The Coolest Fabric For Summer - Solar Changing Knit!

Summer is nearly here and that means it's time to sew up some fabulous summer goodies. I've got a lot on my to-make list, but this fabric is definitely up first.  It's the coolest thing - Solar Changing Knit Prints!!

At first my husband thought it was coloring fabric when I showed it to him, but then he was wowed when he saw this plain black & white jersey knit go from this....

to this in the sunshine!!!

Plain black & white zebras...

Becomes fun yellow fabric with grey palm trees.  I think this one would make a great sleeveless baby romper.

This basic sailboat print....

Reveals blue waves, clouds and bright yellow suns.  I feel like it's the ultimate summer fabric!

I haven't bought new knits in a while (my stash of unused knit fabric is already ridiculous), but I knew I had to buy these during a Memorial Day sale.  I LOVE how vibrant they get. Sometimes you need something new to get excited about and motivate to make, you know?

The color change is so instantaneous too I could barely grab a snap of this zebra print quickly unfolded to show before & after at the same time.  

I bought them over at Frollein S, one of my favorite sources for knit fabric.  I've purchased a number of other fabulous Euro knits there in the past and always been satisfied.  Like this adorable mama & baby squirrel panel and matching stripe I made into a baby outfit here:

And this cool magic soft-shell fabric that I made into a jacket for my daughter that she's worn for 2 years now and it's still going strong!

That fabric has a hidden design too, but it gets revealed when the fabric gets wet:

Frollein S has a nice selection of the solar changing prints that would work well for all ages -  a few are on heather grey fabric too.  The care directions are to wash warm, no fabric softener and line dry out of the sun to retain the color changing magic.

Like most specialty knit fabrics, especially the European ones, it's not inexpensive, but I bought half yard & fat half cuts so I can still make a number of things like shorts for my 9 yr old and shorts, bibs and a romper for my 1 yr old with them and not break the bank. And it's so different from anything else, it's worth spending a little more.  They're also nice & wide (63 inches), so I might even be able to squeeze out a pair of shorts from the flowers print for myself too!

I'm having to wait a little while to get going with these though, since my baby guy has an unpleasant secondary infection from several back-to-back colds at the moment.  All the various meds & breathing treatments mean this mommy needs to play nurse more than sew for now.  When he's on the mend, I can't wait to make him some great things to wear for summer.  

What would you make with these fabrics?? 

Sewing for Baby with Euro Knit Fabric

Maybe I'm alone thinking this, but I'm beyond bored with all the blah hipster looking baby/kids clothes most US retail stores are all showing these days.  They all look drab and same-y and are crazy high priced for what you get.  Why would I want my 6 month old to dress the same as a 28yr old barista from Portland?!?  A baby should look like a baby! Clothes for littles should be cute & fun!  Apart from shopping exclusively at Carter's or going broke at Boden or Hanna Andersson (who is drabbing out too IMO), the only other option is to find better fabrics and make my own stuff, so here I am.  

I bought this fabric as a special order last fall from Frollein S and whipped up some comfy fun separates for my little guy.  It's a euro knit from Mamaliebchen called Mia & Max.  I just loved the mama & baby squirrel cameo on it.  It was bit too big to use when he was a newborn, but now it's ideally sized. Even when it comes to fabric options, there are SO many more cute prints available from European fabric manufacturers!  

I bought a panel & a fat half of the coordinating stripe in both the mint & rose color ways. Euro knits tends to be really wide so small cuts go a long way, which makes them more economical (as full yards can get pricey!).  The panel was 18 inches high by 60 inches wide, so the fat half of the stripe coordinate was a generous 30 inches wide by 36 inches high. Enough for several items for a baby and at least a nice long sleeved top for a big kid.

The best bit was this wasn't just a panel with one big design - it had cute branches & squirrels running the full width:

I'd been hoarding them for just the right projects and since we're in fall right now, I figured I'd better get on it or have to wait another year to use 'em.  I still have to do a top with the rose for my daughter, but the mint has been worn several times now and we love it.  I feel like I went uber European on it since it was German fabric, German thread and used a Scandinavian pattern;)

I decided to make a sweet pull-on top & pants outfit for my little guy.  The top pattern was the Pinaatti T-shirt from the 1/2010 issue of Ottobre Design.  I did the 74cm size for my 6 month old.  It's a roomy fit shirt with fold over cuffs, so it'll last for a good while.

The shirt has a fun back side as well:

Since the branches ran the width of the panel cut, it gave more visual interest than the usual back of a shirt:

I love the cute extra details like this little ladybug:

The harem pants are a pattern I made from studying a pair of baby pants I'd bought before my little guy was born.  I've used this pattern many times already and it's a super quick sew that gives lots of room so it fits for ages.  A few slightly smaller pairs I've already made have lasted from birth to now as far as fit.  I might make it into a pdf pattern and offer it in my shop since it's beginner friendly and doesn't require a serger.  Using rib knit for the fold-over waistband and cuffs gives an easy pull-on style that also grows with baby.  I'll just unfold the waist and cuffs as he sprouts more inches.  I slightly enlarged my original design, so these should fit for another 6 months+.  

Babies grow so fast and free time is so scarce for me these days that I feel that any baby clothes I make have to be able to get more than a measly 2-3 months wear.  This little outfit should last for at least double that, so I'm thrilled.   I'm definitely going to use both patterns again to make more fashion goodies.   And since the fabric cuts were so nice & wide, I've still got plenty of the mint fabric left over for another little top or a few accessories like hat & bib or burp cloth.  



I'll have to do a bit of blocking to make a matching rose top for my 9yr old with the same amount of fabric (since an 18in high panel is a little short for her) but I'm confident it'll work out well....once I get some extra time that is!

Making A Magic Softshell Jacket

Can a jacket be magical?  After this project I can honestly say, absolutely!  For my daughter's birthday I decided to make her a new jacket to wear as the weather cools down. I wanted something she could wear in fall, spring & summer and maybe even on a few warmer winter days.  Something lightweight, but protective from the elements.  So I made this little number:

By using softshell fabric it's both wind and water repellant to keep her warm and dry.  If you're not familiar with softshell, it's a polyester that is a smooth woven on the outside (to keep the elements out) and napped on the inside for lightweight heat insulation.  It's also very breathable and has just a hint of stretch.  Perfect for outerwear.  Nice & practical, right?

But it has a hidden secret that gets revealed when the jacket gets wet:

These galloping ponies appear!

It adds a layer of awesomeness to an otherwise basic jacket:

Getting caught in the rain has never been more fun:



The great thing about using softshell fabric is no lining is required.  Just be sure to use clips when stitching, not pins, since pinholes will be visible (much like with PUL or laminate).  It has a cozy brushed fleece wrong side, which makes for both any easy sew and a comfy, bulk-free feel for the littler wearer.



I bought this awesome fabric as an imported pre-order from Frollein S, a custom fabric group that also has a retail site.  I shared a bit about How To Shop Custom Fabric Groups a few weeks back here.  They have some regular print soft shells and a couple of the magic reveal prints left on their retail site here right now.  



The pattern I used is an old one from the 80s my mom gave me from her stash, McCalls 2967.  I did make a few adjustments though.  First was making it about 4 inches shorter - the original design was mid-thigh length which looked odd.  I also used FOE to gather the sleeve cuffs instead of leaving them wide.  I liked how the grey trim coordinated with my grey zipper and the snugger fit would keep wind and rain out of her sleeves.

I also had to size down the patch pockets to fit the shorter front and did a little FOE trim at the tops to make everything match-y like a store bought jacket would be.

Except I haven't seen any jackets in stores that make sweet ponies appear in the rain, like ours does:

This was my first experience working with softshell and I'm looking forward to making more things with the other magic reveal prints I bought.  I just need to find the ideal jacket pattern for my 11yr old and one for myself.  And figure out what to do with the cool scrap bits I have left over - they're too awesome to just toss in the bin!  

What would you make with softshell fabric?