Our actual time spent on the beach was fantastic, though. Teething, cranky, Caroline was happy just sitting playing with (and tasting) the sand. For hours. Charly had a little friend to build and run and collect shells with, and I got to watch the delight on my sweet babies faces as they soaked up the magic of the ocean. There's something pretty fantastic about re-experiencing things with kids. Suddenly all the sand in every nook and cranny is totally worth it.
Also, I got pictures of this bonnet I made for Kid's Clothes Week. I whipped it up on Thursday, the night before we left, when I remembered that Caroline's sun hat didn't fit on her head anymore. Her bald head needs the coverage, but big brims make her crazy, so I drafted this small brim to add to the Storybook Woods Baby Bonnet pattern that I've used twice before (here and here). I also changed the shape of the bonnet around the chin and cheeks a bit to keep it out of her face more. Since I didn't think of it until after she'd gone to bed, I didn't get an accurate measurement and subsequently it is just about too small. I actually tried to go in and gently measure her head while she slept, but her eyes shot wide open and I ran out. Nothing, I mean NOTHING (save a safety concern) is worth waking Caroline for.
The bonnet is fully reversible, so it can easily match both her bathing suits. You know, because I think about those sorts of things. I'm ridiculous. The red flower fabric is from a thrifted, handmade kimono style robe that I bought specifically for refashioning. The cream is a linen with silver metallic threads woven in. In person it is absolutely splendid. I've been saving a small remnant of it for a while and was happy to use it finally. I also reused the inside ties to make the ties for the bonnet, which made this project that much quicker.
Caroline tolerates the bonnet, which is about as much as I can hope for. Well, she did tolerate the bonnet, except the morning we took these pictures both girls were in rare form. This is Charly and I as Matt gets the settings right on the camera. She pretty much had that look on her face most of the morning.
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| Sporting almost entirely handmade in this pic, except for Charly's swim suit!! |
On that note...
Things I loved:
- quick and easy to sew, tracing the pattern to finished piece in one evening
- and only two pattern pieces (three with my additional brim)
- that linen. mmmm.
Things I changed:
- drafted a narrow brim
- tapered the cheek section to a point, rather than keeping the rounded corners
Things I'll change, next time:
- remove some fullness from the crown. It always seems a bit too big in that area
- actually measure my kid's head :) has anyone noticed that theme around here?
Notions and fabric:
- thrifted red flower cotton
- natural colored linen with metallic threads woven in from JoAnn years ago
I'd really like to explore this sun bonnet idea more- perhaps altering the pattern, or making my own to fit a little better and give more options. Like how about one made of swim fabric? Ooh, now I'm thinking!
That wraps up another successful Kid's Clothes week! I'm happy with all I was able to accomplish, and always happy for the little kick in the pants that it gives me.
Oh, and one last thing. I couldn't leave without a matchy matchy picture of the little miss and I in our matching Prefontaines! (see them here and here)
