Classy Casual

short set

made by Suzanne Sawko

Having a good sewing friend is a huge blessing.  Having one close enough for frequent lunch dates is an even greater blessing. Suzanne, my nearby sewing buddy, feeds me inspiration with every Panera bite I take.

I’d like to tell you how much I absolutely love her projects, how much I learn from her, how I am so inspired by her creativity and skill, but I won’t. Suzanne said I could only use her photos if I wouldn’t gush about them. Humph!

So, while looking over the things she has made for her 4 yo granddaughter’s fall kindergarten wardrobe feel free to gush if you must because I cannot.  Also, remember that we live in central Florida, so the styles are all appropriate for our subtropical climate.

Several other garments will be posted for your enjoyment with as little comment as possible. Can I say that I would like to copy every one of them? No, she wouldn’t want me to say that.

For the top, Suzanne began with this vintage pattern from her stash.

pattern vintage

Of course, she significantly altered the pattern, tying the front shirt tail while lengthening and rounding the back hemline.

Suzanne said:

I used this out of print Simplicity pattern eliminating the facings and seam allowances at the armholes and neck, opting for piping and bias to finish them instead. The hem is also finished with bias.The blouse fabric is a dotted swiss that I think I bought at Joann’s. If you enlarge the print you will see a gray shadow to the leaves that lets the gray gingham work with the print.

pocket all

The pocket really steals the blouse show. A strip of gray gingham was edged with an entredeux stitch on her Brother Quattro and then trimmed with a crocheted edging made with 30 wt. cotton thread. The strip was pleated,smocked, and embellished with bullion flowers.

The gray linen for the shorts was left over from the button-on ring bearer suit she made for her first grandson. Suzanne modified an on-line pattern as described below.

shorts inside I used this downloadable pattern for the shorts.

Changes:1) Altered the back waist to accommodate buttonhole elastic. 2) Added the curved upper edge striped fabric to the hem edge. It resembles a cuff, but it isn’t. Gray gingham piping and tiny rick rack were inserted along the curved edge. 3) Kari Mecca type bias flower added to side hem.
shorts stripedcuff

This little kindergartner will be the leading fashionista of her class.

COMING SOON: More Suzanne Sawko projects for her granddaughter!

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