Month: September 2018

Jubilee Fabric Tour with Riley Blake Designs

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It’s my stop on the Riley Blake Jubilee Blog Tour today!  This fabric collection is absolutely darling and I’m excited to be sharing it will you guys.

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I always let my girls help pick fabric for their makes but they struggled this time because they seriously wanted them all.   You know my oldest will always pick red if given the choice and she was crushing on the main prints in this line bad.  I was surprised when she settled on the navy colorway but secretly thrilled to be adding a little different color to her wardrobe.  My younger daughter looks darling in blues and loved the dainty print of this ditzy floral.  Together they coordinate but aren’t too matchy for these sisters.

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If I could pick my favorite color combinations of the moment these would be it.  I love navy, yellow, seafoam, and pink together.  They are perfect colors for fall but also work really well for this weird warm transition season we’re in too.

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The floral prints work so well with this season too.  The hint of summer brights and warm fall colors make these fabrics something I think they’ll wear year-round.

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Let’s talk about these dresses.  My oldest daughter is quickly sizing out of many of our favorite patterns.  I’m grateful for companies like Violette Fields Threads and Hey June Handmade who are now branching into tween pattern size lines.  This is the Zoey Dress from Violette Fields Threads.  My daughter still isn’t quite in a 10 width but she’s at least a 12 or 14 height so I struggle choosing between the tween and child patterns.  In this case, the extra ease in the bodice works with this style and the tween sizing looks great on her.

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I love the boho-feel of this pattern and think it’s perfect for this print.  The cute puff sleeve, elastic cuff and bias bound neckline are pretty features that add to the free spirit look of this dress.

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Little sister got a Sutton Dress from Made for Mermaids.  I wanted something that had a similar vibe as her sister’s and the Sutton was a great choice.  I wanted this print to really shine but knew it needed a little trim and buttons to make it pop.

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I absolutely adore those sleeves!  Such a sweet touch.  I did modify this pattern to use a gathered rectangle skirt (the width of the fabric) instead of the gathered circle skirt the pattern calls for.  This was not really a style choice as it was a lack of fabric choice (that’s what I get for changing my plan for this fabric at the last minute!).

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Make sure to check out your favorite local fabric shops to grab your own Jubilee fabrics.  They’ll brighten your days just as they’ve done ours!

Itch to Stitch Time to Sew Blog Tour

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I love a good blog tour and the ITS Time to Sew Itch to Stitch Blog Tour promises to be pretty spectacular.  It’s five days full of amazing inspiration from 26 bloggers and incredible sponsors and prizes.  I just HAD to get in on this party!

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For my stop, I knew I wanted to sew up the Anza Jumpsuit and Dress.  If you’ve been eyeing this pattern too you can grab it today only on sale!  Make sure to check out the other posts today to see what else you can get for a steal today only.

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I’ve had my eye on this pattern since it was released.  All of the tester versions had me drooling and then seeing Nicole’s version in person just had me wanting it even more.  I’ve never worn a jumpsuit before and was hesitant if the style would suit me.  I’m pretty conservative and am definitely not as hip and cool as my cute sewing pal so here it is a year and a half later and I finally pulled the trigger.  Let me just tell you, it’s LOVE!

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My cute husband met me to take pictures and hadn’t seen this before I stepped out of the car.  His reaction was priceless!  He said, “Whoa!  That’s really cute.  You said ‘jumper’ and I was picturing something the girls would wear but this is really pretty!”  That’s a winner in my book!

Can we talk about this fabric for a minute?! My go-to fabric shop Raspberry Creek Fabrics is a generous sponsor of this tour and I had my eye on a couple different fabrics for this look.  I finally settled on this dreamy Navy Blue Tencel Twill.  I knew I wanted a solid and scoured the shop for something suitable.  There were a ton of pretty rayon challis’s and chambray’s to choose from but I settled on this amazing fabric for multiple reasons.  This tencel is so soft and the weight was perfect for this.  It’s also a little heavier weight than a rayon challis which will make it a great transition piece.  The navy color is so versatile and can be worn everyday with sandals or dressed up with pretty jewelry for a night out.

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I’m excited to be able to wear this jumpsuit year-round.  It’s perfect for fall with a sweater and booties!

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I sewed a size 4 and made a few adjustments to the pattern.  I eliminated the drawstring casing and did a simple waist casing for the elastic.  I used 1/2″ elastic and a faux drawstring that I just safety pinned in place.  I love that I can remove it and wear it belted too!  I left off the chest pockets as well, mostly for simplicity and to speed up the sewing process.  I added an inch to the bodice for my height but next time will add in extra height to the rise as well.   I added an extra button to the placket to add a little more detail to the bodice. Lastly, I turned up the sleeve cuff and tacked it in place.

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Are you ready for the good stuff?!  Make sure to check out all the other stops this week.  You’re going to be ‘itching’ to sew it all up for yourself too!

Make sure to enter the giveaway too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Striped Swallow Apres Ski

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In planning my fall sewing, I’m really leaning towards basics in solids, stripes, and easy to wear prints.  One of the first pieces I tackled for myself is a top that I know will get tons of wear- the Apres Ski from Striped Swallow Designs.

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I was immediately drawn to those sleeves (you might remember I used the girl’s version for yesterdays post).  The full bishop sleeve is so on trend and I love the detail it gives an otherwise simple design.  I scoured the internet and looked at many different versions and was really hooked on the solid versions that really let those sleeves stand out.

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I headed to my favorite fabric shop, Raspberry Creek Fabrics, and picked up this beautiful Dana Cotton Modal in Huckleberry.  The color was just perfect for fall.  This knit is lightweight and has amazing drape which really suited this style.  I love the feel of this fabric- so soft and heavenly!

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I made a small with the banded hem.  The only adjustment I made was to make my bottom band a couple inches smaller to really cinch in the bottom.  I’m such a fan of raglan tees and sweatshirts and know this pattern will become a new go-to.  I love that those sleeves give it a little more personality but are not over the top.  I think this top really embodies my classic, comfortable style.

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I’ve got a few more things on my selfish sewing list this fall.  I’m really hoping to conquer some woven bottoms (I think I’ve got the jogger thing down, lol).  What’s on your sewing list heading into fall?

Retro Tees with the Cricut Easy Press 2

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This post is sponsored by Cricut.  I received the Cricut Easy Press 2 in exchange for promotion.  All thoughts in this post are my own.

It’s no secret that we’re huge Cricut fans in our house.  We’ve all gotten spoiled and love to create looks that we dream up ourselves.  As a seamstress, I love to create clothes and pick out pattern and fabric combos that suit both me and my children.  The Cricut Maker, Easy Press 2, and sewing products help us take our handmade wardrobe to the next level.

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I’ve been absolutely loving all the rainbow and vintage vibe tees and sweatshirts that are everywhere these days.  It was so much fun to come up with our own sayings and designs and use our handy Cricut tools to create looks that fit their personalities.

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The Cricut EasyPress 2 makes ironing on your vinyl designs such a breeze.  I’m loving the new vibrant color and three different sizes that will suit all your needs.  The small 6″x7″ size works great for baby clothes and little projects.  The medium 9″x9″ size is super versatile and a great all-purpose machine.  The large 12″x10” has been fantastic for our family.  It’s great for youth and adult clothing and has been getting a work out at our house.

The EasyPress 2 is easy to use and is so quick and handy.  It heats up so fast and the ceramic coated plate produces smooth, even heating (something my iron sure lacked!).  I use mine on my kitchen table and I know that it’s protected from the heat by the insulated safety base and the EasyPress Mat.  It gets up to 400 degrees and irons on your designs in no time.  The easy to read digital display makes it easy to set the temperature and timer to suit your iron-on material and fabric.  And I love that it’s easy to store on my shelf and is light and portable.  Phew!  So many great qualities!  I honestly don’t know how I lived without mine.

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When creating these looks I turned to Cricut Design Space and the loads of fonts at my finger tips!  You can create this look for yourself here.  I used the Playroom Sampler pack, with Kelly, Orange, and Sky but I think it’d look amazing in an array of Glitter Iron-On as well.

I’m a Cricut Iron-On convert.  After using different brands I’ve been thrilled with how well our Cricut brand makes have held up.  Cricut has introduced the StrongBond guarantee that will give you the confidence and peace of mind that your iron-on projects will last and last.  The StrongBond guarantee means that if your Cricut iron-on products are used as directed and you’re not completely satisfied, Cricut will replace it for free.  Cricut Iron-on products are made to last 50+ wash and dry cycles and I’m here to testify that ours have taken a beating and still look amazing.  That’s a big deal with kids- their favorites can stick around until they’re outgrown!

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I used the Samson Sweater from Love Notions sized up one and with an extra wide bottom band to give it that oversized look.  This french terry from Raspberry Creek is one of my favorite fabrics for fall.  (I love it so much I used it for my little guys joggers too!)  It’s nice and thick and worked wonderfully with the iron-on.

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This Legendary tee was another fun design.  This kiddo has certainly reached ‘legend’ status at our house so this tee was just too perfect for him.  I used the Boho Sampler pack of Everyday Iron-On for this look.  I used the #121 Ringer Raglan pattern from Thread Faction- I can’t get enough of that slim fit!

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I used the Lexi and Lou Loungers from Made for Mermaids for his pants.  I added a long vinyl stripe down the side and in the pocket for a touch of color.  The large EasyPress made ironing on the stripe simple and easy!  One bonus of making a garment is that you can iron things on flat, before they get completely sewn together.  I sewed up the pockets and side seam, EasyPressed the stripes on, then continued with the construction.

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This design is a trial and error look.  I’m always trying to come up with new ways to use my Iron-On materials and this one was a fun one.  I took strips of each color and taped them together using transfer tape on the plastic backing.  I cut the design out in white iron-on and applied it to the sweatshirt.  I then cut the design out of my rainbow piece and applied it directly on top of the white lettering.  It’s far from perfect but that just means I get to keep trying it until I get it just right!  I love the look and used the same technique here too.  You can get this design in Design Space here.

Her top was made using the Striped Swallow Designs Apres Ski.  Those big full sleeves take this sweatshirt from boring to brilliant.

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I’m thrilled with this whole Retro Rainbow collection and love how quick and easy it was to make with our Cricut products.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

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