Outer Banks Tee

Hello!  I recently signed up to test a boat neck tee by Winter Wear Designs.  I was thrilled to see this option because I had just been thinking a couple weeks ago how much I had wanted a boat neck tee.  Perfect timing!!

The Outer Banks Tee is a classic boat neck style shirt.  It is the perfect wardrobe staple!  There are lots of different options with this seemingly simple top.  The version I chose to do is a regular hemmed neckline with 3/4 length sleeves. 

Testing for this top was a wonderful experience.  Suzanne of WWD was wonderful through the entire process. She listened to our concerns with the pattern and kept making changes and adjustments until it was perfect.  My final result  showed that I needed to do a hollow chest adjustment.  When I first started sewing I tried the top on with clips holding it in place.  The neckline stuck out and didn't lay flat on my chest.  The pattern tells how to make the adjustment very easily.  

I chose not to shorten the length of this top even though I am very short myself.  I just prefer my tops to be a little longer.  I also could have adjusted my waist and hip area smaller but I just left the pattern as is and made it according to my chest size.  Your own personal measurements may require you to adjust slightly depending on the actual fit you want.  There are great tips on how to make these adjustments within the pattern.  (I wore a cami under this shirt and it made a crease across the top unknowingly so please excuse that mark!)  I almost forgot to mention that I used jersey knit from Riley Blake Designs. 

You can find this amazingly awesome pattern though my affiliate link here.  I hope you enjoy your Outer Banks Tee as much as I do!

Julie Dress Release

It's finally fall here in Michigan!  We have had some very warm weather and the temperatures have decided to act a little more like "fall".  With that, I was too excited to test out the new Julie dress by Laela Jeyne Patterns.  I'm always looking for dresses and tops for girls that have sleeves.  In the north we need to stay warm and my daughter doesn't always want to wear a sweater over things.

The girls Julie dress has three different sleeve length options which are short, 3/4 length, and long.  I chose the short just because of our current weather but 3/4 length would have been lovely.

The back of the dress has two different options as well.  It can be made with the round neckline like I did or a lower scoop neckline.  My daughter went with the round and I'm glad because that means it will be just a little bit warmer too.

I couldn't resist dressing up my solid navy cotton with some lace.  I love how it changed the look of the dress and my daughter will hopefully wear this again since it looks a little more her style.

Another thing that I added to the dress was a little belt (not in the pattern) with a button, rhinestones, and pearls glued on.  I think it gave it the little extra pop that it needed and boy does it ever sparkle!  This was my first attempt with gluing on rhinestones and pearls.  I'm testing the waters for future makes to see how durable it is.  I love the look, what do you think?

Laela Jeyne Patterns has released several other patterns for the Fall 2017 Collection-Family Photos.  Check out the other blogs on this tour to see all of the patterns and varieties by following the links below.  If you love the Julie dress as much as I do then you can purchase it here, or the full collection here.  The prices are great while on sale too!!!

Let me know what you think of all this greatness!  Are you planning on family photos this fall?

*Please note that there are affiliate links within this blog.  Thank you for reading!

 

Monday

Sew Sew Ilse - Kutti Couture - Sea of Estrogen -Lunatiek - Flaxfield Sewing

Tuesday

Tip Stitched - Lunatiek - Nini and Ash - Margarita on the Ross - Sew You Think You Can Sew

Wednesday

Diskordia's Curvy Sewing - Kelly's Sewing Creations - Flaxfield Sewing - Katie Sews Things- My Little Lady and Gentleman - Sweet Meadow Threads

   

Emmy T Shirt Release

It's pattern release day over at Laela Jeyne Patterns!  I was able to test the new Emmy T-Shirt pattern and it is a wonderful addition to my useful pattern collection. 

Why do I love this shirt pattern so much?  Well it has tons of options!  You can use it to carry you through all the seasons.  I made the cowl neck with elbow length cuffed sleeves in this version.  It will be perfect for our crazy cold and hot days that always come about in fall here in Michigan. 

The first version that I made I had done a hood instead of the cowl neck.  It's super cute too but I didn't get photos of it yet.  I intend on making some for my boys so they have some cute mama made clothes for fall.  I love it when a single pattern can be used for boys and girls since I have both.

The Emmy T-Shirt pattern comes with a regular t-shirt neckline, hood, or cowl neck option.  You also have the choice of doing short sleeves with or without a slight gather, elbow length, or long sleeve.  Just when you think you have enough options there's more!  Ha Ha!  You can even add on some other little things to make your shirt extra special.  You can add on a thumb hole in the long sleeve band, elbow patches, and little triangle accents. 

The fabric used for this pattern is knit.  I used an interlock knit which has a 2 way stretch.  The cowl and cuffs are made with a 4-way stretch french terry which gave the cowl a little more bulk than some other knits would.  Unfortunately I didn't have any of my in stock fabric washed for this test so I have no examples to show this time.  If you still want to browse what I have though, please check out the shop.  I have both jersey knit and interlock knit that would work perfectly for this top. 

As always, I'd love to hear from you.  Leave me some love in the comments below!

Sunshine Dress P4P

I have been testing more patterns lately and this time I made a dress for myself!  I'm so excited about it because the fit is spot on.  Here's a look at the Sunshine Dress I made from Patterns for Pirates.

There are so many options that you could make several of these dresses and no one would know you've been using the same pattern.  The three bodice options are strapless, halter, and crossover, like I have chosen to do.  There are also three different lengths which are- above the knee, below the knee, and maxi.  I chose above the knee because of my height.  I don't know if someone as short as I am could rock a maxi but maybe I will try with this pattern soon.  My favorite option to the pattern is pockets!

The pattern is written with a height of 5'5" in mind and since I am much shorter than that I had to reduce some of the length.  I made a size xs in length and took about 3.5" off between the bodice and skirt measurements.  I was so scared to do this hack because it seems like a lot to take off but it worked out perfect!  So if you are a bit taller than 5'5" then you'll probably need to add some length to the pattern.  The Patterns for Pirates blog has a post about how to add or subtract lengths.

Now if you head over to their blog you'll also find some other pattern hacks that you can try out.  There's a modesty piece and even a way to add sleeves!

This dress is so great I just had to sign up for the P4P affiliate program.  So if you love this dress go and purchase the Sunshine Dress pattern here.   

Last to mention is the fabric I used.  This pattern calls for a 4-way stretch knit.  I used some Riley Blake jersey knit I had in my sewing room.  It's a print made to look like denim and I think it looks great on this dress.  If you'd like to give some a try here's a link to purchase some from my shop.

So tell me what style dress you think you'll make for yourself!  Leave a comment below.

Bolt Fabric!

It's here and its new to my shop!  We got in Girl Charlee Bolt knit fabric a couple of weeks ago and it's in the shop waiting for you to buy it all up.  I have five great prints bundled up in groups for your sewing pleasure.  I know many of you need more than one yard of a print when sewing so I have even included some bundles that have a 2 yard cut of fabric!  Yipee! 

So here is an outfit I sewed up for my daughter with two of the prints.  I used the Carlie's Dolman Top from EYMM.  It has great size ranges and I even have the Women's version for myself.  I love all the different hem options with this top too.  The shorts are Laela Jeyne's Deluxe Charlotte Leggings pattern in the short length.  This pattern also has lots of options and can even be made into a sweatpant for boys!  My daughter has said that this outfit is her favorite, and it's now the comfiest one she owns. 

So here's what I can tell you about this Bolt fabric in case you've never heard of it before.  It's from Girl Charlee who supplies many sewists with fashionable knit fabric.  The fabric is jersey knit, 95% cotton/5% spandex with a 4 way stretch.  My favorite part is that it's made in the USA!!!!  Yay!  It's also pre shrunk.  I washed up my sample pieces before sewing and didn't notice any fading or fuzzing/pilling before I sewed.  Sometimes when I pre wash my fabric I notice right away some color fading.  It didn't happen with these.  I also need to note that the fabric used on this top is a little darker navy than what shows up in my photos.  I'm not a photographer so my skills are a little lacking trying to keep the colors true.

I would like to let you know that this fabric feels a little thinner than Art Gallery and Riley Blake if you have ever tried them before.  I made the shorts and was worried that they may be too thin and see through.  It turns out that they were just fine and didn't need to remake. 

I hope you give this fabric a try and love it as much as I do!  When we get close to selling out I would love to make a new order of different prints.  Let me know if you have used it before or have any other questions in the comments section.  Happy sewing!

Tote Bag

Hello all!  I have been keeping busy here with our ducklings and planting flowers around the house now that the weather is finally warming up. I found a little time a couple of weeks ago to sew up a tote bag that I could use to carry larger items than I would normally put in my purse.  I found this cute Tied-Handle Tote Bag pattern on Craftsy from My 3 Monsters blog and thought I'd give it a try. 

I loved the gathered portion of the bag because it reminded me of all the cute dresses I have made over the years.  I chose to use these pretty prints from Jennifer Paganelli's Caravelle Arcade collection.  They are great spring colors!  If you are wanting to purchase some I have them for sale in my Etsy shop located here.  The best part is that I have them on SALE!  Grab them while you can because they won't last long.

Back to the bag pattern now.  It was easy to sew.  The directions were easy enough to understand and I may have gotten caught up with a step or two but figured them out eventually.  The biggest issue I came across was within the written pattern- I didn't see that it did not include a seam allowance.  On the pattern pieces it states that there is no seam allowance but I overlooked it as having it.  So with this mistake it did mess me up a bit with the curved edges of the handles.  I trimmed things down to work for me.  The actual tote itself is so large that the missing allowances went totally unnoticed.  Keep in mind for sizing that I am very, very short (under 5 ft!) so the bag will look larger on me than it will on a 5'9" person. 

The bag has held all sorts of things the past two weeks.  I used it to carry my camera (very carefully), umbrella, books, cans of flavored water, snacks, and my wallet.  I think if I make another tote that I will make some sort of small closure for it just to help keep things in place a little.  Tell me what you think and leave a comment below!

I made a Swoon Pearl Wallet!

This has been a big week for me because I finally got up the courage to sew a wallet called Pearl by Swoon Sewing Patterns.  I was a little intimidated when I saw all the pattern pieces but I was able to make the entire wallet with only one small mistake that I easily changed.  I took it very slow and read all of the instructions carefully the entire time. 

So this wallet has been sitting on my table for a full 24 hours and I have yet to put anything inside of it.  It's so beautiful that I don't want to use it! 

I wanted to use up fabric that I had in stock so I went with a couple of prints from Joel Dewberry's Atrium collection.  I needed a coordinate but didn't want a solid so I went with the candy stripe from Art Gallery Fabric's Fantasia collection.  The entire interior was going to be the stripe but I changed my mind last minute and switched it to an Atrium coordinate.  I was worried that the stripes would make me cross eyed looking at them.  I purchased my hardware and interfacing from Joann Fabrics. 

I'm not sure that I will ever separate the billfold from the rest of the wallet but it has snaps on it so it can be done.  The only mistake I had made when sewing was putting the little swivel tab on the wrong side so once I saw what I had done I was able to move it before sewing it shut.  The wallet is nice and sturdy but yet it's still soft. 

This last photo is just showing off that wonderful little zipper pouch.  I have an iPhone 6 and it fits perfectly in there!  I never would have thought it possible but it does.  So if you want to dress your wallet up a little you can use it as a clutch and keep all your items in it for the day or evening.  I don't plan on using mine alone so the next one I make I will probably exclude the wrist strap.  I always like to make a pattern exactly as written the first time I make it so that I know exactly how it's supposed to turn out for future reference.  Now all I need to do is make a matching purse!  I have a pattern on hand already and will hopefully get started sewing soon. 

Have you sewn a Swoon pattern before?  If so, which one and how much did you like it?  Leave me a comment below!

Spring is here!

Spring is here and everything is growing, the sun is out more, and I'm feeling happier because of it.  I have been busy swooning over our newest additions to our home.  Just about two weeks ago we brought in five little Pekin ducklings.  They are just the sweetest, fluffiest things! 

Since I have developed a love of farm animals I found it fitting to carry an assortment of farm related fabric in my shop.  I have a few different prints at the moment in both regular quilting cotton and also organic cotton.  I'm hoping for a day in the near future that I can sew something up for the boys with the Monaluna tractor print.  They both love tractors, cars, trucks, planes, etc. 

I just can't get over the cuteness!  Do you think ducklings or chicks are cuter?  I loved all my little chicks over the years but these ducklings have such fun personalities that I almost think they are the best.  Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

Jocole Love

Welcome to my part of the Jocole Love Blog Tour!  This is just the beginning of many stops during the tour.  I made two items from Jocole that I have had for years and never made.  My first item is the Little Miss Derby Jacket.

I still can't believe that I have had this jacket pattern for 3 years and had never sewn it.  It's adorable and if I wouldn't have made it in the wrong size my daughter would have loved it too.  Sizes run from newborn to girls 14, and even comes in doll size!  I am not use to following Jocole's instructions so when I decided on the size to make I made a 7 in width and almost 10 in length.  My issue was that the size chart was for finished product sizes and seeing that this was a jacket I should have stuck with an 8 or 10 to make it a little less tight.

All in all this was a fairly easy pattern to follow.  The jacket has an empire waist with a back ruffle that extends further down than the front.  It's fully lined (I used regular cotton woven fabric), the outer is made with some chambray.  There is also the option to put in an interlining of fabric to provide some extra warmth.  I left off the big bow that can be put on the back of the jacket but I'm pretty sure it's simple to make if you choose to put it on.

The next item that I made is the Sandcastle Halter Top.  This should have been a quick and easy sew but for whatever reason I just wasn't having much luck today.  I am a little more of a visual person and it took me several tries at reading parts of the instructions to get through some of the construction.  I had my seam ripper handy and used it a couple of times.

Aside from my mistakes this was a quick sew and turned out so cute.  The body is made from knit and the top and straps use quilting cotton.  I used some Happily Ever After from Art Gallery's Paperia collection.

The pattern says you can add a ruffle between the quilting cotton and knit, or add some rick rac.  I decided to use some elastic lace trim I had from Riley Blake.  I love the extra detail!

There are a couple of things I may try differently next time (although I'm not sure if my ideas will work or not).  I prefer a casing for the elastic to go through rather than sewing it directly onto the fabric.  I ended up with a section of fabric that wasn't as bunched as the rest of the back.  I didn't feel like using the seam ripper for it so I left it alone this time.  I also struggled with the sides under the arms.  It just didn't seem to look quite right compared to the photos I have seen.

My daughter approved of the top though!  The sizes are great and range from newborn to girls 14 and includes a doll size.  It's very comfy and will fit under a Little Miss Derby Jacket perfectly.

Thanks for stopping and reading!

Be sure to check out all of the blogs on this tour! Which is your favorite so far?
Feb 8- Larissa from Connected By a Thread
Feb 9- Tibeca from Sewing by Ti
Feb 10- Robin from My Little Lady & Gentleman
Feb 11- Patricia from Sew Far North
Feb 12- Linda from Sew Happily Ever After
Feb 15- Larissa from Connected by a Thread and Essence from Amazing Adventures of Bubba and Bug
Feb 16- Amy from Wally and Grace
Feb 17- Melissa from Rebel & Malice and Sharon from Sweetpea & Pumpkins
Feb 18- Ula from Lulu & Celeste
Feb 19- Teronia from Crazy Crafty Haute Mama and Cindy from Cindy Parrett.com

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Greetings!  It's nearly Thanksgiving and I have been pondering what and how I can give to other people this holiday season.  I came across The Angel Card Project in years past but never participated.  I saw a post in a Facebook group that I am in asking desperately for volunteers to send Christmas cards to people who may need a little cheer.  I knew this would be perfect for my family to help with.  My daughter is old enough to help write out the cards, and all the children will get to see what it's like to bring a little joy to other people's lives.  If this sounds like something you may like to help with just visit the website and sign up to help. 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas!

September Spectacular Event with Boutique's Best

Today kicks off the start of the September Spectacular Event at Boutique's Best Facebook page.  There are over 20 vendors who are participating with items such as jewelry, accessories, and children's clothing.  Items are selling fast so make sure you take a look before your favorite item is gone.  The event closes 9/20/15 at 9pm EST. 

There is even a giveaway going on right now that you can enter for a chance to get a $35 shop credit towards an item.  To find out all the details, go to the event page.

Here's a dress I made from a Brownie Goose pattern called The Lennon Blouse and Dress.  I used fabric from Art Gallery's Skopelos collection.  It's lightweight and gorgeous and if there's any leftovers you will be able to find it in my shop here and here.

 My favorite parts of this dress:  the collar, the zipper back, and the pleats on the skirt.  Here's the listing to purchase.  Be quick though, there's only one available in sizes 12 months to 12 years.

I often love simple things with no frills.  Here's another dress I have in the event.  It's called Megan's Wrap Top and Dress from Simple Life Pattern Co.  I used a classic white polka dot on hot pink fabric from my website. 

There's a single button that shows on the front and a hidden button underneath keeping the dress closed since it truly wraps around the front.  Here's where you can purchase this dress.  Just like the Lennon dress, there's only one available at this time. 

I love the fact that the back of the Megan dress mirrors the front with the little "v".  So cute, and the dress is great for layering without having ruffles bunched underneath a sweater if you need one.

Last but not least, there's only one spot of this adorable set available for the time being.  This is the Mayfair Top & Dress from Terra's Treasures.  I used fabric from Jennifer Paganelli's Caravelle Arcade collection.  I chose not to use a lace overlay but instead put in some Fabric Finder's chambray
to coordinate perfectly with the pants.  I love this fitted, super feminine top! 

The pants are Violette Field Threads Whitney Trousers and although I don't make them in women's sizes, you can buy the pattern.  These pants are awesome because they are dressy, fun, and comfortable. 

Hope you see something you like and maybe even a little inspired your creativity a little!

Lots of Pockets Bag

I think I finally found my sew-jo again!  This time I decided to finally make a purse.  I've been thinking about it for so long but could never get up the courage to just jump in and do it.  I needed a gift for a friend and found this was a perfect opportunity to give this a try. 

I had a ton of patterns that I purchased years ago and never put to use.  I decided I liked this one called Lots of Pockets because of those two cute pockets on the front.  The pattern designer is called Keyka Lou but I believe she may have changed her name to Michelle Patterns.  I looked in her shop but didn't see the pattern for this bag.  I'm wondering if it was discontinued which would be a shame because it was a great pattern! 

Since my friend who would be receiving this lovely purse also likes to sew, I decided to use this vintage printed fabric from Timeless Treasures.  It's just regular quilting cotton and you may still find some for sale in my shop here.  

The finished result turned out to be a good size for carrying lots of things.  I am looking forward to making more bags now!

Where did the time go?

Summer vacation is almost over and I feel very unaccomplished.  At the beginning of break I thought that I would have a ton of clothing sewn but that was far from what actually happened.  I'm getting myself mentally prepped for a great fall though.  So here's to hoping for lots more to post about.  

I made my first ever EYMM pattern today.  It was easy peasy and my daughter and I both love it.  I love it so much that I am going to make myself the women's version of this top.

This is the Carlie Dolman Top with the high-lo cut.  My daughter said it's super comfy which is something she doesn't usually tell me when I make things for her.  The fabric is a lightweight sweater knit that I found at Joann Fabrics.  

Make sure you check out EYMM (Everything Your Mama Made & More) because there's some great patterns to use.  The Carlie's was written well and I had no trouble following along.  The tips for sewing with knits were nice too.

Oh, and a shoutout to Cookie Crumbs Couture for the chunky necklace.  My daughter loves the big beads!