The Sally Dress

Finally the Sally Dress pattern has been released!  I've been eager to show all the beautiful dresses I made during testing of the pattern.  The many, many dresses!  This pattern has three different sleeve options and I couldn't help myself.  I had to sew up each option.  And I had some matching bird fabric, so the girls had to get matching dresses.

Only two pieces of the pattern are required to be printed (bodice and sleeve), which is so refreshing.  The instructions and diagrams are easily understood and result in a professional dress with a fully lined bodice (and without exposed seams).

Let's start with the sleeveless option?  This option is maybe the quickest to put together since hand sewing is not required to affix the lining (though the hand stitching is totally worth the effort with the sleeve options).

Their favorite part of the dress is obviously the generous pockets!

Now onto the short sleeve version:

I love this version, which was an accident.  You can see that the skirt is half of the width that the pattern calls for.  I had less fabric than I thought and it was already cut out, so I went with it.  I think it looks very retro (love the knobby knees).  I trimmed the pockets with some adorable stork ribbon.

My favorite part of the pattern is the pull on/pull off square neckline.  It is so unique!

This one I added lace to the sleeves and bodice line - such a sweet look.

And finally the 3/4 length sleeve - LOVE it!

I made a matching yo-yo hair clip for this one, which I need to do more often.  So cute!

I am so thankful I was able to test this pattern!  The girls now have 6 beautiful dresses in their closet - a couple for the end of the summer and the rest for fall.  They've already received several compliments on the dresses!

You can get the pattern now here or here.  Check it out!

Also linked at:
Shaffer Sisters Tuesday Link Up
Too Cute Tuesday
Take a Look Tuesday
Tasteful Tuesday
Make it Wear it Thursday

Coffee Date Dress

When the ladies over at Project Sewn announced a sew along to get ready for the upcoming fall season, I was intrigued.  Then I saw what dress they had chosen for everyone to sew up and knew I HAD to join in.  The Coffee Date Dress is not only a free pattern but exactly the type of clothing I love to wear! Almost all the tops I wear to work have some type of ruffle going on in the front.  I'd been thinking about replicating the ruffle look, but thought it might be too complicated.  I was so wrong - this was a relatively quick sew!

I saw a lot of versions over at Burda Style without the ruffle, but that was my favorite part so I left the design of the dress as is.  I've had this Bella Jansdotter fabric sitting around begging to be made into a dress for months.  It never felt like the right time to cut into it until now - and dang, do I love it!

I took my time sewing this dress, which resulted in my first actually invisible zipper.  I had no idea I wasn't doing it right before.  I kind of knew, but didn't want to admit it I guess.  

I had some issues with this pattern but I'm not sure where I went wrong.  I cut out the largest size of the pattern and thought it fit great when I made the bodice.  When I attached the skirt I found out I had to take an inch off of each side!  I'm getting really efficient with the seam ripper.  At least I had plenty of fabric to go back and add french seams to the dress.  

Yay for a new dress to wear to work and learning how to add a cascading ruffle to a garment!  I can't wait until the next season of Project Sewn and to see what everyone whips up.

Also linked at:
Make it Wear it Thursday
Shaffer Sisters Tuesday Link Up
Friday Favs Party
Think Pink Sunday
Inspiration Monday
Blog Stalking Thursday

Tinny Fall Jacket

Once again I decided to sew along with the fun FLIP this pattern series where the Tinny Dress by Straight Grain is the pattern being flipped for August.  For this flip I wanted to challenge myself to do something I hadn't tried before - a jacket.  The Tinny pattern with it's pretty collar and sleeve cuff choices seemed like a perfect starting point to make a peacoat like jacket for fall, which the girls kind of needed anyway.

I love the asymmetrical collar version of the dress so I knew that I would use that to help me with the design of the flip.  However I redrew the collar pattern pieces so that they were a little more exaggerated in the front.

I thought it would compliment the collar if I used an angled button front.  This was my first time making buttonholes with my machine.  I was really intimidated and have avoided most patterns with buttons since my old sewing machine refused to make them.  Turns out it is super easy with my newer machine!  Now I can't wait to make more buttonholes.

I used the notched sleeve cuff pattern pieces from the Tinny pattern since I thought they matched the collar so nicely.  I didn't use the skirt pattern pieces of the Tinny to finish the bottom of the jacket, yet it's similar to the pleated skirt option.  I just made the bottom the length and width I wanted and added two pleats to the front and one to the back.

she randomly thought it was a good idea to eat leaves :(

The long sleeves are a change from the pattern and are drafted from a long sleeve shirt that fits her.  I made them a little bigger at the armholes and gathered them to give a little puff/cap sleeve look.  The sleeve widths are a bit roomy because I wanted to accommodate layers underneath while still allowing her plenty of movement in the arms (I usually find that my fitted coats are miserable to move in!).

wearing one of her Skipper Tops

I made the light fall jacket out of twill that is lined with beautiful floral linen I found at JoAnn's.  I went the extra mile and hand stitched the lining around the armholes and at the skirt.  So. much. work.  since I do not enjoy hand stitching!

So there's my FLIP!  Check out the other awesome flips (including other jackets) here.

Also linking up at:
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We Did it Wednesday
Blog Stalking Thursday
Make it Wear it Thursday
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Take a Look Tuesday
Tasteful Tuesday
GetYourCrapTogether

The Skipper Top

Hey there!  I haven't been able to post much lately because I've been super busy testing some patterns lately instead of finishing some of my own projects.  Since I usually make two items of everything I sew for the girls (so there's no fighting over clothing), I quite often feel like I'm running a one woman sweat shop in the basement.  The past couple of weeks have made me feel like that, times twenty, because I've been cranking out so many clothing items during such a small period of time!  But really, it's all my fault.  These new patterns are so awesome I can't help myself.  Especially The Skipper Top by Sew Much Ado!  I'm so thankful I was chosen to test this pattern.  During testing I wound up making 11 tops! 

One big reason I made so many is that the girls are slightly different in size, even though they are the same exact age.  So I couldn't decide on whether to make 2Ts or 3Ts.  Of course I made both!  Here are some cut up and ready for the assembly line...

Second, there are so many options for making the skipper top - you can topstitch or add banding to the arms, waist, and neck, or even do a combination of topstitching and banding (which I plan to do next time).   You can then embelish the top with lace or add a pocket.  There are two adorable pockets to pick from - a pentagonal and heart.  I LOVE the pockets! 

Foraging through my scraps to find interesting fabric combinations has been a lot of fun! I had no idea I'd actually find a use for some of the cuts that I had saved.  Most of the quilting fabric is from JoAnn's or Fabricworm.  The solid color knits and grey/orange stripe are from JoAnn's, and all the fun prints/stripes are from Girl Charlee.  Anyway, ready to see the tops?!?

Banded with Heart Pocket

 Topstitched with Pentagonal Pocket

My favorite fabric combo EVER - so pretty, I just stare at it sometimes...

 Both Options 

at Dutch Wonderland

And my interpretation of rocker Skipper Tops using black/white/pink...

So many tops - did you count 11?  Not yet...I made one more for a birthday present that went to a little boy the girls adore.  I used the Skipper Top pattern and Girl Like the Sea's cape shirt tutorial to make a super hero top for him.  I'll probably be doing this again, since the girls wanted to keep it when I had them try it on.  I think the Skipper Top works great for boys as long as some boyish fabric is chosen.  The mask was made using the awesome tutorial and template from Handmade Frenzy. 

So there they all are.  I hope I inspired some peeps to try out this awesome pattern!  The pattern instructions take you step-by-step through each part of assembly with color photos that are super helpful.   It was obviously a quick sew, or I wouldn't have made so many.  Plus there is SO much information in the pattern instructions on how to sew with knits, so don't be intimidated if you don't sew with them often.  Happy sewing!

 

 

Also linked up at:

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Tasteful Tuesday

Bucket Hats

You may have seen the towel cover ups that I made the girls for our beach vacation by now.  Before we left, I also made them some Oliver + S bucket hats.  They had finally grown out of their baby sun hats and needed new ones.  I usually sew them stuff that looks great but they don't really need, so it was nice to feel like my hobby was actually useful.  Plus the pattern was free and I was eager to give it a try.

Lately they are picky about the things I make.  I have to include a feature in/on the item that entices them to want to wear it (pockets, fun trim, animals on the fabric).  I had this very cute fat quarter with mermaids and whales on it that I thought would be perfect for the hats since they love the Little Mermaid (Jay-Cyn Designs, Storyboek II, Mermaid)  I had to make the tops of the hats the same, even though I don't usually go for the twins matchy-matchy thing.  If I hadn't, there definitely would've been a meltdown over who had the best hat. 

I made sure to cut out the top circle for each hat so that it would showcase the mermaid.  After doing that, I had just enough fabric to cut out the brims.  I was very proud of myself that I managed two hats out of a fat quarter.  But when I counted up my pieces, I realized I had forgotten about the sides!  ooops

So I improvised with what I had.  I dug around and found some purple linen that complimented the mermaid fabric pretty well.  I wasn't sure if it would turn out okay, but the girls like purple so I went with it.

I LOVE how it turned out!

Now for the other side of the hat (they are reversible), I used some fabric that was the same print but different colors.  The fabrics are Fancy Flight Organic Mod Vine Stripe in Garden Brown and Jewel Grey by Nancy Mims of Mod Green Pod, for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  I love the hats with the front brim turned up to showcase these prints.  I have to hold myself back from buying more of this fabric!

These hats were not the easiest thing I have sewn though!  For some reason I thought I could finish them both in under an hour - I guess because they are so small.  But I think it took me about three hours of careful cutting, ironing, and sewing.  Every step required me to slow down and concentrate.  I may have rewarded myself with a milkshake afterwards.  At least I'm pretty confindent with sewing curved pieces now. 

The worst part really was the hand sewing of the two sides with an invisible stitch to make them reversible.  I put that off until the car ride to the beach.  The whole time I was stitching them together I thought there's got to be a better way!  I googled around and realized there is!   Too bad I had forgotten that post by Handmade Frenzy.  If anyone else tries to make these hats, you should definitely try that way...unless you like hand stitching?

Hopefully soon I'll finally go through all of our pics from vacation.  We kind of had a good time.  As long as we didn't try to visit the beach!


Also linked at:
Think Pink Sunday
Inspiration Monday
Take a Look Tuesday
Tasteful Tuesday
Make it Wear it Thursday