Experiments in Construction and Composition

First Magic Baby Reversible Overalls
An experiment that worked

I am swimming in experiments. This past week, just as I am working like crazy on my fall and winter etsy line, I dropped my camera and broke it. Sigh. Since I can't show you what I am currently working on, I decided I'd show you my very first reversible overalls prototype, created several years ago. The design is very cute, with two bodices to play with and a cute crossed back strap. In addition to loving the challenge of creating reversible designs, something which sets my Magic Baby clothing apart, I also love the challenge of figuring out ways to create design elements that will allow my clothing to fit for a very long time. This experiment worked in that regard, too, going from baby to toddler quite easily.

Miss E was just a baby when she first wore
these.

I pieced one side of the overalls using a re-purposed wide wale corduroy blouse and some fun, striped cotton upholstery left over from making pillow case edges years ago.
On the reverse, I used a decorator-weight cotton sateen in light blue, and added pockets lined with the stripe, all of which blended beautifully with a fall leaf fabric in cotton. The colors were perfect for my red-headed granddaughter!

As cute as the design came out, there were  some problems I discovered while testing out my ideas. First of all, there is no leg opening for ease of diaper changes in this initial design. Since making it, I have, of course, made allowances for adding either snaps or snap tape to baby sizes.

Secondly, with the back bodice design including built-in crossed straps, the shoulder tabs would have needed to be lengthened in order for me to make them adjustable. I made this adjustment, as well.

Finally, the gathering into the bodice is adorable, but perhaps not great for a boys design, which would look better with pleats or straight. This, of course, is an easy design change that I have made moving forward.

In the end, I have saved this cute design as a special one for my own grandbabies, and have created four simplified overall designs for my Magic Baby line. I do love this one, though, and seeing it makes me want to sew up a new pair!