Wedding Making Wonderland

October has long been my favorite month. It holds Halloween, a holiday that makes me giddy. It holds my birthday, an event that seems to be coming much too frequently lately. And this year it holds a special family wedding, that of my brother Alon and his lovely wife to be Jeanette.

Our family weddings have been serious fun and very little stress in the past and this one is shaping up to be much the same. For months my Mama and J have been working on the living favors and centerpieces made from succulents, her dress is being crafted by one of the coolest women I have ever met and I have been adding my own bit with a knit for her and some pants for the boys.


Yes, the boys are pulling their first stint as ring bearers.


I am not sure how they will do, especially because their parents are going to be behind the cameras for this one….but I think at least they are going to look awfully cute.

I realized when I started trolling the net that cute semi-formal clothes for toddlers are very hard to find. Especially if you are looking for dark brown semi-formal pants, not the standard black. I actually never did find anything in the right color (lots of khaki, but no dark brown). So, I decided to see about making up a few pairs with the approval of the bride. J is the most casual of brides, stressed about certain factors but not at all worried about appearances. I located a pattern I have wanted to try for a long time, this one from Oliver + S.

Then I used my 50% off coupon on some nice bottom weight fabric from JoAnn’s and tried my hand at sewing real pants.


I think these have to be the cutest pattern I have sewn to date. I have read many times about Olive + S, every report a positive one. I knew from the minute I held the carefully packaged pattern that this was going to be fun. The sewing instruction is clear and easy to follow, the pattern pieces are easy to identify and it is actually turns out to be a very simple way to sew a great pair of pants. I had a great experience sewing both pairs of pants, you know it is a good pattern when it still feels fun the second time . I initially balked at the price, but now that I own it, I see the value in the investment.

A few notes on modifications. First, I converted the pattern from capri to pant style by extending the leg a few inches on my traced pattern piece. It turned out to create a nice leg width, no too tight, not too 70s bell bottoms.



On sizing, well, I am starting to realize my boys run small. Really small. I made the 24 months pattern and followed the instructions to the letter on the first pair. The back is conveniently elasticized, the measurement called for in the pattern is 9.5 inches of elastic to draw in the waistband. I used 9.5 but ended up ripping out the back seam and pulling almost 2 inches off the back elastic.


For the second pair, I placed a safety pin at each end of the elastic and then pulled the elastic through the casing.

I fit the pants on the boy (Owen this time) prior to sewing the elastic in. It saved a step of ripping and readjusting. I cannot say if the pattern runs big or if it I just that my boys are a bit on the wee side. Maybe a little of both.

The waistband is a super clever idea, the front placket buttons to the sides.





Right now I am waiting on the executive decision by J for owl vs. plain buttons, but otherwise the pants are done. Three weeks before the wedding. Whew. I feel great relief knowing the small details can be done in a few minutes.



Now, off to finish her wedding shawlette and find the boys some cream colored shirts and then I am all signed off. Except for the pictures.

I am so nervous about the pictures. Tell me it will be alright and I will shoot great photos, won’t you, dear friends? Here is a little peek at her dress fitting last week, made by her awesome friend Ramona.

Raw silk and handmade love, there is no better way to walk down the aisle.

I am excited about the bachelorette party this weekend, seaside with good friends. Yippee. Don't expect any shenanigans pictures, J is waay too low key for that. Or is she? Hmmmmm.

And for those that might be interested, total cost on the pants is 30 dollars, 20 for the pattern with shipping, 10 on the fabric with coupon (2 yds@5 bucks a yard). And about two hours per pair of pants sewing time. Not bad considering pants on JCP online shop were 25 a pop). (And the pattern just keeps on giving).