The shirt is the Carousel Top from Go to Patterns. It is essentially a t-shirt but it has a cute little key hole in the back for interest. The pattern has instructions for a button closure option, but I found it to be really unnecessary with the size of Abi's head.
I used a textured knit in pink and white stripes. It is a very lightweight fabric and is perfect for the summer.
Another nice detail is that the front shoulder is gathered. It gives a sweet feminine touch. To stabilize the seam and gathers the pattern instructs you to sew the gathers to a strip of stay tape. I used some left over grosgrain ribbon. I frequently use clear elastic to stabilize the shoulders of knit tops, but stay tape is a better option for these gathers. I would not recommend deviating from the pattern instructions this time.
The beach we went to is one of the few 'sandy' beaches around here. Most of the coastline goes straight up to rocky shores. And the sand is not normal sand. The beaches are really mud flats full of glacial silt. The mudflats are actually very dangerous, so we do not go out on them. They can act as quick sand and people die as they get stuck out there when the tide comes in. But, like I said, this is a safer and sandy area for the kids to play. They had a great time.
Anchorage, Alaska harbor |
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