Day 4 Moto Jacket Sew-a-Long - A PDF by Jennuine Design

Day 4, and we're in the home stretch! Be sure to share you finished project in the Jennuine Design Pattern Group on facebook!

If you didn't have a chance to sew along with us you can still pick up the pattern in the Jennuine Design Pattern Shop*, you can still get it at $6.00 (reg. $10.00) until December 13, 2015, use the code "MOTOSEWALONG" at checkout. While you're there take a look at all the other fun patterns available...JubeJube's favorite leggings are the Dressage Leggings, I must admit I really like the fit on her too.

Yesterday we really saw our jacket take shape, I love it when all the little pieces come together to shape make a garment. We talked about the pocket and top stitching, the zipper was put in and then it was the shoulder seams, back center seam and the side seams. 

Today, let's talk lining, collar and sleeves. 

I assembled my lining the as instructed in the tutorial, basted my collar to the main jacket. I wanted to make sure that the corners would meet up. I like the look of this cowl on this jacket. Due to the fact that I used the bottom band of a  sweater the collar is not as high, but that's the fun of creating with what you have, you always find a way to make it work. 

Once my collar was in place with the basting stitch I was easily able sew the lining to the main jacket making sure my soulder seams at the neckline matched up and the side seams were all matched up. 

I have to admit that I cheated a bit on the sleeves. I put in my sleeve and finished off with my serger to keep all the layers together and later today I'll be using the bias to finsh off the seam the way it should be as shown in the tutorial. It doesn't look that bad with serger stitch but it doesn't look finished and after all the planning and beautiful top stitching it would be ashamed not to finish of the inside of the jacket to give it a high-end look.

Come back tomorrow to see the whole finished jacket on my little model. 

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.

Love me Knot Shorts Designed by GYCT

The weather hasn't warmed up to the point of wearing shorts, infact there's still some snow on the ground. So we're going to will the spring weather by sewing up some spring and summer stuff.

This morning Get Your Crap Together has released their new pattern, Love me Knots. You can pick up your copy in their Craftsy shop.

I used a light weight denim with a little floral print for the shorts. The short feature a keyhole at the side and a waistband with and elastic at the back. The pattern also has a pocket option that I left out.

I was so glad to see how fast these shorts went together. A couple of hours, with many interruptions from both littles, was all it took.

If Amelia's warm smile doesn't bring the sun out, nothing will!

Until next time, xx.

Skinny Jeans by Peek-a-Boo Patterns and making clothes that fit

I had set a challenging task for myself, to make a pair of pants for my niece that actually fit HER! Miss E. is very tall and slim so buying a pair of pants for her is like trying to get JubeJube down for a nap...It just doesn't happen.

I've tested patterns a few times for Pee-a-Boo Patter Shop ( affiliate link), here and here, and was never disappointed with the pattern tutorials or fit of the garment, so when I saw the pattern for thier skinny jeans how could I go wrong.

First things first, take good measurements: waist, hips, inseam, and natural waist line (right at the belly button) to the ground. Just because your child wears a size 6 in stores doesn't always mean they're a size 6 when it comes to patterns.

This is the actual size chart from the tutorial and these are the measurements I had to work with.

Its not as simple as just taking a size 5 and adding length for the legs, you need to account for some of the length of the body, after all you wouldn't want to have your child wearing really low rise pair of jeans. This is where the magic of adjusting a pattern begins.

I started off with the back of the pants, the easiest piece to adjust. Notice how the rise of the back gets longer as the size gets bigger, and its important to maintain the rise to the respcetive height that you need or you end up with a plumber's crack.

I traced out the pattern for the rise that I needed and then...

Went to the width I needed and traced out the rest of the pattern piece. I worked the front pattern piece the same way making sure to use the same sizes as I did for the back piece. Once all my pattern pieces were traced out I just sewed them up as explained in the tutorial.

This is what my back pattern piece looks like. Notice the rise and the leg length is the size 8, and the width for the hips and waist is the size 5.

For your first time making such adjustments to a pattern I would strongly recommend that you test it out on fabric that you're not in love with so if you mess up you end up learning from your mistake and you still have the fabric you love!

Little things that you need to remember: if you making a size 5 for the size of the hips and waist and an 8 for the height your back pocket needs to be a size 5 or your pocket will be too big! The front pocket opening needs to remain the same so that it can be useful as a pocket. 

Who's ready to see the end result!

See the rest of this shoot on my sister's blog, Tanya Zaleski Photocreations, the photographer behind these beautiful images.

Until next time, xx.

Georgie Girl Coveralls by Ruby Jean's Closet

If you've ever had a chance to check out Ruby Jean's Closet you were most certainly amazed by all the sweet little details that they put into every pattern. The Georgie Girl Coveralls pattern is no exception! Contrasting fabrics and ruffles make this simple coverall just beautiful.

I'm so proud to say that this time I didn't go out and buy any fabric, I used what I had from my stash. The main fabric is a light weight denim with a floral embroidery that I've had in my stash for at least 9 years, and the contrast fabric is a cotton print that I picked up only a few months ago.

I love all the little details like the ruffles on the front bib and pockets, the sash in the back to give it just enough of a girly look and  the loose relaxed fit of this pattern. 

And yes once again Amelia was overjoyed to be able to put her hand in the pockets like she was here. Anything to get photos done with a little girl with a cold, even complying with her wish to keep her runners on her feet and keep her little bag of cereal for the shoot.

Floral Denim Pants

I just coudn't help but post this one of Amelia in a pair of pants that I made for her. This is not a pattern test its an original creation that I had so much fun making. Amelia is so compliant, she just loves being in front of the camera!  

I simply took a pair of leggings that she already had and loves, but saddly are getting a little too short for her, taced them out and added a seam allowance and some length and there you have it. 

Again with the pockets! Once she found the pockets there was no way I could get her hands out of there just like this jumper.