Wearing handmade while travelling

https://www.instagram.com/katewillknit/We recently spent 4 weeks living out of suitcases.  Here's a quick recap via photos .....

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Each time I repacked the kids bag I was struck by just how versatile and useful their handmade clothes are.

So here's a bit of a review of the handmade clothes in their suitcase. Most of the photos I took while we were away involved jackets over the top of everything, so photos are of when I first made them.

Sweatshirts

I would have to file these as the most useful and most worn handmade items in the suitcase.

These two So Sweet Cinnamon Sweaters* (Candy Castle Patterns) were FANTASTIC! The combo of the cowl and the hood kept my two sweeties nice and warm. This holiday was one of the reasons I signed up to test the pattern - they needed new sweaters all winter, but I needed an external deadline to make me sew them.

Dresses

We only packed two dresses for Miss 5. One was her Anneliese Christmas Dress (MCM Studio Designs). It layered up nicely for more than just Christmas Day.

The other was the long sleeved Bubble Gum Dress* (Candy Castle Patterns). The wrap-around dress makes it perfect for adding layers underneath to stay nice and warm.

Long Sleeve tees

Master 8 was most commonly in a Brandt T-shirt  (Kelly J Designs). Both versions I had made for him were in nice soft, stretchy knits, so very comfy. The cross-over turtleneck is fantastic - high enough to keep him warm, but not tight or restrictive (like the skivvies I remember from my childhood).

He also had his Parker's Vintage Fit Tee* (Everything Your Mama Made and More) - this version with the 'double sleeves'.

Both kids had a Sotnos Tee* (The Eli Monster). This one in a black waffle knit for Master 8, and a tunic length in upcycled French terry for Miss 5.

She also had a Tee Times 3 (Blank Slate Patterns) in more upcycled French Terry, with the hem and neck bands from the original shirt. Sometimes this was a shirt, sometimes a light sweater - depending on how many layers were required that day.

And they both had their Hemd Tops*. These are in a light cotton jersey, and their slim fit was perfect for layering under other shirts (or dresses)

Pants

Miss 5's corduroy Sprouts (Flosstyle) were in high rotation. A nice thick (and relatively warm) fabric, and room underneath for thermals or tights helped keep her little legs warm.

Master 8 was often in his Potato Chip Pants (Tie Dye Diva). He likes these ones as they stay up (he has narrow hips, so getting pants to stay up is a challenge). They're starting to look a little short around the ankles - must make him some more for winter. 

He also had a pair of Sandbox Pants (oliver + s), that I have no photo of. He insists that they fall down, but I love this pattern so much. Might have to adjust the waist elastic again and see if that helps.

Pyjamas

For a special Christmas Present I made our kids and their cousins matching pyjamas for Christmas. These are the Alex and Anna Winter PJs (Peek-a-Boo Patterns)

How amazing is the fabric! It's a custom print from Starfluffle Fabric, check out their Facebook group here. The shipping cost to Australia was gut wrenching, but worth it for a once-off.

Hats and Scarves

Both kids had their own Helix Striped Hat (Corrie Purdum, via Ravelry). 

Rainbow colours for Miss 5 and red and grey for Master 8. His is somewhere in Europe, probably with my Brigit socks, having a nice little yarn party.

And as Christmas presents they each had a scarf knitted in brioche stitch (from Purl Soho's basic instructions). One was knitted between Ravels (Belgium) and Stuttgart (Germany), and the other between Stuttgart and Wagrain (Austria). Nothing like some long car trips to get some knitting done (as a passenger of course).

So that's what an Aussie mum makes to keep her kids warm for a European winter. Fortunately we left before the cold snap really hit - but we still went from -2 to 35 celsius, which was a bit of a shock to the system.

Hopefully, I'll be able to put up another post on "What I wish I'd had time to make before we left".

I have tagged all the blog posts featuring any of these patterns with "handmadesuitcase".  Here's a link to them all handmadesuitcase