Last summer, my sister and I embarked on a road trip along the beautiful California coastline with our three kids in tow—my 6-year-old nephew, 5-year-old niece, and 3-year-old daughter. As we journeyed southward, we made a pit stop in Santa Rosa for lunch. Little did I know that this casual break would lead to a delightful discovery. Across the street from where we parked was a fabric shop I frequently ordered from online, and surprisingly, it had a physical location. I managed to convince the kids to give me some browsing time by letting each of them choose a fabric piece they liked. I intended to sew these fabrics into garments as soon as we returned home, but life happens, and those plans got slightly delayed, like many others over the past year.
Fast forward to this holiday season, and those charming fabrics the kids had selected sat on my shelf, almost seeming to give me a gentle nudge to get started. With the sushi-themed fabric, I decided to create a Sketchbook Shirt (View A with short sleeves) for my nephew in size 7. I thoroughly enjoyed making this shirt—it featured lovely details like a pleated back and a curved hem, which looked fantastic whether tucked in or left untucked (and trust me, it’ll likely stay untucked most of the time).
The shirt also required six buttonholes, something that initially intimidated me. Honestly, the thought of doing buttonholes was a significant reason why I put off this project for over a year and a half. However, after reading through my sewing machine manual and practicing a few test runs, I found the process quite manageable. It was somewhat embarrassing to realize how unnecessary my fear had been—I felt much better after conquering that hurdle.
I also happened to have the perfect buttons for the shirt. Recently, I had crafted a memory quilt for my mom using several button-down shirts belonging to my late aunt, saving all the buttons for future projects. Buttons from one of those shirts adorned my nephew's new shirt, adding a personal touch that made it even more meaningful to me. To ensure I sewed them on correctly, I watched a video tutorial by Liesl, which simplified the entire process.
For my daughter and niece, I created two Swingset Skirts. My niece’s skirt was sized 5, while my daughter’s was a 3T with an 18-24 month waist. My niece had chosen a fabric featuring a large unicorn motif, so I sought a pattern that would highlight the fabric’s design. The Swingset Skirt fit the bill perfectly since it had minimal intersecting seams and didn’t require pattern matching. My daughter received her own Swingset Skirt because I always try to make matching outfits for the two of them.
This project turned out to be a joyous experience. With only three pattern pieces, assembling and cutting the fabric went smoothly. Although both skirts included buttonholes, I had already overcome my earlier trepidation. For beginners or even intermediate sewists hesitant about buttonholes, don’t let this aspect discourage you. My niece and daughter absolutely adore their new skirts.
As I reflect on this project, I’m reminded of how rewarding it is to turn simple fabrics into cherished items for my family. Sewing has become more than just a hobby—it’s a way to infuse love and creativity into everyday life.
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