Love Notions Acorn and Oakley Vests

Are you ready to get your cozy on?!! Love Notions Patterns has just the thing for you!

This post contains affiliate links.  I became a Love Notions affiliate AFTER falling in love with her patterns and testing process.  Purchasing through my links provides me a small compensation that I use to keep my sewing hobby a float!

This pattern is available in women’s, girls, and even a simple doll version, (you can grab the bundle here)!  There are three different women’s and girls views so you will definitely get your money’s worth.  I sewed up a view A for myself.  It’s meant for fur or minky- those super luxe soft fabrics you never want to take off!  View A is also lined- a great place for a fun contrasting fabric.  All views feature my must have option- pockets!

For my oldest I did view C, a princess seamed zip-up style.  I love the way the pockets are done on this version!  They are part of the front pattern pieces and create a nice seamless opening.  View C is bound with bias tape on the bottom hem, arm opening, and front seam.  It’s a versatile, sporty look.

My younger daughter got a cropped version A, left unlined for a simple, amazingly quick sew.  For her’s I took my pattern pieces and folded the hem up accordion style so I could keep the curve on the bottom.  I took about 5″ off the length.

Shannon Fabrics was a generous sponsor of this pattern and sent Tami at Love Notions a couple of gorgeous faux furs to share with her team of ambassadors.  I was thrilled to get to work with this beautiful fox fur.  I couldn’t waste any of it which is why my little one got a cropped version as well as a dolly version.  It looks so high end and expensive and feels like it too.  I honestly stare at my wardrobe and dream of what else I can pair it with just so I can wear it as much as humanly possible!

I also lined my version in a soft stretch velvet to really seal the deal as the coziest thing in my closet.  I never thought I could be so in love with a fur vest but here I am!

Ready for cuteness overload?! How cute are these matching 18″ doll versions?!  My girls love their mini-me’s and especially love dressing them up.  My oldest is getting pretty confident on the sewing machine and sewed her doll’s quickly and easily.  I love a good confidence boosting project!

Speaking of confidence boosting… I had my first epic fail in forever while sewing this vest right here.  It was an early morning and I was happily sewing away before the kids got up.  I got to the very last step and was sewing on the last side of the zipper when my mistake became glaringly obvious.  In my haste (and sewing cockiness)  I had somehow stretched the front of one side, making one side 1.5″ longer than the other.  Bias tape was properly sewn on and zipper almost fully installed.  I gave up and walked away, swearing to never look at it again…

This sweetheart was so excited for her new vest though and swore she’d wear it as is.  I giggled at the thought and told her no way!  She happily began unpicking the three rows of stitching.  Her optimism and love of this vest kept me going and I was able to fix my mistake and give her the finished garment the next day.  This is why I sew- that joy and can-do attitude make it all worth it!

Tips- to avoid a mistake like mine I have a few suggestions.  First, measure the front of your vest and cut your bias tape the same for both sides.  My fleece had very minimal stretch so I didn’t even think about it coming out different.  Wonder clips are your friend and carefully clip you bias tape on, trying your best to not stretch your fabric.  When it comes time to sew on your zipper, Wonder Tape or fabric glue are very helpful.  My zipper had even ended up wavy the first time and I found that fabric glue really helped hold it in place.  Take your time and you’ll end up with a beautiful finished product!

 

 

The Oakley and Acorn Vests make the perfect Christmas gift for you or someone you love.  The girls comes in sizes 2T-16 and the women’s goes from XS-XXXL.  Grab yours on sale through Tuesday, November 28th.