Piece #1: A preppy windbreaker. When you ask any of the well-trained student tour guides at Annie's college what's the thing they dislike most about the college, they all hesitate for a timed beat and then reply "Oh, it gets pretty windy here sometimes, but other than that I can't think of anything I don't like about it." So I made her a windbreaker.
My baby girl leaves for college in just a few days, and I guess I'm dealing with it fairly well, though my eyes are getting a little watery as I write this. Annie has been preparing Bob and me for her departure all summer long—she's never at home except to sleep. Still, we're all a little on edge right now, and I am vividly remembering the days before I left for college: I was nervous and scared and anything my parents or sisters said or did set me off yelling or crying. Annie is a cool cucumber kind of girl, but I can sense that she's feeling jittery.
But we'll all be okay. Move-in Day at her college will go just fine, and our little family will adjust. And there are always fall clothes to be made….
Windbreaker sewing details:- I used a vintage Vogue pattern (isn't 2001 a little recent to be considered vintage?) that I bought online from Lanetz Living. UPDATE: The pattern is Vogue 2659 Five Easy Pieces from 2002.
- I added in-seam side pockets because how can you have a windreaker without pockets? I also sewed an interior pocket for Annie's Blackberry. I made the sleeves longer so they could be turned up and show the lining.
- The fabric is a water-resistant, medium-weight cotton I bought for $2 or $1 a yard from a FabricMart closeout (online). I loved working with this fabric and am so happy I bought enough to make a pea coat from the BurdaStyle 01/09 issue for me.
- The lining is a medium-weight cotton plaid I bought at Mood. It has enough substance to it to make this windbreaker perfect to wear while watching a football game on a chilly fall Saturday afternoon. (Annie is sorely lacking in the outerwear department, having mostly relied on sweatshirt hoodies to keep her warm in high school.)
- I installed a plastic separating sport zipper so that the teeth are exposed. This has become my new favorite way to install sportswear zippers, because it's so easy: Turn under the seam allowance, press, then pin so the folded edge meets the outside edge of the zipper teeth. Stitch, one side at a time, using a zipper foot so you can sew right at the point where the folded edge meets the zipper edge.
- This jacket looks like an adult version of the Ralph Lauren windbreakers I used to dress David in when he was little. But Annie likes it.
Piece #2: Flannel dorm pants in Annie's college colors. She already wore these pants for TV-watching with the boyfriend, so that means they were a big winner. Because everyone knows you gotta look cute for the BF.
I sewed these flannel pants in an evening using a basic pajama trousers pattern that I bought for $2.99. The only change I made was to have the waistband fall at the hip rather than the waist, and to use elastic that was two inches wide. It looks like the ribbon is what's keeping the pants up but that was purely a decorative touch: I stitched two pieces of ribbon on top of the front elastic and then pulled the ends through two buttonholes I made at the center front and tied them in a square knot. I bought the flannel online from Flannelworld and it is the softest, most luxurious flannel I have ever worked with. No comparison with the flannel you buy at the big box stores. (Note: Annie's pose in the photo makes it look like the crotch is too low but it's actually not.)
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My sewing machine is getting a tune-up and I need to take a break from sewing and blogging to recharge my batteries and get Annie off to college. I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and thanks for being such dear readers. Back soon!
36 comments:
Those are two great pieces! I'm sure that Annie will enjoy both of them. And as you say, you all will be fine...definitely will be fine! Take it from one who's been there and done.
Lindsay, you are the best mom ever, can I tell ya? That windbreaker is fantastic and the flannel bottoms are so adorable, I'm heading over to flannelworld.com so I can make myself a pair. (thanks for the tip!)
What you're going thru IS tough for you and for your DD, but how's your little eagle gonna fly if she stays in the nest? It's going to be okay. You'll see. :) And it's so nice that you like her so much. I'm not sure my mom would have said that about me at 18… but we're SUPER close now.
Cute!
I love the jacket. I've been looking for a basic spring/fall jacket like this. Can you please share the pattern number? I've only seen patterns for fleece type jackets or a raincoat/windbreaker from Jalie.
Great job on all the sewing for Annie. Taking them to colleg is so hard, I will be thinking of you. My hubby said I got dehydrated because I cried so much!:)
I'm at work now and don't have access to my patterns, but I do remember the windbreaker pattern was a Vogue 5 Easy Pieces pattern from the early 2000s. I'll check when I get home.
I love the windbreaker! I'm sure Annie does, too. The ribbon is the perfect touch on the dorm pants.
Everyone says you will adjust to your daughter leaving the nest, and you will. But that doesn't make it any easier to endure. {{{Cyber hugs}}} to you and your entire family.
Great pieces for Annie. Of course you'll survive but it's not easy. I am glad you mentioned flannel world because I wanted flannel to line a denim jacket and didn't really look for any on Monday.
Lindsay, I'm impressed! This gives me ideas about what my nieces (considerably younger than Annie) like in the future. Plaid, plaid, plaid! Annie's gonna love having mom's jacket on...it'll be like the hug that never stops.
LOVE those contrast cuffs. That's a great looking windbreaker :-)
What a lucky kid! The two pieces are so cute. I have an old windbreaker Butterick pattern from the 60's that I'm inspired to make up now. And of course the pants. Love those too.
Cute preppy stuff! I'm having a hard time sending DS off to grade school... can't even imagine college. I hope you and Annie have a good start at your new life!
Great stuff! She'll be stylin'.
What a lucky girl your daughter is. The windbreaker is gorgeous! The flannel bottoms look so comfy. I'm sure she'll get a lot of wear out of both pieces. I wish you peace and harmony during this exciting and difficult time.
Love the jacket - perfect for school! Good luck to all of you - I know everyone will be just fine.
Two great garments to have. I'd love to have that windbreaker. Lol I know it's hard to let your baby go, but she's off to a new beginning. Congratulations to your family and God bless.
C
Both pieces look wonderful!
Seeing our kids go is so hard, but it is also a wonderful new stage in life for all of you too.All the best to you and your daughter.
So adorable! I love that windbreaker so much I think I need one for myself. This pattern is similar to the one I used a few months ago.
I had to laugh at your faux ribbon drawstring as I've used that trick many times myself! Thank you for the link to flannelworld.com. I love flannel but that cheap stuff at JoAnn's is horrible.
Stay strong and stock up on Kleenex - that first week they are gone is a killer.
And I adore Annie's madras shorts - did you make them?
Both pieces are adorable and you know will get worn a lot. Hope the next few days go as best as they can for you (I'm sure Annie will be just fine!) - it will be the holidays before you know it.
Great pieces. This is a huge adventure for both of you. At least your daughter is in the same country. Mine is not coming home until 2 January!! I miss her so much.
Both pieced are really cute. Good luck with move in day I hope you all survive. :^)
Nice! Great jacket and pj pants. And thanks for the tip on flannelworld. Just what I need for some Christmas pj's I plan tp sew before the holiday season begins.
My heart goes out to you and Annie and your whole family. This is a big transition and I remember that time vividly. You've done your job well, and she is ready to lift off the runway now.
Lindsay, I love the pieces you made for Annie (love all the pieces you make. Any great Mom always worries for her children. I hope the parting is not to traumatic but it will make her coming home even sweeter if that is possible. Good luck to Annie!
I've always felt the day our youngest went off to college was much harder than the day she entered first grade and got on the big yellow bus. Best wishes to Annie and great job on the clothing. Enjoy your hiatus.
The windbreaker will get a lot of wear. As will the PJ pants, especially after passing the boyfriend test! Good luck to your daughter in this new phase of her life--and yours!
Very classic pieces for college! Very cute!
Those are both awesome and so perfect for college. Can I ask what pajama pant pattern you used? I've now tried two, neither of which are exactly what I'm looking for though. Annie's, however, look perfect. :)
What a great jacket. She can wrap it around herself and think of you.
My daughter went away to college last summer. Oh my!!
Good luck.
Vicki
Amber, of course I can't find that pajama pants pattern now. But I think all the pajama pants patterns are alike; I had to customize this pattern to get them to be close to anything Annie would wear. One, the legs are too wide so I took them in at the side seams by about an inch after trying them first on Annie. Two, use really wide elastic and turn the waistband down so it falls around the hip or high hip. Add a wide preppy ribbon et voila! --Lindsay T
You certainly make sure she will be very comfortable in her new environment. Take care, you'll be fine, though I do understand it will be not the easiest of times.
Oh Orange and Blue preppiness! Hmmmm....the dress code appears not to have strayed too far in the last 30 year!!!! Yikes - I must be referring to when my grandmother graduated!!!! HA!
Fantastic windbreaker! I love the lining touches. She is going to have fun (and hopefully miss you a little bit).
cute, cute, cute and very appropriate. My son is away at college, and even though he is only an hour away, I miss him terribly. It makes the times he comes home even sweeter.
Great pieces. Love the windbreaker - it looks so professional, and is quite cute while being perfectly practical.
Good luck during this time of transition!
Excellent jacket and pj pants - good luck with it all!!!
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