Ready to add a back pocket to your Mud Puddle Splashers? Go print the pattern to get started: MPS Back Pocket. (Be sure not to select sizing options such as “Fit to Page”. However, you should check the box next to “Rotate and Center”.)
First, a little aside from the basic tutorial: When I’m sewing with a stripe or a plaid, I like to turn the fabric and cut the pockets on the bias for a little added interest. If you’d like to do that, first find the line on your sewing ruler that says 45. (My ruler is upside down in this picture so the “45” is backwards, but you get the idea.) Place that line on one of the straight lines of your fabric so that your ruler is now turned at a 45 degree angle.
Line the edge of your pattern up along the edge of your ruler, or if you’re not cutting on the bias, just place the pattern on your fabric. (The bottom half of the pattern will be the outside of your pocket, in case you want to center a design on the pocket.)
Trace the pattern.
Cut out your pocket.
Fold the pocket piece over, matching up the points. Pin. Sew around the two sides and bottom, leaving a 1 1/2″ opening in one side for turning. Trim the fabric at the corners and at the point.
Turn the pocket through the opening. Push out all the corners and the point neatly. (A clean chopstick works well for pushing out corners.) Tuck the edges of the opening in. Press well.
Topstitch the top edge of your pocket, once at 5/8″, then once 1/8″ to 1/4″ below the first line of stitching.
Center the pocket on the Back Body/Leg piece. If you’re only going to do one pocket, it is traditionally placed on the right-hand side. Pin the pocket 4 1/4″ below the waist for sizes 2T-4T, 4 1/2″ below the waist for sizes 5 to 6/7, and 4 3/4″ for size 8. The pocket is going to look like it’s really low. It’s fine, I promise!
Topstitch the pocket in place 1/8″ from the edge on the sides and bottom. Sew a second line of stitching 1/8″ to 1/4″ inside the first.
Follow the Mud Puddle Splashers instructions to complete your shorts.
See! That was easy, right? (If you’ve landed here and don’t know what the Mud Puddle Splashers are, just click over to this post right here: Mud Puddle Splashers Free PDF.)
Sometimes after thinking things over, you just have to make a change! As I was working on the pocket tutorial for the Mud Puddle Splashers last night I was reflecting on the pattern itself and wondering if a little update might be in order. The pattern is going together really nicely, and I’m thrilled that everyone is enjoying it. Most people have been skipping the faux fly, though, and I love the look of the shorts with it. It occurred to me that the faux fly had a few steps that really aren’t necessary. Another thing that was bugging me is that when you topstitch the back rise on the smallest two sizes it takes away a bit of the diaper room. (Some kids in toddler sizes don’t need diaper room, but a lot, like my Charlie, still do!) So, this morning, I made a few modifications to the instructions to speed up the finishing of the faux fly, removing the topstitching of the back rise and shortening the topstitching of the front rise to just the section adjacent to the fly. Nothing major, but it’ll give the same finished look faster, and it’ll keep that little bit of extra bum room for diapered little ones.
No worries at all, if you’ve sewn according to the original instructions! My two little guys have a collection of shorts sewn that way, and we love them!
Just click on the picture below for the updated pdf. If you just want to print the pages with the changes, you’ll want pages 5 and 6. (Just reiterating here that the pattern itself has not changed, just the instructions for finishing the faux fly version.) The original MPS post has the updated link and the original link has been removed, so feel free to continue referring your friends straight there. Oh, and please spread the word about the updated, easier-to-finish faux fly!
As a weird aside, WordPress thinks that “faux” is not a word. I actually just went and Googled it because I was suddenly afraid that I was unknowingly using a word that isn’t really a word. According to Websters, it is in fact a word: faux, meaning “imitation, not genuine or real”. Whew! Okay, back to your regularly scheduled day. I’ll be back around lunch time with the back pocket addition to the Mud Puddle Splashers!
I was able to sneak in just enough sewing time this weekend to complete these four pairs of shorts for the Hopeful Threads July Boys’ Shorts Sewing project, plus one more pair for Charlie. I am donating four pairs of shorts sewn from my Mud Puddle Splashers pattern in honor of our four boys.
The Monkeys and Puppies are size 3T which is Charlie’s current size.
The Lizards and the Trains are size 6 which is Jamie’s current size.
I made all four pairs with all the optional extras that I included in the pattern, and I added one more thing . . . back pockets! Aren’t they cute? (My husband really likes me to put back pockets on the pants that I make for our boys. He thinks they really make them look finished.) This pocket is quick and easy, and tomorrow, I’ll have the pocket pattern along with a tutorial on how to add one to the shorts that you’re sewing!
How’s your sewing going? If you haven’t already downloaded it, be sure to check out this post for the free Mud Puddle Splashers pattern that I created just for this project: The Mud Puddle Splashers
If you’ve hung around here for very long, you already know how much I love Kristy and the work that is done through her charity blog, Hopeful Threads. I was so excited a few months ago when she mentioned her plan to ask all of you to sew little boys’ shorts for the families who are supported by Children in Families in Cambodia! I am so blessed to live in a household full of boys, and I loved the idea of being able to give some handmade love to little guys on the other side of the world. I knew that I wanted to be involved in a special way, so I asked if I could design a shorts pattern specifically for this project. (To read more about July’s Little Boys Shorts Sewing project, please click over to Hopeful Threads, and then come back here for the pattern!)
I set out to design a simple shorts pattern with a few little extras. First an elastic waist, because that’s the easiest for little guys to handle all alone. (Charlie’s favorite phrase lately is, “No, Me!”)
Next, it simply had to have pockets! Have you ever known a little boy to not collect things throughout the day? My boys can’t stand pants without pockets. (These side seam pockets are really easy to sew, so don’t worry at all if you haven’t sewn pockets before!)
An optional folding cuffed hem adds more wearing time. All moms know that kids tend to grow up faster than they grow out. Those extra inches when coupled with the elastic waist mean that these shorts could maybe last a little boy for two seasons, instead of just one. (The pattern does include a traditional hem, too, and I’d recommend the traditional hem if you choose to sew the pattern with knit fabric.)
I added an optional faux fly just to give that perfect finishing touch.
A comfortable, easy fit has already made these a favorite with my own little boys.
Finally, the option to sew these with woven fabrics (cotton quilting fabrics, seersucker, lightweight denim, corduroy, twill) or with knit fabrics (cotton interlock or cotton jersey) means that anyone with a fabric stash will be able to grab something and start sewing!
You’re ready to start sewing, aren’t you? Can I just share a little story first? It’s a quick one about how the pattern got its name. As I was wrapping things up early last week and mulling over a name for this pattern, “mud puddles” kept coming to mind. That evening, I popped over to the Children in Families blog and read this blog post: The Beauty of Family. In that post, one of the similarities that Heather mentions in children growing up here in the US and those growing up in Cambodia is the simple things that they love to do, things like splashing in mud puddles. And, with that, the pattern name was finalized.
I finished up the pattern last week, had my amazing group of testers check it out for me, and prepared it to give it to you. One little question remained, though. Were these shorts really good for mud puddle splashing? I couldn’t really give you the pattern without checking, could I? With that in mind, after dinner last night I asked my youngest two boys if they wanted to go jump in a mud puddle. They, of course, were happy to oblige! It turns out that these shorts are perfect for mud puddle splashing!
Doesn’t that look like fun?! Okay, finally, the pattern download! I’m providing this pattern download free of charge. I just ask that you respect the spirit in which it’s given. If you download the pattern, please sew at least one pair of shorts to give to July’s Little Boys Shorts Sewing project at Hopeful Threads or to another charity of your choice. Once you’ve done that, please feel free to use the pattern to sew for your own children! (I do ask that you refrain from sewing this pattern for profit, and the pattern itself is copyrighted, of course.) This free pattern will only be available for download through the end of July. Just click the icon below. (Be sure to read through the pattern preparation instructions before printing!)
Have you sewn a dress for Dress a Girl with Hopeful Threads yet? You still have 5 1/2 days to add a dress to the over 100 already sewn and donated!
Kristy has set a goal of 200 dresses total, and I know she’s going to far surpass that! I took one hour out of my crazy schedule this morning and whipped up this sweet little sleeveless dress. An hour of my time and a little fabric is hardly even a sacrifice to me, and to know that it will bring a smile to a little girl’s face and a little fun to her wardrobe makes it well worth it.
This is a simple modification of my free tank pattern. Just add a little length–I added 7 1/2″ to the 5T–and angle the body of the dress out to give some hip room.
I added a couple of pockets by cutting rectangles of cotton jersey, folding them in half and stitching them in place. After a quick wash and dry, the edges roll up nicely and add a little fun!
I sewed a quick line of stitches about 1/2″ from the bottom edge and let the jersey in the body of the dress roll up at the hem, too. Finally, a pretty “handmade” tag (from Night Owl’s Menagerie), and it’s ready to go!
Have you heard about the wonderful things happening over at Hopeful Threads? Kristy has such a heart for people in need, especially children, and she is doing a fabulous job of encouraging those of us who love sewing and are blessed with much to take a few minutes each month to give back. On the first of every month, Kristy posts a new charity sewing project on the Hopeful Threads blog. Participants from around the world join together in contributing their time, talents and fabric to help those who need what we can give.
Last month, I set aside a day to sew up a dozen bloomers for the January project. Annabelle’s Wish had a special request for bloomers to go with the many dresses that are donated during the summer months to the little girls in China’s orphanages. One day of sewing time and a few yards of fabric was an easy thing for me to give even on a tight budget. This month, Kristy is encouraging you to find a fundraising project that you can contribute to, whether it’s by creating a handmade project to be auctioned off, bidding on an auction or by skipping that latte and giving the dollars instead. (That last suggestion was not really from Kristy. It was all me, and really for me.)
Also, this month, I’m joining in as a Hopeful Threads supporter! (Kristy and I are working on a really exciting plan for a project that we’re hoping will happen in a few months, too, but it’s a secret for now. Shhhh . . . ) In addition to asking you to skip over to Hopeful Threads and start using your sewing talents to give back, I’m giving something to you: three chances to win two of my patterns! You have to go read Kristy’s post to find out how to enter: FD Giveaway.
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that He has given you. Deuteronomy 16:17, ESV
This picture warms my heart so much . . . from the shiny new sewing machine to the the happy babies worn close to their mamas to the joy on the faces of the whole family. This family received this sewing machine through Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog. This simple $85 treadle-operated sewing machine can make a huge difference in this family’s ability to make a decent living. Within no time there’s money to purchase food for the children and to send them to school—with new clothes to boot! And, the giver has the joy of knowing that they’ve shared the real meaning of Christmas with a family on the other side of the world.
Have you been over to the Create Hope Designs Store yet? The Create Hope designers have created a selection of lovely pdf sewing patterns that are available for only $5 each. All of the profits made go directly to China Little Flower Orphanage to assist in the wonderful things that they do day in and day out.
My contribution to Create Hope is The Watered with Love Layette Set. This new layette is designed for simple, comfortable dressing in those early newborn days. Included in this pattern are a cotton knit snap-shoulder raglan gown and top in both short and long-sleeves. The long-sleeve version has those great fold-up cuffs that keep baby from scratching himself. (They’re really easy to do! Once you sew one, you just might find yourself adding them to all of your newborn sewing!) The pattern also includes a simple knotted hat. All patterns are sized from newborn through 6-9 months.
The name of this pattern has a really special meaning. I really wanted the name to reflect the selfless way that the caregivers at China Little Flower give to the orphans entrusted to their care. They pour an unbelievable amount of love into those tiny souls. Like beautiful fields of wildflowers are watered with spring showers, these little flowers are watered with their love.
Have you heard about Create H.O.P.E. Designs? The wonderful designers over at Izzy & Ivy are organizing sewists, bloggers, shop owners and designers in an effort to help bring love and comfort to little ones in need on the other side of the world. Four times a year Izzy & Ivy will release a pattern specifically designed for Create H.O.P.E., and 100% of the funds received will go to a different orphan relief organization. How amazing is that?
But it gets better! Other designers are joining in, too! Several are hard at work right now. Each creating a pattern that will only be available at Create H.O.P.E. Designs. You’ll be able to contribute by visiting the website at www.createhopedesigns.com and simply purchasing a pattern. (There’s nothing to buy there yet, but keep watching!)
All of that is so exciting, but what I love most of all, is that the first orphanage chosen to benefit from Create H.O.P.E. is China Little Flower! I know many of my followers and customers know Serena from Notion Supply and the work that she does there well. I have prayed for these little ones and cried tears of joy and sorrow reading her stories.
You can go read even more on Izzy & Ivy’s blog: The Big Reveal. I’m am so honored to get to join with the other designers in creating a new pattern especially for Create H.O.P.E. Designs and China Little Flower. It’s going to be very tiny and very sweet, just like the little ones at China Little Flower who I wish I could snuggle up to and love on in person.
Susan Stewart of Susan Stewart Designs has organized an effort to provide handmade clothing for the children of Joplin, Missouri in time for their first day of school this fall. Susan lives near Joplin and wrote in her newsletter last month, “Thousands of people have lost everything. The summer will pass and the Red Cross will leave. And school will start, somehow, somewhere, because all those schools will not yet be re-built. Do you remember being excited about the start of the school year when you were young? I certainly do! And I always had a new dress for the first day of school. I loved those new first-day-of-school dresses; I think my Dad took a picture of me every year, and for years I remembered what I wore for the first day of each new grade. Now, what do we all do? We sew!” Susan went on to encourage her readers to sew for the children of Joplin, and “Project First Day” was born.
Susan is asking sewists from around the country to sew a dress for a little girl or a top for a little boy in Joplin to brighten their first day of school in August. Susan has also asked that every dress or top include a personal note to the child who receives it to let them know how special they are. The deadline to send your creations to Susan is August 1st, so you have about a month to sew and ship. If you’re not on Susan’s newsletter list and you’d like all the specifics and the shipping address, simply fill out the form that you’ll find on her website’s Contact Page, and she’ll get back to you with all the information that you need.
When I first heard of Susan’s plan, I felt an overwhelming urge to get involved. I emailed her, and we talked back and forth a bit. Many of you know that we have a house full of little boys, and, well, it’s harder to find sewing patterns for little boys than it is for little girls. To help make sure that there are plenty of fun tops for the little boys in Joplin on their first day of school in August, I’m offering the Charlie Tee pattern from my Charlie Tee & Hoodie as a free pdf download through August 1st!
I don’t mind at all if you’d like to use the pattern to sew for your loved ones. I just ask that if you download the pattern, you sew something for Project First Day. We’re doing this on the honor system.
To download the pdf file, just click the picture below:
There are four different ways to sew this tee, so you have a few options: The Basic Tee, The Ringer Tee and The Horizontal and Vertical Colorblocked Tees.
These tees are, of course, sewn with cotton knit or cotton blend knit fabrics. Younger boys would probably be thrilled with fun boyish prints, while older boys will likely prefer stripes or solids. If you’re new to sewing with knits, I highly recommend choosing interlocks over jerseys or ribbed knits because they’re simply easier to sew. For tips on the different types of knits and how to sew them all, check out my Knit Knowledge Series.
If you’d like to shop locally, I primarily purchase my solid interlocks at Joann Fabrics and Hancocks. Joann Fabrics has a nice cotton/poly interlock, and Hancocks carries 100% cotton interlock. You can use these interlocks for the necklines, too. If you prefer using ribbing for the neckline, Joann’s cotton/spandex ribbed knits will give you great results. Joann’s also stocks some really nice print interlocks, but they tend to be more feminine or babyish.
The best place to find print knits for boys is online. These are a few of my favorite shops: The Fabric Fairy, Nature’s Fabrics, A & A’s Fabric Attic, Girl Charlee and Print Knits Studio. (Those names are all clickable and take you directly to the websites.)
One last thing, I put together a quick tutorial for how to use a pdf pattern, in case there are a few of you who haven’t used one before. It’s really easy, I promise! PDF Sewing Pattern Tutorial
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or leave a comment, and I’ll get back with you as soon as possible! Now go sew a tee . . . or a dress . . . and send it off to Joplin so that a little girl or boy will feel a little extra love on the first day of school this fall!