This is our final installment for the Fall 2010 Kids’ Clothes Week Challenge led by Meg of elsiemarley.com.  We’ll be back to our regular posting schedule on September 27.

Wendy’s Update

Jo’s Day Six hat reminded me that certain members of my household were also in need of some cold-weather hats.  I don’t know what it is about children and hats, but they never seem to remain on speaking terms for very long.  The hat whispers some little remark into the child’s ear about a mitten or shoelace, and finds itself unceremoniously tossed to the gravel of the playground where it is ultimately buried and doesn’t see the light of day until spring cleaning begins, if ever.  More than one hat has left our employ in such a manner, whether plain or lovely, store-bought or hand-sewn.  I decided several weeks ago, therefore, to stock up by making several easy hats.  Something between a chullo and an ushanka made from an old pair of sweatpants (or whatever warmish material I could get my hands on that did not involve a retail transaction). So, this evening, I spent my final Challenge hour rounding up and laundering suitable material and drafting a hat pattern that, when realized, may make my child look like Dumbo.  I did not actually put my foot to the treadle tonight, and if the truth was told, I may have abandoned my drafting at the 45-minute mark.

I think I speak for both of us when I say that I am relieved to see the end of this challenge. While I am glad that we participated and feel pleased with my progress, I’m also happy that I don’t have to try to find a way to fit in an hour of sewing on Monday evening.  I didn’t finish everything I’d hoped to, but I gained a lot of unexpected insight and feel that on balance the experiment was a success. Even so, I don’t know that I will sign on for a similar challenge in the future, at least not if I’m starting from absolute zero with no projects in progress.

Jo’s Update
Eight diapers, three dresses, one skirt, and two hats later… I also spent my last hour in Hat Land – making a similar (but not matchy matchy) hat for Skeeter.  Photos to follow, maybe tomorrow.  It’s an easy hat to make, large hook, big yarn, no real brain commitment required.  I should write out the pattern, but I spent the day with my daughters at an outdoor festival, so by the time I got them home, fed, bathed, and tucked in, I was pretty wiped out.

I completely agree with Wendy’s summary of the challenge.  It was easier than I thought to find an hour a night to sew, but I can definitely see the effects on my routine after a week.  I’ll spend next week getting caught up, then I might try adding an hour or two a week of projects back into my rotation.  Who knows, maybe by the Spring Challenge, my kids will be, you know, sleeping more.