Recipe: Kale and Veggie Saute

Heat in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat:
2 T fat (leftover animal fat, butter, or coconut oil)


Add, then saute until translucent:
1 onion


Add, then saute until slightly softer:
4 carrots, chopped
bunch beets, diced

Add, then cover until wilted (about 2 minutes):
1 bunch kale, chopped (dino kale is my favorite, although they are all delicious and nutritious. You could also use chard or spinach)
1/2 qt. bone broth


Remove lid.  Add:
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated turmeric or 1 t. dried turmeric, optional
1/2 cup peas, fresh or frozen, optional
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Enjoy!


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Kids' Activity Idea: Purim Grogger DIY

 

Happy Purim!

We've been reading about Sammy Spider's First Purim (thanks, PJ Library!), and the not-so-little guy took it upon himself to copy Josh in the book and make himself a grogger (noisemaker) for Purim.

To do this, he took a piece of paper, though in the book they take a paper plate.  Then he found a stick ~ an empty paper towel roll.  He attached the paper around the stick with some tape, then closed the end with tape. He took a handful of buttons and put them inside, then stapled it shut.  I tried to convince him to use rocks, but they use buttons in the book, so buttons it was. Make sure those staples go all the way around to keep the buttons inside. Then he decorated it with stickers.


Then it's time to shake it!  

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Pattern Review: The Luka Hoodie from Sewing for Boys Book

I have been LOVING Sewing for Boys, the book.  My favorite so far has been the Treasure Pocket Pants, although I have also made the Henry Shirt and Just Like Dad Flannel Robe.  The Patterns by Figgy's Gals wrote the book, and I have also tried their Dapper Dillinger trousers (here again).

So here is the Luka Hoodie.  It is called an advanced pattern, and I think it was a bit easier than that.  Although sewing the inside and outside together was a bit confusing at the end.  It is nice how the seams are hidden, though.

I had a few issues.  For one, the pieces aren't marked fabulously.  In the book photos, the main pocket is made of the contrast fabric.  But on the pattern piece it says to cut a piece out of the main fabric and in the directions it says to stitch the secret pocket to the main pocket piece.  Doing these things makes the exterior of the pocket the main fabric and the interior the contrast (the sleeve fabric).  When I made it, I thought I messed up and cut the semi-circle on the wrong color, but in reviewing it after the fact, I think I followed the directions but I think they led me astray from what I thought I was making it look like.

In that same set of directions, I found an error (#5 in the construct the secret pocket section): they say to sew wrong sides together, but I needed to do it with right sides together.

Also, the sleeves were asymmetrical.  Attaching them took a bit of thinking (maybe that is why it was advanced), because somehow I only ended up with pattern markings on the sleeve pieces and not the body pieces.  I used white microfleece on the inside, which didn't help (it is hard to tell front from back of the fabric).  To make sure I had chosen the front and back of the sleeve properly, I ended up laying it all out on the desk to visualize the completed piece.  That worked for me.  

It is also confusing that the photos of the finished piece in the book have the contrast and main colors swapped in a few places (they are different in the directions; for example, the secret pocket flap is in both colors in the photo but only in one color in the directions).  I added a layer of lightweight interfacing to this flap, too, and it worked well for me.  The secret pocket is a hit with my little audience, too.

I had to look up how to make fabric covered buttons, even though they mention they are nice in the book (but not how to do them).  I didn't end up doing it because I didn't have the supplies readily available at home.  I think the wooden buttons look fine.  I saw one blog review where she had added fabric behind the buttons to keep a draft out, and I wish I had known how to do that.

I found another error in the directions here: in creating the button loops, they keep telling you to put them on the right top panel but the photos and drawings all show these on the top left panel.  

Also in this section, they have you leave an inch unstitched at the bottom.  It is unclear why, and later, I found it to have no benefit, and I had to topstitch that area later.  Maybe it was left open so I could attach the buttons while hiding the threads inside?

I added diagonal topstitching on the big pocket and like how it looks.

For sizing, my guy has been fitting into the 2/3 size, although he wears a 4 or 5T regularly.  I was surprised that the sizing of this hoodie is a bit smaller than the other pieces in the book.  I couldn't roll the sleeves on him, and it pulls a bit around his shoulders and is a bit tight in the forearms.  The hood is a little snug around his face.  It is a bit wide and short, but that didn't surpirse me since the Henry Shirt for the same way.  I think he'd fit better in the 4/5.

I think all I need to do now is make zebra pants, with a tail of the contrast fabric, and he'd blend right in!

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Kids' Cooking Idea: Pizza

There are so many ways to make pizza... but maybe that is why it is so well-liked?

One way we make ours is to buy the dough pre-made from Trader Joe's (the herb dough).  Then we put it on parchment paper and squish it out either with our hands or through another piece of parchment paper (pounding it with fists).

Then we use their pizza sauce and the organic shredded mozzarella.  Then the little guy chooses what goes on top.  Yesterday he went into the garden and chose some ingredients (a mint leaf, cabbage leaf, and asparagus). Then we added some from the fridge: spinach and yogurt cheese.  Then he sprinkled more shredded cheese on top, and this is our creation.

You could really do anything on them.  We used to make them with leftover veggies and meat between the sauce and cheese.  But (AH HAH!) we found that letting the little guy choose the toppings made him like them more.

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Tutorial: Onesie to T Shirt with No-Sew Option

Sometimes, a baby can't use a onesie (like if you are doing EC and want easy access and not to have a wet shirt for every "miss").  But if you are like me, everyone gives you onesies. Use them!

Here is an easy solution: make those onesies into t-shirts.

Step 1: Cut the bottom, right above where it tapers in.  You can stop here and call it a day (this is the no-sew option).

Onesies are generally made of stretch cotton and won't fray.

Step 2: If you want to make the edge look more finished, roll it under then roll it under again (hiding the first roll under the second).  Then stitch once, from the front of the garment.

Start on the outermost edge, so you make sure and catch the whole underside rolled part in the seam.

Try not to stretch the fabric as you sew~ the more you stretch, the less flat it will lay.  You can stop here and call it a day.

Step 3: If you want to mimic a professional serged seam, go around again, this time close to the bottom edge.  Adding this second row of stitching makes it look cleaner.

Viola!  You are finished.

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Pattern Review: just-like-dad flannel robe from Sewing for Boys

Overall, I have been liking the patterns in Sewing for Boys.  This one was no exception. I did, however, get a bit bored during the construction, but I should have expected this, as it was labeled "beginner."  I also didn't learn any new techniques for the first time with one of the Patterns by Figgy's (the gals wrote this book), but maybe the "beginner" tag should have cued me into this.

I think I got bored in part because it is such a large garment.  One of the reasons I like sewing for babies/ kids is because the items are small.  That way, I can see the whole thing on my desk and they are easier to visualize and quicker to complete.  They also take less fabric, so aren't necessarily more expensive than buying the same item!

The just-like-dad flannel robe also uses one of my least favorite/ hated techniques.  It has you pull the entire garment out the sleeve.  I agree that this makes the outer seams look better, but it is still annoying to do.  The instructions have you do the same thing to make the belt, and I skipped this, opting to use my iron to fold each edge in, then pin it and topstitch to close the whole thing.  I just couldn't bear the thought of turning that entire long belt out one tiny end.

You can also see that my flannel stash is running a bit low.  This is a fully lined robe~ basically two flannel robes sewn together to make one.  I ended up barely having enough for the outside to be all one fabric.  I used three fabrics for the inside (and breathed a sigh of relief when I discovered at least both sleeves could be in the same fabric!).

In the directions, I wish they would have copy-read the pattern a bit better (same critique I had for their Dapper Dillinger pants).  They skipped sewing the front pieces A and B together, which left me scrambling a bit when I got to the part where you sew the front to back.  Now that I am done, I would have liked to topstitch this, but it's a bit late.

They also give the option of adding patch pockets, but don't mention it until the end.  I would have liked a mention of this option in the fabric cutting part, so I could have prepped the pattern and fabric pieces.  But I suppose their assumption is that people will read the directions in full before they begin.  Um.  Yeah, that's not my habit.  I get confused when I read the directions and am not actually doing it, especially when there is a lot of lingo (like the pattern piece names).

I also would have liked to add this patch pocket and the belt carriers onto the outside piece before putting the front and back together.  I like hiding as many seams as possible, and this would have accomplished this.

The sizing is fine- like all the other patterns in the book, it runs big. I made a size 2/3 for my size 4 guy.  The shoulders hit just right and the arms are long enough to roll up the sleeves.  The length is a bit shorter than on daddy's robe, but works fine as an old school smoking jacket rather than a bathrobe (read: it needs to be worn with pants).

All this being said, this is adorable.  It was easy to make, and the topstitching makes it look sharp.  If I make this again, I would probably use sherpa or toweling for one of the layers, since we will probably use this as a swimming robe.  Why?  Because that's what daddy uses his for.

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Baby and Avocado and Green Smoothie and Apple

Here he is, at 8.5 months old, with a sippy cup full of green smoothie (similar to this but with banana and stock and mint instead of yogurt) that  he can't quite figure out how to get out.  That apple has been munched on whole, and the avocado was eaten before I could get the camera out.  

We are on to the food as a toy course here.

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Dapper Dillinger Trousers, Smaller

I made the Dapper Dillinger Trousers again, because the first time they were way too big.  These are also a bit (okay, a lot) wide, and a bit saggy in the waist.















I do like them, though~ we find baggy pants easy to move in... although these really may be a bit too wide.





The little guy likes them, but not as much as his Treasure Pocket Pants.  He has a thing for pockets.









I found these a bit hard to line up in front (you can see this in the photo with the shirt lifted).  It is minor, but they aren't completely square where the flat part meets the elasticized part.














He also likes the contrast lining.

I found the pattern a bit annoying again because it hadn't been copy edited.  Other than that, it was fine.  I don't love these, though.  They were a bit too much work for not looking fabulous.

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Starting Seeds Inside

As soon as the weather turned, my budding farmer has been asking to plant seeds.  So we started working the soil in the veggie boxes, and he started asking some more.  Then we went to Home Depot for a compost infusion, and I finally gave in and we got some seeds and some real "seed starting soil."





After he carried around his "compost bag" for a few days, we did the deed.

Here is our tray of seeds.  We decided the most gentle way of watering them would be with the sippy cup without the stopper inside, so here they are, getting a "soaking."






Oh, and someone else needs water, too...

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Pattern Review: The Henry Shirt from Sewing for Boys

This is the Henry Shirt from Sewing for Boys, a book from Figueroa and LePage.  It is the second thing I have made from the book, the first being the fabulous Treasure Pocket Pants.

Sadly, I am a bit disappointed in this shirt.  I made it, then looked online at other blog reviews of it, and it seems I am not the only one with the following complaints:

1. too wide
2. too short (someone else added 2". smart move.  I think I need even 4" or 5" more.)
3. flares out a bit in the back (I agree with another blogger that a 1" pleat may be too wide on a 2/3T shirt) 

I also had these issues:

1. My closure strip wasn't the same length as the shirt fronts, so when I went to hem the shirt I only had a little bit to tuck under there
2. My side pockets ended up a bit low (my fault perhaps), so when I hemmed the shirt, they were flush with the bottom of the shirt instead of with a bit of space like in the photos.
3. My collar contrast piece was a little smaller than the main piece.  When I put the two together to sew the side seams, I had to cut about a quarter inch off on each side.  As a result, the collar is a bit small. I don't think it is all that noticeable, but it could look better.  

When I presented my handiwork to my husband and child, they did not notice the amazing things about this shirt:

1. The collar seams are totally hidden - the yoke and collar take care of all of the upper seams and they are amazingly and fabulously gone.  Cutting them on the bias gave me just enough give to make it all match up.  I did, however, need to sew both yoke pieces on with the yoke up, not down (as recommended), to see what I was doing.
2. It is adorable. The 3.5 length (as is recommended in the book for edgestitching and topstitching) looks really good.  Also, I pressed this item constantly as I made it, and you can tell.  

They only noticed its flaws:

1. Pockets are too small to be useful (too short for hands and too wide to hold anything securely)
2. Fabric I chose was a pattern with a pattern, and each would have stood out better against a solid (point taken, but I liked the colors together)
3. "White thread isn't my favorite color."

All in all, I am glad to have made this shirt.  I am, however, not going to take a second pass at it in the near future.  Or, rather, if I do, I will modify the pattern by:

1.  lengthening the body
2. narrowing the pleat
3. lengthening the sleeves (only slightly- maybe an inch)
4. making sure the collar contrast piece is big enough
5. making the pockets taller
6. If I could figure out a way to make the side pieces narrower, I would, but they are too tied in to the sleeves for me to want to try ~ the whole thing would get wonky.  
7. Another idea for the pockets would be to add some medium-weight interfacing to the middle of the pocket (an inch above and below the folded part only) to make sure it holds its body (like the In-Style Suitcase Bag pockets use).

Even having said all of this, I am loving my new book and excited to make something else.

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