Author: tampete77

PRP Pantone Party- Viva Magenta

Project Run and Play Pantone Party is always a good time! We love to participate each year (you can see our past posts here and here). This year’s color Viva Magenta is all about joy and hope and happiness. What could be more hopeful than sewing swim looks in the middle of a gloomy Utah winter?! This look totally brought us happiness and optimism that warm weather will be here before we know it!

This year we teamed up with Raspberry Creek Fabrics for some swim looks that are too cute!

We used three patterns from the Project Run and Play library. The Viridian Swimsuit is a favorite with my girls. The Reef Beach Rashie is the perfect extra layer of protection. And this Cancun Coverup worked overtime last summer so a second one was definitely in order!

We used this groovy 60’s floral from RCF’s Designer Showcase printed on swim knit and double gauze paired with lipstick pink solid swim knit.

It was great to get this same print on two different fabric bases. The swim knit is a poly based print which makes the print really shine. It’s vibrant and crisp on this base. The double gauze is a natural fabric and the print is more muted and soft. It’s perfect for this coverup look.

The Viridian Swimsuit is full of options. From a simple one piece maillot to a color blocked two piece, this pattern is great for girls of all ages. It comes in sizes newborn-12 meaning you can use it for years! For this girly, I sewed up a size 10 with a 12 length two piece featuring a solid bottom and ruffled racerback top.

This vibrant pink color will be at every pool this summer! It’s so fun and it keeps popping up in all the rtw ads I’m seeing these days.

For this Reef Beach Rashie I sewed up a size 12 and really slimmed down the sides to make it more fitted. She’s excited to have a layer that’s perfect for long beach days.

Let’s talk about this coverup! This pattern was just made for double gauze. It’s soft and squishy and still lightweight and flowy. It’s so quick to throw on but oh so stylish!

As I was prepping for this shoot I was feeling all the nostalgia! The retro print of the pieces just had me right back in my own childhood. I knew I had to pull out this super sentimental reminder of my own happy carefree days. This towel was my Grandma Lola’s and every time I stayed with her I pulled out this towel for my baths and showers. I was so surprised when I would come back year after year and she would still have this towel tucked aside for me. When I was in college and would stay with my grandparents for the weekend, I was shocked to see how small my towel had gotten, lol! Funny how that happens, right?!

Well, It was so much fun to be back in this space, sewing and taking pics of my cute little model. I miss those days when I was sewing like crazy but time and season for everything, right? I’m hoping to be back with a fun and different project real soon!

Mother/Daughter Pj’s with Art Gallery Fabrics

This pretty flannel from the Listen to Your Heart line from Sharon Holland for Art Gallery Fabrics was just made for cozy pj’s. Two sets of cozy pj’s to be exact!

Not all teenage girls would be on board wearing matching pajamas with their mama but this one was all over it (or at least she was a good sport about it!). I think the fact that she got a new set of comfy pajamas out of it was all she needed!

The Carolyn Pajamas from Closet Core Patterns is another pattern that has been around forever that I am just barely getting around to sewing. When it comes to classic pajama style, the Carolyn’s are near perfection! The pattern features both short and pant lengths as well as short or long sleeves. I loved that because it meant I could customize these just for me and do pants with a short sleeve top. I hate sleeping in long sleeves, is that weird?

I sewed up a size 10, no adjustments. The pants are your basic pajama pants and sew up quickly. The addition of the pockets make these perfect for lounging too (gotta keep that cell phone handy). The top kind of intimidated me with the button front, notched collar and all of that piping. I was surprised by how simple it was to construct though and the finishing is *chef’s kiss!

Sophie got a pair of Gracie Pajamas from Violette Fields Threads. I’ve sewn this pattern a few times before and she uses it all of the time for simple shorts and pants too. I sewed up the largest tween size and added 3 inches to the pants length and two inches to the sleeves. I think it’s time to retire this pattern for this girl as she is clearly in the adult sizes now (did you notice she’s WAY taller than me?!). Good thing little sis can still fit in tween sizes for a bit longer because we love this pattern and also a bonus that there’s a women’s version too!

My absolute favorite thing about these pj’s is that piping! I used store-bought maxi piping and it really was an easy addition that really elevates these sets.

The theme for the Art Gallery Look Book was sentimental room and something about these pajamas just reminded me of sleepovers at my Grandma Lola’s. I pulled out an old scrapbook that I had made for my grandma and we had so much fun looking at the pictures and reading the stories about grandma’s house from my siblings and cousins. My grandparents were so influential in my life but have all sadly passed away. I love keeping their memory alive in my own children and I feel their love and support often and know they are watching over their family still here on earth. I sure love projects that get me feeling all sentimental!

Fabric was provided to me by Art Gallery Fabrics.

Friday Pattern Co. Sagebrush Top

The Friday Pattern Co. Sagebrush Top has been around forever and I’ve always admired every version I’ve seen. I love that I now have my very own!

I got to work with Sharon Holland’s new fabric line from Art Gallery Fabrics, Listen to Your Heart. For this top I used Fleuron Six quilting cotton. I just love the colors in this print and that floral is so pretty!

This pattern is such a great sew! I sewed up a size medium without any adjustments. The yoke is not lined and the neckline is finished with a bias tape necktie. As far as woven tops go, this one is one of the quicker ones to sew up. From cutting to hemming, it was done in an afternoon. My kind of project!

The chest ruffle detail and those big statement sleeves are what set this pattern apart from your basic top. They are extra full in this sturdy cotton but I bet they’d be drapey and gorgeous in a voile or rayon.

I had the cutest little ten year old photographer who braved the cold with me for these pics. My kids always get the most glamorous pics of me, lol!

For more pics of this beautiful fabric line check out the Look Book. I’ll be back later this week to share our other makes that appear in it too!

Project Art Studio

Project Art Studio is the newest collection to release from Project Run and Play. It’s a compilation of some of the cutest children’s patterns ranging from a killer denim jacket to cozy hoodies and sweatpants. There are 13 patterns in the collection- holy cow, right?!!

I love a good theme and this one was super fun to roll with. My absolute favorite museum is the Musee D’Orsay. I love all of the impressionist exhibits and never thought I could feel so many emotions from just looking at a painting. I’ve talked about this magical place with my kids so much that I decided to take them on a virtual tour!

The best part of our ‘trip’ is that they got to wear their comfy new clothes! I sewed up five patterns from the collection in Raspberry Creek Fabrics prints and solids. RCF solid french terry is my go-to once the weather cools and I used clay, olive, and teal for our looks. I paired it with a CLUB stripe double brushed poly and this amazing Designer Studio print to really tie all of the colors together.

Charlie got a Sundowner Sweatshirt and 4 Seasons Joggers. These patterns check all of his boxes. The joggers have a comfy yoga waistband and cool big pockets. He’s obsessed with the pockets in the hoodie and loves the relaxed loose fit. He actually requested no bands or ties so it’s just about as cozy to wear as it can get! I love the colorblocking on the hoodie and the huge size range (newborn-12 years) that they both come in.

Payton is always looking for cute outfits to wear to dance and that double for other activities. She got a Blank Canvas Cardigan, Easel Tee, and Rocky Shore Tights. These three pieces just work right into her everyday wardrobe. The cardigan is the perfect fall layering piece and this pattern will become a go-to for us. It sews up quickly and the fabric options with it make it super versatile. The Easel Tee is a cute basic piece that is fun to show off a statement fabric or keep it simple with a good solid. The Rocky Shore Tights have lots of options. We knew she’d be wearing these to dance so we went with the short option with a little added length. I also cut at the highest waistband height and added the band to it so they’re an even higher rise (to work well with her cropped dance tees).

Make sure to follow along and soak up all of the other stops on this tour. The artistic creativity is breathtaking! So many fun looks coming your way!

Vankyo Projectors for Sewing

*This is a sponsored post.

It’s been a month or so since I’ve joined team Projector. In that time my kiddos have gone back to school and I’ve been able to sew a few things again. Can I get a hallelujah?! I’ve loved getting to play with my projector and to get my sewing setup updated. With my own laptop now, my sewing room is now up to date and I want to spend every spare minute in it!

The generous team at Vankyo sent me another projector to try out and compare. You can read my review of the Leisure 470 here. I got to try out the Leisure 470 Pro (you can check out their other sewing projectors here).

The Leisure 470 Pro is even smaller in size (7.8x5.7x3 inches) than the Leisure 470. The resolution is higher at 1920×1080. It’s brighter and clearer than the 470 and has 2 HDMI ports, a USB port, a memory card slot and AV input. The sound is even better too! They both come with carrying cases, remotes, and HD cables. The Leisure 470 Pro is even easier to transport and it’s so nice to be able to take it anywhere.

So that should make it better for sewing right? More bells and whistles doesn’t necessarily make it ideal for the sewing room though. For projecting patterns you need a few things. A bright light, clear focus, correct and easy calibration, and the right throw height (the distance from the projector to the surface it’s projected to). My sewing space is in our basement with 8 foot ceilings and the short throw height (50″ from ceiling mount to table top) just was not ideal for the 470 Pro. I could get it to work by projecting from the ceiling to the floor (I know many sewists prefer to cut on the floor so this projector could be for you!). It really just needed about 6 more inches to get a crisp clear focus so even a slightly taller ceiling or shorter table would be perfect!

Before I set the new projector up in my sewing space we tried it out for movie night. We set it up outside and it was fantastic. The picture was amazing and the sound was great. There’s just something about cuddling up under the stars with popcorn and a good flick!

Of course I had to sew something up with the new projector! I used the free Tessuti Monroe Turtleneck and the Love Notions Sybil Skirt.

I used a thick rib knit that I picked up from Knitpop last year. It’s a mid weight and will be perfect as the weather cools off. I sewed up a size 2 Monroe Turtleneck with size 3 sleeves. I really wanted an oversized look that was super comfy and I could wear with leggings or jeans too. For the skirt I added a few inches to the midi length and left one side open at the knee. I also added a 3″ elastic waistband.

The Monroe Turtleneck did not have a projector file but it did have a copyshop version that worked just as well. Love Notions patterns come with so many options and the projector file is so easy to use.

If you’re looking to join the projector sewing party, check out the options from Vankyo.

Art Gallery Garden of Opulence

The newest Art Gallery Fabrics collection by Bari J., Garden of Opulence, is here and full of gorgeous prints.

I got to play with this fun rayon, Fawn Day Two. I can’t get enough of AGF rayon. It’s one of my favorite fabrics to work with and wear. That drape- c’mon!!! I love the flow and weight. It’s lightweight but not too slinky and fidgety when sewing.

I sewed up Burda Cotton Blouse 113. It was my first Burda pattern and I learned a lot. Sometimes I get a little cocky but this pattern brought me back to reality! This pattern assumes you are an experienced sewist and the instructions are minimal. I’m to the point that I read a patterns instructions through before diving in then refer back to them as needed so I thought I’d be good with this pattern. Let’s just say, my seam ripper and I spent a lot of time together while sewing this top.

I think the final shirt is so pretty and I’d love to give the pattern another go. It’s such a great pattern/fabric combination!

Jumping into Projector Sewing

This is a sponsored post. Products have been given to me in exchange for a review.

If you’ve been around the sewing world for very long you know that projector sewing is here to stay. I’m always on the cautious side of ‘trends’ and usually wait way too long before I pick up anything new technology-wise. I’m a creature of habit and comfort and it’s got to be GOOD for me to change my ways. It seems to take me far too long to pick up on things and man, do I need things dumbed WAY down for me to understand them. So of course I’ve been dragging my feet forever when it comes to switching to using a projector for sewing pdf patterns. When Vankyo reached out to me to see if I would be interested in trying one of their projectors in exchange for a post about my experience, well, let’s just say it was the push this stubborn lady needed!

Vankyo has multiple projectors they promote for sewing (you can see them here) and I got the Leisure 470. It checks all of the necessary boxes for ideal use with patterns- 720p, remote, screen mirroring, WiFi connection. They sent along a ceiling mount as well so I was set to get started.

My ceiling had a spot where a chandelier used to be that was just waiting for a projector to be mounted there. It also means that I will be able to easily wire my projector to the ceiling and ditch the power cord soon! We had this up and mounted in no time.

My sewing space is in our basement right at the bottom of our stairs. It’s not big and glamorous but it works really well for me (and now my girls too!). I was a little concerned that my throw height would be too short since it’s a lower basement ceiling but with 5 feet from the projector to the tabletop, it works great! I loved that this projector was sooooo user friendly- like plug it in and follow a couple of easy steps and my pattern was screen mirrored in seconds! Now actually getting to where I felt good about cutting a pattern took me a bit. There are so many helpful resources out there that really walk you through every aspect of setting up your projector, from calibrating to pattern adjustments. I’ve been in the Projectors for Sewing Facebook group for ages and it was the first place I turned when researching. I highly suggest starting with the files in this group to get you started. Many pattern designers have blogs that offer useful information, especially if you are using one of their projector files. I turned to Love Notions since I was sewing up the Allegro pattern and Katie Kimmell has an excellent post that takes you through the basics of using a projector file.

While the projector itself was a breeze to setup, I thought I’d share a couple of my stumbling blocks as I started this new way of life (there’s no turning back now right?!). With my sewing space in the basement, I typically use my phone for reading pattern instructions so I was hopeful I could use my phone to project from as well. It opened up and mirrored easily but I couldn’t get my pattern zoomed large enough to be calibrated correctly but small enough to fit a pattern piece on my tiny phone screen (that then projects onto your surface). It was also suggested to use Adobe Acrobat to project files (it’s what you typically use to print files as well). One snag is that the mobile app doesn’t support the layers function making it difficult to calibrate a file if you can’t turn on the grid and also difficult to cut the correct size if you can’t turn off the size layers. Now, these are all newbie issues and I’m sure there’s a work around that I’ll need to look more into.

Once I snagged my husband’s laptop we were in business! I was able to easily project my first pattern, the Ellie and Mac Oversized Tee. I went with a loose, knit pattern to keep it simple but I didn’t need to worry. It was super easy to check the 1″ square on the pattern page to ensure my pattern was the correct size. One reason many people are hesitant with projectors is that it makes pattern adjustments a little more difficult. For me, my most common adjustment is adding length and it was so easy! No extra paper to tape on, just my trusty quilting ruler.

Since I sew for my kids so much a projector just makes so much sense! This is my pile of printed patterns from the last year or so that I hadn’t filed away. Going through them about 75% were for my kids which means you guessed it, they had already outgrown them! I can’t wait to not have to print and cut out multiple sizes as my kids grow and grow or when I’m sewing up the same pattern for multiple kids. I’ve cut way down on pattern testing but in future tests a projector file would save a ton of time and paper. Paper- that’s a whole other issue. For patterns that I use again and again, I never felt bad about printing a pattern. But for those patterns that you might only use once or twice the waste is a little disheartening. Not anymore!

This is my first official ‘projector’ outfit: an Ellie and Mac Oversized Tee paired with a Love Notions Allegro skirt. I used a super soft jersey knit I got in LA for a comfy on the go summer look. I’m really wishing I’d sewn this earlier in the summer because it’s so breezy and cute!

It might not have been the simplest choice to use stripes for my first project but it wasn’t too bad. I was easily able to make the adjustments I wanted to these patterns. For the top, I added an inch to the sleeve length and two inches to the hemmed crop top length. For the skirt, I did a yoga waistband to keep it extra comfortable.

I kind of feel like the last person to jump on the projector band wagon but let me tell you, I am so excited! Vankyo has such affordable options and amazing reviews. If you’re anything like me you like to scout out as many reviews as you can and guess what? They all said the same thing- great, easy to use projectors at incredible prices! Thank you Vankyo for bringing this sewing chic into 2022!

Teen Style with RCF Back to School Line

As my girls are getting older, their love of clothes is getting RIDICULOUS! They love fashion and work hard and save their money to spend on the latest ready-to-wear trends. I love being able to sew things for them still and it is an even bigger thrill when they reach for their handmade wardrobes over their RTW goods!

This little miss is spending her summer dancing and it was so fun to sew up a new mini capsule for those long dance days.

The Raspberry Creek Fabrics Back to School collection just dropped and is on sale through today. I honestly thought my girls would be over Back to School prints but Kim Henrie’s School is Cool line works way beyond the classroom! I used the Mix Tape print in cozy french terry and the Checkers in rib knit for a cute mix and match look.

I used the Made for Mermaids Nicky Top and Bonny Leggings for the rib knit set. The Nicky top is our go-to boxy crop tee. We both love the fit so much. The Bonny Leggings is a free pattern and sooo easy to sew up that she sewed them up herself! It was a fun sewing day with my girly sewing up these pieces.

For the french terry pieces I used the Ellie and Mac Oversized Tee and Shwin Designs Starr Joggers. For the crop sweatshirt I used scraps of ribbing I had in my stash (from RCF as well). The Starr Joggers are modified slightly by cutting them into shorts. She loves this jogger pattern because it is a little roomier and relaxed than most.

Man, outfitting this cute teen is just too fun!

Simple Life Pattern Co. Cora

There’s just something magical about a floaty, floral maxi dress!
The Cora Top, Dress and Maxi from Simple Life Pattern Co. is simple summer perfection. Sewn up in a gorgeous Art Gallery Fabrics rayon challis, I don’t think it gets any better.

The Cottage Favorite print from Sharon Holland’s Willow line immediately jumped out at us. We both love that deep emerald/teal color and the floral print is simple and sweet. Art Gallery rayon challis is so soft and dreamy to wear and sews up easily too!

The strappy back of the Cora is definitely a show stopper! The elastic back casings create a perfect fit too!

I sewed up a size 12 with a little bit of added length to the skirt (using every inch of my three yards of fabric for this!). I’m in denial that my girls are growing out of SLPCo patterns. Hopefully, we can get one more year with this girl!

I really love that it’s both grown-up but not too ‘adult’. She wore this the next day with a little white tee underneath and it was the cutest! I love when she takes my makes and really makes them her own.

We met up with cute little Inara for some pics and these girls couldn’t be more adorable! Aren’t the backs of these dresses to die for?!

These patterns are on sale for the month of June as part of the SLPCo monthly challenge. Don’t you just love any excuse to sew up an adorable new look?!

PRP Project Jet Set: Destination Greece

If you’ve been a follower for very long you know just how much we love to travel. When Project Run and Play announced the theme for the latest collection I was over the moon! It’s been so fun to travel along with the other designers and to see all the incredible and creative destinations. My husband and I have been fortunate to travel to Europe a few times but I’ve yet to go to my ultimate dream destination of Santorini Greece. I knew that’d be the perfect place to let our imaginations explore and I had so much fun creating looks that embodied that beautiful setting.

Between Mamma Mia!, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and my favorite hidden gem tv show, The Durrells, Greece and particularly the Greek Isles and coast have charmed me!

We used fabrics from Raspberry Creek Fabrics for our looks. We stuck with vibrant blues, teals and white to recreate the incredible colors of Santorini.

Charlie went for comfortable travel clothes that can take him wherever he wanders. We used the new Singapore Shorts and Pants and paired it with the Chromium Hoodie.

I used this fun wave print available in the Design Library at RCF. Printed on french terry, it is ideal for throwing on after swimming or on cool summer nights. For the hoodie, I made a couple of alterations. I sewed on the kangaroo pocket from the Story Dress (he can’t live without a front pocket on his hoodies!). I also used the long sleeve pattern piece and hacked it to be elbow length.

The shorts pattern is actually made for wovens making it so versatile. It looks great in linen or even for swimming sewn in boardshort fabric. You know this kid and his sensory issues so I opted to use a soft knit for these. I used a faux denim ponte and love the look! These shorts have a nice wider elastic waistband, front pockets and back patch pockets, faux fly detailing, and short and pants length. They are a little relaxed fit and a great basic pattern to have in your collection.

The first piece for this cute girl is the Cancun Coverup. Again, if you know us, it was obvious I had to sew up a pattern with that name! Bonus that it is the cutest swim coverup EVER!

I used a beautiful woven swiss dot in off white and a cute dot trim I had in my stash. I sewed up the knee length version with a regular hood. The only changes I made were to sew my placket to the outside so I could add a little trim there and I skipped the pocket trim piece and used the embellished trim instead.

I think this piece will get the most wear all summer long. It’s a classic style and so easy to throw on. It sews up quickly and the fabric possibilities are infinite! How cozy would this be in a plush terry? Or sophisticated in a mesh or chiffon?

She’s been adding bucket hats to her accessories collection and I knew the Camper Hat would be the perfect addition. In a classic striped seersucker, this hat can coordinate with so much!

This pattern comes in a huge range of sizes from preemie to large adult. It’s easy to get the perfect fitting hat! I sewed up a teen size according to her head measurement and it fits so well.

It’s fully reversible so you can make it super versatile too. I did the same fabric for the main and lining, interfacing one side per the instructions. This gives it just the right amount of body without being too stiff. It’s also slimmer and the brim is shorter than a lot of her other hats, giving it a different look that I think is too cute on her!

The final pattern in this collection that I sewed up was the Saltillo Swimsuit. I can’t seem to pass up a good swimwear pattern!

This is another pattern that is full of bells and whistles. And in true teen fashion, we skipped almost all of them. I sewed up a solid royal suit with cross-back straps and optional big bow. There are leg and strap ruffles and a neckline flounce that can be added too.

The construction of the straps was my favorite part! I tend to shy away from straps because my topstitching is usually less than desirable. For these you create a casing around the elastic- no topstitching required!

A note on sizing, I talked about negative ease in my last swimwear post and how important it is to note. Her measurements are almost spot on for a size 10 but she is a 12 girth. I sewed up a straight size 10 and had to cut the back straps off about 2 inches each. The pattern tells you to try the suit on to get correct strap length so I just wanted to let you know not to skip that step! Every body is different and it’s great to get a more custom fit. You can also see the suit is a little bunchy and loose. Not terrible but just note that this suit doesn’t have the negative ease I’m used too. This is a bonus though for anyone with sensory issues as they won’t feel as tight or confined as other suits. AND there are no exposed seams on the inside so they’ll be extra, extra happy! The crotch area is wider which provides extra coverage in the front and back but I think I’ll need to slim hers down a bit in the front for her next one.

As you can tell, we had a little too much fun at our photo shoot. It was 8 pm (yassss to late sunsets!), Charlie had just been swimming all night and Payton was at dance all afternoon. It could’ve been a recipe for disaster but these kiddos were amazing! I think it’s the taste of summer in the air. We can’t wait for long days together, sunshine, and fun!