things I whipped up today (on a whim)

Today I decided to make donuts...from scratch. Jeff and I have been craving donuts from the Dutch Country Farmer's Market across the street from our house but they are only open three days a week. Which equaled out to no days a week because of the snow storm. We were sad just thinking about their yummy goodness and then I got a little fiesty. What have those Amish girls got that I haven't? Nothing, that's what! Well, okay, plain clothes and severe hairdo but other than that...nothing! So I printed a recipe from AllRecipes.com, got Sam in position to help and mixed the dough. According to the neighbors (my guinea pigs) they turned out great. Sam couldn't stop signing "More? More?" and I had a hard time not cramming my face full too.  

[caption id="attachment_458" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Time to make the donuts!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_459" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Yum!"][/caption]

While the donuts were frying and Sam and Jeff were having an out-of-house playdate, I decided that that moment was the perfect time to make a pair of pants for Sam. (I like to multi-task.) All this month Dana at Made and Rae at Made by Rae have been hosting "Celebrate the Boy," a collection of patterns and ideas made specifically for boys. Let's face it, there are plenty of cute patterns out there for girls but when it comes to boys, a lot of crafty moms are left to their own devices. I've been feeling so inspired by these ideas! When Dana posted a picture of these cute pirate pants (much too small for my boy, alas) I decided that I wanted to make a pair for Sam. When I saw the perfect orange and yellow giraffe recieving blanket at Goodwill, I knew I'd found my fabric. Using a pair of Sam's pajama pants, I made a pattern and cut the pieces. I had juuuuust enough fabric, whew. I admit that when it came to the butt spacer, I had to wing it. I've never sewn a pair of pants before and there was no spacer pattern in Sam's pajamas. All in all though, I think they came out well:    

[caption id="attachment_453" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Before"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_454" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="After!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_455" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Spacer (makes extra room for a diaper)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_456" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Double stitching on the hem"][/caption]

 These pants would have been really easy to make if I had not insisted on serging all the hems. My serger did not like the knit material so I took a 45 minute time out, trying to get it rethreaded the right way so that it would behave. I eventually won but we are not on speaking terms. If you are not crazy like me, these pants will take you maybe 90 minutes to make from start (pattern-making) to finish. Maybe even less if you're a more accomplished sewer than me!

PS~ Like a fool, I only saw the "Make Your Own Pattern Tutorial" at the bottom of the giveaway entry right now. Maybe that would have given me some pointers regarding the spacer! Oh well, next time.