First Year-

The fall was a challenge this year.
The owner's husband decided to re-do the basement, which includes where the owner stores the fabrics & does some of the sewing. So things have been a bit chaotic.
Add that to first year mistakes and learning curve.

So for 2016 we have some pretty pink corduroy to use to make early spring items.
We have some florals to use for spring items.
We have a bit of seersucker for late spring & summer items.

We are aiming for Hannah's Closet and maybe 2 or 3 Second Sundays. We hope to have the spring collection hit the Etsy site by the end of January. Thank you for being a part of our journey as a new business.

Happy New Year!

Cailin & Heather

Sugar Plums

We just love this fabric!

It makes us think of "The Night Before Christmas"

"and the children all snug in the beds

while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads"

We've used it for a comfy tunic

which would look perfect over leggings or jeans

It also looks like dancing peppermints

and can be found in the Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhigsandTories

Working out a Capelet Pattern

We are enjoying the cooler weather - and having fun with plaid flannel - and a pretty winter berry print by Waverly - trying out a capelet pattern we recently picked up. The construction of side panels is nice, it allows the cape to hang nicely over the shoulders, but it made creating a lining tricky.

pretty clasp 

peeking into the garden at the Governor's Palace

capes are made for prancing and dancing!

Whigs & Tories still needs to make this once or twice more to work out the kinks in attaching the lining. Once We have it straight a cape will go for $60.00 on Etsy and a little more in the local shops we work with (we have to cover their mark-up) if you are want a cape and you are willing to be one of our experiments we will only charge you for the fabric & clasp: $25.00 send an email to us.

Happy Halloween!

A little Green and Gold

This Flannel print with Gold feather stripes on Green initially looked like it would pair nicely with our Chocolate corduroy with the Christmas Trees all over... and then it was being cut

"oh, William & Mary colors"

"and Hornets"

"oooh! aaah!"

Think parades, tailgates, fall days at the stadium

and so we are making it up with gold accents for football fans and with red accents for winter holidays. Your choice.

Green and Gold, Team Colors in long overalls

Fully lined, flannel over alls with button shoulders
and functional pocket

And a play dress too!

available on our Etsy site and through custom order https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhigsandTories?ref=hdr_shop_menu

need a different size/ style? message us

who are the Williamsburg Hornets? check this out: Williamsburg Hornets Football

haven't heard of William and Mary. We won't judge: William and Mary, Williamsburg

10 More Saturdays Till Christmas

Yes. Someone just said that to me. "Ten More Saturdays Until Christmas." What? I know. Exactly.
So grab a cup of hot cocoa and have a look at our Christmas Tree Corduroy.

We are making Little Boys Longalls in sizes 6 months to 2T. (We can make 3 months and 3T and even 4T but will only make those upon request.) https://www.etsy.com/listing/251304980/christmas-tree-corduroy-overalls?ref=listing-shop-header-2

Little Boys Longalls in Christmas Corduroy

We are making Little Boys Pants in sizes 2 to 6. (pictures are coming.)

We are making Little Girls Playdresses in sized 6 months to 24 months and sizes 3T to 6T

https://www.etsy.com/listing/252016939/holiday-play-dress?ref=shop_home_active_1

Cozy Christmas Play Dress in Fine Corduroy with Trees & Trim

We are making Little Girl Jumpers in size 1T - 4T (pictures are coming.)

Because Cats

Love this sassy cat fabric. It has splotches of orange and 

those wonderful green eyes.

This piece is a size 6/7 for one of Whigs & Tories in house

little girls. Looking forward to pictures with her and her buddy in coming days.

We have a limited quantity of this fabric.

It could be paired with coral dot for a peasant style tunic or dress.

It would make a lovely jumper to wear over a onesie. We could even add a 

a ruffle. Or more ribbon.

Orange, Purple, Pumpkins, Pompoms & RicRac

Having fun with some pumpkin fabric this week. Playing it off of some other colors and trims

this tunic with white pompom trim is a size 10
benefit of peasant style it also fits a 6-8 as a short dress

as a tunic

as a dress

pumpkins, coral dot, purple ricrac

Made the pumpkins & coral dot up for our little brand rep. Looking forward to debuting her photos soon! We have a bit of the pumpkins left, if you'd like something made it up let us know! get in touch via our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WhigsandTories or our Etsy page https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhigsandTories

Little Girl Jumper

We've tried a few different jumper patterns this fall and settled on one called "Lucy" by Children's Corner

Currently we have it made up in a lovely Riley Blake fabric in sizes 1 &2

We love this fabric because it can be worn any time of year. For Summer, wear the jumper by itself. For Fall, play up the yellows & browns. In the Winter, play up the reds and greens. (Yes there is true red & pine green in there) and in the spring you can play off the peaches & light blue. It is a dress for any season.

listed in Whigs & Tories Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/248758065/

update:

We just made it up in yellow corduroy with snaps at shoulders. So cute & sunny! Perfect for an overcast day.

listed at Whigs & Tories Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/248821375/

and we are back!

In August : "I am loosing the battle for time. I feel like every woman I know feels like this around this time of year and I'm not different. I had great plans for cutting and sewing like a mad woman and some how I've been driving kids all over the East Coast instead. I wanted to sew up some school clothes for my girls and youngest son. Our elementary school follows the "school uniform" dress code, navy or khaki bottoms with collared tops in white, blue or red. I did get started but I had hoped to do so much more."

Well we've made it through August and the first day of school! The kids are sporting their navy & khaki shorts from Whigs & Tories. (we will have these available on Etsy in the early spring & late summer)

We received our first feed back on Etsy

Whigs & Tories will have space at the Hannah's Closet Williamsburg Event in September and we need to get ready!

Just signed up with Square so we can accept credit cards at the event. WooHoo.

Thanks for reading!

Our first Custom Order - Cutie-Pa-Tootie Shorts with pockets

so a potential client found our Cutie-Pa-Tootie Shorts and requested them in Navy and Khaki *with pockets* and I said "sure, no problem."

As the originial pattern doesn't include pockets I'm kind of winging it. I found some help here:

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2013/03/adding-hidden-side-pockets-to-anything-skirt-pants-shorts-etc.html and I wanted to give credit where credit is due as it is helping immensely

First attempt a little messy.

Trying again...

Much better!

they've been mailed to their new home. I hope the little girl who receives them is happy with them!

The Rainbow Skirt; COOP 2009-2010

Maggie's Rainbow Skirt

I'm fuzzy on the dates. I *think it was 2009-2010 or there abouts. My rising 5th grader was in COOP and wearing different colored clothes each week according to the color of the week, so maybe she was in the 3 day 3s at the time? And finally it was "rainbow" week and the distress, not anything fully rainbow colored. Mrs. M (who was my child's 4 day 4s teacher will remember, my child is very specific. If you say you are doing field trips on Wednesday, don't switch to Tuesday, if it is rainbow week then you better be wearing a rainbow.) I had a smattering of scraps around from doing a quilt project for the school action, cut them into strips, added ribbon & voila. Rainbow skirt. This skirt was much loved and spent hours on the COOP playground. It was passed down to little sister and spent more hours on the playground. It isn't quite done. If you are a COOP parent and have a little girl who'd like a rainbow skirt to play on the playground with, please send me an email: whigstories (at) gmail (dot) com. with your name, & child's teacher and I'll have it in their classroom for you. (yes free. please don't email me unless you are in Williamsburg VA. and this really is a COOP skirt, and it wants to go back to COOP and play on the playground.)



If you'd like a new one I would be happy to whip one up for you from fabrics currently in the studio. I can't recreate the original but I will be sure that red, yellow, orange, blue, green and purple are all represented.

Please email or leave a comment with your contact information, a waist measurement and the length from the waist to the knee (the skirt is above knee but I will try to keep it from being too short) The skirt will be $18.00 plus shipping and will be lined so the inner seams aren't rubbing.

her favorite color is purple, there is extra purple on this skirt!
but so fun and lively

** update **

the original has a new home. Want your own? Get in touch and I'll make one up!

Seersucker and Owls

I love this fabric, it is a seersucker stripe with owls embroidered on it. The stripe is orange and white, the owls are brown and yellow. Perfect for around here where we slide into fall and it is still frequently very warm. "Transition Wear" I think they call it.

and add a little touch of brown ric rac. Sweet! Cut this into a peasant dress:

Ric Rac and Owls for a sweet Transitional Summer/Fall Peasant Dress
listed on Etsy
https://www.etsy.com/listing/240669240/peasant-dress?ref=shop_home_active_1

and into JonJons too. Short all style because as I mentioned, it usually takes a while to cool down here.

Size 24 mos boys shortall
listed on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/235536881/size-9-months-to-3t-jonjon-in-seersucker?ref=shop_home_active_5

These are headed over to Sugar and Spice

more transitional pieces to come in the next few weeks

find us on Etsy to order: WhigsandTories

Pinafores & JonJons are at Revibe co

A new little shop has opened up in Williamsburg. It is called Revibe and they are working with local artisans to consign a wide variety of wonderful items: refurbished furniture, home decorating accessories, jewelry, handbags, rugs, art, and Whigs & Tories too! (you knew that was coming)

On July 1st we dropped of some crabby JonJons and some Pinafores with diaper covers. If you are in the vicinity please visit!

Pinafore & diaper cover size 12 months
in Riley Blake

Little Boy Crabby JonJons

Started cutting Owl Fabric this week! So cute! Going to make some more JonJon's with the owls as it seems perfect for late summer to early fall transition. It usually stays fairly warm here until late October.

Whigs & Tories can be found on Facebook,  Instagram, and Etsy

Whigs & Tories on Facebook

Whigs & Tories on Instagram

Whigs & Tories on Etsy

Cutie-pa-Tootie Shorts with Ric-Rac

I made some fun shorts with this red, white & blue fabric for my girls to try out the pattern. Added a rolled hem & some ric-rac. People loved them. So I made up a few more and took them to Sugar & Spice on Richmond Road in Williamsburg. Sugar & Spice specializes in consigning gently used children & maternity clothing (and additional items. strollers or cribs for example) But the store owner agreed to show some of Whigs & Tories pieces too.

Cutie-pa-Tootie Shorts in Red, White & Blue with ric-rac

ric-rac trim is super cute!

The Cutie-pa-Tootie shorts can also be found on Etsy. I have enough red, white & blue fabric to take one or two custom orders for sizes not shown (up to size 10).

"Little Patriot Pinafore's"

We've been having some fun creating stars with fabric scraps.

Red Check Seersucker

The Collection is being sold through Sugar and Spice in Williamsburg Virginia.

Sugar and Spice specializes in consigning gently worn items however they represent emerging children's brands from time to time.

These custom creations will not be featured on Etsy at this time. If you are interested in purchasing a pinafore & diaper cover set please contact us by email: whigstories@gmail.com 

The Pinafore can be made in sizes 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months & 2. 

Diaper covers are S, M & L.  

The Bitsy Bubble in Red, White & Blue

Bitsy Bubble from the back, love those ruffles
criss cross straps snap in front

So pleased with this pattern! It is a sweet vintage Bubble re-released with updated instructions. To be honest, the first run through took forever... but now that I've done it once I hope I will be more efficient the next time.

This is a pretty patriotic fabric, with a water color print, stars and even a little metallic shimmer. As I don't have very much this is not a preorder piece. First come, first serve on this one. The pattern is designed to fit a little girl size 21-24 lbs. to purchase please visit our Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhigsandTories

Bitsy Bubble in Red, White & Blue Stars

On a model:

Memorial Day brings out the Patriot

It is Memorial Day. I come from a military family so we take the day to get together and honor those who have died in service. Which inevitably leads my mind to the next big celebration in my military family, the Fourth of July. Which also happens to be my dad's birthday. So here at Whigs & Tories we are getting our Red, White and Blue on, baking our cherry pie and feeling grateful. We hope you took a moment today to honor those whose lives have been given for this country.

halter top & shorts