Category: Sewing for Boys

Love Notions and Raspberry Creek Fabrics- A Match Made in Kid Heaven!

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This post contains Love Notions affiliate links.  Purchasing through my links gives me a small kick back that I use to keep this blog up and running.  Thank you so much for helping keep my little corner of the web going!

An amazing Love Notions sale at the same time as a new Raspberry Creek fabric line is cause for a little celebrating!  All patterns (except the newly revamped Rhapsody) are on sale for 40% off through tomorrow, Sunday May 10th.  40% off!!!  That’s impossible to pass up.  I decided to use a variety of kids patterns for some super fun outfits for my kiddos.

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First, I sewed up the Girl’s Tidal Top and Tank.  I sewed up a batch of these in testing but always forget about this fun pattern.  It’s so fun to mix prints and has lots of options- Tunic, top, and dress length as well as tank, sleeveless, and short sleeves.  Like most Love Notions kids patterns, it comes in sizes 2t-16, one of my favorite things since my girls are creeping near the top end of most children’s size charts.  There’s a ladies version that I love as well!

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I used this pretty Vintage Tropical Floral print (there are SOOOOO many gorgeous florals in this line it was nearly impossible to pick!) paired with Salmon Painted Check Gingham and solid salmon jersey for the bands.  I love pairing florals with other fun prints and this gingham is so cute!  It coordinated so good with both the cupcakes and sprinkle prints too.

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My little guy got a comfy new outfit too!  He’s been wearing things for multiple days during this strange stay at home time.  It’s been amazing on laundry.  He only wants to wear the most comfortable clothes though.  This outfit made the cut!

I used the Tie Dye Sports Balls in french terry for his shorts and heathered grey and teal solid jerseys for his tee.

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I sewed up the Sprint Muscle Shirt for the first time and we both absolutely love it!  I can’t wait to make some for my girls too.  The front color blocking detail is sporty and so fun.  You can do it with or without the hood and front color blocking.  I think my girls need a cute graphic muscle tee- think rocker-style!

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For the shorts I used the Thomas Track Pants basic short variation.  I love that this pattern works for both knit and woven.  It’s fantastic for jammies and it worked great for these easy to wear lounge shorts.  I used 1.5″ elastic in the waistband just per personal preference and cut the legs 2″ above his knee.  We rolled them quickly for these pics and I’ll make sure to tack the hems up on the side seams.  He tried these on and has refused to take them off.  Good sign but leaves little details like hems for later, lol!

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The girls fell in love with the whole Sweet Treats line by Brittney Laidlaw.   They both needed new summer pj’s and this line was just perfect for them.

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Payton got a new Luna Loungewear set.  This pattern has extended plus sizing which is so hard to find for kids.  It has a cami, nighty, capri, short and bralette all included.  I used the cami and capri’s for this set.  Big sis got a set in testing that she is still wearing all these years later.  They’ve been such a favorite! There’s also a ladies version if you want to treat yourself too!

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This little miss was smitten with the Cupcake print.   It’s such an adorable print!  The colors are absolutely amazing.  I struggled when picking coordinates because it goes with ALL the pinks! It’s adorable with lighter hues but this girl needed a little something bright and cheery so I went with fuchsia jersey for the main cami and light pink for the straps.

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Big sis got a new set of Namaste pj’s.  She rotates between her Luna capris (that are now bermuda shorts) and her Namaste set each night so I knew she needed another set to throw in there.  (There’s a ladies version of this pattern as well and I LOVE my set!).

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The Namaste pattern features a faux crossover top and matching detail on the pant.  There are short and long sleeves as well as shorts and full length pants.  There is also a night shirt view.  I added a couple of inches to the length of these shorts (I sewed up a size 10 width but she’s in a 16 for height!).

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This cute sprinkle fabric is like a party in a print!  It coordinates with everything!  I paired it with solid mint jersey but you could use so many of the other summer prints with it or any of the CLUB basics too.  It’s just so cheerful!

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It was so nice to get back to my machines and to sew up some old favorites as well as a new favorite too.  Love Notions patterns remind me how much I love sewing.  They come together easily and always fit me and my kids so well.  They’re easy to alter to our liking and are usually no-fuss and so comfortable to wear, especially in RCF CLUB knits.  Sewing with CLUB knits is my happy place.  They are just the right weight and so easy to sew (no curling or stretching out).  A couple of days with Love Notions and RCF was just what this mama needed.

Make sure to grab your Love Notions patterns on sale through tomorrow.  You can search my blog for Love Notions pattern to read all about my favorites.  These Raspberry Creek prints are also on sale through Wednesday the 13th.  What a perfect combination!

 

Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics Day Four- Girls Swim Capsules

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Day four is here and I’m so excited for today’s post.  Swim capsules are so fun to sew and even more fun to wear.  Being able to mix and match pieces gives you so many options and stretches your swim wardrobe so far.  Plus it’s amazing for kids and tweens who can’t seem to keep their two-piece suits in one place- just grab any piece and go!

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I created two different capsules, one for each of my girls.  They each picked their fabrics and I had fun picking patterns to pair with these prints.  Raspberry Creek Fabrics offers so many prints that coordinate making it so easy to come up with cute combos.  I like to do at least one stripe, a fun print (like the leopard prints or a pretty floral), and a solid or something subtle that will match everything.

For this set I used Blossom Pink and Sage Palm Trees, Blossom Pink Polka Dots, Abstract Animal Print, Black White Sage Blossom Pink Multi Stripe, Black and White Leopard, and Solid Blossom Pink.  Can you see how many of them had the same colors in the name of the listing?  This makes it so easy to know if your prints will match!

The fabrics from this set were all part of the same collection from Kim Henrie which means they were designed to coordinate!  I used the Vertical Multi Stripe, Pink Orange and Black Leopard, Tangerine Orange Micro Stripe, and Pink Micro Stripe.

I sewed this set up before our trip to Hawaii in January and it was so perfect for our beach days!  These pictures make me so wistful for warmer days, traveling, and times when our biggest worry was what flavor of shave ice to get.

For this set I used the Made for Mermaids Calypso pattern.  It’s one of my go-tos (you can see our other versions here and here) and it was easy to customize.  These are a size 10 with a 12 length.  For the bottoms I cut on the plain high-waisted height but still added the band to give it a little more height.  This girl is very conservative and likes to be covered.  Her tops are all Calypso tops as well.  The pink stripe is the view A double flounce.  For the leopard top I simple used only the long flounce pieces and omitted the top layer.  The orange stripes is a view B bandeaux top.  I highly recommend this pattern if you are new to sewing or just a little timid when sewing swim.  The pattern is full of tips and the techniques used are now my default way for doing things.  All of the pieces are lined (the tops I just did the front bandeaux piece and the bottoms are fully lined) and the way you put them together all of the side seams are nice and hidden making them even more comfortable.

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I can’t get over how much I love this set!  It’s so cheery and a little bit unexpected.  She loved wearing these pieces on our trip and I know they’ll be worn a ton when we finally get some warm days.

Now, this set I got a little more creative.  I used the Calypso, the Megan Nielsen Mini Cottesloe, Made for Mermaids Roxy, and the Modkid Perfect Tee.  She requested a rash guard, another Cottesloe, and some more high-waisted bottoms.  These patterns were great choices to create the capsule of her dreams.

Both of these bottoms are the Roxy bottoms from Made for Mermaids.  They are a size 10 with a band added to the top.  She was right in between an 8 and 10 for waist and hips so I sized up since we’re at the start of the season.  They are slightly big and the added band brings them in a bit.  This time for the band, I trimmed off the top of both the front and back pieces and then added the band by sewing my elastic in the round, folding the band pieces over it and serging it on.  For the tie on the pink pair, I added a couple of inches to the wide end that gets sewn into the side seams so that our bow would be a little longer.

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This top is the Calypso with the single long flounce.  It’s just so cute and quick to sew that I can’t help making a million of them.

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For the rash guard I used my slimmest tee pattern which is the Modkid Perfect Tee.  I sewed it exactly per the pattern instructions (adding a lining to the front piece) and in her current size (size 10).  I personally like mine a bit more fitted but she was really happy with a bit looser fit.

Let’s talk about the Cottesloe.  These pieces are the view D high waisted bottoms with the high scoop back top in a size 9 with 11 length.  I tested this pattern last year and it was one of her favorite suits.  I do have a couple of issues with this pattern.  First there are no trunk measurements which makes it really hard to determine the right size for length.  I laid one of our one-piece patterns that fits well on top of this one piece and it was at least 3-inches too short (if I used the longest size Cottesloe).  For that reason, I’ll be sticking to the two piece for my girls.  I also measure my own elastic for the waist and lower bodice.  I cut pieces three inches longer than the pattern called for based on her size.

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The Cottesloe has much more negative ease than other patterns that I’ve used.  These are the slightly too big Roxy bottoms under the Cottesloe’s.  There’s quite the difference but both fit just fine.  The Cottesloe’s are stretched much more and the Roxy’s are only stretched a bit across her bottom.

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These sets just have me wishing and dreaming of another beach vacation and lazy days in the sun!

Thanks for joining us this week!  Make sure you use code SWIMTOUR to get 15% off you swim fabrics order this week.

 

Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics Day Three- New Favorite Swim Patterns for men, boys, and girls

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We’re halfway through the Suit Up for Summer Blog Tour.  Do you have a favorite suit you’ve seen yet?  Are you making plans for your own swimsuit sewing?  I don’t know about you but my list of patterns to try continues to grow with each post!

Today I want to share a few of my favorite suit patterns.  I sewed suits up for my four youngest kids this tour (I have the fabric ready to go for my oldest but with limited sewing time he’ll get his a bit later).  In sewing so many suits, I had a few patterns jump out as favorites.

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First, I want to talk about the Men’s Swim Trunks by 5 out of 4.  I sewed these up last year for my oldest and he loved them so when looking for a pattern for this growing boy I turned to them again.  He’s now sized out of most boy patterns and is on the small end of men’s patterns.  I used a size small and made a couple of adjustments.

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He requested this checker fabric but really wanted a plain black waistband.  This pattern has you sew on a separate inner waistband piece that gets flipped all the way to the inside.  To meet his request I took length off the front and back rise and doubled the width of the waistband piece to make a separate waistband casing.  I then sewed it on like a band and left an opening for the elastic.  I skipped grommet holes and added a faux drawstring.  This pattern calls for 1.5″ elastic in the waist and I think it was perfect.  I think after sewing all the board shorts for this tour I need to stock up on that size elastic!

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I skipped all of the pockets and kept these nice and simple.  I did chop three inches off of the length to get this length on him.  The pattern doesn’t have height measurements but instead has finished inseam measurements to help you get the look you want.

If you are looking for a men’s swim trunk pattern, this is a great pattern to work with.  It’s a nice base if you want to play around with it too.

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These two patterns are new to me this year and I am absolutely smitten (as are these two!).  It’s no surprise to me that many of the other bloggers on the tour also sewed these patterns up- they’re just so cute! I’m talking about the Lowland Kids Swim Briefs and Sofiona Designs Narwhal Swimsuit.  I shared another pair of swim briefs yesterday and I’m pretty sure he’ll have at least one more pair come summertime.

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The swim briefs are unlike most boy patterns in that they are sewn with regular stretch swim fabric.  My little guy LOVES how comfy they are!

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This is a size 7/8 in the wider width (the upper sizes have both a regular and wide fit).  I skipped the real drawstring and sewed my signature faux drawstring (nothing worse than loose drawstrings falling out).  These are not lined- they were my tester for yesterdays pair and RCF swim fabric is nice and opaque so I knew they’d still be wearable.  I did line the next pair with sport mesh and he loves them either way.

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I was nervous he’d miss the brief-type of liner but he really prefers these over them.  He’s a boxer brief kinda kid so this feels natural and comfortable to him.

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Let’s talk about the Narwhal.  It’s so full of options and with each new version I see I now feel the need to sew them ALL.  She’s declared this her favorite suit I’ve ever made her!  That makes this momma over the moon!

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I sewed the one-piece version with the pieced front and criss-cross detailing.  This is a size 8 chest blended to a 10 in hips, waist, and trunk.  I loved all the measurements included, with loads of finished garment measurements.  This makes it so much easier to get a good fit on kiddos that don’t fall into one size.

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I skipped the criss-cross back detail and simply sewed my straps right onto the back binding.  Believe it or not, I’m not sure I’ve sewn a swimsuit with binding since my very first suit years and years ago.  I’ve been avoiding them like the plague!  Turns out- they’re not so scary!  I used my twin needle on my sewing machine and they really were pretty easy.  Not perfect but still good.

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For these suits I sewed up the lemons (paired with the solid yellow swim).  I think navy, yellow, and kelly green are one of my favorite combos.  So preppy and classic!  This is right up there as one of my favorite RCF swim prints ever.

Make sure to head to the other blogs sharing all their cute makes today.

Made By Kates Sewing and Things Desert Blooms Sweet Mama Life Paisley Roots

Follow along all week for so much sunny inspiration!
It’s Liesel House of Curves Stitching and Making Replicate then Deviate

A HUGE thank you to all our pattern sponsors!!!

 

Simple Life Pattern Company  Love Notions  Hey June Handmade  New Horizons Designs
Sew A Little Seam  Jilly Atlanta  Ensemble Patterns  Petit A Petit & Family
Striped Swallow Designs  Jennuine Designs  Jalie  Ellie & Mac  Sew Like My Mom  Lowland Kids  Phat Quarters  Greenstyle Creations  Chalk & Notch  Made For Mermaids  Lil Luxe Collection  Violette Field Threads  Patterns For Pirates  Rebecca Page  Shwin Designs  Sinclair Patterns  Call Ajaire  Boo Designs  Tadah Patterns

Use code SWIMTOUR for 15% off swim fabrics this week only!

 

Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics Day Two- Boy Swimwear PDF Comparison

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It’s Day Two and I’m feeling so uplifted already.  Yesterday’s posts were so enlightening and relatable.  I loved the creativity and it’s so heartwarming knowing that we’re all in this crazy situation together.  Sending you all lots of love from my little corner of the internet.
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For today’s post I’m doing my own ‘comparison’ post of four different boy swimsuit patterns.  The comparison is in quotes because these are not all sewn straight per the pattern.  I shortened two of the patterns and did a different waistband elastic on one as well.  These were personal preference but shouldn’t affect the overall fit of each suit.  I sewed up the Sew A Little Seam Linden Shorts with the liner-added, 5 out of 4 Boys Kids Swim Trunks, Peek A Boo Patterns School’s Out Shorts, and the new Lowland Kids Swim Briefs.  For reference his waist and hip measurements are 23.5″ and 26.5″ and he’s 52 inches tall.
He picked all of these fabrics.  My kids are lucky to get to see the previews and they all end up with lists of their favorite prints.  This guy was adamant that he get Sharks, Surfboards, Pirates, and Checkers (to match big brother of course!).  I’m always happy to sew up as much swim as possible!

This is the Linden Shorts.  This is a size 8 cut at the skirt ruffle hemline and I used the full elastic waistband and added the swimsuit liner from the add-on pack.  I used 1-inch elastic in the waistband although it calls for 1.5″ (I highly recommend sticking with the 1.5″).  The fit on these is good.  The rise is a little shorter than the others so if your little one tend to need more room I would recommend adding a bit of height to the rise.  I like that these are a little slimmer through the leg too.

These are the 5 out of 4 Kids Swim Trunks.  This is a straight size 8 shorter length with inseam pockets.  His biggest complaint with these is that the hole for the pocket opening is so small he can’t fit his hand in.  I’m also not a big fan of the 2″ elastic waistband, I think it’s a bit too wide for his size and he complained about it too but that’s an easy thing to switch out next time.  Overall, the fit of these is good.  The rise is better on him than the Linden’s and with those little tweaks this will be a great pattern for his body.

These are the Peek-A-Boo School’s Out Shorts.  For these I sewed a size 7 and cut them at the 6 mos. knee length line (it’s about an inch longer than the short cut line).  I sewed up the Lowland Kids Swim Boardies last year for him and just love this style.  He said the Boardies were too short so I wanted to give the PAB pattern a try again (he had this pair from two years ago).  These might be my favorite!  I think this style in the Surfboard print is just perfection! They sew up super quick (no hemming, yay!) and I love the look of the bias trim.  He did complain that the elastic around the thighs of the liner was too tight but that’s something I can fix in the future as well.

The Lowland Kids Swim Briefs are different from the other patterns in that it uses regular stretch swim fabric.  I’ve always loved the Sew Like My Mom Palm Euros and this pattern is a great alternative as he gets older and has a strong opinion on what he wears (no tight suits for him!).  The pattern comes with a regular (slim) option and a wider option for sizes 6/7-9/10.  This is a 7/8 in the wider option.  I did a pocket band instead of binding and skipped the drawstring holes in the waistband.  I love this pattern but did really struggle with the waistband- like unpicking it a million times and setting it in time out so I could pour me a stiff drink (Coke on the rocks with a little Coconut creamer for good measure).  It was a lot of slippery layers and it was tricky to stretch the elastic to fit but not impossible and it does leave a nice clean finish at the waist.  He declared this suit his favorite and definitely the most comfortable.  The soft swim fabric I’m sure is so much softer against the skin than board short fabric and that’s a huge plus for this kid that lives in sweatpants everyday.

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Are you sewing for boys?  Is there any other patterns we should test out?  I’m pretty sure we found some keepers with this group and I’m sure he’ll be asking for more come summer time.

Today’s other bloggers are sure to inspire you.  Head over to the Raspberry Creek blog for the latest post and don’t forget to hit up IG for today’s giveaway!

 

 

Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics Day One- Coordinating Suits for the Family

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It’s time for one of my favorite blog tours- the Raspberry Creek Fabrics Suit Up for Summer tour!  My love of sewing swimsuits runs deep and I live for this week to sew and share my love with you all.

Stay tuned to the end of this post for all the details of this week long tour including all the amazing bloggers joining in, a tour-exclusive fabric discount and giveaway info!

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Karly of Paisley Roots and I have been prepping for this tour for months.  We’ve been excited to share the amazing suits that our tour bloggers have been working on.  With the events of the last few weeks, we hesitated to move forward with the tour but after a collective vote we all agreed that the world needs a little sunshine right now.

I don’t know about you but the act of sewing swimsuits for me is an act of faith.  I usually start in February or March to ensure that my family is set once the warm weather hits.  Sewing swimwear when it’s snowing and temperatures are freezing is showing a hope and faith that sunny summer days are coming soon.  It helps me beat that winter gloom just imagining my family together at the swimming pool or lounging on the beach.  This year that faith is even stronger as we’re living with such an uncertain future.  I know that there will be pool days and laughter ahead.  The sun will shine bright and I won’t take for granted when my extended family gathers for a swim at Grammy’s pool.  I’ll savor the play dates at the splash pad and splashing on the trampoline with the sprinklers.  I have hope and know that we will all be so grateful for each and every day of normalcy.

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This week, I’ll be bringing you a post everyday that will hopefully inspire you to get sewing and look towards your own sunny days ahead.  Today I’m sharing some fun family coordinating suits.  I’ll share more details on each suit later this week but for now want to get your mind going with all of the cute fabric combinations available at RCF.

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I love that each RCF fabric release has coordinating collections within it.  It helps take the guesswork out of matching prints.  It’s also fun to find your own group of prints and basics that work perfectly together since all of the RCF designers use our CLUB basics for the colors of their prints.  I’m loving all of the black and white prints this year and was happy that my kids each picked some as their favorites.  My teenage son picked the Black and White Checker Print for his suit and I was thrilled when the other three chose prints that went so well with it.  For his suit I used the board short base but for little brother’s I used the stretch swim base.  Big sister is wearing Coral Palm Leaves paired with Black and White Micro Stripes.  Little Sis fell hard for the Blossom Pink and Sage Palm Trees that match perfectly with the Blossom Pink Solid.  I love that these all look great together but aren’t too over-the-top as a whole.

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I came up with a few more combinations that would work for the whole family.  This set includes: Tonal Teal Grey Multi Stripe, Grey Gingham basic, Navy and Lilac Sea Creatures, Deep Lilac Swim Solid, and Charcoal Grey Board Short.

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These Bananas are just about the cutest thing ever! Paired with Black Gingham, Black and White Leopard Print, and fun vivid solids like Lipstick Pink and Bright Yellow, this group just makes me so happy!

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For a more low-key family look, I did another pink and black combo.  These Cactus look great on any gender and any age.  I love them with the Black and White Checker print but they also coordinate well with the Handrawn Dots or Coral Gingham (can you tell I’m a big fan of ALL the ginghams!).  Throw in a classic solid black board short and this combination is to die for!

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Ready for all the tour details?!

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Join us all week long on Instagram for fun giveaways from some of our tour sponsors.

 

  You can also shop and save 15% on swim fabrics with code SWIMTOUR.

Follow along this week with this talented group of bloggers.  You can head to the RCF blog for previews of each days tour participants.

 

Thanks for joining in our fun and we really hope this week brings you a little joy and hope for amazing days to come!

Riley Blake Called to Serve

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This year is a year of milestones for my little family.  My husband and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage in September.  My kids will turn 18, 16, 13, 11, and 8 and so many of those birthdays will bring big celebrations and important events.  There will be a high school graduation and an elementary school graduation as well.  I’ll gain a new teenager and officially have an adult child.  Just typing that all out has me teary-eyed!  How did I get so lucky and where have all the years gone!

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When I saw Riley Blake’s new Called to Serve line I knew it’d be perfect for this upcoming year of mine.  My oldest has already started preparing to serve a two-year mission for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He’s attending extra classes on Sunday, doing the necessary medical forms, and is getting excited to serve the Lord.  As much as this breaks my mama heart to send him away that long, there isn’t another thing in the world I’d rather him do.

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When thinking about what I could tuck into his suitcase, I knew a simple pillowcase would be perfect.  It folds up small, will wash up great, and will be a nightly reminder of how much his mom loves him.  Each night as his exhausted head hits his pillow, he will be reminded of why he’s there and how much he’s loved at home.  I love all of the uplifting sayings on this print and the message that he’s there to serve.  The classic simple designs are so universal and not too juvenile.  It’s just too good!

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I used the Free Roll-up Pillowcase tutorial on the Riley Blake website.  I love that the inside is full of clean finishes so I can be confident that this will hold up throughout his mission.  It was a simple project that I think I will have to use in the future too!  I think it’s a great beginners project and one my kids would enjoy sewing themselves.

pocketpillows1My youngest will be getting baptized this year and has just really begun to study the scriptures on his own.  He likes to read them at bedtime or sometimes listens to them on his devices too.  I sewed up a pocket pillow that’s perfect for holding his books or Kindle and will be a great reminder each night to do his reading.

pocketpillows2Since he shares a room with his big sister she also got a pillow too.  I let them pick out which colorway they wanted in the temple print and which coordinates too.

This temple print is gorgeous!  The Angel Moroni statues are all metallic gold which I think adds such a pretty touch.  payton1It’ll be fun for them to learn about the temples and identify which ones are on this print.    As we travel around the country, we always try to stop by and visit each temple so they’ll get a kick out of seeing the ones we’ve seen in person.

payton2For this pillow I roughly followed a tutorial in Melissa Mortenson’s book Project Teen.  Her tutorial used a full size pillow but I wanted to adapt it to a small throw pillow size since my kids beds are full of all of their favorite stuffed animals.  This smaller size (12X17) was a great size to hold their book or their device and headphones too.  I loved that the pocket didn’t go across the full front of the pillow and I was able to customize their pillows with a little Cricut vinyl.  This was a great place for my kids to have some input too.  They picked the vinyl color and fonts.  I really try to let them have a little ownership over our projects in hopes that they love it all the more.calledtoserve1

As we embark on this exciting year, I’m up for any and all advice you all have!  Do you have your own missionary?  Any tips as we prepare?  What helped you as a mom prepare?  I have a feeling I’ll be sewing my emotions away!

Make sure you check out this new line at your local quilt shops.  I keep thinking of all the great gifts it could be used for- scripture totes, quilts, church bags, or temple bags.  They’re good for newlyweds, missionaries, new converts, and more.  I feel so lucky to have been able to do a project that merged so much of what makes me ‘me’- my family, my hobby, and my religion.  Wish me luck this year!

Raspberry Creek Fabrics Spring 2020 CLUB line

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I absolutely LOVE this time of year.  February, you ask?!  No, I am so over winter BUT February means new CLUB prints from Raspberry Creek Fabrics!  Spring sewing is just what I need to beat these winter blues!

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Part of my job at Raspberry Creek Fabrics is that I get to work with our strike team.  As soon as we preview each new line, I sit down with my kiddos and they ooh and aah over all the new prints.  They always have a handful of favorites that they want immediately in their closets.  It usually goes something like this, “I want a hoodie out of that, a t-shirt in that, pj’s in those, and a dress in that print!”  Sometimes their wish lists are a mile long!

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I’m usually happy to oblige!  CLUB knits are my favorites to sew with.  They are stable and my serger LOVES them.  Most of these projects are quick and easy sews, usually taking under an hour per garment.  That’s my kind of project- especially when I have three eager kiddos awaiting each finished piece.  I’m excited to share what I’ve sewn up so far from the new spring collection.

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This look was one I debated making for myself.  My tween and I are usually on the same page fashion-wise and if it’s something I’m crushing on I can pretty much guarantee she wants it too.  Chest stripe sweatshirts keep cropping up everywhere and I knew I wanted to recreate one- this time she was the lucky recipient.  I used the Flora Stripe in french terry, paired with the light heather grey french terry and deep sage and dusty rose jersey.   I sewed up the Hatteras Hoodie from Hey June Handmade and did my own color blocking with the stripes.  An easy hack for such a cute result!  I threw in a pair of lounge shorts using the Lexi and Lou Loungers from Made for Mermaids.  She’s already worn the sweatshirt to school with jeans in this cold weather and I think come summer this will be a cute outfit to throw on after a day at the pool.

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This girl is all about the girly prints and fun details.  I’ve been wanting to sew up another Striped Swallow Designs Apres Ski top for her and this pretty floral was just perfect for it.   I’ve sewn up the Apres Ski plenty of times before in lighter-weight fabrics but I think this jersey just might be my favorite.  I love how full the sleeves look in it!

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This little guy was the proud recipient of a handful of new clothes this past week.  He’s growing so fast and I’m desperately trying to keep him clothed so this was perfect timing.  I’m a sucker for stripes and the spring line is full of so many good ones.  I used the Fauna stripes in french terry paired with the grey heather ft and teal jersey this time.  I sewed up a classic Sew A Little Seam Constance Sweater using the stripes.  For the pants I used True Bias Mini Hudson Pants and sewed a racing stripe to the side seam using the Fauna stripes.  I simply cut the stripe leaving the white stripe on either side and folded that under.  I sewed the first side down right on the side seam then sewed the other side down on the back of the pants.  Another easy hack that takes these pants up a notch!

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This kid loves his hoodies and was smitten with this Knight and Dragon fabric too.  This time I used jersey fabric for a lighter weight top that will work well through spring.  I turned to the Rowan tee from Titchy Threads (it’s a good one if you haven’t tried it!).  It’s got a slim fit that fits my little guy so well.  I love that arm stripe detail!

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This last piece for Charlie is quite possibly my favorite thing in his wardrobe.  It was such a fun make and I love how it came out.  I used the Ellie and Mac Be Creative Hoodie.  It was my first Ellie and Mac make and I have to admit I’m always apprehensive trying out new designers.  I was so impressed with this pattern and all the little details it includes.  Those are faux drawstrings which I love considering they ALWAYS come out in the wash.  The color blocking options with this pattern are so fun too.  I used this amazing City Map print in french terry paired with black french terry and hunter jersey for a sweatshirt that is our high school colors.  He’s already excited to wear this to his big brother’s soccer games!

Fun fact about this kiddo:  He wore these fake glasses all last week and convinced all his friends they were his reading glasses.  He made sure to include that he was getting contacts this weekend so he wasn’t stuck wearing them forever!  Yes, we did have a little chat about it but man, did he crack me up!  I love that I got these pictures to remember this funny little man!

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Have you filled up your cart yet?  What prints are you getting?  Remember that release week pricing of $1 off per yard ends Monday February 17th so make sure you check out soon!  I think we all need a little spring sewing!

 

Love Notions New Year Sale- A LN Roundup!

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Happy New Year!  We celebrated with a little fondue, Rock Band and confetti cannons and now it’s time to relax and settle into an exciting year to come.

My first post of the year (decade!) is very fitting.  I’m bringing you a round up of some of my favorite Love Notions makes from 2019 in honor of their rare 30% off site-wide sale.  2019 brought a little slow-down to my sewing but I still made sure to make plenty of time to continue to work with the companies that I love- Love Notions being at the top of that list!  I love the quality of LN patterns and the fact that there’s a little something for the whole family.

This post contains affiliate links.  Purchasing through them does not cost you any more but I do receive a small commission.  I like to mention that I joined the Love Notions family AFTER being a long time tester and falling in love with the patterns and thorough testing process.

The Samson Sweater is one of those patterns I use over and over.  I love it for my girls and also my little guy.  It’s a little boxier than our other raglan patterns and makes the perfect sweatshirt.  It’s easy to size up, add length or crop to get different looks.  Plus it sews up soooo fast!

I made my first Kayak Boardshorts last year and I’m hoping to squeeze in another pair for our mid-winter beach trip.  They were super easy to hack to get this look for my teenager but I think my littlest man would love a pair as-is.  The knit waistband would be just what he prefers.

The Sloane Sweater continues to be a favorite for both me and my kids.  Last year I made for my first one for Charlie and I adore how it turned out.  There are a ton of options and that back yoke piece is just perfect for playing with fabric combos.

Last year was all about the dresses for me.  Dresses are my favorite things to sew and Love Notions Lyric and Dolce dresses were a big hit for me and my girly.  I can’t wait to sew a new one for my this spring!

I also added a couple of new Willow Wrap dresses to my wardrobe and I adore this pattern!  These are both maxi hacks- the mustard version uses the Olympia skirt and the tropical print is just a lengthened gathered skirt version.  These dresses are the ultimate in comfort!

The Melody Dolman is the LN pattern release I anticipated the most and it did not disappoint.  I wore this top to death all summer and love how easy to wear it is.  It looks great with jeans and feels so pulled together.  If you are looking to try a button-up pattern for the first time, this is a great intro pattern.  It’s easy to follow and sews up so nice and quick.

The Octave Coat is one of my proudest makes of 2019.  I wear this beauty so much and feel giddy at the thought that I actually made it.  It was a fairly simple sew and another great pattern for anyone wanting to push themselves just a bit.  With so many different recommended fabric choices, you can make just the coat you’re dreaming of.

To round out this round-up, I’ll leave you with my absolute favorite Love Notions pattern, the Classic Tee (the girl’s version is equally awesome!).  I wore these tees to death all spring, summer, and fall and continue to wear them layered under cardis and sweatshirts in the cold weather.  I also love the long sleeve option.  This tee is the perfect slouchy tee and I love it in so many different fabrics.  If you were to just buy one pattern during the sale, do yourself a favor and pick up this beaut.

It was really hard to pick my top Love Notions patterns!  If you’re looking for more options you can head here for all of my past Love Notions makes.  Happy New Year and Happy Shopping!

 

 

Personalized Christmas Jammies with Cricut Maker, EasyPress 2, and EasyPress Mini

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


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How many of you have the tradition of fresh new pajamas for Christmas morning?  It was a tradition in my home growing up and one that I’ve loved carrying on with my own kids.  Some years we all sport matching sets, sometimes they’re a mix of store-bought and handmade, and sometimes the littles get cozy footie pajamas while the rest of us are happy with new flannel pj pants.  This year I’m excited to be ahead of the game and my kids are thrilled with their new jammies that match their personalities to a tee.  This post is sponsored by both Cricut and Raspberry Creek Fabrics to really bring their visions to life.

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We broke out all things Cricut for this post and I can’t wait to share all about them.  We used the new Infusible Ink products, some fun Iron-On Designs, Everyday Iron-On with my Cricut Maker, EasyPress 2, and EasyPress Mini.  Having the right products and materials made it so easy to create looks that this crew really loves.

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The first thing we did was head to Raspberry Creek to pick their fabric.  My younger three are all about the CLUB fabrics.  I try to keep them in CLUB pajamas for every season.  The CLUB fabric bases are so soft and comfortable and are their absolute favorites.  I loved that they immediately found prints they loved and that they went for three different base fabrics- the famous cotton lycra, double brushed polyester, and the new sweatshirt fleece.  My big boys wanted flannel bottoms and you can’t go wrong with any of the Robert Kaufman flannels in the shop.  They are so soft and fluffy and wash up better and softer with each wash.  I have a pair from many years ago that still look brand new even after constant washing during the colder months.

With their fabrics picked, we found the perfect matches for their personalized tops.  My big boys wanted simple designs so we tried out a couple of Infusible Ink papers.  My oldest daughter loves buffalo plaid and we just had to do the matching Infusible Ink.  My spunky younger daughter fell for the perfect Iron-On Design and my little man went with easy Everyday Iron-On.

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My littlest was very insistent he needed this adorable Christmas Cactus print for his pj’s.  He sat on my lap and scrolled through DesignSpace with me and just cracked up at this design he picked.  Boy, does it suit him!  He’s sweet to the bone but his curiosity can get the best of him.  We used Kelly Green Everyday Iron-On for a simple tee that we both love!  I used the Titchy Threads Rowan tee for his top and Sew A Little Seam (free) Movie Night Pj’s for his bottoms.

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This little miss loved this bright and fun Iron-On Design.  I let her cut it all out and place it on her tee how she wanted.  We used our favorite raglan pattern, Hey June’s Camden, and leggings pattern, Love Notions free Leggins’ to create an easy set.  I wouldn’t be surprised if these pieces made their way into her everyday wardrobe too.  This striped double brushed polyester is one of my favorites from the fall collection and I can always count on my go-to mustard dots to coordinate with just about everything.

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It’s no surprise that this daughter of mine picked something I totally want for myself!  I would live in those cozy fleece joggers!  We used this buffalo plaid sweatshirt fleece for a pair of Made for Mermaids Lexi and Lou Loungers (with added elastic in the waist) that I’m sure she’ll wear every chance she gets.  How fun is it that this Infusible Ink matches so good?!! Perfection!  She picked this darling deer head from DesignSpace for a look that is so on trend.  We used a Cricut blank tee as the base and we were both in awe as we watched the Infusible Ink melt into it.  It was shocking to see how bright and smooth it came out!  We were both mesmerized by it and are already planning more projects with it so we can see the magic again.

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This kid is the ultimate sports fan.  His room is decorated floor to ceiling with all things Broncos, Jazz, Yankees, and soccer.  It was no surprise he wanted a simple Utah Jazz note on his tee.  We used Infusible Ink and a Cricut blank tee paired with his cozy Patterns for Pirates Walk the Plank pj pants (another free pattern!).

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My oldest is a senior this year and spends all his free time playing soccer.  We found this cool silhouette in Design Space that looks soooo much like him- it was perfect!  I added his school name and graduation year to really personalize it.  He also got a pair of Walk the Plank bottoms.

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For the front designs, I used my big EasyPress 2.  I love the even, smooth results I get every time!  I couldn’t live without my EasyPress!  I was so excited to get the EasyPress Mini.  I used iron-on size tags in almost all our handmades (it makes hand-me-downs easier and also helps my kiddos find the back, lol!).  The EasyPress Mini is going to live in my sewing space and makes adding those little tags so.dang.easy.  It heats up fast and is the perfect size to get in the neckline.  My mind was blown!

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A HUGE thank you to Cricut and Raspberry Creek Fabrics for providing all the supplies for this post.  I love that we were able to spend time together creating the perfect jammies for each of my kiddos.  The memories of that day are just as special as the pj’s!  That’s what the holidays are all about!

Riley Blake Designer Knits for the family

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I love working with Riley Blake Fabrics and get excited with each new release.  As a garment sewist, I get especially excited by their new knits.  This latest collection has me giddy!  There was something for the whole family and I had to decide which kids I liked best that got in on this goodness, lol.

Riley Blake knits are similar in quality to other custom knits.  It’s a little lighter in weight than our Raspberry Creek Club knits which give it a bit more drape.  It has a similar softness and stretch and is a 95/5 cotton spandex blend as well.  We LOVE our knit garments and these will fit right into our wardrobes.

Charlie2This boy is soooo picky when it comes to how his clothes feel.  I think I’ve spoiled him by sewing him only the softest knits and this Riley Blake fabric is no exception.  He wanted this top to be a pajama shirt because he only wants the comfiest things to sleep in.  When I told him he can wear it all day AND sleep in it, he thought he’d hit the jackpot!  Charlie4I sewed up my new go-to tee for him, the Titchy Threads Rowan Tee.  The pattern is full of options and fun details.  This was my first time skipping all the extras and making a plain ol’ long sleeve tee.  The fit is so good on him, slim but not tight.  It’s just so perfect for really highlighting this fabric.Payton2This little miss absolutely loves to browse the Riley Blake site with me and pick her favorites.  She was immediately drawn to these blue flowers (she’s narrowed down her favorite colors to wear and we’re lucky that blue is one of them!).  I’m still loving a good floral and stripe combo so we paired it with some navy stripes.  Payton3She requested another Little Luxe Collection Palmetto Pullover.  We both can’t get over those adorable cuffs (dad even mentioned how cute they were)!  We did the mock neck version this time and I love how sweet it turned out.  I love that it’s not just a basic tee but that all those little details really elevate it to a whole new level.Mom3I honestly debated on getting any fabric for me.  You guys know I’d much rather be behind the camera but I couldn’t get this print out of my head.  I’ve really been wanting an easy to throw on maxi dress and I knew this print was too perfect for my vision.  Those colors are just meant for me, right?!  How much mustard, navy, grey, and pink can a girl have?  Never enough!Mom1For this look, I turned to two of my favorite Love Notions Patterns, the Willow Wrap dress and Olympia Dress (affiliate links).   I really love the wrap style bodice of the Willow but the maxi skirt with built-in pockets of the Olympia is the skirt of my dreams.  The combo of the two of them- my ideal comfortable and cute dress!  I sewed up a size small in both patterns and the waist seam matched up perfectly.  Easiest ‘hack’ ever!  I sewed it up using the Willow tutorial for a quick and simple sew that I know I’ll be making up more of.Mom5Mom4This print matches the dreamy autumn trees in my front yard, bright mustard yellow and so happy and crisp.  This dress is so great for fall but will definitely work year-round.  It’s one of those dresses I’ll throw on Sunday morning for church then lounge in all afternoon because it’s even more comfortable than the sweats and tees I usually wear for a lazy day at home.Trio2mom6Charlie1Payton1Mom2Charlie3Trio3A huge thank you to Riley Blake for the chance to work with these fun fabrics.