Duds for Dudes! Featuring Mabel Madison Fabrics

It's no secret that I love sewing for my boy child - he gets super excited every time I make something new for him, and wears his handmades proudly.  As an added bonus, I've got a 2-year-old nephew who gets equally excited about the hand-me-downs. AND, that nephew has a little brother on the way, so the boy clothes are getting a lot of love in our family these days. That's pretty good incentive to make sure I use quality fabrics that will withstand a lot of wear and activity.

I've been a fan of Mabel Madison fabrics since I discovered them last year, and their selection of Euro designer (and assorted US designers more recently) fabrics is worth the expense. To be honest, if you've ever ordered a yard of custom knit, you've likely spent more on fabric already. I find myself using the Stenzo knit stars pretty frequently as coordinates for my little guy's clothes, and I really love some of the other knit prints for myself - MM has a great variety of prints and plenty that are grown-up worthy too.

When Emily asked if I was interested in participating in this blog tour, I jumped at the chance. I've actually had this corduroy in my stash since the fall, planning to make a jacket for A, so this was the perfect opportunity to set a deadline for it. It didn't get done in time to be a fall jacket (obviously lol) so it landed on the spring wardrobe list instead. The corduroys that Mabel Madison stocks are a nice fine-wale and super soft. They're fairly lightweight and with a knit lining, they make a great lightweight jacket for cool weather.

I used the Starboard Jacket from Peekaboo Patterns, which is in my file of oldies but goodies. I've made it several times before, and it's a pretty quick and straightforward sew for a fully lined jacket. I love that the elastic at the wrists and in the waistband means I can leave plenty of room for growth but the sleeves and waist will still stay in place.

I made a size 4T for A, as he's nearly 4 and is moving into 4s in most of his tops now. I knew this was a roomy fit, so I didn't need to size up further. The fit was great with a long sleeve tee underneath, and I think he'll probably be able to wear this in the early fall, too. The pit stop print was a huge hit with my racecar-loving kiddo, and I love the finished look, too. Please make sure to check out the other bloggers who are joining the tour this week - so much fun inspiration for our boys!

Thanks again, Emily, for having me!