets (not much else to change on a basic pair of pants!)

First up, a dark blue corduroy.

An Orange Ladder

We got the ladder for the boys' bunk beds painted orange!  I decided to paint the light switch cover, too, since most of the green paint was off.

Bed Covers

I got the boys' bed covers sewn.  They aren't really bedspreads or comforters as they aren't "stuffed".  I guess you could call them "duvet covers".  I got an IKEA duvet cover from eBay that I picked apart so I could make 2 covers out of the one.  It would have been much easier to get 2 of something, but this was cheaper!  I used tablecloths as the backs of the spreads (my mom's great idea ☺♥) in the boys' colors to tell them apart.

Bunk Beds!

I've been going to give the boys bunk beds since summer.  We needed to paint them to refresh them a little, but never got around to doing it for the longest time.  My parents brought them over today.   The ladder is eventually going to be orange and I didn't finish their bed covers, but here are pictures of the boys going to bed in their new bunk beds...

Boys' Camouflage Cargo Pants Tutorial

Reference pants

All cut out

With the pattern I "used".  It didn't have any pockets so I added them and it was bell bottomed and I straightened them

I didn't have much fabric left over!

My pockets 

I added twill tape tabs on the pocket flaps

Pocket flaps pinned together and cargo pockets folded in half

Rolled hem for the top of the back pockets

The pocket facings pinned on 

All the pockets ready to sew 

After I sewed the tops of the back pockets, I also sewed a double line of stitching in the middle of the pockets

Pocket flap progression
(sewn, corners clipped, turned, top stitched)

Sew along the edge of the pocket facing

Sew 1" from fold on cargo pockets and iron open

The pleat in the cargo pockets

I matched up the flaps with the pockets 

I pinned under 1/4" along the edges of the pockets

And ironed them

Cargo pockets waiting to be sewn on.

I placed the pants front on top of the pants back matching edges

Lay the pocket right side down on top

Pin the edges

Turn over and pin along the edge of the pocket

Sew along the cut edge for the front pocket

Iron pocket towards pants front

Trim excess pocket off

Fold pocket to back and iron

Top stitch along edge of pocket 

Match pocket front to back and sew bottom edge

I didn't figure exactly right so my pocket facing isn't quite long enough 

I did a better job on the 2nd pair!

Fold pocket to front

Front of pants pinned to back of pants

Sew together

Trim seam

Zig zag

Sew seam allowance to one side

All ready for cargo and back pockets

Sew velcro to pockets and flaps

I stuck the pocket flap in the front pocket so I wouldn't mix them up

Pockets sewn

Sew top of front pocket to hold it in place

My sewing machine does bar tacks, so I added those at the tops of the pockets

Sew inseams

Trim seam 

Zig Zag

Turn one leg right side out

and put it inside the other leg

Pin and sew crotch seam

Trim seam and notch curved edges 

Zig Zag, pulling the seam straight as you go 

Sew seam allowances down

Mark out fake fly 

Sew fake fly 

Rolled hem (or measure and turn up for needed length)

Turn down for elastic casing.  I added twill tape size tags 

Thread elastic through 

Sew opening closed

Sew elastic  along all 4 seams to hold it in place

Model on adorable children ☺