Florence Vintage Dress Sew Along

For the past couple of weeks I've been having fun sewing up a vintage dress with the ladies over at the Handmaiden's Cottage Pattern Group. We've lovingly named this dress pattern Florence.

After seeing this dress on Amelia, I'm sure you're going to want to make your own. Click here for the link to the Handmaiden's Cottage pattern shop to purchase the pattern pieces. Once you have your pattern pieces, follow the link and join us in the pattern group to get all the information you need to sew up this pretty dress.

This dress features button closure at the front, side zipper, 1/4 circle skirt, darts at the front and back bodice for a close fit and a beautiful wide collar with scallops. 

In true vintage style the pattern has a 5/8" seam allowance and a 3" hem allowance and even instructions on how to do your buttonholes by hand! 

I'm already looking forward to spring and setting up an outside tea party for Amelia because this dress is demanding a fun special occaison!

Until next time, xx.

Amare by Sofilantjes

This is the sweet Amare tunic by Sofilantjes*. I've been itching to get started on my spring and summer sewing and Amare is my starting off point. 

After reading here, you might want to go to Anne's blog at Sofilantjes for details on hand sewing Amare and a giveaway! 

I used a classic hound's tooth print 100% cotton by Michael Miller for this one. JubeJube chose her fabric and I thought it was the perfect selection.

I just love the details of the bow at the front, the shape of the neckline. Buttons close up the back. In the pattern you can also find a dress options and also an options for ties to create a bow at the back.

The pattern has an amazing size range from 12 months to 12 years and also has the layering feature to print only the sizes you need and want.

Go check out the details of hand sewing at Sofilantjes. I used the blind hem stitch and the ladder stitch to sew the lining to the main garment.

Until next time, xx.

*This blog contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.

Legend by Sew Straight & Gather

I can really get used to this, more sewing for me! Best of all is that I love the fit and style of my new Legend top. I got to test the brand new pattern from Sew Straight & Gather and I love it! Truth is I really want you to take advantage of the amazing release price that Terri's offering on the ladies and girls version of Legend. Sale end February 19th, 2016.

Et Voila, encore de la couture pour moi! J'ai eu l’occasion de tester le nouveau patron "Legend"de Sew Straight & Gather. J'ai décider de vous donner une chance de pouvoir profiter du prix de lancement. Le patron se vend pour seulement $5.00 pour les grandeurs dames et $5.00 grandeurs filles. La promotion se termine le 19 février, 2016.

  

I only made the ladies version, but knowing how much I love this little knit pattern I think I need to make some for Amelia and JubeJube. Both the ladies and grils version have different sleeve options, and also have dress options (its really cute with a gathered skirt).

J'ai seulement eu la chance de coudre la version dames mais j'adore tellement la coupe que je crois je vais devoir m’essayer et en faire pour JubeJube et Amelia. Plusieurs logeurs de manches sont offerts dans le PDF ainsi qu'une version robe.  

I usually wouldn't opt for a sleeveless version, but in this case, Legend is great for layering. I don't know about you but I find it can get quite uncomfortable with many sleeve layers. The neckline hits at just the right place.

En temps normale, je porte toujours un haut avec une manche mais ce petit haut et parfait pour y rajouter un cardigan. 

I'm sold, I think I need to make myself one in every color! I may make a nice cozy long sleeve version next, after all its still winter here!

Je suis acro a ce model, je crois que le prochain "Legend" va être a manches longues, après tout c'est l'hiver! 

Until next time, xx.

A la prochaine, xx.

One Thimble Inspiration Tour Issue 10

So glad to be here celebrating the 10th issue of One Thimble digital magazine! This issue is packed with amazing sewing patterns and crafts and articles answering questions that we all ask ourselves like should we prewash all fabrics before sewing. I'm not going to give you the answer to that one, you'll have to check that one out for yourself.

I will let you know my thoughts on the Willow shirt by Felicity Patterns though. You can also enter the rafflecopter giveaway at the end, so make sure your read all the way through!

Before sewing up this shirt I honestly had never heard of Felicity patterns. I went in to the project quite critical as I usually do when I don't know a designer. It helps me determine what I like and what I don't like and what I would do differntly.

My critical atitude soon subsided with finding out how delightful it was to sew up this pattern. I made the shirt without a contrast fabric. and I also changed the position of the button tab. Nothing stopping me though from making another a putting the button tab as instructed. 

Beautiful details in the back with a yoke and box pleast. 

Safe to say Amelia likes it and that it will make a perfect shirt come spring time for the warmer weather. 

Here are the other stops on the tour just in case you missed something! 

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Tour Schedule
2/12 Pattern Revolution, Rebel and Malice, Happy Okapi, Sew Happily Ever After  
2/13 Beri Bee Designs, Stitches by Laura 
2/14 Bee Quilted, Pearberry Lane 
2/15 LuLu and Celeste, Once Upon a Sewing Machine 
2/16 Horris and Deedle, Baby Hobbes Design 
2/17 Call Ajaire, Made by Sara, Sprouting Jube Jube
2/18 Snickerdoodle Stew,  Made by Meli, Create 3.5

Until next time, xx.

* I did get this pattern for free for the purpose of the tour, but all opinions and ideas are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Wardrobe Basics For My Sweet Little Valentines

I've been making the girls a lot of wardrobe basics like undies and socks...JubeJube asked me for some undershirts to keep her tummy warm she said. I looked in my pattern stash and saw that I had the Classic Camisole and Panties from Peek-a-Boo patterns (affiliate) so I decided to make some, for Valentine's Day.

And well since I was making the cami I thought I should make the matching set.

Each with their own special little details. The floral print fabric is a wonderful soft cotton knit by Riley Blake "Vintage Market", supplied to me by Threads and Stitches on Etsy. The solid knits are from my stash.

And how about that sweet heart appliqué, its one of those iron ons, and Amelia loved it!

Both Amelia and JubeJube so pleased to get such cozy Valentines.

Until next time, xx.

*This blog contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.

For the Love of Dresses and Tunics

I'm so excited to be sewing for me again, AND another keeper I might add! Its the last day of the For the Love of Dresses and Tunics Tour featuring the PDF patterns of Love Notions. I get to show you the Pemberly Tunic I've made myself....and at the end of this post you get to enter a giveaway to win 5 patterns and a $50.00 gift card from Girl Charlee Fabrics! 

When I put this one together I was thinking date night out but this top is so comfortable that I can see it as a date night in. Pair it with leggings and get me some pop corn and I'm ready for movie watching all cuddled up on the couch.  

I made the 3/4 length sleeve and added the button tabs. I love that the bodice pattern pieces have two different sizes, regular bust and a fuller bust. Also included in the tutorial are details on how to adjust the front bodice pattern pieces to fit the way you need them to fit.

Pemberly is designed for woven fabrics, I went with a rayon spandex blend. 

I will need to make more of these, they're quick enough to make and I'll be able make a short sleeve version!

I was offered this pattern for free for the purpose of the tour, but all opinions are my own! 

This is the last day of the tour, so go back and see what you've missed! Don't forget to enter the giveaway! Also...enjoy 10% off  ladies patterns with the code "LADIESLOVE" in the Love Notions pattern shop!

Feb. 8th Pear Berry Lane,  Rebel and Malice,  Craft Blizzard

Feb. 9th Friends Stitched Together,  Bunch o Berries,  HattieLu Handmade

Feb. 10th Beri Bee Designs,  The Wholesome Mama,  Handcrafted by RED

Feb. 11th Phat Quarters Blog,  Sew Sophie Lynn,  Sew Starly

Feb. 12th Boutique Birdie,  Pen Seb & Rox,  Creative Counselor

Feb. 13th All Things Katy!,  Sprouting JubeJube,  Lulu and Celeste

Until next time, xx.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MinShan Fabric Blog Tour.

I'm starting off by saying a huge thank you to the ladies over at Phat Quarters for invinting me on this tour to show off this beautiful fabric line by Lewis & Irene! Fabrics were supplied to me by Phat Quaters, but all ideas and opinions about the fabric line are my own!

Its so hard not to be inspired by an Asian theme when you take a look at this fabric line. This is the dress I felt most fit the ideas I had for Lanterns and Pink Lotus.

The pattern is Brooklyn by Sew Sweet Patterns. I felt it looked like a pretty little Kimono. Amelia was quite pleased with her dress and was overjoyed to see the mess of lanterns.

The fabric itself is beautiful and you can feel the quality, even after washing. No fadding and the colors are just sublime, just a bit of shrinking due to the fact that it is a 100% cotton fabric.

Lewis & Irene are donating part of the proceeds from this fabric line to Act for Wildlife, led by Chester Zoo in the UK to help protect Giant Pandas & Red Pandas in their natural habitat. For more information about this group click here!

You'll want to check out what other pretties can be found in the Phat Quarter Etsy shop!

Until next time, xx.

Boho Challenge with Jilly Atlanta's Charlotte

Amelia told me she wanted a shirt, she chose the fabric and sleeve length and I got to choose the pattern. As luck would have it, Jill set up another challenge in her pattern group on facebook, Jilly Atlanta Pattern Group. Make the pattern you want from my shop, make it pretty and make it Boho. And I think, I know that's what I did.

I decided on the new Charlotte pattern with short sleeves, as per Miss Amelia's request.

The embelishment at the front is the show stopper on this blouse. I love the frayed look so I didn't even use a rolled hem on the rows of gathers.


A little bit of cute silliness here...

Now back to this sweet pattern...
Back button closure, different sleeve lengths, dress and blouse lengths and sizes ranging from 2t to 8 years is what you'll get with this pattern, along with step-by-step photos included in the tutorial.

I love how it turned out and I'm so ready to make another for JubeJube seeing that she has now made a request of her own.

Until next time, xx.

Nivalis Tunic by Sofilantjes

I haven't been testing very much in the past year, but once in a while I like to change up my routine. AND besides when a pattern comes around that I just can't wait to try my hand at how can I not want to test it!

This is Nivalis, the newest dress/tunic pattern by Sofilantjes*. Its just been released so you can now get it in their shop, and if you act now you can also get it at a special introductory price of only $5.00 for a very limited time (offer ends February 10th, 2016)

I'm just so in love with the style of this collar. There's also a hooded option and a binding option for a more common neckline available with this pattern. Different sleeve lengths have also been added as options along with tunic and dress lengths.

The fabric I used is a cotton double knit that was originally from my aunt's stash and the buttons were from my stash. Its like the fabric jumped out at me and told me that it was time to get sewn up and I heard the squeal of those perfect little buttons that wanted to join in on the fun!

Some fun details about this pattern:

• Sizes range from 12 months to 14 years.
• Trimless pages, no more wasting time trimming those pages to tape together.
• Layered printing so you print only the sizes you want and need.
• Available in Dutch and English
• Step-by-step drawings and photos included in the tutorial
• Detailed fabric requirement chart in both imperial and metric.
• Measurement charts to ensure the best fit for each body type.

This pattern has also been designed to be easily mashed up with Hibernis, another pattern by Sofilantjes, just imagine what combinations can be made with those two patterns!

I love that JubeJube decided on outdoor photos and enjoyed the magical moment of the light snowfall. 

Until next time, xx.

*This blog contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.

Sew Yourself Some Love 2016

Its no secret, I don't often sew for myself...but for this month I'm trying to do a little more for me. Its not selfish at all. Over the past years my body type has changed...a lot. I used to sew paper patterns for myself, always the same size with the same adjustments no surprises. With PDF patterns and my body type changing I felt it was harder to get a good fit so now that I've seemed to hit these two PDF's out of the park this is actually making me feel really good and embrace my curves.

The first patterns that I sewed up for this post are both from Jocole, the Shoreline Knit Tank and the Basic Briefs. Everyone deserves to have undies that fit, properly! I can't imagine I was still wearing my maternity undies up until now...yes I have a whole new stack of bottoms that I made from fabric that I've been hoarding for what seems to be forever!

I used fold over elastic to trim out the bottoms and the neckline and straps on the cami. For the hem I made a rolled hem with my serger. The fabric is from my stash, a netting that I've had since 2003 (the bill was folded up in the fabric).

Both patterns have a great size range (XS-XXXL), and the bottoms have so many variations...high wiast, hipster, brief, bikini, boyshorts...along with helpful hints on sewing up stretch fabrics. These two patterns are a good place to start to "sew yourself some love". Being comfy in your undies is key to making the rest of your clothing feel great.

So here's one more for you, the Slim Fit Raglan by Patterns for Pirates. Seriously, why have I not made this one for myself before!

Yes, that's me with an actual smile (see comfy undies that fit make for a happy lady!) BUT I'm also loving this top on me and its so comfortable, and I feel like I can leave the house with this on and not look like, ummmm I just got out of bed. 

We all need basics in our wardrobe and if you're looking around for a pattern to fill that need for a basic raglan tee, go with this one. Why...it has so many options included, different sleeve lengths, variations on the bottom hem and different lengths, even tunic length. Sizes range from XXS to XXXL. Features like no trim pages and layering to print only the sizes you want are including in this pattern. 

Sewing up these patterns has really been a way to do something to help me feel great about myself and like the way I look. When you feel great it shows in everything you do, and how you project yourself.

Go on, go sew yourself some love, ya know you want to!

Join us through the whole blog tour and don't miss a day!!!

Feb 1     Sew Thrifty

Feb 2     Feather's Flights

Feb 3     The Wholesome Mama

Feb 4     Sprouting JubeJube        

             Sugarplum Cuties

Feb 5     Shaffer Sisters

Feb 8     Mabey She Made It

Feb 9     Rebel and Malice

Feb 10   If Only They Would Nap

Feb 11   Sugarplum Cuties

Feb 12   Hibbadoray

Feb 15   Bee Quilted Beauties       

             Mabel Madison

Feb 16   Sew Starly

Feb 17   All Things Katy            

             Handmade Boy

Feb 18   Friends Stitched Together

             Lady And The Gents

Feb 19   Sew Happily Ever After

             Sew Like My Mom

Until next time, xx.