Get ready explorers!

Presenting the project that has been my pain in the rear for the past 3 days! The first 'little thing' I have sewn from my new book "Little things to sew" by Oliver & S. It would have been a lot easier if I had used different fabric. This fabric is rough & tough, exactly what my boy needs. I could get into the details of what I should have done, what I will/won't do next time, but that will bore everyone but me.

Grant modeling his vest. Yes, he had spaghetti for dinner.

Aside from the struggles I had with the fabric, I love love loved making this vest! The directions were clear & easy to understand (once I wrapped my stupid brain around them) and I will totally make it again!

Yes, that's a narwhal on his shirt. They're the coolest mammal ev-ah.

He is showing off the inside of the jacket. I am especially pleased with the lining. The original pattern does not have pockets on the inside. But when I was putting the pieces of the vest on Grant (for sizing) he looked on the inside flap and said, "Where's the pockets on the inside?" It gave me an idea, and so the secret pockets on the inside were added. There was supposed to be a big pocket on the back of the vest. I didn't not add it. What is the point of a pocket back there? You know what would happen? He'd be constantly running to find me, "Mommy, can you put my army guy in that back pocket?" and in another five minutes, "Mommy, can you take my army guy out of the back pocket?" and so on and . . . you get the idea.

I'm also proud of these bellows pockets. There was a simple version & a 'more difficult' one. I chose the difficult one because I liked the idea of bigger pockets. Boy howdy, it took a while to wrap my brain around the concept, but now that they're done, they're so easy!

Here's a better up-close picture. This is a pocket on the inside. See how he can stick his whole hand in?

I left off any sort of buttons or snaps for now. He's flipping the vest inside out so that all the pockets get a turn on the inside. The biggest thing I'll change when I make it next time? If I use this duck cloth, I'll have a thinner fabric for the lining. (I broke two sewing machine needles on this project. yeowtch.)