Back to School 2022

A full year has passed since the last time I was here sharing on my blog, and I’m back today with new back-to-school outfits for this adorable trio of mine! I’m amazed at how much they’ve grown! Project Run and Play and Raspberry Creek Fabrics are sponsoring today’s post along with the rest of the Back-to School Tour. Be sure to pop over to PR&P to see the other bloggers and their amazing first-day-of-school ensembles!

My life is packed full these days with caring for and schooling six of our seven children who are still at home and running a new nonprofit organization that I launched with a few of my foster mom friends early this year. Time to sew is incredibly hard to squeeze in. I miss it, though, and, honestly, chopping fabric up into pieces and putting it back together in a way that makes it useful and beautiful is some of the best therapy. When Project Run & Play asked if I would like to join in the tour again this year, I knew right away that I could only say, “Yes,” if I chose patterns that sew up fast!

My new first grader’s outfit includes an Eclipse T-shirt and Singapore Shorts. This tee is the quickest sew of all the pieces in this set. With a serger, from cutting to done, it was finished in about 30 minutes … I can’t even drive to a clothing store that fast!

I love the fit of this tee! My littles are all on the tall, thin side, so I chose to sew a size down from their storebought sizes and add some length to give them growing “up” room.

The Ombre Stripe Cotton/Spandex Jersey was this little guy’s choice, and that was really no surprise. A few years ago, he refused to wear any top that didn’t have stripes! He’s expanded his clothing choices since then, but stripes are still his favorite.

The Singapore Shorts took up the most sewing time, primarily because of all the topstitching. I could have skipped some those details, but I love the finished look they add, so I moved forward with them. My kindergarten son got a pair of Singapore Shorts, as well, and I saved a few minutes here and there by cutting and putting them together assembly-line style. I used Raspberry Creek’s Gray Cotton Chambray for both of the boys’ shorts.

Boy Wonder is ready for kindergarten this year in his Easy Street Tee and Singapore Shorts. He picked this Jersey covered with Pencils, and it’s perfect for my littlest artist.

The Easy Street Tee is another great choice if you’re looking for a top that finishes fast. With its unique design, you don’t even have to inset sleeves! It has a straight front and a curved back that adds some interest.

Finally, we paired the Paper Clip Print and Mint Graph Paper Print Jerseys in an Aubrey Dress for Wonder Girl. This dress looks far more complicated to sew than it actually is. I was surprised at how quickly it came together!

This is another pattern that has a dolman-style sleeve that is incorporated into the body. Not having to sew in a sleeve definitely saves time. And, like the Easy Street Tee above, it also has sleeve cuffs to minimize hemming.

It has pockets!! Actually, it has an amazing kangaroo pocket that was so easy to add because of the way the curved panels are stitched to the center panel of the dress.

All in all, I spent a Saturday sewing – with breaks for a bit of fun here and there – for this crew, and all three have new outfits that have them ready to study their ABCs and 123s! And, they love that Mom made them!