Primrose for Three

My friend Gemia over at Phat Quarters designed this super cute, versatile and fun to sew pattern some time ago. Shame on me for only sewing it up now! I couldn't only make one so JubeJube recruited some help from her sister and her friend to show off 3 of the many more styles available in the Primrose Dolmen pattern. 

As it would happen, it rained on and off the whole day so we got the giant umbrella out. The girls had fun and just made it so much easier to just get through the mini shoot.

JubeJube got the plain style. No hem band or arm band or ruffles for her. Straight and simple. Take a closer look at Emy's top. You'll notice a slight high-low hem and arm bands. Such a smart look for back to school... yes I've said the dreaded words, but let's be real, it's almost that time.

And then there's Amelia's top with the hem band. I love this look on her! Plus it allows her to wear leggings because the length of the top covers her butt, heeeheee.

I could have kept on going, there are enough variations to make one for every day of the week and then some!

Enjoy what's left of your summer and go get some sewing done for your child's back to school wardrobe ... with some Phat Quarters patterns!

Until next time

Lulah Flutter Top and Market Skirt

It's always something special when Mouse House Creations releases a new pattern. This time it's this super cute top and skirt set. Lulah Flutter top and Lulah Market skirt are a perfect match.  

Sweet flutter design, low neckline at the back.

Generous pockets for picking flowers or hiding other treasures. Elastic waistband for maximum comfort.

Sizes 6 months to 12 years all included, in layer featured patterns so you can print only the sizes you need. Lulah is designed for knit fabrics.

This is the perfect pattern for beginners, and also so much fun for the expert seamstress.

Until next time

Jalie 3903 - Nicole

Nicole (Jalie 3903) is part of the new pattern collection from Jalie. Such a fun little shift dress and so fast to sew up that I was able to make two of them in an afternoon. 

The patterns features a t-shirt, tunic and dress length along with short or long sleeves and a crew neck or turtleneck option. Women's sizes have darts at the bust line. 

I was going for a sporty look with this striped version. 

I figured that a floral version would be easy to dress up and be work appropriate and anyone who knows me also knows how much I love a pretty floral print! 

Since all 28 sizes are included in the PDF download or paper pattern of Nicole I have two little girls asking me when they get their very own knit dress. 

I don't know if I love the stripes more than the floral but Nicole is definitely one of my favourite new patterns!  

Until next time

Retro Romper One Thimble No. 20

A new issue of One Thimble (affiliate link) is out! Hard to imagine that One Thimble is celebrating its fifth year with issue No.20! 

You'll want to read this post all the way to the end and enter the giveaway for a $50.00 voucher for your next purchases of the One Thimble e-zine. 

It never fails, when Thread Faction gets a pattern published in One Thimble, it's the first one I have to try out. This issue Thread Faction has two patterns in the e-zine!

I started with the Retro Romper. I love everything about this style! JubeJube says she's super comfortable in it and I think she looks beach and play ready.

I used a cotton lycra blend that I had in my stash and snaps for the closure. Buttons ca also be used and tips for button holes in knits are given in the tutorial.

Instructions and tech drawings are really well done (as usual with Tread Faction) and included are some tips for sewing knits. For a size 7, I didn't even use up a full meter of fabric and including printing and pattern assembly I spent maybe 90 minutes on this sew.

The second pattern from Tread Faction in this issue is the Ringer Raglan. I just had to make a coordinating tee for Amelia. I used the same cotton lycra blend on the sleeve and used a plain white for the front and back... added a little whimsy with the Big Ocean Appliqués by Swoodson Says.

What I love about this raglan is the binding at the sleeve. I was able to use the same red binding on the neckline and the sleeve as I didn on the romper and I just think the contrast makes everything pop.

The appliqué was so fun to put together. I used prints that maybe wouldn't go well together for a garment but put them together as an appliqué and I think it turned out really cute!

So many fun things to sew in this issue like the Rock Pool Catch and the Saltwater Skirt, but also so many fun things to read too!
There's a great article about formalwear by So Sew Katie. This article gives a good jumping off point to making your own formalwear and couple of those is to use Pinterest as inspiration and not skimp on the quality of fabric. Check it out for yourself.
You'll also find a couple of extra fun tutorials, fun things to sew like the sun glasses case by The Crafting Fiend and the tote bag that can also be used as a beach bag by Libby and Mae.

Ok, enough from me, besides I need to go sew some more from this issue of One Thimble!
Check out the other stops on the tour!

8/9
Pattern Revolution
Needles to Say

8/10

Beri Bee Designs

8/11

Call Ajaire

8/12

Seems So Lo
The Crafting Fiend
Lulu & Celeste

8/13

Sprouting JubeJube
Spools + Oodles of Fun
Stitches by Laura

8/14

Lily Shine Creates

Elli & Nels
Once Upon a Sewing Machine

8/15
GAAF Machine
That's Sew Kari
Candice Ayala

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Women's Adalynn Dress

Every once in a while I take a leap of faith and try a new to me designer. This time I was pleasently surprised by Mamma Can Do It and the women's Adalynn.

It's a very simple design with a great tutorial explaining fit and different fabrics.

Never have I seen a tutorial with a worksheet to factor in stretch of fabric and the desired fit. You may have in the past been disappointed by a garment you made because you just felt it was too big, that may have been because the fabric had a lot of stretch. This worksheet helps you determine what size will be right for you taking into account the stretch of fabric and desired fit and it is so easy to follow.

So now about the finished dress! The fabric is a "coup de cœur" that I purchased a couple of years ago in Quebec city. The front is a polyester knit blend, the back and sleeves are a rayon lycra blend with a lot of stretch and a fantastic drape. The fit turned out exactly as I wanted it. I followed the worksheet instructions to determine size and printed only the pattern size I needed. I love that the layer feature is available on the Adalynn pattern.

I changed up the sleeve and drafted a cap sleeve to give it more of  a "little black dress" look. The pattern has three sleeve lengths included with it.

I think this is a great basic pattern and again I can't say enough about the helpful worksheet! Love it!

Until next time, xx.

Summer Lace Tour Featuring Tabitha by Love Notions

 Adding lace to Tabitha by Love Notions* (affiliate link) was by far the easiest thing to do since it was designed with a color block yoke and added hem or shirt tail. So instead of trying to come up with a clever hack to Tabitha I decided to sew up the pattern giving it two different looks.

The first look is a classic stripe with a stretch lace, both fabrics available at Club Tissus. This look is great for just about anywhere from the office to Sunday brunch.

This pattern has so many options to it that I could have made a different Tabitha for every day of the week. I opted for the boat neckline and yoke lace insert with an added lace hem.

The second look, a Mickey Mouse print makes fun loungewear or pyjamas. The red stretch lace adds just the right amount of girly to this top.

Girly enough for pillow fights and pedicures...

As usual from Love Notions, you can expect a great pattern, with layered printing, trimless tiles for quick assembly and great fit!

This was a fun little experiment, making the same top in different fabrics to change the look of a garment. I went from office to pyjama, but could also have done casual to dressed up. Try it some time!

Check out the other stops on this tour! 

Monday: Sewing Curves SewSophieLynn Kainara Stitches 

Tuesday: doodlenumber5 My Heart Will Sew On Third Shift Creations 

Wednesday: Princesse et tresors Phat Quarters 

Thursday: All Things Katy! Back40life,Sprouting JubeJube 

Friday: Sew Like a Sloth Very Blissful Seamly Behaviour

Until next time

* 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.

** All fabrics have been provided by Club Tissus. Take a look at their online store, quick and easy shipping is available across Canada! 

GYCT Spring Dress Blog Tour

What happens when I let Amelia choose one of three fabrics... She insists she needs all three of them for one dress. Thank goodness they were all white with a navy print!

I showed Amelia the listing photo of the Rival Raglan by GYCT. She got very excited at the prospect of having a new spring dress that was comfy and that would replace another dress that she grew out of.

Amelia actually had a plan and she knew what she wanted so I took full advantage. She was quite clear she wanted the sleeves to have stipes and the skirt to have polka-dots. I added the striped band at the bottom of the skirt to balance out all those prints and in the end she loves it and that's all that really matters!

First, I'm so happy to say that sizing is spot on when you follow the size chart! And it's a really quick sew, almost all done with the serger and used a twin needle for hems. You get all the different sleeve lengths in this pattern from long to short and everything in between! The only thing I may have done different from the instructions is adding the clear elastic at the waist in the seam allowance so that everything stays nice and straight and the waistline doesn't get stretched out from wear. 

Also, there are two cut lines, one for the t-shirt and one for the dress to add the skirt. I left it t-shirt length since it did give a couple of extra inches to the bodice of the dress. I wanted the dress to have a little bit of a drop waist to it. Amelia really loves that style and I didn't want to disappoint.

I used a cotton lycra blend from my local Fabricville.We love this blend, it's so easy to wash and really comfortable to wear!

More fun styles are on the way with the GYCT Spring Dress Tour, don't be shy go take a look at the other stops! And don't for get to enter the giveaway!

Our Play Palace  *  Elli and Nels  *  Max California

Tales From A Southern Mom  *  Phat Quarters  *  Darrel Rob Crafts  *  GYCT Designs

Threadistry  *  Sprouting Jube Jube  *  Manning the Machine

My Sewing Roots  *  House of Estrela  *  The Berry Bunch

Kathy's Kwilts and More  *  Paisley Roots  *  Aurora Designs  *  Natalie Bug Creations

Sponsored By

Sunshine Rae Fabric

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Until next time, xx.